Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Today's prompt: Sesshomaru or Kagome pamper or cheer the other person up.

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Kagome came home after the kind of day that left you feeling wrung out and used up. All she wanted to do was rest. Maybe if she had one scrap of luck left Sesshoumaru would have arrived home in time to make dinner. The darkened house that greeted her suggested otherwise. 

With a groan she left her shoes in the rack by the door, hung up her purse and  trudged through the house wearily shedding layers as she went. At the very least a shower was happening before anything else. 

Her journey through the house was suddenly halted by a dim glow from the kitchen. A glow that was accompanied by the gentle clinking of dishware. Stepping into the room, she spotted her mate at the stove, plating up something that smelled sweetly delightful. The aforementioned glow emanated from a tiny lamp that looked like a happy little piece of bread popping out of a toaster. It was absurdly cute and she couldn't fathom how her mate of all people had been the one to bring it home. 

Before she could question him however, he appeared at her side with a plate of freshly made French toast, bacon, and perfectly fried eggs. Catching the question in her gaze he smiled and said, "You seemed to be having the kind of day that required a romantic dinner to recover from."

"A romantic dinner made of breakfast foods with mood lighting provided by a kitschy cute toast lamp?" 

He glanced at the table, "Hnn. Did I forget something?"

She dimpled into a happy smile, "Just my Hello kiss."

With a pleased hum he leaned in to bestow the missing affection before guiding her to sit. "Dinner first, Koi. The bubble bath can wait."

Kagome happily dug into the meal, her bad day already fading from her mind.

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Sesshoumaru had been quite happily resting against the bark of a tree that still, summer evening, when he sensed a presence draw near. Footfalls graced his hearing. 

He figured the miko would say a greeting and pass by- mokomoko puffing up with shock when he felt a weight sink against his side.

Golden eyes snapped open. “Miko. What are you doing?”

A muffled sigh reached his hearing. “Can I ask you something?”

“This one should like his question to be answered first.”

“Am I too much?” she continued on, and it was then he scented the pungent odor of alcohol on her breath. “Am I…difficult to be around?” 

Sesshoumaru let his head rest against the bark again, cutting his eyes to the tree branches above. “You should ask your friends these things, not I.”

“They'll just tell me what I wanna hear. C'mon, we defeated Naraku together and we're totally buddies now. Please?”

Buddies. Sesshoumaru did not like the way that word tasted on his tongue. 

“It's just…my temper can be bad, and I know I'm moody and,” she motioned with her hands. “A lot. Maybe I'm not cut out for love.”

Scenting genuine worry leak into her scent, followed by a small sniff, Sesshoumaru glanced down at her head of dark hair as she pulled away. “Sorry. Nevermind. I was being weird.”

She'd broken up with the Hanyou several months ago but it appeared she was finally processing it. Hn.

His hand closed around her elbow before she could leave. With a tug, she fell right back into mokomoko. 

“You are not unlovable, foolish girl,” he uttered. “You are…endearing enough to warrant affection.” 

“R-really?”

“Hn.”

Kagome sniffed again, taking a few deep breaths. When she pushed back her hair and finally looked up at him, blue eyes glistened with tears. She gave a wobbly smile.

“Thanks, buddy.”

“You will die by my hand should you call this one thus again.”

She laughed, cuddling into mokomoko drunkenly. “Naww you wouldn't do that. I warrant affection! You said it yourself, no takebacks.” 

Giving a heavy sigh, Sesshoumaru unfurled his claws. His deadly hand found her hip, resting there for the remainder of the night. “If you drool on this one, that is also grounds for execution.” 

“I make no promises.”

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Do you prefer the baby to me?

It’s a question she can’t ask, but lingers in her mind nonetheless as she watches him play with their daughter. Ichika giggles, having a grand old time as her father tosses her up and down.

Kagome is not. For the last month, Sesshomaru has left his work at supper time and attended to their daughter until she sleeps, before returning to his study for more work. If he sleeps at all, it’s after she goes to sleep and before she rises, because the bed is always cold when Kagome awakens.

She hates it. The loss of affection, the loss of companionship—she’s attempted to bring up both, but Sesshomaru only briefly reassures her he cares before returning to his work.

She’s peeked in, wanting to know what’s so important, but she’s never found anything in that study to warrant his constant attention.

So why?

She watches as he leaves again, their daughter now asleep in her bed, and wonders if he’s found fault with her. Wonders where she’s erred. Wonders if she’s lost his love. If he would just tell her, she could correct it—

But he does not.

She heads to bed, miserable and alone. Empty. Cold.

When she wakes, she’ll talk to him. When she wakes, she’ll try again.

She has to, or she’ll lose everything.

But when she wakes in the middle of the night, she finds her mate beside her, quietly stroking her head as he reads a scroll. He does not seem to notice she’s awakened, but he speaks to her nonetheless. 

“Just a little longer,” he murmurs, his touch impossibly soft and gentle. This is the man she’d married, so absent that she’d nearly forgotten how gentle he could be. “After that, your mate will neglect you no longer.” 

She keeps her eyes closed, relishing the moment. If it’s all a dream, she just might break.

But when she feels his lips upon her brow, she knows it’s real. She can feel it.

“Your mate abuses your kindness,” he murmured then, pulling away from her, “but his heart is and has always been yours alone, Kagome.”

She lingers in that moment, neither fully awake nor asleep, for as long as she can, savoring his touch, clinging to his affection.

In the morning, he’s gone as though he never was. Even the smoldering remains of the candle he read by are absent.

But she knows he was there, and it bolsters her. She reminds herself that he does love her, though she wishes he would speak to her about whatever is consuming his time.

Another week passes, and she finally learns why.

A fortnight’s vacation, just the two of them. Ichika is at her grandmother’s, secure and cared for, as Sesshomaru takes her on the anniversary trip she’d dreamed of having for their honeymoon that had been rushed and all too short. It doesn’t excuse the secrecy and late nights, but she understands now that he had been working around the clock to ensure they would have this time to get away. In his own way, she had never been absent from his thoughts. She can work with that. She can work with anything so long as there is still love.

And love is what he now showers her with, intent on making up for lost time. 

He’s devious and calculating, she thinks as she settles into his side that first night, but she loves him all the same.

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Heavy armor thunked as it hit the stone floor. Followed by two swords carefully set aside. It would all need to be thoroughly cleaned and oiled after this day. Jaken would see to it. One less thing to concern him right now. A trail of red and white silk began to fall to the ground, leading towards the beckoning hot spring. Not all of the red was his insignia this time. For once even he had been unable to avoid the blood. 

Sinking into the water with a hiss, he sat and stared as the crimson stains on his skin faded to pink and flowed away. Some was his, most was not. His fists curled and clenched at the memory, new pinpricks of blood appearing and swiftly fading with each press of his claws. They had dared. They had dared try to attack what was his. And though none lived to make a second attempt the rage and fear hadn't yet faded. Rage he knew. Rage was a long time companion, but the fear, that was new. Fear was something he didn't know how to process or how to shake. 

He didn't know how long he sat lost in thoughts of war, eyes still red, blood still burning, when soft hands suddenly began stroking his skin. Gentle touches rinsing away the stains of battle where the water did not reach. Soft murmurs in his ear coaxing him back to himself. 

"You should not be here." Not now, not when he was like this. 

"You would deny me the right to care for my mate?"

"Koi-"

"Shhh, my love. You've done your part. We're safe. Now it's my turn. Let me care for you." 

Her small, strong hands glided over his frame, cleansing, soothing. Easing the ache in his heart as he breathed in her vibrant unmarred scent. 

When she slipped around to clean his face, he slid one hand to the subtle swell of her belly, watching as she lit up with the tender smile she wore so often now. He felt the tension in his body slipping away with every beat of their hearts. Still alive, still safe, still his.

When the last vestiges of war had been scrubbed from his body, his precious mate slipped into his lap and wrapped her arms around him, sighing happily when he embraced her in return. Both content to simply bask in each other's presence for now. Leaning his head to nuzzle into her dark hair he whispered, "Aishiteru, Kagome."

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Sesshomaru stirs as the earthy scent of tea hit his nose. He slowly opens his eyes, taking in the morning sun through the window, the faint scent of lotus from the garden pond near his quarters, and the warmth of his rooms. Though it is early fall, the customary chill is gone.

And then he sees the warm blocks tucked under his sheets and understands why. The chill is here; he simply wasn't allowed to feel it.

He glances over to the empty futon beside him to find clothing neatly arranged. His mate is absent, but her presence is everywhere.

He dresses then makes his way to the engawa, settling down to sip his tea before the rest of the shiro stirs—and, with it, the day's duties. He reflects on his past, his failings and triumphs, and most of all, his father, now that he is soon to become a father himself.

When he sets the empty cup down, the small kettle now empty, he finds a few simple onigiri made with his favorite fillings. He had not even heard his mate approach, yet these are undeniably her making.

"Am I to eat with a ghost?" He chuckles.

His mate appears a moment later with a fresh kettle—and another cup for herself. "I was busy," she murmurs as she settles down beside him, filling first his cup and then her own.

"So you were," he replies indulgently, warmed by her care. "You do not need to do this, Kagome." She has enough work as it is.

"I know." She smiles as she hands him his cup. "But I wanted to." She turns to stare out into the garden, one hand on her growing belly. "It's my way of saying thank-you."

"You do not need to thank me," he murmurs as she snuggles into his side. If anything, he should be thanking *her.*

She does not respond as she kisses his shoulder, but he does not need her to.

This moment is enough.

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“—you can’t possibly fill that entire jar, Kagome.”

Her eyes narrowed at her brother’s exasperated tone. Adorable as he was, Sota had made the rookie mistake of telling her she couldn’t do something.

“Mhm,” she hummed, folding another strip of paper. If he thought she’d quit because it seemed impossible, he didn’t know her at all.

“The jar is barely one-third full,” he muttered, glaring at the oversized glass container on her desk. “You should’ve bought a smaller one.”

“I didn’t realize how big it was when I ordered it,” Kagome replied breezily. “But now it’s here, and I can’t return it.”

Sota groaned. She had stumbled across a video online about a boy making a jar of paper stars for his girlfriend, and five minutes later decided to do the same. Except the jar, which had looked tiny in pictures, was three times the size. Any sane person would’ve replaced it with a smaller one. But not his sister. Shaking his head, he left her to her madness.

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A week later, Sesshoumaru had barely reached the top of the shrine steps when Kagome barreled into him. His arms wrapped around her automatically, lips brushing the crown of her head.

“Missed me, miko?” he rumbled. Her vigorous nod and contented sigh brought a smile on his face.

A moment later, she pulled back, eyes brimming with excitement. “I have something for you.”

He arched a brow as she disappeared behind the Goshinboku, returning with the infamous jar.

“Here!” she said, beaming as she handed it over.

He accepted the gift with surprising care. Inside, hundreds of multicolored paper stars filled the space. Though useless in any practical sense, the sight made his throat tighten. The tiny cuts on her fingers betrayed the hours she had spent just for him.

“Why?” he asked quietly.

Kagome fiddled with his tie, smiling softly. “You’ve been stressed at work. I just wanted to cheer you up.”

Speech deserted him. In all his centuries, none had ever given so much of themselves so freely. His hold on her tightened, the jar pressed close to his chest.

“It seems only fair this one gift his stars to his mate-to-be,” he said, voice low, “in return for this priceless present.”

Her laughter rang out in the quiet courtyard. “I don’t need the stars, Sesshoumaru. I just need you.”

He tipped her chin up, awed all over again by how effortlessly she disarmed him. “Then you shall have me, Kagome. Forever.”

Their kiss that followed melted away every trace of fatigue, leaving only warmth in its wake.