He had told her to rest, but Kagome was far too nervous to comply. Keeping her eyes closed, she mulled over what Sesshoumaru had said and the solution he had proposed. Perhaps she had been too hasty in dismissing the idea of the bite. Logically, it would need to be somewhere near the blockage by her neck. But what if a nurse saw the mark? How would she explain it? Kagome shook her head, realizing she was overthinking it. Yes, a bite would be fine.
Peeking one eye open, Kagome glanced over at Sesshoumaru, who was leaning back in the chair with his own eyes closed. Just as she began to relax and reassure herself that everything would be fine, Sesshoumaru yawned.
In that instant, two things happened. First, Kagome was utterly shocked to see the Great Demon Lord Sesshoumaru perform such a human act as a big yawn. Second, she noticed just how enormous his fangs were.
Shutting her eyes tightly, Kagome made a firm decision: those chompers weren't going anywhere near her throat.
Sensing a sudden spike in Kagome's anxiety, Sesshoumaru opened his eyes and saw her furrowing her brow and squeezing her eyes shut. Was the idea of ingesting his demonic power truly that distressing to her? As a priestess, it made sense that she would be naturally opposed to such a thing. But perhaps there was something else causing her discomfort. Was it the method of delivery that unsettled her? Kagome had firmly dismissed the other options, but that didn't mean she was any less repelled by the idea.
Sesshoumaru's gaze fell to her lips. What did humans call it when they pressed their mouths together? Kissing? He vaguely recalled overhearing his late father speak of such things once, mentioning how the human Princess had taught him the various ways mortals shared intimacy. Sesshoumaru had never been interested in such matters before and had never found himself in a situation where they were relevant.
Now, however, he pondered whether this human act could be a solution. Could it be that Kagome's aversion was not to the demonic power itself, but to the manner in which it would be transferred?
Deciding it would do no good for either of them to continue stewing in their worries, Sesshoumaru took the initiative to break the tension. He reached out and gently touched Kagome's arm to gain her attention.
Kagome's eyes flew open, her gaze darting to the hand lightly resting on her arm before it was withdrawn. She then met his golden eyes, her expression filled with questions.
"What troubles you?" he asked, hands slightly hesitant.
It was a simple question. Kagome could easily answer by telling Sesshoumaru that she had always envisioned her first kiss as something far more meaningful than a clinical procedure to help her body heal. It was meant to be a special moment, shared with someone she loved.
On a superficial level, Sesshoumaru was the ideal male for such a moment. He was drop-dead gorgeous, tall, and radiated power. A specimen like him would have most girls tripping over themselves for a chance to kiss him. Kagome's thoughts briefly drifted to the friendly interaction she had witnessed between him and the nurse. That nurse probably wouldn't hesitate at an opportunity like this. Was Kagome the problem, overthinking everything again?
In her opinion, she could sacrifice her first kiss for him. After all, he was still helping her, ensuring she received the assistance she needed. He had saved her life multiple times now, showing a care and dedication that went beyond duty. Forget the nurse! She was getting a kiss, but really, it was a transfer of power, even if it was through a kiss.
Instead of answering, Kagome lightly tapped Sesshoumaru's hand, drawing his attention. He looked at her, and she smiled, a small, nervous gesture. He gave a questioning head tilt in return. Before she could talk herself out of it, Kagome grabbed Sesshoumaru's face, pulling him closer, and pressing their mouths together. He was stunned, his eyes wide with surprise, while she simply held the kiss, unsure of what to do next.
When she finally pulled away and released his face, Kagome asked, "Did it work?"
Sesshoumaru was silent for a moment, clearly processing what had just happened. Then, with the corner of his mouth twitching as he tried to hold back an amused grin, he replied, "No, because our mouths were closed."
Kagome's face flushed with embarrassment, her cheeks burning as she hid her face in her hands, feeling foolish and exposed. Tears of frustration and anxiety welled up in her eyes, and she wished she could disappear.
Seeing her distress, Sesshoumaru gently took her hands and pulled them away from her face. He looked into her watery blue eyes, his gaze steady and reassuring. Without a word, he led her back to him. Using a thumb, he gently parted her trembling lips before leaning in to kiss her properly.