In the quiet, sun-dappled clearing, Kagome sat nestled comfortably beside Ah-Un, her hands stroking the dragon's scales with tender affection. The secluded spot, tucked away from the village, was their secret haven. No one would find them here. She had returned from the modern era only hours ago to assure her family she was safe, but her heart had been eager to get back tohim.
Yet, Ah-Un had been monopolizing her attention ever since.
"You two are so needy today," Kagome chuckled, rubbing the base of one of the dragon's necks. Both heads leaned into her touch, completely unaware of the tension brewing just a few feet away.
Sesshoumaru stood under a tree, arms folded and eyes sharp as he watched her. His usual calm mask didn't betray his thoughts, but the tight set of his jaw and the occasional flicker of irritation in his gaze told a different story. Kagome had been back for less than a day, and instead of having her to himself, Ah-Un was soaking up all her attention.
"Miko," he called, his voice smooth but carrying an unmistakable edge.
She looked up, still smiling. "Sesshoumaru! Look how sweet they're being. I think they missed me."
Sesshoumaru's jaw tightened further, though his expression remained unreadable. "Enough."
Kagome blinked in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"You've indulged them long enough."
Kagome tilted her head, her brow knitting slightly in confusion. "What do you mean? They just wanted some attention."
Sesshoumaru's eyes flickered toward Ah-Un, the dragon still leaning into her as if Kagome were the only person in the world. It was unacceptable—irritating, even, though he would never admit it.
"You waste your time with that creature," he replied, his voice cold but even.
Kagome raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "Sesshoumaru, don't tell me you're jealous of your own dragon."
The notion was absurd, but the more she thought about it, the more his behavior seemed… possessive. The slight narrowing of his eyes, the way his gaze lingered on her whenever she touched the dragon—it all pointed to something deeper.
Sesshoumaru scoffed lightly. "Jealousy is a base emotion. One I do not experience."
Kagome smiled, stepping closer to him. "Right," she drawled. "So, if I spent the rest of the afternoon giving Ah-Un all my love and attention, that wouldn't bother you at all?"
Sesshoumaru's gaze flicked between her and the dragon. His grip tightened slightly, though his face betrayed nothing. "It would be a waste of your time," he replied. "Your affections should be directed elsewhere."
"Elsewhere, huh?" Kagome mused, stepping closer to him. "And where exactly should I be focusing them, oh great Sesshoumaru-sama?"
She was teasing him, but Sesshoumaru's golden eyes remained locked on hers, his intensity never wavering. "You already know the answer to that," he replied, his voice dropping to a low murmur, almost like a growl.
Kagome's heart skipped a beat, her teasing smile softening into something more vulnerable. "You could've just said you missed me," she murmured, standing on her toes to meet his gaze more closely.
Sesshoumaru didn't move at first, his gaze holding hers, unreadable. Then, in one swift, fluid motion, he reached out and pulled her to him, his hand resting on the small of her back. His touch was firm but careful, as if to remind her that she was his, but never something to be controlled. "I do not need to say what is already known."
Kagome let out a breathy laugh, wrapping her arms around his neck. "So stubborn," she murmured, her lips brushing just shy of his. "It wouldn't kill you to admit it."
Before she could say anything more, Sesshoumaru's lips captured hers, silencing her with a kiss that was anything but restrained. It was intense, commanding, and possessive in a way that sent a shiver down her spine. He was always so composed, but in these moments, Kagome could feel the depth of his emotions—the ones he kept hidden beneath his cold exterior.
Kagome melted into the kiss, her fingers tangling in his silver hair as she pressed herself closer to him. The warmth of his body against hers, the feel of his hand tightening ever so slightly at her waist, sent her heart racing.
Sesshoumaru's lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smirk as his gaze dropped to her lips. "As it should be," he replied, his voice a low, velvety rumble. His hand slid from her back to the nape of her neck, his fingers threading through her hair as he pulled her in closer.
Kagome felt her breath hitch, a delicious heat pooling in her stomach as he leaned in again, his lips brushing the shell of her ear. "You belong to me," he whispered, his voice rough, yet laced with unmistakable desire. "And I do not share."
Sesshoumaru's eyes darkened as he gazed down at her, his hand sliding from her waist to her neck, holding her gently but firmly.
Kagome's heart raced at his words. Normally, the idea of someone claiming that shebelongedto them would set off all sorts of alarms. She was her own person—strong, independent, and no one's possession. And yet, when Sesshoumaru said it… the way his voice deepened, the way his fingers held her with both reverence and authority—it didn't make her bristle with offense. It made her melt.
There was something about the way he said it, the way his protective nature wrapped around her like an invisible cloak, that made her feel… cherished. Wanted. He wasn't trying to control her or diminish her. It wasn't about ownership, not really. It was more about howhebelonged toherjust as much.
And though Kagome had always prided herself on her independence, on standing firm in who she was, she couldn't help but feel completely swept away in the possessiveness of his tone. Her chest tightened, a warmth spreading through her. There was no denying it. She liked being his.
A soft, almost giddy smile tugged at her lips. "I… I belong to you," she whispered, the words surprising even herself. "And you belong to me."
Sesshoumaru pulled back just enough to meet her eyes, his gaze softening at her words. He didn't speak, but the slight dip of his head in acknowledgment was enough.
Kagome's fingers trailed up his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath his armor. Her lips found his again, softer this time, but no less intense. The world around them faded, the only sound the quiet rustle of the trees and their shared breaths.
Sesshoumaru's hand moved to the small of her back, pulling her even closer, deepening the kiss. His restraint was beginning to slip, the unspoken need between them building with every moment they were together. Kagome's head swam, the feeling of his lips, his hands, his very presence overwhelming her in the best way.
And then, she felt it—a faint shift beneath her fingertips. Sesshoumaru's markings, normally pristine and controlled, had grown jagged along his cheekbones, his youki spiraling around them, a sure sign of his growing desire. The change sent a thrill down Kagome's spine, a tangible reminder of just how much she affected him.
His stripes grew wilder as the passion between them ignited, their kisses becoming more urgent, more unrestrained. Kagome's breath hitched, and she could feel the heat of his body intensifying, the way he held her more tightly, as though she were the only thing grounding him in this moment.
Kagome pulled back just enough to catch her breath, her fingers lightly tracing the jagged marks now adorning his face. "Your stripes… they're different," she whispered, a smile tugging at her lips.
Sesshoumaru's golden eyes flashed with a dangerous intensity, the corner of his mouth quirking slightly. "You do that to me," he murmured, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that made her knees weak.
The realization made Kagome's heart race, her own desire burning even hotter. She pressed herself closer to him, her lips finding his again, this time with an even fiercer urgency. Sesshoumaru's grip tightened, his hands roaming her back as if he couldn't get enough of her.
As their passion continued to soar, Ah-Un, now sensing that their presence was very much unwanted, silently wandered off into the trees, leaving the couple to their private, stolen moments in the secluded clearing. They had the entire day to themselves—and neither of them was in any rush to return to the world.
