Kagome frowns. All she can hear are the staccato beeps of the electronic trackers and the footsteps of the medical staff in the corridor. She rolls onto her side, turning away from the door.
Sōta, Gramps, and Mama are all asleep. The nurses brought a cot in for her mother. Since their home is under investigation, they aren't permitted to return. Kagome knows her mother wouldn't have left the hospital anyway, not as long as they are all here.
Thankfully, everyone is fine, even Gramps. Her family managed to survive the fire with only minor injuries. She got out because of her demon guardian angel. After tomorrow, they will be discharged.
Kagome doesn't know what awaits them after the hospital. Without a home to go back to, where will they go? The shrine makes a decent amount of money but it's hardly enough for them to stay in a hotel until the police are done, let alone act as a supplemental home while theirs is rebuilt.
She sighs and rolls onto her opposite side.
A pair of glowing metallic eyes stare at her through the dark. "You should be resting, not worrying," Sesshōmaru tells her.
"I can't sleep," she mumbles.
"Clearly," he observes with a hint of amusement.
Kagome bites the inside of her cheek. "Sesshōmaru, can you lay with me?"
There is a pulse in his aura. It illuminates his richly purple hue with a splash of pink. There is a nervousness to it but that is brief. Then the sensation turns intensely warm.
Her cheeks burn with realization. "Um, I mean to sleep— erm, help me to sleep, like last night," she tries to explain, stumbling over her words.
He doesn't move. He doesn't speak.
Kagome shifts uncomfortably beneath the itchy sheets of the hospital bed. The fire might not have killed her but she wishes it had— anything to avoid this awkward silence.
"You know what? Forget I asked. It was stupid. I was just feeling scared and—."
"Shhh," he croons in her ear. Kagome freezes as the bed shifts to accommodate his weight. His arm snakes around her waist. "I told you I would watch over you. That extends to while you are sleeping," Sesshōmaru informs her.
She knows it's not appropriate. Even if they are in a hospital, it doesn't give her the excuse to share her bed with her...well, whatever Sesshōmaru is. Regardless, Kagome is worried.
Her family is homeless and she doesn't even want to think about the debt their medical bills are going to put them in. This afternoon, her fight with Sesshōmaru had felt like a huge blow. Their argument pales in comparison to the impact of the fire.
She can understand the other fighters being envious of Sesshōmaru's skills. Even without his supernatural abilities, he is a lethal opponent. Take away the poisonous claws, the light whip, and his ability to fly and you are left with an expert swordsman who has studied every form of combat invented.
...at least up until 1500 A.D.
Kagome doesn't know a single person— alive or dead, human or demon —who compares to Sesshōmaru. Inuyasha is the only one she's ever seen beat him and even she will admit that it was mostly due to dumb luck.
The humans who work at Sōten and Shippō's gym were probably scared. Despite their inhibitions, she doesn't condone their actions. Either they wanted to hurt Sesshōmaru by hurting her or they simply wanted to hurt him. Neither is acceptable and while Sesshōmaru did promise her not to kill them, Kagome can't help but suspect he'll find his own way of procuring justice long before the police track the men down.
Glancing at Sōta, Kagome feels fury ignite within her. She doesn't want Sesshōmaru to put himself in danger because of her. She also doesn't want him risking Sōten and Shippō's lives. If he went after the men, solely because of her, Kagome wouldn't approve but her family is a different matter.
No one messes with her family.
She wonders if her purification powers can erase fingerprints. Maybe a few well-aimed arrows will scare those men straight. Kagome doubts they've ever squared off against a trained priestess before. Perhaps she should demonstrate what happens to people who vandalize a sacred place. It might teach them some respect.
"If you keep thinking so hard, you will never find rest," Sesshōmaru chides. His nose nudges the shell of her ear. "Go to sleep, Kagome."
It isn't a command. It's a suggestion. She can hear the concern in his tone. Kagome closes her eyes.
A part of her is still hurt by his attempt to hide the truth. She knows he was only trying to protect her. No matter how misplaced his good intentions were, the fact of the matter is, he was doing what he thought was best. Kagome tries to keep that in mind as she drifts off.
In the morning, things are marginally better. The doctor has returned to give them all a clean bill of health, though he does want Gramps to come back in a few days just as a precaution. Kagome believes that since her grandfather survived the murderous Noh mask, a little smoke inhalation won't kill him.
Before they are discharged, the police come to talk to her mother. Kagome tries to go out in the hall and join them, but Sesshōmaru stands and shuts the door. He gives her a stern look. She huffs, annoyed, and returns to bed.
When she woke up this morning, he was lounging in his chair, pretending to be asleep as if he had been there all night. Kagome knows he wasn't, just like she knows how her skin is tingling from where he was pressed against her. The bed is still warm here he laid. She readjusts herself to snuggle into the lingering heat.
Sōta is too interested in morning cartoons to notice the change in their relationship but Gramps is eyeing Sesshōmaru warily. Kagome wonders if he smuggled any talismans into the hospital. She wouldn't put it past him. Her grandfather is severely stubborn, just like someone else she knows.
Sesshōmaru hasn't left her side once. Kagome didn't expect him to. As far as she can tell, he has always kept his promises. He isn't petty like Inuyasha or grudgingly passive-aggressive like Miroku. If Sesshōmaru is upset, he tells you. His methods are more direct.
Kagome views it as a sign of maturity, even if she still struggles with voicing her emotions. Being honest shouldn't be difficult but when it comes to matters of the heart, she's always had trouble. Even now, knowing how Sesshōmaru feels about her, Kagome finds it hard to express herself. After facing Naraku and countless battles, telling someone that she cares about them shouldn't be scary.
But it is.
She's not sure if the problem is because she cares too much or not enough. Kagome trusts Sesshōmaru. She knows he doesn't take his relationships lightly. He's a fiercely loyal companion and extremely protective, a trait that is both admirable and annoying. He's the type of man Kagome pictured when she thought of growing up and falling in love— the strong and silent type, like her father.
So why can't she tell him that? Why can't she explain how important he is to her. Kagome may not be ready to say those three words but she's certain Sesshōmaru is the one she will say them to.
When the time comes, Kagome wants the moment to be perfect. Maybe they can take a short holiday to the beach. She hasn't been to the ocean since she was a little girl. It would be nice to go somewhere alone, just the two of them.
She imagines standing in the sand with the salty sea spray whipping through her hair. The sun will be high overhead, decorating the world in brilliant light reflected across the water. Kagome thinks of Sesshōmaru without his traits hidden beneath makeup and hair dye— the demon within. Serene solitude is the perfect setting for them, for Kagome to utter those three words.
"Sis? What's wrong with your face?" Sōta asks.
Kagome blinks, startled back to the present when her brother's pillow collides with her. "Huh?"
"Jeez," he groans, rolling his eyes. "I thought the doctor said you were okay. You seem off to me."
"I'm fine," she snaps, tossing the pillow back to him. Her cheeks burn as she realizes she's been caught daydreaming.
This no privacy thing is a drag, Kagome thinks, utterly humiliated.
She crosses her arms over her chest, glaring at the wall ahead of her. It's stark white like the rest of the hospital. On a dry-erase board below the mounted TV, their names, birthdates, and admission date are written out.
Kagome swallows. Seeing the details listed out in red ink makes the severity of their situation more apparent.
Sesshōmaru must sense her unease because he announces that he has procured a residence for them.
Gramps snorts indignantly and pulls up today's paper, pretending to ignore the demon.
Kagome knows he's hanging on Sesshōmaru's every word, just as curious as she is. "Where?" she inquires.
"The kit and his—," he pauses, frowning. After clearing his throat, he begins again, "Shippō and Sōten have a vacant apartment they are willing to let."
"Will that be enough space for the five of us?" Kagome asks.
She's never lived in an apartment before but most of the ones she's seen are much smaller than their house. Kagome knows she and her mother will be able to adapt. She's worried about the guys. There won't be any yard for Sōta to run around in or a garden for Gramps to grow his bonsai. As for Sesshōmaru, the close-knit quarters will be confining after the years he's spent living out in the wilderness.
"I will stay with them until your house is repaired," he explains. "The vacant apartment will be for your family's use."
She blinks. "You're not staying with us?"
"The apartment only has three bedrooms. There would be no place for me," Sesshōmaru informs her.
Kagome twists her bedsheets in her hands. "This isn't about yesterday afternoon, is it?" she questions, keeping her voice low so neither Sōta nor Gramps can hear.
"No," he answers. "Your family has been displaced. The blame lies with me. The culprits sought to hurt me and, in so doing, harmed you. Since the fault is mine, I will be the one to make amends."
Kagome starts to argue but he holds up his hand.
"Please grant me this opportunity to set things right."
His request does funny things to her heart. She feels warm and her pulse is drumming a bit faster than normal. The tingling along her skin returns with fervor. Her vision blurs around the edges until the only thing that she can see clearly is Sesshōmaru.
She might not be ready to speak the words yet but Kagome knows what this is.
And it's nothing any hospital can cure.
Sōten and Shippō are waiting for them outside of the hospital once the police finish. Shippō pulls Kagome into a hug while Sōten remains leaning against the entryway.
"About time," she murmurs, though there isn't any fire to her remark. Her crimson eyes go to Sesshōmaru. "All good?"
"For now," he says cryptically.
Kagome tries not to fret over his meaning. That's an issue for later. Right now, her primary concern is getting her family situated.
Her mother is constantly saying 'thank you' and bowing while Sōta begins asking lots of questions. Shippō, who is still as high-energy as ever, keeps up with her kid brother, while Sōten acts in the role of the gracious host...well as gracious as the Thunder demoness can manage. Everyone seems okay.
Everyone except Kagome's grandfather.
Gramps looks about ready to have a stroke. His eyes are wide, his mouth hangs open, and his hand shakes as he points to Shippō and Sōten. "D-d-demons! All of them!" he hisses.
Sōten shoots Kagome a questioning glare. She holds up her hand, silently signaling that she's got this.
"Gramps," Kagome says, looping her arm around him. "Why don't we get on the bus and get you into bed?"
"But...but," he sputters, trying to crane his neck and keep her friends in view as she leads him away.
"You'll feel better once we get to the apartment," Kagome reassures him.
Sesshōmaru escorts her mother to the bus station while Shippō and Sōten walk on either side of Sōta. Kagome catches a glimpse of them all in the reflection of a hospital window as they pass. It brings a smile to her face.
Her family hasn't been just Mama, Sōta, and Gramps for a while now. She may not be bound by blood to Shippō but the friendships she made on the other side of the well were just as meaningful. It feels a bit surreal to see them all together like this— surreal but good.
Very good.
Sesshōmaru catches her eye in the window and smirks. She feels her cheeks bloom with color.
Kagome wishes she could be as confident as him. It isn't that she doubts her feelings or her convictions. Her problem has always been communication. She either bottles things up until it boils over or she says too much far too quickly. Kagome can't seem to strike a balance. It is one extreme or another. This time around, she wants to do better— she needs to be better.
She still hasn't mourned the friends she left behind. Kagome isn't ready to accept that the well is closed forever. Not saying goodbye means she has time to process, time to grieve. It also gives her an opportunity to find her own way. She has a chance to forge a path without the weight of the world on her shoulders. For the first time in almost a year, Kagome can start making choices toward her happiness and not solely the happiness of others.
The first step is the most difficult, but she is ready. After all, it's not really a choice when her heart has already found a place for him.
"Perfect timing," she cheers Gramps on as the bus pulls up to the curb.
Her grandfather glances over his shoulder, warily eyeing the demon entourage surrounding his family. Before he can protest, Kagome guides him inside.
The bus driver nods to them as they pile on, thanking Sōten when she pays their fare.
Kagome helps Gramps into a seat and stands in the available space beside him. A couple of hospital staff members board behind them. As they arrange themselves in the bus, Sesshōmaru shifts into position next to her, placing one hand on the grab handle and one on her waist.
When the bus lurches away from the curb, Kagome sways with the motion of the transport. Her arms instinctively wrap around Sesshōmaru's middle to steady herself.
"Aw, isn't that nice. Your brother is so good to you," a kind elderly woman comments from across the aisle.
Kagome's face burns. Sesshōmaru growls.
"Oh, he's not her brother; this little guy is," Sōten tells the woman.
She frowns, eyebrows knitting together. "Then who is this?"
"Her boyfriend."
Kagome stares at her mother in shock. Sōten lets out a bark of laughter, while Shippō and Sōta both exclaim, "What!" Gramps bows his head and begins muttering prayers. Sesshōmaru is the only one who is unaffected by this development.
"Sorry, was it supposed to be a secret or something?" Mama asks, amused.
Kagome doesn't know how to respond to that so she remains quiet. It's not as though she and Sesshōmaru have done anything wrong— minus sleeping together. Yet, Kagome feels guilty. She wasn't intentionally trying to hide their relationship from her mother. Kagome just didn't know how to classify it. She still isn't.
The term 'boyfriend' sounds so fleeting and immature. Nothing about how she feels toward Sesshōmaru is fleeting or immature. What she feels is deeper, cutting through her like an underground river carved through a mountain. It penetrates the walls Kagome has built while trying to protect herself and paved the path to something new.
If there is a term for that type of person, she would like to know what it is.
"I told Kagome of my intentions. She led me to believe I did not need to acquire your blessing before pursuing a relationship with her," Sesshōmaru says to her mother.
The old woman gasps then smiles. "So formal," she praises with awe. "You better marry this one. If you don't, I just might," she adds to Kagome with a wink.
She gapes at the woman. To her right, Sōten continues to laugh, while Shippō and Sōta appear to have come to terms with the news. Gramps doesn't acknowledge any of this. He's too busy fumbling through his robes for slips of paper. Her mother just smiled at all of them in that matronly way of hers. Kagome wishes she could be that calm.
Sesshōmaru's hand slips slightly lower so his thumb can swipe lazily along her hip. It's soothing to feel him wrapped around her, especially afterward night, but she recognizes the possessive air too. He doesn't waste words when taking action sends a stronger message. This one clearly states that she is his.
Kagome isn't sure how to feel about that. On one hand, she is pleased. It is nice to be wanted, addictive even. On the other hand, she doesn't like being thought of as a possession. She's not a thing to be used when convenient or a trophy to be displayed. Kagome is a person with wants and needs. She can stand on her own.
"You are angry," Sesshōmaru surmises. His thumb halts its ministrations.
"I—." Kagome doesn't know what she is. "We need to talk," she says. Then, glancing around she clarifies, "Alone."
"Indeed."
Kagome burns under the intensity of his gaze.
They can't get to the apartment soon enough.
Shippō and Sōten own the entire apartment complex. They call it an investment in front of Kagome's family but she knows why they wanted the building. It's large enough to host multiple families and has the advantage of being close to both the bus depot and the train station. If anyone needs to leave quickly, they have options. It's the perfect safe house for the demon underground.
Fortunately, they have an open unit on the third floor. Shippō takes Gramps, Sōta, and Kagome's mother through the apartment while she goes up to 689 with Sesshōmaru and Sōten.
The mood has changed considerably since they stepped off the bus. Sōten has become all business. Sesshōmaru's jaw is clenched. Even Shippō has turned solemn.
"Make yourselves comfortable," Sōten tells them, gesturing to the sitting area as they enter.
She ducks into the kitchen to prepare tea, leaving Kagome with Sesshōmaru.
He stays silent, staring at the door to the apartment as if he expects a threat to burst in at any second. Kagome slips her hand into his and squeezes it.
"They're safe. I'm safe," she reminds him, "because of you."
His golden eyes move to her face. "You wished to speak with me."
"Yeah," Kagome says nodding. "I was thinking maybe I could stay here with you tonight. Mama doesn't seem to mind and I...," her voice wavers. "I don't want to be alone— not after last night, not ever."
He sighs. For a moment, Kagome thinks he will refuse under some moral imperative but then he speaks, "I would be more at ease if you were near."
She beams.
"However, I will still discuss the matter of my intentions with your mother," he insists.
"Sesshōmaru, it's not necessary. Mama wouldn't have said that on the bus if she didn't trust you," Kagome tells him.
"Perhaps not, but it is the honorable thing to do."
Kagome can sense that there is no arguing with him. He can be just as stubborn as she is. She will have to learn to pick her battles.
Sōten returns with a tray of steaming teacups. As she hands them out, she asks Sesshōmaru, "What are we dealing with? Demon-hunters or regular humans?"
"Humans," he growls. "Your humans."
Her eyebrows raise. "My humans?"
"The ones who assaulted Kagome yesterday," Sesshōmaru clarifies with a disapproving look.
Sōten doesn't flinch under his scrutiny. "They tracked you to the shrine?"
"No, they followed me home after we fought," Kagome admits.
The demoness picks up her tea and sips the beverage slowly. When she places the cup down, Sōten inquires, "Did they see either of you use your powers or anything else they shouldn't have?"
"No," Kagome answers, shaking her head.
"I am not certain," Sesshōmaru confesses.
Sōten glowers at him. "You're not sure? How can you not be sure?"
"Discretion was not my priority," he snarls.
Kagome reaches over with her free hand to clasp his wrist. He is gripping her hand tightly and she can feel his yōki rising. His aura is clouded with rage and guilt. He is still blaming himself.
"Sesshōmaru," she says softly, staring up into his face. There are lines of crimson bleeding into his golden irises. "Hey, look at me."
His attention snaps to her immediately.
"Those men chose to follow me home. They chose to commit a crime. Their actions were their own. This isn't your fault. Please tell me you know that."
"I know they hurt you," Sesshōmaru responds.
"Yes, they hurt me, not you. You're not responsible for their choices," Kagome persists.
"It is because of me that they targeted you," he argues.
"But it's not your fault!
"It is," he returns.
"You didn't set the fire. You saved my life!"
Kagome is standing now, shaking with excess energy. She doesn't remember dropping his hand or rising from her seat. She feels her frustration rolling off of her in waves. How can someone with heightened senses be so blind?
"Demons here," Sōten interrupts, waving one hand while the other is rubbing her throat.
Kagome blinks, realizing her reiki has leaked out along with her emotions. "Sorry," she apologizes.
Sōten waves her off. "I'm fine but you two owe me a new tea set."
On the table, all three cups and the teapot have been reduced to shards of clay. Brown liquid pools around them. Kagome glances at Sesshōmaru who is studying the shattered fragments with interest.
"I have never seen such a joining before," he remarks.
"A joining?" Sōten inquires.
"Of power. Yōki and reiki abilities typically do not bond. They are opposite sides of the spectrum, adversaries not allies. This," he indicates the broken pottery, "is the first instance that such a union has ever occurred."
"What does that mean?" Kagome asks.
"I do not know."
They lapse into silence, studying the spectacle.
Kagome wonders if their mysterious connection is in any way related to the inactive Bone Eater's Well.
A/N: Come say hi on Tumblr. I post moodboards, artwork, and story things on my blog, along with other SessKag content (as well as a few other ships, but mostly SessKag these days). The artworks I commissioned for this story are there for those who like visuals. ~ Sage