Within a minute he had landed in a small clearing at the base of a craggy cliff. There was a small hut, much like those in Edo, built flush to it. The hut was dilapidated with large holes in the room and battered fabric covering the door. Sitting Kagome down, Sesshomaru then took her hand and led her inside. Thick layers of dust covered everything and what furniture there was had been broken apart long ago. She wrinkled her nose a bit but said nothing.
Seeing her expression, he smirked a bit. When he reached the back wall he kept right on walking and they passed through it into a large, fire-lit cave.
Gasping, she looked around. It was clean and dry inside, the fire taking the chill out of the air but not fully warming the place. There were mats scattered about and a small table near the fire-pit. Off in the corner by the back wall was a thick pallet covered with furs. A doorway leading to another part of the cave, she assumed, was hidden by a folding screen.
Looking down at her he smirked a bit, “Do you like it?”
“Wow!” was all she could say, breathlessly looking around.
“Hn…” he said, chest puffing out a bit. Though he wanted to hold her close and cuddle he knew she needed to get out of her wet clothes. Easing her hat and jacket off, he hug them up on some pegs embedded in the wall so they could dry, then led her behind the screen into a small adjoining cave, one not much bigger than her bathroom at home, so she could change and clean up, then left her alone. He went to stoke the fire a bit to try to get it to warm up faster. Eventually the cave would be a comfortable temperature but now it was still chilly.
Within 10 minutes she was back, changed into the clothes she wore to bed. After hanging up her wet things to dry, she plopped down by the fire to warm up.
Grabbing a robe of white fur that hung over by the bed, he walked over to her and said, “Put this on until it gets warm enough. That way you won’t get chilled.”
Standing up, he helped her into it. Miles too big for her, he rolled up the sleeves then wrapped it tightly around her before tying the belt around her waist. Gathering her in his arms, he sat down by the fire with her in his lap, holding her.
Snuggling against his chest, she burrowed deep in the warm fir and sighed contentedly. It must be his robe, she thought, because it smelled like him.
One of the things she found surprising about him was that when they were alone he was quite affectionate and actually liked to cuddle. She would have never thought that of the stoic, cold, Lord of the West. When she asked him about it he explained that Inus were naturally affectionate with their intendeds or mates. Though he had a cold, stoic, public persona that would always be there, alone he wasn’t afraid to cuddle or snuggle with her, something she adored. Also, unlike what most people would think, he was very tender and gentle, always making sure she was comfortable and that he didn’t hurt her. Much to her surprise she also found he liked to be touched and caressed. Because of what he had always been like publicly she had been afraid to touch him, but alone, when she would gently touch his face, give his arm an affectionate squeeze or hug him, a deep, contented rumble in his chest would begin, a sound she found to be quite appealing. It was like she was seeing a side of him no one else ever had. Quite frankly, she loved it!
At first, when he joined up with them to go after Naraku, they found they liked talking to each other about things that they had a mutual interest in. Then, when he found out her love of reading, they discussed books and poetry. She eventually found herself bringing him books in areas he had an interest in. When he was finished reading they would sit and discuss them. It was books, and those discussions, that was the cause for Inuyasha to eventually leave them alone and allow what had come to bloom.
It was a subtle change at first. She hadn’t noticed it when it started and he confessed later that he hadn’t either. They would sit close together when they talked and gradually they began to spend more and more time together, sometimes talking late into the night, long after everyone else had gone to bed. Before she knew it she trusted him like she did the beings she had traveled with for years. He actually was a better protector than Inuyasha!
If she and Sango wanted a bath he escorted them to the hot springs and back. While they soaked he stayed midway between camp and the springs so if there was a problem either place he could be there quickly. If she had to go collect herbs, firewood, whatever, he made sure that he or someone else went with her. When she went home he made sure she didn’t go alone. When she came back, someone, usually him, was waiting there for her.
Just before Christmas, when she had been traveling with him for a few months, he escorted her to the well. It had snowed and was cold, but the forests had been so beautiful, like a painting of a pristine winter wonderland, so she had wanted to walk.
When they got to the well she had teased him like she always did, telling to make sure he was careful and not to get hurt, something that had become a running joke between them. Rather than his usual flat look or a ‘hn’ he had softly said, “I will Kagome. You be careful as well.” Before she could react, and being a bit stunned, he had kissed her. It was a soft, warm, passionate kiss that stole her breath and made her heart skip a beat and then race. After he broke it off, he held her to his chest and nuzzled his face into her hair. She had wrapped her arms around him and sighed happily.
When he broke away, he looked down at her and had softly said, “Hurry back.”
Smiling, she had nodded and replied, “I will,” softly before hopping into the well.
For the first time since her dual life had begun, she had decided to spend Christmas with her friends in the feudal era. She had explained the holiday and its secular meaning the best she could to them and the traditions of giving presents. When she materialized at the bottom of the well in the feudal era with several heavy bags he was already there, leaning over the lip of the well with something like a smile on his face. Giggling, she waved up at him then asked if he could give her a hand. Hopping down, he pulled her into a hug and kissed her softly. After breaking off the kiss he caressed the side of her face with the backs of his fingers softly then said, very quietly, “I missed you Kagome, and thought about you while you were away.”
Smiling, she reached up and cupped one of his cheeks with a hand then replied, eyes sparkling, “Same here Sesshomaru.”
That time he did smile, then kissed her again. When he broke it off he looked at all the bags and arched an eyebrow, “Woman, what is all this? What have you brought?”
Giggling, she shouldered her pack and grabbed a couple bags. “Christmas presents!” she exclaimed happily.
“Hn…” He said, as though unimpressed but there was a bit of a sparkle in his eyes. Grabbing the rest of the bags he then wrapped an arm around her and hopped effortlessly out of the well. His cloud formed under them and they were whisked away to Edo. As it turned out that had been the most enjoyable Christmas she had in years.
Once the holiday was over they began the spider hunt again. Once on the road again they began to start sneaking away and spending as much time together as they could. By the six-month mark Kagome was head over heels in love with the deadly taiyoukai.