Battle of wills.

Sesshomaru traversed the icy planes for hours searching for some sign of the well that had brought them to this strange land. He could feel the wind bite at his body.
’I am quickly approaching my limit. The cold here is unlike any other I’ve ever experienced.’ He thought to himself. The idea of having Kagome “save his life” again brought a smirk to his face which he quickly removed.

He worked so hard at hiding his emotions that even a slight smile felt uncomfortable, as if his muscles were not accustom to the strain. He mentally berated himself, ‘Why had I let the human woman carry on in such a useless way?’ Truthfully, his body did not succumb to hypothermia the way normal human bodies did, but when he regained consciousness and felt Kagome’s hand running over his body, he could not bring himself to stop her. The FEELINGS she evoked in him were frightening. “Feelings,” he grumbled, “as if such a thing were possible. Obviously, I am just letting my curiosity for this girl linger.” He frowned at his weakness and huffed, “Asking her if she intended to mate with me….This Sesshomaru does not ask, he takes, and that HUMAN has nothing that I want.” He nodded as if agreeing with his own statement. ‘I must strive harder to control myself in the future.’ He thought as he approached the entrance of the cave once again.

Kagome sat on one of the larger pieces of firewood Sesshomaru had piled against the edge of the cave. She had tied several uniforms she had packed “just in case” around her legs and arms and wore several layers. ‘Still not warm, but at least the cold doesn’t hurt as much.’ She thought. She looked up to catch Sesshomaru approaching fast on the horizon. “Oh thank the gods.” She huffed, “he’s been gone for hours.”

She ran over to the demon lord as he touched down quietly against the cold cavern floor. Before he even had a chance to speak, she was examining his fingers and had placed the back of her hand against his face. She stopped suddenly when she caught his gaze upon her. Golden eyes added to the cold chill she all ready felt crawling up and down her spine. She blushed desperately as he grabbed at her hand arching an eyebrow. “Is it a custom in your time to grab at someone as soon as they arrive?” he asked in a sarcastic tone.

Kagome glared at him, “You were gone for HOURS, and I was worried something happened to you.”

Sesshomaru smiled slightly, despite himself, “You should not waste time on such things.” He couldn’t very well tell her that the cold could not claim his life, not after what he had allowed to transpire earlier that day.

“You did it again…..” Kagome blinked at the quick smile on Sesshomaru’s face.

“Did what again, human?” Sesshomaru barked.

“You smiled.” She responded biting back a tinge of laughter from the demon lord’s obvious discomfort.

“You are mistaken.” He stated, as he made a point not to look her in the eyes.

Kagome grinned as the demon lord squirmed and decided to press her luck a little further. She moved herself so that she was once again in his line of sight. “You are mistaken.” She stated coldly in her best Sesshomaru voice.

“Annoying girl.” He grumbled, turning from her again, as the sides of his mouth began to twitch.

“OH MY GOD!” Kagome screamed as he turned again. Quickly she moved herself in front of him, so she could get a better look at his face. “You’re going to do it again!”

“Desist this childish behavior.” He snarled.

Kagome crossed her arms in front of her chest, grinning from ear to ear. She knew it wasn’t smart to tease Sesshomaru this way but she couldn’t resist abusing this new found power. “Make me!” she grinned with much amusement in her voice.

Sesshomaru felt his walls of control begin to crumble. ‘Does she really think she can get away with teasing the Lord of the Western Lands in such a blatantly disrespectful manner? It’s almost laughable.’

“Oh….my…..god.” Kagome gaped at him. “I really didn’t think it was possible.”

Sesshomaru eyed Kagome’s stunned face and then let a hand trail up to his. There, on the face that had never whispered the slightest hint of emotion, on Sesshomaru’s face, was the slightest of smirks. He quickly thrust his hand down to his side and frowned, turning from her again.

“Sesshomaru.” She began only to be cut off by the demon lord.

“Quiet human or I will silence you!” he commanded with a gleam of red in his eyes. Quietly he settled himself into a respectable position next to the fire refusing to look up at her. ‘Damn girl!!’ he growled to himself.

Kagome sat next to the fire on the opposite side of Sesshomaru. After several moments of silence she decided to speak. “I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.” She whispered into the fire. “I just really wanted to see you smile. I really don’t know why I was so persistent. I’m very sorry. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

“This, Sesshomaru, does not get HURT FEELINGS.’ He huffed in his monotone voice once again. “Your tone was simply irritating and tedious.”

Kagome smiled and crawled next to him, “So in a sense, what you are saying is – No hard feelings. –“

Sesshomaru looked down at her in shock, ‘Was she always this annoying?’ he thought to himself. “Isn’t that what I just said?” he asked in a monotone voice.

She cleared her throat, not wanting to be baited into another fight. “So any sign of the well, or…summer?”

Sesshomaru shook his head. “I did not find either, all though my searches are restricted by the need for me to return to this cave. Perhaps, tomorrow you should come with me; there are several caverns similar to this one that we could take refuge in.”

Kagome nodded, “I would go crazy if I had to stay here again while you disappeared for hours on end.”

He nodded, “Good, then tomorrow as soon as the sun rises we will search for the well.” He eyed Kagome as he took in her attire. “What are you wearing?”

Kagome turned bright red, “I believe they are called CLOTHES.” She spat hotly giving the demon lord a challenging look. The sides of his mouth began to twitch again. “Don’t you laugh at me Sesshomaru!” she glared.

“Confusing human, first you insist I smile and then demand I refrain from laughing.” He stated coolly unable to control the smirk upon his face as he regarded the fire.

Kagome bit her lip, “Smart ass.” She grumbled.

Sesshomaru stared at her with confusion in his face, a question upon his lips.

“Don’t ask!” she screamed as she place her hand over his mouth, and then quickly removed it. “I really don’t want to explain that one.”

“You shouldn’t say things you are not comfortable explaining.” He stated coolly, baiting her again.

She threw her arms up in the air, “I give up! And I’m going to bed.”

“I will wake you at first light.” He stated.

“Okay.” She answered as she crawled into her sleeping bag.

“Oooookaye?” he questioned, smirking again.

“Good night Sesshomaru!” She groaned before closing her eyes.

He listened intently to the night, uncomfortable at how quiet it was compared to his own era. The cold and quiet seemed to amplify Kagome to his senses. He could hear her heart slow and her breathing change to a nice steady rhythm as she drifted off to sleep. “Good night...” He whispered as she finally fell into a deep sleep.