The Snow Angel by SunsetMiko

The Tease

Chapter 82 - The Tease *Yearning* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

"Okay, Sango, let's pop that shoulder in, since it'll be faster than sewing up Miroku."

The slayer nodded and walked up to the miko. Sesshoumaru watched with interest as Kagome grasped Sango's arm and manipulated it expertly. After a gasp of pain and a strange popping noise, the slayer held her arm across her chest and sighed.

"Alright, since there isn't much snow around, you'll have to use one of the ice packs in my first aid kit. And you’ll have to wear it in a sling for a while. You want anything for the pain?" Sango nodded, and Kagome offered her a few choices before handing the slayer a pill. "Now go sit down."

"Won't you need help with Miroku?"

"Not from you. Just relax. Shippo, is there a water source around?"

Soon the kit had returned with a large pot of water that was set to boil over the fire that Inuyasha had made. The miko collected her supplies and sat beside the monk. She was surprised when Sesshoumaru sat beside her. She gave him a confused look.

"You may need assistance, and I am very curious about your medical knowledge. I am also not squeamish about blood."

"Obviously," Kagome said with a smile. "Alright, you can be my assistant."

The miko slowly and carefully unwrapped her scarf from Miroku's shoulder, apologizing every time he winced. She helped him slide his arm out of his clothing and immediately set out to investigate the front and back of his injury. "At least the sword was sharp. It's a nice, clean cut, and it doesn't look like it did too much damage. You’re lucky it didn’t hit the bone.  If it had shattered something, I wouldn't know how to fix it." The monk nodded his understanding, trying to control his breathing to manage the pain. "I'm going to have to flush it out before I start sewing, so you should probably take the painkiller first."

Sesshoumaru watched with interest as Kagome first carefully cleaned the wound before she prepared to sew it closed. Her materials were intriguing, and again, just like when she had been caring for his wounds as Prince, she spoke while she worked. The taiyoukai stayed silent, soaking it all in, hoping that she wouldn't notice that she was telling him all about medicine in her time. He handed her things as requested, and it wasn't long before she was finished. By then, the painkiller had kicked in, and Miroku was blissfully unaware. The miko bandaged the areas and helped him slip back into his clothing. They then assisted the monk into his sleeping bag so that he could rest.

"You're going to need a sling for a while too," she said softly. "Gee, what a group we'll be, all bandaged up." She turned her attention to the hanyou next. "Inuyasha, let me look at that ear. Sango, do you think you could start the ramen?" When the slayer agreed, Kagome smiled. "Shippo, help Sango open the packages."

"My ear's fine, wench," Inuyasha muttered.

"No it isn't. It's torn in two, and I don't think it's going to pull together on its own. At least let me use the steri-strips to hold it closed. You don't want your ear to heal the way it is now."

"Fine," the hanyou gave in, knowing that she would not stop until he agreed. He hissed his discomfort as Kagome moved the two pieces together and applied the little sticky strips. It didn't take her long, since she didn't bother disinfecting it first. It would be healed by morning anyway. Once she was satisfied, and she had checked the hanyou over for any other significant wounds, the miko turned her focus to the taiyoukai. "And you? Let's see what you've got."

Sesshoumaru raised a brow at the miko. "I would happily show you what I've got, but I do not think that is what you meant," he said playfully, hoping to regain at least some of their relationship before he had so stupidly bared his heart and soul for her. To his great relief, Kagome laughed.

"I guess I should have worded that a little differently. I know you were wounded. Let's see the injuries."

Though he knew he did not need her assistance, and he would be healed within hours, Sesshoumaru still removed his armor and slid his haori off his shoulders, purposely hanging his fluff around his neck to hide his scar. Perhaps giving her a peek at what was usually hidden would attract her attention. He knew he was attractive, and he didn't mind using that fact against her.

Kagome sucked in a breath and mentally ordered herself to stay professional. She was checking on his wounds, nothing more. It was difficult, though, to keep from soaking in the sight of his muscled chest and abdomen. He definitely was easy on the eyes. The small part of her brain that had always been pro-Sesshoumaru started whispering again, saying things that made her cheeks flush pink.

"Well," the miko started, tilting her head down to hide her face, hoping he wouldn't see her blush. "The one on your chest looks like its closing up already. That one on your upper arm... If you were Inuyasha, I'd probably want to stitch it to help it heal better, but you probably don't need that, huh?"

"I will be completely healed very soon," he drawled in a rather heated tone. Even though it was obvious she was fighting it, it was even more obvious that the sight of his body aroused Kagome. The scent of her surrounded his head, and he found it difficult to focus on anything else.

"If you knew that, then why didn't you say so? You didn't have to show me at all."

"You seemed rather insistent," he replied.

Kagome sighed and shook her head. "Well, you might as well wash off all the blood before putting your shirt back on," she said.

Sesshoumaru accepted the wet rag and began to wipe away the dried blood on his skin. He noticed that the miko's eyes followed every single drop of water that rolled down his chest, and he had to swallow a seductive growl. The last thing he wanted was to make her aware of the fact that he knew she was staring. She needed time to get used to the new information she had been given, and he didn't want to do anything that might cause her to pull away further.

An idea struck the taiyoukai, and he decided to give it a shot. He twisted in an attempt to clean his own back before sighing in mock frustration. "There is blood on my back. I can feel it but I cannot reach it. Could you assist me?"

The miko nodded hesitantly and accepted the cloth with a shaking hand. She climbed to her knees and scooted around behind him. Kagome slowly began to scrub away the dried blood, taking care not to put pressure on the healing wounds.

"Wow, you really do heal fast," she said softly, more to herself than to him, as she watched his skin knitting back together. She was unable to stop herself from touching as she reached out and ran the tip of one finger along a just healed cut. All that was left was a scar, which as quickly fading before her eyes.

Sesshoumaru fought down a shiver at her touch. Even something so light and innocent heated his blood, and he ached for more. If only she was comfortable with him. If only she loved him, too. The scent of her arousal still danced around him, though it was tainted with her nervousness as well. This was beginning to get incredibly frustrating, but there was nothing he could do but wait.

"Oh, there's some blood on your upper back. If you move your fluff, I can get it."

The taiyoukai tensed and leaned away. "No," he said a bit too sharply. "I will do it. Thank you for your assistance." Kagome handed back the bloodstained rag before quickly rising and collecting her bowl of ramen. She sat down beside Inuyasha while Sesshoumaru cursed himself. He hadn't meant to sound angry with her. He just could not allow her to see the scar around his neck. Now he had succeeded in pushing her even farther away from him. When would things finally begin to go his way?