Whispering Refuge by Lady Kirara [Seasons Challenge]
Title: Whispering Refuge
Author: Lady Kirara
Prompt: Seasons Challenge - Winter
Genre: CU, General, Friendship
Words: 600
Rating: T
Summary: Kagome learns a little something new about Sesshoumaru, and a little something she already knew.
AN: Part of My Final Year
Whispering Refuge
She was poised to attack, crouched low beneath the bank shielding her from the incoming assaults. So far, she’d remained unseen. Raising her arm, she held the perfectly rounded snowball lightly in her palm. She let out a loud battle cry and released
Her eyes went wide when her ammo hit a head of silver hair. That was certainly not the person she’d had in mind. She shrank behind the bank, hoping her punishment would be swift and painless. When two amber eyes rounded on her she expected him to be murderous.
Sesshoumaru raised a slender eyebrow and muttered, “Hnn.”
Having escaped death more times than a human teenager was privy to; Kagome was most relieved to have lived to share the tale of the snowball fiasco. She’s always imagined Sesshoumaru as a man of few words, but she’d never really given it much more though than that. Now that she did, she wondered if he really hated people, or maybe he was just shy.
Glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him staring. She gave him an apologetic grin, to which he rolled his eyes and continued to ignore her.
Maybe not.
The next day it snowed again, much to the children’s delight. As the day wore on, the snow got heavier, and they were forced to stop at a small village. Being that the group was now travelling with more than their fair share of youkai, the villagers were leery about letting them stay.
After details had been hashed out, the kids wanted to go out and play. Inuyasha saw no problem, and off they went.
“I have a great idea! Let’s get a Christmas tree!”
“What is that Kagome-san?” Rin asked with delighted curiosity.
While Kagome went about explaining her traditions to her young audience, the males in her midst set out to find a good match. After several hours, a tree had been decorated and lit with varying types of wildlife scraps.
“Well, it’s certainly not the same as back home, but it’s just as good.” Shippou puffed proudly and Rin danced in circles with glee.
Kagome tried hard to ignore the eyes that she knew were boring holes into the back of her head, but what she couldn’t figure out was why. After the children had been settled down for the evening, Kagome went about making them each a small gift to surprise them with in the morning.
“They are not your kits.” He looked straight at the fire when he spoke, but she knew she was meant to give an answer.
“No, but that doesn’t make them any less mine.”
“You would dote on that foxling and a human child, even though they have no real relation with you. Why?”
Kagome couldn’t help but let out a grin, “You mean kind of like a demon taking in a human ward and protecting her when said demon has no ties to her as well.” Kagome stole a glace to see if he would react. He didn’t.
“Hnn.”
Kagome knew the conversation was over, but she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Sesshoumaru-sama, I know you hate humans and all, so why are you helping us destroy Naraku?”
“I do not do it for you, miko. I made a vow long ago. Naraku has made it impossible to satisfy. He must be eliminated in order for me to see my oath fulfilled.”
“Hm.” Kagome rolled over in her sleeping bag, trying to catch the warmth from the dying fire.
Just before she drifted off, Sesshoumaru heard her mutter, “I’ve heard that before."