Inuyasha paced his living room, burning circles into the family rug.
Family...
He stared at the rug with melancholy eyes... he and Kagome purchased this rug together. He remembered how excited she was about decorating a home with him...
Their home.
He cursed himself. He was an idiot for cheating on her, but how could he help himself? Kikyo was just so... so alluring, he found it hard to reject her. She turned something in his brain that he desperately craved, and once he had a taste he couldn't stop.
Because of his insatiabality though, he now found himself alone, in a home that didn't feel like it was his...
It didn't really feel like anything, anymore. Everything just felt cold and numb to him. What was he supposed to do? How could he expect her to even listen to him? If Kagome had an affair with Sesshomaru, he'd be seeing red! How was he going to demand that she even look at him with a loving expression?
Damn that woman to hell and back, and damn his brother! He just knew Sesshomaru had something to do with this. Everything was fine until he came and messed it up!
He would give him a piece of his mind in the morning, that was for sure.
Kagome looked into the fireplace with empty eyes. After being picked up by Sesshomaru in Koto, she hadn't spoken a word. When they had arrived at his home, Sesshomaru had given her a change of clothes and instructed her to where his bathroom was so she might shower to prevent illness.
She didn't really remember anything after storming out of Inuyasha's apartment.
Inuyasha's... it wasn't really their home anymore. She didn't have a place to go. Inuyasha would be sure to win the apartment in the settlement, as she didn't have any money or a job to even keep it up.
This was it, she realised. It was officially over between her and her husband. She wanted to cry, but she found no tears left. Quite frankly, she was tired of crying. He didn't deserve her tears... but how she still ached for his love.
Sesshomaru walked into the living room with the miko was sitting on his couch, staring into the fireplace with an expression that would rival his own. She hadn't spoken a word since he put her into his car, he noted. She must have said something to Inuyasha before leaving. He couldn't help but wonder what.
"I'm sorry." Her voice came suddenly, it took the taiyoukai back for a brief moment.
"Pardon?" His reply was, inching closer to her to sit next to her on the sofa. Her face never left the fire, never recogonizing his presence.
"For hitting you the other day... I never apologized. I'm sorry." Nothing, no flicker of sadness, no anger...
She was just... empty.
Inuyasha had truly broken this woman.
"...I just want to know one thing, Sesshomaru." This time, her face turned and she looked into his eyes with all of her being.
He was at a loss of what to say, so he raised his brow at her, urging her to continue.
"Why did you tell me about Inuyasha and Kikyo? Why did you show up at the laundromat? Why are you helping me?" Her eyes were hard, and her aim was true.
Sesshomaru really didn't know what to say to that. He opted to stare off into the fireplace, ignoring her while he lost himself in thought.
'This Sesshomaru... is intrigued? No, it is more than mere interest in this girl... Am I angry at the half-demon? It is possible... no... this Sesshomaru is not quite sure.'
"Well? Aren't you going to answer me, Sesshomaru?" She pushed, clearly waiting for him to respond.
Sesshomaru looked to the girl, watching as she continued to break. Her facade wouldn't last though, he could tell. She sighed, turning back to the fireplace and breaking their contact.
"I guess it was stupid trying to ask you something, right? I mean, it's not like you were trying to help me or anything."
"You're not stupid." Came his baritone reply, standing up and walking away. Kagome turned to look at him only to be left alone.
"Unless you want to sleep in my dress shirt, clothes are in the top left drawer. You may take the room next to mine."
Just like that, the door to his room shut and the house was empty.
She looked around the house and noticed that she was not the only one suffering. She had never seen Sesshomaru with a woman, or even a friend. Was it possible that he was lonely too?
Kagome put her knees to her chest and sniffled, wiping at her eyes. She would not cry. Tomorrow she would make an effort to make her life better, because she was better than this. She would make her life better, and she would try to make his better.
After all, even if he didn't want to admit it, he had tried to make hers better.