Hex, Captivate, Charm, Delight
The sun rose lazily into a new dawn, staining the edges of the sleeping sky with brilliant shades of pink and orange. This time of day was Kagome's favorite to go out to the forest line and gather the essentials for the day. One thing she learned from her permanent stay in the Feudal Era was that dawn was her favorite time. In modern times, she had been a night owl. Now, she found herself waking even before the sun did. Just to see the pretty colors and soak in the peaceful quiet.
Which is what life was now, sort of. It was peaceful, but the quiet never seemed to stay for very long. Whether it was an injured villager or one of the children, Kagome was kept in a constant state of busy. It was nice for a while, especially after she and Inuyasha decided to keep their friendship. It had wrecked her, but Kagome knew the decision was for the best. She needed time to acclimate to the new era, and Inuyasha needed to acclimate to life without a constant fight. The aftershocks of the Final Battle still shook her in her dreams. Stuck within the neverending void of the Meido. A shiver crawled down her back. There was no use dwelling on it, Kagome had decided a long time ago. Life was still moving along; she felt it was in her best interest to keep moving with it.
Breathing in the sweet smell of morning dew, Kagome stretched her tired limbs and crouched down to begin gathering her wares. There were a few children in the village coming down with a nasty cold, so she made diligent work to gather meadowsweet to ease their pain.
"Help!" A shrill cry cracked the peaceful atmosphere of the forest. Abandoning the herbs, Kagome reached for her bow and sprinted towards the source of the sound.
Sprinting, she immediately found herself in the middle of a clearing where a familiar figure stood over a cowering… child? Sesshomaru's claws gleamed poisonously green as he stood over a little girl. Her voice was shrill as she cried out for mercy. Kagome's eyes narrowed angrily at Sesshomaru's back.
"Sesshomaru!" She cried, pointing her arrow towards his head. Confusion and anger made her hands tremor slightly in her aim. Amber eyes slid to glance at her over his armored shoulder. Sesshomaru glared back at her with equal intensity.
"Step down, miko, you will not do This One harm," Sesshomaru warned cooly, his eyes turning back to the weeping child. "This is none of your concern."
With a threatening crack of his knuckles, his poisonous claws radiated acid green as he lunged for the little girl. She gave another cry and feebly held out her hands to protect herself. Kagome responded in kind by loosening the arrow, aiming for the metal of his armor. She poured enough of her reiki into the shot to stun him for a moment.
Her prerogative succeeded as her arrow met his shoulder with a sharp shick! For a moment, the powerful demon lord stumbled as the burst of holy energy shoved into him. But that was all the little girl needed. With a throaty cackle, the little girl blew a fistful of blue powder into Sesshomaru's face. Kagome's mouth dropped as the girl laughed even harder as he slammed into the ground. The blue powder puffed around his body in a curling cloud.
"Defeated so easily one and only, Sesshomaru?" The little girl's voice no longer sounded young and afraid, it aged decades with each mocking syllable. Turning her attention onto the priestess, the little girl's face folded into itself revealing an old woman underneath. Kagome narrowed her eyes, notching another arrow and pointing it at the witch's heart.
"What did you do to him?" Kagome demanded, taking a small step closer. The old woman's hair shifted as she peered underneath the ratted mass. Revealed black eyes twinkled with mirth.
"Oh, just a simple hex, dear miko. If he wasn't so stupid, he wouldn't have ended up my victim," the old woman released another cackle as Sesshomaru's body suddenly began to glow furiously bright. Before letting shock get to her, Kagome rushed to Sesshomaru's side. Just as her knees hit the ground next to him, a blinding burst of light erupted. Unsure of what to do, Kagome searched for his youki energy to make sure he was okay. Finding the force within him bucking and stirring, she sent a strain of her reiki to contain whatever hex the witch had put on him.
"The Lord has never stayed in one area so long, but now I understand why," the witch's voice cut in through as the light settled down into a glimmer. "A powerful being has captivated him."
"Shut up, you!" Kagome screamed, shooting an arrow at the offending woman. With a final shrill laugh, the witch disappeared into the air. Cursing angrily into the air, Kagome turned to look at the glittering light of Sesshomaru. As the light dimmed, his figure was finally revealed to her. Her mouth dropped as she looked down at Sesshomaru, whose lithe and long body was now shorter. His angular face softened into the roundness of a child's. His small body dwarfed in the now loose expanse of his armor and kimono.
The witch had turned the mighty and powerful Killing Perfection into a child.
A stone pulled Kagome's stomach down to her feet. She was going to be in unimaginably deep trouble. Luckily for her, his eyes were closed and he appeared to be sleeping. Without a second thought, she scooped the sleeping Sesshomaru into her arms and swiftly made her way back to the village. Kaede had seen enough tricks and illusions to figure out what to do with this. Or so help her, an irate demon lord (child) would be on her ass.
As she ran back to the village, her mind was swimming with the sudden turn of events. It was a simple mistake, truly. If Kagome had known that shooting her arrow at the witch would have turned Sesshomaru into a child, she would have minded her own business! He could have taken care of her with his claws if she hadn't interfered. Looking down at his sleeping face, Kagome paused. What exactly would the witch accomplish from turning Sesshomaru into a child? And what did she mean by captivated by a powerful being? It was all too confusing for such an early hour. Kaede's hut came into view and she quickened her pace. She had to fix this.
"Kaede!" Kagome called in a loud whisper, not wanting to scare the older woman into a heart attack. Kaede addressed her with a quizzical look from her sitting position at the fire. A curled form in the corner implied Rin where she slept deeply. Quietly, Kagome let herself in.
"Lady Kagome, to what do I owe the pleasure of ye's presence this early?" Kaede joked lightly, making Kagome smile.
"I've got a bad situation on my hands," Kagome said, punctuating her incoming demise with the bundle of Sesshomaru in her arms. Kaede nearly dropped her poker into the fire.
"Explain, child! What happened to Lord Sesshomaru?"
"I was doing my morning routine by the forest line when I heard a child cry out for help," Kagome explained, sitting down. She adjusted Sesshomaru so that he sat comfortably in her lap. Swallowing a lump of anxiety, she didn't want to think what he would say if he were awake. "I saw Sesshomaru about to hurt a child with his claws, I couldn't stop myself from shooting at him with one of my arrows."
"Your arrows! Child, are ye mad? Do ye have a death wish?" Kaede scolded sharply, her brown eyes pinched in concern. Kagome blushed at her scolding and scratched her cheek in embarrassment.
"I aimed to subdue, not to harm! I had no idea that the child was capable of this!" Kagome gestured to the sleeping child in her lap. Studying his face, Kaede hummed thoughtfully.
"I presume it was a witch who cast such a spell then. Kitsune are too fond of illusions for such an attack," Kaede mused thoughtfully. "Tell me, what did the incantation look like?"
"Well, she blew a bunch of powder in his face. His youki energy was going insane, so I gave him some of my reiki to balance his energy to make sure he was okay," Kagome answered, gently stroking his silver bangs out of his face. Glittering blue dust remained on his skin, she did her best to brush some of it off without waking him. Kagome coughed and turned her face back towards Kaede as a blush crept up from her neck. Who knew Sesshomaru made such a cute kid?
"From my knowledge of such hexes, this state the Lord is in is not permanent. I assume the witch sought to reveal his true form, thus explaining the transformation," Kaede surmised confidently. "However, as long as he is in this form he will be vulnerable to any forces seeking him out. Until he is back to his normal state, I believe that it is up to you to protect him."
Kagome's face blanched as she felt her life force drain out of her body. As if the situation could have gotten any worse. She was so dead. Child Sesshomaru would wake up, be absolutely livid, become an adult again, be even angrier, and kill her. Nervous blue eyes dared a glance down at the figure of her impending doom laying in her lap. He slept soundly, small chest rising and falling in his deep slumber. Her heart softened as he turned to lay his cheek on her thigh. Children would forever be her weakness. Absent-mindedly, she brushed long silver locks off of his face.
All the while Kagome was having her moment, Kaede watched her with rising interest. While the modern-day miko was an intelligent and kind person, she was rather oblivious to things that were rather obvious. Unable to contain a knowing smile, Kaede shook her head as Kagome's fingers adjusted the child-Sesshomaru's hair.
The demon lord had been around the village for at least two weeks now, and seemed to constantly find himself running into Kagome. Always accidental she would explain flippantly, but Kaede knew better. Even Rin would give her a sideways glance each time Kagome spoke of finding Sesshomaru. There are only so many times one can "accidentally" run into her as she carries on her daily routines. Kaede assumed the lord was charmed by her presence now that the battle against Naraku was over.
"I don't think I should keep him here in the village. If he is a liability to himself, having him like this will be a danger to the villagers," Kagome mused aloud, her voice darkened with worry.
"Perhaps take him back to where he will be safest?" Kaede suggested.
"I have no idea where that would be," Kagome pouted, a bead of sweat dripping down her temple. She and Sesshomaru had run into each other often these days, especially in the forest, but rarely did they exchange words. The only ones who would know where to look were Jaken or maybe Rin. Kagome paused.
"Jaken!" She suddenly burst out. Gently gathering Sesshomaru into her arms, Kagome stood up to exit the hut. "Thanks Kaede!"
"Good luck, child," Kaede replied even after she dashed out the door. Shortly after Kagome's exit, fabric rustled followed by Rin's sleepy voice.
"Obaa-san, what was that?" Rin asked, releasing a tremendous yawn as she stretched her limbs from under her blanket.
"I think it will be love blossoming, Child," Kaede smiled as Rin cocked her head to the side in confusion. "Ye shall see soon."
0-0
Before Kagome sought out Jaken, she ran back to her own hut to gather some supplies. She had a distinct feeling that a journey would take place shortly and she was going to be prepared for it. Otherwise the imp servant would torture her by antagonizing her human needs. Shoving a simple yukata, some food, and matches into a faded yellow bag, she was ready to go. Looking from her supplies to Sesshomaru's prone body, Kagome decided to tie him on her back and carry the bag slung over one shoulder. As she strapped him in, she grunted under his weight. He didn't look a day over eight, yet he was heavy as hell. With a determined huff, Kagome pushed onward towards Jaken.
Surprisingly, it was not that difficult to find the imp. Ever since Sesshomaru decided on Rin living with Kaede in the village, Jaken was assigned the humble task of overseeing her. The imp was none too happy about such a demotion, especially since it meant the separation between him and his beloved master. He longed for the days where he and Sesshomaru traveled alone, bathing their path in foolish humans' blood.
Jaken was briefly delighted when several weeks ago Sesshomaru came back to the village. Much to his dismay, he saw next to nothing of the lord. From the excited whispers of Rin, he became aware that Sesshomaru would frequently visit the village's newest miko, Kagome. Apparently the useless, crying whelp of a woman had done something to catch the Lord's interest. Sadly for him, Jaken's longing was cut short as a petite human woman came into his view.
"Jaken!" The miko called out to him, a mass of white fabric weighing down her shoulders. Jaken glared at the miko in her offensive holy garb and turned his beaked nose into the air away from her. Of course this woman, who had so charmed his lord into being would approach him while he was reminiscing on better times.
"I need your help," she pleaded breathlessly. "It's about Sessho–"
"That is Lord Sesshomaru to you, hapless miko!" Jaken squawked angrily, he shook his two head staff at her. "How dare you sound so familiar with my Lord!"
"Well, helping me will help your Lord," Kagome answered, rolling her eyes as she crossed her arms. Jaken squawked once more and stomped his foot petulantly.
"You are wasting This One's time, so if you excuse me– LORD SESSHOMARU!" Jaken's tirade ceased the moment she turned to present the sleeping lord strapped to her back. He began swinging his staff at her, doing so without a true aim as he only succeeded in wapping the dirt next to her feet while she dodged. "What have you done to my precious lord, evil witch!"
Before he could swing the staff in her direction once more, Kagome promptly kicked it out of his hand and held it down with her foot. Before he could make a retort or attack again, she glared into Jaken's eyes.
"Listen for a goddamn second, would you? This was an accident, but it's a temporary one. We need to get him somewhere where he will be safe," Kagome seethed, attempting to quell the fire in her belly, attempting to keep her tone cool. Jaken stared at her, then Sesshomaru, and back to her. Narrowing his bulbous eyes, he nodded his head in concession.
"For my Lord, I would do anything, give him to me, filthy miko," Jaken held out his arms awaiting the precious weight of his master. Kagome loosened the straps from her shoulder, softly turning Sesshomaru in her arms. As she leaned to set him down, she was stopped by a tiny clawed hand. Gasping, Kagome nearly dropped the awakened Sesshomaru.
"You're awake!" Both Jaken and Kagome cried out as the young Sesshomaru rubbed the tired out of his eyes. Glaring at them both, he leaned into Kagome's side. His small face nestled into the red fabric of her hip, rumbling contently as her body heat returned to him. The miko blushed furiously.
"Hey now, wh-whatcha doin' there, Sesshomaru,'' Kagome asked, unable to hide her stutter or blush as he laid so openly on her. Looking up, she noticed that Jaken was positively mortified at the display.
"My Lord, remove yourself from such filth!" He cried indignantly, gently pulling Sesshomaru away from Kagome. Just as soon as Jaken pulled the lord's silk kimono, Sesshomaru delivered a thundering punch to the top of the imp's head. "Mi-milord."
Small images of white, demon dogs danced around Jaken's head from the assault. Kagome frowned at Sesshomaru who was quite content to get into her personal space again.
"Oh no you don't," she said, stopping the tiny lord with her hand. His amber gaze glared up at her, silently demanding her to bend to his will. A bead of sweat dripped down the back of Kagome's head; even as a child, Sesshomaru's intensity was intimidating. Shaking her head, she crouched to meet him at eye level. "You're vulnerable in this form, we need to get you somewhere safe."
"Hn." Sesshomaru replied, though the short answer didn't have its desired effect with his childish voice. Kagome giggled, it was adorable to see him be so earnest. With a smile, she adjusted his kimono so that it was tied securely around him. Sesshomaru was certainly a sight with his oversized kimono, so small that he was swimming in an ocean of fabric. She had made sure to secure the armor to her yellow bag to prevent any injury while he slept.
"Follow this One. Miko, Jaken." Sesshomaru walked forward in his typical nonchalant fashion, his mokomoko-sama puffing out like a fluffy cloud around him. Tripping over himself to move, Jaken pulled himself together and ran after Sesshomaru. Kagome imagined Inuyasha walking in at that moment, she pictured his face going from dumbfounded to a delighted smirk. The two would get into a fight, but she traitorously pictured the tiny Sesshomaru emerging victoriously from their altercation. Stifling another giggle, she walked after the two.
0-0
They had been walking all day. The sun barely peaked through the trees as they continued on their journey. Initially, Kagome had resigned herself to a long journey, but it did not stop her from feeling intensely weary. While Sesshomaru was reduced to the form of an eight year-old, he was still an impossibly fast walker. It didn't help that Jaken would turn his back to chirp a harsh remark every few minutes, reminding her each time that she was–
"Hurry up, you useless, slow human!" There it was. Kagome groaned at the verbal assault she was receiving.
"Jaken, respectfully, shut up," she seethed through gritted teeth as she readjusted her backpack for the umpteenth time. Each insult grated even more so on her nerves as her sandaled feet began to ache. Trying to fit in with the era should not be worth hiding away her supportive shoes!
"We are close," Sesshomaru cut in, nonplussed by their bickering. "We shall finish the journey by sky."
Sesshomaru placed two fingers in his mouth and whistled sharply, the offending noise affecting both her and Jaken. The smoky scent of youki burned Kagome's nose. Peering closely at her new travel companion, she noticed that his original power stayed thrumming throughout his being. Moving her gaze to his face, she noticed his smirk. Kagome rolled her eyes, mumbling under her breath something about immature inus.
Moments later, Ah-Un came flying down from the sky. Kagome had to hold herself back from crying tears of relief, now her poor feet would have some respite. The three of them settled onto Ah-Un's back with Jaken taking the reins and Kagome taking up the back. Sesshomaru happily squished in the middle as the miko's arms secured them both to the dragon as it took off.
The wind was not kind to Kagome's already unruly waves, but Sesshomaru's eyes danced along every single one as it flicked wildly in the wind. The miko's eyes were staring in abject wonder at their view so high in the sky, and Sesshomaru couldn't help the bubble of excitement that warmed his belly at what she would come to see next.
The diminutive daiyoukai internally sighed as Kagome's warmth pressed into his back. Even though he was immune to mundane discomforts such as being cold, her presence was a comforting sensation against the whipping wind. Although he had been unwilling to admit it, he could no longer deny his enjoyment of the miko's company.
It had begun with what was supposed to be another routine visit to Rin in the village. He remembered the new kimono he had tailored for her, a lovely shade of coral pink with green leaves. It was nicer than the usual ones he brought, he intended to bring Rin before his mother to claim her as his adopted child. If he was going to make a statement such as that to his mother, he might as well try to impress her with the best finery he could afford.
When he presented Rin with the gift, the young girl dragged him to go show it off to the miko. The young girl had bonded with her early as they both were acclimating to new life in the village. They found the miko tending to the children in the meadow near Kaede's home. The sweet scent of cherry blossoms filled the air along with her laughter. Rin proudly showed off her lovely new kimono, Kagome's eyes beamed with delight at the luxurious fabric and then at him. The gaggle of children were also interested in the kimono and Rin had obliged in their interest.
Before he could make his leave, Kagome's fingers had brushed his arm. With the nuisance of Naraku finally taken care of, Sesshomaru had garnered a respect for the miko. Her determination and bravery in the face of death, in addition to surviving Meido's grasp, were more than enough for him to allow her to address him so familiarly.
"You're good to her, Inupapa," she had said with such kindness and respect, his chest surged with the warmth of pride. Of course, he didn't respond and the miko wasn't expecting him to when she rejoined the children. Since then, and still it perplexed him as to why, he wanted to see her smile at him like that again.
The next time they encountered each other the air smelled like the wind before rain. Sesshomaru had decided to stay in the outskirts of the village for another day. In the clearing where he was staying, he could sense the miko's presence approaching. She abruptly stopped, the air filled with sharp notes of citrus from her surprise. Sesshomaru breathed her in deeply, her captivating scent changed constantly with her emotions he noticed. They stared at each other, silence stretching between them rather comfortably. Her blue eyes screamed of her weariness as she took a seat at the roots of the tree where he sat.
For a while the two sat in the comfortable silence, until Kagome hoisted herself back up. Before she left, she graced him with her brilliant smile and a friendly wave. There had been more run ins in the next few days, those moments where she would seek out his clearing to sit and enjoy the silence. Each time, he found himself more and more drawn to the miko.
"Thanks for letting me sit here with you, it's rare I can find a moment of quiet," she had said. "I felt very at peace with you here, thank you."
The memories of the past few weeks dissipated when his mother's mansion came into view. Ah-Un descended smoothly onto the entrance steps, depositing the three travelers onto a fine marble floor. Sesshomaru frowned as Kagome separated from him, her eyes aglow with vibrant curiosity. Jaken opened his beak to make a snarky comment, but a swift glare from Sesshomaru ceased the action immediately. He was getting antsy, his mother's domineering youki curled around his cheek. As the three walked through the mansion's open doors, the tilt of his mother's red lips implied that she was going to be rather unbearable that day.
"Well, look who decided to visit their mother–" InuKimi's lilting purr was cut off by the state of her son. Amber eyes widened considerably, Sesshomaru was a child. "Oh this is so much more delightful, my son."
With a gleaming fanged smile, InuKimi slid down from her throne in a swish of silk and furs to sweep Sesshomaru into her arms. Both Kagome and Jaken could only stare as she nuzzled her nose into his cheek affectionately, the blatant display of affection was an anomaly for both parties. Showing no reaction, Sesshomaru pushed InuKimi away with small hands.
"Cease this, Mother," he commanded, earning a delighted chuckle and a tighter embrace from her.
"Oh, but it has been so long since you were just a pup. At that age you would follow your mother around constantly," InuKimi bemoaned with a pout. "Of course you would never willingly bestow your honored mother with such a gift. You stink of witchcraft."
Sesshomaru pinned his mother with a pointed glare at her comment. She sighed, it didn't seem that he would take the bait today. However, there was another in the room she could play with. Blinking, Kagome was taken aback as InuKimi's glowing amber eyes were inches from hers. Swallowing her fear, she lowered into a respectful bow and straightened her back to present a façade of confidence.
"It is an honor to be here, my lady," Kagome said with a polite tone. InuKimi curled a clawed finger under her chin, forcing it up to make eye contact.
"Charmed. Were you the one to bewitch my son?" She purred, the claw's tip dangerously close to puncturing skin. Kagome swallowed hard.
"No, my lady. It was another, my powers are made for healing not transformations."
"Hn," InuKimi's tone was deflated which was bewildering to say the least. "Tragic. I would have loved to face the one who was able to place this hex on Sesshomaru. It would have been entertaining to rip their head off."
'How the hell did I get here again? Oh yeah, I shot Sesshomaru with an arrow and got us into this mess.' Kagome blanched considerably at the lady's lament. Her head was going to stay safely attached to her shoulders, thank you very much.
"We merely require refuge until the effects of this hex wears off, the witch sought out my true form," Sesshomaru intervened before his mother came up with any more ideas on how to mess with the unsuspecting miko. InuKimi pouted once more and sighed dramatically.
"You never know how to have any fun, Sesshomaru," his mother scolded. Crossing her arms, she settled back onto her throne, every inch a powerful demoness. "You know your way around, call upon the servants if you need. You are dismissed."
With a scoff, Sesshomaru turned his back and bade Kagome to follow after him. Jaken would be sent to stay in the servants' quarters, much to Kagome's delight and Jaken's dismay. The path of the mansion was a familiar one as it was his childhood home. If one looked closely, one could see the ghosts of Sesshomaru's past in the scratches of the walls and occasional thumping sounds. Discreetly looking towards the miko, he couldn't help but feel odd with her presence there. It was as though he were laying in front of her bear… Now there was a dangerous thought.
Such danger was prevented, however, once they reached Sesshomaru's old bedroom. The sliding screen door revealed a simple, but luxurious room. A futon sat fluffed with many pillows surrounded by shelves of books and scrolls. Over in the corner, by a closed window sat a small wooden desk where ink brushes and paper sat untouched by time. Citrus floated into the air as Kagome followed him into his room.
"So this was your childhood room, huh?" Kagome pressed, her eyes greedily took in every detail of the place. Sesshomaru allowed himself a small smirk at her blatant admiration for his space. The quirk of his mouth deepened seeing Kagome's eyes widen considerably as he began to prepare the futon.
Night had fallen and he was well aware of the human need for sleep. Once the futon was to his liking, Sesshomaru addressed her with an expectant quirk of his brow. Kagome was unsure, but she quickly obliged the invitation to lay down on the futon. The journey had depleted a lot of her energy and she was ready for sleep. What she was not ready for was Sesshomaru crawling into the futon to lay next to her.
"Woah, woah, hold the phone there!" she squeaked at their close proximity. She wasn't informed that she would be sharing the futon. "I thought demons didn't need sleep!"
"This One does not," he answered simply. "But it gets cold for humans at night."
Kagome gave him a look that told him that she wasn't very convinced. However, at that moment she was too tired to care if he shared a bed with her. In fact, she missed the presence of other people sleeping near her. She deeply missed having Shippo warmly curl up next to her and listening to the sleeping rhythms of her friends. Tonight, she would allow herself that intimacy. With Sesshomaru, the Killing Perfection.
"Did you know the witch you encountered in the forest?" Kagome asked, attempting at conversation to loosen up her tightly wound nerves.
"No, but this one will enjoy burying acid into the creature's heart for attempting such treachery."
"Why would she want you to transform?" Sesshomaru pondered a moment before answering her.
"Most likely to steal youki and take it for herself, the vile thing will pay for such disrespect."
The conversation ended there. They were so close to each other, just a hand's reach away. Redness deepened across her face as Kagome searched Sesshomaru's face. Much to her dismay, he lacked any indication as to how he felt laying next to her. Which was truly unfair, so she ventured.
"Why are you allowing this?" Kagome dared to ask the question.
"You speak too much after such a journey. Sleep." was his response. She laughed at his childlike face which stared up at her in earnest. Her imagination configured the facial expression onto his older self. A bloom of warmth spread in her chest at the image of him looking at her so intensely.
'Cute as a child and an adult,' Kagome thought drowsily, running a hand through Sesshomaru's long silver hair. It was soft and silky through her fingers brushing the strands out of his face. As she descended into the comfort of sleep, Kagome failed to notice the Lord snuggling into her arms to shortly join her in slumber.
0-0
Being a newfound morning person, Kagome awoke at the first glimpse of dawn. Light shyly peeked through the screen, casting the smallest illumination upon herself and Sesshomaru. He had returned to his adult form some time in the night, which Kagome realized as she felt his arms wrapped tightly around her. Sesshomaru's silver hair pooled over her shoulder as he spooned her. Their legs were intertwined with a tangle of limbs. His warm breath tickled against her exposed neck.
"Sleep," Sesshomaru coaxed, hearing Kagome's heart beat tremendously faster as she realized their situation. He loosened just enough for her to face him, the tips of their noses brushing slightly.
"Sesshomaru," she breathed, her tone mixed with confusion and contentment. He pulled her closer to him. The sensation of her closeness was something tantalizingly new to him. From the way she traced her fingers over the markings on his cheek implied she felt the same. "What is this?"
"Is it not the peace you have spoken of in our other encounters?"
"That's not what I meant," she stammered. "This feels much more… intimate than the forest."
Kagome cursed herself for her inability to keep her composure. His amber eyes gazed at her with open warmth, turning her insides to jelly. She had been very attracted to him for a long time, especially with their recent accidental rendezvous in the forest. From the beginning Kagome had resigned herself to unrequited attraction, this sudden moment of intimacy was something she had not expected.
But now, as she stared into Sesshomaru's eyes, Kagome felt the call for her to do something unexpected. Leaning in closer, she made to give his cheek a light peck, but Sesshomaru had other plans as he turned his face to capture her lips with his. She had been kissed before, sharing a few shy pecks with Inuyasha before they decided that they were not meant for each other. The way Sessomaru's mouth melded with hers though, was utter perfection. Boldly, Kagome pulled him closer by tangling her hands in his hair.
"Careful, miko," he warned. "You don't want to provoke me in such a way."
"Oh hush," Kagome chided, bringing his face back to hers. Sesshomaru's tongue dragged along the edge of her lip, requesting entrance. She obliged with a moan as he gripped her hips, bringing them closer together. Their bodies moved furiously in tandem with each other as their passions deepened the kiss.
Slipping an arm under her waist, Sesshomaru laid her on her back so she was staring up at him. Bright blue eyes glowed against the flush of her skin, pink lips parted and swollen from their passionate kisses. Deep in his soul, his beast called for more action to take the woman then and there. But Sesshomaru was no simple dog nor an idiot. He was aware of the fiery spirit of the miko and found it in his best interest not to provoke her ire. Well, perhaps he could just a little.
"Come, we shall make our leave," Sesshomaru asserted. As he stood up, he felt the hem of his kimono hike up above his thighs causing Kagome to turn away with a squeak. She had forgotten that she tied the kimono to Sesshomaru's child form without consideration for his adult one. Her heart thumped heavily in her chest as her mind treacherously recounted the strong outline of his thighs. God, she was worse than Miroku.
Smirking at the swim of emotions that danced in her face and scent, Sesshomaru readjusted his kimono and fitted his armor back into place. He watched intently as Kagome tamed her wavy hair into a simple braid. She swung her yellow pack over her shoulder and turned to address him. When their eyes met, she flashed him a shy, but genuine smile. They were in unexplored and deeply fascinating territory now. For the first time in a long time, he felt the excitement of a new challenge.
Shortly thereafter, the two sought out Jaken and made their leave from the mansion. InuKimi nonchalantly waved them away, but kept her eyes on the young miko as Sesshomaru assisted her onto Ah-Un's back. Although his expression was blank, InuKimi could see the glimpse of warmth in his eyes when the miko took his hand. Her icicle of a son was no more prone to humans than his late father. The apple didn't fall far from the tree, she mused with a smirk.
"Damn you, Toga," she said to the sky.
A/N: Made during Gilded Sapphire's Fandom Creation Night, Bewitch. I hope y'all enjoyed, thank you for reading!