The First Cold

Prompt: N/A

Universe: Post Canon

Genre: Fluff

666 Words

The world was all shiny and new and Kagome was seeing everything in a rose-tinted hue. If someone had told her, years ago, that she would one day be together with Sesshoumaru, she wouldn't have believed them.

Some mornings, when she woke up cuddled close next to him, the warm weight of his arm a comfort around her waist, she still couldn't believe it.

Because of all the giddiness of this new and budding relationship, Kagome missed all the warning signs.

She only realised what was going on, when she woke that morning; her throat sore, her right nostril hopelessly clogged and her head all woozy and weird as if someone had stuffed it full with cotton balls.

Kagome let out a groan, the sound leaving her lips hoarse and pitiful.

She felt the futon move as Sesshoumaru shifted, could all but feel the tension radiating off of him as he was alerted to something being wrong.

Because she didn't want him to worry, she tried for a light tone – which failed miserably as her voice had become a thin rasp.

"It's fine. I'm fine. It's just a cold."

Sesshoumaru did not find this reassuring at all if the dark scowl on his brow was any indication. His golden eyes were scrutinising every inch of her, as if to make sure himself that she was all right.

"A cold," he finally repeated after a moment, his head tilted in the way he sometimes did when he was confused.

Kagome found it adorable.

"Yes. You know," she prompted him, tried for a smile.

And was met with a blank stare.

"I do not know," Sesshoumaru said, deadpan.

Kagome blinked. Tried to get her hazy cotton ball brain to focus.

How could he not know about colds?

Even if demons were impervious to common illnesses like it, he had spent months travelling around with Rin, and children and illnesses were like honey and flies. Had the girl never really got sick? Was it because she'd been resurrected by Tenseiga? Or maybe Rin hadn't wanted to be a bother and just hadn't told Sesshoumaru if she was feeling sick? Or maybe, they'd had so little contact with other humans that she'd been safe from most germs and viruses floating around.

Whatever the reason, it now posed Kagome with a dilemma.

"A cold is a very common illness," she explained. "Mostly seasonal. It'll last for a few days and then I'll be fine again."

Sesshoumaru stared.

Kagome started coughing.

That was a big mistake, because Sesshoumaru jumped up from the futon, rushed to the door, and started to yell for the servants.

He demanded extra quilts to be bought, for a wide array of medicines to be prepared, for a healer to be fetched this very second, one familiar with human illnesses.

"Sesshoumaru," Kagome tried to call out but her voice broke.

Instantly, he was by her side again, his arms wrapping around her to support her.

Since it was right there, Kagome let her head rest against his shoulder.

"I do not need a healer," she told him.

"You are ill," Sesshoumaru replied, insistent. The look in his eyes was intense and maybe a little deranged.

"It's a very mild illness and it'll pass soon."

"I do not care. I am not taking the risk –"

"Sesshoumaru," Kagome cut in, more forceful.

She raised her hand to cup his cheek, ran her thumb along the magenta stripes adorning it.

The growl that had been building up in Sesshoumaru's throat died.

"I've had a cold at least once a year for the past ten years or so. Trust me. I don't need a healer and I'll be fine. Now please stop panicking because there are things that you can do to help me."

He closed his eyes. His head dipped forward, his forehead coming to rest against hers, cool against her feverish skin.

"Anything," he said, his voice a deep, soothing rumble in her ears. "I will do anything."