He watched her smile as she tickled the little boy. The child giggled and she kissed his cheek. The other children rushed towards her, demanding the same treatment. Her face was flushed and her smile was this the same girl who he had left at the alter three years ago?
Frowning, Seshoumaru Taisho turned on his heel and left. Somehow, the image of her smiling face couldn't leave him.
Seshoumaru had known Kagome ever since high school. However, he had never met her, never talked to her, until that fateful day when they had been paired together on their history assignment. He had been shocked, as had she been. Kagome was the shy and quiet type, while Seshoumaru was arrogant Ice Prince of the school. With his good looks, he had even obtained his own fan club. However, he ignored them like he ignored everyone else.
At the end of the day, he had found her in the library.
"We shall start upon our assignment."
Kagome had simply raised a brow at him and shrugged, "Fine. What do you have in mind?"
A little perturbed that she wasn't fawning over him, he had thrown out the most difficult topic in mind. To his fascination, she had launched into an intricate discussion on said topic.
After that life had become increasingly haywire. Despite popular belief, Kagome had been no pushover. She had fought him, argued with him, defended her causes, and made him fall in love with her.
To this day, he remembered the day he had finally tried asking her out. He had been awkward for Seshoumaru Taisho never asked anyone out. However, things never went as he planned. She had been angry at him for something and they had started arguing.
Before he knew it, he'd pushed her against the wall and dominated her mouth. His hunger for her had even shocked him. His mouth was brutal and his tongue lethal as he attacked her. Instead of fighting him, she had moaned out and kissed him back. Pulling back from her, he had gasped for breath and looking in her eyes he had demanded that she go out with him.
She didn't put up much of a fight.
They had dated for six years, their passion wild and unrestrained. He had expected it to die out soon enough, but somehow it never did. He had discovered her secrets, her joys, her passions. And she in turn supported him in everything he did. He was crazy about her and yet was never able to tell her he loved her. She was gentle, yet fiery and passionate. She loved children and wanted to become a historian one day.
He had proposed to her after they had graduated from Tokyo University, together. That night, as he held out the ring, he told her he loved her. For the first time, he saw her tears. She said yes. They set the date for after six months. Both of them had been filled with joy.
Then a month before the wedding, Kagome had starting acting strange. Taking it as wedding jitters, he had dismissed it. Then two days before the wedding, his secretary, Kagura had handed him an envelope of photographs of Kagome siting in a cafe with another man.
Shocked and disbelieving, he had decided to confront her. On his way home, he had seen her standing in front of a building, with the same man. They had been talking urgently and then she had buried her face in her hands. She had then looked up and flung her arms around him, her face so blissful, so happy, that Seshoumaru had been enraged. However, instead of confronting her there and then, he had chosen a colder way to repay her back for her unfaithfulness.
He left her at the alter. While he should have been saying his vows, he had been boarding a plane to the States. He had never contacted Kagome after that.
Yet, his heart yearned for her. He had tried sleeping with other woman, but it didn't erase his feelings for her. He found himself near the phone every night just wantong to hear her voice. One day, he had called her number. She had answered, her voice rough with sleep. He had remained silent, satisfied with just hearing her voice. He recorded her voice.
Every night, he would replay it. "Hello? Um, hello? Is anybody there? Helloooo?"
It was not much, but it soothed him and he started sleeping easier. However, a week ago, his half brother visited him from Japan.
Inuyasha had always been brash and violent. He had come to intern at Seshoumaru's firm. It was through him that he found out something that had shocked him and made him rush back to Japan in search of the woman he had once intended to marry.
He stared across the park, lost in his thoughts when a soft, hesitant voice spoke his name, "S-Seshoumaru? Is that you?"
He had whirled around, his eyes falling on the young woman sitting in a wheelchair. Her face was pale as if she had seen a ghost. His eyes widened and he took a step forward. He murmured her name hoarsely, "Kagome."
However, before he could approach her, she wheeled herself back and looked at the ground between them. It seemed that she didn't want to look at him.
"S-So, how have you been?"
Seshoumaru looked at her, everything in him wanting to run towards her and hold her in his arms.
"I have been fine. How have you been?"
He cringed at the way he sounded.
She shrugged, "Okay."
They remained in awkward silence before she cleared her throat and looked across the park, "I know it doesn't matter now, but would you tell me why?"
"Why?" he echoed.
She looked at him, her face blank, as if wearing a mask, "Why'd you leave me at the alter?"
Seshoumaru tucked his hands in his pockets, his mouth dry, "You were having an affair."
Kagome jolted, "Huh?"
Her tone was disbelieving, and confused, "I was having an affair? With whom exactly?"
Suddenly, Seshoumaru felt unsure. He had never asked her, just decided it after watching her hug the strange man.
"I saw pictures of you and another man. I then came upon you holding him."
"Which man? When?"
"Two days before the wedding."
Kagome suddenly went pale, and her hands trembled, "Oh."
Then her entire form went limp, as she repeated, "Oh."
He waited for her to say something, and was startled when she just looked at him, "Thank you. Goodbye then, Seshoumaru."
She started to wheel herself away. His eyes narrowed. In three long steps, he towered above her, his voice angry, "Well? Were you having an affair, or not?"
Kagome looked up at him, and smiled. He was taken aback at how bittersweet it was.
"I never cheated on you, Seshoumaru. You were the only one I loved."
His eyes widened, and his heart overflowed with happiness. She had never cheated on him! She had loved him!
"Will you please move? I'm late for work."
He stared at her as her words registered in his dizzy brain, "Work?"
She looked at him, her face expressionless, "Yes, Seshoumaru. I'm late for work. I'll get in trouble so please move aside."
"Who was he?"
She sighed, running a hand through her hair, "It doesn't matter, okay? It's all in the past now. Now please leave me alone. "
"I want an answer, Kagome."
Her mask faltered for a second and he saw pain in her face. Both physical and emotional. She shuddered for a second before taking a deep breath.
"If I tell you everything, will you please leave me alone, then?"
He remained silent and she took it as an affirmative.
"Come on. My apartment is near."
She started wheeling herself and he put his hand on her arm. She looked up, surprised.
"Let me."
Befre, he could do anything, she shrugged off his hand. Her voice was empty as she muttered, "I'm accustomed to being alone, Seshoumaru. I don't need anyone's help."
He watched her wheel herself, and frowned over her words. Alone? But where was her family? Determined to question her later, he followed in her path.
She had changed her apartment. Seshoumaru had expected that but what he saw left him speechless. It was a dingy two room apartment. One kitchen and one small bedroom attached to a tiny bathroom. The place was small and uncomfortable. The bed had one worn out pillow and a thin blanket. The kitchen was barely stocked. If Kagome felt his shock, she didn't say anything. She wheeled herself to the kitchen and put on some water to boil. Seshoumaru followed her.
Her gaze was focused on the water, as she spoke lightly, "Forgive me. I don't entertain much, so you'll have to sit on the bed."
His heart clenched as her hand trembled slightly while she poured the tea for both of them, handing one cup to him.
He sat on the bed and she looked at him, "Allright. What do you want to know?"
Seshoumaru grit his teeth, "Where is your family?"
Kagome's gaze widened at the personal question, and then she looked away, "Mama married again, and well after the accident, Totsatu told me to stay away from the family. Apparently, I had brought them enough dishonor as it was."
Seshoumaru's eyes narrowed, "They left you alone?"
Kagome didn't meet his gaze, "Mama loves Totsatu and well, Souta adores him as well. Besides," She tried to smile cheerfully, "I like being alone. Nobody bothers me to do anything."
Seshoumaru clenched his fist. It felt like someone had just punched him in his smile was so broken that it made him want to hurt something, "Do you have any contact with them?"
She shook her head, "Th- I felt it was best not to bother them."
"Why do you live here?"
Kagome raised a brow and said simply, "It's my home. Why shouldn't I live here?"
Seshoumaru couldn't say anything. He had abandoned her and then her family had abandoned her.
"What happened to your legs?"
Kagome sipped her tea, "Three months after you left, I was crossing the street and a car hit me. I'm paralyzed, waist below."
Seshoumaru stared at the calm woman in front of him. He loved this woman, he always had, had wronged her, abandoned her, fate had dealt her harsh blows and yet she sat here, all calm and collective.
"There are medicines, now-" he began and was effectively cut off.
"I know," Kagome said simply, "But they cost money. I can't afford them."
"But I can."
She looked at him, "I will not take anything from you. I don't want your pity or your sympathy. And I don't want your money. I only have my pride left, Seshoumaru. Don't take that from me. I'll tell you what you want to know, and then you can leave me be."
He was silent and she started talking.
"You want to know who that man was? He was a gynaecologist."
Seshoumaru turned pale, his grip on the cup tightening, "A gynaecologist? You were pregnant!"
Kagome looked at the wall, deliberately, "Yeah. I was going to tell you on the day of the wedding, but you never showed up."
Seshoumaru's voice was shaking as he asked hoarsely, "Our child! What happened to our child?"
Kagome's voice was flat, "The car hit my stomach, Seshoumaru. I lost the baby."
Seshoumaru looked at her, his expression that of a broken man, "Our child died?"
Kagome didn't look at him. Her hands were clenched on her lap, "They said he died instantly. I was five months pregnant then. I nearly died but those doctors brought me back." She rubbed a hand over her womb, "They did some sort of operation and told me I could not have children anymore."
Her head was bowed as she stared at her stomach. Her shoulders shook lightly and hot tears fell on her trembling hands, "I'd always wanted a family of my own. I had dreamed that one day I would fall in love, marry and have lots and lots of children. B-but, I can't now...I can't have children...I can't have my dream..."
She raised her tears drenched eyes towards him, "I would have been happy with my baby alone, as well, but I lost him too. It was a boy, you know."
Kagome wheeled herself over to huge chest in the corner of the room and opened it. It was filled with toys and clothes. Her hand was limp as she fingered them lovingly. Her smile was bitter, "I bought so many clothes, so many toys. I thought that one day, he would wear these and play with them, and he never got the chance."
Her eyes were empty as she turned to look at him, her smile hollow, "You see. I lost him too. But it's okay. I'm fine now. It's been three years now. What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger, right?"
Seshoumaru stood up and walked up to her. She was so lost, so alone, so broken that his heart shattered. Falling on his knees, he wrapped his arms around her waist, his form shaking violently, "Forgive me! Forgive me, Kagome."
She stared at his silver head in her lap and blinked, clearing her head. Regaining her composure, she let him sob and then patted his head, murmuring, "It's not your fault. Nothing is your fault."
He finally released her, and looked up at her. Her eyes were gentle, "I don't blame you for anything, Seshoumaru. Please don't think that."
He shook his head, "I shouldn't have abandoned you. I should have asked you, not left you alone."
Kagome sighed and then framed his face in her hands, "You should have asked me, yes. But we never know what fate has in store for us. So don't blame yourself. I'm happy now. I go to the orphanage every afternoon. Then I go to work and come home."
Seshoumaru rested his head on her lap, and they both drew comfort from each other, "What do you do?"
"I work at a tailoring shop nearby."
Seshoumaru raised his head to study her, his eyes confused, "But you had a job at Dickson's and Rareinin's. You have a PhD in history. Why, then?"
Kagome smiled sadly, "Nobody wants to hire a handicapped historian, Seshoumaru. Going up and down those stairs was an impossibility for me. So I started working at Kaede's shop."
She then laughed softly at the face he was making, "Oh dear! I'm not unhappy, Seshoumaru. Kaede is nice to me. And she pays me enough to maintain this place. I am perfectly fine."
Seshoumaru looked at her and shook his head, "I have something to confess."
Kagome raised a brow.
"I called you one day at night and you answered your cell phone." Kagome looked confused as he muttered, "I recorded your voice and go to sleep every night, after listening to it."
Kagome frowned, "Um."
He looked away, "I know you probably don't love me anymore, Kagome. You have no reason to. But I do love you. I never stopped. I was foolish back then, an idiot and I hurt you so much. You may never forgive me, but," He paused and closed his eyes, "Give me a chance. That is all I want."
Kagome smiled then, a broken smile, "The thing is, Seshoumaru, that I love you too, but I can't. Not now. I'm sorry. Please leave now. You got your answers. We had a deal."
Seshoumaru sighed and got to his feet, "I knew you'd say that." And then he gave her a stubborn look, "However, I do not remember agreeing to that condition. You will marry me, Kagome. I was foolish to lose you once. I will not let you slip out of my hands this time."
A tear fell down Kagome's cheek as she whispered, "Why are you doing this to me? I can't give you children. I can't fulfill your needs. I can't be the socialite wife you require. Then why, torture me so?"
His gaze hardened, "Because I love you. And I know you love me too. You just stated so. I do not make the same mistake again. I don't care if you're paralyzed or not. You belong to me, and I belong to you. You say you forgive me. Then prove it. Allow me to court you."
Kagome shook her head, burying her face in her arms. She knew he wasn;t lying. He did love her but she couldn't burden him. She refused to.
Seshoumaru grabbed her wrists, and she looked up. Before she could tell him no, his mouth was devouring hers. She let out a gasp and he took advantage of that fact and plundered her mouth. It was like coming home.
She let out a moan and allowed him to do what he wanted with her. His hands roamed her body as he bit her neck lightly, urging reactions from her reluctant body. Finally panting, he pulled away and stared at her, "Marry me. I know I lose my temper at times, I'm not the most affectionate man but I truly do love you, Kagome and if you say no to me, I'll go insane. I swear it."
Kagome looked at him, and then let out a small sigh of defeat, leaning her forehead against his, "Do whatever you want. You'll manage to get your way anyways, underhanded dog."
He smiled then, and she stiffened when two tears fell on her hands. She tried to look up, but he held her delicate form to his own. He had finally come home.
They were married in a month, in a quiet ceremony, and a year later, Kagome underwent a major surgery. She was able to walk around on crutches for a year or so before taking baby steps of her own. Her husband was so thrilled that she finally told him off for nagging her all day long. Needless to say, he sulked for a week before she finally gave in and allowed him to do as he pleased. Kagome then adopted a little red haired boy, Shippou and a girl, Rin. Both had been abandoned by their families.
Kagome got the family she had always wanted, while Seshoumaru got his sanity back, as he would often tell Kagome. He had found his home in her, and she had found her dream in him.
A.N: Please tell me what you think. I know grammatical mistake are there. I tried to find them but was so tired that things just blurred. Review and tell me your opinions.