661AN: Hi friends! I know it's been forever and a day since I last updated this story. My profound apologies. I have every intention of finishing this story but I think I'm going to have to trim the chapters to make sure I can get things out faster. Writing longer chapters has become daunting and intimidating. Shorter chapters will be the new norm here.
If you're looking for more stories I've written, all my new stories are being posted to AO3 under the username: echohuntress . Come check me out & leave a comment telling me you're from FFN. I've gotten a lot of fun new fics that I most likely will not post here. I hope this little bit is enough to carry you over until the next update. Thank you for your patience! ~Echo.
CHAPTER 20: Awaken
Kagome snuggled into Sesshoumaru's chest as he flew them back home and purred at the bond that thrummed through her. Now that she was finally and completely mated to Sesshoumaru, there was an intimacy with the land that she had never felt before. It was as though everything reached for him to acknowledge him as they passed by. It was nearly overwhelming.
"What are you thinking about?" His soft words nudged her out of her thoughts.
"I feel your connection to the land." She wrapped her arms around his waist tighter. "It is so beautiful and unbelievable. How do you live with this?" How am I supposed to live with this?
Sesshoumaru squeezed her shoulder and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. "It is not the way you might think, mate. I was born of these lands. It is more of a symbiosis than a relationship of ward and caretaker. I assume it is the same way with the holy ones but on a smaller scale."
Kagome shrugged in his arms. "I wouldn't know. I didn't go through any formal training before I ended up in the past. I suppose you could say I learned the same way Inuyasha did. Out of necessity. Any training I received came after the jewel hunt and I ended up at the temple with Muri Mai, but my focus wasn't exactly on deepening my relationship with the land."
When he didn't say anything, Kagome tilted her head up. "Do you have any idea what happened with Nobuhiro? Why do you think he woke up now?"
Kagome was too short to see his eyes while she was tucked against his chest but she could clearly see the tension in his jaw. His hands were constantly smoothing over her back and arms, though she wasn't sure if he was comforting her or himself. She savored the fact that she was the only being he would allow to smooth their hand anywhere over his body but especially the surprisingly soft alabaster skin of his cheeks. Her fingers skimmed over a stripe and those gorgeous honey-colored eyes slid down to settle on her.
Sesshoumaru turned his head to kiss her palm that lay against his cheek and her heart stuttered and raced in the same breath.
"Normally, I am not one to speculate until I have more facts but I cannot help but wonder if it has something to do with our bond being completed and his proximity to Tenseiga at the time."
Kagome accepted his answer as a possibility and wondered how that would have affected Nobuhiro. The half-demon was so young, frozen in time - a sleeping beauty, waiting with hope and faith that his grandfather, Sesshoumaru would somehow figure out how to make it so he could live a full and long life. Sesshoumaru must have felt so much pressure over the years, not knowing how to solve the issue of the battling energies. He was a result-oriented demon and not being able to solve a problem for the last couple of centuries must have really crawled under his skin.
"Maybe Shippo or Nobuhiro will be able to tell us more when we get home." Sesshoumaru stiffened and his eyes locked onto hers. Kagome moved her head away from him. "What?"
His eyes glowed like the sun at midday and she felt the contentment in his youki. "You said 'when we get home'."
When it occurred to her what he was talking about, her cheeks turned pink but she didn't shy away from his gaze.
"I did."
His hands framed her face and Kagome's heart raced as he leaned down to kiss her. Once. Twice. Tasting. Worshiping. Loving.
He pulled away slowly and Kagome was astounded at the emotions he shared with her. Not only were they blazing in his eyes but his aura simmered around them and made her giddy with pleasure.
He smoothed one thumb over her bottom lip and kissed her reverently once more. "Is this what happiness feels like?"
Kagome gasped. She had never seen that expression on him before - innocent confusion laced with hope. She felt it in his aura and needed to respond.
"You mean the feeling you get when you finally realize that you finally have everything you've ever wanted?" She hoped Sesshoumaru could see and feel how happy she was at his side and in his arms.
"Yes. That and so much more."
~ S K ~