SILVER (FREE)

"Are you happy?"

It's a stupid question, she knows that, but she asks it anyway. Because while she is absolutely sure about very many things in her life, Sesshoumaru is not always one of them. He briefly scowls at her, probably offended by the insinuation that he isn't. But he takes a moment, collects his thoughts or whatever he does in those long suffering silences he likes to take.

"I have no use for things like happiness."

Kagura rolls her eyes. "That's not what I asked."

His gaze trails off towards the sky, she isn't sure whether he's thinking about it or he's decided the question isn't worth his time. It's probably half and half, but she's learned to be patient, rather than snapping at him when he gets quiet like this, because if he is thinking about it, then she doesn't want to let him blame his lack of response on her.

Finally, he asks: "Are you?"

She purses her lips. He couldn't just answer the damn―she wants to tell him that he can't just turn the question back on her like that, but with a sigh she knows that if she refuses to answer it herself she'll never get anything from him.

He's watching her, waiting, she can feel his gaze on the top of her head as she looks down, buries herself a little deeper into that soft spot just below his collarbone, between where his shoulder swells and where the hard muscles of his chest begin. She can feel his heartbeat, loud in her ear, the steady tha-thump-tha-thump against her cheek. She likes being here, with the sound of his heart and the arm he'd regained draped loosely over her waist, his fur molded to her back and shielding her from the night's chill.

There's a mark on his chest, over his heart, a lipstick stain from earlier. She'd left it on purpose, among others, something a little heady about seeing him flustered and covered in her markings, as easily washed away as they are. She idly reaches out and smoothes her thumb over the stain, feels the sticky residue smear against their skin.

"I'm free, aren't I?"

He hums. "They're hardly one and the same."

Kagura wants to say that for her, they almost are. Instead, she sits up a bit, turning on her side to look at him. His hair is a little messy, looser than usual and fanning out against where he's propped his head against his fur. She reaches out and takes a lock, twirling it around her fingers, watching as it almost glitters in the moonlight. She's always loved his hair, the way the silver reflects light, whether it be the moon or the sun or fire, it's always a different shade, always revealing something new about him. She would drink it down if she could, would comb her hands through those silver strands for eternity if he'll let her.

He watches her expectantly, eyes half lidded, and she can't help the nervous little chuckle that works its way out of her throat.

"I am," she says after a while, and pulls the lock of his hair to her lips, probably staining it red. "And you?"

Sesshoumaru shifts, threading his fingers through her own hair, where it's come loose from its usual tie, while his other hand comes up to slide along her jaw, gently pulling her up until she's hovering over his lips.

"What a stupid question."

He kisses her, long and heart achingly sweet. He doesn't kiss her often, rarer still are the times he initiates it, his claws lightly trail down her spine, making her shiver. The tenderness of the act almost has her forgetting what they'd even been talking about when he pulls away to softly say:

"What do you think?"

Kagura smiles, and Sesshoumaru just pulls her close again.