Disclaimer: This fanfic is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by W. Somerset Maugham. Neither "Inuyasha" nor the "Painted Veil" belong to me
The shuffling in her bed awoke her, only to see the naked figure of her husband, sitting at the edge of the bed, looking at the infinite bamboo groves that extended towards the mountains in the horizon of her window. His eyes were sad and remote, and even his body - normally so strong and graceful - was hunched over, as if carrying the weight of the world. 'Maybe he is' she thought, and with tenderness, she grabbed his hand.
"Good Morning", she said, with a kind smile on her face. "You woke up early".
With a soft, sad smile that mirrored his soul, he said "Yes, I should stop in town later today to discuss some matters with Miroku and the Coronel". After a pregnant pause, he continued "I will likely see Myoga in the afternoon to arrange your travel back to Hong Kong".
All signs of sleep suddenly left Kagome, and she quickly sat up on the bed, without bothering to cover herself with the blanket "What do you mean, Sesshomaru? Why the sudden change?".
Grabbing her hand again, Sesshomaru chuckled sadly "in my time here, it has dawned on me how I have made you profoundly unhappy. There is no reason for me to have brought you here- I will arrange for your travel back to Hong Kong - and if you are not made a widow after this pandemic comes to pass, I will divorce you quietly, as you wanted".
She was dumbstruck, but her eyes burned her as if on fire, and suddenly the dam burst - all the sadness, the loneliness, the anger that had set rot in her heart suddenly left at the mere idea of leaving this man - her husband - alone facing this neverending horror. Putting his hand on her chest, she sobbed inconsolably, and Sesshomaru brought her to his chest, aware of the fact that it would likely be one of the last times he would ever hold her.
"I am so sorry Sesshomaru. I really did not believe you cared…" she hiccuped between sobs "I felt so alone - and I was a fool to ever think that scoundrel…" Sesshomaru felt his heart break all over again, but still, he soothed her "It doesn't matter anymore, Kagome. As you said, let's fix this mistake that we created four years ago"
"But this is not fixing it!" Kagome said, " we are just quitting - and if there is something I have learned here, is that life is not easy and we cannot just quit at the first turn". Grabbing his hands, she said, more calmly "the man I married did make me unhappy - because he never saw me, because he never told me what he wanted" Noticing that he avoided her eyes, she cupped his cheek "I don't want to be married to that man. I want to be married to the man that is selfless, that cares for the sick and the villagers, and plays with the children..." and with her voice breaking, she said, "...even if he did not mourn for his own".
Sesshomaru's eyes softened, and pressing his forehead to hers, he said "I am sorry, Kagome. I was a fool.."
"I was more of a fool. I am so sorry Sesshomaru…"
"I know. But the point remains" Drawing apart from her, he said: "This is my life, Kagome. I am just a doctor in the middle of nowhere, without riches nor titles to offer a woman of your station. You can leave and start anew, unencumbered by any of this".
"I am willing to try. God knows that station is meaningless. Incredibly enough I am more happy and content helping the children and the nuns that playing bridge with Mrs. Thompson".
"But will you be happy with me, Kagome?" he asked seriously.
Kissing him on the lips, she said softly "I am willing to try if you are"