He is shrewd.
It's a blustery, autumn day when Kimi first notices something off with Touga. The wind follows the normally boisterous general down the halls, his normal vigor quieter, more agitated, and more restless. It's not necessarily unusual. The days have seen numerous councils with his captains, news of unrest piercing through alliances. But as she passes it off as tensions with the North, she notices Sesshoumaru following his father with his eyes.
Closely.
She frowns.
He is smart, he is discerning, and he is watching.
"Sesshoumaru."
His eyes slide lazily to her, and she almost gets a glimpse of her long-gone bookworm. Except now something different—something suspicious—has replaced the idleness deep within the gold. And she doesn't miss how he tries to conceal it before she notices.
He's not quite fast enough.
Kimi schools her own features and holds out her hand. "Sit with me?"
There's a pause, fleeting and pregnant, before he moves, and it's enough to unsettle her. She's missing something, but what she does not yet know. But as the tall figure of her son takes her hand and settles beside her, that missing sits like a rock on her chest.
It's suffocating.
Lifting her chin, she forces a smile and sets her fan aside. "What is bothering you, Sesshoumaru?"
That slow, lazy smile from times long past returns, and he squeezes her hand, his larger one all but swallowing hers. "I am fine, Mother."
He's lying. Her eyes narrow. "I don't believe you."
Sesshoumaru laughs then, a deep resonating sound from within his chest. And though it is something that has always brought her joy—always brought a smile to her face—this time is not like that.
There's an edge to it there has never been before.
"You worry too much."
He lifts her hand, placing an absent kiss to the back of it, and her lips purse. "I am not one of those silly females. I am your mother. Your charm does work on nor assuage me." Yellow eyes narrow again. "You are hiding something."
With a smirk, he releases her. "Is that so?"
"Sesshoumaru—"
"Mother"—he settles back, rests folded hands on his abdomen—"do not worry yourself over nothing."
But even as he says it, his father passes by the door again, and Kimi watches as he once more follows Touga without blinking.
And for a moment, she swears his eyes flash red.
A/N: Been forever and a day since I updated this. Apologies! I hope you all enjoyed. If there is still interest in this story, please let me know. Life is crazy and writing multiple stories at once is crazier, but thank you for reading. Wishing you all health and wellness!