It was painful to watch her accept his apology again. He looked away, his stoic mask firmly in place as they embraced. His little brother had to be the luckiest being that existed for her to give him yet another chance. Kagome gave him a sheepish smile when she caught his eye again. Sesshomaru's eyes softened for a moment and he left his parent's sitting room. Izayoi, Inuyasha's mother, watched him leave, a small frown on her face. He made his way to his old room and closed the door behind him, picking up his old guitar. He played that song again, singing softly at first before getting lost in the music. The knock on his door was lost in the chords and he stopped playing when the door suddenly opened.

"Sesshomaru?" His eyes narrowed slightly as Izayoi entered the room. "Sorry to interrupt... I just wondered if you have anything on your mind..." He simply stared at her. They had never been on very good terms even when he was young. "Did you write that song? The one you were playing?" He nodded once and she smiled. "It was very good. Was it for someone special?" Again he nodded, the stoic stare firmly in place. "Has she heard it yet?" She smiled when he nodded once more. "Good. Sesshomaru, I know we never really got along well when you were young... But I hope you know that I love you like my own son. And I would hate to see you miss out on love. If you love someone, let them know it. Otherwise, you are admitting defeat before ever leaving for battle." She winked at him and left the room, closing the door behind her softly.

Sesshomaru stared at the door. Her words caught him off guard and he almost smiled at her attempt to speak his language. Admitting defeat, huh? He strummed his guitar again, shaking his head. This is not admitting defeat, this is not attempting a suicide mission... He knew that woman inside and out. He knew she only had eyes for his brother. The only way he could be close to her was to be her strength when she had none of her own left. And Kagome was a very strong woman, so that truly said something about how badly Inuyasha hurt her. He balled his fists and laid his guitar aside, laying back on his bed and staring at the ceiling. All he could do was wait for the day that his foolish little brother broke her completely. He knew it was coming, he didn't know when, but he knew. And he would be there with open arms and a song on his lips about the girl who may not ever know how much he truly loves her.

"I just can't believe you took him back." Kagome's best friend Sango sighed, sipping her strawberry smoothie and looking at Kagome.

Kagome smiled sheepishly and took a sip of her own banana-strawberry smoothie, shrugging. "I love him Sango. He said he was sorry..." She looked away from her friend's dead stare.

"Seriously? He said sorry? And how is that different from the other two times he slept with Kikyo and then said sorry, hmm?" Sango set down her cup and shook her head. "He's just going to do it again Kagome, you know that." She sighed as she watched Kagome stare at her lap.

She knew Sango was right. But leaving Inuyasha? Could she do it? Her heart ached at the thought and she fought back tears. She knew this was the third time and she knew they were broken. She couldn't pretend they weren't. There was no going back this time. Words couldn't heal the hurt, time wasted on trying was pointless. "I love him..." She mumbled softly.

"Oh Kagome..." Sango stood, moving around the small cafe table and hugged her best friend. "I know Sweetie, I know..." The bell on the cafe door rang and Sango glanced to it, an idea popping into her head as her mocha-colored eyed met frozen amber.

Sesshomaru froze, taking in the scene he had walked into. Kagome was there, crying softly, as her best friend Sango hugged her. His eyes locked with Sango's and she nodded to him ever so slightly. He blinked, nodding back. He heard the message loud and clear. "She's done, she needs you. Heal her broken heart."

"Kagome?" He asked softly, walking over and standing in front of her.

She jumped and looked up into his eyes, wiping the tears from her own. "Oh, Sesshomaru... What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd grab a coffee. Are you okay?" Sesshomaru gave her a soft smile and she smiled back.

"Yeah... Just confused." She mumbled as Sango sat down and took another sip of her smoothie.

She set it back down and smiled. "So Sesshomaru, you've known Inuyasha his whole life. You think he is really sorry?"

Kagome looked at Sango and then back at Sesshomaru with a small amount of hope glimmering in her eyes. It physically hurt his chest to look at her, knowing that he was about to shatter her. He looked at Sango and saw the determination in her eyes. She hated hurting Kagome just as much as he did, but they both knew that she would never be rid of Inuyasha without realizing that there was no point in hoping. He took a deep breath and looked down at her. "No. In fact, I am sure he will do it again. I bet he's with her now, honestly." He felt his heart constrict as her face fell and she looked at her lap again.

"You're wrong, he said he loved me, he said he wouldn't see her ever again." Kagome muttered, her hands balled into fists in her lap and hot tears rolling down her face.

Sesshomaru looked at Sango, who nodded. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Inuyasha's number, putting the call on speaker phone. It rang three times before Inuyasha answered. "What do you want, Asshole?" Kagome looked up at him and Sesshomaru closed his eyes. He couldn't bear to look at her as he spoke.

"Where are you?" Sesshomaru asked, failing to hide the anger in his voice.

After a shocked silence, Inuyasha snarled. "What business is it of yours, you bastard?!"

"Who is it?" A soft female voice whispered in the background. Sesshomaru's eyes shot open and he looked at Kagome, who's face looked pale. Her wide eyes were glued to the phone, too shocked to cry.

"Who was that, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asked, his voice shaking in anger. Kagome was still frozen.

"None of your business! Why are you calling me anyway?" Inuyasha snarled into the phone.

Sesshomaru growled. "I was proving a point to Kagome, I knew you weren't sorry, now she does too."

Silence fell and Sesshomaru reached forward, placing his palm on Kagome's cheek. His touch pulled her from her daze and she looked into his eyes, her tears rolling freely again. "Kagome? Is she there?" Inuyasha's voice was small and weak. He knew the answer already.

"She has been listening the whole time." Sesshomaru rubbed his thumb on her cheek as she closed her eyes, salty tears escaping under her eyelashes.

"You bastard, you set me up!" Inuyasha howled. Kagome's eyes flew open.

"Just a damn minute Inuyasha, Sesshomaru did nothing but clued me in to what an idiot I have been in trusting you. I shouldn't have taken you back the first time, let alone the third. I am so done, it's over. Don't ever talk to me again Inuyasha, have fun with your whore!" She snatched Sesshomaru's phone from him and hung up, shoving it into his hand and standing up in one movement. She grabbed her purse and her drink and flew to the door, slamming it behind her.

Sango sighed, shaking her head. "That sucked. Well, go after her." She smiled at him and he nodded, following after the heartbroken woman. Sango sat back and sighed again, smiling at her cup. She knew Sesshomaru loved Kagome, it was obvious to anyone who saw them together and really looked. They had a chemistry not many had, like two puzzle pieces, they just fit. And she knew Kagome loved him too, Kagome just didn't know it yet. She nodded to herself before grabbing her drink and heading home, wondering how Sesshomaru would confess. "Eh, Kagome will tell me all about it later anyway." She mumbled, closing the door behind her as she left.