Chapter 12: Insight Into the Past

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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters…

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Moonlight shone down in the city of Tokyo, barely noticeable among all of the colorful, luminescent lights, but one woman delighted in the natural ambience as she bustled to her destination, her cell held to her ear.

"Yeah, I'm here. I'm coming in." The dark haired miko hit the red button on her phone as she entered a classy little bar. It was well after midnight, but that didn't seem to bother the Inu as he insisted that she meet him for drinks.

She tiredly sauntered to the bar, spotting his aura easily from the door, and draped her jacket over the back of a stool before sitting.

He turned to her and nodded a greeting.

"Your mother has banned me from any heavy drinking, so I hope you don't plan on starting any drinking games," she began, her tone teasing. She was admittedly still a little cross with the Inu, but she was trying not to let it get to her. After all, he was an ancient male who was used to his old ways. She couldn't really hold it against him, even if it DID aggravate her to no end.

He smirked in reply.

"If I did instigate such a game, you can be sure I would win regardless."

"Right. Well your youkai tolerance isn't fair."

"It is merely what I was naturally given, miko, and it is no fault of mine. Or are you discriminating against me because I'm youkai?"

She stuck her tongue out at him playfully, before turning and ordering a drink from the barkeep, unaware of the way his gaze lingered on her. When the ningen male turned away once more to make her drink, she swiveled her stool back to the Inu beside her with a grin.

"You and I both know that that is not a possibility."

He neither confirmed nor denied her statement, instead taking a swig of his drink.

When the barkeep gave her her drink she sipped it gingerly, eyeing Sesshomaru from the corner of her eye.

"So, what was it that you were so insistent on speaking to me about?"

"Insistent? I was not aware that I had been insistent." His eyes gleamed under the false lighting.

"Oh you seemed to be pretty insistent to me," she smirked, taking another sip.

"Hn. Have you eaten yet?"

With the mention of food, her stomach decided to make itself known once more, gurgling rather rudely.

Kagome blushed prettily at the knowing look on his face.

"Come. Dinner." They stood with their drinks and went to a booth situated in the corner, a waitress bringing them menus immediately.

"I probably shouldn't be eating so late in the evening," she murmured quietly, still a little embarrassed.

"You need sustenance, miko, or do you think you are youkai?"

She snorted at that.

"Hardly. But they say it's not good to eat past seven. I have to watch my girlish figure, you know." She grinned impishly at him, twirling the ice in her glass. When his eyes raked over her form slowly, she swallowed without thought and took yet another hurried sip.

His deep voice reverberated through her.

"That is something that you need not concern yourself with. Trust me."

She said nothing as the waitress returned and Sesshomaru ordered for the both of them, somehow accustomed to her tastes in food. She'd learned never to question such things when it came to Sesshomaru; he'd always managed to know things about her that she'd never divulged to him or anyone in his vicinity.

They ate in companionable silence, but Kagome couldn't help but notice the noise levels in the bar. There was a surprising amount of people in it for a Monday evening, and when she mentioned as much he nodded almost forlornly.

"There is a never-ending hum of sound in this period. And while I have adjusted to it, it never truly is gone."

"Yeah, it's irritating even for me. I don't know how you handle it. It's like a bee buzzing in my ears." She stabbed at a piece of pasta and shoved it into her mouth greedily. He hummed in agreement, taking a bite of steak into his mouth.

"I was going to stay, you know," she murmured casually.

When he glanced up, his gaze questioning, she clarified.

"In the Sengoku Jidai. I was going to stay." When his brows rose in obvious surprise, she went on. "Yeah, I even had it all planned out; had my bags packed, even said goodbye to my family. I didn't think I'd ever have to listen to the sounds of Tokyo ever again." She took a sip of her drink. "Or at least not for a few centuries."

His eyes took on a strange expression. One she'd never seen on him before. It was as if he was trying to read her mind, his golden orbs focused and intent, his brows furrowed.

"And why didn't you?"

His question was so quiet, just barely above a whisper.

But she heard it none-the-less.

And it was an easy answer.

"I wished on the jewel."

Understanding dawned on his face and Kagome smiled forlornly. She hadn't talked about this to anyone but her family and it was a bit of a relief to get it out in the open. But then she was talking much faster.

"It didn't turn out how I thought it would. I thought that if I made the conscious decision to stay, if I really decided to do it then the jewel would accept that, or at least acknowledge it! And let me stay! But it didn't!" She slapped a hand down on the table for emphasis, her food forgotten. "Next thing I know I wake up in my bed like none of it ever happened! I thought I'd dreamt it all, somehow, and waking up became the nightmare that I didn't want to face! Do you know how terrible that is?" She was leaning over the table between them, her expression pained.

Sesshomaru blinked once. Twice. And then he leaned forward as well, his hand reaching to cover hers as he placed a gentle, lingering kiss to her temple.

When he pulled away Kagome found that her eyes were welling with tears, blurring her vision and stopping any sound that may have escaped her.

It had been a completely platonic gesture and the feelings that he expressed to her in doing such a thing were almost apologetic. He understood, and he knew her misery. The strange sensation from the most unlikely of people caught her so off guard that she didn't know how to react otherwise. And so she sat, her hands fisted as she quietly sobbed, his larger hand still resting atop one of hers.

After an unknown amount of time she calmed somewhat, feeling incredibly tired.

She leaned forward to rest her forehead in her un-occupied hand, sighing and taking a deep, shaking breath.

"It has been a long day and you need to rest. Come. I'll bring you home."

She bobbed her head a little, standing when he tugged on her hand gently.

"How is it that you always know exactly what I need?" She thought aloud.

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When Kagome and Sesshomaru got to her apartment she slumped over to her couch, dropping her purse and heels by the door, feeling ridiculously exhausted. She listened as Sesshomaru removed his shoes as well and went into her kitchen. When he returned he was carrying two cold glasses of happily accepted water.

He handed her one and then sat beside her, his posture strangely relaxed on her cushy blue couch.

Kagome took a sip of the water and leaned back into a pillow, her gaze lazily turning to the Inu beside her. Her thoughts were swirling around her mind like hazy clouds, but there was one thought that she was clear on.

"Thank you so much Sesshomaru," she began, feeling shy and somewhat embarrassed. She wanted to convey her thanks to him somehow, and though words were seldom enough for such gratitude, it was all that she could offer. "You have no idea how much it helps to have someone to talk to that will actually understand without wanting to commit me to a mental institution."

He looked thoughtful for a moment and then there was a slight gleam of mischief in his eyes.

"I did not say that that was not a possibility. I have already phoned the institute; they will be here momentarily. I am merely waiting."

She couldn't help but laugh out loud and she smiled widely at him, feeling much more content knowing that he wasn't judgmental of her lapse in control. He grinned at her and his gaze was gentle.

She reached a hand over and patted his knee, attempting to convey her gratefulness in another way.

"You really don't have to be so nice to me. I'm still not quite used to it," she teased. "Cuz I mean, going from attempted murder to polite acquaintances is, admittedly, a little strange. Isn't it?" His eyes hardened momentarily and she was beginning to think she'd said the wrong thing. Maybe he wasn't receptive to such a thought?

"We are not merely acquaintances Kagome. Even I will admit it."

She frowned.

"But then what are we?"

"Hmm. It is difficult to define, but there are numerous connections that make it impossible for either of us to claim indifference."

She nodded her head slowly, sluggishly.

"I suppose. You were Inuyasha's only sibling, and I was always very fond of Rin."

"Hnn. And you are working for my mother."

"Yeah," she mumbled, removing her hand from his person.

"And let's not forget that you are pack, whether you accept it or not. This makes it impossible for me to turn a blind eye."

Kagome frowned, feeling a little irritated by the reminder.

"You know, Sessh-"

"I am sorry."

Her mind blanked.

"What?"

"I am sorry for my barbaric actions the other day, and in previous times. It was inexcusable."

She placed her glass down, reaching forward to place her palm to his forehead, concern furrowing her brow.

"Are you okay Sesshomaru?"

He wrapped a hand around her wrist, drawing it away.

"I am perfectly fine, Miko. Even I can admit when I am wrong."

"But you never have before…"

"Hnn. But then I have never been wrong before."

They watched each other for a moment, neither voicing their thoughts, and it was only when Kagome caught a glance at the clock that she wrested her wrist from his hold.

"It's late. I really should go to bed now," she murmured.

"Hnn." After releasing her, his hands rested somewhat stiffly on his thighs, fisted. "You are right. I will leave you then."

She nodded, but in her head she was against it. He should stay. They were friends. And pack. And…what…?

"You don't have to leave," she mumbled, turning her face away to hide her blush.

"What?"

"I mean, it's late. You could stay." She stood. "You can have the couch if you like." When she turned to him again there was a curiosity in his posture, but he seemed resigned.

"Very well. If you do not mind, I will stay."

She nodded.

"Alright. Well, goodnight then Sesshomaru."

"Goodnight, Kagome."

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A/N: Alright, well hopefully Kagome doesn't sound too whiny! ^^ I just wanted to kind of hint at what happened and why she was in the future now permenantly! And HEY! Sesshy finally agreed to stay! ;D More to come soon!