Is it just me, or has no one else been able to log onto Fanfiction.net for a while?

Okay, I know Kagome is being a bit more weak and therefore somewhat OOC lately, but given her situation, I think it would be only natural for her to get easily saddened and more emotional with everyday things as well as the situation at hand, even if she doesn't know why. Oh, and I don't know if Kagome was around to see when Naraku tried to absorb Sesshoumaru in the anime, so if she wasn't, we'll just pretend Inu Yasha told her about it okay?^_^

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters in it. If I did I'd be rich, but I'm not... and if I had lots of money I'd probably spend it on anime anyway so pleeaasseee, don't sue me.^_^ lol

Oh, and as always,

_= thoughts *_* = sound/ italicized "_" = speech

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Memories of the Present

Chapter 27: Dinner and the Parlor

Well, that was awkward.

After the little, shall we say, run-in, with the youkai, Kagome found herself in another set of arms before she could meet sweet pavement again. Having stumbled over her own feet, the embarrassment had still been overcome as she was shocked to find that this time, it was Sesshoumaru holding her, and Inu Yasha didn't look like he was any where close to protesting.

"Hello brother." Sesshoumaru gently set Kagome on her feet before looking her over quickly. At a glance, she did seem to be the wench that his half-brother had once kept, but how was that possible? Maybe his story was the truth after all; she certainly had the same scent, and even a reincarnation would have slight differences. Well, now was not the time to be thinking such things. Besides, she would notice him watching her soon enough.

Seeing the bags piled in his brother's arms, he eyed the hanyou and drawled, "I see little has changed."

Inu Yasha smirked, and drew Kagome back to him, "You're just jealous."

"Indeed." With an eyebrow raise and a smirk of his own, the amused demon lord pulled out his cell phone, dialing a number faster than either human or hanyou could see.

I guess demon reflexes come in handy when taking millions of calls a day, Kagome mused. She watched the tall gentleman in front of her. Really, the looks MUST run in the family. He turned before her, "gracing" her with the presence of his back. Yeah, so chivalrous. Kagome rolled her eyes, catching a glimpse of something shining in the sunlight. Taking the time, she finally noticed how expensive his clothes seemed, though he was always one for the dramatic. He wore a business suit, as did almost everyone else here, but his was a little... shall we say, different? While the passer-byers wore suits of brown or blue, maybe striped, some plain, Sesshoumaru seemed to have developed a style of his own. He stood among the "common people", as he would once have put it, in a starched, white tuxedo, spotless in every way, with a pair of blood red cufflinks, and a yellow and blue undershirt barely peeking out of the top of the suit. Though it did seem a little strange, and she had to admit, the flare was rather stylish.

Wait, what am I thinking?! This is Sesshoumaru, the great youkai lord of the Western Lands! But, this can't be the same; he would've sooner killed me than caught me! Maybe time did him some good? Well, it's not like the Tetsussaiga is here for him to fight over; wait, where is it? I'll ask later. Inu Yasha wouldn't have gotten rid of it so easily. You know, he doesn't seem very frightened of Sesshoumaru, but then again, like he'd ever let anyone see it if he were. Pfft, yeah right. Sesshoumaru may not be attacking us, but still, no reason to take chances.

With that thought in mind, Kagome stealthily inched her way towards Inu Yasha, stopping slightly ajar his left side, and prepared to hold her ground. She doubted that the youkai would try anything there, with all of those people around. Sure, in his time maybe, but in this time, there was obviously a reason that the youkai were all in hiding, perhaps from fear? Just because she didn't know the reason, that didn't mean that it didn't exist, and she was sure as hell going to take advantage of it if need be.

Sensing her tension, Inu Yasha slipped an arm around her shoulders, and gave a slight squeeze. He almost laughed when she jumped in his arms, obviously not expecting a display of affection, if she even remembered that he was there at all. Kagome seemed pretty worked up about whatever she was worried about. Wait, she was... afraid? Why would she be... Shaking his head, the hanyou gave himself a mental slap as realization kicked in, Of COURSE! The only times she'd seen him, he had been trying to kill us! No wonder she's freaked!

Constricting his hold tenderly, he looked down towards the girl and smiled slightly; "Oi, Kagome, relax. We're not in any danger."

"What?"

"You, woman," Sesshoumaru closed his phone and slipped it back into his pocket, "I demand to know why you were staring at me earlier." Eyes wide in confusion, the girl looked left, then right, before looking at the inu-youkai and pointing at herself questioningly. The demon lord just sighed and nodded, "You were watching me before you ran into that cretinous human." Realization finally sunk in as the sweat drop that had, until then, been growing steadily, dropped down out of sight.

"Oh, I didn't know that was you. You *did* have your back to me after all," she said, if a little smartly.

Noting the slight change in her tone, the inu-youkai glared at her curiously. Still as indignant as ever.

Kagome reeled back, Ahh! Why is he glaring at me like that?

Gha! Why is Kagome looking at me like that? Inu Yasha swallowed, though a bit audibly, He's just comparing her what he remembers. It's like she's never been looked at before! Oh wait, Sesshoumaru, right. Well, maybe I'd better get us out of here and give her a chance to calm herself. Opening his mouth, the hanyou groaned, This'll be an interesting conversation with Rin.

"We'll be on our way now. Make sure to say hi to..." Inu Yasha scowled; he did not like to be cut off.

"There will be no need for that brother, as you are coming with me."

Both Inu Yasha and Kagome stiffened, WHAT?!

"You are humbly invited to dinner at my estate. Rin would care to see your... Kagome." The hanyou let out a quick sigh of relief, not unnoticed by the demon lord, while Kagome just stood there and stuttered.

"R... Rin?" Kagome blinked. She was skeptical that a hanyou could live this long, but a HUMAN? It... it wasn't possible! There is no way! Maybe he found her reincarnation? That had to be it, but then, how would she know Kagome? Maybe she tapped into her incarnate's memories? Kagome was so lost in thought that she had failed to notice a long, midnight-black limousine pull up next to them. A small green toad-like thing hopped out of the driver's side, one you would recognize anywhere as Sesshoumaru's servant, but to anyone other than the four, he would seem only as your everyday guy in a chauffeur's outfit. They did not need to draw attention to themselves in common place areas, and the limo itself commanded some recognition, already drawing eyes from the passing people. Before the miko could think, she was swept into the car following a slightly nervous hanyou, and his callous half-brother.

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"It's kind of funny now that you mention it," Rin began. She and Kagome were lounging in giant red, cushy chairs. The chairs were they largest pieces of furniture in the entire room, minus the small couch that sat to their left. The couch was a three-seater, though barely larger than one red chair, and faced the wall while the chairs each faced towards the couch. Between the misshapen triangle of furniture lie an overly polished ivory table, hand carved with an incredibly intricate pattern of roses and vines along the edges. The legs of said table were the finest dragon statues Kagome had ever seen, which were, as Rin had previously informed her, once cats, but had been altered at Sesshoumaru's demand. No self-respecting dog demon would have a cat in his house after all. Well, none other than Rin's cat; Fluffy never could tell the girl no.

Around room hung delicate paintings, most of them from, or based on the Sengoku Jedai, for obvious reasons. A small space had been cleared of such paintings, however, as the demon lord had a whim to set his swords in an "x" on the first part of wall you saw from the doorway. He had probably intended it as a threatening gesture, but it only made Kagome want to go and examine them further. They sat in the parlor, as the family called it, while dinner was being prepared, indulging in light conversation, and answering any questions that Kagome may have had.

"After a few hundred years, it was once again time to fight for their father's honor. I can't recall which demon it was this time, but I'm sure Inu Yasha could tell you. That was the first fight that both brothers had been present in, though Inu was reluctant at first. (awww, she called him Inu.^-^) The other fights had happened when he was either too young to battle, or sealed. Really, Inu Yasha cared little for fighting for territory, but when he realized that there was no land to be gained, and that it was purely for honor, he thought he might as well help. Or, as he put it, 'Keh, can't let him have all of the fun.'." Both girls laughed at this for a moment before turning back to their conversation. "Anyway, after that, things just seemed to go uphill. Of course, they have more than enough fun torturing each other, but it's all for fun now."

Kagome's smile slackened. There was one question that she had been meaning to ask all night, but she just couldn't figure out how.

Rin, however, easily noticed the change in the surrounding air, and figured that there could only be one reason. "You want to know why I'm still alive?"

"What?! H... how did you..."

"Well, you looked like you were trying to find a way around asking something, so I figured it'd be an uncomfortable subject. Though I have no problem with it, the way you had stared at me when you first arrived reminded me that you probably thought it was sensitive." She shrugged. "So you want to know?"

"Um... yes... if that's okay with you."

Rin smiled brightly; "It's no problem Kagome."

"During the fight with Naraku, Sessy... ," Kagome had a feeling that she'd NEVER stop smirking when she heard that, "... told me to stay hidden in the bushes off to the side of the battleground. Of course, being the mischievous thing I am, I couldn't just sit back and watch him fight, so I went to fight with him."

"But you were just a child!"

Rin laughed, "And when you were a child you didn't think you could accomplish anything if you tried hard enough?" Kagome giggled and nodded for her to continue. "Anyway, I went to help him and kind of got in the way."

"Of course."

The older girl glared at Kagome; "If you don't stop interrupting I'm not going to tell you."

The miko smiled apologetically, "Okay, sorry, sorry. Please, continue."

"Humph. Yeah, so, when Naraku sent his tentacles out to attack Sessy (Kagome snickers), he cut them to shreds and jumped before the pieces could encase him; Naraku had tried that trick before."

"I remember."

Rin nods. "Unfortunately, in trying to help him, I had to be by his side, and, as I had no where near the speed he did, obviously, I got trapped instead. Where as it would take Naraku quite a while to absorb Sesshoumaru, I was only a child and was taken almost immediately." Kagome gasped. "Mhmm. Sessy...,"

You know, 'Sessy' sounds like 'sissy'.. Kagome suppressed another snicker at the cute nickname.

"... tried to cut me out of Naraku as soon as he had realized what had happened, but in doing so, he had to take some of Naraku's parts to sustain me. I was too infused to survive on what was left of my own body, but I guess that was just a blessing in disguise. Because of the fact that I was then, well, basically a hanyou, I had a much longer life span. As you can see," she gestured to herself, " even a hanyou gets older and I did a little growing up. Eventually I lived to realize my feelings for him and he for me. So, if that had never happened, I could never have been mated with Sesshoumaru."

Though she cringed slightly at the thought of Sesshoumaru "mating" (though a lot of people wouldn't.^_~), she had to admit that the story was one of the most romantic and sweet that she had ever heard, causing a soft, almost swooning sigh to escape from her lips.

Rin giggled happily, "I know."

"I still can't believe I have to thank that irredeemable half-breed." The two girls turned to see none other than the demon lord in the doorway. Rin smiled and stood up; walking over to him, she took the arm that he offered her, and the two proceeded to exit the room.

"Sorry Kagome! We still have some time before dinner; I'll send Inu Yasha down. Oh, and we'd love it if you stayed the night! There's a phone in the hall; call your mom and ask, okay?" And with that, the two were gone.

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"What's bothering you Kagome?"

"Hm?" Kagome looked up from her plate as if in a daze. The haziness that had once clouded her eyes was now gone, leaving instead her usual, bright, cheery smile. "Nothing, sorry."

The group had been seated in Sesshoumaru's dining room for about an hour now, eating occasionally when a new course was served. In between courses, the pairs did not talk much to each other, but preferred talking amongst themselves rather than shout across the football field length table. Of course, for Kagome this arrangement was more than a little uncomfortable, and the silence easily aroused suspicion towards the other's mood. Unfortunately, it didn't help that the miko was deep in thought and didn't exactly want to be disturbed.

Another silver platter was brought to each and the servant left the two at his master's beckoning.

"Tell me."

Her smile faltered, "I told you; it's nothing."

"But you just said 'it's', meaning that there is something."

"Ugh, Inu Yasha, there's nothing! Stop being so paranoid!" The sound echoed all the way down the lengthy table and Rin looked up from her food. "Rin, it's nothing, really."

"See, you said 'it' again!"

"ARG, Inu Yasha, cut it out!"

"Kagome..."

"SIT!" Kagome paused, then sat back down, hung her head, and sighed, "... oh, right, no rosary."

Sesshoumaru rubbed his temples. He was tired of hearing them yell, and was beginning to develop quite a headache. He sighed with his air of superiority still intact, that is, until, "Women." All eyes turned on the youkai as his hand immediately covered his mouth; unfortunately, it was far too late, as the girls had already heard, and both rose from the table, tossing their napkins aside as they did so.

"Oh really Sesshoumaru?" Rin glared daggers at the youkai.

Uh oh, where's the nickname? Sesshoumaru inwardly flinched under her gaze, but refused to show weakness in front of his brother.

"And what do you have to say to that Inu Yasha?" Silence said it all.

"Well then, Kagome, would like to join me for a bath? I think the *boys* would like to spend their evening in the parlor tonight."

"I do believe they would Rin. Maybe they'll get lucky and we'll toss them a few blankets... in the morning." With that, the girls walked out, locking eyes with their respective others only long enough to get their message across.

Once they were gone, Inu Yasha slumped down in his chair, ears drooping only briefly; "Well, that was sudden."

"Not getting along with your mate brother? Was it not as you expected it would be?"

The hanyou laughed, "Actually, she's exactly as I expected she would be... and she's not my mate!"

Sesshoumaru rubbed his temples again, "Keep your voice down." He let out an exasperated groan, "Look, you've waited for her for what, five hundred years, and you still can't admit that you want her? If so, you are completely and utterly hopeless."

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Inu Yasha barked, snarling at the demon that was now sitting across from him.

"But don't I? Look at you; I've never seen such a sickening, idiotic grin on your face as when you're around her. I am well aware of the fact that you have at least admitted this much to yourself, but when will you tell her? From what I've seen, she has a few admirers, and could easily get more. You must claim her while you can brother."

"Look!" he snarled, "I don't need your advice or your lectures! Keh," the hanyou stood, facing the door, "I'm out of here." With that, he stormed off down the hall, and straight towards his room... which had been positioned strategically just past Kagome's.

Sesshoumaru grinned, "You are so predictable."