Just Admit It, I'm Special

"Deep breath, Kagome," the miko mumbled to herself. "You can do this. This is what you've been working so hard for. You've got this!"

She curled her right hand into a fist at her side, trying to alleviate her nerves with a pep-talk.

This was a big day for Kagome. Huge, in fact. She had spent the last six years traveling the country, visiting the nobility in each direction, and pleading her case. Finally, finally, all of her hard work had started to pay off. After nearly a year of ardent planning and organizing, things were set into motion.

This is why Kagome currently found herself standing at the gates of the Western Fortress – Lord Sesshomaru's home.

She was greeted by an armed guard as she approached. He recognized her right away; not unusual considering how often she had frequented the Western Fortress over the last several years.

"Lady Miko," the guard called, opening the door for her to enter. "You are expected."

"Thank you, Hideyoshi," she said, regarding the man openly.

He was tall and sculpted, like most inuyoukai when in humanoid form.

"Miko," a baritone voice rang out in the courtyard. "Come."

Kagome looked over at the towering daiyoukai, erected proudly just beyond the entrance to his home, and gave him a bright smile.

"Thanks again, Hideyoshi," Kagome called to the guard before following Sesshomaru into the main house.

"You are the first to arrive," Sesshomaru told her when she caught up.

"You didn't have to greet me personally," she said, looking up at him. "Although I'll admit, I feel special every time that you do."

She smiled at him and he regarded her narrowly.

"Hn, you express this every time," he mumbled. "This one always greets honored guests, personally. You should be well aware of this by now, miko."

"You can't take this away from me, Sesshomaru," she said, a small laugh spilling from cherry lips. "Just admit it, I'm special."

As Kagome laughed at herself the daiyoukai at her side raised a pristine brow. He had always found this particular human to be quite peculiar. Seeing that she had not changed since her last visit to his fortress, he found himself looking forward to whatever antics she would partake in during this visit. He found her uniquely entertaining.

Special? He supposed so.

"Where are we going?"

"Your room, to relieve yourself of your belongings," Sesshomaru told her, his voice as rich as it always was. "Afterward, we will retreat to the tea room to await the dignitaries."

A sound of excitement escaped Kagome's lips and her eyes lit up.

"I would love a cup of tea," she said with a bright smile.

Sesshomaru was caught off guard by the level of excitement he felt in her aura. The citrus scent that radiated from her in waves told him she was happy. Whether this was simply due to the tea he offered her he didn't know, but he found his tongue covered in tart citrus and didn't dislike it. However, just beneath the scent of her happiness was another – rose – and below that, subtle, as if trying to remain hidden, was vanilla.

Longing and love.

He wondered exactly how long it had been since her last cup of tea if she had such strong reactions to being offered such a trivial thing.

After she quickly deposited her meager belongings into her room – she always traveled light – and stopping to admire her new surroundings, the two walked together to the tea room, where the hot drink awaited them. Kagome sipped her tea, quietly studying the daiyoukai across from her over the rim of her cup.

Kagome knew she couldn't speak the words aloud, but she adored these small moments spent alone with Sesshomaru. He had always been a man of few words, but she enjoyed what conversation she could wrestle from him.

It had struck her one day, swift and thundering, right in the center of her chest. She'd been visiting Sesshomaru for his council for several years by then and his presence was always a welcome one. She had slowly grown accustomed to being around him and was surprised when upon leaving, she felt an ache begin to bloom in her chest – she would miss him.

During the long journey home, she shuffled through and categorized her feelings for Sesshomaru, coming to one giant, incredibly shocking smack in the face: she was in love with him. Somehow, the silent, stoic daiyoukai had woven his way into her heart. She was so angry at herself for allowing this to happen.

Twice now she had fallen for emotionally unavailable men.

Still, she couldn't stay away. She continued to see him, knowing that each time, her feelings for him grew exponentially deeper.

One day, she'd get hurt, and she'd only have herself to blame.

"How was your trip, Kagome," she said, voice deepened to mimic Sesshomaru. "Well," she continued in her own lilting voice. "It was long but the views were lovely, thank you so much for asking."

She smiled at him as his face remained blank, brow raised slightly over one eye. She was doing it again. Attempting to draw him out.

He nearly smiled.

"And how about you? How have you been since my last visit?"

"Well," he said, and offered no more.

She tipped her head, watching him as he took an elegant sip of his tea. Something seemed off about him.

Glancing around the room, she was struck by how surreal her situation had come to be. Having tea with the Western Lord – the demon who had attempted to kill her on numerous occasions. More than that, she'd somehow come to love him.

Over the past six years, she had diligently tried to bridge the gap between human-kind and youkai. She had approached her friends about the idea first, seeking out their thoughts on the matter. To her surprise, they didn't think she was a complete nutcase. Inuyasha had his reservations, of course. He wasn't so easily convinced that humans and demons could ever interact in a civil manner.

But Inuyasha had to admit, Kagome was amazing. She had brought so many people – human and youkai, alike – together already. If anyone could do it, it was her. She just didn't know where to begin. She desperately wanted to unite their worlds. To show them all that they could live together peacefully and happily. There was no need for so much hate and bloodshed; there was enough love to go around.

She would show them all...as long as she could reach them.

Inuyasha had recommended reaching out to Sesshomaru, who had a vast network at his disposal. He absolutely hated having to ask his half-brother for anything, but he knew it was for a good cause, and it was something Kagome wanted desperately.

And Inuyasha would do just about anything for Kagome.

"How is Rin?" Kagome asked Sesshomaru, still trying to engage him.

The miko did this every time she visited the Western Fortress. She would find him, reach out to him, and attempt to draw him into conversation. He would say little, as he always had, only allowing what was necessary. Over time, he had come to anticipate her actions, savor them even. This revelation had come as a shock to Sesshomaru.

The fact that he enjoyed her company.

It was the miko, herself, that had begun to change Sesshomaru's opinions of humans. Which led them to the meeting she had meticulously organized with all of the dignitaries across the land. Soon, Sesshomaru's fortress would be full of humans and youkai coming together in an attempt to get along with each other. And it would all be the miko's doing.

Sesshomaru found himself hopeful that it would come together as she had so painstakingly planned it.

"Rin is well," he told her, holding his teacup in an elegant hand as he watched her.

She sighed and gave him a calculating look.

"I was hoping that I wouldn't have to resort to this," she tried to sound threatening, but it was hard to fool an inuyoukai who had a ridiculous sense of smell. "But I'm not above torture to get you to talk."

She narrowed her eyes at him, trying for scary. He sniffed subtly, scenting her amusement. There never seemed to be a dull moment with this woman. Truth be told, at some point during her many visits over the last near-decade, he had stopped regarding her as an annoyance and begun to accept her intrusions into his life.

"This one does not believe you to be capable of such a feat," he drawled.

"I'll have you know," she huffed. "That I've been training a lot the past few years. I'm much stronger than I used to be."

She looked away, sticking her nose in the air, feigning haughtiness. Sesshomaru was only mildly surprised to find this endearing. He had studied Kagome during every one of her many visits, and he knew that this woman was anything but haughty. Such an air would never sit right on her. She was too gentle, too caring.

A small smirk lifted his lips for just a moment before it melted away.

"Hn, I would require a demonstration if you expect me to believe such a claim."

Sesshomaru was baiting her. He had come to thoroughly enjoy her reactions to his teasing. Recalling the first time he had openly teased her, he had to suppress a chuckle. He had known her to be clumsy. Past interactions with her and Inuyasha had shown him that, and while back then he had found it weak and pathetically human, now he found it almost charming.

It was little over a year ago; the foliage had begun to bloom all around them. They had taken their mid-day meal in the garden, and once finished, Kagome decided they should take a walk. They strolled leisurely around the garden, discussing the best place to hold a meeting as important as the signing of a peace treaty.

He watched her, deep in thought.

"We could always do it in the village," she started, but then her face fell. "No, that won't work. There won't be enough room to house everyone."

She tapped her finger to her bottom lip and something about the action drew his eye. Her lips were currant-tinted and pouty and Sesshomaru wondered how it was that he had never before noticed her beauty. Despite the customs of the era, her hair almost always remained down, flowing over her shoulders in waves. Her eyes, ringed in thick black lashes, were a sharp blue that rivaled his own when surrounded by crimson. Her skin, marred sporadically by scars from many battles, reminded him of autumn and seemed velvet soft.

She was a vision amongst the vibrant greens and pinks blossoming to life around her.

Her eyes lit up suddenly, and in her excitement, she spun fully to face him. Somehow, she had failed to notice the set of stairs in her path, and losing her footing, stumbled backward. She braced for impact but he had not allowed her to fall. Catching her easily around the waist, he pulled her away from the stairs and into his muscular body.

Resting against his broad chest, he could feel her heart pounding. She wasn't stiff or frightened, but Sesshomaru inhaled the sharp scent of heavy rain as she clouded with confusion. Rising above that, though, was the heady scent of jasmine.

Trust.

She trusted him.

"Miko," he said casually, looking down at her, secured against him. "How will you continue with this arduous task if you fall to your death?"

Releasing her, he continued on, only looking back when he heard her next words.

"Sesshomaru!" She waited for him to turn. "Thank you."

The bright smile he was rewarded with had him hoping to be able to save her from herself again in the near future.

"Hn," he hummed, turning away again. "Next time, I shall let you fall."

Be more careful.

The lemongrass aroma of surprise reached his nose and he smirked as she stumbled across a response.

"You – you wouldn't!"

"Would I not?"

She chased after him then, poking him in the shoulder while she listed off all the reasons why it would be in his best interest to save her next time, as well.

He had decided then that he would tease her more often.

He smiled into his teacup at the memory. She left shortly after and had stayed away for several months, much to Sesshomaru's disappointment. His home seemed to become livelier when she was around.

And much quieter when she wasn't.

"Oh, you want a demonstration, do you," she said, sitting her teacup down and rising from her seat across from him. "Well, just remember that you asked for it."

He, too, put his cup down and waited for her to act. She was unpredictable, so he truly could not say one way or another what she was planning at that moment. She simply stared at him, eyes narrowed, as she contemplated her next move.

She had been trying to draw him out, sensing that he was troubled about something. Talking to Sango or Inuyasha had always made her feel better. It helped to get things off your chest. Seeing as how the silent lord was going to remain silent, she had to improvise. Whenever she was in a funk that her feudal era family could not break her from, Miroku would do something drastic – like caress her bottom – and the shock of it would finally bring her back to life.

If she needed to do something shocking to get the daiyoukai to talk, then so be it. She studied him for a moment, rapidly working through ideas in her head. She could tell him a secret about herself; one that would surely shock him. But there was only one that was truly shocking – even to her – and there was no way she was telling him that. She'd likely be taking that one to the grave with her because, really, how could she ever expect Sesshomaru to reciprocate her feelings?

The only other option she could come up with was physical touch, which wasn't a bad choice at the moment, seeing as he wasn't wearing his armor. Perhaps it was just the thing he needed.

And she certainly wasn't opposed to touching him.

Her features morphed into a mischievous look and Sesshomaru's nostrils flared, taking in her scent. She was excited about something, and nervous, but only just so.

"What are you planning?" He looked at her through narrowed eyes, as she slinked around the chabudai toward him.

She knelt beside him slowly, eyes never leaving him, and stayed that way for a heartbeat before throwing her arms around him, encompassing him in a gentle hug.

Sesshomaru, for the life of him, was not sure what to do at that moment. All thought was lost, save the thought that she was touching him.

"Miko, is this your idea of torture?" He asked, uncertainty tracing his voice. How was it that this woman always seemed so able to confuse him?

"What's bothering you, Sesshomaru?" She asked him quietly, her head resting on his shoulder, arms wrapped tightly around his upper body, trapping him. "And don't say it's nothing. I can tell something's wrong."

He sat there, quietly contemplating the moment. Her scent swirled around him, the aroma perplexing. She smelled of lemon, lavender, and jasmine – happiness, peace, and trust. But there was something else, a hint of spiciness – she was worried about him.

This came as a surprise to Sesshomaru, but the next scent that he detected, pungent and growing in intensity, shocked him to the core.

Vanilla.

No longer buried as if locked away, it was quickly making its way to the surface, to be known to all. This was a scent he had never detected on anyone, save Rin, where he was concerned.

Love.

Did she love him?

He thought back on all of their interactions, wondering how this could have happened. Wondering how he had never noticed it prior to this moment. Did she hide it that well?

But no…

As he continued to think about it, he remembered smelling the subtle notes of vanilla on her for a long while now. Years, in fact.

Years.

Sesshomaru looked down at the woman holding him, only able to see the top of her head. Her hair shined in the light streaming through the windows. She seemed perfectly content to remain right where she was. And why wouldn't she? Her emotions suggested nothing but blissful feelings.

Clenching his fists, he tried to summon the anger he should feel at being touched like this by a human. He wasn't even surprised when the emotion utterly failed to show. Huffing humorously, he shook his head, a smirk on his lips.

When was it, exactly, that she had altered him, so? When was it that his annoyance had become unmitigated acceptance?

"Kagome," he prompted, deep voice a whisper between them.

Kagome leaned back, still keeping her arms firmly around him, eyes flying to his face - he rarely called her by her name. It sent a thrill through her every time he did.

Hearing her heart rate increase, he had to suppress a smile. Her reactions to him were delightful.

"Yes?" She breathed, eyes wide.

He opened his mouth to speak and was interrupted by a knock on the door. Kagome, shocked by the sound, sprung away from him so fast, one might think she had been burned. He laughed, deeply, unable to stop himself. Her gentle, loving emotions had put him in a rather good mood, and her response just then lifted his mood further. She was likely the most amusing person he had met in his entire existence.

Her already wide eyes became impossibly wider, and Sesshomaru smothered another laugh on the off-chance it gave her heart an attack. Standing gracefully, he walked to the shoji and slid it open, revealing one of his many servants.

Kuratsukuri bowed and notified his lord that there were more guests arriving. Kagome recovered and joined Sesshomaru at the door.

"The VIPs?" She asked, receiving confused looks from both men. "The nobles," she clarified, laughing lightly. "VIP is an initialism. It stands for 'very important person'."

Kuratsukuri's eyes lit up in understanding, even as he wondered what an initialism was. Sesshomaru's face remained impassive, watching their interaction.

The servant bowed again, this time to both of them before walking away.

"Thanks, Kura," Kagome called, waving at him.

He stopped to give her a genuine smile, "You are most welcome, Lady Miko."

"Kura, how many times do I have to ask you to call me Kagome?"

"At least once more, my lady."

"You say that every time," she sighed.

"Shall we, Lady Miko," Sesshomaru teased, offering her his arm.

"Not you, too," she complained good-naturedly, accepting the crook of his elbow.

Peeking up at him as they headed to meet the dignitaries, she recalled their interaction in the tea room and blushed.

"What are you thinking of that has you blushing, miko?"

"Nothing," she squeaked, looking away.

She felt, rather than saw, him laughing at her again and wondered what he found so funny. She made a note to talk to him in private later. He never did tell her what was bothering him.

Turning her head slightly to the right, the side Sesshomaru occupied, she sniffed delicately. Earlier when hugging him, she noticed – not for the first time – how amazing he smelled.

Maybe she was biased because of her feelings for him, but to her, he smelled like spring and sweet hay and sunshine. All things she loved – which, perhaps, was fitting.

Sesshomaru, for his part, pretended not to notice what she had just done. His fingers twitched and he felt a shift in his eyes as blue invaded his irises. Blinking, he took a sublte breath, regaining control.

They continued along, and once again he asked himself how this woman was able to affect him as she did.

Stepping out into the sunshine, the Lord of the Western Lands and the miko on his arm strolled forward to meet their awaited guests.

Sesshomaru found himself hoping that when he finally chose a mate, she would fit as easily into the role of Lady of the West as the miko seemed to, even without realizing it.