A.N. : It's been a while since I've written anything… anyway, I hope you like the story, if you don't, you don't have to read it of course. There is no need for flames.

Through the Centuries … Chapter One

Sesshomaru watched her, all the time. It wasn't as if he was a stalker of some sort; not even close. His only desire was to one day work up the courage to talk to her and perhaps be near her, even if only as a friend. He could remember the first time he saw her; it was such a long time ago, like a dream almost.

New York City 1952

Sesshomaru awoke that morning, content that the day was sure to be cloudy and filled with showers. As of late, he had been putting in extra hours at work, not necessarily because he liked to work but because he needed the money. Today was Saturday and he had this day off. The rain gave him the perfect excuse not to drive across town and visit his father. Sesshomaru's sire was great, but at times his personality was so overwhelming, that it was like heavy metal music, to be taken in small doses. The conclusion not to visit his dear old dad made him sigh in relief. This day was his day off, this day was his. He almost smiled with pleasure…almost.

After spending a couple of extra hours in his lonely bed, Sesshomaru climbed out and stretched his mighty limbs. Vertigo struck him suddenly; it annoyed him, after all, there wasn't much that didn't. He reached for the phone and punched in the numbers, all the while, anticipating the very worst.

"Hello?" answered Sesshomaru's father.

"Good morning…" he paused. "I'm sorry, but I won't be able to visit today…"

"Come now, my boy, surely you won't let the rain keep you away from your own father"

"The rain has done a considerable amount of damage to my car, I must talk to you later as I am about to call in a mechanic to get it fixed."

"Alright, I hope all goes well" Inutaisho sighed.

"Thank you"

And with that said, his day was suddenly clear; empty because he had nothing to do. Apparently, Sesshomaru's day wasn't the only thing that was empty. The clock read 12:30PM but his stomach demanded pancakes with a side of eggs.

After a close inspection of the refrigerator, it was decided that a quick trip to the grocery store was essential. Sesshomaru walked into his bathroom turned on the shower and let the water run over him. The heat soothed his aching bones and for a little while, he just stood there while the shower took care of his small but still notable pains.

The grocery store was cool compared to the heat of the summer's day. His keen youkai eyes moved around the store… people watching as some would say. He observed mainly females. They glided around the market with children in their carts; they wore their pearls and polka dot dresses. This seemed to be the style of the decade in America. As always, he would ignore their stares and retrieve what he needed.

His list consisted of eggs, pancake mix, orange juice and ramen. That would hardly stock a refrigerator, but, he was just a bachelor. As he moved his hands toward the eggs, he heard a crack followed by an ever "cute" "eep". Turning his head, he saw the most captivating creature he had yet to lay his eyes on. It was a miracle he could keep his mouth closed. She had already done something worth praise, render Sesshomaru speechless.

"Oh no! I've got to be the most clumsy youkai in the world" she said as her face turned pink. "Goodness, I have to stop saying the "y" word."

Her clumsiness didn't shake him one bit. He was too busy staring at her face, her body and absorbing her all together, to really care if she was clumsy or not.

Even with the her American accent, it was clear that this female was of Japanese decent, as he was. Perhaps her family had moved here before she was born? Maybe she'd moved to America centuries ago and was still trying to assimilate? His mind was racing as it tried to process his thoughts and her image. The most glorious pale blue eyes looked up at him. He then took the time to notice the twitch across her mouth from the obvious embarrassment. It wasn't pouty like one of a great seductress, nor was it thin like an ordinary human's. Honestly, he couldn't describe it with words, he didn't need to. Her ears were beautiful. However, he couldn't get over her eyes, he would swim in them. He would write poetry about them… if only he could. Sesshomaru sort of scoffed at the cliché as it went through his mind.

After his thoughts that lasted for only sixty seconds, she was gone. He couldn't help but feel a little defeated by the fact that he didn't talk to her. If only he would have offered her his help, they would be having a conversation, probably joking about one insignificant thing or the other. Eventually, he would ask for her telephone number and they would go on to date until they eventually married. A little ahead of himself he was, and it was no secret, even to his own person. Sesshomaru had an eternity to live, which meant he had an eternity to search for her and an eternity to make them bonded… now all he had to do was discover her name!

The first time he saw her was all of forty-eight years ago. Time had gone by so quickly; it was now the year 2000 and he still had never uttered so much as a single word to her. Through out those years, he discovered her name, which was beautiful. He thought about it countless times every day; Kagome Higurashi. Also, as fate would have it, about 10 years ago, she became his next door neighbor. He would see her around town and throughout the years, he watched her remain unchanged. It was all the more interesting to look at someone who wasn't any different from the day you first saw them; than it was to watch someone grow old and frail. Much to his satisfaction, they were both youkai. One day, he would work up the nerve to talk to her. She waved at him every morning on her way to work, so it wouldn't be very awkward at all. Whenever she saw him leave his house on the way to his dead end job, she would wave. Although, it was merely a friendly greeting; that wave, that second of attention she devoted to him; made his day.

This particular morning as he stuck the key in his door to lock it, something was different. A small change in his daily routine was going to occur. With that thought, he heard the latch to the gate of his front yard open. He looked up and nearly died a happy man.

"Hello, I'm sorry to intrude but my husband told me that we received some of your mail. We thought it best to return it right away; which explains why I'm here" she was rambling but he didn't hear anything past husband.

How could it be? This woman he wanted was married? Surely she wasn't taken all those years ago, but right now, the silver band on the fourth finger of her pale left hand, proved to him that she was no longer within his reach. It laughed at him.

"Thank you" was all he could manage to say back.

After their brief exchange, she wished him a wonderful day and took off.

At that moment, Sesshomaru decided to become an alcoholic. Then he shrugged off the idea and opted for workaholic instead.

It was three o'clock in the afternoon and Sesshomaru was already coming up with a plan to kill himself… well not really, but he was actually very angry and distraught. Angry he was with himself for never going up to Kagome and just talking to her; distraught, because second chances never came to the likes of him. Just then, his phone rang.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Taisho, you have a man waiting here to see you, without an appointment. He says his wife came to see you this morning." spoke the security guard.

"Just send him in" he needed to sniff out the competition.

Ten minutes passed and a soft knock was heard at his door.

"Enter" he spoke with authority.

The door opened slightly, and then came in a fairly good looking fellow with mail in his hands. "Hello, my name is Orochi and I believe my wife gave you some mail of yours this morning. Well, more was delivered by mistake. I just didn't want to leave it on your porch and you have no mail slot, so I thought it best to come here and give it to you directly before it slipped my mind and I forgot." He smiled.

He took in the appearance of Kagome's husband. He looked well groomed, and also seemed very nice. Perhaps if he wasn't married to the woman of his dreams, Sesshomaru would have hated him a smidgen less…

"Thank you for your concern." He mumbled.

"Oh, it's no problem at all. Oh, I almost forgot. My wife, Kagome, says that you two have been neighbors for quite some time but she barely even knows you. She would like to have you over to our home for dinner tonight. Is that all right?"

Orochi swayed from side to side as he awaited Sesshomaru's answer.

"Sure, I do need a nice home cooked meal."

Orochi's presence bothered him to no end. The man was painfully nice and seemed quite easy to get along with; everything he was not. He was even more bothered by the fact that he had seen him before. He would drop by Kagome's house every now and then. Sesshomaru just shrugged it off as casual dating. How wrong he was.

After Orochi's departure, Sesshomaru's co-worker Kouga Wolf strolled in.

"Hey, some of the guys and I are -"

"No" Sesshomaru cut him off. He vividly remembered the last time he'd heard the beginning of that sentence. His memory was flooded with painful recollections of strong alcohol, loose women and one transgendered prostitute named Mordecai. He shuddered at that last one. "Don't even ask why I don't wish to join you. You know what happened the last time."

"You can't be serious. We were all pretty messed up that night. I for example, woke up speaking German. Freaking German!" Kouga yelled. "And about that prostitute ,man, I am truly sorry about that. If I would have known that she err, that person was a dude, I never would have-"

"Enough! I appreciate the offer but I'm very tired. I really want to go home and retire for the night after I finish these documents." He was making an effort to be sentimental and aware of other people's feelings. At least that's what his horoscope said he should do when he read it last month.

"Ok. You can have it your way just this once, but the time night we go clubbing, your ass is mine!" Kouga rethought the statement "Sorry that sounded a little gay."

All Sesshomaru could do was shake his head as he continued with his work.

**

He felt like a fool. It was seven thirty and here he was ringing Kagome's door bell with flowers in his grasp. 'Why would you purchase lilies?' He mentally berated himself until the door opened to reveal the woman- child he longed for.

Kagome wore a sun dress. It was yellow and looked faultless on her. No one else who wore the thing could claim such an astonishing result. Her (facial) cheeks were perfect and round like that of a mere girl. She bowed graciously welcoming him into the home she shared with her husband. Sesshomaru observed the nervous ticks she had, like how every once and a while she would brush her hand from her forehead to her hair in an attempt to stop and think. He noticed how when she became aggravated, she would cease all movement, roll her eyes heavenward with a huff and then continue her actions. This information was gathered in only the first half an hour. In the centuries they have both been alive, if he hadn't been such a coward, Sesshomaru could have studied her daily, showered her with love, care, kindness, respect, everything she deserved. Undoubtedly, she would have done the same for him. He was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he hardly noticed Orochi's incessant chatter.

"Would you like something to drink, ?" The question he posed made him want to snap. Sesshomaru should be sharing this house with Kagome, not him. "No you imbecile. Now get away from my person before I remove your throat from your body in the most uncomfortable way humanly possible" 'Look at that' Sesshomaru thought to himself. 'I made a funny.' "Humanly possible" he scoffed. ' It's funny because I'm not human' Sesshomaru wondered how Kouga and everyone who had ever met him thought he lacked a sense of humor. Instead of saying what he truly felt, Sesshomaru just shook his head.

Soon, Orochi didn't even matter. From his sitting position, he could see Kagome in the kitchen. He watched silently as she danced around with the flowers he'd given her for her home. He observed how she lowered her face to one of the flowers and sniffed. As she lifted her head, a smile graced her mouth. The movement slowed for him as if he could see every little muscle of her face working to make this beautiful thing called a grin. He wanted to touch her lips. He wanted to touch her lips with his hands. No longer able to control himself, Sesshomaru arose from his seat.

"Do you require any assistance Ms. Higurashi?" He spoke. Kagome turned around and gazed at him a little too admiringly before she caught herself. "No thank you. You can call me Kagome…the flowers, they are really wonderful. It was a nice gesture."

Sesshomaru watched her speak and then he saw her swallow very hard. Was she nervous to be around him? He really did hope he hadn't frightened her. Many people found him intimidating but he didn't want her to be one of them. Sure, he could come off as grouchy and maybe a little daunting, but he would be different for her and only her. Well, he could have been different for her and only her; if she wasn't already spoken for.

"Dinner is almost done. Would you like to know what we're having?" she asked him.

"I will settle for the surprise"

She tilted her head a little to the side when something amused her, Sesshomaru noted.

"You like surprises then? I can't bear not being informed about every detail of everything." She chuckled. "A bad habit; Orochi doesn't like it very much. It takes the fun out of everything." Kagome thought this was a flaw.

"Oh, that's alright. I think everyone secretly wants to be in control." was his response.

"Well, you are very wise then." she beamed.

"I think I may be very fond you" He whispered as she turned around to go check on the food in the oven.

"What was that? I couldn't quite hear you." She yelled, her head in the oven.

"I just said I quite enjoy the kazoo" Sesshomaru mentally slapped himself. It seemed to be true. He was no Casanova.

"That was very random of you." Kagome teased.

"Yes well, I enjoy surprises, mostly because I am one…" His fixed his eyes on her face and his gaze didn't falter once.

"Hey, what are you guys talking about in here without me?" Orochi interrupted.

Sesshomaru noticed Orochi place an arm around Kagome's waist and the squeeze he gave her side. Strangely enough it wasn't one of affection. "Oh. Just lovely little nothings about surprises and kazoos" Kagome chirped.

The kitchen was filled with the aroma of spices and seafood, as well as vegetables that smelled steamed to perfection.

"Let's eat!" she chirped, breaking the awkward silence.

Kagome served Sesshomaru with a plate filled with baked Salmon, steamed carrots and a potato. Orochi bitterly served himself, as he wasn't a guest in their home. They ate happily, all enjoying Kagome's dish.

"Dinner was wonderful, Kagome." Sesshomaru said. "Thank you" were the only words he received from her. Before long, it was time to leave their cozy home and go back to his own. The mood was entirely different from when he first entered. He felt welcomed by them both, but now he felt an anxiousness from Kagome and a feeling of distain from Orochi (not that he really cared about the latter).

He bid them both goodnight and went along his merry way. If it was up to him, he would never leave her. Unfortunately, she wasn't his. Not his friend, not his lover, not his wife, not his mate, not his woman. His heart ached for her though. Sure, he had seen many beautiful women and yes, he had been attracted to the lot of them, but this was different.

He felt this warmth towards her long before finding out she was married, so he knew what was coursing through him was more than just the desire to have something out of his reach. He just wished for a second chance. He prayed for a second chance. Before Sesshomaru laid his head to rest, he got on his knees and begged God to let him have Kagome Higurashi. Not that he could have her for just one night, but that he could posses her for eternity. Finally, he closed his eyes and hoped that God would have mercy on him.

All through the night, Sesshomaru could hear a strange racket coming from Kagome's house. It sounded like banging and many crashes. He sighed in anguish as it dawned on him that those were probably the noises of love. All he could do was turn on the television and wish that it was enough to drown out the sounds of Kagome and her husband possibly "getting it on".

The next morning Sesshomaru awoke feeling refreshed. His muscles weren't quite so sore and he actually felt like living. He did his daily routine and as he gathered his belongings to go to work, his door bell rang. He opened the door and there stood Kagome.

Her hair had been styled in such a way that it flowed over her shoulders in many heavy curls. Her face looked flushed yet very appealing. She was remarkable in her blue blouse and tapered pants; a great beauty.

"You left this last night" she opened her hands to reveal his cell phone, as if it was a secret. He hadn't even noticed it was missing. Just as he opened his mouth to say "thank you", his eyes came across a purplish-blue bruise on her long, ivory neck; so that "turn around" escaped from his lips in its stead.

She really had no idea why she obeyed but it was just natural to her. It was as if his voice was made to command her. Slowly and carefully, he removed the necklace from her. Obviously, it had failed to do its job. She turned back and stood there almost like an infant; vulnerable to him and his scrutiny. He saw how the mark spread. Sesshomaru didn't mean to, but he touched it. He lightly stroked it with his hands. Kagome flinched a little. As his hand lay on her neck, he could feel her pulse race. Sesshomaru was speechless and yet again she was the cause. Those sounds he heard the night before…

"Please come in" Sesshomaru had decided not to go to work that day.

"Oh, thank you but I don't think that's a good idea" she bowed politely; embarrassed that he may have discovered her predicament.

He didn't touch her physically, but his voice reached her. "I think you should".

Once again, she complied.

AN: That's the first chapter for you. I hope you liked it. Please leave comments it you did and if you didn't, please no flames.