Kagome and Sesshomaru spent their weekend exclusively with Rin. The took her to the playground, the went for ice cream, and they did all the things a normal pair of parents might do with their little girl on a hot summer day.
Kagome reveled in her new sense of normality, and she relished the warmth and comfort of her new family. There was no denying that her relationship with Sesshomaru was starting to heat up, especially after Friday night. Kagome blushed and smiled just thinking about it.
Currently, the little family was taking a relaxing nature walk out on the Taisho property. They had left home early this Sunday morning, in order to be at the house in time for a late breakfast and some time in the woods. Izayoi had packed them a nice picknick lunch, and Rin had been bursting out of her seams to get to her favorite meadow. Izayoi had presented Kagome with a beautiful white kimono with the Taisho family crest adorning the sleaves. Sesshomaru had disappeared back into the house and had emerged soon after in his own traditional garb and armor the names for which she had no vocabulary for. He looked elegant, and dangerous, Especially with his disguise done away with. Sesshomaru had said he had a surprise for her. Unfortunately, the outfit wasn't it, and he refused to spoil it, no matter how much she begged him.
Little Rin was dressed in a short simple Kimono dyed with an orange and yellow pattern, and her medium length black hair flowing about her shoulders.
"What are the outfits for?" Kagome quired.
"When we are out in the sanctuary, we keep it at traditional as possible." Izayoi replied.
The walk was pleasant, and the shade was cool. They stumbled across several lesser demons who were also enjoying the warm summer day, some of whom were fantastic, beautiful creatures one could only dream of, and others were gnarled and scary looking, disturbing Kagome but delighting little Rin, who had obviously seen all of this before. There was one striking similarity across all of the Demons they came across, however. They all held a great respect for Sesshomaru. Even the ones who could not speak in a language Kagome could understand, they nodded and bowed each in their own way, and Kagome was once again in awe of her Mate. "They respect you a great deal," she remarked.
"They respect my Sire, and by extension, me. Father has done much for our kind. Those who cannot blend into human society, he offers sanctuary for, here. And he holds a great many other pieces of land similar to this across Japan, trusted into the hands of other Lords and friends. Some choose to govern and stay in their sanctuary, thinking themselves too old to adapt, and others chose to also run certain branches of the company which I now own. The Demon world owes much to my family for keeping them safe and helping them to integrate into your world. My Father dreams of a world peacefully shared between our kind, I used to think his ideals foolish."
"And now?"
"I hope that dream comes to fruition someday. For the sake of my own family."
Kagome smiled up at him. "Planning for children so soon Sesshomaru?"
He smirks and moves the hand that was holding her own to now wrap around her waist, pulling her closer to him, his Moko-Moko keeping her from pressing against the hard rigidity of his armor. "Of course."
Kagome blushes as they continue into a large open space, covered in wildflowers. Rin squealed in delight and ran careening out into the field. Kagome smiled and laughed at the little girl, and Sesshomaru set down the basket he had been carrying. Kagome had tried to convince him to let her carry it, but he refused, insisting on being "chivalrous".
After lunch, Sesshomaru directed Kagome and Rin to the edge of the forest.
"What are you doing?"
"I want to show you something." Sesshomaru replied with a secretive smile.
Kagome frowned in confusion, as Sesshomaru stalked back to the center of the field. Standing and facing Kagome, Sesshomaru let go of his control for the first time in over 100 years. The air whooshed around him, the air crackling with Demonic energy. He felt his body transform. Growing to over 10 times his original size. He towered over the ancient forest. He stretched, enjoying the freedom that this form afforded him. Feeling the breeze in his fur. Demons are, at their core, very primal creatures. Sesshomaru hadn't noticed how much he missed this feeling until just now. Working in that tiny little office day after day was stifling. THIS was his true form.
Remembering why he was in his true form, Sesshomaru lowered his mountainous body to the ground, laying his colossal head onto his front paws, and looking directly at his Mate.
Kagome was breathless from his transformation. The power in the air, suffocating to her human senses. Rin, of course, was completely unfazed, and ran right up to the ginormous dog, climbing up his paw, over his foreleg and curling up in the large pouf of fur on his shoulders, giggling girlishly the whole time. Kagome approached more cautiously.
He was beautiful to look at. Majestic even. All flowing white fur, curling tail, big floppy ears... The more Kagome looked, the more she NEEDED to touch. Before she knew it, she found herself walking towards him. His big red eyes followed her movements as she neared him and carefully raised a hand to rest on his big warm nose. The creature closed his eyes at her touch and she heard a surprisingly soft whine emerge from his expansive chest. Encouraged by this response Kagome continued running her hands up his snout befor burying her hands in the fur on his cheeks, examining the jagged purple marking there. Continuing she stroked over the fur on his chest and shoulder and found herself climbing up into his fur much like rin had done.
"So... this is your true form?"
Sesshomaru huffed in the affirmative.
"I don't suppose you can talk when you're like this can you?"
Sesshomaru opened one exasperated eye to stare at her as though to say 'what do you think?'
Kagome chuckled. "You're very soft." by now she had climbed up to straddle his neck, burying her hands in the fur she found there.
Suddenly he began to stand up, air rushing around his head, Whipping Kagome's loose hair into a frenzy. Turning his head, Sesshomaru nudged Rin from her hiding spot in his fur, giving her a boost up to Kagome's perch atop his shoulders. Rin climbed up to sit in front of Kagome and as Sesshomaru crouched to take off, Kagome frantically grabbed two large handfuls of fur, trying to brace herself for his takeoff.
Sesshomaru launched himself into the air and felt Kagome find purchase in the fur at his haunches. Soaring over the forest he flew up into the clouds, carefully avoiding flying so high that the air grew too thin for Kagome and Rin to breath, opening his mouth and tasting the fresh mountain air, he let loose a roaring howl of delight.
Meanwhile, Kagome once again found herself speechless. The view from Sesshomaru's back was gorgeous, and as she was taking it all in, she spotted another figure flying straight for them. As the figure grew closer Kagome was able to make out another ginormous dog, covered all in grey and white fur. The Inu barked back and forth at each other before racing each other around the sanctuary. Kagome laughed at her mates antics, still holding tight to the fur under her hands. They continued like this late into the afternoon when they all landed back on the front driveway of the Taisho mansion and the dogs transformed back into Sesshomaru and Toga. Kagome grinned as her mate came back over to her.
"That was fun!" Kagome said breathlessly as she reached for her mate's hand.
Sesshomaru smiled down at her. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"I loved it!" She corrected him.
Just then Rin jumped up into Sesshomaru's arms. "You turned into a gigantic puppy dog!"
Everyone went dead silent, not knowing what to say to that. Izayoi was the first to laugh. After her, everybody else joined in, letting loose with the healing power of laughter.
It had been a good day, and they finished it with a nice, stress-free dinner with the Taisho's. Kagome helped Izayoi clean up, while Sesshomaru carried a now sleeping Rin back out to their car.
"I'm glad today went well for you two," Izayoi remarked, before hugging Kagome goodbye at the door. "You've had a lot going on in your lives, I'm glad you were able to relax today."
Kagome hugged Izayoi back, "Me too. Thank you guys so much." She smiled and walked down to the car where Sesshomaru was holding her door open. To be honest, she was relieved to see him back in his normal clothing. The robes and armor, while beautiful and otherworldly, were, admittedly, a bit intimidating, as if he himself wasn't intimidating enough. At least when he was wearing his usual button up and slacks, he looked relatively approachable.
The drive back home was peaceful, with Rin sleeping in the back seat, and Sesshomaru holding Kagome's hand with his free one as he drove.
"So... You're transformation... How does that work?"
Sesshomaru smirked. "Curious?"
"Obviously..."
"Only the strongest youkai can disguise ourselves in a humanoid form. It takes much power and focus, and most of us cannot manage it until we are at least a year old. I have been doing this so long that it is almost second nature to me."
"And your clothes?" She was curious how they were not destroyed when he transformed.
Sesshomaru laughed lightly. "Any other clothing would have been torn beyond recognition by my transformation. The clothing you saw was woven by an ancient spider demoness who specializes in Demonic fabrics. She made them from my own Youki, so they are unharmed by my transformation."
"Oh!"She nodded, sort of understanding. "And your Armor?"
"Made by an old family friend, to sustain most blows, and it is self-healing, so most damage, if any, is only temporary."
"Hmmm..." Kagome absorbed that information, her eyelids growing heavy from the movements of the car and the darkness outside.
"Sleep Mate. I will Wake you when we are home."
And she did.
AN: So Kags finally got to see Sesshy's true form. That was really fun to write. Please let me know if you enjoyed it or not... HMMM... I wonder what Kikyo and Inuyasha are up to...
~Cassie