Chapter 27: Proverbs 24:26 "An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips."

"Kagome-"

I heard him call out to me, but he was cut off by the sound of the door opening. One of the women who were on the deck yesterday came in with a tray of candles. Replacing the candles that had previously burned out. She smiled at Sesshomaru before leaving, closing the door behind her. Now, it was just the two of us again. Sitting in this uncomfortable silence. I gripped the robe in my hands over my chest. I wanted to disappear. I felt like an idiot. Did he regret what happened? Was it just a mistake for him? Was this just another one of his games? I felt him move closer to me and I stood up moving to the other side of the room.

"Please don't," I whispered. "I don't want to hear it Sesshomaru."

"Kagome please, I need you to listen to me."

"No."

"Please-"

"No! I am sick and tired of this back and forth. This hot and cold with you. One minute you're interested, then the next you're not. You've ignored me for months at a time. It's exhausting Sesshomaru.

It is emotionally exhausting dealing with this, dealing with you. I already have enough going on with all of this. You're just adding to the stress… Are my feeling just some sort of game to you? Is this one big joke to you? Why are you like this? Why would you touch me like that, then push me away?" I said, whispering the last part.

He ran his fingers through his hair. He stood up walking toward me. I quickly backed away.

"Don't… don't touch me. I want you to leave." I said turning away from him.

I hoped that he wouldn't touch me. That he would just leave like I had asked him to. I hated the way I sounded right now. So hurt, like some wounded dog. I could hear him walking towards me, his steps causing the boards to creak with each step. He was close. I could feel that familiar heat against my back. I was angry with myself for wanting to lean into him. He was waiting for me to say something. To tell him not to go. To stay and explain himself, but I couldn't. I hugged myself tighter and shut my eyes. I heard him sigh. He walked to the door, there was a pause but he finally left. I sunk to the floor, resting my head on my knees.

"I just want to go home," I whispered.

I had taken another bath. When I had come out clothes were laying on the bed. It was a kimono. I sighed and got dressed, slipping my feet into the sandals. I wrapped my hair into a bun, wrapping it around itself, hoping it wouldn't come loose. I opened the door and poke my head out. It was completely dark, except for the torches lit around the deck. I slipped out closing the door behind me. I could hear muffled voices coming from below. I made my way down deeper into the ship. It was huge. I felt like I was on some luxurious cruise. The deeper I went the louder the voices became. It sounded like they were arguing over something. I reached a pair of large oak double doors, pushing them open. Susanoo, Inuyasha, and Sesshomaru were sitting at a round table. I could feel Sesshomaru's eyes on me, but I refused to make eye contact with him. I sat beside Inuyasha so I could somewhat hide from Sesshomaru's view.

"What's going on?" I asked Susanoo.

"I was letting your companions know what our next move would be. In another day or so we will reach our destination. It takes quite a while to sink to the bottom of the ocean, as you can see. There we will have a convening of a few other gods. We will have to ready ourselves your father. As well as mine. Both of them are conniving and very dangerous. This will give us a chance to plan and be strategic about this. Going in blind would be dangerous." he explained,

"When we arrive will the others already be there?" I asked.

Susanoo nodded.

"Which of the Gods will be there?" I heard Sesshomaru ask.

"Zeuz declined. He has always been a petty little thing; too full of himself to help anyone besides himself. So, the others I managed to reach out to that accepted my invitation. As for who they are, you will see when we arrive."

"That's too vague of an answer." Inuyasha chimed in. "We should know who will be there."

"I gave the lady my word, that you three would be safe. You have nothing to fear. Besides, the two of you would be the most frightening beings in the room." He said pointing to Sesshomaru and me.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

Susanoo smiled. "You," he said gesturing to me. "The goddess of death; commander of darkness. The ability to invoke never-ending immortal armies, with just a simple utterance of one word. Physical strength and endurance that rivals that of Hercules himself. Those white hot hands of yours. The list goes on. You are a force to be reckoned with. Only an idiot would pick a fight with a goddess who could remove the life from them with just a single touch." He said proudly. Then he turned to Sesshomaru. "Then there is you. Always the villain in every story. The forsaken son. The epitome of evil. Since the dawn of time, every human has feared you. It didn't matter what corner of the earth or what religion. Everyone knew your name. They may not know you but they know of you. Yet you remain this mystery, and not knowing is more frightening than actually knowing at all. As for the other Gods, they wonder just how frightening you would have to be for God to cast you out; his son. Then creating your dominion and so much more. I am sure they will keep their distance from you. I'm sure they will stay away from your third companion here as well, simply because he is with you. You three have nothing to worry about. Especially not with me on your side. They would not be foolish enough to pick a battle at the bottom of the ocean while I am there."

"Okay. I believe you." I told him.

He took my hand, kissing the back of it. Looking at Sesshomaru as he did.

"Thank you, my lady. Until we arrive please feel free to use the ship as you please. I will do my best to keep the help away from you." With that, he left.

Then it was just the three of us. In this awkward silence.

"Yeah. I'm not doing this again." Inuyasha said. "I'm going to go get something to eat. Whatever is going on between the both of you, fix it. We have bigger things to deal with." He said before leaving.

Again, I could feel his eyes on me. Was he waiting for me to say something? Was he thinking of what to say? Either way, I couldn't take it. So, I got up and left. A lot that did because he chased after me. He wasn't going to let me go that easily; not again. I shuffled along as quickly as I could, but these sandals and KImono were not making it easy. I wasn't sure where, but anywhere that Sesshomaru wasn't was fine with me. I found my way back into my bedroom. I was sitting on my bed holding the pillow close. I knew he was waiting there outside the door. I couldn't see him, but I could feel him, even from this far away. I would always feel him.