His voice was no more than a quiet murmur in the dark. "You do not need to apologize."

If only…

Kagome shook her head and dared to let her thumb brush the markings on his cheek. "You lost a child."

"And you did not?" He looked up then, challenging her with his eyes.

The truth of the statement wrenched the air from her lungs. "I did."

"Then we are both bereft."

She stared back, eyes holding an unfair, horrible question.

Sesshoumaru understood. "It was quick. Painless."

An unearthly sound tore from her throat.

His eyes clenched shut. "They sleep together."