It's in His Kiss

Authors Note/Summary: I decided to do a little edit to this. Upon re-reading it, I decided that it could use a little more "ooomf" in certain areas, so I decided to go back and add some more description. I hope you like the slight change. Also, I thought perhaps I should give some insight to my frame of mind while writing this. This story is kind of meant to be a canon variation. All the events of the anime have taken place (Naraku is defeated, Sesshoumaru has two arms, etc). However, instead of Kagome ending up with Inuyasha, I left things a little more...open ended. I wanted the feeling to be that this occurs sometime after her return. Everyone's a little older, Kagome has blossomed and matured to a strong miko and she is now peacefully acclimated to life in the Feudal Era on her own. Life is good and she is content. Of course, Kagome being Kagome, she has inevitably formed relationships and a mutual respect with the people around her. Even those of the tall, silver haired and stoic variety. hehe ^_^

Enjoy!

...

Kagome sat in the tall grass of the field. The ground radiated warmth from the hot summer sun and the rhythmic chirping of the cicadas lulled the young miko into a lazy kind of tranquility. Leaning back on one hand she softly ran the other over the tops of the grass blooms. Slow moving clouds cast the occasional shadowy patch over the field. She watched them drift by and disappear over the tree line of the forest. She sat soaking in the serenity of the meadow, only half aware of the playful shouts and scampering noises of Shippo and Rin in the background. The children were currently playing a game called "Jungle Cat". It was a game in which one of them would hide in the tall grass and the other would do their best to sneak up and pounce, taking the victim by surprise. Of course, they often forgot to actually stalk each other and the game quickly turned into one of simply chasing each other around the field.

Butterflies flitted back and forth, settling on one patch of wild flowers before floating to another. Kagome watched one go by with half-hooded eyes and smiled peacefully before sitting up and stretching. She breathed in deeply. The scent of warm soil, perfumed flowers and wheaty grass cleared her mind of the haze that had settled over her on this lovely summer afternoon.

Sitting up fully she watched as a tall figure approached the rambunctious children. She wasn't alarmed by the appearance of this newcomer, for she knew the taiyoukai well. She had felt him on the opposite side of the field silently standing guard. Their youki and reiki hummed softly out into the forest warding off any creatures that might do their young charges harm.

Sesshoumaru's white silk clothing and long silver hair rustled in the soft breeze. He murmured lowly and she smiled in amusement as the youngsters immediately stopped what they were doing and ran over to his side. Their bright faces beamed up at him in admiration, eagerly awaiting his instructions.

She saw him point to Rin and then to a tall patch of grass and he conversely turned to Shippo, shuffling him off towards the forest. It seemed their previous stalking attempts had been found unsatisfactory by the stoic demon. They were now to receive proper training on hunting techniques. Kagome leaned forward with interest.

"Well this should be adorable." She thought gleefully to herself.

Rin quickly trotted off and disappeared into the grass. Once satisfied that she was properly hidden, Sesshoumaru turned to the young kit, who still waited eagerly at the edge of the forest. Kagome watched as he gracefully kneeled down and started giving instructions to her adopted son. Sesshoumaru would gesture and Shippo would crouch low into a hunting position. Sesshoumaru would murmur something and Shippo would sniff the air delicately a moment later. Although Kagome couldn't hear them, she knew her little kit was doing exactly what he was told, and it warmed her heart to see him emulating the older demon in such a way.

After the brief tutorial was over, the older demon gave a final nod signaling that Shippo may proceed with the hunt. The little fox darted off on all fours and leapt into the grass. Silence fell over the clearing as the two adults watched in anticipation.

A moment later there was a great rustling in the grass and a child-like war cry was heard. It was immediately followed by an excited girlish shriek before the two children came tumbling out in a flurry of fur, hair and laughter.

When the commotion ceased, it was Rin who stood victorious. She pinned the little fox demon to the ground.

"I win, Shippo-chan!" she chirped merrily before helping her playmate up off the ground.

Wiping at the grass stains that now adorned his hakama, a little pout overtook his features.

"Keh, I went easy on you because you're a girl."

Kagome laughed and walked over to the group, deciding it was time to throw in lesson of her own

"Now Shippo, that's just sour grapes. Don't you remember what I told you about good sportsmanship?" Her comment was reproachful, but mostly playful. It always amazed her that a little boy like him could carry such man-sized pride. She knew his words were mostly from embarrassment.

Shippo sighed. "Yes, momma. You said that what matters is that you do your best and you should congratulate the other person on a job well done."

"That's right. So isn't there something you want to say to Rin-chan?"

He turned bashfully to the little girl who still stood beaming at her victory.

"Good job Rin-chan. You really are good at tackling."

Rin gave him a toothy grin.

"Thank you Shippo-kun. You're really good at stalking! I didn't even hear you until you were already jumping at me!"

Shippo puffed up at her praise, his wounded pride now sufficiently assuaged.

"Well if you think that's good, than you should see me in action! Come on, I'll show you how it's done!"

And with that the two scampered off again, excited giggles trailing behind them.

Kagome glanced up at the taiyoukai standing next to her. His sharp eyes followed the children as they disappeared into the grass yet again. She smiled at the warmth in his gaze. He was obviously proud that his young ward had come out the winner in his little training exercise.

Looking back out at the field she sighed contentedly.

"Kids." She said, the one word acting as an all-purpose explanation for their antics.

"Hnn," was his singular reply.

He looked down at the small woman next to him. She really did have an interesting way of dealing with the children. Sesshoumaru often found himself befuddled by her unusual colloquialisms and moral lessons, but yet he found that they were always quite effective. For whatever reason, he could never quite help himself from inquiring about the meaning behind her strange phrases. Her most recent one was no exception.

"Sour grapes, miko?" He asked, his voice not completely hiding the curious amusement he felt.

"Huh?" She asked, momentarily forgetting what he was referring to. "Oh yeah! It's a well-known fable in my time."

Kagome turned and eagerly retold the story. "A hungry fox wanders down the road one day when he comes across a grapevine growing over a tall tree. Thinking he would make that his meal, he tries and he tries to reach the juicy grapes, only to fail at reaching them every single time. After trying so hard in vain, the fox finally gives up and says 'The grapes are sour and not as ripe as I wanted'. It's basically a lesson to show how foolish it is to disparage something just because you didn't get what you wanted. It's supposed to be a parable…but I think Shippo mainly likes it because there's a fox in it."

She smiled at him and dropped her hands down to her side. As she did so, her knuckles accidentally grazed the back of his hand. The brief contact sent a rush of warmth all over her body. Blushing, she quickly pulled her hand away and muttered an apology.

"S-Sorry. I didn't mean to bump you." She quickly looked up at the sky nonchalantly to mask her embarrassment.

Sesshoumaru smirked as he took in the flushed face of the little woman before him. She really was quite pretty when she blushed.

"Hnn." He said, looking back out at the field. "It is an interesting story, miko."

He continued to watch her from the corner of his eye and noted that she continued to avoid his gaze at all costs. A smile tilted the corner of his mouth as he continued.

"I agree that is foolish to disparage something one wants, but cannot attain."

He turned slightly to her, the movement catching her attention.

"However, there is something I disagree with."

She turned to face him fully, her curiosity overpowering her embarrassment.

As she turned, she couldn't help the small gasp that escaped her at what she saw. Outwardly he was as calm as ever, but beneath his golden eyes there was an intensity that she had never seen before. Her heart rate quickened to a giddy pace.

Trying desperately to collect her rapidly fraying wits, she stammered out a shaky response.

"Y-yes, Sesshoumaru-sama? What don't you agree with?"

Not saying a word, he slowly moved so that his knuckles grazed hers once more. Locked in each other's gaze he gently enveloped her slim fingers in his much larger ones. Her hand felt warm and delicate, like a little bird fluttering anxiously in his claws. Her stormy blue eyes glazed over in a sort of hypnotized disbelief. All she could see was gold fire and all she could feel was the warm roughness of his hand against hers.

She swallowed thickly and repeated her question in a dazed, breathless voice.

"W-what don't you agree with..."

He reached up and gently touched her face, brushing away a lock of silky hair.

"I believe," he said, his voice deep and rumbling. "That if at first you do not attain what you desire...you should never give up until it is yours."

Kagome's heart pounded furiously in her chest as he closed the distance between them. Her free hand came up to his chest, the gesture simultaneously keeping him away and begging him to come closer. He had not worn his armor that day, she noted distractedly. Jaken had taken it away to be polished. The absence allowed her to feel his body heat radiating through the thick layers of silk.

He was now only inches away, his breath ghosting over her lips in a teasing caress. She felt a thrill wash over her as he whispered her name.

"Kagome..."

In the space of a heartbeat, his warm mouth was pressed passionately against hers.

Kagome's eyes fluttered blissfully before closing shut. His lips were surprisingly soft, but they were firm and confident in the way they moved against hers. He gently coaxed her mouth open and their tongues brushed instinctually. Kagome let out a soft sigh at the sensation. He tasted clean and he smelled oh so good. She couldn't quite place what it was, but it was lovely…like the woods and something deeper like vanilla. Her small hand fisted into his haori and his grip tightened on her waist. The palm that had previously held her hand had moved to the small of her back, drawing their bodies even closer together.

Sesshoumaru marveled at how small she felt pressed up against him. Her newly freed hand found its way up his neck and brushed against his earlobe softly. He tensed at the gentle caress, the urgency to be near her burning through him all the more. Her lips, her body, her everything was supple and yielding and her smell invaded his senses. She always smelled nice…but now, at this proximity it became even richer and went through him in a rush. He never knew a woman could be so soft or smell so good. It made him at once hazy and yet strangely hyper-aware of every sound and every move she made. He felt completely enveloped by her.

As the kiss lingered, they lost themselves to it. Sesshoumaru took things slowly, not wanting to rush her despite the heat radiating between them. Kagome was not so patient. She used her grip on his haori to pull him forward and deepen the kiss. Sesshoumaru's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but soon slipped back down in amused contentment.

Smiling through their kisses, he decided it was time to stop before they got too carried away. His acute hearing had picked up the excited approach of their two wards clamoring through the underbrush. He knew they would be back momentarily.

He pulled apart from her, noticing with no small about of satisfaction the slightly pouting and disoriented look on her face. Clearly she had not wanted things to end quite so soon.

Kagome looked up languidly into his eyes before blinking and bringing her hand up to her swollen lips. An expression of wide-eyed awe passed over her, as she slowly began to comprehend what had just happened between them.

As she stood there gawking, Kagome was startled to attention by the excited squeals of Shippo and Rin.

"Kagome, Kagome! Look what we found!"

Shippo grinned widely and held up a very fat, very disgruntled bullfrog for her inspection. The saggy creature gave a dispassionate croak, clearly not pleased with being put on display.

Kagome pressed her hands to her cheeks and smoothed her hair in an effort to collect herself. She could still feel how hot her face was.

Her voice cracked as she said "That's very nice, Shippo."

She coughed and valiantly tried to act natural.

"Nope, I did not just make out with the Lord of the West. No siree Bob, not me!" A nervous titter escaped her lips as she looked at the sky, the ground…anything but the taiyoukai standing next to her.

Sesshoumaru's mouth quirked up at the corners. Artifice was definitely not her strong suit.

Luckily for her, Shippo was too engrossed in his new pet to even notice that his mother-figure was acting strangely. Rin, on the other hand, smiled knowingly at the exchange between the two adults.

She skipped over to her lord's side and gently took his hand. Pulling him down so she could talk to him, he quietly complied.

When he was at her level, she cupped a hand over his elvin ear and whispered happily.

"Congratulations, Sesshoumaru-sama."

His eyes widened in surprise before raising an elegant silver eyebrow in her direction. Insightful little thing.

He straightened and placed a fatherly hand on her head before she scampered off with Shippo to see how high their frog could jump.

Glancing over to the flustered miko, he smirked to see her still disassembling even though the children were long gone. He walked to her in graceful strides and took her hand, pulling her to his side. All her nervous action stilled as he placed a proprietary arm around her shoulder and held her close. Looking up, she saw that he carried an expression of contentment, if not a little smugness on his face.

Her eyebrow quirked up in exasperation.

"Oh, he is going to be impossible to live with now." She sighed. But, she supposed there was no use fighting it. He had her number and he had it good.

Soon all the lingering confusion and shyness drained from her as she rested her head against his shoulder and watched their children play.

After all, any questions she might have had about what had just happened, what would happen, or what it all meant had already been answered. They had been answered in his kiss.

The End

Author's note: Thank you so much for reading. This is my first fanfic, so please be kind. That being said, I appreciate constructive criticism (how else do we learn, ne?). I don't have a beta, so if you see and typos of inconsistencies let me know. ^^;; Anyhoo, thank you again and I hope you enjoyed it!

The End