Colour of My Love by Sereia

Chapter 1

"What's your job?"

Sesshoumaru brought his attention back to the picnic the miko had set out, the cool spring breeze threatening to ruin Rin's flower crown before it was finished. "Job?" he asked.

The young girl nodded, though she didn't look up from her task. "Kagome-sama helps people in different villages, especially when they're hurt or sick. What do you do?"

Sesshoumaru clicked his tongue, looking at the woman in question, eyes narrowing at the sight of her stifled laughter. "I do not require one."

Rin slid another flower in place. "Everyone has a job. Shippou goes to school, but he'll have one when he's finished. And Inuyasha-san helps people build houses." When he still didn't answer, she finally looked up. "Don't you have something you're good at, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Giggles spilled out of the miko's mouth, and Rin looked at her in confusion, blue eyes glinting. "Sesshoumaru gets rid of pests."

The girl blinked, then frowned. "Like bugs? What's wrong with bugs?" She turned to the daiyoukai with concern. "You should just shoo them outside!"

The giggles became a coughing fit, and he scowled at her. "The pests in question cause harm to others," he clarified.

Relief washed over Rin's face. "Oh, so poisonous ones!" She finished her crown and placed it on the miko's head. "You always protect everyone, Sesshoumaru-sama. You're like the heroes in Kagome-sama's books." She adjusted the flowers, smiling up at her mentor. "You look really pretty in blue."

The miko's expression softened. "So I've been told."

Rin grinned, then sprinted off to find more to make herself a matching set, the bottom of her new kimono blending in with the grass. He'd gifted it to her as a reward for passing the elder miko's latest test, though he'd bought it several weeks prior. "I am an exterminator now?"

She snorted, still watching Rin. "It's better than telling her about your 'murdering demon tendencies'," she replied. "And you technically exterminate lots of things."

The latest had been a band of mercenaries intent on selling orphans to the highest bidder. He'd thought nothing of it, but the miko had all but thrown herself at him, the scent of her soap wafting past his nose.

He'd been trying to decipher if her invitations for tea were anything more than a platonic need for companionship, but the feel of her pressed against him had been more than he could bear, and he'd given in to the temptation to bury his face into her hair.

He'd sensed the change in her aura instantly, felt the heat rise to her cheeks, yet she had been the one to move first, the sensation of her lips against his jaw lighter than a butterfly's wing.

It appeared she'd been holding herself back as well.

"She has seen enough turmoil in her life," he said, following her gaze. "I would not add to it."

"You never have. You'll always be a hero to her." She shuffled close enough to lean her head on his shoulder, careful not to crumple her crown.

"Just as you will always look breathtaking in blue." He saw her smile out of the corner of his eye, as he hoped she would. Truth be told, he hadn't come across a shade that she didn't look good in, but there was something about the hue of her robes that made her eyes stand out even more.

"So do you," she replied. "Though you'll probably say red is better."

Sesshoumaru snorted. "Red is the colour of war."

"Which is why you don't wear it when you visit." She motioned to the violet hexagons on his kimono. "And why you bought Rin a green one."

"She prefers that colour," he argued.

She tilted her head up, poking him in the cheek. "You have a way with words, my lord, but you can't fool me. None of Rin's presents have a speck of red in them. Even now, you're trying to shield her from it."

She was right, but he wasn't about to admit to it, eyes narrowing as he plucked her hand away from his face. "And what would you say of the gifts I have brought you?" He kissed the palm of her hand and was rewarded with a shiver.

"That you're trying to be sneaky about your observation skills," she retorted, not missing a beat. His scowl returned, but she just laughed, leaning back against him. "Pout all you want. You wouldn't have known I prefer combs to brushes if you hadn't been spying." She waved at Rin, purposely ignoring his pinched expression.

"Those within your abode were untouched," he argued petulantly.

"I'm not saying you weren't right, just that I don't leave them out in the open." She bumped the underside of his chin with the top of her head. "Or are you going to deny that you went through my things looking for ideas?"

The stripes on his cheeks darkened; that was precisely what he'd done. The other males in her pack had spoken of elaborate shows of affection in order to make an impression. The females, on the other hand, had convinced him something more personal would be a better idea, and given how many of her offerings she gave away, he was more inclined to believe they were right.

"You could've just asked me, you know."

"That would have negated the act of surprise."

A chuckle had her shoulders shaking. "Because you were so sneaky about it in the first place."

He huffed, lifting his chin, but it was contradicted by his arm snaking around her waist. "The gifts had to be meaningful," he said eventually. "It would have given you a reason to refuse had they not."

She shifted again, and he swallowed at the open emotion in her face when she smiled at him. "There was never a chance of that." He opened his mouth to argue, but she placed a finger at his lips. "We've got at least five interrupted minutes before Rin comes back, so why don't you spend it kissing me instead of pretending I wasn't yours from the start?"

Claws dug into her side as he pulled her closer, acquiescing to her request. She was a devious wench, but he would have no other, so he supposed he'd have to learn to live with it.

Forever.