Prompt: "Can you help me of not?"
She shuffles her feet and bites down on her lip. Her nervous fingers are worrying the neckline of her kimono. But her eyes stay steady on his, pleading in a way that makes even his withered heart teeter.
“Can you help me or not?”
Sesshoumaru’s bites back a sigh. He’s not a benevolent creature and has no interest in seeking out human settlements. But the request is innocuous enough and disgruntling as it is to admit, he’s not sure he can deny her anything as long as she keeps levelling such a stare on him.
Sesshoumaru scowls at her. “I suppose if there is no one else available, this Sesshoumaru could escort you to Lake Biwa.”
He does agree with his foolish half-brother in this regard, at least. To let the miko travel such a distance alone would be sheer insanity and, on the miko’s behalf, courting a certain death.
So he might very well take it upon himself, this one time, to keep the miko safe. As far as humans go, the miko’s company is one he can tolerate. Besides, after travelling with Rin, he is quite adept at tuning out ceaseless chatter.
The miko’s smile is brilliant. She rushes to him, breathless, and bestows him an exuberant embrace, not very different from those he once used to receive from little Rin.
“Thank you!” she cries, squeezing him tight.
And in that moment, contaminated by the joy radiating off the miko, Sesshoumaru thinks he might even enjoy the trip.