Somewhere in Time

Surrender

He wanted to go after the offender, the challenger of his claim. His dominating nature insisted on eliminating the challenge, but more than that, he cannot stand the stench of another male's scent mixed with Kagome's pure cherry blossom fragrance. If he stayed around her, his inu-youkai instinct would act on its own, prompting him to do whatever it takes to remove the upsetting smell from the miko.

Whatever it takes.

He respected her enough to repress that impulse, so he walked away before he lost his self-control. He could not hurt the human male either. This would certainly upset Kagome and he definitely did not want to push her away.

As he thought about this, Sesshomaru could not help but reproach himself. He had always held contempt for Inuyasha because of his affinity with humans. He even remembered his own words as he watched Kagome run away from the hanyou long before.

An abomination who carries the blood of my father is here, stooped low in front of a lowly human.

Oh, how the tables have turned.

###

Kagome was baffled. Why did Sesshomaru react that way when Hojo visited? Is he jealous? It seemed outrageous. But then again, he had been so patient with her family and friends, so why did he lose his temper now?

She put down Hojo's gifts on the glass table and followed the direction that the had daiyoukai taken when he walked out. Did he go back to the feudal era without her? Somehow, that thought pinched her heart. He promised to travel with her, didn't he? He said that he took his promises seriously. Still...

Outside, the snow was falling gently. The cold air bit at her exposed skin and she remembered that she was only wearing a thin dress. She shivered as she stepped out onto the arctic yard, her eyes watering and her breath creating steam.

"Sesshomaru-sama!" she called out, trudging across the thick snow path. The daiyoukai left no signs which direction he took. She continued to call his name as she plodded through the white sheet of snowflakes, until her eyes spotted a pale silhouette under the Goshinboku tree. Her legs and feet were already numb when she got there and she knelt in front of the silent daiyoukai who only stared at her.

"Sesshomaru-sama," she huffed, lips quavering. "Are you upset with me? Did I do something wrong?"

In a gesture that came as a massive surprise to her, the daiyoukai suddenly grabbed her left arm and pulled her into him. Her heart stopped for a moment as her mind tried to process what was happening, but Sesshomaru's warmth seeped into her numb muscles and she gradually melted into his arms. She felt his claws gently brush her hair, his hot breath caressing her neck.

"Forgive me, Kagome," she heard him murmur, his soft lips almost brushing against her skin. "It was wrong of me to act improperly."

She pulled back to look at his concerned face. "No, it's okay. Don't apologize. I understand. I know that it's been hard for you to deal with humans for several days. It's selfish of me to keep you here while I'm running away from Inuyasha, and I know you worry about Rin and Jaken constantly. So getting upset is hardly something to ask forgiveness for. It's really okay."

His soft and furry tail wrapped around Kagome, warming her up despite being exposed to the freezing December cold. Sesshomaru's hand brushed away the snowflakes that have fallen over her bangs and he lightly traced her jawline with the tip of his claw.

"I have grown extremely protective of you, Kagome."

A hint of crimson tinted the miko's cheeks as she heard those words coming from the daiyoukai who once attempted to kill her. Her eyes met his molten orbs that seemed to penetrate her soul and unexpectedly, one startling thought trespassed the deepest pits of her mind:

Is Sesshomaru capable of love?

What happened next shattered all walls and barriers from past to present. She leaned closer, eyes never leaving his, and falteringly pressed her lips against his. She felt him stiffen under her touch, but quickly recovered as he responded to the kiss. When she gasped, Sesshomaru parted his lips and angled his face to capture her mouth perfectly.

Kagome closed her eyes, fully giving in to the kiss. Was Sesshomaru capable of love?

Yes.

**Author's Note:

I'm sooooo sorry for not updating so long! I've been caught with so much work and now is just the start of my vacation. That means we're back to regular updates!