Author's Note: Oh, um hi. As you may have noticed, the writing style has changed and now I'll tell you why. My friend Dancingwind has decided that she won't be able to write that much anymore and asked me, DreamScribbler, to help her. She now has this crazy obsession with this popular Chinese show, called "Meteor Garden." In this show, there is this guy named Vic who she has fallen wildly in love with, and have dumped Fluffy over. That is why she will not be continuing this story. Well, since I have some time on my hands, I accepted. She asked which story I'd like to write, and I chose this one. So don't get mad because she's not writing this and I am, just try to enjoy it, lol. Here goes my stab at continuing this story. Please be nice. Or not. =) "Love Was Never Too Late" Chapter 5 Kagome felt Sesshoumaru's hand tremble slightly beneath hers, and wanted to share some of his pain. He has been cheerful before the encounter with his brother and now, a dark cloud hung over them. She wiped at the tears that flowed freely down her cheeks. He didn't seem to notice that she was crying, for he was lost in his own thoughts. She desperately wanted the happy man back again and put on a sunny smile for him, "I know I could never understand what you're going through in a million years, Sesshoumaru, but I want let you know that I'll always be there if you need someone to talk to." "Thank you, Kagome." He managed a smile for her and gripped her hand tightly in his.

A fervent cough interrupted their little moment and they looked up in surprise at the customers who were staring at them with wide eyes. Kagome blushed, seeing through their eyes of a young girl and grown man with their hands clasped in the middle of the ice cream shop. She reluctantly released his hand and stepped back, giving an apologetic look to them. Kaede had just walked into the main hallway and smiled knowingly at her. Sesshoumaru ran a hand through his thick mane of silver hair and laughed nervously.

"Well, shall we get going then? I feel a bit better now."

She nodded mutely and followed him out of the hotel to the stares of everyone there. She still felt some anger at the young man who had resembled Sesshoumaru so much, the little brother who'd shunned him all those years.

"Where do you want to go next, Sesshoumaru?"

He looked out toward the seas and replied, "I would like to see the beaches. When I lived here as a boy, I remembered it was very beautiful, especially at sunset. I loved going there."

"Really? That's my favorite place to go, I loved swimming in the waters."

He gave her a small smile and they mounted their bikes and rode off to the southern beaches, where the sea gulls nested and the waters blue as the pacific. When they got there, Kagome took off her sandals and waded into the waters that were lapping up on the sandy shores. The hundreds of sea gulls flew above their heads, screeching and landing near, cautiously waiting for a meal. Kagome tossed them scraps of bread she had brought from home in a bag. She beckoned to Sesshoumaru, "Come on, try it!"

He enjoyed feeding the wild birds and watched her run so carefree against the shores, her laughter like sweet music to his ears.

He laughed uproariously when she pushed him face forward into the water, getting his clothes-soaking wet. He got up and flung her in with him. They splashed each other mercilessly and wrestled on the sand.

After they were all tuckered out, they stretched out on the sand, soaking in the sun's warm rays and waiting for their clothes to dry. Kagome felt the lids of her eyes get heavy and laid her head unawares onto his shoulder.

They'd just met and yet, she felt as though she was a part of him somehow, like this moment was meant to be.

It was perfect.

***

They went back to the hotel at 6 in the evening, with sand in their hair and melted ice cream stains on their clothes. He said goodbye to her at her door and gave her a brotherly hug that verged on the edge of something more.

He walked down the hallway to his room and opened the door to find Kikyou waiting for him.

"Where have you been?" Kikyou lay on the armchair, a thick law book in her lap, eyeing him with those dark eyes of hers.

"Out," Sesshoumaru replied calmly.

"Care to elaborate?"

"I don't really think it's any of your business."

She sneered at him. "I am your wife. It is my business."

"Are you really, my dear?"

"What gave you reason to ask me that?" She got out of her chair and came to him, her eyes flaming.

He looked down at her perfect face, with the red painted lips, the white makeup and the upswept hair that she kept so tidy and felt his stomach curl. Why couldn't she be natural, carefree and optimistic? Like Kagome. He felt angry at himself for even thinking of her like that.

"I need some air," Sesshoumaru said, walking out and slamming the door hard. What was wrong with him? He wasn't supposed to think of Kagome that way. It wasn't right. She was just a little girl and he a married man.