Disclaimer: InuYasha & Final Act are all owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Viz Media & Madmen Entertainment.
SessKag Week 2023 Day 7 – Joy
Word prompt: Laughter
Scenario 1: Sharing good news
Scenario 2: Character A goes overboard to make character B happy
Chapter Seven
"What the hell did you do to me, wench?" Kagome winced at Inuyasha's shout the moment she and Sesshoumaru entered Miroku and Sango's hut. She knew it was coming, but that didn't make his anger any easier to bear.
"It seems she saved your life, brother." Everyone stared at Sesshoumaru, eyes wide at his defense of her. Even she was a bit taken aback. A nonchalant hand brushed his hair back over his shoulder, as if he defended others every day.
"Bullshit," Inuyasha snarled, the threat behind it lost with his youki. "You're just happy I can't use Tessaiga anymore." He lifted an eyebrow at the accusation before turning his attention back to her.
"Did you purify him of his memories as well?"
"No… why would you think that?" She blinked at him.
"It has been many years since this one has sought the fang." He shrugged. "I had hoped his absurd accusation resulted from the reiki, not his genetics. Perhaps this one should be worried."
An amused snort escaped Miroku, causing Kagome to lose the battle. A soft chuckle escaping her, much to her chagrin. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha." She fought against her laughter, only to have it replaced by Miroku's. It wasn't funny, not really. But it was the first they had ever heard Sesshoumaru attempt a joke. The cold youkai cracking jokes was the funniest thing anyone had seen in a long while.
"Keh," Inuyasha shoved arms in the sleeves of his fire rat robe, turning his head away, his own lips twisted in amusement. "What happened to that crazy youkai?" It was a poor attempt at changing the subject, but one she would grant him.
"Sesshoumaru and I defeated them. What do you remember from their attack?" Even if it was too late to return his youki to him, she wanted to hear everything she could. Perhaps there was still a chance she could fix her mistake. If she had the right information, she might find something back home. It was a slim chance, but one she would take.
"Not much. They wanted revenge for Urasue." He lowered his head, no doubt plagued with memories of Kikyou as he so often was whenever something that reminded him of the long dead Miko came into conversation. The hut grew silent, neither Kagome nor Miroku knowing what to say to pull their friend from their thoughts. The morose atmosphere forcing the daiyoukai to slip their mind, if only for a moment.
"I thought you destroyed his youki?" Had any other being asked such a thing, she would have scoffed at them. She assumed his youki was destroyed. Why else would Inuyasha have turned human before the new moon? Especially when Miroku couldn't sense the youki that had once flowed so strongly within him.
But this was Sesshoumaru.
"What do you sense?" He cocked his head to the side, inhaling deeply. Hope bloomed within her, mirroring the hope within her best friend's dark eyes.
"His scent has not changed." She gripped his arm, silently pleading for more. "You must trust your reiki more. It would not maim one you care for so drastically." Her chest tightened as she swallowed past a lump in her throat.
"Fuck yeah!" Inuyasha leapt up, pumping a fist in the air. Miroku, though clearly pleased at the news as well, reached out to steady their friend. His whispered coaxing faded as she left the hut, welcoming the cooling mist of rain to wash over her face. Taking a shuddering breath, she let all the tension of the day seep away.
She didn't hear him step out of the hut with her, but she didn't need to. She could feel him, his strength, his security, his overwhelming power, all standing quietly behind her as she gathered herself together. How many times was she going to fall apart in front of him today?
He didn't speak, but he really didn't need to. She could feel his curious gaze boring into her back. She should be pleased with the news she hadn't cursed Inuyasha with a premature death. That she hadn't forced him into an existence of loneliness. And she was, but she had made such a fool of herself, sobbing into his arms. It was hard to face anyone with the sting of embarrassment so fresh.
Clawed hands stroked up her arms, resting on her shoulders. She knew his intent, to turn her to face him; his hesitation giving her a chance to pull away. Yet, she couldn't. The attention he was showering on her was more that she could ever wish for outside of her dreams.
Slowly, his hands guided her to turn. Molten gold bored into her, demanding the truth for a question he had yet to ask. She licked her lips, those smoldering eyes tracking her tongue as it swiped across the smooth surface.
"You speak in your sleep." Her breath caught in her throat, horror freezing her instantly. Kami, could this day get any worse? She tried to jerk away, his clawed fingers trapping her in place. A smirk crossed his face as he leaned in, his nose ghosting over her own. "This one is curious…"
His lips claimed hers. Fireworks exploded in her mind. Her hands griped his biceps as she leaned into the kiss. Moaning, she opened for him, his tongue taking possession of hers; the taste of him as overwhelming as his power. He pulled away as her lungs began screaming for air, chuckling as her lips trailed after him.
"You should have spoken earlier, my sweet Miko." He pulled her closer, her head resting against his chest. Perhaps this day wasn't as terrible as she thought. To think she would have an oni's curse to thank for the greatest gift she never expected to receive.