Sneaking a Peek by SunsetMiko

Distraction

Chapter 61 - Distraction

*Sandcastle* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

Kagome had been hoping that Sesshoumaru would tell her it wasn't true, that he wouldn't eventually break her heart, but instead he had fallen silent, his face contemplative. She knew she was building sandcastles on the shore, just waiting for the tide to come in and wash them away, but that didn't make it hurt any less. How she wished things could be different, that she could be the one for him, but she knew it wasn't possible. His lack of a response only cemented that in her mind.

Still, she didn't want to pull away. He made her happy, brought fun into her life that had been missing. He was a wonderful companion and she loved talking to him. The flirting wasn't bad either, and the night before... Well, that had been incredible and she had all of her clothing on! She couldn't even begin to imagine how good it could be if she allowed it to go further.

The miko forced a smile on her face as she decided it was time to move on. This topic of conversation was depressing and she didn't want to dwell on it any longer. "So," she said playfully. "How do I look in your clothes?"

She'd changed out of her wet clothing as soon as they arrived and into one of Sesshoumaru's spare haori. She couldn't believe how soft the silk was. Yes, she'd felt it before on him, but wearing it was something else completely. It felt like she was enveloped in a cloud, the material the softest she'd ever worn. She'd rung out her wet clothing as much as possible and it was now hanging to dry in one of the bedrooms. She felt rather exposed, as she'd been soaked all the way to her underwear. She was there, alone, with the taiyoukai, wearing nothing more than what amounted to a silk robe.

"Astonishingly beautiful," he replied, glad to be pulled from his confusing thoughts. He still had no idea what to tell her. He had no intention of breaking her heart. He wanted to hold it, protect it from all harm. He wanted her to love him as he loved her so that he could finally confess his desire to make her his mate. It was too soon to confess his intentions, he'd decided, but there had to be some way to ease her worries. He simply had to think of it. He needed to say something, but nothing was forthcoming.

"It's so comfortable. It's no wonder you wear this all the time."

"Indeed it is," he agreed. He wondered if she had anything on under there at all. He doubted it, as she had been soaked completely. Surely her underclothing had been wet as well. The thought that her nude body was wrapped in his clothing and only his clothing excited him. The realization that that haori would smell of her was thrilling. He would be able to slip it on and be wrapped in her scent completely, as if she had her arms around him snugly.

*Secret Garden* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

"So, what are we going to do while we're here to pass the time?" Kagome asked

"That depends on how long we will be here," he responded.

"Until Inuyasha tracks me down to apologize, I imagine."

"Inuyasha will be unable to track us here. Even if we had traveled on the ground, the rain would have washed away any trail, but since we flew, there is nothing for him to follow."

"Oh," the miko replied. "Well, then I guess until I don't want to strangle the life out of him anymore. Might be a while."

"I'm sure we will find ways to pass the time," Sesshoumaru said with a wicked smirk. "There is something I would like to show you." The rain had finally stopped outside and the sun was shining brightly once more. The taiyoukai rose and held out one hand to Kagome, who took it and allowed him to help her to her feet. He then led her, never releasing her hand, to the back entrance of the cabin. "This is Rin's favorite place, other than the palace," he explained as they stepped outside. "She planned and planted this garden herself."

Kagome gasped at the beauty surrounding her. "Little Rin did this?" she asked in shock.

"The girl is a genius when it comes to flowers. She can tell you what every single one is called, and also what conditions it needs to grow. She knows what requires shade, and what needs full sunlight. She spends a lot of time with our gardeners at the palace. I think she did an excellent job pairing things together."

"She did," the miko agreed. The wet grass squished between her toes as she explored, admiring the floral arrangements, in awe that a child had done all of it on her own. "Where is Rin now? At the palace?"

"Yes," Sesshoumaru replied. "When I first decided to join your group I was unsure as to the welcome I would receive, so I left her there with Jaken."

"She can travel with us," Kagome said. "I'm sure Shippo would love to have someone to play with. He gets bored so easily surrounded by grownups."

"Your companions would not mind?"

"Of course not, besides Inuyasha of course. He'll be a jerk about having more mouths to feed and more people to protect, but he'll get over it. I wish he could just let this thing go. I don't need him to guard my heart. He's the one that broke it in the first place." Kagome paused for a moment before sneezing loudly.

*Unfavorable Incident* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

Sesshoumaru turned to study her and was instantly worried. "Are you falling ill?" he asked. Her face was slightly pink, almost as if she was blushing, but he'd said nothing to cause her to do so.

"I'm fine. It was just a sneeze," she replied, though she wasn't entirely certain. She felt rather warm and she cursed her bad luck. Of course she would get sick. It was just a little rain! Sure, she'd gotten quite cold, but cold didn't cause illness. Germs did. She must have been exposed to something that took advantage of her weakened state when she was soaked to the bone and freezing.

"Come, let's get you inside. You should rest." He was terrified that she would get sick. It would be his fault, after all, for taking her out in the rain despite his better judgment. Rin had gotten sick once and it had been a harrowing experience. Without the help of his healers, she might not have made it. Human bodies were so weak compared to demons and they succumbed so easily to illness.

"I'll be fine," Kagome said with a smile. "If I get sick, you'll just have to take me home. We have much better medicines in my time. Almost no one dies from a simply cold anymore, especially not if you're healthy to begin with." She could see the concern on his face and it warmed her heart. He cared about her, truly cared. She wasn't just someone to pass the time, someone to entertain himself with. She mattered to him. She grinned as he tucked her into bed, pressing his hand to her forehead just as her mother would do.

"You are warm," he informed her.

"And tired," she admitted. "Lay with me?"

Sesshoumaru smirked and climbed into bed with the miko he adored. He was glad to be invited. Not only would he get to remain close to her, but he would be able to watch her condition. If she were indeed falling ill, he would have to rush her to the well. He didn't want to lose her before he ever got the chance to confess his true feelings.