You know, that morning started innocent enough, full of hope. Kagome was going to find a way to save Sesshomaru, she would return with the knowledge and be able to act on it before Sesshomaru ran out of time (there were only 6 weeks/a month and a half left). Everything was going to be fine, for the most part.

Instead, she was giving a "cure" that might cause more harm than good to the man she could never have. The man that was her first crush (maybe love) was worse than she thought. And now, when she thought she could return home to Sesshomaru's arms to blubber about the cruelty of love and concede that maybe he was right on pretending to not have a heart or she could steal her monogram from class and distract herself through playing with him or simply looking herself in her mused composing her feelings away, she came home to find the brothers fighting. The brothers and Kaori were the only adults there and the situation appeared hostile. And Ichiro was preparing to jump out of the ruined wall (that Kagome believed led to the hallway that joined to Sesshomaru's study) and attack Inuyasha to protect his father! No, her moonbeam might get hurt because of adult stupidity (she wasn't sure if it was stupidity that was causing the fight but it was a good guess because Inuyasha was involved).

Moments like these, she thought as she lined up her bow for a shot, she wondered what deity made this event possible in her life.

Her arrow flew straight and true and bounced off Inuyasha's sword and turned it back to a rusty katana. Just like she wanted. It took a second for Inuyasha to realized that he couldn't use his Tessaiga, it took another second for him to realize from where and whom it came from. They were now close enough that Kagome could clearer see how the hanyou's face fell.

"K-K-Kagome?" His full body turned towards her.

"Inuyasha..." she said ominously. She then threw a look at Ichiro that made him freeze before smartly stepping away from the hole in the wall.

"Kagome, please, wait!"

"Si-." "You fucking whore!" Yasuhiro interrupted with a flying kick to Inuyasha's temple. With that one move, Inuyasha was knocked to the ground and the leaf keeping Kagome in the air dissipated. Lucky for her, she had a demon lord that only let her fall for one second before catching her mid-air.

"Thank you Sesshomaru." He hummed in response. "Both of you stop and go inside. After the day I've had I, I. Sesshomaru please?"

Nothing more was to be said after that plea. "Inside. This matter shall be discussed at a later point." There was murder painting Sesshomaru's voice as he spoke. There was a certain edge to it that Kagome hardly ever heard since Ichiro was least, he never used it around her (he was a feared demon lord, after all).

Kagome didn't get to see what happened after his demand for he turned in his heel and entered the palace. Obviously, they were not heading to the study (it would take at least 2 days for the room to return itself to normality) but they passed her room, her music room and all entrances to the garden that held her gazebo. There were only two possible places he would take her: his room or his studio. His room she was more than accustomed to but his studio...

Was a "no enter" territory.

In the early days, she remembered hatching all sorts of plans to get into the forbidden room. Offering to bring tea or important notices, trying to follow him in while in deep conversation. She only ever got as far as his room before he sent her off (she didn't actually know where the studio was). It did not take her long to realise that he was serious about her staying out (only 2 weeks). She often wondered what it would like when he disappeared into the place she could not follow.

Currently, Sesshomaru was hesitating outside his door. He seemed to be considering his options before sliding the door open and stepping inside. Once he ensured the door had returned to its original state, he kicked off his shoes, sat on his bed with Kagome cradled in his lap and pulled off her shoes.

"What has occurred, Miko?"

She didn't answer his question immediately. How could she? She was about to confirm that he should put his affairs in order.

"We went to Bokusensu, Yasuhiro and I. I thought that if anyone might know how to save you, he might."

At the name of the tree, his hold tightened around her. "He had no answers," he assumed.

"No, he had answers," at this Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow in surprise. "Too many answers. Answers I did not like and makes me want to throttle your ancestor that started all this."

"Miko, explain" he commanded and Kagome was compelled to obey.

"As it turns out, your ailment, Hanahaki Disease, is not even an illness. It's a curse that one of your ancestors asked for from a Kami so that they can have more power. Due to that, there can only be two ways to get out... which we already know. However, there is an alternative that I refuse to do."

Sesshomaru stared at her, waiting for her to continue. She didn't want to but she knew she had to. She quickly pulled herself out of his grasp and started pacing.

"If I fail you can die and accidentally kill everyone around you. If I succeed there is a high chance you will eventually succumb to madness, you may never love anyone again including your pack and you would forget about your love and anything linked to them. And, and I can't, I just can not go that route. And seeing that you can't- won't- you won't try to have the person you love. Not that you can... Because I fucked it up. Oh my kami, I fucked it up because they might know that you are dying and now even if you'd confess you would be unsure if they really love you. Now Ichiro won't have a father-" her spiralling thoughts were cut off by Sesshomaru wrapping his arms around her.

She had been doing a good job of not crying. But the moment he wrapped his arms around her and she felt his warmth seep into her soul; she broke. The tears just flowed and flowed and flowed and she couldn't stop sobbing. It finally hit her in a way it didn't hit her 6 weeks ago when he confirmed that he would die soon.

Then, she thought that there was still hope to save him. Either she was going to find a cure or she was going to figure out who he was in love with and help from there. Yet, now, she had the answers to those questions and nothing can be done. She was going to lose him.

If she was already crying like this, how would she react when he did leave this mortal world? After she watched him waste away before her eyes? He already looked paler, colours muted from the brilliant shade they once held, he ran hotter than normal and there was a slight tremor in his arms that came and went periodically.

And she cried for Ichiro. He would grow up without his father (it was a miracle in of itself that Sesshomaru lived long enough to have him be conceived, let alone see him to his 7th birthday). She would have to tell him that his father died for love. Could she be able to look at Sesshomaru's son and tell him that love is beautiful after all of this is done? Would she have to fear this exact fate for him?

And she cried harder. Only divine intervention can help him now.

"It's alright, Kagome. I have accepted my death long ago."

"It's not fair!" She cried with her voice choked up in tears. "I care about you and you're dying and there is nothing I can do. What's the point of being a healer if I can't help the people I lo- care about?"

"You may not be able to help this one the way you desire but there are other ways."

"Like what?" She sniffled.

He sighed, picked her up and got into bed. "Kagome, you hear but you don't listen." She felt him chuckle, "Have you forgotten what I told you that night?"

She looked at him questioningly.

"Stay with me and pretend for whatever time that is left between us that I am not dying. Your continued companionship as before you knew of this one's predicament, how ever you may share it. That is all this Sesshomaru asks of you."

An update?! Yeah, I made time to do this because i may not be here next week. Who knows, I think i have a holiday in my country so I can write then... maybe.

I'm unsure how to move forward for the next chapter, should I focus on Ichika's presentation or should I go with Inuyasha's fallout for his actions? I was planning to do both but I'm not sure. What are your guy's thoughts?

Also, I'm sorry in advance.