Title: To the Goodbyes We've already said…

Author: Celestial Seraphim

Warning: angst, OOCness, Kagome'ness, tear-jerker

Pairing: SesshomaruxKagome

Side Pairings: SangoxMiroku, InuyashaxKagome

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters those go to their prospective owners but I'm currently in negotiations for a Sesshomaru plushie :3 Cover Image Belongs to YoukaiYume and is the Inspiration of this story…

Summary: What is love? What is destiny? What are soul mates? She thought she knew but during the three years she's stuck on her side of the well Kagome will learn that sometimes the person your heart really wants is not who you think. However, will she be able to have him is the question? Or is it already too late? Time and fate are not always so giving.

Author's Note: You guys have no idea how happy you make me :D to know you all like the first chapter is encouraging. I hope I continue to keep your attention. Thank you to those of you who reviewed and a special thank you to those who fav'd/followed. I adore you guys! Hopefully you all enjoy this chapter as well, our special someone is going to be a bit frustrating but bear with him lol!

To the Goodbye We've already said…

*2*

Kagome shook herself hard, remembering where she was when she felt Lena's eyes on her. Her mind raced with a million things. Why was he here? How was he here? Was Inuyasha? Were there more youkai around? However, even with all the questions running through here mind she appeared controlled on the outside but her voice shook slightly. "Gomen nasai, you just looked like someone I knew for a second."

Lena shifted as she cleared her throat before asking, "Higurashi-chan, did you not have something to ask Hisato-san?"

Kagome shuddered as a flash of red robes and an arrogant grin flashed through her mind but she pushed it back and smiled tightly. "No, perhaps another time. However, I do not wish to bother Hisato-san when we have only just met."

She could see he was tense and she realized he hadn't been before he saw her, he recognized her. It made her think of the picture in his file and that soft gleam in his eyes. Could he have changed? He refused to look at her and Kagome could feel everything inside of her quake, yearning to reach out and touch something from that time. To assure herself she was indeed not crazy and those last few years of her life did exist. However, the old fear of Sesshomaru still lingered even when during their allying days he'd been more tolerant of her and her friends. With that said she led the way through the museum but her eyes never strayed from his face and his eyes never glanced in her direction. "Higurashi-san, I must say I am impressed with your knowledge. You must do very well in school."

Kagome blushed, looking away and towards the ground at his companion'scompliment. She never saw light brown eyes flash gold as they landed on her for a split second. She'd catapulted herself through school ever since she got back, it was her only solace from the pain other than work. "I only do what is expected."

Her voice was quiet but there was quiet pain in it as she lifted her eyes and they landed on him but he still refused to look at her. She suddenly wanted to scream, to grab him and shake him. Anything so that he would look at her and know. "It is time for us to go."

The young priestess' eyes widened as he spoke, his voice a low baritone as he murmured the words. It was the same. A low ache made her breath hitch a little and for one millisecond their eyes met and again she saw. Saw something she'd seen what she'd seen so long ago reflected at her in his eyes but even now she couldn't understand what it was exactly. However, just as quick his eyes moved away from her and past her shoulder at Lena. "You should be receive a check for my donation within the week. This was…a pleasure of sorts. Domo arigato gozaimasu."

Kagome had to bite her lip as the thought 'Still so formal and polite…' crossed her mind for a second before Lena stepped up with a bright smile. "No, no thank you for continuing to support us. We truly appreciate it, Hisato-san."

She and Lena bowed as he turned away with his companion beside him, trailing behind. As she watched his retreating back Kagome felt herself tremble and bit her lip. 'Turn back…Please turn back. Come back, talk to me. Tell me what happened. DON'T LEAVE!' Her thoughts in chaos she let a harsh breath escape once he was out the door and unthinkingly she chased after him. "Excuse me, Lena-san! I'll be right back!"

The miko heard Lena shout but her thoughts were on the youkai who would leave and she had the feeling would never show up again if she let him escape. She slammed the door open, gaining the attention of his companion but he kept on walking stiffly. "Wait! Please, wait!"

Her voice hitched and trembled as she tried not to let tears escape. He froze but he had not turned to her. She took a step forward and his companion looked between the two but for all she could care there was just him and his connection to her past. "It's you…isn't it…?"

He remained quiet but that was enough of an answer for her and his name left her in a rush of air. "Sesshomaru…"

She noticed his companion stiffen but his own body seemed to relax before tensing again. Vaguely she wondered how long it'd been since he'd heard his own name, his real name. A sharp jab of hope hit her and she scrambled forward. "How are you here? Is Inuyasha? I can't get back. Do you know how I can? Did I ever go back?!"

Her voice was a little shrill at the last question, she could feel her old panic attacks threatening to take hold as the urge to try jumping through the well nearly seized her. He still wouldn't look at her but she heard his voice and it made her still. "Miko, enough. It is not unnatural for one such as me to still be alive after so long…however, I cannot tell you more than that."

Kagome blinked before suddenly bursting into tears and for once he looked at her, shock clear on his face that it made her cry that much harder. This was Sesshomaru but he was different. Did that mean, if the others were here would they be different as well? Would Inuyasha still want her?"

A low annoyed growl made itself known and Kagome knew she was blubbering but she couldn't help it. She was so caught between hope and heartbreak that all she wanted to do was throw herself at the Taiyoukai. She missed the pointed look he threw at his companion and the shorter man went inside. Sesshomaru watched her with flashing eyes for a second as he sighed before a soft huff escaped him and he cut in sharply, "Woman, cease and desist."

She stopped sharply, slightly startled out of her misery at the very Sesshomaru thing to say and she remembered her thought from earlier. 'Still so formal…' He looked her over before turning on his heel and continuing on to his car so once more she was watching his retreating back. When a chauffeur got out and opened the door for him he paused and looked over his shoulder at her. He arched an eyebrow in such a familiar manner that it hurt and said, "Will you continue to stand there or are you going to follow?"

The little miko blinked and wavered, her mind reminding her she had work and she couldn't just leave no matter how much she wanted something (or in this case someone) from the past around. He glared at her partially annoyed and growled out, "My assistant went to inform your employer that I wish your assistance."

"You do…?" She blinked in surprise and if she didn't know better she'd have suspected he was doing a good job of resisting rolling his eyes. "Miko…"

His warning tone made her scurry after him, glancing up at him and meeting –briefly- gold eyes as she slipped into the luxury car before him. It was roomy, not exactly a limo but longer than a regular car and she was impressed. 'Then again this is Sesshomaru, I shouldn't be.' A small wan smile curled her lips as he slid in on the opposite side of her, leaning back comfortably on the seat across from her as they waited for his companion. This time it was she who could not meet his eyes and he who would not take his eyes off of her.

She was exactly the way he remembered her yet at the same time not. He remembered her as a strong bubbly young woman with strange clothes that didn't fit her Miko title and the chastity he smelled from her. However, in front of him was a woman who was broken and barely holding on by a thread. He vaguely remembered a time when he'd caught a glimpse of this girl before. The memory was so fuzzy now that he couldn't quite grip it so he brushed it away. He kept a close eye on the girl in front of him, she didn't look at him yet in her own way she leaned towards him. As though being near him was enough to ease whatever plagued her and unthinkingly he spoke, "You have changed…"

Blue eyes turned to meet him sharply and a hiss of surprise escaped her. He raised an eyebrow and he smelled a flare of irritation he recognized, 'I almost forgot how she hated that…' Amusement was a prominent emotion but he hid it well before he realized what had made her so surprised. He'd dropped his glamour the minute the car door had closed behind him and now he sat before her in his true appearance. Much like in his human guise, his hair was cut short but still looked moonlight kissed while his golden eyes shimmered brightly. He was slightly taller than his younger years and not as feminine looking but certain aspects of him still had that delicate appearance.

She blinked slowly and he noticed she seemed to waver slightly but snapped out of it when the car door opened once more and his assistant slipped in next to her. He seemed shocked to see Sesshomaru in his natural look, elven ears keeping hair tucked back a little and a casual but alert pose in the chair. The taiyoukai's lip curled slightly in a familiar look before he said placating, "Ito meet my brother's wench…Miko."

He seemed to correct himself after a sharp look from Kagome that promised pain and in her tremulous state he wouldn't put it past her to purify him. It was a bit disturbing and once more since catching her eye and recognizing her, he internally sighed at how soft he'd gotten over the years. If he'd been in his pup years still he'd have easily ignored her and kept walking but at the sound of her heart breaking he'd reluctantly allowed her weakness. A part of him promised he would regret this and the rational part of his mind agreed. Whole heartedly.

Ito looked in shock at Kagome, his eyes sweeping over her in shock before looking at Sesshomaru. He opened his mouth to say something but a sharp look at the other youkai –because she realized she could sense a little youki coming off of him- shut him up quickly. The man seemed to be a little sick as he looked at her and said, "It is a pleasure to meet the Shikon Miko."

Kagome blinked, realizing Sesshomaru had said 'My brother' not 'the half breed', not 'disgusting hanyo', not 'the fool' but 'My brother'. She vaguely wondered what had changed, what happened in the past? Did she ever go back?

"Miko." His voice was sharp and she was once again broken out of her reverie and saved from another panic attack. She felt off kilter, she hadn't had a panic attack like this for two months and she knew it was because she was in front of a peace of her past. The past she wanted to go back to so badly. She took a shuddering breath and spoke, "it is to be expected."

She noticed a slight crease between his brows but they didn't actually move all that much and she realized this Sesshomaru was a little more willing to show emotions. The crease disappeared and the bored expression was back on so she guessed he realized she was talking about his statement to her changing. She closed her eyes as pain rocketed through her for a second before she said, "Being unable to see him and being ripped from him will do that."

His golden gaze flickered away from her and he was once again not meeting her eyes. She wanted to ask him why but was cut off when the car stopped, not having actually realized when it had started moving. She looked out a window and was surprised to see she was in front of the shrine, her home. She suddenly remembered Lena's statement of him donating to shrines in Japan. She wondered, wondered strongly why that was. She wondered where Rin and Jaken were and if they too were still alive. She ripped her eyes away from him once more as he slipped out and she followed behind, she didn't notice his slight shake of his head when Ito went to follow as well. Too wrapped up in her inner musings she continued walking until before she realized it she was in front of the well house and despair welled up in her.

"Do not worry so much. It is unnecessary. What will happen, will happen." There was a tinge of impatient annoyance in his tone and she turned to face him. He was once again donning his human guise and she found she preferred the other one. "Move away from there…now."

She blinked and once again a flare of old but familiar irritation flared in her for a second. Kagome turned around swiftly and began to make her way back to the house. However, she paused and looked over her shoulders to see that Sesshomaru looked at the well house with something in his eyes. Hesitantly she called softly, "Sesshomaru-sama…"

She noticed his eyes closed for a moment before meeting hers and they were gold. "Will you…Will I…Will I see you again?"

She held her breath as his features seemed to close off and he traveled deep within hiself. When he finally answered it was to say 'Maybe' and then he was gone. Content in at least that, she went into her home and ignored everyone as she headed straight to her room suddenly feeling very tired. As soon as she hit the bed she was deeply asleep, her dreams plagued with visions of the fire rat robe and haunted gold eyes.

TBC…