Kagome walked down the sidewalk, gazing absently at the items in shop windows. Who would have thought, five years ago, that I'd fall in love with Inuyasha's half-brother? She smiled softly, eyes glistening happily as she reflected over the happy life she had been fated with. And that he would fall in love, too…Sesshoumaru, in love…such a ridiculous idea back then, with Inuyasha. Her thoughts turned to the hanyou whom she had been thrown together with, just to collect Shikon shards. Then, her time with him seemed more cherished each day, relishing the fact that she could be so near him so often. Kagome had expressed her feelings to him, unfortunately, coming out with no feelings returned. I guess he did show, in some ways, that he cared for me…but I was always second to someone else. Her gentle smile turned to a bittersweet one. All for the best, now. Reflecting upon all the events since the well had been, somehow, magically sealed, she found herself dwelling on the day before this. Inuyasha has a reincarnation, Atasuke. Her expression changed to quiet thoughtfulness. He seems nice, but Sesshoumaru doesn't want me to go near him. A sweet smile graced her lips. He's worried about losing me, already. It seems like he wants to protect me, like Inuyasha did. Or perhaps, she thought, he's worried about the emotional damage it'll do to him. Several other reasons for her prohibition of going near the modern reincarnation crossed her mind. So deep was she in her thoughts that she didn't realize she was about to walk into someone. She bumped into the animate object, gasping softly as she did.
Stepping back and bowing deeply she muttered an apology, "Sumimasen, sumimasen."
"It's okay, Kagome," the stranger said, a surprised tone to his voice.
For a split second, she had thought it was Inuyasha. No, he's not here. "Oh, Atasuke!" she said, straightening up, "I didn't know it was you. Well, sorry! I have to get going, now!"
The girl quickly turned to leave, not wanting his scent on her. Sesshoumaru would be livid if he found his scent on me. Atasuke caught her wrist, smiling charmingly at her. "What's the hurry?"
He hadn't planned this meeting, but he had to take every opportunity to steal her away from Sesshoumaru. God, why do I want this so badly? I've never been attracted to any woman before. The girl whose wrist he held firmly in his hand turned to him, caught off guard by his smile. Inuyasha never smiled directly at me…maybe smirked, but he never actually smiled. She smiled back, "I have to go grocery shopping and get back home quickly."
"What's the rush?" he asked leisurely, releasing her wrist, assured that she would not try to escape.
"I have to go home to…" she coughed, giving her time to think of a way around this, "help my mother with a party. She has some people from work coming to a party at home," she lied, straight-faced.
"You're going home from here? Do you live close?" he asked, seeing a kink in the story.
Damn, he's smart. "Yeah, not far from here," she said, smiling, "I just came downtown to buy some nice food."
"Oh," he said, eyes a little downcast, "maybe I can help you?"
"No, no, it's alright," she said, a fake smile plastered on. Wow. Where did I learn to lie like that? And a fake smile? I must be taking on some of Sesshou's habits.
"Okay, then," he said defeatedly, "I'll see you around."
"Yeah, sure!" she said, waving at him, "Bye!"
"Bye!" he said, waving his hand, also. I'll follow her.
Atasuke turned the corner the opposite way, then looked back around quickly to see where she was going. He saw her retreating form round the next corner. Moving swiftly and quietly, he pursued his prey, dodging around the bustling people. Soon, she entered a store, and he waited silently outside, near another store. The reincarnation hid behind the cover of the daily newspaper, his eyes barely able to discern anything above the edge of the newspaper. He waited for about half an hour before she finally came out, carrying two plastic bags. Her pace was somewhat hindered, but she seemed not care as she sauntered leisurely down the busy street. Turning here and there, he found that she lived in an apartment. Casually, she walked in and boarded the elevator. He took care to wait until the elevator door closed until he went after her. Wait…now how am I going to find her? Shrugging his shoulders, he pushed the 'up' button. Another elevator opened its doors, and he walked in, glancing over at the numbers at the side. There seemed to be only ten floors. Well, there aren't too many. He picked a number, which was five, and let his fate blow to the winds. Luck was on his side, for no one stopped his elevator in its ascent to the higher level. Hopefully, Kagome's was stopped a couple times. He exited on the fifth floor and pressed the 'up' button of the elevator Kagome had ridden. The doors opened almost immediately, and he was met by the startled face of Kagome.
"What a coincidence!" he shouted happily, stepping into the elevator. "What are you doing here?"
She stared at him in disbelief. "You didn't follow me here, did you?"
"No!" he shouted jokingly, "I was visiting a friend on this floor, and now I need to go up to the tenth floor to visit another."
"Oh, okay," she said, pressing the ten button for him.
Atasuke saw that the seven button was lit up. She lives on the seventh floor. He remained silent for the next two floors. When she had exited, he quickly pressed the button for the eighth floor and was soon standing on the plush carpet of the luxury suites' floor. He scrambled down the steps to the seventh floor, able to see the a lock of black hair swishing through a door. Thought not knowing what it was, something told him to stay there, near the steps. Somehow, he knew something was going to happen to make Kagome come out again. Perhaps she'll figure out she forgot something? Or maybe, she'll go out shopping? I don't know. She'll come out, I know it. So, with that, he waited silently at the foot of the steps.
Inside the apartment, Kagome greeted Sesshoumaru with a smile. He eyed her warily, sensing something different about her aura. Sniffing the air lightly, he inhaled her gentle scent. It seemed normal, but something had tainted it slightly. Focusing harder, he could finally make out the blemish. Atasuke's scent… He kept calm, not wanting her to know the silent fury bubbling inside him.
"Help me, will you?" Kagome called from the kitchen.
She was taking the stuff out of the bags, placing them in the refrigerator and in various cabinets.
"Anything happen along the way?" he asked wryly, helping her with the food.
"Heh," she laughed, "I ran into Atasuke."
Freezing momentarily, he studied her face. She wasn't lying. "Hmm, how?"
"I was thinking," she said, finishing and placing the plastic bags in a drawer, "And so, I didn't see him and ran into him."
"Mmm," he mused, "that was smart of you."
"Shut up," she joked, shoving him lightly in the shoulder.
"That's not very nice," he said, smiling and pinning her against the wall.
"I know, aren't I cruel?" she said sarcastically, throwing him off her.
"Very," he answered, "What happened with Atasuke?"
Kagome looked curiously at him. "Nothing happened, Sesshou," she said, waving a hand in the air.
"I want to know," he said fiercely, a snarl playing at his lips.
"Calm down!" she said quickly, fearing his rising temper.
He had gotten rid of the notion to transform when angry, but now, it seemed like he might chance it. She knelt by his side, taking his hand in hers. "Nothing happened, I swear," she said quickly.
Sesshoumaru didn't know what was happening to him. He felt so jealous, yet Kagome promised and swore that nothing had happened. If nothing had happened, then why am I jealous? The dream he had earlier came back to him, the scenes replaying in his head. I will not lose Kagome! Anger was mounting inside him. Everything that had happened over the last four years, all the anger that had not been vented was coming out now. He could feel himself shaking in his dangerous fury. He needed to vent his frustration on something, and Kagome was the only thing he could see. Her concern-filled eyes looked down on him, unknowing of the rage burning inside his being. Suddenly, Kagome changed. Her features sharpened, her hair roughened. Eyes turned amber and expression totally changed.
Kagome looked down at Sesshoumaru, confusion blanketing her features. He looked dazed, as if he were hallucinating. Something burned in his eyes. Pure hate and utter loathing.
"Sesshoumaru?" she questioned, shaking him lightly.
What he saw now was Atasuke and Inuyasha, both laughing at him. The form blinked from Kagome to Atasuke and back again. Then, it stayed on the figure of Atasuke, his half brother's reincarnation. Lifting his hand up at his side, he swung it at the face, unleashing the full force of his pent-up anger.
Kagome felt his hand contact with her cheek. There was a sharp, stinging sensation making its way across her face. She hit the wall from the impact, sliding down and holding her cheek in one hand. Looking over to Sesshoumaru, she found him staring at her, eyes clearing. A trickle of blood ran from the side of her lips, flowing down her chin and neck. Shock took over her being, followed by fear, and then anger.
The form he had hit now turned into Kagome. She was sitting against the wall, a hand held to her cheek, and she was…bleeding? Sesshoumaru stared at his hand in disbelief, guilt flooding through him. Looking back to Kagome, he found she was shocked, then afraid, then angry. All of her expressions melted into sadness. She looked pleadingly at him, as if demanding an explanation. He gazed back, confusion fizzling through him.
"Kagome…I"
She stood up wordlessly, her hand still held to her cheek. "I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru," she interrupted.
The sound of his full name startled and hurt him. She had always used the shorter nicknames affectionately when addressing him. Now, she had used his full name in a stern voice. He berated himself for letting his well-practiced control slip away. "No…Kagome…I"
"Need to think," she finished for him, a tear slipping down her face. "I'm sorry for whatever I did to make you so angry."
With that, she turned and left the apartment, standing silently outside the door for a while. Atasuke, still sitting at the steps, looked up at the noise. He blanched when he saw Kagome, a thin stream of blood trickling down her chin, hand held up to one cheek. Quickly, he rose and went to her, concerned about her welfare. She started, turning to him slowly.
"What are you doing here?" she asked coldly, blaming him for her injury.
"I was visiting another friend here," he said, hurt flashing through his eyes.
"You seem to have many friends in this particular building, don't you?" she inquired, finally realizing he was lying. "Why are you following me?"
"I…" he stammered, not sure of what to say.
"Stop it," she commanded harshly, brushing past him.
Tears were now flowing freely from her pained eyes. She strode quickly to the stairs, starting to descend the metal steps. Her wrist was caught by Atasuke, making her stumble slightly as she fell back into his arms. She sobbed, trying to pull free of his grasp, but to no avail. Giving up, she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, sobbing into his shoulder. He was caught off guard, but the scene felt strangely right to him. His heart was beating wildly. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he quietly whispered soothing words in her ear. She calmed down considerably until all that remained of her violent sobbing was sniffles.
Pulling back from him, she muttered an apology. "Sorry."
"It's okay," he said, pulling her back into his arms.
"Umm," she stuttered uncomfortably, struggling in his arms, "maybe I should get going."
"Where to? It doesn't look like your apartment is very safe," he said, pulling back and holding her face in his hands.
"I'll…" she paused, looking away, "just walk around a bit."
"No, I've got a better idea," he said, smiling. "Why don't you just come over to my place?"
She shifted nervously in his hold. "I don't think I can do that."
"Why not? Sesshoumaru doesn't like me?" he asked, smirking.
"No, he doesn't," she said bluntly, pulling away completely.
Kagome ran down the steps, using her sleeve to wipe the blood off her mouth. Atasuke quickly pursued, catching her in his arms again.
"Where are you going to go? It's not safe for a girl to go out alone," he said, guiding her back up the steps to the elevator.
"I'll go anywhere I want," she said defiantly, fighting in his arms.
"Where, then?" he asked, gently shoving her into the elevator.
"I don't know," she answered quietly, stopping her struggles.
He quietly enjoyed her presence, loving the way she felt in his arms. It was a good thing I decided to wait at the steps.
"Why are you following me?" she asked, shifting so that she was more comfortable.
"Because, for some strange reason," he said slowly, "I wanted to be near you."
"Just like Inuyasha," she murmured, feeling more comfortable in his embrace.
"Tell me about Inuyasha," he said, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
"He was a lot like you," she said, enjoying the warmth he emitted.
"Mmm, was he?" he mused.
"Maybe not as sweet," she said, smiling softly. Why am I acting like this? I'll have to go back to Sesshoumaru sometime. Atasuke is so nice, though. Maybe I should stay with him? NO! He's taking advantage of me…using me. Realizing this, she pulled away from him, glaring back at him.
"Don't take advantage of me," she said hotly, stalking off through the lobby.
He looked confused, standing in the elevator, but he soon followed after her, catching her wrist.
"I'm not taking advantage of you," he said soothingly, cradling her in his arms.
"Seems like you are," she said coldly, turning away from his voice.
"Don't get me wrong," he said gently, nuzzling his nose in her hair.
"Stop," she said, pulling away from him.
"You didn't like Inuyasha?" he questioned, remembering how she had thrown her arms around him the first time they had met.
Her expression darkened slightly. "None of your business," she spat, leaving the apartment complex.
"I'm his reincarnation. Of course it's my business," he said calmly, following her down the sidewalks.
"Feh," she said, lifting her chin in the air slightly. Sesshoumaru's really rubbing off on me. She saddened at the thought of him.
Sniffing, she walked faster, leaving Atasuke behind. "Hey!" he shouted after her, running to catch up.
"What do you want?" she asked sourly.
"What did you feel for Inuyasha?" he asked impatiently, walking alongside her.
"What did Inuyasha feel for me?" she asked back.
"I don't know, but what I feel certainly isn't cold hostility," he said softly.
She turned to him, surprised. "You don't even know me, yet," she said.
"Somehow I do," he mused, thinking about her sweet scent and gentle aura.
"Where's your place?" she asked, turning to look straight ahead.
He smiled, pushing her around the corner. "This way."