Sesshoumaru stood facing Inuyasha, the silence stretching taut between them after the half-demon demanded to know where Kagome was.
"You are no longer her Alpha, so you have no right to such information," Sesshoumaru stated coldly, his voice slicing through the quiet.
Inuyasha's yellow eyes widened in shock at his half-brother's claim. "What the hell do you mean I'm no longer her Alpha?!"
Sesshoumaru's patience was already wearing thin. He dropped his glamor, revealing his true form, and began to strip, eager to wash away the stench of the hospital under the indoor waterfall that Souta had shown him on his first night here.
"You left your Alpha Bitch injured and unprotected. Such actions are condemnable. As the Alpha of our clan, I stepped in. She now belongs to me." His tone was final, leaving no room for argument. Knowing Inuyasha, however, Sesshoumaru expected pushback.
"Like hell you are!" Inuyasha shouted, crossing the room and grabbing Sesshoumaru's shirt as he tried to remove it. "Just tell me where she is so I can bring her back. Sango has threatened to leave and take our—"
Inuyasha's voice faltered, and he abruptly let go of Sesshoumaru's shirt, stepping back. His eyes averted, he continued in a subdued tone. "If I don't make things right with Kagome, Sango said she's leaving me once all the shards are found."
Sesshoumaru stared at his younger brother for a moment. Turning away, he headed towards the bathroom door in Kagome's room. Just as he reached it, he paused, speaking without turning around.
"I care not about the nature of your relationship with the Slayer. Inform the Monk that Kagome is with healers and will return once her wounds have properly healed." His voice hardened as he turned his head slightly, fixing Inuyasha with a murderous look. "Until then, you will not return here. If you do, I will be the one to inform Kagome of your affair with the Slayer."
With that, he entered the bathroom and shut the door firmly behind him. There was no doubt in his mind that his half-brother would take his threat seriously and leave.
After a long, hot shower, Sesshoumaru emerged from the bathroom, steam billowing around him as he walked over to where Mrs. Higurashi had left his new clothes neatly folded on the bed. As he approached, he noticed something else there as well, an empty box of Strawberry Pocky. His left eye began to twitch with irritation. If the half-breed had not heeded his warning and left, he would surely be dead now.
Sesshoumaru angrily snatched up the empty box and dropped it into the rubbish bin next to the bedside table. He then grabbed a pair of loose sweatpants and pulled them on, forgoing the constricting modern underwear and shirt. Then he moved the rest of his clothing to the floor, joining the heaps of oversized plushies that covered the bed. Sitting down, he began towel-drying his long silver mane.
As he looked around the room, he noted it was small but not unpleasant. The space was cozy and filled with personal touches that spoke of Kagome's warmth and character. Miniature portraits adorned the desk, featuring her family and other human females he did not recognize. His eyes were drawn to something else on the desk, a glossy, colorful magazine. Standing, he retrieved it and returned to relax on the bed as he examined it more closely.
The bold lettering at the top read "Cosmopolitan," beneath which was an image of a flashy foreign female. Sesshoumaru flipped through the pages, his curiosity taking over. He came across an article titled, "How To Kiss - 50+ Kissing Tips and Techniques." Intrigued, the demon laid back on the small bed, educating himself on the human world's take on the art of kissing.
Kagome woke from what was possibly the best sleep she had in years. Stretching and yawning, she blinked open tired eyes and looked around for Sesshoumaru. Instead, she found her mother speaking with one of her doctors. Disappointed that she still couldn't hear what they were saying, Kagome reached a hand up to touch the stitches on her head. To her surprise, she found they had been removed, leaving only a raised scar.
Mrs. Higurashi signed the paperwork the doctor handed her and thanked him as he left the room. She then turned to her confused daughter with a bright smile.
"Good news! Now that the wound has closed and you haven't shown any neurological issues, the hospital has agreed to release you," she said, excitement evident in her voice.
Kagome blinked in surprise at her mother. As the news sank in, she smiled and leaned over to hug her. The two happy women embraced, and when they separated, Mrs. Higurashi began gathering her things.
"I will go buy something for you to wear and then we can leave," she signed excitedly.
Before she could leave, Kagome reached out and grabbed her sleeve. "Where's Sesshoumaru?" she asked with one hand. It was strange waking up and not seeing him there.
Her mother gave her a soft smile. "I took him home to rest. He looked like he needed it."
Kagome's mouth formed a silent "oh" as she released her mother's sleeve. Knowing he wasn't there when she woke up caused a strange pain in her chest.
Waving a hand to get her attention, Mrs. Higurashi asked one last question before leaving. "How did your injury heal so quickly? Did Sesshoumaru do something to help?"
The innocent question made Kagome turn beet red as she remembered the kiss they had shared early that morning. She rapidly shook her head no, unable to look her mother in the eyes.
Mrs. Higurashi giggled and kissed her daughter on the head. "I won't be long. There's a store next to the hospital, and I'll grab you a few things there."
Now alone for the first time in days, Kagome leaned back on her bed and covered her flushed face with her hands. She must have made a fool of herself in front of Sesshoumaru, and that's why he left, to avoid the inevitable awkwardness between them. But it was reassuring to know his plan had worked—though the thought that she still couldn't hear anything meant they would have to repeat the 'treatment' again.
Her eyes widened further at the realization. Letting out a loud groan, she threw the blanket over her head and tried to disappear, her mind swirling with the memory of their shared kiss and the unexpected eagerness to do it again.
Arriving back home, Kagome took in a deep breath, relishing in the familiar scents. It felt so good to be out of that stuffy hospital. She had expected Sesshoumaru to greet them at the door, but as she stepped further into the house, he was nowhere to be seen. A sense of panic began to set in. Had he gone back through the well without her?
Mrs. Higurashi watched her daughter rush from room to room while she started to put groceries away in the kitchen. When she saw Kagome sprint upstairs, she let out a small laugh.
Kagome practically threw open her bedroom door and let out a sigh of relief. Stretched out across her bed was Sesshoumaru, sleeping soundly on his stomach. She tiptoed closer and noticed one of her magazines still clutched in a clawed hand hanging off the side of the bed. Crouching near his face, Kagome watched him sleep. He looked so peaceful. Reaching out, she gently pushed strands of silver hair from his angelic face.
Standing up, she took in his large form, noting how his legs and feet hung off the end of the bed. But it was the lack of a shirt that really caught her attention. His pale back was broad and muscular, and her eyes trailed down the expanse until they found the stripes on his hips. Kagome's hands twitched, the urge to touch them strong. Just as she considered giving in to the impulse, Sesshoumaru turned his head, nuzzling further into her pillow, and a shiver ran down his body.
Was he cold? Noting he was lying on top of both of her blankets, Kagome remembered his mokomoko. She quietly left the room and found her mother still in the kitchen.
"Where is Sesshoumaru's…" she paused, trying to think of how to describe the giant fluff. "Fur?"
Her mother looked at her for a moment before understanding. She showed Kagome to the closet by the front door where the demon lord's possessions were stored. The young woman gathered the enormous furry boa, surprised by its weight, and half carried half dragged it upstairs. Back in her bedroom, she draped the fluff around Sesshoumaru, tucking it around him as best she could.
Satisfied that he was now warm and cozy, Kagome gathered some clothes and went to her bathroom to take a long, hot bath.
The sound of the tub draining woke Sesshoumaru from his deep slumber. He hadn't realized he had fallen asleep and began to sit up, only to notice an unexpected weight on him. Lifting his head, he saw a blanket of white surrounding him—his mokomoko.
"Hm," he murmured, puzzled as to how it had ended up there.
The bathroom door opened and the room was immediately flooded with Kagome's sweet scent, pure and untainted by the chemical smells of the hospital. The fragrance nearly made him purr in approval.
She didn't seem to realize he was awake as she moved around the room, towel-drying her hair. Gone was the hideous hospital gown, replaced by attire that was astonishingly revealing. The blue shorts she wore were somehow even shorter than the skirt she used to don, and the pink tank top was similar to the one she had worn at his camp before the centipede attack. The front hung low, showing more than enough cleavage, and the bottom rode high, giving Sesshoumaru a clear view of her bellybutton.
He propped himself up on one elbow, his other hand absentmindedly petting his pelt as he watched her. There was something mesmerizing about her, the way she moved with ease and grace, the way her scent filled the room, making him feel more at peace than he had in a long time. Or maybe it was just the sight of a barely clothed female he enjoyed.
Kagome continued to move around the room, oblivious to his watchful gaze. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, a contented smile playing on her lips.
As she turned to face him, her eyes widened in surprise, and a short scream flew from her mouth before she muffed it with her hands, dropping the brush she was holding. "You're awake." she signed while pulling her hands from her face, a blush spread across her cheeks. "I didn't mean to disturb you."
Sesshoumaru's half-lidded golden eyes stared back at her making it almost impossible for Kagome to tear her gaze away. The demon was sprawled out on her bed as if he owned it, white fur encircling him like a halo, making him look godlike. The scene would have been inviting and intimidating if not for the contrast of her pink bedspread and pillows. Kagome's eyes itched to drift lower, to admire the chiseled perfection of his chest, but she kept her focus on his face.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Sesshoumaru sat up, letting his pelt billow out around him like a cloud. He signed, "Bring me the hairbrush."
Kagome blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the request. She leaned down and retrieved the brush, her eyes never leaving him. Nervously, she moved towards him and placed the brush in his outstretched hand. A clawed finger motioned for her to turn around and sit in the open space between his long legs on the bed.
Removing the towel from her shoulders, Kagome slowly did as she was told, her face flushing red with embarrassment. She settled carefully, making sure not to touch him and keeping her back straight. Sesshoumaru began to work through the tangles in her ebony hair with skilled hands. He noted with satisfaction that the gash on her head had closed and was healing quickly, confirming that his powers were aiding her recovery by pushing her own to combat whatever was hindering their flow.
With her back to him, Kagome tried to relax and focus on how gently he was combing her hair. She definitely wasn't thinking about how soft his lips had felt against hers, or how thick and long his tongue had been as it stroked and prodded her own. No, those thoughts were the furthest thing from her mind!
As Sesshoumaru's fingers worked through her thick locks, Kagome let out a happy sigh. Sesshoumaru smiled down at the back of her head. As Alpha, it was his duty to ensure his female was well cared for, and grooming was an essential part of that.
Kagome's breathing gradually steadied, and she felt the tension in her shoulders ease under Sesshoumaru's ministrations. The rhythmic motion of the brush, combined with the occasional sensation of his claws lightly grazing her scalp, pulled a soft moan from her. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to fully enjoy the moment.
When he finally set the brush aside, Sesshoumaru let his fingers continue their gentle exploration of her hair, enjoying the silken texture. Kagome leaned into his touch, her earlier embarrassment forgotten as he began to braid her now shiny smooth hair.
There was a knock on the door before Souta entered. He watched as the demon finished securing the bottom of Kagome's hair before turning to him.
"Dinner is almost ready," Souta announced, surprised to see Kagome there after getting home from his after-school prep class. He had expected to find her still at the hospital.
Sesshoumaru nodded in acknowledgment, and Souta retreated, shutting the door behind him. The demon looked down at the priestess sitting between his legs, contemplating something. When he felt Kagome begin to sway, he placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her.
Kagome had been so relaxed, enjoying the grooming session, that she felt herself starting to drift off. Strong hands held her still, and she turned to look at the demon with sleepy eyes. She could have sworn she saw a hint of a smile on his lips before he lifted a hand and signed, "We must go downstairs, dinner is ready."
She blinked slowly a few times, looking between his hand and his face before moving to stand. As Kagome went to open the door, Sesshoumaru grabbed her arm gently, stopping her.
When she looked at him again, he asked, "Before you go to sleep tonight, do you wish to take in my aura again?"