In the Palm of her Hand by SunsetMiko

Skepticism

Chapter 17 - Skepticism

This was written for Stella's Proverbial Challenge, Prompt: Take heed of enemies reconciled and of meat twice boiled. Words: 510

"How am I supposed to trust you?" Kagome asked. "You've been our enemy for so long. You're always attacking Inuyasha for no reason. How can I take your word for it that you love me, of all things?" Kagome asked.

Sesshoumaru visibly frowned. He hadn't been expecting skepticism. He'd thought that she would fall into his arms and confess her love as well. Wasn't that how these things worked? Yes, he'd feared her rejection, but he was the Lord of the West! Shouldn't she be thrilled that she caught his attention at all? He'd just made a fool of himself, confessing his undying love, telling her everything about her that drew him in, and this was her response? Distrust? Well, he would just have to inform her then.

"I attacked Inuyasha because it was an excuse to be close to you, even if only for a short time," he explained.

"Hey, you've been attacking me since I was first released from the God Tree, you jerk," Inuyasha yelled from his sit-induced hole in the ground.

"And she was with you from the very beginning, was she not, brother?"

"But you attacked me too!" Kagome exclaimed. "You tried to melt me in your father's grave!"

"That was before I realized what I was feeling for you. You must understand, this Sesshoumaru has never found myself drawn to a female the way I am to you. At first, I refused to accept that I was attracted to a human, my brother's woman."

"Oh, so I'm still a disgusting human then?" Kagome asked angrily.

"Of course not. I think you are an enigma, something special, human or not."

"So you want me for my powers then? Because I can see the jewel?"

"No," Sesshoumaru replied, suddenly feeling defensive. He'd just told her what he loved about her! Had she not been listening?

Kagome mentally smirked. She was enjoying the taiyoukai's floundering. That would teach him. The idea of him creeping around in the shadows watching her was just weird. Attacking Inuyasha, just for an excuse to get close to her, seemed ridiculous. Why hadn't he just approached and tried to talk to her?

"Tell me," Sesshoumaru said. "Why did you not shoot your arrow at me when I'd knocked Inuyasha unconscious a few days ago?"

"I... I don't know," Kagome confessed. "I just couldn't."

"You could not do it because you suspected something, did you not? Your heart was telling you not to shoot."

"How did this get to be about me?" Kagome asked, exasperated. "We were talking about you."

"You do not consider me an enemy, do you?" he inquired. "Perhaps not an ally, but not an enemy."

"Stupid palm reader," the miko muttered under her breath. If it hadn't been for her prediction, she would have been able to shoot at him and then maybe she wouldn't be in this situation now.

"Palm reader?" Inuyasha asked, having risen from his hole. He now stood directly beside the miko, ready to back her up if needed. He didn't trust Sesshoumaru a bit.