Blind Stitch my Heart

Part 11– "Common Sense on Hiatus"

Written by: profiler120

Rating: PG-13 (rating is probably higher than necessary)

Email: profiler120@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: I do not own Inu Yasha.

(. . .) - Denotes p.o.v. change within the same scene.

Authors Notes: Long absence, yes, yes. My apologies, been busy.

Thank you to the people who pre-read this chapter, or what I had previously written. Fortunately, or not, I rewrote the entire thing but it does follow the old chapter a little.

"You can't just leave him the way he is! The Shikon no tama is dangerous, why do you think it's so important for me to guard it!?"

"Go." He quietly ordered. "Rin is waiting for you."

"But what about-"

"Go," he urged again, this time more forcefully.

"I can't just-"

He stepped forward menacingly reaching down and turning her chin and gaze up to him. "Are you disobeying me?"

She shrunk back away from his touch and quieted, and she accordingly withdrew. She walked back to Rin's room distracted and worried. Why wouldn't he let her stay? She needed to be there. She settled herself to obeying his orders even though it caused her heart to sink.

She found Rin in a dreadful condition and immediately felt guilty about not wanting to go to her. The little girl had a fever and was in a great amount of discomfort. Rin clutched to her as Kagome read her stories, fed her soup, and kept her generally entertained. It was natural for her not to want to be alone now and Kagome understood.

Having someone there for you, at your bedside, especially at such an age was a great comfort. It would undoubtedly make her feel loved and Rin needed that.

The hours ticked away and Kagome found herself bound to staying. She'd left Rin only once or twice and she hadn't had the time to go looking for Sesshoumaru. Now, several hours later, the girl was finally sleeping soundly enough for her to sneak away.

She stepped out into the hall soundlessly and peered around. It wasn't so late, where was everyone? She found Sango in the kitchen packing.

"W-what's going on?"

"The master gave us orders about four hours ago to start packing everything up for storage. He's going back to his other house."

"What? Why would you pack up the house?"

"He's dismissed us."

Kagome stared in astonishment. Just like that? A snap of his fingers and everyone was fired? Harsh!

"Dismissed you? Just like that? He's abandoning the place? Where is he?"

Did he think she was going to let that one slip by? He was in for an earful once she got a hold of him.

"Gone," Sango replied. "He gave us our orders and he got on his horse and left. He said he wouldn't be back."

Kagome held back a choking gasp. What about Rin? What about her?

"I'll how can I help?"

"Um, actually Jaken wants to see you. Sesshoumaru left him to see over everything and to make sure Rin was sent off to her new governess."

Kagome nodded numbly and headed off to find the little servant. She couldn't imagine why he wanted to see her. Probably to tell her she was fired and she could go home. Somehow it all made her feel worse. Everything up to this point meant nothing? His telling her mother she belonged him and all their time together?

She almost walked right past Jaken when he called her back. In his little hand was a letter with her name on front. He held it out to her and then hobbled off to finish the rest of his duties without a word. She stared down at it plopping down onto the floor. Why was she so reluctant to see what it said? Why had he rushed off like that?

She numbly unfolded the sealed paper and looked down at it hesitantly.

"Kagome –

Circumstances beyond my control have dictated my leaving. The manor at which you have stayed so long is being closed. I no longer have a need to keep it in operation. Rin is being sent to stay at the Nazuna House. It's a discreet orphanage under my care.

Until further notice your position as seamstress is suspended, you are to take on in full capacity the job of Rin's guardian. I expect to find her and yourself well when I return.

There was no time for formalities or goodbyes. I'm sure Rin will excuse my abrupt departure; I expect the same of you.

Waste not your anger about my actions on others – save it for me. I'll return soon.

Sesshoumaru."

She stared at it silently. She sighed heavily and stood up, tucking the note away. She had to do something then, didn't she?

Rin, despite how much she cared for the little girl, immediately disappeared from Kagome's thoughts. Letter in hand she headed for the first person she could think of to explain this fiasco in the making, Inuyasha.

She found him easily enough, cursing up a storm. He was in mid-expletive when she walked in, halting his tirade. Immediately they both knew why she was there.

"Where on earth is he going?"

Inuyasha huffed. "He said something about 'taking care of business'. I tried to talk him out of it, told him he was being stupid, but he didn't listen. I think he left with that guy Naraku but I'm not even sure."

"He went with Naraku?" Her head was spinning. This was too much. "Are you sure?"

"Nope. Like I said, I don't know. Either way, I don't know where they went, together or separately, so you're better off not running after him."

Clearly he anticipated her to chase off after Sesshoumaru, and she was of the mind to do just that. If she could figure out where he was that is. She wasn't about to go running off to track him down and she couldn't even find him.

"Gone," she whispered. "Just like that..."

She felt deflated.

"I'm sure he will return soon."

Kagome looked up, for the first time noticing Miroku was in the room. She gave him a half-hearted smile that was not reassuring in the least. "Right."

She turned, leaving the room. Even as the door slid closed she could hear Inuyasha begin his ranting anew. Complaining about how Sesshoumaru should've taken him or Jaken along instead of riding alone, or worse yet, with that insane man, Naraku.

She sighed heavily; clutching the letter in her hands she tucked it into the inner folds of her kimono and retired back to Rin's room. Tomorrow then she would take Rin to the Nazuna house and they would wait there for further instructions. She only hoped it wouldn't take very long.

Sesshoumaru peered around the dark confines of the once luxurious little mountain resort. Blood was spattered in large, dark splotches, screens were ripped, floors were stained, - it looked like a war had taken place here.

He wondered, briefly, where Naraku was but didn't give the matter much thought. Not until he heard the shuffling movement of cloth and the heavy stomp of feet. Just before he stepped toward a long set of undisturbed doors an arrow streaked by his head.

He immediately turned, trying to flatten himself out of the way of any more incoming arrows. His head whipped around, searching for the unknown archer, but the place was already dim. The sun was low in the west and there were no candles burning and there wasn't any electricity to be had this far up the mountain.

The arrow split through the screen and struck something on the other side, but not a wall as there was an ear splitting howl. He was caught between turning his attention in two directions.

"I'm not surprised to see you here."

A white clothed figure and a flow of black hair came into view. "Kikyo?"

"The Shikon no tama was supposed to be guarded by our family. I got tired of it though and the job was handed off to Kagome, but it's my fault this all happened."

She threaded another arrow through her bow with the ease of mastery and shot it through the screen. This time blood sprayed up onto the white paper on the other side creating circular dark spots.

"Onigumo would have been given a wish by the demons in the jewel, but in order to grant that wish they require a sacrifice. His body would have been partially eaten and then transformed to suit whatever demon overtook it. Whether or not the demons actually intend to fulfill the wish is unknown, but unlikely."

"So you're here to kill him?"

He met her eyes, for the first time noticing she looked burdened. "It must be done. The Shikon no tama has been laden with many spells, one of them curses the bloodline of sacrifices."

"What does that mean?"

"Naraku will bear the mark of the demon. If he lives, he will eventually become possessed of a demon and ravish the country."

"You're saying they both have to die."

She looked away, reaching for another arrow, coming closer. "All of the bloodline must perish."

The arrow pelted straight through the screen before it was ripped wide open revealing a half man, half spider deformity, blood trickling down it's torso where the arrows were embedded within.

Kikyo took one glance at the half man that used to be Onigumo before putting an arrow through its forehead.

Silence stretched thin as the beast swayed and then fell, body erupting in a purple flame and a goggle of shrieks split the air. The sound caused both humans to recoil, covering their ears from the awful sound.

When the shrieks faded, another sound registered in their abused ears. Crackling.

Sesshoumaru glanced around, that sounded like... A familiar scent wafted in his direction and he caught sight of dancing flames. He glanced around; the building was lit on every side - would they be able to get out?

"Naraku must want to avoid his death sentence a while longer."

Sesshoumaru's mouth thinned. Naraku thought to kill him in a fire, did he? Like hell, he thought. He was getting out of here, that irritant Kikyo was coming with him, Naraku would die, and Kagome was marrying him. That was the plan, and he wasn't about to let some whoreson change it.

The dreadful hours stretched long as Rin and Kagome made the almost four hour journey north to the Nazuna House. It was surprisingly small for an orphanage but Kagome immediately fell in love with the cozy little place. She met the caretakers, an elderly couple, and a pleasant young couple and immediately set to work in assisting them care for the ten or twelve children in their orphanage.

She was left with nothing but the letter to soothe her mind in the off hours. Where was he? Why wasn't he with her? Why couldn't she have gone with him? So many questions, and there was no one to answer them all.

She wondered often how her family was doing and if they worried for her. She had left them so long ago it seemed when it had really only been about two weeks. It was two dreadfully lonely weeks even though the children here were endearing. It wasn't the same.

She was determined not to lose hope, convinced Sesshoumaru would come, but she hadn't thought it would take so long. Her faith was beginning to waver at the beginning of the third week and worry creeping into its place. Where was he?

Why was it taking him so long to come back? She didn't even with the foolish notion that he'd forgotten about her. He wouldn't forget, neither her or Rin, but it was troubling. She wanted to know what was happening and what was going on. He knew very well how impatient she was.

She sighed heavily realizing she'd read not a word of the book in her hand. She sat it aside. Perhaps there was something she could sew for one of the children. That was a positive point – the kids were always tearing their clothes so she had plenty to do. It was only on nights like this when she was left to wonder about the possibilities.

Rin, thankfully, seemed too distracted to ask. Kagome had no answers for Rin; she barely had any for herself.

Sesshoumaru stared coolly out the window, tilting his head to one side. On the other end of the room, Kikyo stood by another window. It had been six days now. Six long, painful days. Onigumo was dead. The Shikon no tama was presumably destroyed. Naraku was as of yet missing, but the rest of his family now lay buried.

He was a murderer, he thought off handedly and wondered if it bothered him. Kikyo had assured him all of Naraku's blood would die sooner or later and it was simply better sooner. Being devoured by a demon could be no treat. If what she said were true, they wouldn't be innocent for long.

"What will you do about Naraku?" Kikyo's voice reached him and he frowned. He wanted her gone. Despite the grudging respect he'd come to have for her, he didn't personally like her. She was too reserved and calculating. Perhaps she reminded him too much of Kagome and how much he missed her boisterous personality.

He hoped she was well, her and Rin. The Nazuna place was a small orphanage he'd come across in his travels. One of the men there was in his employ, so he could be trusted to protect them. Better than that was that Naraku would have no way of tracking her there.

He wondered though how long she would stay put. Kagome had a bit of restlessness to her when he wasn't around it seemed. His mouth quirked up into a grin.

"Naraku will eventually be consumed, perhaps chasing after him isn't necessary."

"Long before that happens he will go on a killing rampage. His sanity will be lost. Kagome will not be safe."

"Who is to say he will even remember her?"

She came toward him and leaned against a bookcase. "Naraku lusts after Kagome as he does me. Lust is a dark desire that the demons of the Shikon can feed upon. It would be a delight to them to spring upon us. For all anyone knows Onigumo's wish could've been related to Kagome and myself."

Sesshoumaru looked up. "What?"

"Both Onigumo and Naraku were interested in me. Naraku once told me he would share me with his father."

He dismissed it. "Naraku will appear eventually, until then Kagome is safe. You had best see to yourself."

She stared at him a moment before nodding and heading for the door. She said nothing else to him as she stepped out leaving him alone. He could only wonder what thoughts were batted around in that head of hers, but in all truthfulness, he could care less.

The moment she was gone his eyes turned toward the table and the letter he'd been working on. It was for her. Kagome. Question was - did he want to send it? Did he want to risk sending a messenger and leading Naraku right to her? Did he want her to languish, worrying over him? What if she came after him?

So many what ifs' and they all plagued him.

The days were endless. They all blended together seamlessly and Kagome felt herself being drawn further and further into a void of despair. Where was he?

Rin had asked once or twice but she was used to Sesshoumaru's long absences and thus thought nothing. She was through. It had been five weeks. Five. She wasn't waiting any more.

"Kagome-chan?"

Momentarily her determination dimmed. Of course, there was Rin. Should she leave her here? Should she take the girl with her? After all, Kagome didn't know where she was going. She didn't have any money. She was being stupid, thinking of heading off on her own, but where on earth *was* he?

"Yes, Rin-chan?"

"When is Sesshoumaru-sama coming back?"

"I was just wondering that myself." Kagome replied.

"Are you going to get him?"

Kagome blinked. "W-What?"

"You should. Rin-chan misses Sesshoumaru-sama."

Kagome frowned. She looked so melancholy. Of course Rin was attached to Sesshoumaru. Question was, would Rin stay put?

"Will you stay here while I go get Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Rin nodded solemnly. "Rin will wait. Sesshoumaru-sama always says Rin should wait at home because she's safer that way and Sesshoumaru-sama is always right."

Kagome smiled weakly. "Then I'll go and bring him back."

Her conviction was weak but she hoped Rin didn't pick up on it. Now she just had three small problems. One, how to find him. Two, how to get to him. Three, how to pay for how she was getting to him.

She sighed heavily. Wonderful. She ushered Rin off and packed a small bag. She would just walk as far as she could get and pray for divine intervention. Of course, she had a backup plan or two. She had one or two measly valuables she could trade off for currency or food. She would be okay, she thought. She had enough, she was convinced at least to get her back home.

"Higurashi-san?"

Kagome turned to find the elderly grandmother who was married to the owner of the Nazuna house at her doorway.

"Yes?"

The woman smiled sweetly, hands clasped in front of her.

"Are you going away from us?"

Kagome shifted awkwardly. "Yes, for a little while."

The old woman sauntered in, coming to stand at the window beside her. "From the moment you arrived here, you seemed trouble. Are you well?"

Kagome sighed heavily. "I am all right, I just worry too much."

She nodded. "There is a man out there you love then?" She turned her eyes out the window wistfully. "When I was young, I was charmed by the young man who lived at the house next to me. I loved him dearly, but my parents had arranged a marriage for me to someone else, someone I had never met. I protested and wailed about my heartache and how I loved the man next door, but my mother would have none of it. They forced me to marry the young man - now my present husband - and I never saw the man I loved again. I'll never forget her telling me that love came after marriage, not before."

"Was she right?"

She turned back to Kagome, the wistful look gone. "I love him, my husband, be certain of it. These years with him I do not regard as a waste, he has given me a family. Do I look back on my younger days with sadness? Yes. If you can marry the man you love - I hope you can."

"My mother says the same. Love isn't important."

Her eyes widened slightly. "Ah, so you are betrothed to a man other than the one you are worrying over? No wonder you looked troubled." She smiled. "That is not pleasant, but best of luck to you, my child."

"Thank you."

Kagome watched her go not sure if she should feel sad or inspired by the talk. She gathered her little bag and headed for the door. She'd left a note to thank her hosts for allowing her to stay with an ambiguous answer about whether or not she would return. For now - she had no plans for it. Not until she found him. Five weeks was too long to abandon her.

Kagome huffed, leaning against the side of the old building. Where was he? How could the man possibly get around this well? So far she'd been to Inuyasha's, twice, and around town at least a dozen times! She wasn't tracking him all over the country.

Yet the very next thought she overturned herself and determined she would follow him anywhere. But when she finally tracked him down he was in for a tongue-lashing. A serious one!

She was just on her way out of this town and passing onto the next. A man with Sesshoumaru's distinctive looks shouldn't be so hard to track down. It's not like forgetting him could be easy!

How many women would forget a man that handsome so quickly? How many men wouldn't remember the intruder who caught every ladies eye? She sighed, turning her eyes up to the building. A wooden plaque was nailed by the doorway.

Tavern, it read.

She just stood there looking at it, watching as a man or two went in and out. Did she really want to go into a tavern alone? She shuddered at the thought but ultimately determined she wanted to find Sesshoumaru more.

Gathering her resolve she straightened her spine and walked for the doors.

Here goes nothing, she thought and stepped inside.

The low chatter didn't dull at her entrance. Every set of eyes didn't turn toward her. in fact her presence barely registered at all. She looked around trying to determine what she was going to do now she was in here, and had to physically stop herself from spinning around and walking right back out.

She let her eyes drift over every table, scrutinizing every face but found everyone there a stranger. She sighed. This was the second tavern she'd managed to drag herself into. The first time she'd made eye contact with a man in the corner and gotten herself trapped against the wall and nearly molested before she'd escaped.

She headed toward the bar and plopped down despairingly. She waved away the man behind the counter wanting nothing, having no money for it anyway. She was just about at the end of her rope. If she didn't get any information today she wasn't going on to the next town, she was going back.

She couldn't be running around this way. Her resources were too limited and it was dangerous. Common sense was finally kicking back in.

Or it had been until someone fell into place beside her. At first she didn't even look up, but then she nearly jumped when he poked her cheek. She turned with a glare, which immediately faded.

"Kaijinbou?"

"I remember you," he drawled. "Sesshoumaru's woman."

She paid no hesitation for usage of word to describe her. Rather she was determined to seize this opportunity.

"Do you know where he is? I've been looking all over for him!"

He glanced at her. "He's home."

She blinked. "What did you say?"

"He's home, you crazy wench! Where the hell else would he be?"

"Home?!" She stood up. "I'm gonna kill him, I swear!"

She immediately shut up as everyone did turn toward her then. She sweat dropped and sat back down.

"So where is this home'?"

Kaijinbou yawned.

Kagome frowned. This wasn't going to be easy.

Sesshoumaru sat up, sweat dabbing his brow. He couldn't get comfortable, and when he did, dreams plagued him. Horrible, vivid dreams of Naraku perusing Kagome, and then there were the even worse images of him finding her. He could still hear the shrill scream as she cried out as Naraku finally reached her.

He stood, casting off his blankets. It was the dead of the night - all the servants slept. He pulled on his robe and headed toward the kitchen. Darkness loomed in front and behind him.

Silence enshrouded his trip toward the darkened room. He flipped on the light giving a small thanks for the modern wonders of electricity.

He didn't have the energy to make tea and hadn't the interest to wake a servant for making it. He wanted to be alone. He could not avoid thinking how much it would be nice to have her here now. She could make his tea. He could fold her against him and just sit in contented silence.

He smiled weakly trying to imagine her being silent. She would probably be chattering about something.

It had been, five, no almost six weeks, he thought. He'd been embroiled in his usual business dealings trying not to worry, trying not to think about where Naraku was and if Kagome was safe. She was probably brooding, angry he'd abandoned' her.

He stood, unhappy with the silence. Perhaps if he was cold he could think less about her. He stood and moved toward the front door.

He stepped out; the moon was bright and low. A slight chill had settled over the area and the clearing was windless. No friendly breeze greeted him or tousled his hair. A faint fog had formed and hovered in a mysterious stillness over the area. He stepped down, dirtying his clean feet on the grass about to walk down toward the front garden when he heard the distinct sound of hooves.

Horses?

He looked up, trying to see through the dark, murky night but could not. He stood still, waiting. Who was out traveling so late? Then a faint glow appeared in the fog, a hazy light slowly coming closer, and then another light. A carriage, he realized watching in silent curiosity as the horse drawn transport stopped and small figured hopped out.

Who was this?

He stepped forward, moving closer to the mysterious visitor and froze when he recognized a small voice thanking someone on the carriage.

"Kagome."

The slight, huddled woman jumped, clearly startled by his appearance. For a few short moments everything was still. She looked stumped, not sure what she should do, but then that seemed to fade away as she stomped toward him.

"Sesshoumaru! You shouldn't sneak up on a girl in the dark." She chastised and then sighed. "I've had an awful week. Do you know how hard it was to find you? First I went to see Inuyasha, but he wasn't there. I scoured town, trying to find him. I won't even mention the lecherous men I encountered at the tavern while trying to track him down. I finally did find him on the other side, half passed out in alleyway, Miroku right next to him. The two of them really need a guardian or something. Finally, a day and a half later, he was awake enough to answer me only to find out he didn't *know* where you were!" She sighed heavily.

"How did you get here?"

She huffed. "Very slowly."

He took a glance over her; her dark clothing was disheveled, as was her hair. She looked pale and wan in the dim light and appeared to be trembling. No one had hurt her, had they? She looked as though she'd just barely escaped the said tavern with her clothes intact.

"Where have you been?" The question was quietly spoken, almost a desolate plea. Was she upset over his absence? "I've been worrying myself sick over what you've been doing and here I find you tucked away at your house? You abandon me and Rin to an orphanage and-"

Her voice trailed off into a string of incoherent words, marred by her tears as she began crying. Naturally she would be upset, he'd figured so, but to cry this way?

He didn't stand there and contemplate but rather he reached out and tucked her against him. She cried against his chest and for a short moment he regretted leaving her, even if it was in her best interest.

Naraku be damned, he thought. Come first light tomorrow morning he would go to the Higurashi shrine and offer for her. They had no cause to refuse him, especially with her current betrothed missing. Refusing him would be foolish. Just as he was going to guide her to the house she pulled away from him and rushed back to pluck her bag off the ground.

"I promised Rin I would bring you back."

"Didn't anyone ever tell you not to make promises you couldn't keep?" He asked leading her to the darkened house.

"I have every intention of keeping it." She replied primly. "Whether you like it or not."

He grinned in the darkness. Leaving Kagome behind was a huge mistake; he enjoyed her far too much. From this point forward she stayed with him, Naraku lurking or not.

She followed him without further conversation back to the dining room. Once there she immediately asked about making him tea and he didn't object even though he knew she had to be tired. The girl looked exhausted he ought to let her rest, but she'd offered and he was selfish.

She busied herself with the task despite the fact she had no knowledge of his kitchen and he watched her bumble around amused. He had yet to feel tired and with Kagome back in the house he doubted he would get any sleep until the next night anyway.

She finally did however manage it and sat down across from him. He could see the fatigue in the way her shoulders slumped forward and her eyes drooped ever so slightly.

Despite her fatigue however her eyes were bright. She was clearly glad to have found him. He should have guessed she would have come after him; the girl had no sense. Stay put meant stay put', but he was glad she'd come. He'd wanted to see her.

Weariness was weariness however and even she was not immune. The chatty female he'd envisioned sharing this late moment with wasn't chatty, she was silent. She seemed at peace, as though finding him had completely relieved her mind of all her problems.

She raised the cup of tea to her lips but didn't drink. Rather she seemed to be inhaling the sweet steam of the warm liquid. Her eyes drifted closed. She seemed so peaceful, so unlike the rowdy woman who had scoured the countryside for him for likely the past week. He stood silently coming around to her side.

His gentle touch on her shoulder shook her awake and her head snapped up, bringing her gaze to his.

She stood without assistance, curious to see what he was about to do.

"Sesshoumaru?"

He reached for her, sliding his hand beneath her chin, tracing along her jaw. How had she come to look so tousled? Had someone touched her? Had she been handled by the drunkards at the before mentioned tavern?

"You look mangled. Who touched you?"

Her eyes widened, but then her lips curled into a small, pleased smile. "I'm sure I look bad but I'm okay. No one hurt me or anything. With the small exception of that ruffian to crowded me into a corner and felt me up, no one else got all that close. Even that was a few days ago, I just haven't been taking good care of myself. "

So someone had touched her. He frowned. He abruptly turned away. "Come."

He led her upstairs and pulled open a door motioning her inside.

"Change and go to sleep."

"You're going to be here tomorrow, right? If I wake up and find you gone or something I will not be happy!"

"I have business to handle in the morning. Keep your voice down woman people are sleeping. I won't have my servants exhausted because you dare to think you may give me orders."

This time she frowned at him.

"But you are coming back, right?"

He stepped closer filling out the doorway and blocking her inside the dark room. Her lights were off and only the cast off light from the hall lit the doorway.

"Oh! Your injury! Are you okay? I'm so sorry, how could I have forgotten you were hurt?"

"That was weeks ago," he replied dismissively, stepping closer and finally succeeding in drawing her attention. He leaned down causing her breath to catch. "Tomorrow, Higurashi, you are officially mine."

"W-what?"

He smirked at her confusion, but didn't answer. Rather he reached curling his fingers around her jaw and pulling her forward, her lips against his for the barest of caresses.

"Tomorrow." He repeated and stepped away leaving her alone in the dark room.

He prided himself for being a morning person and loathed everyone else who was not. The Higurashi shrine it seemed was slow in the morning and he hated waiting. Finally after what had to have been the most irritable half hour of his existence the old man came hobbling out.

"It's about damn time," he muttered, catching the attention of the man.

"Oh! Masaharu-sama, good to see you." The old man looked around. "Where's Kagome?"

"I wish to offer for your granddaughter."

The man paused, his expression turning serious. "Kagome already has a betrothed, why should we be so inclined to break it?"

Sesshoumaru scoffed. "You can't be serious, promising her to the man who destroyed the shrine and stole your family's jewel."

The old man looked grim. "I have no wish to oppose you Masaharu-sama, but I gave my word. I cannot break it, it is a matter of honor."

Sesshoumaru glowered. "I see. If you will not break your word to Naraku I will. You will not see her again."

He just barely caught sight of Kagome's mother as she came out of the house, but turned his back on them all. To hell with them then. He didn't need their permission in the first place and they couldn't do anything once he married her. He grinned victoriously; all he had to do now was rush the wedding. No difficult task for a man of his status. By the end of the following month Kagome would be officially his and the Higurashi family could sulk all they liked about it.

Author's Notes: I've changed the chapter title twice and I rewrote most of it from the original 11 but I'm overall happy.

Please note any mistakes in a review, I miss them, and I don't really feel like editing right now.

You may notice I'm back to my Sunday/Monday updates. It's sort of become a habit for me, updating on Sunday evening. ^_^