Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Kagome could feel her heart hardening daily. She tried to avoid Inuyasha as much as possible. Yet, when it was inevitable she intentionally shunned him. The last thing she wanted to do was push him away. She had no one to talk to except for him. He was the only one who didn't see her as the Lord of the Western Land's wife. No, he saw her as something much worse...his sister-in-law.

After everything he had said to her she knew they were getting in too deep. Those were not things one says as a mere friendly compliment. Those were words lovers shared in whispered voices covered by the night. One thought continued to haunt her mind, 'Is it possible for him to desire me back?' It was a sinful thought and there really was no way she could ever find out the answer...

A knock came from the library door where Kagome was usually found reading. "Come in," She answerd; praying that it wasn't Inuyasha. The chambermaid entered the library and curtsied.

"Tea is ready, Milady."

"Would you bring it in here please?" Kagome asked, and the girl began to walk away to do her bidding, "Wait! Bring in two cups if you would please." Kagome sat there absently fumbling through pages while waiting for her tea

The chambermaid entered again carrying a silver tray with tea and assorted snacks. She placed the tray on the dinning table at the far end of the library. Kagome watched over the edge of her book in amusement as the girl fumbled trying to decide where to put the second cup of tea. She could put it beside the other one in case they were both for the Lady, or perhaps she was expecting company.

"Milady?" She asked meekly.

"Yes?" Kagome answered, pretending to not know the nature of the question or of the young maids dilemma.

"Are you expecting company?"

"Why, no. Why-ever do you ask?" Kagome smirked.

"Well, the second cup, Milady."

"Oh, yes. That." She began as she walked over to the table and took her seat. She picked up the second cup and held it up to her, "This is for you. You do like tea, don't you?"

Sango cautiously picked up the cup and nodded dumbly. "I can't though..."

"Oh pish posh! Please, shut the door and take a seat. You are my guest for afternoon tea and it is impolite for any guest not to take a seat when asked to. Especially while drinking tea!" Sango went and shut the door quickly and came back to take her seat across from the Lady of the house. "Relax Sango. How old are you?"

"18, Milady." Sango said staring at her untouched tea.

"As I shall be next month. Really I should be calling you 'Milady' seeing as you are my elder." Sango's eyes flew up to Kagome's face to be greeted with a warm genuine smile. "You shouldn't worry so. I've been trying to get to know you since I first discovered your name all those months ago. You are a very beautiful girl. I must admit, I'm quite envious of your hair." Kagome smiled.

"My hair? Oh, Milady! You are said to be the most beautiful woman in Japan! Why on earth would you want your maids hair?" Sango exclaimed both shocked and embarrassed.

Kagome laughed at her honesty and Sango's inability to take a comment, "Because you have very nice hair! Why else? I can never seem to get mine that straight." All of a sudden her mood changed and her eyes drifted past Sango to a place Sango believed must be serious and sad, "Besides, I really don't see what people see in me when I look in the mirror. Much less the most beautiful woman in Japan..." Her voice drifted off. Suddenly she came back to reality and perked back up, "But it's of no matter! Let's just drink our tea and have a very pleasant conversation."

"Why do you take such an interest in me?" Sango asked. She was feeling uncomfortable and only lightly sipped the tea to please the woman across from her.

"The truth is I'm lonely. I'm not use to being alone without people to talk to. I knew you were my age and I couldn't help myself."

"What about Lord Inuyasha?"

"He's...my brother-in-law. He's a kind man and very funny. Unfortunately, you can't tell secrets to your brother-in-law. You could to your husband...but that's a different story." Kagome lied. How could she tell the girl in front of her the torture she was feeling because of Inuyasha. She would wait until she knew her better. "I'm sorry. You must find me a terrible person. Babbling on about my 'terrible' life when I've got more then most people."

"No, of course I don't think you are a terrible person! Why would you think that?" Sango asked.

"Tell me, do you enjoy being a chambermaid?"

"I suppose so. It's all I've ever known." Sango answered, eyeing the snacks in the middle of the table.

"It's all you ever will know as well."

"Excuse me, Milady?"

"I'm sorry, how rude of me. We are alike, you and I, both of us are stuck in our stature. We have no way to move from them." Kagome's voice drifted off and she noticed the sad look on Sango's face. She thought for a moment, trying to think of a solution. "I'll make a deal with you."

Sango's eyes lifted and she curtly nodded her head.

"When together you and I are equals. Not from high or low society, just friends. That is...if you are willing to be my friend." Kagome picked up the platter of snacks and offered them to Sango.

Sango reached for one and smiled gratefully. "I would like that. Thank you...Kagome."

They had reached an understanding and as the two sat there talking and giggling Kagome came to realize that she wasn't going to be lonely anymore.

The month went by faster for Kagome. Whenever Sango had finished her chores she would find Kagome and they would talk for hours. It didn't take long for them to connect and it seemed as if they had known each other forever.

Still, the sadness was not all gone from Kagome's life. She say quietly by the fire reading. The ground outside was covered by snow and she couldn't shake the feeling that everything felt dead. She was reading the words in her book but her mind wouldn't concept them. She had heard no word from Sesshoumaru. Christmas had come and gone as well as New Years and still she had no good tidings from her husband of now, seven months.

Now she was sitting alone on her 18th birthday. Her mother and father had come to visit her. They had dinner together then just relaxed by the fire and talked about Kagome's childhood days. It was pleasant and it gave Kagome a sense of relief to know that her parents really did still love her. Yet, her own husband did not send his love. At this point Kagome had completely sat down the book and looked sadly into the fire.

A slight tap on the door frame caused her to turn her head and look at the source of the noise, "Good evening, Milady." Inuyasha said leaning against the doorframe.

"Good evening, Lord Inuyasha. Can I help you with something?" She said as warmly as possible.

"I only wanted to bring you your birthday gift." He swiftly made his way over to Kagome's side and reveled the package that he had been hiding behind his back.

Kagome peered at it questionably before she finally took it, "You bought me a gift?"

He smiled brightly and watched as she unwrapped it. A long white box lay in her hands beckoning her to open it. Hesitantly she lifted the lid and there slept a perfect red rose. The deep shade of crimson contrasted with the white box in such a manner that it left Kagome in awe.

"Where did you find this? It's the middle of winter." She whispered.

"I have my ways." He crouched down beside the chair she was sitting in. He took her hand in his and said in a low, hopeful voice, "Do you like it? It's not much, but...it's alive."

"It's perfect, Inuyasha. Thank you." A lonely tear fell down her cheek. Inuyasha wiped it off of her face and then kissed it. "Why did you do that?"

Inuyasha looked at her with such emotion that it took her breath away. "Not a single one of your tears should be wasted on the cursed floor. I know you cry, Kagome. I know you won't let me kiss them away, but I also know that you want me to. I want to, gods Kagome, the only thing I want in this world is to make you happy...please let me!"

Kagome could not contain herself. Everything he said was the truth and that's what made it kill her inside. She couldn't fall into sin, she could hold onto her temptation...but that was exactly what she did. She threw her arms around her own personal devil's neck and cried as he kissed her tears away. It was shameful and wrong, but neither of them was going to turn back now.