That night's sleep eluded Kagome entirely. She lay beneath the soft layers of her borrowed bedding, her body still but her mind racing over everything that had transpired since the fight with Naraku. As if replaying her pain on a reel she couldn't stop.
The injury. The suffocating isolation that followed. And then, the unexpected companionship that both warmed her heart and left her tangled in confusion.
She sighed and rolled onto her side. Pale light from the rising sun began to seep through the cracks of the shoji doors. It was faint at first, soft tendrils of dawn that promised a new day. The sound of birds chirping outside carried a melody of hope but Kagome wasn't ready to hear it.
Reaching out she slid one hand across the smooth wooden floor, cracking open the door just enough to peer out into the secluded paradise beyond. The sight of Sesshoumaru's realm bathed in the soft light of morning was breathtaking. The dewdrops on the flowers shimmered like jewels and the pond reflected the warm hues of the sky. The trees swayed gently in the morning breeze, their branches alive with birds flitting from one to another.
But Kagome couldn't enjoy the view. Not with the memories crowding her mind.
Inuyasha. Sango. Their betrayal still burned even now. The way they had deceived her, weaving lies that cut deeper than any wound Naraku had inflicted. The pregnancy that had turned her life upside down, a bittersweet revelation that carried its own set of scars. And then the apology—or rather, the hollow attempt at one. Sango's contrition felt genuine, but from Inuyasha? It had been nonexistent.
Her hand instinctively brushed against her ear where the invisible scar from the injury remained. She had her hearing back now, restored by Sesshoumaru's intervention, but even without Naraku's malevolent whispers the echoes of her own insecurities were louder than ever.
I'm not enough. I wasn't enough then, and I'm not enough now.
The cruel words looped in her mind, relentless and unforgiving. Naraku's influence may have been purged but she didn't need his voice to haunt her anymore—she was doing that all on her own.
Breakfast unfolded in a heavy, expectant silence, broken only by the occasional clink of chopsticks against porcelain or the soft rustle of fabric as they shifted in their seats. Neither priestess nor demon seemed willing to be the first to speak.
Sesshoumaru's gaze drifted over the rim of his teacup, golden eyes settling on Kagome as she pushed a piece of fish around her plate. Her face looked drawn, the faint shadows under her eyes evidence of her restless night. She wore one of her so-called dresses again, this one a deep green that complemented her complexion. It was modest with long sleeves and a hem that fell to her mid-calf. Despite its simplicity, it suited her in a way that felt far too distracting for his liking.
He hadn't fared much better during the night. Though he outwardly appeared unbothered, his mind had been far from at ease. On more than one occasion he found himself lingering outside the empty room Kagome had chosen to occupy. It felt unnatural to be apart from her now, to sleep alone again. Once, he had reveled in solitude. The absence of another meant no expectations to comfort, no demands on his time or attention.
But everything had changed.
She had changed it.
"I thought we might go see—"
"I wanted to say—"
Their voices overlapped, a sudden collision that broke the silence. Kagome froze and her cheeks bloomed with color as her gaze snapped to his. Sesshoumaru's lips quirked upward in a faint smirk.
"You may speak first," he offered smoothly, setting his cup down without looking away from flushed her face.
"No, you—" Kagome hesitated, her blush deepening as she glanced away tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "You go ahead. I can wait."
Sesshoumaru inclined his head and his expression softened as he leaned back slightly. "I thought we might walk the grounds today. There are places I believe you would find... appealing."
Appealing was far from the word Kagome would have used. No, what Sesshoumaru had brought her to was enchanting. Captivating. Utterly bewitching.
Nestled deep within the heart of his lands, hidden by dense forests and concealed by layers of mystical energy was a glade unlike anything Kagome had ever seen. The trees surrounding it were ancient, their trunks as wide as houses and their branches forming a natural cathedral high above, sunlight spilling through the leaves in liquid gold. The air was alive with shimmering motes of light that danced and flickered as though stars had fallen and decided to linger just a little longer.
In the center of the glade was a crystalline pool, its waters so clear they seemed invisible revealing a mosaic of smooth glowing stones at its bottom. The pebbles pulsed faintly with every ripple, casting soft hues of blue, violet, and amber into the surrounding foliage. Small waterfalls tumbled from a ring of rocks, their sound a gentle symphony that blended with the rustle of leaves and the occasional call of birds whose plumage shimmered like gemstones.
Flora unlike anything Kagome had ever encountered flourished here. Flowers with petals like blown glass glistened with dew while vines bearing luminescent fruit twisted up the trunks of the towering trees. Patches of moss glowed faintly beneath their bare feet as Sesshoumaru insisted no shoes were needed.
At the edge of the pool a single tree stood apart from the others. It was was smaller than the rest, its bark silver like liquid mercury and its leaves the deepest emerald. From its branches hung delicate blossoms that seemed to hum faintly, their glow ebbing and flowing in time with the water's gentle pulse.
Sesshoumaru stopped near the pool as he looked out over the scene. He didn't speak, allowing the beauty of the place to envelop them both. Kagome's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight, her fingers unconsciously brushing against her lips, as if afraid to shatter the spell by speaking.
"Sometimes," he began, his gaze shifting from the pellucid pool to Kagome, "I catch a scent. One that reminds me of home." His golden eyes softened just enough to reveal a glimpse of the man beneath the armor of a demon lord. "That is what your scent has become for me."
The unexpected confession left Kagome momentarily stunned. Any plans she'd had to create distance between them melted under the warmth of his gaze, molten gold pinning her in place as he moved toward her.
Her heart thudded in her chest, each beat louder than the last as his deep voice carried across the space between them. "I have… never been one to speak of feelings," he admitted. "But if you allow it, I'd like to try… through sign language."
She blinked, caught off guard yet again. He stopped before her, close enough that she could feel the faint ripple of his aura. But it wasn't his presence that was overwhelming her now—it was the quiet sincerity in his words.
Kagome nodded, swallowing hard as she fought to keep herself in check. "Okay," she whispered. It seemed wise to focus on his hands, to watch his movements and keep herself grounded. Anything to avoid openly staring at the way his loosely draped clothing revealed pale, sculpted muscles beneath. The slightly parted haori offered tantalizing glimpses.
Instead of immediately signing, Sesshoumaru did something else unexpected. He reached out and his clawed hand captured hers. Without a word he guided her toward the base of the great sterling tree by the water.
He gestured for her to sit, and she did so, her back pressing against the tree's cool, smooth bark while he settled across from her. The distance between them was almost nonexistent, their knees nearly brushing.
For a moment, he simply looked at her, his gaze unreadable but intense. Then, slowly, his hands began to move. Kagome watched, entranced, as his fingers formed the first word.
"Before you, I saw humans as fleeting and fragile. A species that lived in chaos, ruled by their short lives and emotions. I believed them insignificant. Even Rin's presence had not altered my perception."
He paused, his hands lowering for a moment before rising again, the next signs slower.
"But you are not fragile. You are not insignificant."
The space between them seemed to shrink with each movement of his hands, every gesture charged with an honesty that left Kagome's breath shallow.
"You are strong. Determined. Compassionate. You faced demons and gods alike with courage. You faced me with no fear."
His fingers stilled briefly, his expression turning contemplative as if choosing the right signs required the utmost care.
"When I am with you, I do not see a human. I see Kagome. A light that refuses to dim. A presence that pulls me in no matter how much I resisted."
The sign for resisted was sharp, but his movements softened as he continued.
"I did not plan to place a courting mark upon you. It was instinct. A need I could not deny."
Kagome felt her heart lurch at hearing this admission again, her hand instinctively rising to touch the spot where the mark rested hidden beneath her clothing.
"And now, I do not wish to take it back."
The words struck her like a thunderclap, but Sesshoumaru wasn't done.
"I know your future here is uncertain. The jewel is complete. The path you take is your choice. But I wish for you to know this."
His hands slowed once more, as if he wanted every word to sink in.
"I desire you by my side. Not as a pack mate. Not as an obligation. But as mine."
The final signs were firm, unyielding, and when his hands stilled, the silence that followed was deafening.
Kagome stared at him, her breath caught in her throat. Sesshoumaru was no longer the untouchable and distant demon lord she had met years ago. He was now just Sesshoumaru, laying bare his truth in the only way he could.
And in that moment, Kagome realized she wasn't afraid. Not of him. Not of this. She raised her hands and tried not to let them shake.
"I don't know what will happen when I make my wish on the jewel," she signed, her fingers faltering slightly. "But I know I don't want to leave you behind."
Sesshoumaru didn't need words—or signs—to convey his next response. His hand moved forward, brushing gently against hers and lacing them together.
Then he pulled her closer. Kagome let out a soft gasp as she was drawn into him, her free hand instinctively resting against the warmth of his chest.
The kiss that followed held no pretense, no hidden intentions. It wasn't a kiss born of necessity, like the one meant to heal her. Nor was it a kiss stolen in the throes of desire or frustration. This was different. This kiss was because he wanted to kiss her—because he wanted her to know it.