Prompt: a kiss along the collarbone.
Returning to the village with every intent of revealing their relationship abruptly blew up in their face upon hearing the news; Inuyasha was engaged.
Kagome blinked, a little thrown that she didn't feel a stab of jealousy or disappointment. Instead, she smiled and warmly approached him outside. He looked a little panicked upon seeing her but she dismissed this by pulling the Hanyou into a hug and congratulating him.
Their own announcement was pushed back until further notice, not wanting to rain on Inuyasha's parade. Well, Sesshoumaru didn't really care- but Kagome forbid him from tattling.
However, she had no intention of halting her own plans, so the miko cheerfully announced that she'd be leaving the village to set out on a large journey around Japan. Her friends had been confused and dismayed. Sango pulled her aside and asked if it had anything to do with Inuyasha's news but Kagome firmly assured her.
"I'm doing this for myself," she told them, much to their shock. "I want to help people, and I feel like I can do that more on the road than here."
"But...alone?" Shippo said worriedly.
Inuyasha growled. "Yeah what the hell? What if you get captured, who's gonna rescue you if we have no idea where the fuck you even are?"
"This one will be accompanying Kagome," Sesshoumaru smoothly cut in. All eyes turned to him then, each individual who had been out of the loop visibly clicking at the use of her name. The Daiyoukai had been silent up until that point, lingering by Kagome's side like an intimidating plus one.
Inuyasha's expression darkened.
"This is what I've decided to do," Kagome said, meeting everyone's stunned gazes. "I'll still come back and visit of course."
"Well, at least Lord Sesshoumaru going with you is quite a relief. We won't have to worry about her safety now, will we, Inuyasha?" Miroku's amiable voice tried to prod some enthusiasm out of him. Grunting, the Hanyou turned on his heel and stalked away.
Blue eyes slid up to Sesshoumaru, and Kagome squeezed his arm once. She then walked after the Hanyou, her pace measured. She didn't chase him as she would've before as a high school girl.
Rounding the side of a hut, she found him brooding, hands shoved inside his sleeves and mouth bent into a displeased, silent snarl.
"...Are you two...gonna mate now, or something?" white ears pressed down tight against his head at the thought.
Kagome stopped, lingering close and lifting a shoulder. "In the future, if it works out. Right now we've decided to start dating for real."
He bristled and grit his teeth. "Maybe focus more on that 'if it works out' part. Dammit Kagome, ya know how stressful it is to see you with him? You two talked about kids yet? Is he pissing his pants happy over the idea of his half breeds running around, soiling his precious 'pure blood'?"
"He brought up the idea of kids with me first so he seems pretty on board with it, yeah," she said calmly.
"Keh! T-then what about considering someone- anyone else? There's that fisherman who likes you-"
"Ew, no thanks," her nose wrinkled. "I don't wanna stink of fish all day," Kagome shivered.
"W-what about Kouga? He's a mangy wolf but at least he's better than-"
"I'm dating Sesshoumaru," Kagome cut in firmly, putting an end to his hopeful grasping at straws. "And I'm not going to date someone else just because you like them better." Her chest felt as though steel bands had closed around it, keeping her from breathing properly. "Even if it's a mistake, it's mine to make. Know what you can do? Be supportive. Be a friend. That's all I want, Inuyasha."
Her travelling companion of one year and first love recoiled as though trapped. Inuyasha heaved a sigh, glaring hard at the ground as though willing it to swallow him up. He took a long time to sieve through his thoughts. "I don't like it," came the obvious conclusion. The words slid out slower then, halting, as though it pained him to say. "But...you played the stupid 'friend' card, so I guess I support you; In that I'll kill him if he hurts you. I ain't gonna pretend to like it, but I'll always have your back- bad decisions or not, alright?"
Kagome knew that was about as much support he could muster at the moment. Stepping forward, she gave him a hug- which he returned tightly while complaining she smelled too much like his damn bastard of a brother.
By the time she was ready to set out it, Kagome had made her goodbyes. Shippo wanted to come along, but it made sense with his schooling to stay put in the village.
Shouldering her backpack and waving to their distant figures while shifting her feet backwards over the trail, the miko grinned widely at her friends. Her heart ached a little, but she knew it to be for the best. Once they'd rounded a corner and disappeared from sight behind dense foliage, she turned her attention to her unlikely travelling companion.
Sesshoumaru walked quietly, sliding a golden gaze her way.
Smiling a little more gently, Kagome grasped his calloused hand, bumping against his side. Sesshoumaru's heel dragged to a stop, and he made a low noise, curling an arm around her waist. Kagome knew enough about dog demons to figure Inuyasha's scent peppering her clothes likely displeased him. Sinking closer against him and carefully reaching up- mindful of his armour- she slid the collar of his hankimono aside. Pressing a messy trail of kisses against his pale collarbone, blue eyes glittered.
"So where do you wanna head to first, travel buddy?"
Mokomoko shifted to slide around the backs of her knees, Sesshoumaru letting out a short- stifled exhale. "The Western Lands, naturally."