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Kagome shivered against the cold, pulling Shippo and Rin close as they huddled around the fire, the flames causing ominous shadows to dance along the cave walls.
Rin had wanted to play in the snow, and since Shippo was visiting, Kagome saw no reason not to accompany them for an afternoon of play a short distance from the village. However, a blizzard had appeared out of nowhere, and they'd barely been able to find shelter in time.
It was times like this that Kagome missed her yellow backpack. Inuyasha had always called it obnoxious, but they'd at least been prepared for things like this, with plenty of snacks and an extra blanket or sleeping bag.
"Kagome?" Kagome looked up to see Shippo looking at her, his expression worried as he curled around Rin for warmth. "It's gonna be okay, right?"
Looking down at the young girl's purple fingers, she gritted her teeth, forcing a reassuring smile. "Of course! We just need to wait for the snow to let up a bit before we can return to the village."
"Rin is cold," the young preteen managed, shivering as her teeth clattered. "B-but it's okay, K-Kagome-sama; Sesshomaru-sama will f-find us soon."
Kagome looked away, not wanting to contradict the girl but knowing the chance of the demon lord was slim—he'd been to the village only a few days prior and wasn't scheduled to be back until next month.
"Of course, he will, Rin!" she reassured her young charge, because even though it was true that Sesshomaru had just left days earlier, it was also true that he tended to show up right on time when Rin needed him.
Kagome peeled off her thick outer hoari and draped it over the shoulders of both children, urging them to snuggle closer.
"But in the meantime, I want you guys to stay as close as possible, okay?"
Kagome rose from the fire and scanned the small cave for anything she could use to block the snow from creeping in.
She did her best to hide her shivering from the children as she searched for rocks or branches—even a dead animal would be better than nothing—but just as she was resigned to sitting in front of the cave opening herself, a voice filled her mind, and a massive white paw blocked the wind.
'The seasons remain the same, yet humans are always so ill-prepared.'
She blinked several times in disbelief, shaking her head at what she was sure was hallucinations from the cold, but she placed a hand in his paw in thanks.
A huff ruffled her hair with warm air as yoki crackled around them, and Kagome had to stop herself from rubbing up against him, the need for warmth overrunning all logic in her mind.
'Move, Miko.'
Startled, she stumbled out of the way, and he turned, blocking the entrance with his back, long, thick fur pushing in where she'd once been standing as his voice once more filled her mind, 'take shelter.'
"I-I..." Kagome shot a confused glance at the children, wondering if they could hear him too, "Uh... What?"
"Sesshomaru-sama, Rin knew you would come!" Rin yelled as she ran, pulling her and Shippo along as she nestled down in his fur.
Kagome searched their faces for any sign they'd heard Sesshomaru's voice as well, but they were too concerned with the arrival of their savior, their features no longer pinched with cold.
A deep, low growl reverberated through his body, and soon the children were lulled to sleep, leaving her alone with her confusion, which was only compounded when she heard his disembodied voice again. 'The human mind is vexing, indeed.'
"I didn't think yokai could talk in their true form." The words spilled out of her mouth before she could stop them.
He tensed for a moment, and she worried she'd revealed her insanity for what it was, but then- 'You can hear me.'
It wasn't a question, but she nodded anyway, her lip finding its way between her teeth.
"Is that bad?" she asked nervously, and though his reply wasn't damning, it wasn't soothing either.
Sesshomaru titled his head, focusing one massive golden eye on her. 'It has implications.'
"What does that—"
"Kagome, who are you talking to?"
"No one!" Kagome nearly screamed as Shippo blinked sleepily up at her, and she blushed when Sesshomaru's deep laugh echoed through her mind.
"You're funny, Mama," he mumbled, snuggling close to her, Rin's hand clasped in his.
Kagome buried her face in her hands.
Silence descended on the small group, the crackle of the fire dimming to a few glowing embers before he spoke again. 'Is this the first time you have heard me?'
"I'm beginning to think it's not," she responded softly, wisps of memories tumbling over each other.
"I've only seen you like this a few times, mind you, but I can remember the first time—I didn't hear words, but I could feel how angry and in pain you were about your arm."
His heavy gaze weighed her down, and a blush of shame rose to her cheeks. "I'm sorry about that, by the way."
'You were not the one to strike, miko, nor was the attack unwarranted. The hanyou was merely defending you.'
"I guess we were all different people then… Still, I'm glad you got it back," she whispered, tears making her voice squeeze weakly from her throat, and with his answering thoughts came a rush of warmth, 'As am I.'
Lost in the moment, Kagome leaned back against him, burrowing into luxurious fur.
His voice went quiet, replaced by the soothing rumble he'd taken up before, and soon she fell into a restful sleep.
She was usually never plagued by dreams, her body too exhausted from daily battles or too alert trying to sense new ones to truly allow her to rest, but she found herself drifting inside a comforting fog, her mind at ease as her limbs were left weightless.
As she did, she swore she heard him rumble something—something that her conscious brain couldn't believe was true.
It crept up the sides of her body and whispered in her ears, warming her hands and face as the words tried to take form.
But then she woke to a blizzard ended and a shining sun, a very humanoid Sesshomaru sitting patiently in front of a roaring fire with several chunks of meat roasting near the flames. He said nothing as they ate, not about being ill-prepared for the weather, not about almost dying in a blizzard, and certainly not about their strange telepathic connection.
Shippo was testing out his transformations again, leaving Rin in a fit of giggles as he changed into Inuyasha before clucking like a chicken.
Kagome moved to sit beside Sesshomaru, feeling a connection with him she couldn't quite explain.
She instantly felt guilty for not getting to know him sooner. Sure, he'd tried to kill her during their first meeting, but he'd gone out of his way to save her during their final encounter with Naraku—as well as other times during their travels.
'And there's clearly something going on that's connecting us,' she thought as she surreptitiously watched him, 'maybe if I get to know him, I'll figure out what's going on and what those implications are that he mentioned. I have a feeling he won't explain it himself.'
She let out a snort—when had Sesshomaru ever voluntarily explained anything?
As though he knew her thoughts, he looked at her then, a smirk at his lips.
Kagome immediately bristled, a blush staining her cheeks as she stared at him, biting back the urge to tell him off, especially since he hadn't technically said anything.
"Mama, Mama!" Shippo exclaimed as he tugged on Kagome's sleeve. "Can we play in the snow again, please?"
She turned to the kitsune, slightly grateful for the distraction, "As long as Rin's winter clothes have dried out."
She blanched, then turned to the daiyokai. "I mean, as long as Sesshomaru is okay with it," she said, remembering that Rin's well-being was his responsibility when he was there, but he nodded quietly to the children, who squealed in delight.
They watched as Rin and Shippo ran out of the cave, quickly working together to build a snow—Kagome wanted to say man, but the giant snowballs were lopsided and nowhere close to being stackable.
"I suppose we should head back to the village soon. Kaede and the others are probably worried sick."
"Thank you." The low timbre of his voice was almost lost amongst the cheerful cries of the children. "For providing for Rin."
She gasped and stared up at him with wide eyes, unsure what to say; she'd been sure he would be angry for almost being the cause of her death.
"It was the least I could do. She means a lot to me; I don't think I'd be able to live with myself if something had happened to her or Shippo-chan."
"You were willing to freeze to keep them warm, to keep her warm, and I will not soon forget such sacrifice in regards to my ward," he said, and the intensity in his eyes made her flush.
"However, you are correct." His intense gaze shifted, suddenly studying the horizon. "There is another storm on the way; the village will offer superior protection."
Kagome followed his gaze, noting the violent, violet clouds in the distance, and nodded, quickly gathering the children.
Yoki, oppressive and powerful, burst forth, and Sesshomaru's true form revealed itself once more from the crackling cloud.
"You should visit with Sesshomaru-sama more often, Kagome-sama," Rin said, grabbing the miko's hand, "then you won't be so surprised when he transforms!"
A deep, rhythmic rumbling erupted from the inuyokai before her, gilded eyes filled with mirth.
Kagome wished Sesshomaru was privy to modern-day curse words, as she seriously wanted to flip him off, but settled with sticking her nose in the air as she walked passed him.
Together the three of them climbed atop his massive form and settled into the warm fur between his shoulder blades.
Her ire quickly melted away as a pure white landscape spread out around them, everything covered in undisturbed snow.
They arrived back at the village in a surprisingly short time, and Kagome fought the childish urge to pout at how quick the flight had been.
She hadn't been able to fight the blush that crept up the back of her neck when he seemed to give her a knowing look.
"K'gome!" Inuyasha hollered from across the village, barreling towards her through the snowdrifts.
She groaned, unconsciously burying her face into Sesshomaru's fur.
'The fool will wake the entire village.'
"I would agree with you, but I'm still pretending that this 'I can hear your thoughts' thing isn't real."
"Kagome-chan! You're okay!" Sango cried, following Inuyasha's footprints through the snow. "We were so worried when Inuyasha lost your scent."
She gave her friend a grateful smile. "We're okay. We got stuck in the storm. And then Sesshomaru found us and kept us warm."
"Kept you warm, Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked, eyebrows wiggling suggestively, as he joined the group.
Her cheeks burned, and she sputtered, unsure what to say or how to convincingly deny the implications, but she was saved by Sesshomaru once again. "Yoki is inherently warm, and so is fur."
Before Miroku could tease them more, Sango smacked her husband's arm, "There are children present!"
Glad for the distraction, Kagome grabbed Rin and Shippo's hands, leading them towards her hut, Inuyasha trailing behind her.
"Kagome-sama is fortunate indeed to have someone as dedicated as you to protect her and her loved ones in times of need, my lord," Miroku addressed Sesshomaru as the group followed Kagome home. "Very fortunate."
A flash of yoki filled the clearing, sending snowflakes swirling around Kagome and the children, and Sesshomaru's inhuman figure suddenly appeared beside them.
Inuyasha shoved his hands into his sleeves, grumbling loudly. "Dunno how the bastard even found them. No one can smell anything when it snows like this."
"I simply tracked her reiki, brother."
Inuyasha scoffed. "Unless she was in danger, there's no way. She's powerful, but not when she's just standing around."
"She is always powerful," Sesshomaru countered, "just because you cannot sense her power at rest does not mean it is not there."
"No one else could sense her either, ya bastard! Otherwise, we would've found her first!"
A smirk stretched Sesshomaru's features, "And yet, you did not. The monk and old woman are the same, albeit their power is merely wisps in comparison."
"Oi, Baka-yasha! Just say thanks already!" Rin erupted into giggles, and Shippo flashed her an impish smile.
"Keh," Inuyasha's ears flattened against his head. "T-Thanks for saving her and the runts."
"You always make things so difficult, little brother." He smirked as Inuyasha bristled, then swept past him, his eyes focused on his ward and the miko.
The group made it to Kagome's hut just before the storm blew in.
Sesshomaru watched as the miko flitted about, pulling out blankets, tea, and snacks for everyone—seeing to everyone's comfort and safety except her own.
Golden eyes narrowed as she worked. Nine beings occupied the small hut, and not one of them offered to assist her.
He forgave the children—she wouldn't have accepted their help anyway—but the others had no excuse. And when she swayed on her feet, he allowed his yoki to bear down on them as he reached for her.
"You will rest," he demanded as Inuyasha snapped simultaneously from across the hut, "Oi! What the hell was that for?"
"Your ignorance of your pack's needs is staggering," he bit out, the potency of his yoki increasing as he led the woman to a chair.
"Really, I'm fine—"
He silenced her with a glare, then moved the food and drink so it was within her reach, placing a newly poured cup of tea in her hands.
Sesshomaru set his stern gaze on Inuyasha, pulling him towards the back of the hut and out of earshot of the humans. "Your packmate nearly froze last night, sacrificing herself for the children, and you let her serve you now without a second thought?"
His brother had the decency to look ashamed, his eyes darting between the miko and himself. "It ain't my fault! S-She always serves us first!"
The wind howled outside, covering Sesshomaru's irritated sigh. "And yet, it is the alpha's responsibility to care for their pack before their packmates become unwell. Anticipating needs is tantamount, little brother."
Silver ears pressed against his head, and Inuyasha nodded, yanking his collar out of Sesshomaru's hand before returning to the table, mumbling an apology to the miko.
Kagome turned toward Sesshomaru with a questioning glance as he rejoined the group.
He suddenly wished the communication between himself and the miko was not limited to his true form, then promptly squashed the notion and met her gaze. "Your needs were not being met."
Surprise flashed across her face before she mouthed a silent "thank you" over her teacup.
A single nod was his only response, but she gave him a grateful smile, nonetheless.
The storm passed with heavy winds and fat snowflakes whipping around in the tempest, but the group remained cozy inside Kagome's hut.
Sesshomaru had been fed up with it in the first few minutes but had stuck it out until he had confirmed Rin was taken care of, slowly getting to his feet and heading towards the door.
"You're leaving already?" Kagome asked as he passed by her.
He found himself hesitating, a frown tugging at the edges of his mouth as he looked around the room over his shoulder. "It is stifling in here."
"I thought we might have a chance to talk about—" Kagome glanced over the room cautiously, but the others were all immersed in their own entertainment. "—the... ummm... well, you know."
His curiosity simmered under his skin, but he pursed his lips. "The walls have ears, miko."
She bit her lip. "Can I come with you, then, so we can talk?"
The curiosity increased; she was willing to brave the storm just to converse with him?
"Hnn." He finally shrugged. She could come or not—it was her choice.
The miko wrapped the blanket around her shoulders a little tighter, following close behind him after telling his brother an outright lie about grabbing more firewood.
Sesshomaru said nothing as she followed after him, uncertain what it was she truly wanted.
"So, is being able to hear your thoughts normal?" she asked, getting straight to the point. She certainly never heard of it with any of the other yokai she'd come across.
He would not meet her gaze as he ran his fingers through his hair. "It depends," he hedged, unsure if he wanted to reveal what it truly meant—that their souls had bonded. He did not know if she would be appreciative. Or accepting.
"That sounds ominous," she tried to laugh it off, but something in the way his shoulders tensed told her it was more than what he was letting on. "I mean, I'm all for inside jokes, but I know you're a private person."
"It is no joking matter," he replied stiffly.
She tried to stifle her laughter, she really did, but a few giggles escaped, and if looks could kill, Kagome would've died on the spot. "It means that you and I know what's going on, but no one else does."
He considered that. "Joking is how you share secrets?"
"Sometimes. Having secrets, or even secret jokes, proves you have a deeper connection with someone."
"Hnn." He shifted his gaze to the nature around him. "This is the connection you have with Inuyasha?"
She snorted, warm breath crystallizing in the winter air. "I guess. He's not that great at keeping secrets. Or hiding things at all."
"I do not understand." Sesshomaru seemed a little frustrated by that. "Is he not the one you have desired?"
Kagome looked up at the sky, snowflakes sticking to her lashes. "He was. For a long time. Maybe longer than he should've been, but at some point, I realized that if someone isn't able to put you first, or keep your secrets, they may not be the right fit."
"He betrayed your trust?" Sesshomaru's lips thinned.
"Aside from all the times he went to meet Kikyou during our hunt from the shard?" She shook her head, ridding her face of the fallen snow. "He just doesn't realize that some conversations are supposed to be private. Even if it isn't said outright."
"Then he is unworthy of you," Sesshomaru said firmly.
The fact that his brother had continued to betray the trust that she gave so willingly, even after the death of undead miko, made his yoki flare.
And Kagome sensed it, her eyes widening.
"You speak of forgiveness and allowances, miko, yet patterns in behaviour are telling."
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. He was right, after all.
He faced her then, gold boring into sapphire. "Are you aware of your own worth?"
"Not everyone has a gigantic ego," she grumbled.
"There is a difference between arrogance and acknowledging your accomplishments." The look he gave her was piercing. "I am able to see both." He lifted her chin for her. "Now, try again."
She seemed to hesitate, and his yoki slid along his fingers to her neck, but then she lifted her chin of her own accord. "I know what I'm worth. And I don't confide in people that take me for granted."
He gave her an approving nod. "You will tell yourself this daily."
The smile she gave him was genuine. "Why? Now I have you for that."
"You must say it to yourself first," he stressed.
"I know what my worth is, Sesshomaru. Really," she said, adding in the last part at his raised eyebrow.
"Then why all of this?" He waved a hand.
"Old habits die hard," she said with a shrug. "I'm working on it, I promise. Besides, if I forget, you can just use your true form mojo to remind me."
"True form mojo?" he repeated, bemused as he looked down at her.
The expression lightened his features, and she allowed herself to be mesmerized for a moment before moving on to the topic at hand. "How I can hear your thoughts when you're in your true form. You said it wasn't necessarily a normal thing. Do you hear my thoughts too?"
"No." He turned from her, tucking his hands into his sleeves in a gesture that reminded her all too much of Inuyasha.
For some reason, she wasn't as relieved at that as she thought she would be. "Too bad. People back home dream about having powers like that."
"It is not always such a good thing," he murmured.
Snow crunched under her feet as they kept walking, and she blew into her hands to warm them up. "I guess hearing someone's thought's all the time might be tricky. Is there a way to turn it off? What if you're far away?"
"The bond is not that strong yet," he mumbled without looking at her.
He had never heard of two souls bonding without the intent to mate before—especially those of a different species.
And never with a miko and a daiyokai—at least not any who survived to brag of such.
"So now we have a bond? How did that happen? I mean, not that I mind, but usually there's a reason behind it, right?"
He kept his mouth shut, certain she would refuse him when she learned the truth.
Misinterpreting his silence, she pulled at a stray thread on her blanket. "I'm not going to tell anyone if that's what you're worried about. They wouldn't believe me anyway."
He sighed heavily. "It would not be to your benefit if you did."
"I'm sure you've threatened people for less than knowing your inner thoughts," she said, trying for some levity.
She remembered several occasions where he'd thrown rocks at Jaken and wondered if that was for the same thing.
"Indeed." He noticed her shivering, contemplating simply sending her back to the hut, knowing they'd travelled too far to let her do it alone. Sighing, he transformed, the explosion of yoki causing snow to fall off tree branches as he lay down next to her.
She blinked as she felt his yoki and fur settle around her. "Sesshomaru?"
'You are cold.' His voice echoed within the confines of her mind.
She shivered as his masculine voice washed over her. "I could have gone back."
'It is too far for you to travel by yourself.' A giant paw nudged her closer.
"Isn't this more uncomfortable for you, though?" she whispered, unable to stop herself from relaxing into his soft fur.
His shoulders rolled as if to shrug—there was no helping it, though he knew the bond would only get stronger every time he shifted.
'Are you warm enough?' he asked, laying his snout down by her.
Kagome hummed softly, the heat from fur and flesh seeping through her clothes as she lay back against him. "Thank you."
He closed his eyes, allowing himself to bask in the pleasure of her presence and the bond, certain it would not last.
"So—" she started listing off things on her fingers. "—we now have a bond. It wasn't from anything we did, no one else can hear you except me, but it's only when you're in your true form."
One eye cracked open. 'Were you expecting anything different?'
Shrugging, she slid a hand up the top of his snout. "I'm just trying to figure out why it happened. It doesn't bother me, but you probably want to find a way to break it, right?"
He looked away from her, unwilling to admit that such a thing was impossible.
Frowning at the sudden loss of contact, she settled back against his large frame. "Maybe it has something to do with our power? We're probably the strongest two here."
'Why do you search so hard for the cause?' He'd hoped she'd set aside the issue.
The harsh, almost desperate tone startled her. "Aren't you curious about why it happened? And to us specifically?"
'It will not change anything,' he said dismissively.
"So, it's permanent then?" Sesshomaru was surprised at the calm acceptance of her words.
He gave her a slight nod, hoping she would finally accept their mutual fate.
But Kagome's mind continued to buzz. "Have you heard of it happening with others? It feels like it would be something significant."
'It has happened occasionally,' he conceded, suspecting now that she'd never be satisfied until she'd learned the truth—a truth she would no doubt reject.
The miko had merely been an ally before this night—a curious creature with a tendency to get herself into trouble, though usually from sacrificing her own well-being to protect others—but after the initial contact, after her accidental acceptance of the bond, he found himself wanting more.
And now that she snuggled into him, it awoke desires he'd been struggling to repress.
"Were your parents able to communicate like this? Or is it more of a battle tactic? Not that I want another Naraku, but it could've helped us during some of the fights against him."
'You should sleep,' he said instead of answering her questions. 'It is late.'
Kagome sighed, then climbed onto his back, not wanting to actually sleep on the snow-covered ground; he'd mentioned there were 'implications' to their bond, but she still hadn't figured out what they were.
As she dozed off, she swore she heard him rumbling something to her.
Just like before, the rumblings turned into something more tangible, teasing her senses while she slept and staying just out of reach—just out of focus.
When she awoke, it was as though he hadn't moved at all.
Kagome suddenly felt guilty, sitting up on his back as she realized she'd turned him into a bed.
'Are you ready to continue?' he asked as she clambered down his back.
"Continue what?" she asked, trying to flatten the wrinkles in her robes before dragging her fingers through her hair.
'To leave,' he rumbled as his yoki surged forth.
"Leave? Oh!" She finished fixing herself, then looked back in the direction of the village, not realizing how far they'd walked the night before.
He transformed before her eyes, regaining his human form. "Come."
"Does it make you uncomfortable being in your true form now?" she asked, catching up to him.
"Should it?" Whether he wore a human guise or not, it did not change who he was.
"I hope not. I just don't want this connection we have to stop you from transforming. I don't think it's harmful, so it shouldn't bother you, right?" Kagome was surprised that he hadn't told her to shut up yet—or at least stopped responding to her endless questions.
"Hnn." He hoped if he stopped speaking, she would stop asking.
But it was not to be; his silence seemed to spur her on, the miko determined to solve the mystery that had befallen them.
It strained at his patience, his resolve.
And he all too quickly found himself wondering what her reaction would be—would she be as accepting as she was with everyone else in her pack?
And if she did not, what would the repercussions be?
"You're not even listening, are you?"
He blinked down at her and winced at her expression. "I apologize," he said stiffly.
Her arms crossed, blue eyes narrowing as her chin raised, and Sesshomaru couldn't stop the wave of heat that buzzed under his skin.
He reached for her without thinking.
Deadly claws wrapped around her neck, his thumb brushing her bottom lip as he stared down at her.
He wanted nothing more than to kiss her; the urge was blazing within his mind.
Kagome swallowed thickly, her mind going blank at the expression on Sesshomaru's face; the fact that she could see any emotion at all was a feat in itself, but the dilation of his pupils made her stomach churn, and she struggled to form words.
He made no moves at all, waiting for her to close the distance between them.
Something fluttered against the recesses of her mind, more instinct than intelligent thought, and she willingly gave in, pulling him down and brushing her lips across his.
He stiffened for only a moment before his arms folded around her, returning the kiss.
Whatever she'd been expecting, it wasn't this; heat enveloped both of them, making her gasp and arch, her hands gripping his armour.
Something seemed to intertwine between them as his hands slid into her lapels.
All the lingering questions and worries about their strange connection were forgotten, the emptiness plaguing her heart suddenly dissipating.
She felt connected with him in that moment; like this was always the way they were meant to be.
The soft whispers she'd mentioned before became louder, each fibre of her body calling out to him, and she pulled back with a gasp. "What... What is this?"
And just like that, he pulled away, his expression closing off.
Kagome felt the loss inside and out, her mind reeling at the emptiness and leaving her shivering.
"Sesshomaru?"
He refused to look at her. "We must return."
"But—" She reached for him but got nothing but air, stumbling after him through the snow. "Wait!"
Sesshomaru strode purposefully towards her hut, refusing to look back.
The snow crunched under her feet, slowing her down enough that he made it back inside before her, everyone jumping as the door was thrust open.
He stomped inside, knocking the snow off his boots first without so much as looking at her.
Their friends watched the exchange, shocked by the rare show of emotion from the stoic yokai.
Desperation coursed through her, but she stalled in the doorway, not wanting to break the trust they'd built up outside, hands shaking as she watched him move about her hut.
She didn't want him to leave but couldn't think of a way to convince him to stay.
"Oi! What the hell is going on?"
It wasn't until Sango stepped in front of her, brushing snow from her shoulders, that Kagome's gaze broke away from the daiyokai, and she gave the slayer a startled look.
Miroku was trying to hush Inuyasha as Kagome flushed. "I, uh, we ran into each other."
"Like hell! You two left together in the middle of the storm and didn't come back! The runts were scared shitless. And now he comes storming back in here like he owns the place!"
Kagome winced, and Sango shot the hanyou a glare over her shoulder. "Welcome back, Kagome-chan. I'm glad you're safe," she said, loudly over emphasizing each word.
Sesshomaru sequestered himself in a corner without acknowledging anyone, allowing Rin to settle down beside him.
"Are you alright, Sesshomaru-sama?" she asked, watching as Kagome continued to shake in the doorway, Sango fawning over her while threatening Inuyasha at the same time.
He nodded curtly, never entirely letting Kagome out of sight, though he feigned indifference.
Between the slayer wrapping her in a blanket, the kit's questions, and his brother's curses, she kept stealing glances at him, blue eyes searching.
And her expression was alluring, whether she realized it or not.
He could still taste her.
And though he kept his own feelings bottled within him, he longed to taste her again.
"I'm fine, Sango-chan. Really," she added, seeing her friend's disbelieving look. "The snow was just a bit heavier than I thought it would be."
Sango pressed her lips together but didn't respond, giving Miroku a firm shake of her head.
The monk pouted, ready with a myriad of suggestive comments but not wanting to be on the receiving end of his wife's ire—this time.
Especially with Sesshomaru in the room—he still wished to reproduce.
But it appeared Inuyasha had no qualms about the matter. "Why are ya always doing stupid shit?"
Sesshomaru's eyes glittered, and he decided there was more than one way to deal with the emotions coursing through him.
"Such an influx of energy would be better used with your sword," he said, feigning nonchalance, "instead of running your mouth."
Inuyasha instantly took the bait.
"I coulda been awake for a year and still beat you, ya arrogant bastard!"
Sesshomaru's lips quirked. "You have hardly mastered the use of a blade, let alone Chichi-ue's fang, to be a real threat, Inuyasha."
He felt the miko's aura rise, confusion and apprehension swirling around him as his brother continued to hurl insults at him, both of them stepping out into the snow.
He'd expected her to stop him—and was astonished that she didn't seem inclined to interfere.
"Who wants to fight in the snow, Baka-yasha?" Shippo yelled from Kagome's shoulder.
A snowball came hurdling in Shippo's direction.
Rin giggled as Shippo toppled off Kagome's shoulder, then cheered her guardian on.
However, Shippo was not one to take it lying down, immediately joining the fight.
The kit was relentless, using a combination of foxfire and illusions to take on both brothers. Usually, Kagome would encourage his antics, but she was too preoccupied—why had he walked off?
And then she heard it.
Inuyasha had used Shippo as a distraction, knowing Sesshomaru would go out of his way to keep the boy from being injured, power swirling around Tessaiga as he swung it in earnest.
And she'd heard Sesshomaru's displeasure at the realization as though he was right next to her.
The words echoed in her mind as clear as they had when he'd been in his true form, and Kagome found herself reaching for him, internally screaming out her warning as diamond shards cut through the air.
The warning was unnecessary. Sesshomaru dodged effortlessly, but as he landed, his golden eyes focused on her with an intensity that nearly brought her to her knees.
Had he heard her?
He used his whip to trip Inuyasha before stalking over to her.
Inuyasha's curses were buried under the barrage of snowballs, and subsequent snow kitsune, from Shippo, Rin running to join them now that it was safe to do so.
Rin lobbed a giant ball directly at Shippo, but Kagome hardly noticed as Sesshomaru came to a halt before her.
"Are you alright?" she whispered, barely able to form coherent words. "I mean, clearly you're alright. I just—"
He pulled her into his arms, a tiny sigh leaving his lips. "Thank you."
The sounds of the snowball fight fell away, her arms automatically wrapping around him as the anxiety she'd felt since his rejection dissipated.
She felt connected to him then.
It was the same as before, every part of her that called to him was at peace, and her grip on him tightened, her words tumbling out in a desperate plea. "Don't push me away. I don't know what this is, and I'm sorry if I did something wrong, but—"
"I did not think you ever would," she heard him whisper.
Desperation rolled off of him in waves, and Kagome's heart twisted painfully, fingers brushing the back of his neck in comfort.
He sank into her, pulling her closer to him though his touch remained gentle.
"Do you… Do you want to go somewhere else to talk?" She didn't want to move from that spot, wanted to hold him close as long as she could, but prying eyes and wagging tongues made it difficult to have a private conversation.
His cloud formed beneath them before she'd even finished voicing the words.
How he knew where they were going with his face buried in her hair, she'd never know, but Kagome refused to let go of him all the same.
All too soon, he landed safely in a clearing with a spring nearby.
Even in the dead of winter, steam rose from the water, creating a small sanctuary as it kept the snow from getting too close.
"A hot spring?" she guessed with quiet delight.
"You have mentioned in the past that you enjoy them."
Her eyes lit up. He'd been listening.
He slowly released her, as if he was thoroughly reluctant to do so, then ushered her towards the water. "This area is protected. You can relax here."
She smiled. "What about you?"
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her skin. "I will wait until you are sufficiently warmed before partaking."
"Isn't it big enough for both of us?" she blurted, not wanting him to wait on her.
His golden eyes grew impossibly wide before turning hooded and heavy. Kagome would have missed the change had she not been looking.
"You wish for me to join you?" he asked her quietly.
Heat slowly crept into her face, but she managed to keep her gaze steady. "Isn't that why you brought me here?"
He said nothing as he began to strip.
Fingers stilling, she watched as the layers fell away, the movements almost hypnotic in the soft moonlight.
Even with the snow on the ground and encroaching darkness, he stood out, alabaster skin almost glowing as he stepped toward her.
He was beautiful, so much so that she wanted to reach out and touch him to see if he was real.
He caught her outstretched hand, bringing it to his cheek before tilting his head into the touch. "You are beautiful."
She gasped, feeling as though he read her mind. "Not as much as you," she murmured.
"I would much rather gaze upon you than my own reflection," he said, eyes blazing, keeping his hand on hers as he tugged her closer to the water.
Her mouth fell open at the blatant compliment from him. "You sure this isn't some big cosmic joke?" she managed, scarcely believing her luck.
"Our connection does not lie. You have fully accepted the bond."
He sounded proud of that fact, as though it were the only thing that mattered to him.
"Is that—" She moistened her lips, struggling to keep her eyes on his face. "—is that what I felt before?"
He inclined his head slightly, his gaze boring into her own.
"Why did you walk away then?"
She stared back, desperate to hear the answer to help her move past the hurt he'd caused.
Gold bore into sapphire, his hand tightening around hers. "The influence of the bond is powerful. I did not want... I wished for you to have a choice."
"What about you?" she asked softly. "Don't you get one too?"
"I would not be here if I did not desire to be."
She gave him a long look, trying to evaluate the truth of his words for herself.
He must've thought words we not enough, pulling her close and claiming her lips, waves of reassurance, warmth, and intent washing over her through the bond.
She returned his kiss with everything she had as she sank against him.
And she felt his relief when she did, his arms locking around her as he lifted her off the ground, walking into the spring without even bothering to undress her.
She clung to him, reaching to touch any part of him she could without breaking contact.
It was so much more than before, their acceptance boosting the potency of the bond to the point of making her head spin.
She felt him in ways he couldn't explain, like he was everywhere and nowhere.
"Is it always like this?" She buried her face in his neck, chest heaving, arms wrapped tightly around him.
"I do not know." He seemed a little unnerved to admit that.
"So you've never experienced this with anyone else?" It was stupid, she had absolutely no reason to be jealous, but the idea of him sharing this connection with anyone else had fire boiling under her skin.
"It is unique amongst those such as us." He pressed a kiss to her brow.
The relief she felt was palpable, second only the warmth from the soft touch of his mouth against her forehead. "I'm glad."
"Why?" The question was quiet, but she sensed the force of his interest.
She felt her face heat and was thankful it was still pressed against his neck. "I don't like to share."
"You will not," he promised her. "I have no need for anyone who is not you."
"Same." She finally pulled back, giving him a smile that belied her insecurities. "You'd kind of be hard to live up to anyway."
He flushed with obvious pride as he smiled back at her.
Kagome sucked in a sharp breath. "Woah... Yeah, you shouldn't do that around anyone else either."
He gave her a bemused look. "Do what?"
Reaching up, she cupped his face, stroking the stripes on his cheeks. "Smile. Can that just be for me?"
"It is already for you," he murmured.
If the truth of his words wasn't already evident through his expression, it was through the bond, waves of warmth, trust, and more sliding along her skin.
"I'm glad it was you," she murmured, reaching to kiss him again.
The spring became their oasis, a moment out of time stolen away in the middle of a torrent of want and desire, the cold unable to touch them as acceptance shifted to choice and then to need.
And all the while, the look in his eyes kept her grounded in the feelings washing over her.
And that, more than any predestined bond, told her everything she needed to know.