^_^ ; uh. . . hi. It's been a while, huh? I'd like to apologize to my three
or four readers. . . for taking such a long time. But a lot has been
happening. Brain tumors, hospitals, recovery, Homecoming dances. . . I hope
the chapter will make up for the wait. Sesshie and Kagome talk more in this
one! There's more Angst! And Miroku has quite a surprise for Sango!
I Hope You Guys Still Love Me. Reviews would be very well appreciated.
Honey Bee
Chapter 9
The Benefit Event
Red.
Of course Kikyou would be wearing red. Sesshoumaru thought to himself clearly. Kikyou smiled bright white teeth through her red lips, and waved. "Sesshoumaru-san!" she called.
Sesshoumaru led the beautiful-looking Kagome, weaving through a crowd of minglers, and they finally reached Kikyou and The Pest.
"Miss Higurashi," Sesshoumaru said diligently, "this is my Assistant Editor, Fujishima Naraku," he tried to keep his voice as business-like as possible when he nearly spat out The Pest's name, "and this is our Romance Chief Editor, Oto Kikyou."
The three each bowed formally. Sesshoumaru watched, still amazed at how much Kagome looked like Kikyou. But, he wasn't the only one who noticed this. There was an accusing look in Kikyou's eyes, and she spoke, "And who is this, Sesshoumaru-san?" Her tone was more mocking than it was friendly.
"This," he said, artfully placing a hand on Kagome's back, (Kikyou's smile faltered), "is Higurashi Kagome. By her pen-name, she is known as Ito Hanyou. Surely you recall the name, Kikyou-san? You handed me her novel yourself."
"Oh!" Kikyou said, holding out her hand in a phony gesture of friendship to Kagome. "Yes, I remember! A most unusual pen-name! You know, Kagome, I skimmed through a few chapters of your story when I got the copy, and I think it just might be very popular!" Kikyou exclaimed all of this while still shaking Kagome's hand.
"Thank you!" Kagome replied, innocent to the tension in between the other three.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kikyou (finally) let go of Kagome's hand, and Kagome tried to keep a bright smile plastered on her face.
This woman, for some reason, definitely did not like her.
"Your welcome!" Kikyou said.
Something was so phony about this woman.
"Now, if I may," Sesshoumaru cut in, "There are plenty more people I would like miss Higurashi to be introduced to. Excuse us."
"Certainly." Kikyou replied with a wicked, and beautiful, smile.
Sesshoumaru lead her away from the other two and for an hour they worked their way through the great ballroom, stopping every ten to twenty minutes to meet other editors, other writers, and tons of agents. Kagome had a feeling that everyone that should be there was.
Finally, they came to a stop upstairs at two great double-doors leading out into an empty balcony. Sesshoumaru once again placed a hand on her back and softly ushered her through the doors.
"Why are we going out here? Are we done?"
"Shh."
Kagome quieted and followed. He stopped at the railing and leaned on his elbows. For a split second, Kagome wasn't sure what he wanted her to do, but then she figured that he just wanted a break.
She joined him at the railing, taking in the scenery. The city was dazzling and sparkling, and you could hear faint sirens and car horns. The soft jazzy piano could be heard from the inside of the building, as well as chattering from the crowd of people. There was a cool breeze, and Kagome shivered.
Sesshoumaru didn't seem to notice.
"How is my half-brother?" Sesshoumaru asked flatly.
Oh. So that was it. She had known this would come up sooner or later. The thing was, she'd just been praying it wouldn't.
She took in a shuddering breath and replied, "I wouldn't know. We broke up."
Sesshoumaru's face was passive. Then, he took off his suit coat, and put it around Kagome's shoulders.
She let him step back into his position against the railing, and then said, "Thank you."
Sesshoumaru said nothing about the coat, but instead said, "Is he unhappy about it?"
"He's stubborn. But it was my idea. . . he wanted to hear 'I love you,' and I wasn't ready to say it."
"That sounds just like him. He can have anything he wants, but instead he wants to do everything the hard way."
"What do you mean?"
"He could have had you, as a girlfriend and best friend, but instead he chose to question exactly what you two had until it destroyed your bond. . . he did question it, didn't he?"
"Yes. He did. Well. . . it's over now." She said in a dismissive tone.
Plenty of things went unsaid between the two, and Kagome found herself wishing to discuss more with him. But instead, Sesshoumaru stood up. "You're still freezing. Let's go inside."
Kagome obeyed and followed him back through the great doors and into the deliciously warm building.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Meanwhile. . .
"Um, Sango, would you - no, will you? No, Sango, it would give me great pleasure if you would. . . (sigh). She'll think I'm nuts." Miroku stared back at himself in the mirror. He looked so ridiculous on one knee, the ring held out and still in it's box.
He had to be out of his mind, asking her so soon.
Maybe he shouldn't get on one knee. Too cliched. Maybe they should go to a Chinese restaurant, and he could ask someone to slip the ring in a fortune cookie. . . no, wait, they did that in "Mickey Blue Eyes."
No, he would have to be creative.
"Think, Miroku, think!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ When they got into the restaurant, Miroku was nearly shaking with anxiousness.
After they ate, Sango said, "Let's go dancing."
"No, I kinda - well, kinda had something else in mind. . . "
"What?"
"You'll see. Come on."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Miroku, why are we in the park? It's cold!"
"Well, here - " Miroku took his coat off and gave it to Sango.
She put it on and sighed, cuddling into it's warmth.
It was time.
Miroku checked his pocket for the ring - but it wasn't there. He began to frantically (but quietly) search his pockets until he realized -
"Miroku, what's this?"
While Miroku had been searching his pockets, Sango had discovered the ring in the jacket.
"It's, uh. . . . something I forgot to put in my pants pocket."
"It's a box."
"Well, yeah. . . "
"It's a ring box."
"Well. . . yeah." His voice broke.
"Why was a ring box in your jacket pocket?" Sango sounded very hesitant.
"I don't know. Maybe you should. . . o-o-open it and see what's inside." Miroku shrugged nervously.
Sango gulped.
She held the box towards herself, opened it up, and. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You look tired, Kagome." Sesshoumaru noticed a stifled yawn come from the young novelist, and looked at his watch. It was 12:00. "Would you like me to take you home?"
"Yes. Thank you."
She was being very quiet. Usually, when they weren't on business, she was driving him crazy with chatter. They got in his car, and everything was silent.
She turned and stared out of her window, in deep thought.
He jumped slightly when she spoke. "Sesshoumaru-san?"
"Hm?"
"How long will it take for my novel to be published?"
"Maybe eight or nine months."
"When do I get paid?" He looked over at her and she was smiling.
A rare, ghost of a smile tugged at his on lips, and he replied, "We'll discuss that later."
So they drove on, and Kagome remained silent still. Sesshoumaru finally gave in to his curiosity. "Are you thinking about him?"
Kagome's head snapped in his direction, and she then dropped her eyes just as quickly. A moment passed and she said, "Yes."
"Having. . . regrets?"
"A few."
"Don't. I'm sure you did the right thing."
Kagome waited a beat. "But am I?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sango stared at the ring she held out before her, her jaw dropping slightly , not at the ring itself, but what it would mean if she accepted it.
Then she looked at the price tag he'd forgotten to take out of the side of the box and paled.
"Three thousand, six hundred dollars?! Miroku, how the hell could you afford this?!" She began to smack him on the arm with each word, infuriated that he would put himself that far in debt. "You -"
"Ow, baby, don't hit me!"
"Baka! How are you gonna pay for this?! I -"
"Sango! Sango-chan, stop!" He grabbed her arms and settled her down, caressing her cheek when a tear came down, and then another.
"Shikatta, Miroku!" Sango barely managed to squeak out, then she threw her arms around him and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Is that a yes?"
"I don't know!" Her voice sounded muffled from being buried in the curve of his neck, so she stepped back to speak to him clearly. "I don't know. We haven't even been together that long!"
"Yes, but if feels like it! Even if you're not ready, I just want to let you know that I am! I can't see my future without you in it! We don't have to have kids or anything right away, we could live in your apartment -"
"Mine's too small!"
"Then we'll find a bigger one! I don"t really give a shit where we end up, I just want you to be there! Am I getting through?"
Sango spoke in a whisper. "Yes. . . I just don't know what to think. It's a little sudden. I. . . I want to say yes, but. . . I want to be sure I'm making the right decision. Have you even thought all of this through? What it all means?" She squeezed his hand. "Miroku, it's a nice fantasy, but. . . I don't think I'm ready." (A/N: What is she, insane?!)
Miroku scratched the back of his head and looked down at the ground with a bitter smile. "It's okay. . . I understand. It was a nice fantasy. . . " he mumbled. He took the ring out of her hands gently, and put it in his pants pocket. He kept his eyes on the ground.
Sango's heart ached just watching him. She hated seeing him so unhappy, but she knew the change was too big, and way too soon. She just wasn't ready.
Finally he stepped forward and put a hand on her back, forcing a smile. "Come on, Sango. I'll take you home."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kagome said goodbye to Sesshoumaru, then made her way up to the apartment, frowning.
She really did miss InuYasha. She'd actually forgotten about him for a while, while she'd been meeting people with Sesshoumaru, smiling and talking with them about her certainly bright future. . . until he had to go and ask about him.
She sighed and stepped off the elevator, and she looked down to fish around in her purse for her keys. She reached the door blindly, then ran into something soft and warm.
"Woah, Kagome. . ." A voice said with a little humor and a little surprise. Two strong hands grabbed her shoulders and she stumbled back a step to stare at a man's chest donned in a red T-shirt. Her eyes traveled up to see long silver hair, a strong neck, a defined jaw line, an almost grim smile on the pale lips, and then two, sad, huge golden eyes.
InuYasha.
"Why are you here?" Kagome asked quickly, turning her eyes down to the ground and moving out of his grasp. She drew her keys out of her purse and he stepped aside so she could get to the door.
"Can I come in?"
"Not until," Kagome struggled with unlocking the door, the key just wouldn't turn, "you tell me why you're here."
Oh. Wrong key.
"I wanted to see you."
She found the right key and opened the door, her hands shaking slightly. "Well, just. . . come on over, whenever you feel like it! Open House, people!"
"Kagome -" he said with a hurt voice.
"What if I don't. . . want you here?" She said, her voice breaking into a whisper. "I can't stand. . . " she didn't know what she was saying.
InuYasha just stared back at her, his eyebrows drawn together and serious. He stood there in front of her, in the doorway, with his hands in his pockets. "I've been waiting for about two hours. I just wanted to see you. I've missed you. And I know it was all due to my own stubbornness and stupidity. . . I just *had* to go and ask, you know? Will 'I'm sorry' help?"
Kagome stared at him, wondering why she was taking this so seriously, and being so childish. . . but then she remembered. "Do you still want me to love you?" she asked.
His chest swelled with a sigh, and he let it out in a sentence: "Of course I do."
"Do you still want me to say it?"
"If you still can."
"I can't. I'm sorry. I don't know why, okay? I feel very strongly for you, and I've missed you, too. . . but for some reason, I just can't say it. And that's what you want. Don't waste your time with me, please. Find someone else who can say it."
"I don't want anyone else."
Kagome closed her eyes, wishing the whole problem would just shrivel up and disintegrate. She wanted to invite him in. She wanted to kiss him again, and laugh with him again. . . but he still wanted something she couldn't give him. And even if she did say it, to pacify him, it would just be a lie. And she could never lie to him.
"I'm sorry, InuYasha. Maybe. . . if we could just be apart for a while-" "So why are you all dressed up?" he ignored her and tried to change the subject.
"Do you really want to know?"
"Sure."
"I was with your brother."
Hurt, and then anger flashed not only in his eyes, but on his whole face, as well. But his voice managed to stay calm. "My brother. Oh. Why?"
"We were on business. I'm being published now, you know? We've been pretty busy with things."
"You've been pretty busy with each other." he said, his voice turning to venom. "You're a pretty busy girl, Kagome. You sure do know how to get arou - "
SMACK!
She'd slapped him so hard that his left cheek was so red it almost made her own sting. "Do not - ever - talk about me that way again."
His face still looked angry, with a slight scowl, but his eyes were full with regret.
They stood there for a moment, just staring at each other. Then Kagome turned away, and quietly shut the door on him, making sure to lock it behind her.
She leaned back against it, and listened for his footsteps to fade. When they did, she sank to the floor, and took off her shoes. She put her purse down beside her, stared ahead a moment. . . and then began to cry.
I Hope You Guys Still Love Me. Reviews would be very well appreciated.
Honey Bee
Chapter 9
The Benefit Event
Red.
Of course Kikyou would be wearing red. Sesshoumaru thought to himself clearly. Kikyou smiled bright white teeth through her red lips, and waved. "Sesshoumaru-san!" she called.
Sesshoumaru led the beautiful-looking Kagome, weaving through a crowd of minglers, and they finally reached Kikyou and The Pest.
"Miss Higurashi," Sesshoumaru said diligently, "this is my Assistant Editor, Fujishima Naraku," he tried to keep his voice as business-like as possible when he nearly spat out The Pest's name, "and this is our Romance Chief Editor, Oto Kikyou."
The three each bowed formally. Sesshoumaru watched, still amazed at how much Kagome looked like Kikyou. But, he wasn't the only one who noticed this. There was an accusing look in Kikyou's eyes, and she spoke, "And who is this, Sesshoumaru-san?" Her tone was more mocking than it was friendly.
"This," he said, artfully placing a hand on Kagome's back, (Kikyou's smile faltered), "is Higurashi Kagome. By her pen-name, she is known as Ito Hanyou. Surely you recall the name, Kikyou-san? You handed me her novel yourself."
"Oh!" Kikyou said, holding out her hand in a phony gesture of friendship to Kagome. "Yes, I remember! A most unusual pen-name! You know, Kagome, I skimmed through a few chapters of your story when I got the copy, and I think it just might be very popular!" Kikyou exclaimed all of this while still shaking Kagome's hand.
"Thank you!" Kagome replied, innocent to the tension in between the other three.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kikyou (finally) let go of Kagome's hand, and Kagome tried to keep a bright smile plastered on her face.
This woman, for some reason, definitely did not like her.
"Your welcome!" Kikyou said.
Something was so phony about this woman.
"Now, if I may," Sesshoumaru cut in, "There are plenty more people I would like miss Higurashi to be introduced to. Excuse us."
"Certainly." Kikyou replied with a wicked, and beautiful, smile.
Sesshoumaru lead her away from the other two and for an hour they worked their way through the great ballroom, stopping every ten to twenty minutes to meet other editors, other writers, and tons of agents. Kagome had a feeling that everyone that should be there was.
Finally, they came to a stop upstairs at two great double-doors leading out into an empty balcony. Sesshoumaru once again placed a hand on her back and softly ushered her through the doors.
"Why are we going out here? Are we done?"
"Shh."
Kagome quieted and followed. He stopped at the railing and leaned on his elbows. For a split second, Kagome wasn't sure what he wanted her to do, but then she figured that he just wanted a break.
She joined him at the railing, taking in the scenery. The city was dazzling and sparkling, and you could hear faint sirens and car horns. The soft jazzy piano could be heard from the inside of the building, as well as chattering from the crowd of people. There was a cool breeze, and Kagome shivered.
Sesshoumaru didn't seem to notice.
"How is my half-brother?" Sesshoumaru asked flatly.
Oh. So that was it. She had known this would come up sooner or later. The thing was, she'd just been praying it wouldn't.
She took in a shuddering breath and replied, "I wouldn't know. We broke up."
Sesshoumaru's face was passive. Then, he took off his suit coat, and put it around Kagome's shoulders.
She let him step back into his position against the railing, and then said, "Thank you."
Sesshoumaru said nothing about the coat, but instead said, "Is he unhappy about it?"
"He's stubborn. But it was my idea. . . he wanted to hear 'I love you,' and I wasn't ready to say it."
"That sounds just like him. He can have anything he wants, but instead he wants to do everything the hard way."
"What do you mean?"
"He could have had you, as a girlfriend and best friend, but instead he chose to question exactly what you two had until it destroyed your bond. . . he did question it, didn't he?"
"Yes. He did. Well. . . it's over now." She said in a dismissive tone.
Plenty of things went unsaid between the two, and Kagome found herself wishing to discuss more with him. But instead, Sesshoumaru stood up. "You're still freezing. Let's go inside."
Kagome obeyed and followed him back through the great doors and into the deliciously warm building.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Meanwhile. . .
"Um, Sango, would you - no, will you? No, Sango, it would give me great pleasure if you would. . . (sigh). She'll think I'm nuts." Miroku stared back at himself in the mirror. He looked so ridiculous on one knee, the ring held out and still in it's box.
He had to be out of his mind, asking her so soon.
Maybe he shouldn't get on one knee. Too cliched. Maybe they should go to a Chinese restaurant, and he could ask someone to slip the ring in a fortune cookie. . . no, wait, they did that in "Mickey Blue Eyes."
No, he would have to be creative.
"Think, Miroku, think!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ When they got into the restaurant, Miroku was nearly shaking with anxiousness.
After they ate, Sango said, "Let's go dancing."
"No, I kinda - well, kinda had something else in mind. . . "
"What?"
"You'll see. Come on."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Miroku, why are we in the park? It's cold!"
"Well, here - " Miroku took his coat off and gave it to Sango.
She put it on and sighed, cuddling into it's warmth.
It was time.
Miroku checked his pocket for the ring - but it wasn't there. He began to frantically (but quietly) search his pockets until he realized -
"Miroku, what's this?"
While Miroku had been searching his pockets, Sango had discovered the ring in the jacket.
"It's, uh. . . . something I forgot to put in my pants pocket."
"It's a box."
"Well, yeah. . . "
"It's a ring box."
"Well. . . yeah." His voice broke.
"Why was a ring box in your jacket pocket?" Sango sounded very hesitant.
"I don't know. Maybe you should. . . o-o-open it and see what's inside." Miroku shrugged nervously.
Sango gulped.
She held the box towards herself, opened it up, and. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You look tired, Kagome." Sesshoumaru noticed a stifled yawn come from the young novelist, and looked at his watch. It was 12:00. "Would you like me to take you home?"
"Yes. Thank you."
She was being very quiet. Usually, when they weren't on business, she was driving him crazy with chatter. They got in his car, and everything was silent.
She turned and stared out of her window, in deep thought.
He jumped slightly when she spoke. "Sesshoumaru-san?"
"Hm?"
"How long will it take for my novel to be published?"
"Maybe eight or nine months."
"When do I get paid?" He looked over at her and she was smiling.
A rare, ghost of a smile tugged at his on lips, and he replied, "We'll discuss that later."
So they drove on, and Kagome remained silent still. Sesshoumaru finally gave in to his curiosity. "Are you thinking about him?"
Kagome's head snapped in his direction, and she then dropped her eyes just as quickly. A moment passed and she said, "Yes."
"Having. . . regrets?"
"A few."
"Don't. I'm sure you did the right thing."
Kagome waited a beat. "But am I?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sango stared at the ring she held out before her, her jaw dropping slightly , not at the ring itself, but what it would mean if she accepted it.
Then she looked at the price tag he'd forgotten to take out of the side of the box and paled.
"Three thousand, six hundred dollars?! Miroku, how the hell could you afford this?!" She began to smack him on the arm with each word, infuriated that he would put himself that far in debt. "You -"
"Ow, baby, don't hit me!"
"Baka! How are you gonna pay for this?! I -"
"Sango! Sango-chan, stop!" He grabbed her arms and settled her down, caressing her cheek when a tear came down, and then another.
"Shikatta, Miroku!" Sango barely managed to squeak out, then she threw her arms around him and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Is that a yes?"
"I don't know!" Her voice sounded muffled from being buried in the curve of his neck, so she stepped back to speak to him clearly. "I don't know. We haven't even been together that long!"
"Yes, but if feels like it! Even if you're not ready, I just want to let you know that I am! I can't see my future without you in it! We don't have to have kids or anything right away, we could live in your apartment -"
"Mine's too small!"
"Then we'll find a bigger one! I don"t really give a shit where we end up, I just want you to be there! Am I getting through?"
Sango spoke in a whisper. "Yes. . . I just don't know what to think. It's a little sudden. I. . . I want to say yes, but. . . I want to be sure I'm making the right decision. Have you even thought all of this through? What it all means?" She squeezed his hand. "Miroku, it's a nice fantasy, but. . . I don't think I'm ready." (A/N: What is she, insane?!)
Miroku scratched the back of his head and looked down at the ground with a bitter smile. "It's okay. . . I understand. It was a nice fantasy. . . " he mumbled. He took the ring out of her hands gently, and put it in his pants pocket. He kept his eyes on the ground.
Sango's heart ached just watching him. She hated seeing him so unhappy, but she knew the change was too big, and way too soon. She just wasn't ready.
Finally he stepped forward and put a hand on her back, forcing a smile. "Come on, Sango. I'll take you home."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kagome said goodbye to Sesshoumaru, then made her way up to the apartment, frowning.
She really did miss InuYasha. She'd actually forgotten about him for a while, while she'd been meeting people with Sesshoumaru, smiling and talking with them about her certainly bright future. . . until he had to go and ask about him.
She sighed and stepped off the elevator, and she looked down to fish around in her purse for her keys. She reached the door blindly, then ran into something soft and warm.
"Woah, Kagome. . ." A voice said with a little humor and a little surprise. Two strong hands grabbed her shoulders and she stumbled back a step to stare at a man's chest donned in a red T-shirt. Her eyes traveled up to see long silver hair, a strong neck, a defined jaw line, an almost grim smile on the pale lips, and then two, sad, huge golden eyes.
InuYasha.
"Why are you here?" Kagome asked quickly, turning her eyes down to the ground and moving out of his grasp. She drew her keys out of her purse and he stepped aside so she could get to the door.
"Can I come in?"
"Not until," Kagome struggled with unlocking the door, the key just wouldn't turn, "you tell me why you're here."
Oh. Wrong key.
"I wanted to see you."
She found the right key and opened the door, her hands shaking slightly. "Well, just. . . come on over, whenever you feel like it! Open House, people!"
"Kagome -" he said with a hurt voice.
"What if I don't. . . want you here?" She said, her voice breaking into a whisper. "I can't stand. . . " she didn't know what she was saying.
InuYasha just stared back at her, his eyebrows drawn together and serious. He stood there in front of her, in the doorway, with his hands in his pockets. "I've been waiting for about two hours. I just wanted to see you. I've missed you. And I know it was all due to my own stubbornness and stupidity. . . I just *had* to go and ask, you know? Will 'I'm sorry' help?"
Kagome stared at him, wondering why she was taking this so seriously, and being so childish. . . but then she remembered. "Do you still want me to love you?" she asked.
His chest swelled with a sigh, and he let it out in a sentence: "Of course I do."
"Do you still want me to say it?"
"If you still can."
"I can't. I'm sorry. I don't know why, okay? I feel very strongly for you, and I've missed you, too. . . but for some reason, I just can't say it. And that's what you want. Don't waste your time with me, please. Find someone else who can say it."
"I don't want anyone else."
Kagome closed her eyes, wishing the whole problem would just shrivel up and disintegrate. She wanted to invite him in. She wanted to kiss him again, and laugh with him again. . . but he still wanted something she couldn't give him. And even if she did say it, to pacify him, it would just be a lie. And she could never lie to him.
"I'm sorry, InuYasha. Maybe. . . if we could just be apart for a while-" "So why are you all dressed up?" he ignored her and tried to change the subject.
"Do you really want to know?"
"Sure."
"I was with your brother."
Hurt, and then anger flashed not only in his eyes, but on his whole face, as well. But his voice managed to stay calm. "My brother. Oh. Why?"
"We were on business. I'm being published now, you know? We've been pretty busy with things."
"You've been pretty busy with each other." he said, his voice turning to venom. "You're a pretty busy girl, Kagome. You sure do know how to get arou - "
SMACK!
She'd slapped him so hard that his left cheek was so red it almost made her own sting. "Do not - ever - talk about me that way again."
His face still looked angry, with a slight scowl, but his eyes were full with regret.
They stood there for a moment, just staring at each other. Then Kagome turned away, and quietly shut the door on him, making sure to lock it behind her.
She leaned back against it, and listened for his footsteps to fade. When they did, she sank to the floor, and took off her shoes. She put her purse down beside her, stared ahead a moment. . . and then began to cry.