The Merry and the Miffed by Stella Mira
Pretty Please?
December 2013 Challenge: Snowflakes
Word Count: 700
Kagome could feel Sesshōmaru's yōki around the outskirts of the village, but finding him amidst the snowy whiteness that blanketed everything proved to be quite a task. If he had not spoken to her when he did, she feared she might never have found him on her own.
"Did you find a suitable female, miko?" His rich baritone echoed in the chilly atmosphere, making his presence known, and Kagome barely refrained from murmuring her gratitude at him. She turned towards the direction of the voice, only to be stunned at the sight he presented.
No wonder I couldn't find him, the miko mused with grudging awe. Snowflakes were woven in his silver tresses, tinting his silky hair with a lucent sheen, and accentuating his otherworldly beauty to the point where she had to shield her eyes – or risk going blind at the perfect male visage.
"No. I haven't started looking yet, but that's not what I wanted to talk about," she uttered carefully, trying not to stare too much as she contemplated the best way to phrase their predicament.
"We have a problem, Sesshōmaru. Rin-chan doesn't want to stay in the village," Kagome blurted after a few seconds, opting for blunt sincerity.
"Rin is free to do as she pleases. If she wishes to continue her travels with this Sesshōmaru then so be it," Sesshōmaru replied without batting an eyelash at the news, and Kagome wanted to strangle him for his indifference.
"She's not an adult, Sesshōmaru. You can't expect her to make such decisions," she tried to persuade him to see reason, swallowing her rising anger.
"Do you have a better proposal then?" he surprised her by asking, causing a small smile to appear on her face.
"Why don't you stay here for now and celebrate Christmas with us? Rin-chan can get used to being around humans that way and maybe change her mind in time," she offered with a pensive expression, perusing him through half-lidded eyes.
"Are you asking this Sesshōmaru to stay in a human village?" the daiyōkai asked for clarification despite having heard her perfectly well.
"Do you have a prior obligation that requires your attention? And please don't use your antipathy for humans as an excuse again," Kagome queried, voice mellow and soft.
"You are not being volatile," he remarked when he took note of the softness in her voice, golden eyes regarding her closely.
"You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar," Kagome supplied, amused by the curious glint in his gaze.
"I do not see how flying insects are relevant," Sesshōmaru commented with a slight frown, taking her words literally.
"Let's just say that I have my moments, alright? Enjoy it while it lasts," the miko joked good-naturedly, giving in to bubbling laughter.
"And, no, I'm not being sarcastic. I'm practically begging you here…" she added between laughs when he stiffened.
"What is this Christmas you keep mentioning?" the daiyōkai demanded to know after he caught the verity in her claim, realizing she was not antagonizing him this time.
"It's just an annual holiday. The actual date is in two weeks from now," Kagome explained curtly, certain he would not care for details either way.
"Please?" she inclined her head in a small – yet respectful – bow.
"Why would you lower your head to a person you surely dislike for a child you barely know, miko?" the inuyōkai asked, baffled. His voice was tinged in genuine intrigue as he posed the question.
"Firstly, I don't dislike you, Sesshōmaru; you just don't make it easy to like you. Secondly, I have a soft spot for children. I guess we have that in common, don't we?" Kagome explained, a mischievous grin curving the corners of her lips, watching with fascination as his eyes widened for the merest second before he assumed a stoic façade.
"I warned you against making comparisons, miko," Sesshōmaru admonished, but she could tell there was no real vice behind the words this time.
"Thank you, Sesshōmaru," she flashed him with a warm smile, understanding he had just silently agreed to her request without voicing his approval.
You're not that bad, Sesshōmaru. All bark and no bite, after all… just like Inuyasha.