A Heart's Recompense
Chapter 10
"We are going to talk, miko. But you have just ensured that it will not be here."
"I'm not going anywhere with you. Never in a mill…."
He paid no attention to her words as he raised his aura. Unprepared for the raw power he was projecting, Kagome felt nauseous, then dizzy, the greeted the black hole of unconsciousness. He caught her in his arms before she hit the ground and summoned his cloud. With the power they had both expended, he had only minutes to quit the area before the authorities arrived. He was not letting her go until she heard him out.
"Never say never, Kagome."
He had learned that for himself when he said he never wanted to see her again.
Sesshoumaru landed in his rooftop garden. He strode quickly to the glass doors leading to his living room. He gently laid her down on the couch and stroked her cheek. He spent several minutes examining the changes that the last two years had wrought. Her hair was longer. There were tiny lines on her forehead and at the corners of her eyes. He smoothed them with his fingers and frowned.
She was too young to have such lines. Even for a human. He had read somewhere that stress affects humans in many different ways. Premature aging among them. Something else he had to make up for.
He glanced at his watch. He would need to make a call before she woke up. He stroked the back of his hand down her cheek one more time and got up. She would probably be hungry when she woke up. He pulled the food he had prepared earlier out of the refrigerator and set about heating it up. Once he had everything started, he picked up the phone.
His father answered on the second ring.
"What is it Sesshoumaru?"
"Not even a pleasant greeting, Father?"
"Get to the point of the call, pup."
Sesshoumaru raked a hand through his hair. Relations had never been this strained between himself and his father.
" I called to let you know that Kagome will be delayed in picking up our son. We will probably be talking for some time."
"What did you do? Never mind. Let me talk to Kagome."
"She is unable to come to the phone at present."
"Put her on the phone, now."
"I am currently unable to comply with your request. I will have her call you later."
"Sesshoumaru! If you have…"
He pressed the end call button and sighed. There was now a large probability that his father would be coming over. One more phone call before he could get down to business.
"Security? This is Taisho…"
Satisfied that they would not be interrupted, he returned to dinner preparations. She should be coming around by the time he was finished.
Kagome groaned and put a hand to her head. What happened? She was walking to her car…
She shot straight up and managed to roll of the couch as a result. Her head was spinning. Where was she? What had he done to her? She remembered his massive aura. She had not had time to counter it. She looked around the well appointed room and realized she was at Sesshoumaru's penthouse. She turned her head to the glass doors. It was dark.
She gained her feet as she checked her watch. After 7. Touga had to be worried. Where had he put her purse? Her cell phone was in it.
"You are finally awake, I see."
She turned toward his voice. His suit was gone. He wore casual khaki slacks and a blue polo.
"Where is my purse? And my shoes? I have to leave. I am already late. Thanks to you."
He turned back to the kitchen.
"Have a seat at the table. I made dinner."
She ran after him.
"Sesshoumaru, please. You don't understand. At least give me my purse. I have to make a call."
He stopped so fast that she plowed into his back. He turned and gave her a small smile.
"There is nothing to worry about. I called Father as soon as we got here. I told him you would be delayed. He understands we are talking."
Her eyes grew wide.
"You… You know?"
"About my son? Yes. That is why we need to talk. Sit down. We will eat first. I'm sure you are hungry."
She sat down in a daze. Her worst nightmare was coming true. She would have to tread carefully now. Would he expect to be allowed to visit whenever he chose? Or would he try to take him from her? She knew demons had certain rights to their children. Touga had explained it was because of race issues and lines of succession. He hadn't lifted a finger before now. Could she claim abandonment?
He set a plate in front of her and she picked up her chopsticks. Her head was spinning. How had he found her? Surely Touga hadn't… No. Of course he hadn't. He wouldn't. He had been quite outspoken about his son's lack of concern over his pup. She had explained that he didn't know. She'd never told him. Touga had snorted.
'Then he wasn't paying proper attention.'
Izayoi had confirmed that Touga knew about Inuyasha before she did. Had Sesshoumaru known? Was the breakup because he wasn't ready? Or because he thought she was trying to trap him? Then why would he show up now? Had word gotten around? Touga had told her that is was a disgrace in the demon community to abandon a pup.
If that was the problem, what would he do? He couldn't deny him. Touga had already accepted him. Would he just want to give her money to keep quiet? Or show up once in a while with gifts to conceal a sham relationship? She would not let him use Kazuki like that.
Before she knew it, her plate was empty. She couldn't recall taking a single bite.
"Would you like some more?"
She raised her head to look at him. He'd only eaten about half of his food.
"No." An afterthought. "Thank you."
Since she had no choice in the matter anymore, she thought it would be prudent to be polite. If this concerned Kazuki, she couldn't afford to antagonize him. As the demon father, he probably had demon law on his side.
He rose and took their plates to the sink. When he had rinsed them and put them into the dishwasher, he returned to the table.
"Would you prefer to sit here, or in the living room?"
She got up and made her way to the living room, sitting in the only single chair. He smirked. 'So she won't take a chance on sitting next to me'. His smirk was wiped off his face by her next words.
"You have fifteen minutes."
To be continued…