Day Three

Kagome knelt down onto the floor with the tray, stopping to rap her knuckles at the shoji softly before sliding it open it open with her right hand. Once the door was opened a few inches, she slid it open further with her left hand and bowed politely at the room's sole inhabitant. A gentle smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched the woman move effortlessly. On the tray lay a small bowl of his new favorite snack- a secret shared between the two of them alone. He quickly pretended to go busily back to his work as she sat back up, now properly picking up the tray and stepping inside the grace that was almost at the tier of a lady. Almost. She knelt back down, this time sinking a tad awkwardly into seiza in front of him and serving him the tray. Sighing, he put the papers he was currently reading down and looked over her form for a moment.

"These are the berries you requested, Sesshoumaru-sama. Sorry I forgot yesterday. I was still a bit upset" He looked at her with a raised brow, then over at the door. She had forgotten to shut it. Looking back at her she had a slight flush to her cheeks as she had seen her mistake. Giving her a curt nod, he called out to his guards he called for them to shut the door. Once firmly closed, he looked back at her for a moment before picking up a single berry from his fingers and examining it and giving it a single sniff. After a moment's hesitation, he popped the fruit into his mouth and slowly chewed it.

Feeling the tension in the room heighten at his silence, she took that as her cue to speak while waiting for him to finish what appeared to be the world's Slowest Chewing Of A Fruit Ever. "But uh, you were right. I need to decide whether to take this opportunity and improve my skills, as well as remove, as you said it so delicately, all doubt in my mating partner." She looked up to see him still chewing. And chewing. Then he stopped.

Taking that as her cue, she reached forward until a hand grasped her by the wrist. He shook his head, signaling for her to wait. Growing fustrated, she snatched her hand back and scowled. "Don't hog 'em all, jeesh!" A low hiss could be heard as he started chewing again slowly then stopped, and glared at her at the conclusion of his sampling of the fruit. "It is the job of the male to ensure there is no harm within anything that may come in contact with his female. That includes food. Had there been a poison, I would be immune. But you, onna, would have died."

He picked up the next berry, slicing it in half with his claw and rubbing the inside against a corner of his parchment. Slowly it disintegrated and warped, an acid eating through the pulp of the paper. Kagome's eyes widened at the display. After a moment, she looked away, a despondent look across her features as she thought on what she had seen. Eyes full of emotion she looked up at him, and she nervously leaned forward to whisper, "It appears....I owe you another favor." Then she thought, 'What the hell....didn't that HURT?'

He scoffed turning back to his papers and as she thought. A blissful silence was quickly broken by her wavering voice. Sighing, he put the papers back down and looked at her. "Yes, onna?" A scowl written on her face as she scooted closer to his side to assure they would not be heard. His fingers gripped the parchment he held with a steel reserve as her arm brushed against his, his entire body tensing.

"Sesshoumaru, do people take attempts on your life that often?" she said softly.

"Hn. Silly question. Of course." he answered curtly. Silence returned.

"Why?"

'So much for silence', he mused inwardly. He looked over at the miko, a bored look on his face, and stated matter-of-factly, "This Sesshoumaru has gained territory by forcing it from others of lesser power. Those that remained have sought to exact vengeance on behalf of those who have fallen before my person in battle. However, most conveniently forget that following my father's death, much of his territory fell into their hands. I merely took back his prior holdings. Therefore, I have many enemies." There. Hoping for silence now, he heard her gasp after the conclusion of his short speech. Dammit.

The next statement he wasn't quite as prepared for. "It must be lonely."

He froze, his eyes widening slightly before slamming the parchment down on the tray. Instantly he regretted the rash action as she jumped back slightly from him, her warmth no longer permeating his side. 'Lonely...just.....LONELY?' His beast roared in anger. He kept his eyes on her as he barked out to the guards, "LEAVE US." Hurried footsteps could be heard as they stepped briskly down the hallway. When he was assured no one was within listening distance, he got up and approached the miko, kneeling down and pressing forward on his hands to be at her eye level. She was leaning almost entirely back on her arms her legs splayed out beneath her as he neared her. His eyes became dark, and his face of canvas of the agony of all the emotions he continually held back throughout the duration of his life. Softly his voice rasped out to her, and she instantly regretted her last choice of words.

"It has been that way for five hundred years." He ground out darkly. He screamed inwardly at himself, knowing he was scaring her, but barely able hold onto the final threads of his restraint, his claws scratched at the tatami floor as he looked at her. After a moment forcing deep breaths in and calming himself down, he reached to her before pulling back to sit in seiza, pulling her back up into a proper sitting position as all. He looked away from her, already embarrassed at his near loss of mind from her simple statement, and the room stayed silent for several minutes before he cleared his throat. Quietly he said, "Forgive this Sesshoumaru's actions."

Kagome looked at him, her mind racing with this revelation. He had been alive that long? He was alone that long? The emotions in his face...she had never, EVER seen him like that before- not during the battle for the great Fang, not during the exposure of the Meido Zangetsuha's secret, nothing compared to this. She was literally looking at a being that suffered centuries of a solitary existence. But what brought this tide on? Sesshoumaru was renown for excersizing lethally perfect control of his emotions. What was so severe, that it brought on his current haphazard state? She looked at him for a moment, and did the only thing she could think of.

She darted forward, her arms hooking under his and her hands meeting at the demon lord's back, holding him tight to her. She felt him flinch, and start in surprise at her actions. She tightened her grasp around him, a fierce look in her eyes. "You helped me yesterday. I am returning the favor." She insisted, and she felt him relax in her hold before continuing. "I have decided. I will stay here and train. And I will try my best to be your friend. You scare me sometimes Sesshoumaru and I don't know much about you. But I don't want you to feel alone anymore, Sesshoumaru. Aside from Rin and your servant Jaken, you deserve a true friend in this world."

Sesshoumaru breathed in her scent, and wrapped his arms around her and nodded, whispering in her ear. "This Sesshoumaru accepts, on one condition, Kagome."

She nodded, "I owe you, so please- name it. Just....no more berries. They seem like a bad idea now."

He buried his head in her neck and tried to inhale deeply, but failed as he found himself laughing at her quip. "No, no berries Kagome." He tightened his grip around her, pressing her closer and sighing at her warmth. "Could we do this, in its stead?"

Kagome nodded. Hug? He wanted something as simple as a hug? Oh boy. The guy was an icebox, but damn...he wanted to be held that badly? She pulled back and looked into his eyes. "Sure, Sesshoumaru-kun." She smiled up at him, and he found himself nodding in thanks.

Sesshoumaru looked down at the woman, inwardly amazed at her acceptance of him. Perhaps he had been right in his assessment of her- perhaps this woman would truly grow to love him. Could he begin to believe in a small chance such as this? Gazing at her, he nodded a second time in confirmation, and returned the acknowledgment she bestowed on him.

"Kagome-chan."