This wasn’t who he used to be, Kagome found herself remembering.
He was supposed to be as cold as his icy glare. And yet as she laid there, with their bodies intertwined his skin felt warm and smooth to the touch.
His dark voice and intimidating form were supposed to send a chill down her spine. But as he held her tightly, she felt safe in his arms.
When they first met, he’d been callous, dismissive, uncaring, perhaps even cruel. However, the flowers and chocolates that were still sitting on the table in the kitchen told the story of how much he’d changed.
Kagome’s arms wrapped around Sesshomaru, holding him just as snugly in return. She noticed little things about him now.
The small tug at the corners of his mouth was his version of laughing.
The way he’d get closer and touch her more when no one was looking.
The times he’d give her brief but powerful words of encouragement whenever she ever found a reason to doubt herself.
The apartment he'd helped her buy with old artifacts he'd brought along from the feudal era.
The little things he’d do to help her out. Sometimes it was bringing things he knew she would forget. Other times it was cooking her favorite meal when he could feel her mood shift.
It was the little things that mattered she’d realized long ago.
She could feel him nuzzling at her neck again. He would do it almost every night now as they slept. Kagome knew he just wanted to be close to her scent. He’d told her she smelled of lilacs.
The soft warm fur of his pelt made a blanket unnecessary, and yet they both couldn’t help but kick the sheets over just their feet.
She was almost happy when a small movement jostled her awake now. It meant that she got to enjoy the feeling of being held there by him just a little longer as she drifted back to sleep.
A ray of light roused her from her dream.
The bed was empty now, save for herself.
Stretching as she rose to her feet, she sighed wanting to sink back into the white fluff that wrapped around her each night.
Walking to the kitchen she saw him, still in the flowery pajamas she’d bought him for Christmas, working quietly at the stove.
Trudging sleepily towards him, she wrapped her hands around his chest and let her cheek press against his back. There she could feel his muscles move, bask in his warmth, and hear the slow rhythmic beating of his heart.
Sesshomaru turned around, taking a break from making them breakfast.
His hand ran through her still tangled hair. He didn’t care that she hadn’t fixed it yet. The woman before him was always beautiful as far as he was concerned.
She felt him plant a light kiss on her forehead and the tingling of his nose as he nuzzled against hers.
Kagome giggled and kissed him on the cheek.
Minutes later a plate was in front of her.
Strawberry pancakes, her favorite.
She smiled. Valentine's day was yesterday. What was the occasion?
Sesshomaru smiled back. There wasn’t one.
He just loved her.
Kagome blushed as she grabbed the syrup.
Cutting into her favorite early morning comfort food she looked up and managed to catch sight of the rare sparkle in his beautiful golden eyes. She’d only ever seen it in brief glimpses before, usually in his most contented moments staring at her as she wasn’t looking.
But as the light peeked through their kitchen window they glistened for her now. She could have stared into his eyes all day.
She laughed and he chuckled with her.
Kagome took a bite and closed her eyes.
When she opened them, she couldn’t help but grin and look away for a second.
Sesshomaru teased her wanting to know what was wrong with the pancakes.
She shook her head.
Nothing, they were perfect.
Everything was perfect.