Inuyasha, "When Gray Clouds Clear" Sesshoumaru/Kagome (2/?)
Fandom: Inuyasha
Title: Some Dreams Fade Anew
Chapter Title: When Gray Clouds Clear
Author: Paynesgrey
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Genre: Romance
Universe: Alternate
Spoilers: None.
Word Count: 2102
Notes: Part Two of Some Dreams Fade Anew. Written for the "Image Challenge" at ebony_silks. I decided to make this a serialization around the prompts at ebony_silks. I have no idea where this fic is going, so I hope you'll enjoy the ride along with me.
Summary: After they meet again for the anniversary of her husband's death, Kagome can no longer deny Sesshoumaru's offer to take care of her, especially when someone starts to threaten her life. AU. Serialization. Kagome x Sesshoumaru.
Other Links: Dokuga | FFnet
Previous Chapter
Some Dreams Fade Anew
Part Two: When Gray Clouds Clear
Kagome rolled out of bed and blinked awake, looking at the gray clouds outside her bedroom window. She frowned at the dreary day, and she stepped with bare feet toward the kitchen. Her stomach whined for food, and she opened the fridge door looking for the milk.
Her leftover box from yesterday’s dinner made her step back, and she paused to smile in remembrance. Yesterday, Sesshoumaru had taken her out to dinner after they met at Arlington to remember Inuyasha, just as they had done every year since his death.
She opened the box and scooped out a cold quesadilla and nibbled on it. Looking down at the food, she noticed that she didn’t eat much at all last night. Conversation with Sesshoumaru had been more engaging than usual. She felt warmth rise to her face, and she couldn’t deny the feeling that was pulsating throughout her body.
It had been so long since she was interested in a man, not since her late husband. And it was hard to deny Sesshoumaru’s subtle yet sensual advances.
She leaned against her kitchen counter and sighed. Did that mean she was finally over this mourning period? Was she truly ready to move on?
Before she could ponder the depth of her answer, her phone screamed angrily at her, and she popped the last bite of food into her mouth.
“Hello?” It was her mother, and she sounded really upset.
“Kagome, I know that this is your day off, but there’s been a problem at home. Our roof has a major leak, and water is getting right into Jii-chan’s room. You know he’s not been well lately, and… I don’t know who else to call. We don’t have the money to repair it right now…”
“Mama, it’s okay. I’ll be right over,” she said. “And don’t worry about the money. I have some saved.”
When her mother seemed a little bit more soothed, Kagome quickly said good bye and got ready to go over to the house. After flinging on some clothes, she heard thunder crack outside. She groaned.
She wasn’t much of a handy person, so she hoped she could help her mother as much as she could. Biting her lip, Kagome had a flash of an idea. Then, her stomach sunk.
She couldn’t call him again! She just saw him last night, and she had called him way too many times for improvements around her own home, let alone her mother’s.
Without dwelling on such thoughts anymore, Kagome picked up the phone and dialed Sesshoumaru’s number. Being a Saturday, she hoped that he was available regardless of today not being a work day.
When his cool voice answered, she stammered like a nervous teenager. “Sesshoumaru? I’m sorry to bother you, but I need your help. I hope I’m not intruding.”
He sounded slightly less nonplussed than usual, and the worry in his voice gave her some small hope. Maybe his intentions toward her ran deeper than she gave him credit for.
Or maybe she just didn’t want to see…
“My mother’s roof is damaged and water is getting in. My grandpa and brother usually handle the repairs, but Jii-chan is ill and Souta is away at Brown. Right. Yes, it’s by that church on Kennedy Blvd. You know of it?” She paused to let him speak. “Good, I’ll meet you there.”
Pushing her anxieties aside, she grabbed her purse and locked up her small apartment. For a moment she allowed herself to breathe. Then, she realized it’d been a long time since she was excited to see a man, so much that she almost forgot the reason she was meeting him was to help her family.
--
The rain poured in buckets, and her wipers could barely keep up with the blast of wind and water against her windshield. She drove slowly on the slippery streets, and she relied on instincts to get home.
When she turned into her mother’s long driveway, she recognized Sesshoumaru’s car. He was already waiting for her.
Immediately she jumped out of her car into the soaking rain, and as she moved toward him, he gave her a puzzled look. She smiled, but then her elation disappeared when she realized she had impulsively left her car without her umbrella. She must have looked like a drowned cat!
“Here,” he said, covering her with his brown trench coat. She felt her blush rise, and she was amazed how dressed up he looked up on a Saturday. She had only thrown on a blue top and jeans.
“Oh! I hope you weren’t in a meeting,” she bumbled. She added quietly. “You’re all dressed up.”
“Not at all. I was going to drop into the office for some paperwork, but it can wait,” he said. The two of them, still covered under his jacket, looked at the state of the roof.
“Oh my!” Kagome brought her hand up to her mouth. “My mother underestimates trouble as usual.”
Sesshoumaru nodded. “Indeed.” They both stared at the huge hole in the front side of the two story house. It must have been a foot long in circumference. Water was spilling inside like a drain.
They rushed inside, and Kagome’s mother gave them both a cheery smile, despite her house slowly flooding. “Oh, Kagome, I’m so glad you came, and you brought your friend Sesshoumaru too.” Kagome winced when her mother studied Sesshoumaru a little too closely.
“Mama, why didn’t you tell me the roof had a huge hole in it! I would have called the repair guy instead of bothering Sesshoumaru!” She looked at Sesshoumaru and quickly apologized. “I’m sorry. I thought it was something we could patch up.”
Mrs. Higurashi took the coat that had been their cover from the storm, and she walked away with it before answering. “Oh it’s not that bad, dear. I knew you could help us.”
Kagome rolled her eyes. “Mama, I’m calling a roofing guy.”
“In the mean time, do you have a tarp or something in storage?” Sesshoumaru asked her. “I can go outside and cover it until they get here.”
Kagome’s mother gasped. “You’re going on that roof in this weather? Oh, you don’t have to do that. We can make do until he gets here.”
“Hey, how do you expect us to stop the water? It’s only temporary,” Kagome said. She turned to Sesshoumaru. “I’ll help.”
He shook his head. “I will be fine. Just call the roofer.”
Kagome sighed. “Alright, but at least let me hold the ladder.”
Sesshoumaru nodded with a quick smirk, and Mrs. Higurashi directed him toward the storage shed for the tarp. Kagome turned to make the phone call, and she came out and saw her mother lugging the ladder with Sesshoumaru in front of her as he unfolded the tarp.
“They said they’ll come out here in a couple hours. They’re on the south side of town and said the rain is letting up,” Kagome said.
Sesshoumaru lifted his head to the sky. “Yes, the storm is starting to pass here too. Until then, we’ll clean this up.” Kagome nodded and took the ladder from her mother. Mrs. Higurashi watched on as her daughter and friend covered the hole. After a few minutes, she moved inside to clean up the water inside the room.
After some silence, Kagome spoke. “Thank you for doing this.”
Sesshoumaru turned around, and Kagome went breathless. His sleeves were rolled up, and he had his hair tied back in a makeshift ponytail. She felt pulled in by his golden eyes. “It was no trouble, Kagome,” he said in a smooth voice. Kagome felt her knees weaken as she held the ladder. He turned back around, and she tried very hard not to stare at his backside straight within her view.
Nothing she told herself was going to work, and she stared anyway. She realized it was going to be even harder to deny her growing feelings for him.
The force of the rain lessened to a sprinkle, and she saw sunlight poking out from the clouds. Sesshoumaru came down from the ladder and pushed his wet bangs out of his eyes. He looked down at her, and she smiled nervously.
“Well, I finished covering it. Now we will wait to see what the roofer says about it.” Kagome nodded without a word, and she saw his hand come toward her face. He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and she closed her eyes. His fingers lightly traced the line of her jaw.
“I made tea! Oh…” Her mother’s voice interrupted them, and Kagome jumped and saw her Mama’s surprised expression. Suddenly, the woman gave both of them a warm smile. “Sesshoumaru-san, would you like some tea?”
He nodded and thanked her coolly, and Kagome was stupefied. She knew she wasn’t seeing things. Hope and relief had illuminated within her mother’s eyes.
--
Kagome sighed as she leaned back into the chair on her mother’s patio. “Well, it wasn’t going to be as bad as I thought it was.”
“You are paying for the repairs?” he asked, sipping the last of his tea. Her mother had excused herself an hour ago to continue cleaning up the water damage in Jii-chan’s room.
“I have to; my mother doesn’t have much money, and Jii-chan’s social security checks aren’t going to be enough. Plus, they’re bogged down with Souta’s tuition.” Kagome smiled. “It’s okay. She may think she’s going to pay me back, but I will never ask her to.”
“What about you? Do you make enough at Public Health to cover this?” he asked. Kagome noticed his odd curiosity. Why was he so concerned if she could cover her finances?
“Well, it’s not the best job, but I did have some money saved for some extra schooling. This is more important now,” she said. She looked down at her empty tea cup. She could feel Sesshoumaru staring at her.
“I could help you,” he offered. Kagome blinked and turned to meet his gaze.
“But… you’ve helped enough,” she said quickly.
“No,” he said. He stood up from his chair and stared down at her. There was a ferocity within his eyes that was almost frightening; she had seen this look before when he’d been working or when he had argued with his brother. He was determined about something, and the look in his eyes would not let her say no.
“What…” she stammered. He drew her out of her chair onto her feet. His face was merely centimeters from hers. She could feel his warm breath on her cheeks.
“Let me take care of you,” he said. It was more of a command then a request. However, his voice had made it sound so alluring that she felt she had no other option. She did have a choice, but Kagome didn’t think she could handle the consequence of refusing him.
‘I don’t want to be alone anymore,’ she thought to herself, and the voice inside her seemed trapped, as if she didn’t take his offer she’d never get another chance again.
“I…” She didn’t know what to say, and he could see her falter at his offer. Instead of waiting for her to speak, he pulled her closer. Kagome fell into his warmth, and his soft lips shaped around hers. He tasted desirable, as if he was an expensive meal she’d been denying herself from enjoying for far too long.
She shivered when he pulled away. He wrapped his arms around her, and she leaned into his chest. She let a resolute breath escape her lungs.
“Yes…” she said, and she felt him relax around her. “But…I want to take things slow.”
She pulled away and wanted to make herself clear. He stared at her, and in his expression she didn’t see any resistance or complaint. He nodded, and Kagome let out a deep sigh as he continued to hold her.
She looked up into the sky, and she saw the clouds from the recent storm move away, making the way for sunshine. She noticed something else in the horizon, and she grinned.
“Hey, look!” she said, pointing to the sky. Sesshoumaru looked with her, and he nodded, though he didn’t seem as impressed as she did.
She gazed at the colorful prism in the sky, and whether or not it was a sign, it didn’t matter. To her it meant something, and as Sesshoumaru bent down to kiss her again, she didn’t mind when he shifted her focus from the rainbow in the sky back onto him.
Part Three
Title: Some Dreams Fade Anew
Chapter Title: When Gray Clouds Clear
Author: Paynesgrey
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Sesshoumaru/Kagome
Genre: Romance
Universe: Alternate
Spoilers: None.
Word Count: 2102
Notes: Part Two of Some Dreams Fade Anew. Written for the "Image Challenge" at ebony_silks. I decided to make this a serialization around the prompts at ebony_silks. I have no idea where this fic is going, so I hope you'll enjoy the ride along with me.
Summary: After they meet again for the anniversary of her husband's death, Kagome can no longer deny Sesshoumaru's offer to take care of her, especially when someone starts to threaten her life. AU. Serialization. Kagome x Sesshoumaru.
Other Links: Dokuga | FFnet
Previous Chapter
Some Dreams Fade Anew
Part Two: When Gray Clouds Clear
Kagome rolled out of bed and blinked awake, looking at the gray clouds outside her bedroom window. She frowned at the dreary day, and she stepped with bare feet toward the kitchen. Her stomach whined for food, and she opened the fridge door looking for the milk.
Her leftover box from yesterday’s dinner made her step back, and she paused to smile in remembrance. Yesterday, Sesshoumaru had taken her out to dinner after they met at Arlington to remember Inuyasha, just as they had done every year since his death.
She opened the box and scooped out a cold quesadilla and nibbled on it. Looking down at the food, she noticed that she didn’t eat much at all last night. Conversation with Sesshoumaru had been more engaging than usual. She felt warmth rise to her face, and she couldn’t deny the feeling that was pulsating throughout her body.
It had been so long since she was interested in a man, not since her late husband. And it was hard to deny Sesshoumaru’s subtle yet sensual advances.
She leaned against her kitchen counter and sighed. Did that mean she was finally over this mourning period? Was she truly ready to move on?
Before she could ponder the depth of her answer, her phone screamed angrily at her, and she popped the last bite of food into her mouth.
“Hello?” It was her mother, and she sounded really upset.
“Kagome, I know that this is your day off, but there’s been a problem at home. Our roof has a major leak, and water is getting right into Jii-chan’s room. You know he’s not been well lately, and… I don’t know who else to call. We don’t have the money to repair it right now…”
“Mama, it’s okay. I’ll be right over,” she said. “And don’t worry about the money. I have some saved.”
When her mother seemed a little bit more soothed, Kagome quickly said good bye and got ready to go over to the house. After flinging on some clothes, she heard thunder crack outside. She groaned.
She wasn’t much of a handy person, so she hoped she could help her mother as much as she could. Biting her lip, Kagome had a flash of an idea. Then, her stomach sunk.
She couldn’t call him again! She just saw him last night, and she had called him way too many times for improvements around her own home, let alone her mother’s.
Without dwelling on such thoughts anymore, Kagome picked up the phone and dialed Sesshoumaru’s number. Being a Saturday, she hoped that he was available regardless of today not being a work day.
When his cool voice answered, she stammered like a nervous teenager. “Sesshoumaru? I’m sorry to bother you, but I need your help. I hope I’m not intruding.”
He sounded slightly less nonplussed than usual, and the worry in his voice gave her some small hope. Maybe his intentions toward her ran deeper than she gave him credit for.
Or maybe she just didn’t want to see…
“My mother’s roof is damaged and water is getting in. My grandpa and brother usually handle the repairs, but Jii-chan is ill and Souta is away at Brown. Right. Yes, it’s by that church on Kennedy Blvd. You know of it?” She paused to let him speak. “Good, I’ll meet you there.”
Pushing her anxieties aside, she grabbed her purse and locked up her small apartment. For a moment she allowed herself to breathe. Then, she realized it’d been a long time since she was excited to see a man, so much that she almost forgot the reason she was meeting him was to help her family.
--
The rain poured in buckets, and her wipers could barely keep up with the blast of wind and water against her windshield. She drove slowly on the slippery streets, and she relied on instincts to get home.
When she turned into her mother’s long driveway, she recognized Sesshoumaru’s car. He was already waiting for her.
Immediately she jumped out of her car into the soaking rain, and as she moved toward him, he gave her a puzzled look. She smiled, but then her elation disappeared when she realized she had impulsively left her car without her umbrella. She must have looked like a drowned cat!
“Here,” he said, covering her with his brown trench coat. She felt her blush rise, and she was amazed how dressed up he looked up on a Saturday. She had only thrown on a blue top and jeans.
“Oh! I hope you weren’t in a meeting,” she bumbled. She added quietly. “You’re all dressed up.”
“Not at all. I was going to drop into the office for some paperwork, but it can wait,” he said. The two of them, still covered under his jacket, looked at the state of the roof.
“Oh my!” Kagome brought her hand up to her mouth. “My mother underestimates trouble as usual.”
Sesshoumaru nodded. “Indeed.” They both stared at the huge hole in the front side of the two story house. It must have been a foot long in circumference. Water was spilling inside like a drain.
They rushed inside, and Kagome’s mother gave them both a cheery smile, despite her house slowly flooding. “Oh, Kagome, I’m so glad you came, and you brought your friend Sesshoumaru too.” Kagome winced when her mother studied Sesshoumaru a little too closely.
“Mama, why didn’t you tell me the roof had a huge hole in it! I would have called the repair guy instead of bothering Sesshoumaru!” She looked at Sesshoumaru and quickly apologized. “I’m sorry. I thought it was something we could patch up.”
Mrs. Higurashi took the coat that had been their cover from the storm, and she walked away with it before answering. “Oh it’s not that bad, dear. I knew you could help us.”
Kagome rolled her eyes. “Mama, I’m calling a roofing guy.”
“In the mean time, do you have a tarp or something in storage?” Sesshoumaru asked her. “I can go outside and cover it until they get here.”
Kagome’s mother gasped. “You’re going on that roof in this weather? Oh, you don’t have to do that. We can make do until he gets here.”
“Hey, how do you expect us to stop the water? It’s only temporary,” Kagome said. She turned to Sesshoumaru. “I’ll help.”
He shook his head. “I will be fine. Just call the roofer.”
Kagome sighed. “Alright, but at least let me hold the ladder.”
Sesshoumaru nodded with a quick smirk, and Mrs. Higurashi directed him toward the storage shed for the tarp. Kagome turned to make the phone call, and she came out and saw her mother lugging the ladder with Sesshoumaru in front of her as he unfolded the tarp.
“They said they’ll come out here in a couple hours. They’re on the south side of town and said the rain is letting up,” Kagome said.
Sesshoumaru lifted his head to the sky. “Yes, the storm is starting to pass here too. Until then, we’ll clean this up.” Kagome nodded and took the ladder from her mother. Mrs. Higurashi watched on as her daughter and friend covered the hole. After a few minutes, she moved inside to clean up the water inside the room.
After some silence, Kagome spoke. “Thank you for doing this.”
Sesshoumaru turned around, and Kagome went breathless. His sleeves were rolled up, and he had his hair tied back in a makeshift ponytail. She felt pulled in by his golden eyes. “It was no trouble, Kagome,” he said in a smooth voice. Kagome felt her knees weaken as she held the ladder. He turned back around, and she tried very hard not to stare at his backside straight within her view.
Nothing she told herself was going to work, and she stared anyway. She realized it was going to be even harder to deny her growing feelings for him.
The force of the rain lessened to a sprinkle, and she saw sunlight poking out from the clouds. Sesshoumaru came down from the ladder and pushed his wet bangs out of his eyes. He looked down at her, and she smiled nervously.
“Well, I finished covering it. Now we will wait to see what the roofer says about it.” Kagome nodded without a word, and she saw his hand come toward her face. He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and she closed her eyes. His fingers lightly traced the line of her jaw.
“I made tea! Oh…” Her mother’s voice interrupted them, and Kagome jumped and saw her Mama’s surprised expression. Suddenly, the woman gave both of them a warm smile. “Sesshoumaru-san, would you like some tea?”
He nodded and thanked her coolly, and Kagome was stupefied. She knew she wasn’t seeing things. Hope and relief had illuminated within her mother’s eyes.
--
Kagome sighed as she leaned back into the chair on her mother’s patio. “Well, it wasn’t going to be as bad as I thought it was.”
“You are paying for the repairs?” he asked, sipping the last of his tea. Her mother had excused herself an hour ago to continue cleaning up the water damage in Jii-chan’s room.
“I have to; my mother doesn’t have much money, and Jii-chan’s social security checks aren’t going to be enough. Plus, they’re bogged down with Souta’s tuition.” Kagome smiled. “It’s okay. She may think she’s going to pay me back, but I will never ask her to.”
“What about you? Do you make enough at Public Health to cover this?” he asked. Kagome noticed his odd curiosity. Why was he so concerned if she could cover her finances?
“Well, it’s not the best job, but I did have some money saved for some extra schooling. This is more important now,” she said. She looked down at her empty tea cup. She could feel Sesshoumaru staring at her.
“I could help you,” he offered. Kagome blinked and turned to meet his gaze.
“But… you’ve helped enough,” she said quickly.
“No,” he said. He stood up from his chair and stared down at her. There was a ferocity within his eyes that was almost frightening; she had seen this look before when he’d been working or when he had argued with his brother. He was determined about something, and the look in his eyes would not let her say no.
“What…” she stammered. He drew her out of her chair onto her feet. His face was merely centimeters from hers. She could feel his warm breath on her cheeks.
“Let me take care of you,” he said. It was more of a command then a request. However, his voice had made it sound so alluring that she felt she had no other option. She did have a choice, but Kagome didn’t think she could handle the consequence of refusing him.
‘I don’t want to be alone anymore,’ she thought to herself, and the voice inside her seemed trapped, as if she didn’t take his offer she’d never get another chance again.
“I…” She didn’t know what to say, and he could see her falter at his offer. Instead of waiting for her to speak, he pulled her closer. Kagome fell into his warmth, and his soft lips shaped around hers. He tasted desirable, as if he was an expensive meal she’d been denying herself from enjoying for far too long.
She shivered when he pulled away. He wrapped his arms around her, and she leaned into his chest. She let a resolute breath escape her lungs.
“Yes…” she said, and she felt him relax around her. “But…I want to take things slow.”
She pulled away and wanted to make herself clear. He stared at her, and in his expression she didn’t see any resistance or complaint. He nodded, and Kagome let out a deep sigh as he continued to hold her.
She looked up into the sky, and she saw the clouds from the recent storm move away, making the way for sunshine. She noticed something else in the horizon, and she grinned.
“Hey, look!” she said, pointing to the sky. Sesshoumaru looked with her, and he nodded, though he didn’t seem as impressed as she did.
She gazed at the colorful prism in the sky, and whether or not it was a sign, it didn’t matter. To her it meant something, and as Sesshoumaru bent down to kiss her again, she didn’t mind when he shifted her focus from the rainbow in the sky back onto him.
Part Three