Sesshomaru woke just before the sun rose, he quietly watched his small pack as they found himself wishing the moment would stand still, almost regretting his duties to his people and land. His attachment to the three beings that shared his bed, made his heart ache at the thought of losing any of them. He carefully cradled them closer, it surprised him how much he'd come to love his little pack. Until an unusual, happy, quirky, child came stumbling into his life he'd known nothing of love. His mother never really showed anything other than indifference to him, and his father was the InuTaisho, he'd never had time for Sesshomaru outside of training, and though love was a relatively new concept to him, it didn't make what he was feeling towards them any less deep. Because of these three he managed to discard his unwarranted contempt and accept his brother as pack. And the love, loyalty, and respect they showed him, made him want to be the person they believed him to be. As the sun began to rise he was glad he'd seen Yueyui on his way back to the den and had informed her he'd be waking his pack today.
Gently he climbed out of bed, it wasn't quite light enough out to wake them up yet so he decided to call a servant to have their favorite breakfasts made, but as he passed to the other side of the bed he noticed Rin was uncovered. Grabbing the edge of the blanket he pulled it up over her before he leaned down and gave her a slight kiss on the forehead. A soft sleepy giggle came from her sleeping form followed be something so quiet if it wasn't for his exquisite hearing he'd have missed it. 'I love you, daddy.' Sesshomaru wasn't sure what he was feeling, but his heart felt like it was melting and his breath caught in his throat. Filled with a sense of uncertainty Sesshomaru exited his room to have their food made. When the food arrived, Sesshomaru returned to his room to wake his pack. He woke his Rin first, carefully cradling her face and stroking his thumb over her cheek. The sensation seemed to work as her eyes opened sleepily to look at him.
"Good morning, Lord Sesshomaru." She said in her drowsy voice, "is it time to get up?"
"Hn," he replied, "your favorite breakfast is in the den." He said as he helped her sit up. She rubbed her eyes and scooted to climb off the bed.
"You're leaving today aren't you?" She asked. He could see the tears she fought to hold back and smell the sadness that came from her. He simply nodded once in affirmation and she nodded in understanding. "Will Rin be allowed to be there for the send off?" She asked.
"Both Rin and Shippo may attend the send off." He replied, which seemed to placate her for the moment. Nodding she stood and went to eat her breakfast. Sesshomaru set about waking Shippo next. He carefully placed his hand on the boy's head and ruffled his hair lightly. Shippo's sleepy eyes opened and he informed the boy that he'd be attending the send off, before telling him about the food. Shippo wasted no time getting out of bed to eat. Sesshomaru moved to the other side of the bed and sat down next to his Miko, for a brief moment he gazed at her features, her long lashes, her soft plump lips, her peaceful expression as she slept, she looked so serene there in her slumber, you'd never know how fierce she truly was until you saw her in combat. One last moment and he caressed her face softly and sent a tiny wisp of youki to wake her, the thought of letting her sleep and keeping her here crossed his mind, but she was so stubborn and he knew she'd follow after him. The Miko's eyes opened slowly, sleepily she gazed at Sesshomaru before blinking through her tiredness and sitting up. Kagome had been in the middle of a sweet dream when a soft nudge against her reiki woke her. It was so soft it took her a moment to realize it was Sesshomaru that woke her. Quietly she sat up and looked at him. She wondered if he knew how he looked sitting there next to her, there was no doubting the look of admiration on his face.
"Good morning, Sesshomaru." Kagome said as she moved carefully towards the edge of the bed.
"Good morning, Kagome." He said in return.
"Have the children woke?" She asked him quietly and he nodded in affirmation. Kagome moved to stand when Sesshomaru did, but instead she caught her foot in the blanket and fell, thankfully Sesshomaru was there to catch her before she hit the floor. Sesshomaru lifted her in his arms and the blanket released her foot. A soft chuckle came from Sesshomaru and if she hadn't felt the chuckle through his chest she wouldn't have believed it came from him, she looked up at his face and noticed an amused sparkle to his eyes and an ever slight smirk on his lips.
"Did you just laugh at me?" Kagome asked amused and astonished.
"How can someone so elegant in battle be so clumsy in such mundane tasks as standing and walking?" He replied with amusement in his voice.
"With great ease." she retorted. Sesshomaru sat her feet on a blanketless part of the floor but kept his hand on her back, she figured he thought she'd fall again. Determined to prove him wrong she moved ahead of his arm only to slip on another piece of the huge blanket. Once again Sesshomaru caught her, this time though he picked her up and carried her.
"Perhaps you should avoid hurting yourself the day you march off to war, lest I leave you here to be tended to." He teased, she opened her mouth but she had no retort so she closed it. Carefully he opened the door and sat her at the table, Kagome looked over what the children were eating, Rin had rice balls and fish, Shippo had eggs, sausage, and rice. Sesshomaru removed the lid from the platter containing her breakfast, it was an omelet and jelly, she giggled as his face took a slightly displeased quality, he'd still never understood why she liked it, but he knew it was her favorite. Silently Sesshomaru sat beside her as she applied the jelly to her omelet.
