Chapter 14

Sesshomaru leveled his eyes on Kagome's face. The corner of his mouth twitched, betraying his urge to smile. She met his gaze, her eyes wide and cheeks quickly flushed with color as she realized how close he was. He filled her view, the stars twinkling gently in the night behind him. She could feel the heat emanating from his body. If she wanted, she could reach out her hand and touch his face, trace her fingers over the markings on his cheeks. Her blush deepened and she looked away, before she cleared her throat.

"Wouldn't you like to know, Sesshomaru-sama," Kagome said cheekily. She shifted on her feet, opening a little bit of space between them. Her eyes flicked back up to meet him, catching the almost smile on his lips. "But I can't tell you, or it won't come true."

"Will it otherwise?"

"Maybe. I hope so. But that's the point of hope, Sesshomaru-sama."

"This Sesshomaru finds it quite a foolish practice indeed, then."

Kagome huffed. "Maybe one day- or one night, I guess- you'll wish for something, and you'll hope the kami are listening and you'll hope it comes true." Kagome yawned and pulled her kimono tight, and Sesshomaru caught the slight shiver in her frame.

"It is late. This Sesshomaru will not be accused of impropriety," he said, offering his arm to Kagome. She quirked an eyebrow and cocked her head, giving a quiet huff of laughter.

"No, Sesshomaru-sama, I doubt anyone could accuse you of something so ignoble," she said, bemused. Her hand came up, finding the crook of his elbow. Together they walked the garden path back to the palace.

Inu no Taisho watched as his eldest son walked with Higurashi Kagome. Since sharing the prophecy with Sesshomaru, he had become more concerned with the potential risk of either of his sons being hurt by one of these twins. They played with fire, and Inutaisho hoped they would not burn when the eldest revealed herself. In the meantime, he would start sending some of the young women home. There was no point in keeping so many here when his sons were not interested, and there would be no point if they became collateral damage in the event the eldest tried to attack the palace.

Kagome closed the shoji door of her room with a soft snckt. Her room was quiet and stuffy compared to the cool night air. She leaned back on the door frame, taking a deep breath.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

Her heart pounded against her chest, her thoughts whirling. Sesshomaru's haori, the one he had left over her while she slept in the garden, hung carefully off the back of her small chair. Seeing the bold colors of the haori turned her mind back to Sesshomaru. She wasn't here to fall in love, or even catch the eye of either prince. Shrugging off her own kimono, she put on a simple sleeping yukata. One finger traced across the silken haori's bold flowers. Unbidden, the image of his almost smiling lips popped into her head, bringing a soft smile to her own face.

The next morning, after Atsuko helped her bathe and dress, Kagome left for breakfast, Sesshomaru's haori neatly folded in her hands. As Atsuko opened the door for the dining hall, allowing the gentle hum of quiet conversations into the hallway. Among the scattered nobles, she caught sight of Sesshomaru at the far end of the room. A few scrolls took the place of his breakfast, though the half-full dishes of rice and fish sat to the side of his place at the table. He glanced up as she entered, his eyes flicking from her own to his haori. Her grasp tightened, and as he met her gaze again, she jolted forward, stepping along the edges of the room to come to the side nearest him.

"Sesshomaru-sama, I was hoping to find you here this morning," she began lightly. She paused for a second, conscious of the few nobles in the room. No one seemed to be paying attention to her or the prince, but she still couldn't help the faint blush rising to her cheeks.

"Thank you for your kindness the other night," she said hastily, dipping her head in a slight bow. Her hands shot out, proffering the folded haori. "I am sorry for the delay in returning this to you."

Sesshomaru blinked, then extended a clawed hand to grasp the material. In the brief exchange his fingertips grazed Kagome's forearm, sending a tingle across her skin. She jolted slightly, then pulled her hands back. With a quick, but respectful, nod of her head, Kagome turned and left the dining hall.

Sesshomaru sat, contemplating the silk garment in his hands, his scrolls forgotten on the table in front of him. Higurashi is a curious woman, he mused, the corner of his mouth lifting as he reflected on their interaction. Though she had left, her scent still hung in the air. A cursory glance around the hall showed no watching eyes, and Sesshomaru breathed deeply, the remnants of her clean, spicy scent filling his nose. He set the garment down next to him and picked up one of the scrolls, unrolling it carefully between his claws. Three decades worth of birth records from Higurashi Kagome's and Miyamoto Kikyo's home provinces made for dull reading, indeed.

Hiya friends! I know it's been a while. I've got a new strategy- and a lot of the plot written out, almost to the end. Future chapters will mostly likely be like this one- fewer words, but hopefully more frequently. There's a lot left to tell, so let's get to it. Comment, review, ask questions- I'd love to hear your thoughts!