Kagome was dazed. She could barely believe what had just happened. Sesshoumaru kissed me, again. And I kissed him back. Her thoughts were in turmoil as she tried to decipher what she felt. She didn't know when she started having these feelings Sesshoumaru, exactly. Before she knew it, her mind would drift to Sesshoumaru, even when she was with Inuyasha. Certainly, she was attracted to the handsome youkai, and the sweet kiss they had just shared certainly proved it. But, it was not just a physical attraction that drew her to the Sesshoumaru. The youkai had a comforting effect on her somehow. When she was heartbroken Sesshoumaru had been there, unknowingly, he had helped ease her pain by distracting her. Fearing for one's life is very distracting, Kagome thought wryly. Despite that, Sesshoumaru had listened to her as she described her relationship with Inuyasha. It had lightened her burden to be able to tell all to someone not in her little group. She still remembered how he had placed his hand on her shoulder in front of his ancestral home. It was as though he knew she was in pain. All I know is that this youkai, who has killed so many, makes me feel safe.
Similarly, Sesshoumaru was in a state of confusion, emotions conflicting with long held views. Kagome was human, a breed he despised for their weakness, but she was so different from what he thought. She was strong and she was a survivor. Kagome's strength was not just her strangely strong miko powers but also the strength of her will. Before her, there were none that treated him thus, as though he needed comforting also. For the sake of his land, he had to appear in control at all times and not show weakness. It was necessary that all saw him as cold and powerful, in order to control his lands. Sesshoumaru would have never thought the effect her compassion had on him. Nor did he count on his reaction to her words. 'To be in love with someone is to always have that person on your mind. Even when you try not to think of that person, he somehow sneaks his way into your consciousness...' I'm in...love?
"Did you mean what you whispered to me?"
Sesshoumaru looked down to find Kagome peering at him anxiously. He knew which occasion she was referring to. That time, in front of his ancestral home, he had kissed the girl in his arms for the first time. Before he had left, he had whispered his promise in her ear. At that time, he did not know what had possessed him to say such a thing to a human. The words had felt right. In the months that they were apart, Sesshoumaru had wondered often why he had uttered that promise. It was so unlike him. Such a promise was not one to be made lightly. Did I feel something for her even then? Is that why I made such an important commitment? Even then, I instinctively wanted to protect her. It's similar to my protectiveness of Rin, yet something more. Is this feeling really love? Although he was uncertain of his true feelings, his instincts have never been wrong. Right now, Sesshoumaru's instincts told him that he has found his lifemate.
"If you ever need my strength, come find me. That's what I said and I, Sesshoumaru, always mean what I say. I will protect you."
"But I'm human...don't you hate humans?"
"I wasn't born despising humans. It began with simple dislike. I disliked their stench and their stupidity, but two things changed my views. One, a human was responsible for my okaa-san's death. Directly, indirectly, it made no difference, her death was caused by one. The second incident was during my escape from Ryuukotsui. I had sustained quite a few injuries protecting myself from the dragon youkai. I happened to stumble upon a human village and a band of villagers found me barely managing to keep from collapsing. They ignored me and somehow while I was barely conscious, it seemed as though I could hear their thoughts. One was thinking 'Let him die, filthy youkai' while another thought 'I hope he doesn't die here, it'll be messy to clean up'. I was no better than a pet to them. If they saw an injured dog, they would at least try to help it. Those mangy humans thought that with their limited knowledge, they were somehow superior to youkai. As though, youkai were just uncivilized beasts. They know nothing of our ways, our culture. But you, you are so different from the humans I usually see. You seem not to care that I am youkai or that Inuyasha is a hanyou. You treat everyone as people, judging them based on their deeds."
Kagome hugged him tighter momentarily, wanting to offer comfort. I've seen it happen myself. People have feared Inuyasha on appearance even before he did anything. Some people even shy away from Shippou because the kid is a youkai. No wonder he discriminates against humans. He was discriminated against by humans just because humans automatically assume all youkai are evil.
"But, what am I to you?"