Absent Desires
We don't meet people by accident. They are meant to cross our path for a reason.
Chapter 3: Awkward Coincidences
Miyako had been satisfied and taking advantage of her being asleep Sesshomaru quickly dressed in the dark and with the skill of a ninja quietly slipped out the back door and started down the stairs leading to the private beach behind her mansion. Glancing at his watch he frowned when he saw that it was nearly three in the morning, over two hours longer than he originally planned on staying. But that woman, she was insatiable, always wanting 'just one more' go.
He hadn't wanted to start this affair, but the socialite mate of a prominent businessman had something on him that could ruin his entire life if ever made public. The only thing keeping her mouth shut was their constant meetings that apparently filled a void her always on the move partner never had time to. At least she never demanded I spend the night. He hated touching people in general but the level of intimacy sex required left the introverted man completely drained at the end of the night and tonight was no exception. All he wanted to do right now was go home and purge himself in burning hot water before burying under his covers and falling asleep.
His hands dug into his pockets, Sesshomaru walked from one private beach to the next, the seaside houses bearing no discerning lines to where one's land ended and another's began. Soon enough he found himself treading across public land, the moon overhead illuminating his pristine white hair that he had left untucked under his dark hat. It wasn't until he was near the stairway leading up to the street that he noticed a figure in the distance at the shoreline sitting in the sand. The wind's direction took that moment to shift and inhaling the person's scent Sesshomaru's eyes widened behind his glasses. Impossible.
Meeting twice was coincidental, but three times in two days was bordering on the edge of bizarre. The jackal woman was in a similar position from the night before, hugging her knees but this time, her head was down in the space between her knees, her black hair covering the rest of her face. Surprised and a little creeped out too, he considered ignoring her and continuing on his way but paused when he looked back and saw how stiff her body was. Concerned he approached her and stopping just within arms reach gently asked her, "Are you alright?"
"Huh?" Kagome's head shot up at the voice. Leaning her head back she gasped at seeing the same man from the last two days, albeit upside down and smiling? Or frowning, she wasn't sure which due to the odd angle she was seeing him with.
Sesshomaru who was indeed frowning at her focused on the tear-stained face of the brown skinned woman. She had been crying about something, but what? It wasn't his place to ask but the way he was staring must have questioned for him because she smiled a bit and explained, "I was praying."
"Praying?" He repeated, startled. Not many demons held religious beliefs, the few that did worshipping their founding ancestors rather than a particular god, but even those prayers usually involved ritual sacrifices and an over the top ceremony, not being hunched over at a beach in the middle of the night. "Praying to who?"
"Anubis."
"A...Nubis?" He repeated, unsure of who she was speaking of.
"The jackal god of the dead," She elaborated sniffling slightly. "I was praying because I forgot to do it today."
"He isn't a god native to this country," Sesshomaru concluded on his own. She nodded. It made sense, her brown skin and kinky hair texture standing out in a country filled with pale complexions and straight tresses. "You aren't from here I take it." It was more of a statement than a question but if Kagome noticed it she didn't mention it.
"I was born here," She said unfolding herself into a more comfortable position. "My father is Japanese but was born in Greece and my mother was from Egypt. Both jackals."
He hummed. "Quite an impressive bloodline."
"What about you?" Kagome smirked and glanced at his white hair. "There's only one family in Japan with hair that color and no salon in the country could dye it to look that pristine." Her grin widening she boldly inquired, " Are you a Taisho?"
Sesshomaru froze for a second at hearing his last name but eventually relaxed enough to give a brief nod of his head. "In a matter of speaking, yes I am."
"Which one?" She asked, standing up and turning around to face him. Squinting her gray eyes, she tried to note any features that would point to which member of the Taisho clan he was but his hat and glasses covered his face and no stripes were visible on his cheeks. "You can't be Shiro….he's older, and so is Shin'ichi." Wrinkling her nose as she took in his scent she sighed and shook her head as though telling herself no to an idea. "Inuyasha is only fifteen….and I'm pretty sure you aren't a woman," She giggled at the joke. "So you can't be Izayoi…."
"I'm Sesshomaru," He said at last, tired of hearing her make guess work of his family. "My mother is Kimiko…."
"Kimiko?"
"The former mate of Toshiro…."
Kagome shrugged and plopped back down. "Never heard of her."
"I'm not surprised…." He muttered, his gaze turning towards the ocean. "We aren't really that well known."
"Ah." The jackal said, unsure of what else to say. "Oh yea, I forgot to tell you my name,"
"Kagome right?" He said immediately, digging his hands deeper in his pockets.
"Yea," She said, taken aback. "How…."
"The bakery you exited told me who you were in case I wanted to sue for my pain and suffering."
"Sue?" Kagome squeaked out.
"Yes, sue. You knocked me on my back."
"I didn't mean to!"
"Regardless you should have been paying attention, had I been someone else you could have broken something."
"Sorry…."
"It's fine." He said once again, repeating his earlier words to the incident. "I was joking anyway."
"Wait….you didn't learn my name through the bakery?"
"No, I was joking about suing you," He clarified snorting. "My sense of humor is very dry."
"Sarcastic right?"
He sighed. "Forgive me if it isn't the best."
"Don't worry about it," Kagome said, hugging her knees and rocking a bit on her butt. "I'm the same way too."
"Hn. It's rare you find someone who understands…." Without thinking, he took a seat next to her with his own knees up to his chest, his laced fingers going to rest in between his legs.
Seeing him getting comfortable Kagome arched an eyebrow but remained quiet, deciding it was better than questioning why he was around her at all. She yawned, her fangs gleaming in the moonlight. "Anything else we should talk about?"
Sesshomaru adjusted his cap. "Not if it's something irrelevant."
"Fine."
The two remained silent after that, only the sounds of the ocean's waves being heard as they secretly enjoyed each other's ironic company.
A/N: Please review! -Theores
