InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Syndrome ❯ Two Steps Forward ( Chapter 35 )

I do not own Inuyasha and Company, no matter how happy it would make me. Rumiko Takahashi does.

 

Author's Note:

I guess I should have included this in the last chapter, because I had a lot of people asking not only why it had been so long, but also how my surgery went (those who knew), so here's the deal.

 

About the time I stopped updating anything, my life just about exploded. My mom got like deathly ill, the lose 100 pounds in like 2 months cuz all you do is throw up ill, and has had 2 surgeries (and she's still not all the way fixed, even now, btw). My husband hurt his back and had to have surgery (which scared the hell out of me cuz my father had 2 unsuccessful back surgeries when I was younger). My step-father got laid off and had to find a new job (we have an interesting collaborative household over here so I can stay home and home school my daughter). And to top it all off, like the pretty pink bow on my snarling Inu, my evil sinusitis that made me miss half my senior year and almost not graduate came back and I had a serious sinus infection for like 4 months constantly despite every big gun antibiotic they have, until I finally got them to do a scan and say yes, I needed the surgery.. again... which had like a 2 month wait before I could get it. I just had it mid March, so to say it helped is an understatement, considering how much I've managed to write since then.

 

Yes, I'm feeling better, but I'm not back to 100 percent yet. I'm so backlogged in every corner of my life right now it's not even funny, but at least I can bring myself to turn on the computer at all. So, updates might not be every week, but anything is better than six months, right? And Prophecy, no, I haven't abandoned it. I was hoping to finish Syndrome before I went back to it so I could focus more, but I'm beginning to doubt my own patience. I honestly don't know, but I would never abandon it. It will be continued and it will be finished!

 

I'm hoping maybe I can get my life back under control, but my family and my daughter's education will always come first, even if I'm writing to myself in my head while driving, showering, and every other free second my brain gets, which I most definitely do. You guys are never far from my mind, and I appreciate everyone who hung with me even when it seemed like I was never coming back.

 

 

Chapter 35 - Two Steps Forward

 

`If I were to allow you control, will you return to ignoring and blocking me out or will you listen when I have a thought or suggestion?'

 

`This Sesshoumaru has come to understand your value. You have shown me that you are not the wild animal I once believed you to be. You also seem to have a greater understanding of the miko, her thoughts, needs, and desires. It would be foolish not to take advantage of that.'

 

`Finally, you have learned something. We are two parts of one whole and should be equals. If nothing else, our common goal, our shared need for and love of Kagome should be enough to ensure we work together.'

 

Inside, Sesshoumaru smiled. Already he felt better, accepting his beast as a part of him resolving some of the confusion and tension in his mind. He would no longer spend excessive amounts of time and energy on the efforts to block out the beast's thoughts and ignore the pull of his instincts. Now if only he could get Kagome to agree to be his mate. Then everything, his whole life, would be perfect.

 

He was very much looking forward to regaining control and staying in his humanoid form. The short amount of time he'd had her in his arms earlier was nowhere near enough. Sesshoumaru wondered how things would change between them when she saw him in his usual form again. Would she still seem as comfortable in his presence as she'd been lately? He hoped she would. It would be wonderful to sit beside her and be surrounded by her calm aura rather than drowning in her nervousness.

 

The only downside he could think of in returning to his humanoid form would be the loss of physical contact, her touch. As he was she seemed to enjoy petting him, but he doubted that she would be willing to do so anymore when he was no longer covered in fur. He mentally smirked at the thought of her stroking his skin. She was more than welcome to touch him all she wanted. Plus, she'd said she was wondering if she would ever see him like that again, that he was sexy, as well as pretty much saying she wanted to kiss him. Would she kiss him then? She'd been pretty forward earlier, but then she had thought it was a dream. He couldn't wait for their first kiss when she actually knew who she was kissing and knew she was awake.

 

After some consideration of both the pros and cons, as well as of what she and Jak had discussed, finally his beast decided it was time to hand over the reins. Sesshoumaru clenched his jaw to keep from screaming as the pain of the transformation washed over him. When he was himself again he threw on some clothes and headed to his first destination, the bathroom. He had a new appreciation for the wonders of indoor plumbing and he needed a shower too. He refused to see Kagome again for the first time in days while smelling like dog. He needed to make a good impression after all, and dog breath wasn't it.

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

Kagome waved before closing the front door and making her way to the kitchen. Bankotsu was driving Jak home and apparently Miroku had spent the morning packing up her room so Bank was headed there afterwards to help transport her things. The miko smiled. There was at least one upside to their sneaking around. She didn't have to pack. She hated moving, stuffing everything she owned in boxes. It was a pain in the ass and they were doing it for her. She wondered if they planned on unpacking everything too. A girl could hope.

 

Inuyasha and Shippo were sitting at the kitchen table when she entered and both males tensed until they noticed her smile, relieved that she no longer appeared to be on the warpath. As she dug around in the fridge she spoke. “So, you guys wanna tell me where in the hell you're going to find room for me here?”

 

The kitsune and inu hanyou glanced at each other for a moment before Inuyasha answered. “You're gonna be in the basement, but we're making some changes to it first. It's gonna be nice and comfortable for ya, Babe. You're not still mad?”

 

Kagome grabbed a little container of yogurt and a spoon before sitting down with her friends. “No, I guess not. I know you're trying to do something nice for me, but I really wish you would have at least told me.”

 

“You said you wished you could live with us. I don't understand why you were so upset about it. It's not like you would have said no if we'd asked you,” Shippo said, the confusion clear in his bright green eyes.

 

“I know, but that's not the point. Being evicted and having to move are things I should be told about. That and you know I don't like it when you guys spend money on me.”

 

Inuyasha grabbed the container she'd been fighting with and sliced through the foil with a claw before handing it back to her. “You gotta get over that, Wench. We like spending money on you. If we want to spoil you then you should just enjoy it! You know Sesshoumaru's gonna be like that too. Hell, even the shit he got you secretly was expensive. Where the hell is the furry assbag anyways?”

 

“Oh,” the miko mumbled around the spoon in her mouth. Pulling it out and pointing at her hanyou friend with it, she replied. “Stop calling him names. He's asleep upstairs. Did one of you open the door and let him in there? I know I closed the door when I went in…”

 

“More like slammed it,” Inuyasha muttered.

 

“Whatever. Anyway, it was closed when I went to sleep but when Jak came up it was locked and Sesshoumaru was next to me, under the covers, asleep. Someone had to open the door for him… but even then, how the hell did it get locked?”

 

“I didn't open it,” the hanyou said with a frown, still very much uncomfortable thinking about his brother in bed with Kagome, dog form or not.

 

“Me either and I know Bank didn't. The last time I saw him was when he was sleeping on the couch, dreaming. You should have seen it, Kagome. He was whimpering and kicking his feet like he was chasing rabbits or something,” Shippo said excitedly.

 

“I told ya before, Runt. He wasn't dreaming about chasing rabbits.”

 

Kagome grinned. “And how do you know what he was dreaming about, Inu? It's so weird! I wonder how the hell he got in there! So, do I get to see the basement?”

 

“Nope, not `til it's done,” Inuyasha said with a smirk.

 

“I don't get any say in how it's decorated then?”

 

“Nope, but don't worry. Jak's doing the decorating,” Shippo replied. “I really think you'll like it.”

 

“Yeah, even if you don't really need it anymore since you're staying with the… I mean, with Sesshoumaru.”

 

Kagome smiled at Inuyasha's attempt at good behavior. She knew it was hard for him to accept the possibility that she might be mating his brother and she knew it would be a while before he could totally break the habit of calling Sesshoumaru… well, anything but Sesshoumaru. “Just because I'm giving him a chance doesn't mean I'm going to move into his room permanently, at least not right away. I'll still need my own space. When's the basement supposed to be done, anyway?”

 

“We wanted it to be done by Friday since that's when you need to be out of your place, but now that you know I guess the deadline isn't so important,” Shippo said thoughtfully.

 

“That don't mean shit. We wanted it done Friday and it's gonna be done Friday. Dad's gonna invite you over for dinner sometime this week. Is there a day you wanna do it or should I tell him any day is good?”

 

“Any day,” the miko said with a grin. She loved visiting his parents. His mother was really sweet and his father, he'd pretty much taken up the role of father figure in her life. It dawned on her then that if she did mate Sesshoumaru then Katsuro would really be her father, well, father-in-law. If she had to have in-laws she couldn't pick a better pair than her friend's parents. She suddenly remembered that she needed to call her mother. She hadn't talked to her since the previous week so she had no idea that her only daughter just might be getting mated or that she was moving either. Mrs. Higurashi had some catching up to do.

 

Once she finished her snack, Kagome stood up and dropped her spoon in the sink and container in the trash before tweaking one of Inuyasha's ears. “I'm gonna go upstairs and see if your brother's awake yet. He said he would answer my questions and I've got a lot of them to ask.”

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

The hot water felt wonderful on his skin and Sesshoumaru was once again mentally thanking whoever came up with indoor plumbing. Toothbrushes, too. He'd only been a dog for two days, but two days was more than enough and he was definitely enjoying his usual form. As much as he would have loved to stay in the steamy stall for hours he also wanted to hurry up and get out so he could find his miko. He was excited and nervous at the same time. What would she think? How would she react?

 

Kagome frowned when she reached the top of the stairs. She could hear the shower running, but Shippo and Inuyasha were downstairs, Miroku was at her place packing, and Bankotsu was driving Jak home. Who the hell was in the bathroom then? She walked slowly into the room she'd been using, expecting to find a large white dog still sleeping soundly in the bed or sitting there waiting for her. Instead she found the room empty and slowly the thought snuck into her mind that it had to be Sesshoumaru in the shower. How he'd managed to turn on the water though, since he lacked opposable thumbs at the moment, she had no idea.

 

Curiosity drew her to the bathroom door and she opened it slowly, the wall of steam colliding with her face making her squint momentarily. She failed to see the pile of clothes on the floor, instead completely dazed by the shadowy outline visible from behind the curtain. It was definitely not the shadow of a dog, but of a tall carved Adonis with long hair that had been haunting her dreams as of late. She knew she needed to turn around and leave but she couldn't make her body obey the orders given by her mind.

 

Sesshoumaru tensed when he heard the door open, frozen further by her surprised little gasp upon realizing he was no longer a dog. This wasn't quite the impression he was planning, but it worked. Hell, it was rather fitting considering him finding her in the shower two days earlier. He'd been granted a quick peek then. Perhaps she was deserving of the same now. He wondered if she was hoping for one just like he'd been praying for the momentary glance he'd gotten. Deciding he needed to find out, he pulled back the shower curtain just enough to peek out at her, seeing the surprise in her eyes.

 

“Sesshoumaru?” she breathed out in awed confusion. “You're… how did you… when did you…” Her cheeks flushed a bright red as he smirked at her.

 

“Is everything alright, Kagome? You're looking rather flushed.”

 

Kagome's jaw just about hit the floor at his playful tone and when she finally managed to close her mouth a small smile played on her lips. “Well look at you, standing on two legs again. How'd you manage that?”

 

“My beast decided if you were willing to give us a chance that perhaps he needed to give this Sesshoumaru a chance as well.” Her smile widened and Sesshoumaru suddenly realized that she'd once again affected him like only she could. When she took a step towards the shower his eyes widened and he snapped the curtain closed, trying to will away his painfully throbbing erection and failing like always.

 

“I was wondering when I'd get to see you like this again… not that I want to see you naked in the shower… umm, I mean… not that I would mind seeing you naked… uh, wait, no, I mean… oh, fuck, Kagome, just shut up!” She clapped her hands over her eyes as her blush darkened to a nearly impossible degree and he chuckled.

 

“If you want to see this Sesshoumaru naked, you need only ask.”

 

Kagome turned around, her back to the shadow behind the curtain, and laughed. “God, can you say déjà vu? Why do I always seem to walk in on you taking a shower?”

 

“Perhaps you are just that lucky,” he said with a grin, not that she could see it of course.

 

“Yeah, and perhaps pigs could fly to the moon and bring back proof of life. I'm… I'm just gonna go… sit in your room… and try to get the blood to leave my face if at all possible.”

 

Before he could protest or agree or even think of a suitable reply the door swung closed and he let out a sigh. This was going to be harder than he thought. She still had the innate ability to make him into a tongue -tied stammering idiot and apparently he had the same affect on her. How were they going to figure things out when neither of them could manage to form a coherent thought in the presence of the other?

 

Finally he managed to force himself from the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. He glanced down at the clothes he'd thrown on for the walk from his room to the bathroom, finding them unsuitable for her to see him in. Besides, as he studied them with a frown his dripping hair managed to soak them completely. Deciding that there was no way in hell he was putting them on he tried to ready himself for seeing her again before sucking it up and striding across the hall.

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

Jak hadn't stopped smirking since he'd gotten in the car and finally Bank couldn't take it anymore. “What in the hell are you so fucking happy about?” His older brother turned to him, his smirk widening and his eyes absolutely dancing with mirth.

 

“I was wondering if you would ever ask. I had a good talk with Kagome. She's not really mad at you guys anymore and I think I calmed some of her worries about Sesshoumaru and helped her to understand him better too.”

 

“That's great, but that isn't all of it, is it?”

 

“So very observant of you, little brother. She didn't know it but he was only pretending to be asleep. I think he learned a lot about her and her feelings for him. He heard her worries and insecurities and now he knows what he needs to show her, what he has to prove to her if he wants her. You know, she's had a crush on him for years and has always felt so guilty about it, like she was betraying Inuyasha by having feelings for his older brother when Sesshoumaru treated him so cruelly.”

 

“You mean she talked to you about it? Why didn't you ever tell me?” Bank asked, surprised and rather frustrated that his Kagome shared something with Jak that she apparently hadn't felt she could talk to him about. He was her confidant!

 

“It wasn't my place to. Besides, she didn't want you guys to know about it. She was trying to ignore it, like it would just go away if she pushed it down far enough. I wish I had known how he felt about her though. Then I would have pushed her to allow herself to feel what she felt instead of trying to change it. I always suspected something would happen to bring them together. The way she described how it felt when their eyes first met, I've always thought it sounded like soul mates.”

 

Bank's frown softened and his grip on the steering wheel loosened. He could understand why she'd trusted Jak with her secret and not him. She was embarrassed, ashamed even, and while she should have known he would never judge her he could see her point of view. “It is… soul mates I mean. Katsuro told us that Sesshoumaru having the syndrome meant that Kagome was Sesshoumaru's soul mate. I wish he hadn't tried to hide his attraction so much or that any of us had noticed the little hints. They could have had more than four happy years together instead of four lonely and miserable ones.”

 

“They have all the time in the world, once she mates him that is. She's worried that it will be too fast, that she won't be ready in time, but I know she is. She's ready to be his mate right now, always has been.” Jak smiled. “Finally she can show the love she's been trying to bury for so long. She's going to be so happy and she deserves it.”

 

“Yeah, you've got that right. If anyone deserves to be happy it's Kagome. I just hope for his sake she doesn't find out he was faking it and listening in on your little chat.”

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

There she was, sitting at the end of his bed with her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking. For a moment he was afraid she was crying but when she looked up and their eyes met a giggle escaped her that quickly turned into a laughing fit. Unsure of what to do and more than a little uncomfortable that she seemed to be laughing at him, Sesshoumaru just stood there watching her.

 

Finally Kagome managed to calm her nervous laughter and she met eyes with the taiyoukai who appeared to be just as nervous. Her eyes were drawn to his chest as rivulets of water dripped from his bangs, making little trails over his pale skin, and Sesshoumaru watched as her tongue slipped out to wet her lips. It took everything he had not to pitch a tent in his towel. When her brain finally agreed to return to work she dragged her eyes off his body, his very, very, very distracting body. “I should probably… go… so you can… get dressed… or something,” she mumbled, sounding very much like her mind was far, far away and less than agreeable to the idea of leaving the room.

 

As she stood and started towards the door he just watched her, but when she purposely brushed against him slightly as she passed Sesshoumaru reached out and grabbed her arm, careful of his claws and his strength. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her. He'd made a decision earlier while listening to her talk to Jakotsu and he intended to follow through with it.

 

Kagome gasped as electricity shot through her at his touch. She would never get used to that, the way every nerve in her entire body lit up with heat, a tingling sensation spreading through her like a wildfire in the dry season. Every time it happened it seemed a little more powerful and for a moment she wanted to smack herself. Why had she never realized? She knew from experiences over the years, though few and far between, that Sesshoumaru's touch, hell, even just a glance was like lighting a match and she would go up like flash paper. Her mystery vampire, his touch had done the same but never once did she make the connection.

 

Sesshoumaru studied her face as she stared at him wide eyed. Her gasp had him worried, afraid that even with the care he took not to injure her that he had anyway. “Are you alright?” he almost whispered.

 

It took her a minute to figure out what he was asking but when she did she nodded. “Yeah, I'm fine. You just… startled me I guess.”

 

“Kagome, please do not leave. There is something this Sesshoumaru would like to say to you and the sooner I do so the better.” When she nodded again he reluctantly released her; she backed up a few steps and sat in the comfortable leather chair at his desk.

 

“Alright,” she said nervously. Though he didn't use the exact words, he might as well have just said `We have to talk,' the death knell to any relationship. They hadn't really even gotten started. Was it all a lie or a misunderstanding? Did he not want her after all? But he'd said… Kagome tried to shake her worried, cyclical thoughts and looked up at the taiyoukai still standing there with nothing but a towel hiding his incredibly sexy form from her, her eyes asking, begging for him to get on with it.

 

The taiyoukai took a deep breath and forced himself to look at her as he spoke even though he was dying to close his eyes and pretend he was just talking to the air in the room. He wanted to make sure she knew he was serious and if he couldn't look at her while he said it he would have zero credibility.

 

“Never did this Sesshoumaru intend to bring you pain. I was certain that if you knew my identity you would turn me away, that it was better to have the short period of time together to remember forever than to ruin it by telling you who I was. This Sesshoumaru had no idea that you were hurt by my departure at the dance and at the party it seemed like you were angry, but not upset. I did not know. I should have noticed, should have seen it. I am sorry for hurting you, not only by masking my identity but also by hiding my attraction to you.”

 

Kagome sat perfectly still as he spoke, just taking in his words, determined to hear what he had to say… all of it… before she responded or reacted.

 

Seeing that she was not planning on speaking he continued. “This Sesshoumaru promises that I will never do so again, that I will never again build a wall between us, that I will never go back to the way I once was, not with you. I will not behave coldly and push you away because all I desire in the world is to have you close, to hold you in my arms. The wall of ice I built to protect myself from your rejection, when you admitted to having an attraction to this Sesshoumaru the world got a little warmer. When you said that I still had a chance the sun came out and the ice began to melt. Your smile, your touch…”

 

He paused for a moment, unsure of whether it was wise to say what he intended to. It was only a moment though as he remembered that he intended to be open and honest with her when given the chance. He had the chance now and he wasn't going to waste it. “…your kiss, it is like you've taken a blowtorch to the frigid barrier between us until nothing remains of it but a puddle. Kagome, I promise never to hide from you again. It was foolish to do so and I have caused my own loneliness and misery. Already you have shown me so much, changed my perspective, my life so much.”

 

She didn't know what to say, had no idea how to respond. He'd just said what had to be the most romantic thing she'd ever heard in her life and having it coming past the lips she was dying to kiss, words that she'd thought impossible spoken by the voice in her dreams was overwhelming. She wanted to laugh or cry or both and since she couldn't decide she simply continued to look at him, a rather distracted expression on her face as her mind spun in circles trying to figure out what the hell the appropriate response was. Part of her wanted nothing more than to jump into his arms, declare her love, and kiss him senseless but she'd already promised herself that she would not be so easily won over, that he had to prove himself to her.

 

Everything was suddenly different between them again. When he'd been in his doggy form he'd been so much more approachable, so much less intimidating, at least for her. Sure, he was still quite dangerous looking as a big ass white dog with a temper to everyone else, but not to her. She could sit next to him and talk to him easily. She could even pet him! Now though, now he was the tall, incredibly attractive, imposing taiyoukai she'd always secretly lusted after that had never seemed to give her, or anyone for that matter, the time of day, though apparently he'd been doing much more than that secretly. She didn't know how to talk to him. Flirting with him was suddenly so much more real and the very thought that he loved her and wanted her as his mate, well it was just fucking scary.

 

He could see the fear growing in her eyes and had no idea how to stop it. It was just what he'd worried would happen. Now that he was back in his usual form all the progress his beast had made with her was suddenly gone. He didn't know how to handle the situation and for a minute he actually considered calling his beast out to take over once again. Finally though he decided to just listen to the creature's suggestions and try. He had to at least try and make some progress of his own with her because no matter how easily she got along with his beast, she would still need to be comfortable in his presence as well if he had any hopes of making her his mate. He couldn't spend the rest of his life on all fours using the yard as the bathroom!

 

“Kagome?” When she didn't answer he slowly took a few steps towards her, seeing her eyes lose focus on his face and take up residence studying his chest instead. When a silly grin appeared on her face he knew she was off in La La Land. “Kagome,” he started with a smirk. “Do you see something you like?”

 

Instantly her attention returned to him as her cheeks flared a bright red and her eyes met his again. “Sorry. I just… I have no idea what to say to you, how to respond. I wanted you back like this but it… it almost feels like the last few days never happened or that I spent them with someone else.”

 

He closed the last of the distance between them and knelt at her feet, not minding the submissive position at all. He didn't even give it a second thought. It simply felt right to be there, to look up to her with the adoration he felt for the little female. He wished he could lay his head in her lap and feel her fingers in his hair like he'd witnessed her do with each of her four devoted males in the past. Maybe soon she would be comfortable enough to do so with him, but he had to talk to her first. He had to make her comfortable in his presence again, to regain the ground he'd lost when he returned to his humanoid form.

 

“Kagome, I can assure you that everything my beast said, I feel. I agree with all of it. I have never desired anyone but you, beautiful little miko. I have dreamt of you at least twice a week and much more often every single night since I first laid eyes on you at your freshman orientation, though it was some time before I realized that it was you haunting my dreams. It didn't seem possible at first when I started to figure it out but there is something about you, Kagome, something irresistible. I never desired any female before I saw you, found the thought of dating a waste of time, and once you entered my line of sight every other female in the world disappeared. I found myself unable to even respo…”

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened as he realized what he'd almost said. It was incredible, talking to her, telling her things no one had ever known but him. It was like someone turned the faucet on full blast and then broke off the handle. He wanted to tell her everything and anything. He wanted to share every single thought, every experience; he wanted to share everything with her and it was nearly impossible to stop the flow.

 

Kagome gave him a confused look, wondering why he'd suddenly cut off mid-word and trying to figure out what he could have been saying that he stopped himself. She found that she wanted to hear everything. His voice was so incredibly delicious that it made her quiver slightly, like he was caressing her with just his tone. It was so deep and full of emotion she'd never heard from him before and she knew that he honestly meant every single word.

 

The way he looked into her eyes while he spoke made the whole world fade away around them and she wished he would go on forever. She barely knew him really, no one knew him, and she wanted to. She wanted to learn more about him, wanted to understand him, and she was really enjoying listening to him. The fact that he was basically worshipping her with his words was the icing on the cake, and what a yummy cake it was.

 

When he didn't continue, just knelt there staring into her eyes, Kagome decided she would have to take charge of the moment. “You found yourself unable to even respo…? Respond? Why'd you stop?”

 

He broke off their eye contact and looked down at the floor between them. “This Sesshoumaru did not intend to tell you what I almost said, at least not yet. It is… it is rather embarrassing.”

 

Kagome's heart clenched in her chest and she reached out with both hands, cupped his cheeks softly, and turned his face to meet eyes with her once more. “It's alright. You don't have to tell me that if you don't want to. I just want you to keep talking. I want to know more about you, to meet the real Sesshoumaru.”

 

Her touch and gentle understanding words made every bit of the usually constant pain in his chest disappear completely and a small smile broke out on his face. “I do not think even I know the `real' Sesshoumaru. Perhaps we can get to know him together.”

 

“Sounds good to me,” she whispered, watching his eyes for any reaction as she moved her fingertips along the stripes on his cheeks. When his smile widened she giggled. “I always wondered how they felt, your markings I mean. They're soft, softer than your regular skin which is damn soft already. I'm jealous. I bet you don't even use any skincare products, do you?” He shook his head and she growled playfully. “Damn demons get all the luck. Incredible hair, perfect skin, amazing eyes; it's just not fair.”

 

Sesshoumaru brought his right hand up to gently touch the back of her left hand where it still stroked his stripes. “Your skin is flawless and it wouldn't matter if it wasn't, your eyes are beautiful and unique, and your hair… all of you is perfect, gorgeous. You are more attractive to this Sesshoumaru than any demoness I have ever laid eyes on.”

 

“You're lying through your teeth,” she said with a little laugh, her eyes darting to his hand as it slid along her arm, sending a new wave of tingles through her. “But it's sweet of you anyway.”

 

“This Sesshoumaru would never lie to you.”

 

Kagome smiled at him. “This isn't so bad, nowhere near as awkward as I thought it would be. It… it feels…” she paused for a moment, studying his face. He wasn't going to laugh at her or think she was being overly sentimental or mushy. He felt the same way. Her smile widened a bit. “It feels right, talking to you like this, touching you. Maybe Jak was right. Maybe this is fate. Sesshoumaru, why did you think I would never want you?” Suddenly her smile turned to a frown. “And how did you know I was worried about the wall of ice between us? Why did you describe it that way? Were you…? You were awake and listening to everything we said, weren't you?”

 

There was a tinge of anger in her tone and Sesshoumaru mentally cringed. He'd been praying she wouldn't notice the similarities between his words and the conversation he'd eavesdropped on between her and Jakotsu or that she would think it was merely a coincidence. Apparently he wasn't that lucky.