Iynokakera Theme: Set #1 – Theme 62 – Snow Dances
Genres: Fluff, General
Word Count: 839
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Inuyasha is the sole property of its creator, Takahashi-sama. I merely use her characters for amusement.

Summary: It was a gift, his dance upon the wind, his dance with the snow, and whatever road lied ahead, whatever chance meeting would lead them together again, she would remember it.

An Honor Bestowed

Kagome stared dreamily at the star studded sky above her. The air felt chill against her face, but she didn't mind it. Not when she had such memories to warm herself with.

She saw him a few days ago, dancing on the wind. Well, no, he wasn't really dancing as one might think by today's standards, but he was dancing none the less. His movements mesmerized her, the way he dipped and stretched and turned with grace.

He was breathtaking.

She hadn't meant to spy on him. She had only been seeking a little solitude, distancing herself from her friends. She had stolen away while Sango and Miroku were in the middle of another one of their spats and Inuyasha was busy chasing Shippou around for some insult or another. It was cruel of her to leave the little kitsune at Inuyasha's mercy, but she knew the he could handle himself.

She just needed a few minutes alone, and so had set off into the forest towards the stream Inuyasha had pointed out before they stopped for the night. She hadn't meant to walk alongside it. Her intent had been to sit on the stream bank and watch the water flow beneath the thin layer of ice already coating its surface. Instead, she turned her body downstream and followed the soothing sounds where it was wont to lead her.

And it lead her to him, to Sesshoumaru, lord of whatever lands he happened to be roaming in. His demeanor demanded no less of the youkai that surrounded him. His movements that day proved it so.

She sighed longingly, and closed her eyes against the vision of eternal beauty above her to focus on the beauty in her mind's eye. His hair had flowed around him, shiny and breathtaking like the parting strands of rain as it fell lazily to the ground. The whiteness nearly blinded her, making it difficult for her to tear her eyes away from its ebb and flow around his shoulders and down his back. His trademark fur snapped and growled in play as the great taiyoukai twisted his body in complicated movements, jumping into the air, flying on the wind.

She knew her jaw must have been hanging open for a full ten minutes before she realized she was staring at the demon lord honing his skills, practicing against an invisible foe as lithe and powerful as himself. His pride would allow no less of the wind, and gravity had no choice but to relinquish its claim on the supple body that defied it so.

He was absolutely beautiful.

A smile graced her lips as the intricate katanas and delicate footwork replayed itself, forever etched into her memory. It was burned into her soul, the beauty of that dance on the wind.

It was when the wind graced her with a gentle touch that she realized the sky was teasing her vision with snow flakes. The softness landed on her cheek and enshrouded her in a silence that was comforting rather then lonely. It was a silence that made her feel all the more blessed to see Sesshoumaru's unfailing grace as he concentrated on slicing snowflake after snowflake with a delicate twist of his Tensaiga.

It was when he landed only a few feet from her, that he acknowledged her presence. His eyes had met hers and taken their glistening depths at face value, the awe within his just due. With a flick of his wrist, he returned the life-giving sword to his waist and turned his back on her, disappearing into the steadily falling snow.

His haori blended into the whitening surroundings, his hair swaying in farewell to the wind until the next need for practice. He had left her, standing in the snow kissed ground, pondering the vision he had allowed her to witness and live to remember.

It was an unexpected gift her gave her, one that lingered on the edges of her thoughts as she traversed the hard road before her, pursued by Naraku, hounded by Inuyasha to walk faster, to stretch her senses further and more accurately for the Shikon no kakkera. It was a gift that she was willing to cherish in the nights ahead as it left a smile on her face and allowed her spirit to soar.

She opened her eyes to gaze once more at the clear evening sky above her and the half moon reflecting on the soft snow blanketing her surroundings. Peace filled her heart at the honor bestowed, and she vowed, as she turned over in her sleeping bag to cuddle closer to Shippou's warmth, that she would do her utmost to return that honor, to repay that glimpse of dancing snow.

With a soft sigh, she drifted into sleep, warmth washing her soul with a brilliance to match the stars above. It was a gift, his dance upon the wind, his dance with the snow, and whatever road lied ahead, whatever chance meeting would lead them together again, she would remember it.