Coloring in the lines by soulNchantress

Layers of paint

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inuyasha or the characters, settings, or primise.  I am not making any profit from this work of fanfiction.

The Spectrum Challenge

Prompt: Orange

Kagome was in a raging rush.  She scrubbed harshly at her face with the damp cloth.  That’s what she got for trying to impress people, especially HIM.  He had told her time and time again, that she was endeared to him because she was herself.  Did she believe him….Nooooooo?  After washing until her skin felt raw, Kagome finally threw in the towel.  It was never going to come off.

Quick stepping back to her room she spotted the bedside clock.  Crap!  It was getting late.  She had an idea and prayed it was not too late.  She dashed to her nightstand and called Sesshomaru.  It rung two times and she heard his deep voice on the other end.  “Sessh, I don’t think I’m feeling too well.  Can we skip our date tonight?” She crossed her fingers and slammed her eyelids shut, begging and pleading to be granted her wish.

“If you are sick, this Sesshomaru will keep you company tonight,” came his reply.

Double crap!!  “Oh you don’t have to do that.  I’ll just stay at home and go to bed early.  Honestly, it’s alright, I’ll be fine.”  Kagome would have dropped to her knees if she didn’t already think she was praying as hard as she could.

“You shouldn’t be alone.  This one is on his way over as we speak.”

Triple crap!!  “O.K.,” she answered meekly.  Kagome bit her lip in frustration.  What to wear?  Ah-ha!  She snatched her long robe out of the closet knotting the sash as she raced to the bathroom again.  She found her facial mask ready to go.  Smearing the muck all over her face, she had a moment to feel sorry for her poor abused skin.  ‘Kami-sama, I know that, hopefully for good reason, you didn’t see fit to answer my prayer from before, but please, PLEASE, let this work.’ Kagome ran back to her room and pulled on a pair of socks.

Shortly thereafter, her doorbell rang.  Kagome raced to the door.  She stopped and calmed herself down, letting the long sleeves of the robe cover everything but her fingertips.  She took a deep breath through her nose, and opened the door.

The air left Kagome’s lungs.  He had that affect on her all the time.  There stood her demon lover, her soon-to-be mate, looking as if he just came down from Heaven, instead of across town.  He was dressed to kill, which he usually did on a regular basis anyway.  His eyes bore into her, they were smoldering.  Kagome shook her head mentally reminding herself to breath.

Sesshomaru stepped toward her, burying his face into the soft skin of her neck.  His gentle swipe of tongue caused Kagome’s knees to go week and desire to flare in her belly.  He pulled deeply of her scent and then stepped back.

Kagome was flattered.  Even looking the way she did, oversized robe, goop and all, he still wanted her.  She couldn’t believe her fortune.  Kagome shivered with delight.

Seeing his intended shiver, he once again stepped forward taking her hand and leading her to the living room.  His rubbed her back and slid his hand up to her neck.  He fiddled with the neck of the robe.

They sat on the sofa not saying a word, both lost in their own thoughts.  Finally, he broke the silence.  “You do not smell sick.  You do reek of chemicals.  I do have to wonder if it is a sickness I have never encountered before.”

“Ahhhh, no, I don’t think so.”  Kagome was doing some quick thinking.  “It may just be a twenty-four hour bug.  Nothing major,” she told him.

“I still think I should escort you to the doctors.  As your mate I am very worried about you.”

“No, that’s alright.  I’m ok, you said yourself that I didn’t smell ill.”

“That is not what alarms me so.” Sesshomaru glared at her.  She could be seriously ill, and she refused to let him aid her as he should.

Kagome was getting annoyed.  Everything seemed to be going fine with her ruse.  She just wanted to stay here and spend time with him.  He didn’t have to know about her problem.  “What’s got you so concerned?  I told you I was fine.” Noticing the bite to her questions she hastily added, “Dear.”

“It’s just that I have never seen that shade of garish orange on someone before.”

She paled and then she blushed in embarrassment.  Well, underneath the mask and her problem she was blushing.  She gave a regretful sigh.  It was time to come clean.  Pushing her embarrassment aside, she explained.  “I got this new self tanning lotion.  I thought it would make my skin look nice and tanned.  I thought you would like it.  Oh, but it went so horribly wrong.  I spilled a big glob on my arm.  I tried to remove it, but I ended up with a bright orange spot on my arm.  So I tried to blend it.  After many, many attempts to fix it.  I gave up.  I tried to wash it off, but it wouldn’t come.  I didn’t want you to be seen with me glowing like a neon sign, so I tried to cancel our date.”  She felt ashamed of herself.  It seemed like a grand idea at the time.  Right now she just felt like a child.

Sesshomaru laughed, he hardly ever laughed.  As much as she loved the sound of his laughter, she didn’t like it so much when it was at her expense.  The spark of indignation replaced the twinkle of tears in her eyes.  “It’s not funny, you jerk.  I thought you were being all loving when you were sniffing me, but it was just you being you.  Then, I have to confess something very humiliating to you.  And you laugh!”

His mirth still lighting his eyes he admitted it was funny.  He pulled her close and held her.  “That’s why I love you, Kagome.  You are yourself, and only a misfortune like that can befall someone like you.  I would not have you any other way.”

He kissed her and she wiped the gunk of her mask off of his face.  “I promise not to try to deceive you again.  I know you were probably only trying to look out for me when you thought I was sick.”

He nodded.  “I was.”

“Good. Now that we know I’m not really sick, would you like to cuddle and watch a movie with me?”

“That would be agreeable…..Pumpkin.”  Sesshomaru chuckled.