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SessKag Week 2023 Day 3 – Surprise

Word prompt: Secrets

Scenario 1: Receiving an unexpected confession

Scenario 2: Character A catches character B doing something peculiar

Chapter Three

The sun had set long ago, bathing the modest hut in darkness. The small cooking fire settled to embers, granting the shadows a stronger foothold in the room. Loud snores erupted from the old Miko, contrasting with the soft snores of his ward. The two humans had long succumbed to the grip of sleep, no matter how badly they wished otherwise. His ward especially.

She had fought the hardest to stay vigilant by the Shikon Miko's bedside. With every yawn, followed taps to her cheeks or a pinch to the arm. In the end, it wasn't enough. An hour after the older Miko fell into the bliss of sleep, the gentle pressure of his ward's head rested against his arm. Her soft snores soon following.

It was for the best. His ward was in no state to listen to his lecture on listening to the needs of her body. She was human and couldn't stay awake as long as she wished. As pleased as he was that she was finally resting, that left him to watch the Shikon Miko in her stead. Not that he wished to, but should he move, he would no doubt wake his ward, and that was unacceptable.

At least this would be the last night of silent vigil this ward would suffer through. With each passing hour after the two humans lost the battle for slumber, the Shikon Miko improved; her reiki destroying the curse that plagued her. No longer was she sweating, the purification induced fever broken.

That did not stop the Shikon Miko from continuing to speak in her sleep. Her rambles had moved past festivals and into the realm of searching for things. This strange trait of humans to speak parts of their dreams aloud always fascinated him. The first time his ward had done so had him returning to the village where he found her. He needed to ensure the wolves had slaughtered those who caused her such harm.

"Sesshoumaru…" The Shikon Miko moaned his name. Tensing, he stared at her. Of all thing things for her to be dreaming of, why him? Her lips parted, a quiet whisper on her breath downed under the oppressive snore of the elder Miko. Grunting, he leaned closer, mindful of not shifting too much to disturb his ward.

A faint blush colored her cheeks. One he had seen far too often across his ward's own cheeks when speaking with the young taijiya. A breathy moan tickled his ear, stirring something deep within him. A swirl of cinnamon wrapped around him, a pleased growl escaping his own lips.

"Love you…" The Shikon Miko again moaned. Lids hooded, he gazed at her and the possibilities he had never considered before. Not long after she returned to the village, leaving her own permanently, she and his half-brother broke off any romantic attachment they had for each other. They were better friends than lovers, the Shikon Miko had told him without prompting. It never occurred to him that her heart shifted to another… shifted to himself.

Taking a deep inhale of her spicy, citrus scent, he couldn't find it in himself to be disgusted. The Shikon Miko may be human, but she had proven herself to all human and youkai alike that she was a power beyond imagination. She had proven herself his equal. None in youkai society would find fault with his choice should he decide to court her.

Was this secret interest why she had so readily offered the information of her and his half-brother's failed courtship? A smirk twisted his lips as he reached out a hand to brush the drying strands of hair away from her face. Oh, how his indifference to her announcement must have driven her mad.

Once she awakened, it was something he would remedy. Of course, they would need to deal with whatever youkai had cursed her. She may have already dealt with the enemy, but there was an equal chance the curse incapacitated her before she destroyed it. Just the thought of hunting by her side sent shivers down his spine.

Her breath shifted.

Lashes fluttered.

And sapphire met gold.