Moonlight Rose

Chapter 37: Decision Time

With a hardened resolve, Kagome rose from her bed and walked to the dining room. "I know what I want."

Everyone was in the room, as it was lunchtime. The children had just left to go play, and only the adults remained. There was an extended silence until Sango said, "Are you gonna let us in on this big decision?"

Kagome sighed. "I'm not sure how you all will handle this, but I need something on my stomach first." Everyone watched and waited slightly impatiently as Kagome prepared her some toast. It seemed as though she was enjoying drawing the answer out.

"Well on with it girl!" Setsuki snapped finally as Kagome was brushing the crumbs off her shirt.

"I'm choosing...no one." After the collective gasp that formed in the room, Kagome continued. "I really don't care what happens to me after my year is up. The only reason I would've chosen to mate someone is to stay alive so I could finish the jewel and defeat Naraku, but then I thought, if the Fates want me to finish this jewel, then they will let me. Me choosing to mate someone won't change that."

"So as of now, you're gonna become human again?" Sango asked.

Kagome nodded. "Or I could die. Either one is fine with me, really."

"Well you dying isn't fine with us if you haven't noticed!" Setsuki was upset.

Kagome gave a small laugh. "It isn't up to you, or even me. It's all in the kami's hands now. And whatever they decide, we're all gonna have to be fine with it, simply because we have no other choice."

Sesshomaru rose from the table and stormed off.

"What's his problem?" Kagome asked.

"He probably thought you were going to choose to mate him." Touga said.

"Why in the seven hells would I put myself in a position where I would be rejected?" Kagome wondered aloud. "Well, I'm off to take a nap. Time travel really takes a lot out of a girl." Kagome walked out of the kitchen.

"Is it just me, or was there something off about Kagome?" Sango asked when she was sure Kagome couldn't hear her.

"It isn't just you. She's taking this way too lightly. No one can talk about their death like that and be comfortable." Setsuki agreed.

"Something is wrong. Something is seriously wrong." Sango said. They all walked to Kagome's room after Setsuki covered their auras and they heard her crying. No, not crying, she was sobbing. Her sobs racked her entire body and at one point, she got choked and went to throw up. It was a sickening sight, and one that worried the people who cared for Kagome.

"What are we gonna do?" Sango asked when they got back to the dining halls. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes becaause she was scared for the younger woman she saw as her sister. She didn't know what to for her.

Sesshomaru was confused. He was almost certain that Kagome would come back saying that she wanted to mate him. What had happened? Where had he gone wrong?

'You really ask that question?' Sesshomaru's beast asked.

'I am well aware of what went wrong, it was a rhetorical question.'

'Dumb question.'

'What am I going to do beast?' Sesshomaru put his head in his hands and closed his eyes. He was truly at a loss. Never before had he been stumped about a woman.

Touga, on the other hand, knew exactly what he was going to do. He had two more days until Kagome's...'deadline', so he had to lay on the charm and seduction heavily. He rose from his chair and went into Kagome's room. He didn't stand at the door and wait for her to ackwoledge him. He walked straight in and sat beside Kagome on the bed. Kagome quickly dried her eyes and sniffed. "What's up Touga?"

"Kagome, I know that you have had a lot of things on your mind, but I really need you to consider mating me." Touga said.

"Touga I-"

He placed a finger to her lips. "No, Kagome. Please listen. I love you, as you are already aware. I need you to get rid of both of your predicaments by mating me. I will make you the happiest woman alive little one. I assure you that I will treat you like the Lady you are." Touga slowly leaned in to kiss Kagome.

"Touga!" Sesshomaru barked, standing in the doorway.

Touga cursed under his breath and looked at the Lord of the Western Lands. "What?"

"You are dismissed."

"But I-"

"You are dismissed!" Sesshomaru said with more force.

Only because he was in Sesshomaru's home would Touga listen to his orders. He slowly rose from Kagome's bed, growling, and walking out of the room.

"What do you want Sesshomaru?" Kagome frowned.

Sesshomaru took a deep breath. Kagome wasn't the only one who'd had a decision to make. And Sesshomaru was about to make the biggest one of his life. "Kagome, I wish for you to mate me."

Kagome's face grew red. She reached her hand back and slapped Sesshomaru across the face. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" She screamed at him.

He resisted the urge to grab his stinging cheek. "What the hell was that for?" Sesshomaru realized that he probably sounded like his younger brother when he said that, but he honestly didn't care.

"Because you are so damn bipolar! Kagome sighed. "The other day you told me that I was beautiful then you ignore me the day after that! I don't know what goes on through that damn head of yours but quite frankly, it makes me sick, not to mention confused! You are the most idiotic, confused, don't know what the fuck you wanna do with your life, pompous jerk I've ever known. I have no idea if I want to fuck you or kill you half the time! Then not to mention this damn mark that hurts every fucking time I'm away from you! I'm wet every damn day and I can't think straight from how fucking horny I am!" Tears began to form in Kagome's eyes. "I'm tired Sesshomaru." Her voice was softer now, and full of sadness. "I'm stressed out to no end. I've been throwing up for the past week and a half. I honestly can't take your mood swings anymore Sesshomaru. I just...can't."

"But miko I-"

"First of fucking all, my name is Kagome! Kah-go-me! Not miko! Second of all, I'm a mikoyoukai dammit! Would it hurt to call me that at least? Or do you still see me as the weak human I once was? I have no idea what made you grow the balls to come in here and ask me to mate you after all the shit you've put me through. Maybe it was because I saved Rin, I have no fucking idea! But whatever it was, you need to give it back." Kagome took a deep breath and rubbed her temples. "You're giving me a headache."

"Kagome, please listen to me." Sesshomaru said.

"You are dismissed." Kagome remembered how rude he was to Touga.

"This is my home! You cannot dismiss me!" Sesshomaru barked.

Kagome let her power fill her body and let her eyes turn purple. "You are dismissed!" She yelled, her voice full of so much raw power that she was able to make Sesshomaru take a few steps back.

Sesshomaru gritted his teeth, but he left the room none the less. He didn't want an angry miko on his hands. Well, one more angry than he already had. He walked outside to his gardens that miko seemed to enjoy. Even over the strong scent of the flowers, he could smell the tears that she was shedding. He didn't understand. He knew that she loved him, and he would finally admit that he loved her too, but what was the problem?

"You're too late Sesshomaru." Setsuki answered his unasked question.

Sesshomaru turned around and saw the woman who resembled the woman who was in his heart. "I do not understand."

"Of course you don't. You're an inuyoukai, a cold one at that. You don't understand your feelings." Setsuki shook her head. "You've pissed her off too many times Sesshomaru. Kami you're an idiot. You had the chance of a lifetime but you fucked it up! Now we don't know what the hell is gonna happen to Kagome! But I just wanna let you know something, if Kagome dies, you're gonna have hell to pay. Not just from us, but from yourself too, because you know you could've presented this."

Setsuki turned and left, leaving Sesshomaru with his thoughts. And they were perhaps his worst enemy of all.