Chapter 35

Kagome stormed out of the building, her mind in turmoil. This day hadn't gone as she planned at all. Not to mention she had just learned something that terrified her, plus she worried that Touga was going to throw her away. She just couldn't seem to settle her mind as every thought she could have zoomed through her head in a rush.

"Kagome!" Sango grabbed her best friend's shoulder, Rin right behind her. Kagome looked to the woman, then threw her arms around Sango. Sango had always been a strong woman and being captured and tied didn't seem to affect her. She was more worried about Kagome. "You heard what that bitch said. Kouga is the one that told them. That means he is back and looking for you."

"Who is Kouga?" Touga stepped up to the group of girls, his face impassive as he looked them over. He had many things on his mind as well and controlling them was becoming difficult. His Miko had hidden something serious from him, and that hurt. She didn't trust him, and now she may have someone who is targeting her. It was a good thing his hair was already white. "What else do I not know?"

Kagome looked up to him, seeing the hurt on his face, and she hated herself. She felt guilty. For so long, she was forced to keep her identity a secret, she didn't even think of telling him. It was a natural habit to protect herself. "Touga, I-"

"We will get back to that later." Sango put both of her hands on Kagome's shoulder. She was more worried about her friend's safety than she was the relationship Kagome shared with Touga. Sango knew they would be just fine. "Kouga is back. The last time he was here, he tried to rape you. He tried to force the mate bond on you, and he is crazy enough to do it again."

"So that is the name of the fool." Touga looked away, covering his face with a hand. He needed a drink. Perhaps a dozen. Maybe if he didn't remember this night for a while, he would be okay.

"Stop it." Kagome was looking down, tears forming in her eyes. This was too much. Touga's anger and hurt, Sango's fear, and Kagome's own emotions. They bombarded her, not giving her a moment to think. She covered her face with her hands, shoulders shaking as she tried not to let it all out.

"Thank you, Dear Kagome." Miroku stepped up, hugging his wife's best friend. "If it had not been for you, I would have tried to protect Sango and Souta. As you know, I would have been killed. You saved us, and it is much appreciated." Miroku was a monk. Had he used his reiki; he would have been punished by the council.

Kagome hugged Miroku back, and she took a shuddering breath. They could all see the turmoil on Kagome's form, and Miroku was the only one who was able to set aside his emotions to help her. He pushed her away slightly, grabbing her face in his hands. "Now, as far as I remember when you use your reiki to that extent you get drain. Go home and rest. All of this can be dealt with in the morning." He turned to Sango when she opened her mouth to argue. "Kagome will be safe at her home. She will have both Touga and Sesshomaru there with her."

Sango closed her mouth and nodded. Her husband had always been wise, and this was one of those moments where he was showing it. He was able to step in and break down a situation that was getting out of hand.

"Sesshomaru, do you think you could take Sango and Miroku home?" Rin looked up to the male at her side, who nodded. He moved to stand next to the two who had been kidnapped, summoning his cloud beneath him. They stepped onto it, saying their goodbyes before he took to the skies.

Kagome yelped a Touga picked her up. He held her bridal style, motioning for Rin and Souta to step on his cloud. The ride home was tense and silent, no one saying anything. Souta tried to break it up with a large smile. "I didn't know you were that cool, Kagome."

Kagome chuckled, ruffling Souta's hair. "Thanks, Souta. I've always been cool; you just didn't see it." She stuck her tongue out at him, and he laughed, looking down at the ground below them.

"It seems I am not the only one you keep secrets from." Touga whispered though the others heard. They stiffened, and Kagome looked away. Embarrassment and anger colored her cheeks. She had never really thought about fighting with Touga, especially in front of her friend and brother.

It shouldn't be surprising. They lived together, and if anything was going to happen, they would all see. It surprised her more that she and Touga were fighting. They normally got along so well, that she didn't think they would ever get in an argument about something.

When he landed outside the front door, Kagome pushed out of his arms and started to storm off. Rin and Souta moved far away, going to their rooms, or somewhere they wouldn't get caught in the middle. Kagome only made it about two steps before Touga was grabbing her wrist.

"Where are you going?" His eyes widened as she yanked her arm from his. She didn't turn to look at him and kept her face forward. He had never seen her this angry before, especially direct towards him.

"I am tired. I am going to take a nap. I'll see you tomorrow." She started walking again, leaving him behind. At first, he was going to let her go, but then he noticed she was walking in the wrong direction. She was heading to the old room she used to sleep in, and he wouldn't have that. His room was far more comfortable, and if she needed the sleep, she would have the best.

Before she had a chance to yell, he picked her up once more and orbed to his room. Gently he set her down on his bed, looking at her warily. He could see the dark circles under her eyes, but she was glaring at him with an anger that had him tucking his tail between his legs. That is if he had a tail.

"I want to go to my room." She stood, trying to walk past him, but he stopped her once more.

"This is your room, or has that changed suddenly? Should I have your clothes returned to where you once slept? Perhaps you would like to move out entirely." He looked at her through narrowed eyes, and she met his gaze, just as heated.

"You're the one being rude. I kept a secret from you Touga, it's not the end of the world." She understood why he was angry, but she couldn't help it. He had managed to push all the right buttons, and now she was lashing out. Plus, she was tired, barely able to stand up on her own two feet, though she didn't show it.

"I thought you trusted me-"

"This isn't about trust!" She stomped her foot, looking away from him. When she turned to him once more, he took a step back. He didn't like what he was seeing. She looked defeated, tired, and exhausted. "Ask Sesshomaru. Maybe then you will understand. For now, just leave me alone, Touga."

He ground his fangs together, but turned swiftly and left, slamming the door behind him. He would let Kagome sleep, but the conversation wasn't over. Right now, he had phone calls to make. Souta had been in school when the council got him. That meant the school's guidelines and safety weren't up to par.

First, he called Sesshomaru, asking him to pick up InuYasha, and then he called the school, tearing them to shreds verbally. It looked like he would be finding a new school for the boys, and this time he was going to have to do better. Maybe Kagome could pick one. She was a teacher, and she would know what to look for in a good school.

When Sesshomaru arrived home, Touga was sitting at his desk, head in his hands. It had been an hour, and aside from dealing with the school, he hadn't been able to focus on much more of anything else. He wanted Kagome. His anger had subsided, and now he was left with a needy beast who demanded its mate. But Kagome didn't want to see him, and he didn't blame her. He had acted like a child.

"Daddy!" InuYasha ran into Touga's lap, crawling up the large daiyokai. Touga hugged his youngest, taking in the comfort that InuYasha didn't realize he gave. After his greeting, InuYasha ran off to find Souta so they could play.

"Father." Sesshomaru leaned against the door frame, eyeing the male that sired him. He could see the tension in Touga's shoulders, and he knew his father was feeling pretty rough about the entire situation. This only occurred because Touga was a lord, and now, even though everyone was safe, there were still problems that had to be handled.

"Why would she keep it a secret?" Touga looked up to his oldest, eyes pleading for some clarity. "She said you would understand." Sesshomaru sat in the chair across from his father's desk, perching his chin on his hand, and looking out the window and to the setting sun.

"Do you remember when I was InuYasha's age? I didn't realize what I could see, and told someone that they were surrounded by blue? It turned out it was a human Monk, who immediately tried to kill me. You killed him instead, which ensured that no one else found out what I could do." Touga swallowed, nodding. Sesshomaru continued, looking at his father. "Had you not killed him; I would have been hunted down. We would have had three options. You hand me over so I could be killed, you fight for the rest of your life or at least until I could protect myself, or we go into hiding. It is the same for Kagome. Except the demons are the ones who would hunt her down."

"But I knew she was a Miko. I would never hurt her." Touga shook his head, and Sesshomaru blinked. His father did not understand. Touga had never been a wanted target just because of something he was born with. He didn't have to live with a constant secret that couldn't be revealed.

"After some time, the need to hide becomes engrained in you. Rin would never hurt me, and yet I did not tell her until recently about my ability. Even then, I only told her because I felt it wasn't fair that Kagome knew of what I could do, but my soul mate did not." Sesshomaru stood, running his fingers through his hair. "She did not keep the secret because she did not trust you. She kept it because it is a survival tool that will never fade. It is why she can hide her reiki so well. Even the monk hides his reiki because of her strength. He does not have near the power she does and relies on her to stay safe. Do not take it personally father, because it is not."

Sesshomaru left, leaving Touga behind to think about what he said. Touga didn't know what to do. He understood what Sesshomaru was saying, but a part of him still felt hurt. Standing, he walked over to the window, watching the sun sink behind the horizon.

He wanted to go to Kagome, to hold her while she slept, but he didn't. He needed to work through his thoughts first, or they would just end up in another fight again. He sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. This was a mess, and he wasn't sure how to clean it up.

He heard his door open once more but didn't move. He expected it to be Sesshomaru coming back to say one last thing. When he heard sniffling, he turned to see Kagome standing there, holding herself with tears running down her face. He opened his arms, and she fell into them, crying against his chest. This was what he had been wanting.