Words: 800
Summary: A sunset shared between two old friends brings darkness to light
~Chapter Two - Dawning~
The two of them sat in silence, mugs in hand around the small kitchen table. It had been a month since Kagome ran into Sesshoumaru at the club and things were still so different she didn't know what to make of them. She knew she would have to explain sooner or later but she wasn't ready for that just yet.
The silver haired man sitting across from her looked up from his coffee silently taking in his surrounding. The apartment was small and quaint, perfect for one such as the woman that sat before him. A small writing desk sat in the corner against a wall, a couch and recliner chair stood alone in the living room. She had only the barest of essentials and he knew she would have had it no other way. She had just returned from the states, and although he did not know how long she would stay, this time he was determined not to let her go without a fight.
"Tell me what happened," He commanded coldly, and when her eyes met his he could only sigh internally. She does not wish to speak of it but she must. I will know why she left us so suddenly after his death, why she left me.
Blinking as if only just realizing the man had said something to her she looked up, "What happened to you? You're so cold now, distant. I don't think I like it very much."
"Hnn."
Kagome rolled her eyes knowing she would only receive an answer to her question when she answered his. Taking a deep breath she hastily told him what happened on the day his brother died. Inuyasha and her were playing tag out on his family's estate and she was looking for the perfect hiding spot. It was raining and she knew they weren't supposed to be outside but she had convinced him to play one more round with her. She saw an old tree that looked inviting and hid herself up on one of the branches hidden by the thick leaves. She could hear Inuyasha already looking for her but she knew he would never think to look up for her.
She waited several minutes until she could hear him shout his defeat. Calling his name she began to make her way down from the tree, but her foot got caught on one of the knots. The boy quickly crawled up to where she sat and released her from the trees grasp. The rain had made the branches slick and just as she touched the ground she turned and saw Inuyasha's footing slip. Crying out she ran to catch him but the damage had already been done.
When she finished her tale Sesshoumaru noticed she had unshed tears in her eyes, taking her hand in his larger one he tried to console her, "You were just a child. No one has ever blamed you for what happened. Why would you chose to leave everyone because of a silly mistake?"
She yanked her hand away from his and stood next to the sliding glass door that opened to her backyard. "Do you think I left because I wanted to!" She shouted not caring that he was only a few feet from her, "Do you honestly believe I chose to leave my family behind? Leave you? I was sent away! I was told to leave and never come back or everyone I knew would be in danger." Her voice grew smaller, "I had no choice Sesshoumaru."
To say he was furious would have been an understatement. He was absolutely livid that anyone would try to threaten an innocent child, especially her. The tears were falling from her face freely now as she watched the sunset in the distance. He tried to regain his composure before asking, "Who was it? You know my family is powerful. We could have protected you. I could have protected you. And why now, why do you chose now to come back home? What has changed?"
The woman smiled slightly, she knew that he would not like the answers he was to receive but she needed him to understand. "I know your family is powerful Sesshoumaru, but not even you could have protected me from this. I only came home because the man responsible for sending me away is no longer among the living himself."
"Who?" His voice was harsh, leaving no room for objections. He placed his hands on the woman's shoulders so she could not look away from him. The sunset's pale orange light shone across half the woman's face, and when she looked up at him he could clearly see the inner turmoil she was fighting just to answer his question.
Voice barely above a whisper she breathed, "Your father."
