Every time he looked at her like that, Kagome's resolve to keep a distance crumbled. The warmth she experienced in her dreams felt real, a comforting caress around her shoulders, and she trembled as she tried to resist.
"Mama knows who you are, doesn't she?" she whispered. "She stopped me from blasting you the night you showed up at the cottage." The slight incline of his head was more wince than acknowledgement, but it had the same effect.
"Do not blame her," he said, running a hand through his hair. "She was very clear about how she felt about my actions."
"I bet she was." A chuckle escaped her lips. "She probably threatened to remove your tail."
"Indeed."
She wanted to tell him that her mother clearly had her own reasons for staying quiet, but if Mama had an excuse, then he had to be given the benefit of the doubt as well. It was a slippery slope, and she didn't know how far she was from the ground.
"You never answered my question," she said, trying for more solid footing. "About why you came to the cottage when you were injured. If it wasn't about fate or destiny, why were you there?"
Why did you choose me?
His amber gaze was piercing as he faced her. "I am safe with you." It should've been a low blow, using the same words she had in the dreamscape, but Kagome felt her cheeks heat.
He was a warrior, a daiyoukai, youki thrumming under every cell of his body, yet at his weakest moment, he'd looked to her for comfort? For safety?
"Sesshoumaru—" Kagome realized her mistake too late, energy crackling between them moments before she felt his claws at the back of her neck.