Chapter two:
* 13 years later *
"Sesshoumaru my son, be a dear and go find Kagome for me. She didn't come to her lessons this morning, and now I need her measurements for new Kimonos. She's growing so quickly." Takimi asked her son when she ran into him in the hallways. "I'm sure she is with Inuyasha, mother." he stated politely, hoping that she would go pester his brother instead. "She can't be with Inuyasha because he is with your father, training." she said. Sesshoumaru huffed. "Alright mother, I shall find her and send her your way."
He went to check her room first and that is where he found her. He could smell her tears before he even got there. 'Why is she crying?' he wondered as he knocked on the door. "Go away, Inuyasha!" she sobbed. He rolled his eyes and opened the door anyway. And there she was sitting in her bed with her head resting on her bent knees, crying. "What troubles you little one?" he asked upon entering her room. She looked up at him realizing that it was not Inuyasha coming to apologize. "Oh, Sesshoumaru!" she cried and launched herself into his arms. "He has ruined it!" He wrapped his arms around her and realized that she has grown like his mother said.
"Who?" he said offhandedly as he leaned in to rest his cheek on top of her head and take in her scent. The scent that had not changed as she grew and still had a calming effect on him.
"Inuyasha!" she sobbed, her tears soaking into his haori.
"What exactly has my brother done to you little one?" he said softly, rubbing her back trying to get her to calm down. He had figured out that his mother must have known that Kagome was this upset, that is why she sent him to find the girl. Just as her scent calmed him, he seemed to be the only one that was able to calm her down.
"He cut it!" she practically screamed into his sensitive ears. He remained silent for a moment with ringing ears. 'What could he possibly cut to make her cry like this? She isn't bleeding so it couldn't be that bad.' Then he realized what she meant just as she said it aloud.
"He cut my hair!!! He cut it while I was sleeping!" Then he took her by the shoulders and pushed her back so he could look into her eyes. She was really hurt about this, and it was understandable, what fifteen-year-old girl wouldn't cry if something like this happened to their hair? "Why would he do that, Kagome?" Fresh tears appeared in her icy eyes. "I don't know." He hugged her again and then wiped away her tears. "Let me see it." he command. She turned her back to him and he could see that a good sized portion of her knee length hair had been hacked off to about half down her back. He gasped and she stiffened. "I know its bad." she apologized sadly. Her hair, her beautiful midnight tresses, that hadn't been touched in all of her fifteen years, would have to be cut now to make it even. His brother would pay for upsetting her so. Sesshoumaru was furious. He spun her around so fast her hair flared around her and he pulled her into another hug and put his hand atop her head. "Do not fret dear one. Mother was looking for you anyway, go find her and she will fix your hair. No one will touch you again, I won't allow it. Inuyasha will be punished for what he has done to you, little one." he said to her and let her go. She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you Sessho." Then she ran out the door to go find Takimi. "Now for Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru almost growled out as he ran off to find his half-wit brother.
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Inuyasha was in the dojo training with the Great Lord when Sesshoumaru burst through the doors. In a second he had Inuyasha pined to the wall by his shoulders. "What is going on here?" the Great Lord said over Sesshoumaru's growls. "Ask Inuyahsa what he has done to Kagome." Sesshoumaru said. The Great Lord looked from his eldest to his youngest, wondering what on earth he could have done to the girl to get this reaction out of Sesshoumaru. "Inuyasha?" he questioned. Inuyasha looked at his father. "Feh . . . Sesshoumaru is so protective of her. All you have to do is look at her wrong and he is all over you. Remember when that guy in the kitchen made her cry after she dropped a plate?" He did remember that well, Sesshoumaru ended up breaking the man's leg, he still has to walk with a cane. And many had been beaten by him for looking down on her because she is human. Before he knew it, Sesshoumaru had thrown Inuyasha across the room. "You did not merely look at her this time, though, did you, Inuyasha?" Toga asked. Then he looked to Sesshoumaru for his youngest son's crime to be told. "He cut off her hair while she was sleeping!" Toga stepped in front of his son and put his hand on his shoulder. "My son, I understand that you are very protective of Kagome." he said to placate his son but inwardly he was smiling wide because his plans were going fine, Sesshoumaru already cared a great deal for her and he protected her fiercely. He mentally gave himself a pat on the back. "Go and check on her, Sesshoumaru, I will take care of Inuyasha." Sesshoumaru nodded. "Train him until he drops." Were Sesshoumaru's parting words.
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He found Kagome and his mother with the seamstress. He could still sense the sadness on her. Her hair had been evened out, even though it still looked beautiful he could tell that both Kagome and his mother were still a little sad about it.
When Kagome noticed Sesshoumaru standing in the doorway she went to him and hugged him. "Thanks Sessho, you always know how to make me feel better." she smiled up at him. He smiled back at her and ran his fingers through her hair. "I am sorry about your hair." he said solemnly. She looked up at him and reached up to brush his hair behind his ear and smiled at him. "If you feel that bad you could cut your hair to match mine." He gently removed her hand from his hair and looked into her eyes. "Kagome . . ." he said seriously. She just giggled and shrugged. "I'm not serious," she said lightly. "I couldn't bare to see your hair cut, Sessho. You know that." He sighed and cupped her cheek with his free hand. "Then you should know that it pains me greatly to see you crying like you were." he said quietly so that only she could hear. "Your hair will grow back dear one." He leaned down and kissed her one the cheek, then waved to his mother and turned to leave.
Looking at Kagome and her son Takimi could see the bond that had already formed between them. Anyone could see how they felt about each other. Now if only she could get them to realize and name their feelings. Kagome would never tell Sesshoumaru, she'd be too worried he didn't feel the same since he never shows such emotions. But he did feel something for her, of that Takimi was certain. He was so protective of her that it was ridiculous how could he not care. She smiled to herself as they talked about Kagome's hair and he assured her that she was still beautiful and her hair would grow back. After he left, Kagome turned back to her with blush dusted cheeks. "Takimi-sama, Sesshoumaru said you did great with my hair." Takimi smiled. She put her arm around Kagome's shoulders. "Come on Kagome, dear, lets get ready for dinner."
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"My Lord? Are you dreadfully busy?" Takimi asked as she entered her Lord's study. He looked up from his work and smiled at her. "I always have time for you, love." She smiled and sat down on his desk in front of him. "I think its time they started courting." He looked up at her. "Are you sure, maybe this isn't the best time." She just looked at him for a moment. "What are you talking about? I'm sure Kagome has feelings for him. And I've never seen Sesshoumaru act the way he does with anyone else they way he does with her."
"Takimi, I know this is true but this isn't the time to start, especially when Sesshoumaru is leaving at dawn tomorrow. I do not wish to break Kagome's heart even more that it will be when he leaves. She's never been that far from him for so long." he told her sadly. "Where are you sending him, Toga?" she demanded angrily. He sighed. "To the North, to train with the wolves, it will strengthen out alliance if he helps train their young prince, Kouga." She huffed. "I suppose you'll be sending Inuyasha as well?" And she crossed her arms over her chest. "Yes," he sighed at his mate's reaction. "They are preparing to leave as we speak."
"Well, if he is so set on leaving, then he is telling Kagome for I will not and neither will you!" And with that the Great Lord's Lady stormed out of the room. And the Great Dog General knew that he was in the dog-house for ruining his love's plans for her children. It will be a long while before he receives any treats from her.
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He sighed as he walked out into the garden where her scent had led him. How was he going to tell her that he was leaving? They had never been separated like this for more than a few days, he would be gone longer than she was used to. He would miss her terribly and her scent even more. He knew it would be just as worse for her. And if she wore to become irate it would be nearly impossible to calm her down since only he seemed capable of accomplishing it. But he had to leave it was for the sake of their lands and he needed to keep their alliances strong. There was no reasonable way around it besides whining that he didn't want to. And even then he would still have to go.
He found her by the koi pond. She was sitting on the ground with her back to him, but he knew that she knew he was there. "Kagome," he called. She turned to look up at him and smiled. "Hi, Sessho." He took a seat beside her on the ground and watched the fish in the pond. "Kagome, I . . ." he started but she interrupted him. "I know your here to say good-bye to me, Sessho." She said without looking at him. He just looked at her for a minute. "How would you possibly know this?" he asked her. "I knew at dinner. You kept looking at me, the only time you look at me that much is when you have to leave." she said sweetly as if she could read him like a book. "Is that so?" he asked her quietly. "Yes, it is. But don't be so sad, Sessho," she said as she laid a hand on his knee. "You'll be back in a few days." she added lightly. He laid a hand over hers and squeezed it gently. "I won't be back in a few days." he sighed. "I'm not sure when I'll be back, little one." He reached up to touch her face as she looked up at him. He could see the tears starting to collect in her icy-blue eyes. "You can't go for that long! What will I do without you?" she said, her voice betraying her emotions. He moved his thumb across her cheek to catch a tear that had escaped her eye. "I have to go. It's for the good of the West." he said as he pulled her into his lap. He hadn't done that since she was small. 'This must be hard on him too.' She thought as he buried his nose in her hair and inhaled deeply. "Ah, Kagome," he breathed. "Your scent calms me so. And I've never been so far from you." She just smiled and lay her head on his shoulder. "Your very presence soothes me, Sessho. It will be hard for me to adjust if your going to be gone for a long time." She looked up at him but he wasn't looking at her, his eyes were cast to the horizon. "Where are you going?" she asked quietly, not caring, she didn't care where he was going only that he'd be gone. "To the North," he answered as he nuzzled into her hair. "Father is sending me to help train the young wolf prince. I will be taking Inuyasha with me as well." He added the last bit just to see her reaction to the departure of his young brother. "Will you right to me?" she asked. She didn't really care that Inuyasha was leaving she liked him less and less all the time, he was always pulling nasty tricks on her that Sesshoumaru would punish him for later. After all this time you'd think he would have learned but he just kept at it. To her, having him go out for a while would be a welcome vacation.
Sesshoumaru smiled into her hair, pleased that she didn't seem to care that Inuyasha was leaving and only cared that he would be gone. She would suffer from this separation as much as he would, he was sure of it. "I'll write when I have time." he told her quietly. She leaned back and smiled up at him. "Oh Sessho, thank you." she said happily as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "I shall miss you greatly, Kagome." he breathed in her ear. "I'll miss you as well, Sessho." When her words reached Sesshoumaru's ears he held her tighter.
After dinner his father had called for him. He said that he had something important. When he got to his fathers study the information he gave him was a great surprise and a relief all at once. Hes father had told him that Kagome was meant to be his. His mother had wanted he and Kagome to start courting on this eve but his father thought it unwise at the moment and he had agreed. He then told his father that he was relieved and confessed his feelings for the girl. It was after Sesshoumaru's confession that the Great Lord suggested that he some how let her know hew he felt and convince her to wait for him. For she would reach mating age before he returned and since Sesshoumaru had no formal claim on her at the moment his father could not refuse other males, but she could if she wished. Since he knew that she cared for him more deeply than just a friend he agreed with his father.
He was pulled out of his musings when her grip on him slackened and she leaned back to look at him. "Kagome," he started. "I may be gone for a very long time." She nodded. He got a very serious look in his eyes. "I am sure that you will reach mating age before I return. And I can't say that I will approve of any suitors that may call on you." At this she frowned. "That won't be for a year. You can't be gone that long!" she whined. He rubbed her back soothingly. "I am sorry. But I will be gone for a year at the least." He wiped her tears away and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "I am afraid this will be the only chance I may have to lay the first kiss upon your lips." She shivered at his words and he smirked. When he heard her heart skip a beat he was sure she felt for him as he felt for her. When he looked in her eyes she seemed uncertain. "May I?" he asked quietly. When she nodded he let a small smile spread across his features. He buried his hand in her hair and brought her face close to his. He leaned down until their lips were just inches apart and he inhaled deeply to try and memorize her scent at that moment. Then he touched his lips to hers softly at first but soon the kiss deepened. He gently nipped at her bottom lip to get her to open her mouth further, and he slid his tongue into her mouth and she responded in the most wonderful way. Meekly at first but soon their tongues battled each other and she buried her hands into his hair. He finally broke the kiss, both were panting, and he rested his forehead against hers. "Kagome, wait for me. Do not take a suitor until I return." he said quietly. "I will not even look at another, Sessho." she said breathlessly. And he captured her lips once more. When their kiss broke he stood and lifted her to her feet. "I will take you to your room, love. It's getting late." She nodded and he led her inside.
When Sesshoumaru opened the door to her room she stopped and looked up at him. "I have something for you." He was surprised. "Oh," She smiled. "Takimi let me keep this . . ." she said as she drew out a lock of her hair from the folds of her kimono. "I want you to have it." He graciously accepted her gift and put it into his sleeve. "Thank you, Kagome." he then leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss. "Good night, dear one." he told her. "Good night, Sessho. I'll miss you." He ran the backs of his fingers down her cheek. "I shall miss you." he said as she went into her room and closed the door.
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When she woke the next morning she found a small packet on her pillow. She wondered where it had come from but when she picked it up there was a note underneath it. She opened the packet first. It was a long silver chain with a pendant. Shem smiled to herself as she put it on. The necklace was long, so long that the pendant reached almost past her chest. After she tucked the chain in to her clothing she opened the note. It held only three words: Wait for me.
After reading it she knew that the note and the gift had to be from Sesshoumaru.
