Chapter Six: Romance
Sesshoumaru reached for the prop Kagome withdrew from her cache of supplies, taking the browned, seemingly-ancient piece of parchment carefully. He had moved to sit between Rin and Shippou, and now sent the boy scathing glares any time he attempted an overture toward 'Kagome'. Even a 'where to next' earned the kitsune fierce stink eye.
Sesshoumaru fingered the paper for a moment, furrowing his brow in confusion. "What is this?" He asked.
Red tinged Kagome's cheeks. "It's uh… supposed to be a map."
The daiyoukai nodded, bringing it close. "I see that," he examined drawn roads, forests, and towns, roaming over the parchment's burned edges. "I am inquiring about its state. This paper appears to be of considerable age, but feels immeasurably robust. How were you able to preserve it in such good condition? Especially after it survived a fire?"
Kagome's embarrassment increased; she had meant it to be thematic, not a detracting puzzle. "It's not old. I made it to look like that on purpose."
The children peered over Sesshoumaru's sleeves, and he lowered it so they could see better.
"How you'd do that?" Shippou pinched a dark, scorched corner, forgetting to be wary of Sesshoumaru's new hyper-vigilance around him. The older demon allowed the intrusion graciously, though frowned when a bit of ash flaked off.
"Gentle," he chided.
Shippou's touch grew featherlight, and he ducked, curling inward to shield his face and chest.
The response was involuntary, and Sesshoumaru realized his half-brother must follow reprimands with blows. How often had the kit been struck instead of simply reminded?
Oblivious to his comprehension of their group's dynamic, Kagome groped to explain. "I soaked the paper in tea," she smoothed the pleats of her green skirt, wishing she hadn't wasted her time being so geeky. "And used a lit match to char its sides."
Sesshoumaru looked up from Shippou, who had already relaxed his shoulders when no fist rained down. "You did this to add to the story? To make us feel like it was a true relic?"
A wan smile rose. "Yeah. Pretty dumb, huh?"
He returned to the map, his gaze cryptic.
"I think it's cool, Kagome," Shippou reassured. "But I don't know what the words say."
Rin studied eagerly. "Sesshoumaru-sama is teaching me to read," brown eyes searched. "Where's Pernith?"
Instead of telling her, the daiyoukai flattened the parchment further. "What letter do you hear in the town's name?"
The girl instantly puffed air past her lips. "Puh, puh."
"That's the sound it makes," he encouraged. "What's the letter?"
Rin paused in thought, before her face broke in a triumphant smile. "P!"
"Good. Now find the city starting with it."
Shippou watched as Rin hunted, curious which mysterious squiggle she would choose.
She found what she sought quickly, pointing to a cluster of drawn buildings near a large group of triangled trees. "There!"
Pride crinkled the corners of Sesshoumaru's eyes. "Yes," he set the map across his lap so he could tap a circle of stones in the nearby woods. "And here is where the artifact the blacksmith spoke of must be."
Both children squinted, and Kagome felt her embarrassment ease at the heart-tugging picture they made. Each leaned elbows on Sesshoumaru's thighs, Rin perched on a coil of silver hair and Shippou kneeling atop a wide swathe of mokomoko.
Oh yes, youngsters are his kryptonite. Total sucker.
Kagome didn't realize her mouth had turned up in a warm smile until Sesshoumaru cleared his throat meaningfully.
"You are staring, miko."
Too enamored to dredge up new mortification, she shrugged instead. "You make a pretty cute portrait together," she stated. "I didn't know you had it in you."
If the descriptor 'cute' galled, Sesshoumaru gave no indication. "There is much you don't know about this one."
Kagome managed a snort. "I believe our earliest encounters sufficiently dimmed any desire to learn more."
"And now?"
"Now I know your weakness."
His eyes snagged hers before trailing down her form. "No. I don't believe you do."
"Oh?" She said lightly. "Care to illuminate?"
"Not in present company."
His meaning didn't matriculate, and she shot back, "Don't think they can handle it?"
"It is not for young ears."
"I can't imagine what weakness you could have that they can't—," Kagome stopped, jerking in her seat. Wait—What's happening here? She eyed him suspiciously, noting the purposeful cant of his head and a mysterious intensity in his stare. The strange manner – aimed entirely at her, was foreign; she'd never seen it before. It wasn't menacing or contemptuous – it almost looked, suggestive? Is Sesshoumaru… flirting with me?! What the WHAT!?
His lips quirked as if her recognition had been aloud. While Rin and Shippou chattered over the map, he reclaimed her gaze. "Why are you here with us on your birthday?" He asked quietly.
Kagome hadn't been expecting the return to her absent mention and felt her mouth fall open.
"Surely you had wanted to celebrate with your family. Or Inu-Yasha," he added casually.
Her jaw still hung wide, immune to her command to start moving and respond.
Sesshoumaru divided his attention between the paper and her. "It is obvious you put untold time and effort into crafting this tale. Did the half-breed refuse to humor you?"
At that, Kagome found her voice. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" She muttered. "One more way you'd outstrip your brother."
"I did not realize this would be a test measuring us against each other," he admitted. "But I am gratified to have passed where he failed."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Sesshoumaru arched an eyebrow. "For one so quick to quip in a game of make-believe, you are slow at understanding in real life."
Kagome stared over, mystified. "Well…," she fumbled, unable to rouse a pithy comeback, soundly proving his point. "Sorry to disappoint," she finished lamely.
"On the contrary, you have shown surprising accomplishment in arenas I did not know you possessed."
At Kagome's thunderstruck expression, Rin giggled.
"That means Sesshoumaru-sama likes you, Kagome-sama."
Prompt: Romance (Day 6)
Date: Originally posted 7/26/20 on Dokuga
Words: 1,000