Chapter 12: Stranged

Sesshomaru was acting very strange this morning. He just sat there, eating his cereal and quietly reading the paper. He was never quiet and the man didn't read unless there was some sort of payment involved. I looked at him as I sipped my coffee. My eyes glancing down at my watch. We still had an hour and thirty minutes before we had to be in at the office. I don't think that I could sit here in this awkward silence any longer. It was going to drive me mad.

"Sesshomaru."

"Hn," he replied, without looking up.

"You're very quiet this morning. That is a first."

"I'm reading the paper, Ms. Higurashi."

I set the cup down and made my way around the table; stopping in front of him.

"Is there something that I can do for you, Ms. Higurashi?"

I crossed my arms. "Why are you behaving like this?"

He sighed. "I just have a few things on my mind, at the moment."

"Is there anything that I can do to help?"

"Yes, actually there is. I have a bit of money saved up, and I need to put it to good use before I blow it on something I do not need. So, I need your help in finding an apartment. This would be my first time doing something like this."

I blinked a few times. Processing what he had just said.

"You want to leave?"

"It's time. Wouldn't you say?."

"Is this because I threw the plates at you Yesterday?"

"It is nothing that you have done. Well, I can not stay here forever and I feel as though you've given me the tools to live on my own. In my time living here with you, I've cooked, cleaned, done laundry. I have a job for christ's sake. That is more than I have done in my entire life. You've done the impossible, and I am grateful for that. A word I never that I would have used."

"Oh, well alright. I can help you that."

He nodded and went back to eating his cereal.

I went back to my side of the table. I guess I had just gotten used to having him around. I sighed. I guess it was only a matter of time before he left. It makes sense. He is a grown man... sort of. It makes sense that he would eventually want to live on his own. Even though I would miss his company.

We'd been in the all-day, and it was almost time to go. Still, nothing out of the ordinary. He was acting so... professional. It was strange. He even ignored the horde of women that crowed him. He just sat there quietly doing his work. It was starting to tick me off. What was wrong with him? Why was he acting so strange all of a sudden? That was it, I'd had it. I closed my laptop and marched right over to his desk.

"Well, out with it. What is it?"

He looked at me strangely. "Is it your time of the month? You've been awfully moody lately."

I rolled my eyes. "

"Don't do that. Don't be a jerk, and you're the one who's acting a sort of way," I said.

He quirked a brow. "Yeah? How so?"

"First you want to move out. Then I catch you reading the paper, and you're quiet. The only time you're quiet is when you're eating, and you never read."

I put his hands behind his head. "Is it wrong for a man to want to live on his own?"

I scoffed. "A man? "I crossed my arms. "I think you meant to say, child. You can't live on your own. You need me."

He leaned onto his desk. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you didn't want me to go Higurashi."

"I didn't say that."

"I never said that you did."

"Well, we have a deal. So you just can not just up and leave."

He smirked at me. "Our deal does not require that I live with you woman."

I huffed. "Fine, leave."

I walked back to my desk, sitting in my chair; turning away from him.

I watched her walk back to her desk. Her hips swaying with each step. I admit that I'd clung to her because I desperately needed help at the time, but now I wasn't so sure why I was holding on. Or, why I had done so for so long. As much as I hate to admit it, I've grown accustomed to the working-class life. Cooking, cleaning, etcetera. I had done it all. There was no reason for me to hold on to her any longer. Living with her, having dinner with her; driving to and from work. As if we were in some kind of relationship. I found myself standing up for her on more than one occasion. I didn't do that for anyone, much less a woman; but she clearly wasn't just some woman. I wasn't in love with her, but there was something there. Something that grew more each day that I spent with her. Did I want her for her? Or, did I just want to taste her flesh? I groaned, I just had to get away from her; so that I would never need to find out. If I did have feelings for her and confess; I would be taking the risk of being rejected. If it was just her body I desired and went after it, she would hate me. Either way, I would lose her, and I did not want that. So, the only solution was to keep my distance from her, as much as I possibly could.

I cleared my throat. "It's almost time to go. You said something helping me with apartment hunting earlier."

She spun her chair around, a pout on her lips. She rolled her eyes waving me over, and like some little dog. I strolled over to her. She opened her laptop, tapping away at the key. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye. She was always so focused; oblivious to anything else around her. I breathed in her scent. It made my hairs stand on end. I ran my tongue over my fangs, inching closer and closer to her.

"This is it. This is the one."

I snapped out of my thought, looking at the computer screen.

"What exactly am I looking at?"

"This is your apartment."

"Why this one?"

"Well, it's in your price range and I know what that is because I sign your checks. It close to shopping areas, bars, and other necessities someone like you would want."

"People like me?"

"Yeah, when you were always in the papers. You were in things like strip clubs and whatnot." She trailed off.

I held back a smile. "I see. Well, it's perfect. How soon can I move in?"

"As soon as you put down the down payment on it. It'll be yours."

She stood holding out her hand to me. "It's been nice Mt. Taisho."

I gladly took it. "I'm moving out. Not dying Higurashi."

She smiled. "Of course not. I guess I'll see you bright and early on Monday morning."

I nodded, walking out of her office. This was for the best.