Inspiration: "New Year" by Darren Criss
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Kagome shuffled around her kitchen, a sigh never far from her lips as she switched on the kettle. She'd planned on actually making food today, as part of her excuse to Inuyasha for why she was ditching his New Year's Eve party, but as soon as her bag had fallen from her shoulder, her energy had gone with it.
She'd barely made it into the kitchen, forcing herself to pull out a mug, thankful she still had a few leftover teabags so she didn't have to brew it from scratch.
Checking her watch, she sighed again. The guests at the party would likely be gathering in the garden at this point, halfway to a hangover as they counted down the minutes until midnight. She'd pretended to go along with the celebration, helping Inuyasha gather supplies and even decorating the various rooms in his house, all while knowing she'd be spending the night alone.
Like she always did.
It wasn't like she had anyone to blame, she'd chosen to come home after her shift at the gallery, having given up on producing anything worthwhile. She'd planned on doing a fireworks piece, but every time her brush had touched the paint, it had somehow been the wrong colour.
She pursed her lips. How could any colour be wrong when it came to fireworks? They were literally every colour.
Half tempted to throw her mug in the sink, she moved into the hallway, trying to save herself the embarrassment of purchasing another one. They were always the first to go when she hit a slump.
A sound at the door made her jump. She knew she'd locked it behind her, remembering the telltale click as she'd slipped off her shoes. Whoever was on the other side hadn't even knocked, and she stared in shock when Sesshoumaru nearly launched himself through it.
"Am I too late?" He looked almost panicked, hair dishevelled and covered in snow. He wasn't even wearing his glamour.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, feet frozen to the floor. Why he had a key would've been a more appropriate question, but her mind could only focus on one thing at a time.
"You declined Inuyasha's invitation," he said, closing the door and shrugging out of his coat. The top of his collar was damp, as if he hadn't bothered doing up the buttons before venturing outside, the dark spot only furthering Kagome's confusion.
"That doesn't explain why you're here," she said, fingers tightening around her mug. She'd declined on purpose, not wanting an audience when the countdown began—and the tears fell.
"You should not be alone tonight." It was a fair statement, made by friends and kin alike, but it was different coming from him.
"You're alone all the time," she argued, incensed that her privacy was being encroached upon. "And I can make my own decisions. You're not my—" Her throat constricted, and she turned away, not wanting him to see her pain.
"You are allowed to miss her." Sesshoumaru's whispered, his presence closer than before.
"I missed her last year," she said, voice cracking. "And the year before that."
"And you will miss her every year to come." His fingers wrapped around her wrist, steadying her hand before removing her mug. "As it is with all those we have lost." She'd wanted to at least make it to midnight. To greet the new year with the determination her mother had always admired, but his soft touch had her walls crumbling, and she collapsed in his arms, sobs wracking her body.
At some point during her breakdown, he maneuvered them to the couch, picking her up as if she weighed nothing as he placed her in his lap. He said nothing, claws drawing gentle circles on her back as she dampened his shirt even more, arms wrapping around his neck.
"I'm sorry," she eventually mumbled, wishing she had the emotional stability to pull away, but his embrace was comforting, as was the scent of pine and cold mountain air intermingled in the silver locks of his hair.
"You have nothing to apologize for," he chastised, eyes focused on the wall across from them, face blank of any emotion when she shifted, leaning against his shoulder.
Jealousy coursed through her. "Teach me how to do that."
"Do what?" he asked, a pale eyebrow raising.
"Not feel anything," she said, her hushed tone laced with desperation. He gave her a startled look, and Kagome adverted her gaze, biting her bottom lip. Sesshoumaru hooked a finger under her chin, tilting her chin back up.
"Kagome, I would sooner rip off my own arm than have you lose your passion for life."
Under normal circumstances, she would've laughed, but considering she was sitting in his lap mourning her late mother, she couldn't even manage a snort. Especially with how he was looking at her. "Does that really matter?"
"It has always mattered."
A smile finally tugged at her lips. "Even when I shattered your armour?"
Sesshoumaru smirked in return, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "Even then." Her arms slid around his waist, his role shifting from lifeline to confidant as she laid her ear against his chest, eyes fluttering closed at the steady sound of his heartbeat.
She wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, the sudden crackle of gunpowder and cheers from spectators signalling the turn of the clock. Neither of them moved, unperturbed by the screams and bells, the inside of the living room lighting up as the celebrations continued.
He felt warmer than before, softer, and her next sigh was not as forlorn. "With how you rushed over here, I half expected you to kiss me at midnight," she said, trying to lighten the mood.
"You still think I will not?"
Kagome's eyes widened, and she slowly looked up, extremely aware that her arms were still around him, a million thoughts running through her head.
It was a joke.
It had to be a joke.
She opened her mouth to say as much, the question of "Why didn't you?" tumbling out instead.
"You were distressed," he stated, eyes glowing in the darkness. "And I did not want our first to be an obligation born from tradition."
Kagome's heart fluttered. "First? As in, you want more than one?"
The sound of his chuckle turned her insides to goo. "One would never be enough with you." They continued to stare at each other, heat creeping into her face as she found it increasingly hard to breathe.
What would it be like to kiss him? To kiss Sesshoumaru? She'd never really given it much thought until now; their paths didn't cross much outside of family gatherings, though their conversations had been easily come by. And the more she did think about it, the more she realized how often he'd sought her out during those gatherings, pulling her back into the light when she'd been content to observe from the shadows.
"Why are you really here?" she asked, voice hoarse. Sesshoumaru cocked his head to the side, the back of his fingers sliding along her skin as he brushed her hair over her shoulder.
"I would like to remain honourable and say it was due to knowing how hard this night is for you." His claws teased the back of her neck, sending shivers down her spine. "But all I could think of was how much I wanted to see you."
"Saying that doesn't make you less honourable."
"Does it not?"
Kagome shook her head, smiling as she leaned closer. "Caring about someone is never dishonourable." She was so close that she could see his pupils dilate.
"It is not as simple as 'caring' about you, Kagome."
"And yet you still haven't kissed me."
Both eyebrows raised this time, disappearing under his bangs before his gaze dropped to her mouth. "Is that an invitation?"
Another firework went off, multicoloured lights dancing in her eyes. "I think you've been enough of a gentleman today." He lowered his head, the touch barely more than a whisper against her mouth.
It was tantalizing.
It was teasing.
It wasn't enough.
Still smiling, she cupped his face. "Come on, Sesshoumaru. You can do better than that." She didn't give him a chance to respond, pressing her mouth firmly to his. The rumble from his chest vibrated through her, leaving her tingling all the way to her toes.
The hand that had been drawing circles on her back snaked around her waist, pulling her body flush with his own, the other burying itself in her hair. The kiss was sweet but searching, each soft moan, each stroke of her thumb encouraging him to deepen the embrace.
And when she pulled back for air, he peppered kisses along her jaw up to her temple, then pressed their foreheads together.
"Will you greet the new year with me?" There was an underlying meaning to his words, but for now, Kagome was content to follow him onto the roof, looking forward to the sunrise—and what the new year would bring.