Prompt: a kiss on the back of the hand.
He hadn't been waiting in their usual meeting spot for their secret trysts, so Kagome had followed a thin thread of dark youki towards a larger source. Concern and horror began to mar her expression the further she walked, spying spots of blood trailing over the forest floor.
She picked up the pace.
Kagome didn't even realise she was running until after she'd burst through a thick greenery of bushes and skidded to a stop by a river, panting hard. Sesshoumaru was knelt by the water, cracked armour removed. Crimson plumed like bloodied flowers on snow through white silks. The wounds didn't look fatal, but that didn't stop her heart from thundering.
"Sesshoumaru," she breathed.
Red hazed eyes snapped in her direction, feeling like a physical blow to her chest. They soon dimmed back into gold, the demon continuing to clean his wounded hand, arm and shoulder.
"What happened?"
"It is not of any concern."
"Do you even hear yourself? Of course it is!" Kagome approached, reaching out with the intent of touching his shoulder before his body jerked. Sesshoumaru looked at her with a snarl, lips curling back to expose sharp fangs.
"Leave, miko. This one has no desire to be coddled as you would the half breed."
Her temper automatically flared, before Kagome took a breath and slid her gaze up the wounded flesh of his left arm, his silks pushed back. Claws seemed to have cleaved through skin. No doubt it had stung his pride to be hit, and on his arm too after finally getting his missing one restored.
She knelt before him, adjusting her summer dress, a stubborn set to her jaw despite the softness with which she spoke. "Now who said I was going to do anything like that?"
Despite how many nights they'd lain together- how she'd seen his cool facade splinter with rapture- how tightly and securely he'd held her while they'd dozed in afterglow, his eyes remained slightly guarded. It hurt Kagome's chest a little. Gripping the hem of her long skirts, she ripped a sizable chunk out. Knowing he'd leave if she went to get medical supplies, she had to make do with what they had. Dipping the cloth into cool water and carefully dabbing the remaining blood away, she heard a sharp intake of breath.
Kagome continued cleaning his wounds, hearing a brimming growl locked behind his teeth. Sesshoumaru remained still nonetheless. She worked for some time, until pale flesh was revealed beneath dried blood.
She began babbling due to his continued silence. "If you don't want me to use my bandages or bandaids, I could fetch some honey. I never knew it could be used as a wound dressing. Kaede's taught me a lot, all about herbs and stuff. She's really great, though sometimes I catch her looking at me like-"
Having lifted her head, blue eyes widened slightly. Sesshoumaru had bent closer, silver bangs sliding forward. Some flecks of blood dotted his jaw, nostrils flaring, slit pupils dilating.
No one looked at her like he did. Kaede's eyes would sometimes mist over with nostalgia, just like Inuyasha's. It was something neither could control, and Kagome often wondered what she'd said or did to remind them of their beloved Kikyo.
The Daiyoukai's stare cut deep into her marrow. Her body flared alive, and the distinct feeling of being seen- completely, crept over her skin. He saw everything, flaws and all.
"You wish to slather honey onto me, miko?" his tone dropped into a velvet caress.
Kagome's cheeks flared red and she growled, pushing his face away with a careless hand. "No! I mean- yes! But for healing reasons!"
Long fingers caught her wrist, wrapping around it securely and holding it in place. A silky chuckle escaped him, and Sesshoumaru bent his head- pressing a long, lingering kiss to the back of her hand.
"Hn."
Her blush crept it's way down her neck, disappearing beneath her dress. "So um- did you feel coddled just now?"
He tipped his head to the side and quietly regarded her. Thin lips pressed into a grim line, before he relented; "no."
She smiled a little, shivering from the feel of his clawed thumb dragged over her wrist lightly. Hot breath danced over her fingers. "Good. I like...taking care of my friends."
Golden eyes roved over Kagome's face, before winter lashes lowered slightly. His grip suddenly tightened, and Sesshoumaru yanked her closer. Kagome let out a squeak, bumping into his chest.
"Hn, now I should tend to you."
"I-I'm not injured!"
A wet tongue dragged over her ear. "Your ego is wounded," he breathed- causing her heart to thrum. His free hand slid languidly down the small of her back, curling claws to catch in the material. "I sense it. That is why you come to me in the first place, is it not?"
Kagome's teeth dragged over her plump bottom lip, before sighing and bridging the distance between them.
He was entirely correct. Sesshoumaru, for all his cruelty and malice, was able to massage the bruised, uncertain part of her soul that belonged to Kagome alone.