Kagome was not so sure she should accept his offer to walk with Sesshoumaru again, especially considering what happened last time. The banquet had gone surprisingly well, there were a few barbs thrown and a brawl likely would have been started had it not been for Kagome sitting Inu Yasha. But considering who was there it went much better than she could have expected. She walked behind him quietly, the garden looked significantly different at night. She was also surprised at the fact that nearly all signs of the battle were gone already save for a few damaged plants. Everything was tinted a beautiful shade of blue from the half moon in the cloudless sky. Suddenly she realized how quite it was, true it was night, but it can't have been that late. Not everyone could be asleep.
She wore a deep blue yukata, with a few lage flowers printed on it. Sesshoumaru on the other hand was wearing an outfit not to different from what he always wore, at least not from what she could see.
"Sesshoumaru, where is everyone?"
"Hmm? I believe Shippo and Rin are playing together, probably driving Jaken crazy... The others I assume are other wise occupied. Especially Inu Yasha."
"Oh? How do you know?"
Else where in the castle Makumba placed seals on either side of Inu Yasha's door effectively sealing the unwitting hanyou in his room.
"Let's just say I've seen that he is sufficently distracted."
Kagome laughed, "What did you set up a match between him and Kouga?"
Hmm... not a bad idea. "No, something much less damaging."
Inu Yasha was curently trying to figure out the Sengoku Jidai equivilant to the rubix cube. In about two minutes Sesshoumaru's theory would prove incorrect as Inu Yasha will throw the puzzle across the room in frustration and break a rather nice vase.
"Is there any reason to distract him?"
"Things are quieter without him around."
"I see..." Why was she suddenly feeling nervous?
"I have a favor to ask of you."
"Yes?"
"Hold out your hand." She did so and he reached into his shirt and dropped three small objects into her palm. "I'd like you take these off my hands."
"These are..."
"Yes, Shikon shards. A few foolish youkai thought that made them a match for me."
"Why don't you give these to your servants?"
Sesshoumaru huffed, "I refuse to keep anyone under my house who needs such trinkets to be powerful. These toys do nothing but drive youkai mad with power, they would only lose themselves, then I would lose some of my people. That and these tend to draw less savory youkai to my door."
"Thank you." She put them into a small pouch she kept with her.
"I have something else to give you."
"Eh?"
He hid his smile well He took her right hand in his, "You have helped me with something I have been having.. difficulty with. And for that I would like to give you this. Consider it a token of appreciation" Then with his left hand he slipped a ring over her middle finger.
"Sesshoumaru... your hand!"
He smiled very faintly, "I don't know how, but I am sure you had something to do with it. I did not even ask this of the Tenseiga, when I woke it was there."
She looked up at him, she probably had not even looked at the ring she was so preoccupied with him having two arms... and him smiling. "How did you hide it all through dinner?"
He contained his laughter at such an innocent question. "You see, I was not to take my place as lord of the Western Lands until I could master the sword of my father's fang. I could not master the Tenseiga befo-"
"So that's why you were after Testsusaiga! Because you knew how to master it!"
"Yes." He looked to her eyes with a softened expression, and when she looked back up at him she was caught. "I was worried for you Kagome, I knew I had to bring you back." But why? He could not bring himself to admit it yet, maybe at a later date... but not now. "I thought you should know, after all once I take my place in my father's palace I won't get to pester Inu Yasha or see you so often."
Eh? See me? What is he saying?
"One other token..." He placed one hand under her chin and drew her into a kiss, another arm went around her waist and drew her in close. Her eyes bugged wide and she brought her hands up to his chest to push him away, once they got to his chest the kiss had deepened and she felt strength leave her. Her hands rested there and her eyes closed just before he pulled away.
She stood there a moment, recalling the last time she had felt so warm... the dream. Her eyes opened slowly and she looked up at him. "I was right..." she said quietly.
"How so?"
The kiss had made her mind somewhat muddy, she felt like she needed to change the mood of the situation. Her giddyness made her react in a goofy way. She playfully hit him in the chest and in a playful whiney voice she declared, "You are so mean!" He laughed a bit and knew exactly what she was doing, and he would have none of it. His one hand, came up onto her shoulder and moved the shoulder over her yukata over slightly. "w-w-w-w-what are you doing!?"
He leaned over grinning into her shoulder, "Just a reminder.." He kissed her shoulder. "that there is more.." He kissed closer to her neck. "than just my brother..." Where her neck met her shoulder "and that foolish wolf..." Halfway to her ear. "to consider..." On the last one he nicked her earlobe with his teeth and she drew in a sharp breath between her teeth. He could not get rid of his smile, he loved her trembling and the strange mix of antcipation, fear, and arousal mixed with her lovely scent. She was so innocent! It made her so.. soo... cute. He turned his face into her hair and inhaled. When had she become so apealing?
"a..a...ano... Sesshoumaru?"
"Hm?"
"HEY! GET AWAY FROM KAGOME SESSHOUMARU!"
They both looked up seeing Inu Yasha in one window and made a move as if to jump out but was stopped. He looked at the window in disbelief. Sesshoumaru grinned and Kagome hastily pulled up the misplaced part of her yukata even though he couldn't see it from that side. She was blushing so violently she was sure was glowing. "Then come and stop me Inu Yasha!"
He heard Inu Yasha run to his door, then after a second he began banging on it. "what the? HEY! LEMME OUT! I'M GONNA RIP YOU APART SESSHOUMARU!" *BANG* *BANG* "GOD DAMMIT!!"
She looked at the lord beside her then back to the window. "Distracted huh?" Suddenly Kagome couldn't help herself and she burst out laughing. The situation was just too ridiculous. Inu Yasha ran over to the window and started yelling at them again. She was laughing so hard it took her a moment to get the whole word out, "Si.. ss haha.. SIT!" WHAM!
"Why are laughing so hard?"
She turned back to Sesshoumaru, "I dunno, it's.. it's just.. I never would have imagined this a few days ago. I'm sorry but I never thought of you 'showing appreciation' that way." Then another thought occured to her and made her laugh again. "I just wondered what everyone would look like if I called you Sesshoumau-kun. I Don't think anything else could make them more surprised."
"I know what could."
"Eh?" He grabbed one of her hands and pulled her into another kiss. Once again she was compeletly taken aback. "GET YOUR FILFTY HANDS OFF HER YOU BASTARD!!!" About this time the others, who could not help but hear Inu Yasha shout from his room, came out into the garden concerned for Kagome's safey. At first all they saw was Sesshoumaru's back.
"Kagome?"
She pulled back and he stepped aside, Kagome was blushing violently and Sesshoumaru just looked at them as if to say "Do you mind?" Kagome's hands made several untranslatable motions before she found her voice. "I uh.. you see we.. umm.. errr... I'm going to bed now! NIGHT!" Then she ran passed everyone half giggling half embarassed beyond belief.
As one all their eyes followed Kagome till she was out of sight, then in unison they all turned back to Sesshoumaru. His stoic mask was back in place, but for once it took real effort to keep it there. "What?"