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Of all the members of Inuyasha's family, Sesshoumaru's mother was not at the top of Kagome's list of people she thought she'd get along with.
And yet here she was, currently sipping tea with the inuyoukai—on a picnic no less.
Rin had begged Kagome to visit Sesshoumaru's home, claiming her guardian was lonely and could use the company. Kagome sympathized, especially with Rin and Jinenji's wedding coming up, but she doubted she was the best person to cure the Western Lord's alleged melancholy.
He hadn't even been home when they got there.
So here she was, a week into her stay, having tea with probably the most beautiful youkai she'd ever met, aside from Sesshoumaru himself.
Kagome had been at a loss when Inukimi had shown up on the third day and begun to play hostess. Rin had greeted her with her typical exuberance, even going as far as calling her 'Grandmother'. Even Shippou, who had shown up the day after on a break from school, had been familiar with the older youkai.
The kit had later confided that Sesshoumaru had been training him during the off months, which had helped him excel in his classes. The kitsune had had a growth spurt in the last year and was already up to Kagome's shoulders.
"You have acquired your third tail since I last saw you," Inukimi observed, eyes glinting from behind her teacup.
Shippou puffed his chest out, flashing her a fang. "Got it after my last test!"
"Ah, yes. You were able to hold the illusion for the full hour this time?"
He flushed but nodded. "I almost had it before! But Souten was in charge of the distractions and was allowed to use real lightning." Kagome noticed his tails flicking around at the mention of the lightning youkai and made a mental note to interrogate him about it later.
"Kagome-sama, what's this?" All eyes turned to Rin, the young woman pulling a long, thin box out of Kagome's bag.
"Oh! I meant to show that to you earlier! I brought some makeup along so we could experiment for your wedding."
Rin opened the box, gasping at all the bright colours. "All of this is for me?"
"Well, maybe not that one specifically. It's more for creating pictures on your face. But there are other sets in there too." Shippou started pulling the various items out of the bag, just as excited as Rin to test things out.
"Are humans not prone to using bright colours to attract their mates?" Inukimi asked, motioning to the palette in Kagome's hands.
Kagome chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, we're prone. Some more than others. But this is for something called 'face-painting'. Humans use it for festivals or parties, and children transform into storybook characters, animals, or mythological beasts."
Inukimi set her teacup down, then held out her hand.
"It's probably closer to an actual set of paints," Kagome said, handing it over. "I've seen kids walk away with masterpieces on their faces. They love it."
The inuyoukai pulled out the brush, shrugging at its quality before inspecting the palette's array of colours, her eyes lingering on a familiar shade of magenta and indigo. "Children, let us have some fun, shall we?"
Kagome frowned, but Shippou and Rin immediately dropped what they were doing and scurried over the blanket. Using her tea to moisten the brush, Inukimi began to paint their faces, and suddenly it was like the past decade hadn't happened. There was no threat or responsibility; they were simply on a family outing, not caring what the future might bring.
The edges of Kagome's mouth quirked every time they tried to peek at each other, Inukimi smacking them on the nose with the opposite end of the brush.
Sesshoumaru should be here to see this, she thought idly, turning her head towards the citadel. He was still as silent as ever when he visited Rin at the village, but Kagome knew how much her upbringing meant to him. Rin had grown from a traumatized child into a functioning teen, and it was all thanks to Sesshoumaru's interference.
It was strange that they'd been there a week, and there'd been no sign of him whatsoever. Jaken had greeted them with stiff respect, though he had softened towards Rin over the years as well, even complimenting her on her newest kimono when they'd first arrived. Kagome had sent her reiki out every night to see if Sesshoumaru was nearby but had come up empty each time, nothing but the scent of jasmine on the returning breeze.
It was almost like he was avoiding them.
"Kagome-sama!" Rin's excited call pulled her out of her musings. Turning back around, her hand shot up to her chest, heart clenching. "Now I look like his real daughter!"
Inukimi had painted Sesshoumaru's markings on Rin's face.
Before Kagome could correct Rin's claim, Inukimi placed the end of her paintbrush under the girl's chin, giving her a pointed look. "Foolish pup, you are already his real daughter. You do not require his markings to prove that."
Kagome wasn't sure who was more shocked, but Rin burst into tears, giving her grandmother a fierce hug. Inukimi patted Rin's back, then bade her to sit up again. "Contain yourself. You will ruin all my hard work."
Rin gave her a watery laugh, sitting as still as she could so Inukimi could touch up her marks, moving on to Shippou once she'd finished. "I wonder when Sesshoumaru-sama will find a mate and have kids," Shippou said, admiring himself in Kagome's mirror.
"When indeed." Inukimi met Kagome's gaze, her crimson lips pulling up into a smirk. Unable to look away, Kagome felt heat rise to her face. She couldn't possibly be insinuating—
"Do Kagome-sama next, Grandmother!"
Grateful for the distraction, Kagome laughed softly. "That's alright, Rin-chan. It's more for kids anyway."
Inukimi clicked her tongue. "Come now, miko. It will be entertaining."
Kagome didn't like the sound of that, but both Rin and Shippou were eagerly watching her, so with a shrug, she complied. The other three sat opposite her, the kids buzzing with excitement as she closed her eyes. The brush slid over her cheeks, then her forehead, and Kagome felt her mind wander.
What kind of mate would Sesshoumaru look for? His mother doesn't seem like the type to agree to arranged marriages, and Sesshoumaru doesn't seem like the type to agree to something solely for political gains.
"Stop frowning, miko. You are creasing the lines." Rolling her shoulders, Kagome forced herself to relax, questions still running through her mind.
Would Sesshoumaru actually mate for love? Does he even have a type? Who would stand out so much that it would catch the eye of the Western—
"Is this a new hobby, Mother?" Kagome jerked away from the paintbrush, her eyes flying open.
"Hello to you too, dear son. Did you finally pull your tail out from between your legs and decide to join us?" If it hadn't been his mother who said it, Sesshoumaru likely would've melted her on the spot.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, do you like my makeup?" Rin got to her feet, showing off her face. "Now I look like you." He glared at his mother a moment longer, then turned to Rin, and Kagome bit the inside of her cheek at how much his expression softened.
Did he know how much he loved her?
Sesshoumaru laid a hand on Rin's head. "It suits you."
"What about me?" Shippou piped up, half jumping onto Rin's back.
The daiyoukai gave him a considering look, then shook his head. "You are powerful in your own right. You have no need of This One's markings to prove your worth." If she'd been standing, Kagome might've swooned. Especially with how Shippou covered his face when Rin hugged him, her soft 'I told you so' making the kitsune blush.
Rin was special, but Kagome had a growing suspicion that 'the Killing Perfection' had a soft spot for children in general. He'd been more than willing to put his life on the line for Kohaku when Magatsuhi had attacked them, and Sango's twins were constantly hanging off him whenever he visited the village.
She could only imagine what he'd be like with his own children. The sudden image of him cradling an infant was a vivid one, and Kagome's heart fluttered.
"It is a little different from parchment, but I have always been talented with a paintbrush," his mother said as Rin and Shippou pretended to fight, each using one of the various training poses Sesshoumaru had taught them.
"Hnn."
"Though I have to say, I think the miko's markings stand out the most," Inukimi smirked, grabbing Kagome's shoulders and forcing her to turn around. "Would you not agree?"
Sapphire met gold, and Kagome watched the blood drain from Sesshoumaru's face. Shock turned to horror, then to rage, his voice a hollow whisper. "What have you done?"
Inukimi wasn't fazed. "What you are too afraid to do." Kagome's confusion grew as she looked between the two daiyoukai. What was wrong with her—
She let out a startled yelp as Sesshoumaru grabbed her and took to the sky, holding her like a limp doll as she scrambled to right herself. Before she even had the chance to question him, she was thrown into a spring, robes weighing her down as she tried to decipher which way was up.
Her feet finally found ground, and she stood up, whirling around. "What the hell, Sesshoumaru?"
He didn't answer, grabbing the front of her robes and shoving her under the water once more. Panic set in, and Kagome clawed at his arm, reiki crackling along his skin. He let her go with a hiss, and she backed away from him, pushing her now tangled hair out of her eyes.
"Explanation. Now," she snarled, her hands coming up as he stepped closer.
"Wash it off."
"Wash what off—"
Eyes bled crimson before a fistful of her kosode was shoved in her face. Kagome thought he was trying to drown her again until she realized he was using it to wipe away the face paint. Blinking in confusion, she looked up at him.
His movements were rough, scrubbing every inch of her face, then he grabbed her chin, inspecting her face to make sure he'd removed it all.
"Are you going to tell me what that was about?"
His grip tightened. "My mother is a meddling witch."
"We were just having fun."
"I would not have you look like one of my offspring," he growled, "I would have you be their—" He caught himself, releasing her with such ferocity that she stumbled backwards.
Incensed, and still reeling from the impromptu bath, she shoved him, moving him all of an inch before pointing a finger in his face. "Have me be their what? Servant? Punching bag? Is it so out of the realm of possibilities that I be given the same respect as the mighty Sesshoumaru-sama's children?"
"That is not—"
Reiki flared, smoke rising from his clothes when she shoved him again. "Not what? Not feasible because I'm human? I beat Naraku and the Shikon itself; I can beat your ass too!"
"Miko—"
"Don't you dare call me that! I'm Kagome. Ka-go-me! My power comes from me. Not the jewel, not my station, not anyone else! So why don't you tell me exactly what I'd be to your children?"
"Their mother."
If she hadn't been close enough to see his lips move, Kagome would never have believed the words came from him. Her eyes widened, shock replacing her anger so quickly that it made her lightheaded. She grasped for purchase and would've fallen into the water again if his arm hadn't wrapped around her waist. "What?"
His jaw clenched, and he refused to meet her gaze. "I will not repeat myself."
The spark of anger returned, and she grabbed the collar of his haori. "You will when you say something like that!" The look he gave her was placid, but Kagome saw the emptiness he was trying to hide, his eyes giving him away. "Please."
He sucked in a long breath, eyes almost unseeing before he responded. "I would have you be their mother."
"Why?" It wasn't a challenge, but Sesshoumaru stiffened all the same, and she shook her head. "And before you come up with some lame excuse about needing a powerful heir, just remember I can sense lies too."
His throat clenched as he forcibly swallowed, causing her to do the same as she waited for his answer. He leaned forward, resting his forehead on her shoulder as the arm around her waist tightened.
"Because then they would be ours."
Ours.
Ours.
The word reverberated through her body and then her mind, electrifying every nerve as she tried to comprehend it.
Sesshoumaru wanted her children.
He wanted her.
Heat crept up the back of her neck and into her face, and Kagome was glad he couldn't see her.
"Why—" The word came out as a squeak, and she cleared her throat. "Why didn't you just ask me? Youkai courting doesn't usually start with 'I wanna have babies with you', right?"
"And give you the chance to refuse? I think not."
Kagome shivered, his words wafting by her ear. "I don't know…" Sesshoumaru pulled back, giving her a startled look. Biting her lip, she shrugged a shoulder. "I mean… I'm not about to start stripping down right now," she said with a sheepish laugh. "But I'm not against the idea."
Nostrils flared and pupils dilated, youki pulling at the ends of her sodden hair. Kagome tried not to blink, wanting him to see the truth in her eyes. It took a moment, but her words eventually sunk in, causing his stripes to deepen in colour.
It was Sesshoumaru who looked away first. "I have miscalculated."
"And overreacted."
He had the decency to wince. "That as well."
Kagome patted his chest. "Just no more surprise baths, okay? I prefer to take off my clothes before I get in the water. Especially if you'll be joining me." It had the desired effect, his youki spiking again, and she chuckled.
"I have a request."
She clicked her tongue. "You just yanked me away from a picnic and threw me in a spring. I don't know if you get any of those today."
His jaw clenched again, and he gave her a stiff nod. "You are correct. I have over already overstepped—"
"That was a joke."
"But—"
Kagome placed a finger against his lips. "First rule of courting me: communication. Just be honest. The worst that can happen is that I'll say no."
Another nod, his eyes searching before landing on her mouth. "May I kiss you?"
Her smile turned seductive. "I think I can manage that." She pulled him down before he could comprehend her answer, the warmth of the spring nothing compared to the heat that spread between them.
He tasted like freshly fallen snow, and the moan that escaped his lips had her up on the balls of her feet. He wanted more—Kagome could feel his hands shaking—but he pulled back, caging his instincts for another day.
Always the gentleman.
"So. What happens next? Aside from you actually being home when I visit?"
"I had business to attend to."
"Liar." The word was sharp, but the tone was teasing, blue eyes swirling with mischief. Then, an idea struck, and she flashed him a brilliant smile, her aura shining with hope and excitement. "Does this mean you'll be my date for Rin-chan's wedding?"