Sesshoumaru looked away from her at those words, at the emotion behind her eyes and was momentarily uncertain how to react, what kind of response she wanted from him. "We did not spend much more time than was necessary in each other's company," he said finally, meeting her eyes again. "When it became apparent that she would not bare any pups, even less so."
She thought about that, and then about the pain of her own past relationship and could not decide what was worse. To be in a loveless unwanted marriage, or to be in a marriage and be smothered by a warped form of love that still repulsed and terrified her. "Do you think love exists anymore?" she asked absently, pushing the remaining crumbs of food around on her plate. "The kind of love that makes you want to do anything and everything to protect the other person, no matter what? The kind of love that's so strong and real that you can't wait to be with that person again, no matter the circumstances?"
Once again, her words left him off balance and Sesshoumaru watched her through hooded eyes. She didn't even seem to realize that she was speaking aloud as she looked at her plate. He couldn't not think of an answer that he liked completely. As a warrior, he had been taught not to trust emotions, to hide them so they could not be used against him. But that was several hundred years ago.
No matter how long he and Kagura had been married, he had never felt that closeness that one was supposed to feel with a lover; the kind of content, peaceful relaxation that came with being someone you trusted completely, loved utterly. Did he even believe in love? This too was a question he wasn't sure there was an answer for. Surely, after so many years of being alone, he wanted someone to wrap his arms around each night, not that this was a thought he would ever admit to. But to actually be in love with another person….
Clearing his throat, Sesshoumaru stood and held a hand out to her, suddenly desperate to change the topic of conversation, to anything but that. Because that train led to places he was not quite certain he was interested in going, now, or ever. "Would you like to dance?" he asked quietly, moving to her side and waiting for her to take his hand.
o.O.o
Word Count - 409
