Sesshoumaru looked her over. Her eyes were wide, smoky and her mouth was parted. Her breathing was slightly heavy. Kagome's skin was paler than normal. Her clothes were soaked and clung to her form. The jeans were fitted and darkened by the rain. Her shirt, the same from that afternoon, was practically see-through. The sea green stripes now jade. Her tank top underneath wasn't as transparent though. The water drained down her hair drenching the carpet in the hallway. The ebony tresses glistened in the dulled lighting of the hallway. That was one feature of a higher class building. The hallway lights lining the wallpapered trim of the ceiling would dull down a few tones at night so as to not blind any late comers.
Her voice was deep, sensual almost and she was apologizing for showing up so late. He would have scoffed, but to normal people it was late. Most had dinner at five or six o'clock and were asleep by ten. He, however, was not ordinary and it was a rare dinner that began before seven at the earliest. In general, Sesshoumaru would turn in for the night around twelve or so, but it was a weekend and so he stayed up a little later working. He wouldn't be able to do so the next day, being Sunday, so it was only natural.
Her eyes averted from him, perusing his upper body before gluing themselves to the tiles beneath his feet. Kagome was being timid, which was odd. Something was off. What would send her here of all places, in the rain, at, he checked his watch, eleven thirty? He had the notion of closing the door in her face, but the swirling grey eyes flickered to his again briefly. There was panic, unease, and lilting despair swirling drearily in those expressive depths. Sesshoumaru resigned himself and stuck out a hand to her. He wondered what brought her here, but that would be for later. For now, Kagome needed to change and become herself. Kagome needed to remind him less of his mother. The look in her eyes was poignant and bringing unwanted memories to the service. Sesshoumaru approved of the tripping idiot who laughed while she did so much better.
Kagome stepped back staring at his outstretched hand. Slowly she lifted her hand towards his, waiting for him to retract his offer of entrance. He didn't show any waver and his eyes weren't flickering, but stoic and steady as always. She remembered them right after their kiss in the woods; his eyes had been burning swells of color. Gold, honey, amber, topaz- the range of gold to yellow unyielding as one replaced the last melding into one medley of color. Now though, the solid gold was reassuring and Kagome took his hand.
Sesshoumaru led her inside and closed the door with a muffled click of the locks. No words were needed and would have been useless at the moment. They would only clog the void of silence between them, it wasn't awkward or confused. It was just there, they were just there- together. Not fighting, arguing, glaring, or mocking each other for once. It was all okay.
The rain continued its downpour. The beating became a comfort in the darkness of the room. Sesshoumaru took her into his room turning on the lamp sitting by his bedside, since it wasn't as astringent in brilliance as the lights in the ceiling fan at the center roof of his room. Sesshoumaru pulled out a plain, white undershirt and a pair of clean boxers. He handed them over to Kagome gesturing for her to change. The man silently left the room padding to his office. The laptop pc logged off, the file folders of papers neatly stacked, and his lights extinguished Sesshoumaru left the office dormant for the night.
When he stepped into the living room, he found Kagome standing there in the center between the coffee table and the couch. Her wet clothes were no doubt hung in the bathroom, whose door was now left open. The area was dark and shadowed beyond his sight. Sesshoumaru glanced at Kagome, meeting her gaze and was surprised to find humor there. She seemed to have relaxed a little since she had first arrived. Kagome had appeared almost scared.
"Cows, huh?"
Sesshoumaru looked down at the boxers hanging off her hips. Indeed, the ones he had chosen without much thought were light blue with cartoon cows about one inch in size decorating the fabric. They were a present from Rin over Christmas. He rarely wore them, but Sesshoumaru had kept them because his daughter had laughed so ecstatically when he opened the wrapping paper. Rin thought it was hilarious especially after the look he gave her, questioning about whether or not the girl actually expected him to wear them.
"Rin."
Kagome's mouth opened, and then she smiled in understanding. She shook her head fingering the bottom of the shorts once again. They were comfortable. He probably hadn't even worn them once. The shirt was plain and actually wasn't too big on her, so it must be rather tight on Sesshoumaru. Kagome's eyes glazed over while she imagined it. The shirt came down way past her hips though; Sesshoumaru was long in all respects. He was long-limbed and had a lean torso as well. The shorts did go down to her knees.
Kagome watched him walk back into his bedroom. The moonlight in the room highlighting his hair tinting the strands pale blue. His walk was slow and quiet as he padded silently to his room. How could he walk so quietly? Kagome always felt like her footfalls could outrank and elephant stampede.
Kagome sat down on the couch for lack of anything else to do. She felt suddenly out of place. The whole apartment was somewhat neat, some of Rin's toys congregated around the legs of the television and some books were scattered across the coffee table, but there was an all around aura of cleanliness. Kagome's apartment was constantly cluttered, she preferred clutter because when a room was clean, one little thing out of place stuck out like a sore thumb. If the room was cluttered, one paper where it wasn't supposed to be, just left out on a desk wasn't as noticeable. It looks like it belongs there.
A thought occurred to her. She left Shippou all alone in her apartment, on a rainy night. Was she stupid? Kagome hadn't left a note because she had thought she was just going for a walk, well she hadn't planned on that either, but regardless staying at Sesshoumaru's was last on the proverbial list of options. Kagome got up quickly from her seat and scurried over to the kitchen. Her fingers fiddled in her home number into the keypad of the cordless phone after some contemplation on what those digits actually were.
"Shippou, hey sweetie," Kagome paused.
What would she say, really? 'Hey I left you because I'm an idiot and I'm at Sesshoumaru's!' Kagome shook her head.
"I'll be back in a little bit, okay? If you're awake before I get there, meet me at Sango's. Remember she offered to cook breakfast when we were at the ice cream parlor. Ok, I'll talk to you later."
Kagome hung up and stared down silently at the receiver. Movement to her left and she caught sight of Sesshoumaru leaning against the doorframe behind her.
"You knew there was a phone in here."
"I guessed."
Sesshoumaru nodded. He supposed it would be normal to have a phone in the kitchen, he just didn't. Rin left the cordless off its base again. He stepped forward and wrapped his fingers around her wrist. Kagome followed behind him, complacent. She wasn't tired, but she was tired of fighting things. Her whole life she always put up a fight against everyone, everything. Right now she wanted nothing, but to be held and to sleep. Kagome wanted that peace she found this afternoon in his arms under the shade of the trees.
His room was as she remembered it. The bed in the one corner was still made. His closest doors were closed and there was one cup on his night stand half full of water. He picked this up and went to empty, and then refill it.
Kagome titled her head to the side and sighed. She climbed into his bed, all the way to the wall. She laid down on her side before turning over and watching him waltz back into the room, so at ease. He set the cup down and slid in next to her. They stared at each other for a moment.
Kagome could feel the warmth radiating from his body. His hand touched her waist and pulled her over to him. Kagome pressed right up next to him. She cupped one cheek and searched his eyes longingly, releasing the thin veil she held up over her expressions. His eyes were changing too, swirling before her. Kagome stilled, entranced. Was this what Rin felt? Did she feel special when captured in his kaleidoscope orbs? She cupped his cheek and kissed him chastely. She closed her eyes when he placed his lips upon his brow.
There were times when this man could be so frustrating and irksome. He was arrogant, too proud for his own good, but he wasn't the icicle everyone perceived him to be. Sesshoumaru cared about things; he just didn't want the world to know about them. His business was just that, his. Kagome tucked her head against his clavicle. He wore a loose navy blue tee shirt and a pair of red and blue plaid-patterned boxers. The darkness of his clothes were striking and stark against the paleness of his skin, Kagome noted when she looked up at the collar circling around his throat.
Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around the girl. She was no longer shaking like when he first saw her at the door. The chill was leaving her body, his heat lacing his warmth to her. He ran a hand through her long hair, it was damp now. Maybe she used a towel in his bathroom to dry it? Sesshoumaru buried his nose into the tresses breathing in the scent of her shampoo and incense. Incense always seemed to cloud around her, clinging to her skin. It didn't bother him, actually he approved of the scent. It was just interesting because normally the smoky qualities of the product aggravated his nose. This though was light and floral, not too strong or sweet.
Kagome was so small lying in his arms. He felt a twinge of masculine pride at that thought. She was dainty and petite, every part the feminine minx she truly could be. One of her hands moved up and over his shoulder. Kagome drew her fingers through his hair resting her palm against his shoulder blade. The other arm rested between them folded against her chest.
"Sesshoumaru?" She whispered.
"Hm." His lips were muffled against her shoulder where he had just dipped his head down to.
"What if I can't do it?"
"Do what?"
He lifted his head to meet her eyes. There was concern and slight fear there. She didn't answer his question; it was if she didn't even hear it.
"They're all counting on me. Their lives depend on me. I can't stand to see another die."
His mind cleared, Kagome was speaking of the epidemic. Was that part of the reason why she was so scared standing outside his door? He breathed in deeply. Kagome always clouded his mind with questions. He'd answer one, but two more would arise in its place. This was distracting sometimes, but at least his boredom was contained when she was around leaving intrigue behind as a replacement.
"You will." He interrupted her.
She arched back to look at his face to face.
"What if I can't?" Her voice was breathy. "I have to go back to school soon."
"In two months."
"Exactly!" She immediately lowered her voice, "Two months isn't a lot of time."
"Cease your worrying."
"What!" Kagome said irritated.
How could she not worry? Lives depended on her success! Children could die because of her failure. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if another should lose their chance at life.
"These thoughts only hinder you and you cannot think clearly. Abandon them and think on what is at hand. If you are open, you answer will come."
Kagome was shocked. That was a mouthful, for him anyway. It did make sense though. When she read over the folders, the consequences weighed down heavily at the edge of her mind nagging at her to hurry. Maybe she missed something? Kagome decided to go over everything again, think out loud, read it all again until she found the clue. She would find the hook that held this disease aloft and dismantle it!
Kagome leaned upward and kissed Sesshoumaru's cheek. Then she settled down for the night. Sesshoumaru listened as her breathing deepened and smoothed over. The clock behind his glared brightly the time. A beep going off signally that it was now midnight. His eyes closed, his cheek resting down against the crown of her head. The ends of his hair tumbled over the precipice of the bed and just barely missed touching the floor beneath.
The pair cascaded into the darkness of their subconscious, unknowingly dreaming of the other contained within their joined embrace. The morning would surely be an interesting one.
…This ended differently that I first thought, again. Reviews appreciated…
