Author's musings: Thank you so much for your support on this story! I didn't expect the idea to take off as much as it did.

Inspiration: "Locked Away" by R. City feat. Adam Levine

Locked Away 03

Humans were an annoyance.

By themselves they were irrelevant insects to be squashed when they got in his way. But like all pests, they grew in substantial numbers, forcing demons like himself into hiding as they plagued the earth with their greed and fear.

And yet there were exceptions.

Rin had been one. The first. He supposed the male slayer had been the second, though that had been mostly due to duty and Rin's attachment. Their descendants had been next, but for the same reasons as before. He'd protected them with his life but felt no more connection to them than Kohaku. Perhaps he should've spent more time with them.

There hadn't been a human he'd chosen to be an exception since Rin. Humans were trivial creatures, a blemish on his existence due to their shortened lifespans. He didn't go out of his way to dispose of them anymore, though intimidation was still something he enjoyed in his current position. There was something about the scent of fear—fear caused by him—that didn't burn his nostrils like the rest of the modern-day pollution.

And then there was Kagome.

Kagome.

Even the whisper of her name inside his head sent heat scorching through his veins. Her existence should've been inconsequential—insignificant to his own. And yet here she was, on the other side of time, invading his space—his sanity—and for some reason he was relishing every minute of it.

She was like a drug. An addiction. He would seek her out just to bask in her presence, to feel her near, and every cell in his body cried out for the comfort she brought him. It wasn't just about the easing of his claustrophobia anymore, he wanted her. Just for her. She blinded his senses, made him indulge in useless human traditions and fantasies just to bring a smile to her face.

Like the ring that had been burning a hole in his pocket for the last several months.

Dragging a hand down his face, Sesshoumaru glanced out the glass wall behind him. The sky was littered with clouds, the normally clear horizon speckled with white fluff. He'd been putting off asking her for long enough, though that was because he'd been forced to do research about this particular tradition.

The ways of youkai were so much simpler. There were no overproduced ceremonies with family, friends, and other random onlookers bearing witness to their union. It was a personal matter, done within the confines of their bedroom, away from prying eyes. The bride was presented before or after, but there was never a during. And the guests were certainly not given the chance to voice their opinions on the union while it was happening.

He rose from his chair, emails forgotten on his computer as he walked towards the edges of his glass cage. The wind was chasing the clouds, pushing them closer together while stretching them apart at the same time, sunlight poking through any holes it could find. It wasn't supposed to fully cloud over until tomorrow, but the colourless whisps were like magnets, seeking out each other in the pale blue horizon.

It reminded him of the last time they'd visited their hideaway, and how the world had turned upside-down, the reflection of the cloudy sky unobstructed in the waters below. Kagome hadn't been able to tell which way was up and goosebumps broke out over Sesshoumaru's flesh as the memory of her gripping his fur ghosted over his skin.

It had been an interesting year.

"Do you have plans for tonight?"

Kagome sighed and looked up from her phone. Why did everyone seem to interrupt her on her break?

"I do, actually."

"Anything fun?" Tsubasa wiggled her eyebrows at her and Kagome laughed.

"Maybe. I still have to reschedule some meetings for next month, but that can always wait until Monday. No overtime for me today!"

Sesshoumaru hadn't told her what they were doing but he'd hinted that it was something special. He wasn't usually so secretive, and Kagome was actually enjoying it. It wasn't his typical I'm-better-than-you-and-will-only-give-you-information-when-necessary, he actually seemed nervous about something. Kagome found it endearing.

"Must be nice to not have to worry about your job when you're screwing the boss."

Both women locked eyes, an exasperated look passing between them before they turned to the voice.

"What crawled up your ass today, Mei?" Tsubasa asked, folding her arms over her chest.

The panther youkai glared at them as she stuffed the rest of a manju into her mouth. "Some of us actually have to work instead of daydreaming."

"Still bitter about getting yelled at for the system crash, Mei?" Kagome smirked at her, returning to her phone and sending a quick text.

"It wasn't my fault! There was something wrong with your code!"

"The error wasn't what caused the crash and you know it," Tsubasa said, coming to Kagome's defence.

"And even if I was dating him, that wouldn't save me from getting fired. Mr. Boss Man doesn't care what his relationship with anyone is. You either do your job well, or you hit the bricks."

Malice swirled in Mei's eyes, turning her usual emerald gaze a murky, swamp green. "Explain the sudden promotion you got last year then."

"Mr. Taisho wanted to be more approachable, especially with the human board members." Kagome gave her a bored look, resting her chin in her palm. "And if you remember, Tsubasa was doing the same thing before me. Are you saying he was sleeping with her too?"

"I wish," Tsubasa muttered under her breath, then winked at Kagome when she gave her a surprised look. "What can I say? When he's not breathing down my neck, he's nice to look at. I wouldn't be able to put up with his personality on a regular basis though."

Kagome laughed again. Tsubasa definitely had a type when it came to her men, and easy on the eyes was at the top of her list. She usually preferred them a little on the stupid side though, Tsubasa liked being the dominant force in the relationship.

Mei slammed her hand down on the table, forcing their attention back on her. "You're the first and only human he's ever hired here. Why else would he be keeping you around if you weren't fucking him?"

"Maybe because I'm actually good at my job and the company's efficiency has increased since I got here? You should try it sometime Mei, there's nothing stopping him from firing you the next time you mess up. Be thankful that all you got was a written warning in your employee file."

Kagome's phone dinged, singling the end of her break and she pushed her chair back, the legs scraping against the floor in the silence that followed.

"You can't talk to me like that!"

"What I do on my break is my business."

Mei grabbed Kagome's wrist, claws breaking through the panther's glamour and biting into her skin.

"Let. Go." Kagome held her reiki in check, but her words dripped with venom. The two women glared at each other, the air stagnant and steeped with tension. Mei seemed to reassess her position, glancing quickly at Tsubasa before releasing Kagome's wrist.

"It's not worth having to wash the human stank out of my clothes later," she sneered.

"Whatever you need to tell yourself to help you sleep at night," Kagome retorted, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she walked away. She could fry the bitch in an instant, but then Seshoumaru would have to deal with the fallout. And the paperwork.

She stopped at the doorway, smirking as she looked at Mei over her shoulder. "And I'd be careful the next time you threaten the boss's girlfriend. That will get you fired."

Tsubasa's outraged squawk followed her out of the breakroom. "I KNEW IT!"

Kagome knocked softly on Sesshoumaru's door an hour later. He didn't answer, but she felt his youki brush against her skin, and she took that as permission to enter. Tablet in hand, she walked up to his desk, leaning against it with her hip.

"You know, if you frown that much, your face will get stuck that way."

His scowl only deepened as he met her gaze, then returned it to the screen in front of him. "The fault would fall on those too incompetent to realize there is a difference between the reply and the reply all button."

Kagome snorted. "That's been happening since the invention of email, so don't get your hopes up that it's going to stop anytime soon."

"Hnn."

Placing her tablet on his desk, she reached out and grabbed his wrist, her fingers outlining the face of his watch. Her reiki slid over the glass face, before sinking into the expensive metal, causing the numbers to glow. They'd been testing out various ways to help him with his claustrophobia and infusing her reiki into the object in charge of his glamour seemed to help the most.

However, she had to replenish the reiki depending on how often he used the elevator. And he could still only handle a few floors by himself. His morning and afternoon commute still included her riding with him every day.

Her thumbs absently stroked his skin, tracing magenta stripes that weren't there. Hearing the sudden hitch in his breath, she couldn't help the feminine smile that tugged at her lips. She liked having that effect on him.

"If you continue, I will not be responsible for my actions."

"Fraternizing with employees is against the rules."

Sesshoumaru turned in his chair, grabbing the back of her legs and forcing her to sit on the edge of his desk. He slid his hand up the back of her bare calves, his fingers teasing her flesh as his knees settled between hers.

"That is your rule, not mine. You have this strange objection to our relationship during work hours."

They'd been dating a year, but Kagome still felt her cheeks heat up and she tried to push her skirt down even though it hadn't ridden up at all.

"I don't want people thinking that I only have this job because I slept with you."

"They may think what they want, it matters not to me. Rumours will spread regardless." His fingers teased the edge of her skirt, and she bit her lip, trying to focus on their conversation instead of his wandering hands.

Sesshoumaru stood up, wrestling her bottom lip away from her teeth and claiming it for himself. His hands were on either side of her thighs now, but he remained standing between her knees, eliciting a soft moan from her as his tongue teased hers.

Taking a moment for herself, she grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him closer as her thighs clenched against his, her feet wrapping around his legs. She revelled in everything that was him—his scent, his touch, his taste. It was addicting and she could never get enough of it.

But this wasn't the place and she reluctantly pulled back, her grip on his shirt not allowing him to chase her.

"We're not supposed to kiss at work."

"You stated that you would not allow yourself to kiss me. There was nothing in your absurd list of rules about me kissing you."

Kagome opened her mouth to argue but all that came out was a giggle. He was right. She tried to glare at him, but her eyes were filled with mirth.

"Don't look so smug about it, you bastard."

"I will look anyway I please. Besides," he smirked, leaning in to slide his tongue along her ear. "You are fond of the way I look."

"I declined to comment, as anything I say will incriminate myself and therefore go against Article 38 of the Japanese Constitution."

"Devious wench." His words were almost unintelligible through his chuckle, and he finally returned to his chair, leaning back enough for her to scoot off his desk. Brushing herself off, she flashed him a smile before reaching for the tablet, only to be interrupted by his hand on hers.

"Are we still on for tonight?" He brought her fingers to his mouth, blunt teeth grazing over her skin. The sensation sent shivers shooting up Kagome's spine. How was he able to turn a simple, mundane action into something so much more predatory? She could almost feel the sting of his fangs against her fingertips.

"Yes," she said, cursing herself at how breathy her voice sounded. And for how his eyes gleamed at her after the fact.

"Careful Kagome, if you continue to act like that in my presence, people will start to suspect your bravado about me only being your boss to be false."

She snatched her hand away from him and grabbed the tablet, managing not to stoop to his level of childish remarks by sticking her tongue out at him. She raised her nose at him before heading towards his office door, only pausing slightly as she opened it.

"Oh, about that, I might have outed us to a couple employees earlier."

His reaction was instantaneous, incensed youki bursting from him as he gave her an incredulous look. "Then why did you stop me—"

"Lots of work to do, so busy, bye!" She sashayed out of his office, biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing. Especially with the sound of his curses trailing after her.

The gods were laughing at him.

Or perhaps it was his father.

Either way, Sesshoumaru cursed them both as he and Kagome finally made their way inside his house, water dripping from their clothes onto the hardwood floor.

"Well, that was unexpected."

"Hnn."

"I'm going to take a shower, care to join me?" Mischief danced in her eyes as she wiggled her eyebrows at him.

"I will precure us dinner while you are bathing."

A delightful pout broke out onto her face before turning into a smile and she placed a kiss on the underside of his jaw. "Don't worry about tonight, we can always go out another time." She started pulling pins out of her hair as she made her way down the hall to his master bedroom, her stilettos clicking against the floor.

Her words only made Sesshoumaru's scowl deepen, his teeth grinding against each other as he followed her, pulling off his own clothing as he went. Dropping his dress shirt and slacks in a bin, he changed into a vibrant blue kimono, tying it loosely at his waist before making his way into the living room and slumping on the couch.

He meant to pull out his phone to order them some takeout, but the small ring box ended up in his fingers instead. He stared at it, not bothering to open it, having memorized the angles and intricacies of the diamonds before even purchasing it. The combination of the white solitaire and smaller rose-coloured ones adorning the bands on either side had caught his attention the instant he'd laid eyes on it. He'd scored through hundreds of designs before resigning to the fact what he was looking for would not be found in any store.

After selecting the perfect stones, he'd designed the ring himself.

It reminded him of her reiki; pink along the edges but colourless in the centre where her purity was the strongest. He wanted to see the look on her face when she saw it, when he presented it to her. Would she understand the significance? Or would he have to explain it to her, watching as that charming blush darkened her cheeks.

He'd even dressed to match tonight, the pale pink of his dress shirt contrasting nicely against his dark slacks. The plum blossom clip was still attached to his tie, a gift from Kagome after they'd been together for six months. Humans always measured time in such small increments.

His plan had been perfect. He'd made reservations at Towers inside the Ritz-Carlton, a place known for their calm atmosphere and spectacular view of the city skyline. He'd wanted to whisk them away to where it had begun—where they had begun—and hadn't bothered with a car, not wanting to have to worry about backtracking to it after the fact.

They'd returned to the sanctuary on almost a weekly basis since she'd brought him there initially. And each time his addiction for her grew. By the end of the first month, they'd explored every inch of each other's bodies. By the end of the second, they'd stopped wearing clothes altogether.

Kagome wasn't human, she was a goddess. A temptress. Pulling him in with every flick of her hair and sway of her hips. He'd known it from the first moment she'd pulled herself out of the water and the sun had illuminated her skin.

He'd assumed, from the way she'd reacted to anyone making comments about her lack of dress as a teen, that modesty was something she came by naturally, perhaps a human trait in general. Youkai were much more relaxed about nudity; it was one step closer to their true forms without transforming.

Imagine his surprise, after stripping off his kimono and diving into the water, when she'd immediately started peeling off her bathing suit.

"Well, if you're not going to wear clothes, then I don't see why I should."

She'd then had the audacity to claim she wanted to sunbathe and wouldn't be joining him in the water. Her delightful squeal when he'd thrown her in the water himself still managed to bring a smile to his face when he thought of it.

He'd wanted to experience that heady scent of her happiness again. A fancy dinner before stealing her away to their private oasis where he could get this silly human tradition over with. Where he could claim her all over again, on a more permanent basis.

But Mother Nature had had a different idea.

They'd had time before their reservation and had decided to window shop. The clouds, that had been slowly accumulating during the day, had chosen that moment to unleash their fury, drenching them in the process. Their hair had been plastered to their heads, makeup running down Kagome's face as they'd tried to find shelter.

Kagome had found the entire fiasco hilarious and had still been laughing when they'd climbed into the cab, having decided that there was no way to change and return to the restaurant in time for their reservation.

Sesshoumaru was still livid.

He thumbed the front of the box, his glamoured eyes unseeing as it moved between his fingers. This was why he didn't bother with human traditions. They all involved time and planning and nonsense. Humans didn't rely on instincts anymore; youkai were much more straightforward with their courtships.

There was no need for lavish displays of affection, muddied by shallow words and cheap tricks. Their scents alone dispelled any malintent, so there was no room for dishonesty. The lavish displays were meant for after, and even then, it was meant more for each other than anyone else. The gifts a youkai pair would give each other could be used to show off their wealth, but the most influential youkai—and the court—dealt in power, not trinkets. Jewels and silks were nothing if there were no skills to back it up.

And Sesshoumaru found he wasn't worried about his skills. Not with her. She was powerful in her own right, especially after she'd had the chance to hone them without the threat of Naraku nipping at her heels. He'd seen how much she'd improved—watched her lithe body move in time with his own as they sparred. He often wondered why the rest of her pack hadn't offered to train her in other areas in the past. And why she'd pigeonholed herself into only using a bow.

He heard the shower shut off and quickly returned the box in his pocket, his youki still curling around him in agitation at the loss of the night. How was he to salvage it? Perhaps the rain would let up and they could still make it to their hideaway. Casting a glance out the nearest window gave him the indication that it was unlikely.

Soft footfalls signalled her entrance into the room but he was unable to look at her as an unfamiliar feeling—something akin to shame—crept up his spine.

"So, what are we having?"

A frown creased his brow and he tried to place her question. She moved closer, laying a hand on his shoulder before cupping his jaw, tilting his head up.

"Hey… It's alright, we can always make another reservation, it's not that big a deal. You know the location means nothing to me."

Leave it to Kagome to try and place the blame on herself. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed as his jaw clenched. Her lips curved up into a mischievous grin.

"Besides, I always think I look better in your clothes anyway." She took a step back and did a quick twirl, showing off the oversized dress shirt she'd put on. A small towel was draped over her shoulders to catch the water dripping off the ends of her still damp hair. Her pale skin glistened in the soft lighting, the shirt barely reaching her thighs.

Normally, he would appreciate the sight, exceedingly so. She had a strange fascination with wearing his clothes, especially with how quickly he sought to get her out of them, but he couldn't give her more than a passing glance, his still human eyes focusing on the floor once more.

He felt her concern before he saw it on her face, Kagome kneeling in front of him and placing her hands on his lap.

"What's wrong? We've missed dinner dates before." Her fingers softly stroked his knees as she looked up at him. "We can always—"

"Tonight was important."

She cocked her head to the side, confusion evident on her freshly washed features.

"Oh? Did I miss something? I didn't forget an anniversary, did I?" If it had been any other night, he would've been amused at her suddenly panicked state. There was a reason why her cubicle was covered in post-it notes, even when she had the company tablet at her disposal.

"I'm so sorry, what's the date today? Is it—"

"It is nothing you have forgotten, Kagome," he said, finally reaching out to cover her hands in his. "I had… I had plans for tonight."

She sighed in relief, automatically lacing their fingers together. "You could've let me in on that little tidbit before I embarrassed myself."

"Hnn."

Tucking her feet underneath her, she propped herself up a little higher. "So, what were these plans? You don't normally like surprises."

His jaw clenched again, and he looked away, unable to meet her gaze. "Normally I find them superfluous, but in this instance, it was a requirement."

"Well, now you have to tell me. You know I'll bug you until you do." That cheeky grin was on her face again—he didn't have to be looking at her, he could hear the playfulness in her tone. He fought a sigh as he leaned back on the couch, pulling his hand away from hers to run it through his still dark hair.

"Come on Sesshoumaru, it couldn't have been that important. If it was something secretive, you would've told me last weekend, not waited until we were out in public at a restaurant. I mean, it is you we're talking about."

Impatience and ire muddied her scent as she got to her feet. Using the towel to squeeze out the remaining drops of water from her hair.

"Plus you know you can tell me anything, we kind of established that before."

Her agitation was building up his own. What had been the point of all his research—of speaking to her mother—when none of his carefully laid plans had worked out? This was why he didn't bother with human traditions. They were frivolous and pointless.

Forcing himself to admit defeat, he pulled the small box out of his pocket and placed it in her hands. He watched her face intently, waiting for the inevitable outburst of her telling him he'd done it wrong.

That he'd failed.

A silence descended over them as she stared at the box in her palm, her blue eyes wide with surprise.

"Is this…?"

He scowled at her. "I will never understand the human need for public declarations of commitment, but apparently it is a necessity for this particular custom."

"Sesshoumaru, you—"

"I can understand your disappointment, this was not how I planned on giving it to you."

"Sesshoumaru."

"You are welcome to refuse, I would—"

"Sesshoumaru."

He blinked, startled by the exasperation in her voice. He finally looked up at her, expecting stormy indigo to be staring back at him, but finding fierce sapphire instead. His brow creased further when she straddled his lap, the box falling onto the couch as she cupped his face, pulling him into a deep kiss.

His hands grabbed her outer thighs before sliding under the hem of his shirt, his thumbs teasing her bare skin. He revelled in the feel of her body even as confusion warred in his mind, moaning softly when her tongue slipped into his mouth.

She stroked his cheeks, tracing the stripes hidden by his glamour as she pressed herself against him more, the thin layers of his shirt and kimono suddenly feeling heavy and intrusive. And then, much too soon for his liking, she was pulling away, her head shaking.

"You're so stupid."

He bristled, her words hitting him like ice water. No one had dared to insult his intelligence—no one who valued their life anyway—and he certainly wouldn't accept it in this instance. Not after all the planning that had gone into this night.

"I fail to see how—"

Kagome placed a finger to his lips, effectively silencing him before touching her forehead to his. "Stop talking before you jump to any conclusions that will make me mad at you for real."

The sugar-coated citrus of her scent assured him that she was in fact still happy with him, so he bit his tongue, waiting for her to continue. His fingers remained on her thighs, and he forced himself to take a calming breath, suddenly realizing that his shirt was the only thing she had on.

Her lips brushed against his again before she finally sat back in his lap, her hands still on his face. "I'm going to try to stop kissing you so I can get this all out, but I make no promises." Glee danced in her eyes, but the expression on her face was soft and adoring.

"You're so sweet for planning this out, and I won't tell anyone that you clearly researched typical human proposals, but I don't need all this."

"Is it not normal for you to—"

She kissed him again. "No talking, remember?"

He pursed his lips, his confusion mounting and mingling with his ire at being silenced by a human female—and allowing it.

"When have I ever been normal, Sesshoumaru? I fell down a well at 15 and went back in time. Then I got into a fight with a demon, who tried to kill me and my friends on multiple occasions, only to find him over 500 years later and fall in love with his pompous ass. I don't know about you, but that screams asylum, not normal."

Sesshoumaru didn't know whether to feel pride, shame, or insulted. He was also finding it difficult not to return the grin that she was trying so hard to suppress.

"Were you actually planning on asking me in the middle of a crowded restaurant?"

"Of course not. We would have gone to the hideaway after."

This time, when her lips found his, he was prepared. His hands slid under his shirt and up her back, firmly pulling her against him as he savoured her taste. He still wasn't sure why he was being rewarded for being unsuccessful, but his level of caring lessened every time her tongue touched his.

She hummed against his mouth, and he felt her reluctance when she pulled back again. "Okay, needing to focus." She leaned back a little more, putting space between them and effectively cooling the heat between their bodies.

"Again, I love that you went to all that trouble, but I don't need it. All I need is you." She poked his nose for emphasis. "I wouldn't be opposed to the whole get-down-on-one-knee part, but just ask me. That's all I need."

Ah.

He'd spent so much time trying to make the night perfect in human standards, that he'd forgotten that the only person he needed to impress was her. Perhaps her earlier assessment of his intelligence had some merit.

Shifting slightly, he pushed at her hips, motioning for her to stand up before retrieving the ring box from the creases of the couch. She took a few steps back to give him room and he moved to kneel in front of her.

"Wait!" She grabbed his wrist, stopping the movement before pulling at his watch. "I'm not about to miss out on the Lord of the West on his knees in front of me."

"I have done it before."

Kagome had the decency to blush before smacking his arm. "Perv. You know what I mean."

"Hnn." He unclasped his watch and it dropped to the floor, the familiar sensation of youki pulsing around them as he was returned to his inhuman state. Moonlight tresses cascaded down his back as he knelt once more, holding the box out to her.

"Miko, Kagome, before I met you, I never knew what it was like to look at someone and smile for no reason. Will you do me the honour of becoming my mate? A partner in this life and the next, one who will stand beside me against any strife we may encounter, while continuing to cherish and support each other through dignity, integrity, and love?"

The scent of salt hit his nose and he took in her trembling shoulders and tear-filled eyes.

"Did I get it wrong…?"

She waved her hands in front of herself. "No no no! That was perfect. You're perfect."

"I take it that your answer is yes, then?"

Kagome nodded, choked laughter bubbling out of her. "Yes! A million times yes!"

He hadn't realized how tense he was until her affirmation finally hit his ears, his muscles relaxing as he gazed up at the woman who he would spend the rest of his existence with.

"Can you open the box so I can actually see the ring?"

Muttering several curses under his breath, he acquiesced, plucking it out of its cushioned holder and sliding it onto her finger. Her gasp stopped any further thoughts of humiliation as she inspected the new addition to her hand.

"Sesshoumaru…" she breathed, softly touching the pink gems that curled around the diamond in the centre, "It's stunning. Where did you find this?"

"It was custom-made, nothing else I found suited you." He slowly rose to his feet, one arm snaking around her waist to pull her against him, unable to stand the distance between them any longer.

"Of course it is." She shook her head, then tugged on a lock of his hair, bringing his head down so she could brush a kiss across the stripe on his cheek. "Thank you, I love it."

"Naturally."

She laughed as she pinched him, then went back to looking at the ring. Even in the soft glow of the lamp light, the jewels sparkled, specks of light gliding over her face, making her eyes glow as continued to stare at it.

He watched as the emotions on her face fluctuated, her aura buzzing like an exuberant child. The grip on his hair had lessened but he didn't pull back, instead burying his face into the crook of her neck. Inhaling deeply, he allowed her scent to permeate his lungs; it was intoxicating as it had always been, but somehow seemed more potent now that she had agreed to be his.

Mine.

"How long have you had this?"

He stilled, heat creeping into his face at the realization that his answer may not be appropriate, but unable to lie to her all the same. He dragged himself away from the lure of her skin, trying to keep his features as impassive as possible.

"I procured it after our trip to Kyoto to visit the kit."

She froze in his arms; blue eyes wide as her head whipped around. "W-What? But that was months ago!"

The colour in his cheeks darkened. "Indeed."

Kagome's breath hitched in her throat, and he watched as her own face turned a bright crimson, her earlier excitement being muddied by embarrassment and guilt. Gnawing on her bottom lip, she suddenly found the creases in his kimono very interesting.

"I-I…" She picked imaginary fluff from his clothes. "I didn't think you were that serious…"

Citrine eyes stared down at her, his pupils constricting in surprise. "Have I ever given you any indication that I did not hold you in the highest regard?"

Her blush only deepened, though the scent of her embarrassment shifted to something lighter.

"No, but…" Her lower lip found its way between her teeth again. "Well, there was the whole 'All humans are beneath me' thing originally and I've always wondered if this was just you needing someone who knew you, so you didn't have to pretend as much."

He raised a disbelieving eyebrow at her, and she groaned, burying her face into his chest.

"Ugh, just ignore me, sometimes I forget I'm not a teenager with self-esteem issues anymore."

He would've laughed if not for the multiple times he had observed said issues surfacing during her stint with his brother. He kissed her temple, claws running through her dark hair in a soothing caress.

"Kagome, you have borne witness to me at my weakest and let it pass without judgement. Most creatures would have taken such information and used it to exploit me or increase their standings. Yet you only sought to heal. You were the one to discern the initial cause of my condition and the one to discover ways to counter it. Who else could I possibly want?"

A choked sob was muffled by his kimono before she looked up at him with a watery smile.

"Well, when you put it that way…"

"I will put it any way you wish in order to keep you from changing your mind."

"Oh, I'm not changing my mind. You asked and I answered and now you're stuck with me."

His expression softened, a clawed hand coming up to cup her cheek. "I look forward to every moment."

She gave him a brilliant smile, her eyes finally drying. "You know I love you right?"

"I am aware."

"Are you also aware that I'm going to tell you that a lot more now?"

"You are welcome to say it as much as you like."

Giving her new accessory one last glance, she jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist as she buried her hands in his hair.

"I love you." She alternated between kisses and declarations, her lips touching each of his stripes before ending with the crescent moon on his forehead. Her mouth lingered on his skin, her tongue sliding along the curve of his ancestral marking and his arms tightened around her, his flesh burning under her warm caress.

"Kagome—" His voice was strained, youki and reiki swirling around them before entwining together, ensnaring both of their bodies.

She hummed in response, dragging her nails against his scalp as her mouth moved down to his jaw. Blunt teeth nipped at his skin before she squirmed against him, breathing his name in his ear.

"Shall I take this as an invitation to continue what you so rudely interrupted in my office today?"

Her hands slid into the folds of his kimono. "Less talking, more getting naked."

His chuckle turned into a hiss as he adjusted her position, her hips grinding against his own. Gold darkened to amber, and he fell back onto the couch, cradling his siren in his lap.

"I was hoping you would at least let us move to the bedroom."

"You're the one who proposed out here." She pushed his kimono over his shoulders.

"Are you suggesting that if I had done so in public, we would have ended up in the same situation?"

She finally pulled back; her gaze hooded as her lips pulled up into a sultry smile. "Guess you'll never know, will you?"

"You will be the death of me woman."

"That's your own fault for making me fall in love with you. Can I take your clothes off now?"

"Do as you please."