Sneaking a Peek by SunsetMiko

Shelter from the Rain

Chapter 50 - Shelter from the Rain

*Nightingale* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

Kagome laughed as she ran through the rain and Sesshoumaru thought it was the most beautiful sound in the world. She didn't seem to mind that she was getting wet as they ran for shelter, instead behaving as if she were enjoying herself. He would never truly understand the girl, he was certain of it. Even if he spent eternity with the miko, she would still find ways to surprise him. Her other companions were far less entertained by their situation, and yet she laughed. The taiyoukai couldn't keep the small smirk off his face as he led them to shelter.

The storm had been unexpected. Not even the demons had sensed the changes in the atmosphere until it was too late. Of course, Sesshoumaru might have if he hadn't been so focused on Kagome. More and more lately, he'd found himself distracted by her to the point of losing sight of what was going on around him. He was never one to not pay attention to his surroundings, but it had happened multiple times over the past few days. Her beauty, her compassion, and her ability to find fun in just about everything entranced him.

Finally they reached the small cabin he used as a home away from home and he quickly led them under the overhang and out of the rain. Kirara shook the water from her fur like a dog and again the miko laughed. Shippo did a similar move, wriggling his tail until it was no longer sopping wet.

"I wish I could do that," Kagome said playfully. "My hair is soaked!"

*Eden of Rain* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

"Tell me you have dry towels in your bag," Sango pleaded. She ached to change her clothes, knowing that Miroku was enjoying the sight of the fabric of her wet kimono clinging to her body.

"Don't I always?" the miko replied with a smile. She dropped her waterproof bag to the floor and began to dig through it, retrieving towels for everyone. She offered one to Sesshoumaru, but he shook his head.

"Oh, come on. Your hair is soaked too." A grin pulled at her lips as she studied him. "All of you is soaked. White's a good color for you," she purred in that playful tone he loved. Now she knew what he would have looked like if she'd been successful in her plan to dump water on him. It was definitely a pleasing view.

Sesshoumaru smirked at her before summoning Ah Un to come closer to the cabin. When he was under the overhang, and thus out of the pouring rain, he headed out to retrieve fresh clothing from the saddlebags. When he returned, he studied his sopping wet miko.

"You should worry about yourself, Kagome. I do not want you falling ill."

"Ah, you can't get sick from getting wet," she said, covering her chest when she noticed where his eyes were focused. "Or from being cold," she continued, blushing slightly. "Germs make you sick, not weather."

"You still should dry yourself. You look incredibly tempting all wet."

Inuyasha made a gagging sound that he tried to cover with a cough as he wrung out his haori from the porch of the cabin. He wanted to shake like a dog, like Kirara and even Shippo had done, but he couldn't bring himself to do so with witnesses. They'd never let him hear the end of it.

Kagome rolled her eyes at her friend's opinion of Sesshoumaru's flirting and watched as the taiyoukai wrung out his long, silver hair. How she wished she was the one doing so. She wanted to touch his hair again, but she doubted he would allow it after the braiding incident. Forcing her eyes from the delicious sight, she smiled.

*Spring Storm Eve* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

"Looks like we're staying here for the night. I don't think that rain is letting up for a while and it'll be dark in a few hours."

"At least we have a nice, dry place to stay," Sango said appreciatively.

"We don't need a fancy cabin. We've slept out in the rain before," Inuyasha muttered, frustrated that Sesshoumaru was showing him up shelter-wise.

"And it sucked," Kagome chimed in. "This place looks nice. This is yours?" she asked the taiyoukai.

"Indeed. I have several residences throughout the West."

"Showoff," Inuyasha growled.

"Would you rather I left your pack out in the rain, little brother?"

"I would rather you leave my pack alone completely," the hanyou shot back.

"That is not going to happen," Sesshoumaru replied in his usual bored tone, knowing that it would aggravate his sibling.

Eager to keep them from fighting, Kagome stepped between the two. "How big is this place? How many bedrooms?"

The taiyoukai smirked at the thought of Kagome sleeping in his bed, even if he wasn't there with her. Her delicious scent would remain for a long time and he could savor it later, if he ever left her side that was, and he didn't intend to if he didn't have to. She was his now, even if she didn't know it yet, and he wouldn't risk her safety by leaving her.

"Enough," he replied. "Shall we go inside? I will give you a tour."