Paintings and tapestries raced past her, Sesshoumaru's stride too quick for her to take in any of the captured scenes, and Kagome was close to telling him as such when the final door opened, a rush of warm air ruffling her hair.
They stepped out into a vast garden, her breath hitching at the endless rows of bright colours. Fruit-covered trees lined a weaving pathway, shielding them from the bustling shiro surrounding the castle, and Kagome stepped forward in wonder.
"It's beautiful."
His soft smile was nearly as dazzling, and he tugged on her hand, leading her away from stone and plaster into a world of genteel flora. She kept trying to stop, wanting to memorize each petal and stem, but he refused, quickly pulling her off the path and into a secluded glade.
A rebuke was on the tip of her tongue, but his hand shot out, picking a bloom from a nearby bush and offering it to her.
A rose.
The same rose that had kept her sane during those awful months without him.
Emotions welled as tears stung her eyes, the gift hovering between them. "There is much to be said for assumptions and miscommunications, so allow me to be clear: I wish to spend no more time apart from you. Will you be my mate?"
As obvious as her answer was, signs of disquiet had crept into his eyes since they'd left the cottage, and a bright smile broke out on her face.
He was nervous.
The emotions overflowed, and she leapt into his arms.