A/N: Sorry this upload is a day late. I was busy all day yesterday; my fiance is back in town for our three year dating anniversary. :) This post was written for dokuga_contest's weekly drabbles. The prompt for this chapter was 'tremor.'

Word Count: 300

Originally posted on September 28, 2010.

One Step Forward and Three Steps Back

"Really?" There was a tremor in her voice as she spoke, the hope in her eyes unhidden when she looked up. "They didn't think I deserted them?"

"They believed in you, Kagome. When you didn't come back, they knew it was because you couldn't, not because you wouldn't."

Kagome sank into the chair beside the hospital bed, and Sesshoumaru sauntered over and climbed back in, knowing questions would be inevitable if another nurse came in and saw that he'd taken the liberty of detaching himself from the IV fluid. He reattached it with ease—he'd done it enough over the years—and Kagome didn't even seem to notice.

"Wait. You still traveled with them? They still let you?"

Sesshoumaru gave a single nod, but then added, "They bore no ill will towards me for Inuyasha's death. They understood the necessity, and only hated Naraku more for it." His voice was quiet, silently pleading for her forgiveness now that she knew her friends had forgiven him.

"Even Shippou?"

"Yes." Kagome's shoulders hunched at this news; surely if her friends were able to forgive him with such ease, she should be able to as well. But it wasn't that easy.

The anger in her scent had subsided some, but it was still there. Sesshoumaru took a deep breath, violet eyes trained on Kagome for any sign of…something. When nothing was provided, he decided to push further.

"He would've wanted it this way. Inuyasha would have done anything to protect you—including allowing me to kill him before he could no longer reason with himself."

This new bit of information caused Kagome's head to snap up, her eyes locking with Sesshoumaru's. Fury was in her gaze instead of relief, and he saw her hands clench the armrests until her knuckles turned white.

"What?"

End Note: Poor Sesshoumaru can't seem to get anything right. For someone who doesn't talk much, it seems he gets himself into trouble with his words with Kagome a lot. ;)

Please enjoy! And reviews, as always, are appreciated! :)