"The second time. When we talked about the person you were interested in, and you said you wanted to live up to her expectations and her being special. Did you mean it?"

"Every word." He refused to hesitate when so much was on the line.

Sesshoumaru swore her cheeks turned pink.

"Why didn't you just tell me?"

He considered this a moment, delving into the insecurities he kept thoroughly buried. "Would you have been so candid if the questions had come from me directly?"

A sigh, then a splash as a pebble hit the water. "I don't know. That's why I'm having trouble staying mad at you."