Subtle Affections by Deidre

Comfort

Romance, Kagome decided, was not all about bouquets of flowers, mushy, heartfelt confessions of love, or cuddling romantically on the couch. It was all about the small things that proved that to him, she was different.

As his golden eyes flitted over her indifferently, Sesshomaru reached out with his only arm and as she stepped within his reach, pulled her against his solid, yet soft form. His lips brushed across her brow in a ghost of a kiss and pulled away, but Kagome didn't mind. She smiled up at him warmly, her stormy gray eyes sparkling with joy.

Yes. Along time ago, even before the defeat of Naraku, even after Inuyasha had succumbed to Kikyo's persuasions and joined her, Kagome decided that it was the little things in life that counted.

Sesshomaru was a cold, silent dog demon who would not hesitate to kill an enemy. He did not laugh with her when she made a joke. He did not publicly demonstrate his affections unless he was feeling particularly horny. And mostly, Sesshomaru did not confess his deep-rooted love.

--**--**--

"It's gone," Kagome murmured sadly. She stared down into the depths of the well. Though the bottom was pitch dark and invisible to her human eyes, Sesshomaru's frown was proof that the bottom was solid, and possessed no more magic than her shoe.

The final goodbyes had been said to her family days ago, as Kagome had known that one day, this time had to come. But it didn't make it any less painful. Tears slipped onto her cheeks, one by one, and fell into the well. Perhaps if she wept here long enough, the well would no longer be dry.

A hand, warm and gentle, rested lightly atop her head before sliding down to smooth her hair against her back. It moved back up to wipe away her tears with the pad of its thumb, and rested beneath her chin to tilt her head up. So light that she could barely feel it, Sesshomaru's chin came down to rest atop her head. Soothed by his proximity, Kagome leaned into his chest, forgetting her sorrows temporarily. It wasn't an embrace; he wasn't whispering soothing words into her ear, and kissing her tears away. But he was comforting her, and that was all that mattered.