Vanity
After being freed from any heavy influences of emotion for several hours, long enough for the night to pass and morning light to break over the horizon, Sesshoumaru began to get suspicious. Perhaps the miko slumbered.
He, Inuyasha and old priestess Kaede had spoken at length with the captured oni sorceress. She did not give any new information, snipping at them in her own language. By morning Inuyasha gripped Tetsusaiga tight, clearly agitated. As Kaede rested, the two brothers dragged their prisoner to another location; The Monk and Slayer's hut.
"Hm, the sorceress seems convinced there's no way to actively reach in and free Kagome." Miroku mused, nursing tea in his hand while Sango kept trying to dissuade their twins from approaching Sesshoumaru's seated position on the tatami mat.
"Pretty," whispered their boy, Daichi, making grabbing hands at the red and white silks.
"Sooo pretty!" Daitan, the girl, cooed in agreement, eyeing the demon's hair. The baby seemed to be the only sensible one, gurgling within Sango's arms but Sesshoumaru still inwardly preened a little at the attention. Outwardly he levelled Miroku with an unblinking stare.
"You look as though you want to say something."
Miroku chuckled and nodded, "I was just trying to figure out how to word it, Lord Sesshoumaru. Have you seen Kagome inside your mind recently?"
Sesshoumaru remembered the incident at the falls. "Briefly."
"What?!" The Hanyou growled beside him. "You didn't tell me that!"
"It barely lasted a moment, this Sesshoumaru did not think it significant. We are already aware she is trapped in there."
Sango spoke up then, bouncing the babe slightly. "What makes you so sure it was our Kagome? I know that if I had someone running around in my head I'd think about them a lot and have to stop myself from imagining what they were doing."
"That's a good point," Miroku hummed, grabbing their son before he could touch Sesshoumaru's trailing sleeve.
A thin brow twitched, Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowing a fraction. He couldn't afford to keep picturing that heated moment in the falls or he'd likely slip and say something revealing. No one else could know. "Because while thinking about the miko, another made herself known out of nowhere. She did not have the same presence as the imagined one. This one need not explain himself more. I am certain."
Miroku tapped his chin, nodding and setting Daichi down. "Come with me, my Lord. I think it's time we give meditation a try."
"Meditation will not work," the bound oni sorceress hissed from the corner.
"Shaddap you," Inuyasha growled. He then frowned at his brother, "I'll keep an eye on the hag."
Nodding, the demon lord stood, glancing behind him when feeling an additional weight in his hair. The others in the room let out small noises of alarm. Daitan clung to his silky locks, having been in the middle of messily braiding them. Sesshoumaru quietly observed the girl, her feet having left the ground. Reaching down, he gently grasped the scruff of her clothes and plucked the daring child off, setting her down. He then smoothly turned and walked out of the hut, uncaring of the braid swaying behind him, filled with mismatched, trailing ribbons.
They'd begrudgingly decided that Vanity's plan held the most water. Unfortunately for Kagome this meant sitting with him while Lust, Sadness and Innocence fanned out and released acid throughout the area, making it near impossible to tell in which direction she'd headed. The acid from their claws or inuyoukai drool masked her miko scent, proving incredibly effective.
She knew this because Vanity had not stopped patting himself on the back for such an ingenious plan. He didn't brag per se, instead choosing to insult the intelligence of the other emotions by not having the same thought.
"This one is going to have to point out the obvious again, am I not?" He was saying.
Kagome looked up from where she and Fantasy perched on a lower, smoother rock from where he practically sunbathed. "And what's that?"
"Please don't engage him in conversation," Fantasy groaned.
"That you are simply too 'clean' of other scents. You should embrace an emotion and bask in their superior smell."
Fantasy leaned over, whispering; "I wonder who he's referring to."
Hiding grinning lips behind her hand, Kagome giggled into her palm. Having obviously heard them with his 'superior' hearing, Vanity produced a beautifully patterned fan out of nowhere. Snapping it open, he fanned himself in a cooly agitated manner. Kagome tried and failed not to stare because honestly, despite his attitude, he did look angelically stunning and regal. The patterned clan mark spreading from collar to shoulder plumed a deep violet. She briefly compared it to the flashes of purple she'd witnessed through the sky, but that purple had been much lighter, like lilac.
"The host Sesshoumaru thinks of him as Confidence, you know."
"No kidding?" She turned her attention to the clone beside her.
"Mhm, I'm the one who called him Vanity. All the other emotions started doing it after that," Fantasy smiled to herself as though remembering. "Rumour has it that as a youngster, Vanity looked exactly like his mother. Overtime Sesshoumaru developed his own sense of style and individuality."
Interesting, though now that she thought about it, the emotion looked a little different to regular Sesshoumaru. Kagome couldn't tell how but it was more a feeling he gave off. If Discipline represented the most masculine side of Sesshoumaru, she'd say that Vanity appeared on the more androgynous beauty side, one that surpassed gender. Just as she mulled this over, Vanity glanced down, light catching on pale lashes, and levelled an entirely male look at her; One of complete self-assured arrogance.
"Miko, come here-"
Kagome yelped, feeling herself be manhandled for the umpteenth time when long-fingered hands grasped her hips from behind and lifted. Landing on some outstretched legs, her hands clamped on the Daiyoukai's shin's for balance, snarling.
"I've had it with all of you tossing me around like a rag doll! What's so important that you had to lift me up he- here..." she trailed off, having whipped her head to glare at him over her shoulder.
Vanity glided a wide-toothed ivory comb through dark locks, a detached yet enamoured look upon his features that only Sesshoumaru could pull off. The rage simmering on her tongue died. Kagome glanced at Fantasy for help but she merely watched with mild amusement.
Facing forward, the miko fought not to squirm. "You're combing my hair," she pointed out intelligently. The heat of him at her back felt maddeningly distracting.
"Hn." She waited for an explanation and was left wanting. "The wind must have tangled it. Unforgivable," claws slid through her hair, curling. "This one always has found the quality acceptable, due to how regularly you bathe and maintain it. Upon finally touching it, the softness is not as glorious as a demon's but for a human, this is of a high standard."
Kagome had to do some mental gymnastics to choose whether to accept that as a compliment or insult. "Um, thanks?"
Her attention briefly slid to Fantasy who had now slid her own locks over one shoulder, brushing her fingers through the ends contemplatively. Kagome couldn't see her expression, yet she bit her lip. Tapping Vanity's leg, she spoke up; "I should maybe switch places with Fantasy now-"
"I've no need of her when the real miko sits here," he purred, lifting dark locks to his nose and inhaling slightly. Fantasy slightly winced.
Kagome bristled, temper boiling and overspilling- a sharp sound ringing out.
Sadness, Lust and Innocence returned while the three figures on the rocks remained frozen. Kagome's hand remained forgotten mid-air, Vanity's cheek slightly red, golden eyes wide with disbelief. From where she sat, Fantasy stared, mouth slightly agape.
"Don't be so quick to overlook her," Kagome growled. "She's here every day and takes on whatever daydream or sexual fantasy Sesshoumaru has! You'll treat her with respect whether I'm here or not. Got that, buddy?"
Lust's slit gaze dilated, fangs scraping over his bottom lip. Vanity blinked, touching his striped cheek in a dazed fashion and watching her with complete shock. Innocence tugged on Sadnesses sleeve.
"Why is he not doing anything? Kagome striking us is not acceptable."
"He must have...said something he...recognises as wrong and," he cleared his throat, massaging it. "Does not know how...to react."
Innocence's mouth made an 'o' shape, nodding with understanding.
Getting up, Kagome hopped off the rock to the ground. Exhaling, she started walking in a random direction. "Which way is Happiness again?"
Shaking herself, Fantasy followed, jogging to her side. Her features had melted into something soft and she took Kagome's arm, tugging her to the left. "This way, silly."
From where he meditated in the clearing, legs folded, back straight and magenta lids shut, Sesshoumaru flinched.
Frustratingly perceptive as ever, Miroku opened one eye. The monk's form mirrored his own, radiating calm. "Anything happen, Lord Sesshoumaru?"
Raising a hand to his stinging cheek, the Daiyoukai frowned softly. "The miko just struck me."
Thinning his lips, Miroku's brow twitched as he fought the urge to laugh, mastering it and keeping his life for another day. "I see. Were you able to speak to her?"
"No. Contact was brief and...confusing."
"Ah well, let us try again," he suggested breezily.
Sesshoumaru opened irritated golden eyes, before sliding them shut. Flipping some hair over his shoulder, the Daiyoukai basked in the sunlight. A pity the miko could not witness his form on such a beauteous day. Hn, what a random thought.
"You are not even walking correctly," Vanity chastised from beside the group. For some reason, he'd decided to tag along despite Kagome's last words to him. Her anger by now had completely vanished, replaced with mild guilt towards the slap. They'd kept to what little trees they could find, trying not to call attention to themselves since Repression no doubt monitored the lands from the sky in search of her. This meant walking on foot, the demons unable to transform or speed away via clouds or orbs.
The end of a closed fan prodded against Sadnesses side. "Do you remember none of Mother's teachings on posture and how to hold yourself?"
Sadness just took the pokes, looking vaguely glum as usual. Kagome pushed in between them, locking arms with Sadness and frowning. Some of her guilt lessened. "He's been locked up for years. Try having some empathy."
"Wrong emotion, miko, and I was not privy to this information. That explains the poor quality of his hair and skin," Vanity sneered. He then skimmed his critical attention over her, capturing the miko's chin in hand and turning her face as he pleased. "Your skin, however is acceptable. I should like to sample it."
"Sample?!" She gawked, fearing he'd take a bite out her. However, the long wet brush of a tongue over her cheek shut down that fear.
"Hn, tempting," he mused quietly, sobering slightly. "...Are you still angry with this one?"
Kagome let out a sigh, freeing her chin and scrubbing at her cheek. "No. Just stop insulting my friends."*
"Vexing, but very well," Vanity straightened with a sigh and peered at Sadness by her side. "You, Misery."
"It's Sadness," he croaked.
The immaculate Daiyoukai brushed this off smoothly. "You seem close with her. Why not start displaying to show your intrigue?"
"Displaying?" He and Kagome echoed, glancing at one another.
Vanity gave them a haughty look, scoffing quietly while tilting his chin up with the classic 'holier than thou' look. "You do not know how to display?" Teetering on the edge of insults again, he held his tongue upon catching sight of Kagome's disapproving frown. Fanning himself, Vanity cut tawny eyes to the sky and snapped it shut, passing the ornate fan to Innocence and strutting a small distance away. "Observe."
The group didn't linger to watch, but Vanity kept up with them by making backflips in the air. Kagome gawked while walking, observing how he twisted his body flawlessly in the air, moving into somersaults, vaults and other, more impressive and unfeasible acrobatics. And was it her or did the light shining off him trail off into slight specs? Almost like...sparkles.
Long trails of silver hair never once obscured his sight or got in the way, flowing out or around him gracefully. She eyed him with mild envy, squeezing Sadnesses arm. "You know you don't have to do that for me, right?"
"Hn. Though...the true Sesshoumaru performs these feats."
Kagome nodded, "yeah while he's fighting. He doesn't do it to show off."
Lust, Sadness and Innocence lightly fanning himself sent her flat looks. "One does not exclude the other."
With a flourish, Vanity backflipped in front of her path, straightening. He fixed some hair behind a pointed ear, sniffing. "Miko, you may praise me now."
Kagome awkwardly clapped, "it um...looked very impressive. You could try displaying for someone else now instead of me."
Vanity slow blinked, following while she walked around him, trying not to step on the wildflowers. "But I do not regard them the way I regard you. The miko Kagome holds my interest, as that display just illustrated. In human terms, one might say this one likes you."
That threw her for a loop. Sesshoumaru never stated his feelings out loud. "You...like me?"
"Did you not read the signs from our host? He is in l-"
All emotions within hearing range zeroed in on their conversation, suddenly appearing around Vanity and grabbing him. Lust clamped a hand over his mouth. "Must we send for Repression?" He hissed in his pointed ear. "Kagome is with our half-brother."
Vanity shook him free a moment, trying to shove away Innocence and Sadness. "Why should this Great demon care about the claim of a half breed whelp with appalling dress sense? They are not mated. Her looks are enamouring and would likely bare us beautiful pups-"
Kagome stared. She stared so long her eyes watered and stung. Then she remembered that, hey, blinking was a thing. A scuffle broke out between the emotions, wrestling and snarling. She jolted upon feeling a hand on her shoulder.
It hurt a little to look at Fantasy. She seemed so perfect, so intricately detailed. When she smiled, Kagome wondered if it was vain of her to feel a warmth in her chest, an assurance. That smile reminded her a little of Mom and she wondered if it were possible she made people feel so warm too.
"Are you alright?" Fantasy asked carefully.
"...It might be unrelated but it's been bothering me for a little while now." Kagome said instead. "When I first got here, one Sesshoumaru walked into Intelligence's mansion, like letting me know to go in. When I fell of Repression's back, one saved me from falling. Another protected me and Innocence from Instinct. All those times, I never saw his crest colour, like he was trying to hide it from me so that I wouldn't know what emotion he was."
Glancing up at the sky, Kagome let out a rush of air from her lungs. "Was that...Love?" She asked thinly, voice barely above a whisper.
Fantasy caught it, reaching out and squeezing her hand. She slowly nodded, "yeah. Sounds like him. His crest is a light pink colour," her tone sounded gentle and soothing, trying not to frighten her with the unexpected. "Lust has told me that youkai don't really see love the same way as humans might. They see theirs as more enduring but nonetheless, it's a strong, devoted, passionate feeling which is usually a prelude to the pair mating."
"Oh."
It'd been that simple to find out.
Every emotion had frozen, watching her.
The more she thought about it though, the less sense it made. "A-are you guys seriously saying Sesshoumaru has feelings for me? H-he barely talks to me!" She burst, starting to pace. Pale cheeks flushed red, heart pulsing achingly fast. "When he does we're usually sharing tea but- it's not like we're friends! Just allies! We fought bad guys together that's all! A-and yet he's made big mansions in his mind for a fantasy version of me, his emotions seem to like who I am and...accept me. What's that about?" She let out a thin, uncertain giggle, putting a hand to her head. Her expression crumpled and doubts, worries began to plague her.
She'd known, ever since seeing Fantasy and the blue tint to her hair, the way light caught her face. A part of her had known. It had just seemed too unbelievable to be true. "I never should have found out this way," Kagome murmured, hugging her arms. "I've invaded his privacy so much. He should've...been the one to tell me. This isn't right."
Fear blazed bright and powerful in her chest, mingling with the happy, hopeful burning in her chest that had snuck up on her without warning.
"Ah, Kagome!"
Snapping her head up, the familiar voice registered first. Afterwards, a sloppy side pony-tail, gap-toothed grin and yellow and orange patchwork yukata filled Kagome's gaze. Behind Rin's form that hurried towards them with arms spread out, another Sesshoumaru straightened. His crest shone a bright, buttery yellow, the fall of silver hair twisted into a heavy braid that fell over one shoulder, strands filled with countless colourful flowers that had been woven in.
Kagome's breath hitched. Warmth bloomed within her chest, spreading right down to her toes. His eyes were disarmingly soft when they fell upon her, lips curving into a fond, gentle smile that she seared into the depths of her memory.
Yes, the concept of Sesshoumaru feeling anything like what Fantasy suggested was ridiculous. And yet Kagome began to let the doors inside the chambers of her heart crack open. Just a smidge.
She dared to hope. To let herself want again.