This is my first time participating in SessKag Week and I'm having a blast. Thought I'd be able to write things ahead of time but that didn't happen lol. I hope you enjoy! You can also find this story on AO3 under my username: EchoHuntress

Day 1 - Green (Nature & Eternity; Fertility & Growth; Youth & Vitality)

Sesshoumaru had been traveling with his younger brother's group long enough to pick up on the groups' quirky patterns. When the slayer began to feel sad, the monk would sidle up to her and molest her in some fashion, leading to the group taking a break. Now that he thought about it, the monk didn't always wait until she was feeling down. The demon lord noticed that sometimes the monk would bring harm upon himself by way of Sango if Kagome's requests for rest were ignored by a certain half-demon…

Perhaps he needed to knock his brother around a bit and beat some sense into him.

This morning was not as bad as others, though he felt the moisture content in the air. Today was going to be uncomfortably hot. Perhaps, he could secretly lead the group to a secluded lake for the afternoon. Even he was going to be affected by the coming heat.

One of the greatest patterns he noticed within the dynamics of this mixed pack was how the miko would try to engage everyone in her conversations or games. Today was no different.

"What color would you say Miroku is?"

Rin grinned at the monk who wore a silly grin on his face. Shippo held his chin in his hand and thought about it for a long moment before answering, "dark blue."

Inuyasha turned back to look Miroku over and huffed in amusement. "Yeah, like a river after a storm. Dirty, cloudy, unclean…"

Miroku feigned hurt and gasped. "My friend, you wound me."

"Tch, not as much as Sango."

Kagome hid a smile behind her hand. Her eyes glowed with amusement and it was echoed in Miroku's smile as well.

"Now, Inuyasha. Remember, the game is to name only positive things," Kagome corrected and the hanyou scoffed but smiled. "Shippo, why don't you tell us why Miroku reminds you of dark blue."

Shippo hopped onto Miroku's shoulder and put a hand on his head. "Well, you know how we went to the coast last year and met that turtle demon? I asked him how he could swim in the rough waters during a storm and he told me that even though the waters may be choppy on the surface, underneath, the ocean was deep and still with powerful currents running through it. That's like Miroku. He may be unreliable on the surface and that's why he gets beat up all the time by women-"

"Aww," Miroku pouted. "Not you too, Shippo-"

Sango cut in. "No, I think Shippo has it right." Shippo grinned and continued his explanation.

"Even though the surface is choppy, deep down, Miroku is calm and powerful."

Kagome praised Shippo for his observation. "That was beautiful, Shippo. And I think you're absolutely right. Miroku helps us to have fun like when we go to the lake or the river but he is powerful and calm and lends us his wisdom and strength of his spirit. Right?"

"Yup!"

Miroku ruffled Shippo's hair before the kit jumped down to walk with Rin again.

"Let's see," the monk said as he looked around the group. "I believe it's our turn to guess which color Kagome-sama is."

Color suggestions bounced around the group for a good while. The adults playfully fought over which color Kagome was until an unexpected voice cut through the din.

"Green."

Everyone stopped in surprise.

"The miko is green."

Miroku, as should have been expected, was the first to recover from his surprise at the discussion's new participant. His eyes crinkled with curiosity and something else that the demon lord did not appreciate.

"Why green, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

If Sesshoumaru was any less disciplined, he would have scowled at the monk. Fortunately, he was able to control his expression, for which he was grateful since all eyes were on him.

"Green is the color of life and youth. It is the color of growth after winter's frost. Among animals, it can mean danger and in some cases death," the daiyoukai said as he lifted a hand and allowed his claws to glow green with his dokkasou. Quick as ever, Sesshoumaru flicked his wrist and his whip sailed through the air, snapping at something along the side of the road before retracting to his hand again.

Every step he took toward Kagome was with purpose and intent. The tension grew the closer he came to her until Kagome trembled in anticipation.

"However, the green that represents the miko best and that this one is most interested in-" he tucked a beautiful orange wildflower behind her ear and slid her hair between his fingers before his arm returned to his side, "-is the green of vitality and fertility ."

His eyes did not let Kagome misinterpret his meaning and she felt herself flush.

Shippo's innocent, or perhaps not so innocent voice broke through the sexual tension that snapped around the couple.

"If she's supposed to be green, why's she so red?"

Kagome gasped and her hands flew to her face to cover her pink cheeks. Miroku chuckled, charmed beyond measure at Kagome's bashfulness while Inuyasha scoffed and made choking noises.

"Mortal dogs may be color blind, Kagome , but trust that I can see everything when it comes to you."

If Kagome wasn't red enough, she sure was now.