Chapter 28: Ease Your Pain

-Kag's pov-

Blood… red unmistakable blood… dripping from his face.

"OH MY GOD, SESS-KUN! WHAT HAPPENED?!" he was soaked by the rain and he had wounds streaked on his face. It looked much like Sesshoumaru's marking, only… they were bleeding! Sess-kun's eyes looked extremely tired. He closed his eyes after seeing me and he collapsed on me! I held him up by the torso but I was taken by his weight to my knees. He limply wrapped his arms around me: His nails digging into my shirt.

"S-Sess-kun, what happened?!" my Kami, what was happening to him?

"Kagome…" his voice told me he was still conscious. I listened intently even though my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Please tell me you will never leave me…"

"W-what are you-"

"Kagome, just tell me you'll never leave me…." I was confused. What was he doing?

"I-I promise…" I felt him nod on my shoulder. And his body relaxed. I pulled away and looked him straight in the eyes…

"Sess-kun, tell me what happened." He tensed once again and he averted his gaze.

"It's the man I once called my father…" I frowned.

"What happened?"

"When haha (mother) found out that he had a mistress…" I gasped! Sess-kun's father cheated on his mother?!

"She killed herself." Oh my God! "I tried to stop her, but she slashed at me and locked her room." Tears started to brim in my eyes. Mrs. Victoria just killed herself!

"Oh my God, Sess-kun, I'm so-"

"And worst of all, he was cheating with his secretary. And they have a child only one year younger than me."

"Then that means… he cheated on your mother only after the year you were born?!" pure disgust washed over me! How disgusting of a man can he get! Sess-kun once again pulled me into a tight embrace. I hugged him back with the same intensity, closing my eyes to banish the tears….

"Oh, Sess-kun…" I whispered as a lone tear trailed from my eyes. This must hurt him more than I could imagine! Seeing my father die hurt like hell! How much more when you see your father having a family with another woman!

He pulled away and I looked at him, looking confused at me…

"Why do tears come from your eyes when it is not you-"

"Sesshoumaru…" I looked at him as another tear came from my eyes. "I'm crying because you can't cry for yourself…" another teardrop rolled out of my eye. And for one single moment, I saw in his eyes… how grateful he was for me. The knowledge that he appreciated me made me happy. "I'll always be here for you." I said putting my head under his chin and hearing his quick heartbeat.

His hold on me tightened and so did mine on him. I closed my eyes, feeling protective comfort from his embrace. "Arigatou…" he whispered as I felt his head rest on top of mine. "Kagome…"

"Hm?" I said, telling him that he had my full attention.

"Can I stay hear tonight? I don't want to stay at my house tonight." aww! He's just like a little puppy! I looked at him and wiped my tears away. I smiled and said, "S-surely, Sess-kun. You can sleep in my room while I sleep down here." He nodded and we stood up. When we got up to my room, I told him to take a bath in my showers while I took Sesshoumaru's clothes for Sess-kun to use. At least it wasn't wrinkled. I also took my med-kit. Sess-kun's wounds have to be healed, though, I'm sure it'll leave a mark.

I came back into my room and put down the clothes beside the med-kit. I sighed, sitting on my bed. So much has happened in one day. This will probably lead to trauma for Sess-kun. Any teen would be like that, if what just occurred happened to them. As I looked at the bathroom door, I noticed the door was open. Well, I guess, he hasn't taken a bath yet, so I'll just tell him to put on the clothes after he bathed.

I opened the door with pants and polo in hands. And when I looked up a mad blush couldn't be helped! OH MY GOD! He was already in the shower! Thankfully, he was still wearing his pants. But even just the sight of his torso made me blush like mad! Oh my God! OhmyGod OhmyGod OhmyGod OhmyGod OhmyGod OhmyGod OhmyGod!!!!!

His hands were pressed in front of him, and his head was downward. His eyes were closed, thankfully, and water clung onto his hair, making him even more beautiful than ever. Now I understand why Sess-kun loved the water so much: he looked…unearthly! No one was allowed to see such an angel of beauty! His muscles were detectably tense, making me think of giving him a massage… 'OH MY KAMI! SINCE WHEN DID MIROKU RUB OFF ON ME!!!!"

I was so embarrassed that I dropped the clothes; getting the attention of the most attractive man I had ever seen!

"Oh my gosh, I-I-I I'm so sorr- sorry! I mean I-I-I didn't mean to- oh my gosh, this is so embarrassing!" I said to myself covering my eyes with my hand as I groped the floor for the clothes I had just dropped. All the while a blush on my cheeks! I could feel his blazing hot gaze on me, and I just couldn't find where those freaking clothes are!

"Kagome…" his velvety voice made me blush and I stood so frigidly.

I could hear him turn off the shower and his pants made a wet noise, making me alert that he was coming my way. He took the hand covering my eyes and put it on my side. No! I shall not look at his incredibly attractive body! I refuse to! He can't make me! I closed my eyes shut tight.

"Kagome…" oh my gosh, even his voice makes me attracted! How can I not look now?! I opened one eye and saw that his eyes were boring at me. I looked at him with pure embarrassment. I should have never came into the bathroom! But as I looked into his golden…sun for eyes…all my panicked thoughts seem to have vanished. And all I thought about was how beautiful his eyes were.

"Is this what you are looking for?" he said holding up the wet clothes. "Um. Y-yeah! I just-I uh, brought it here so that you could wear them." I said closing my eyes again.

"Why do you close your eyes? I am still wearing pants." He said. I know! But the pants are actually what I'm thankful for!

"I-I'm just not used to um- this…" ugh, can I feel any stupider?! Just kill me now, please?! I can just imagine him now, raising his eyebrow at me.

"O.K., so I'll go now so you can change and if you- uh- need anything… just tell me. Ok? All right! Bye!" I think I told him that a little bit faster than I would've hoped, and I guess… after I laughed nervously out of the door, I ran for it! When I got out of the room, relief washed over me and I sighed as I leaned my back onto the door. I put my hand on my chest where my heart was beating like I just ran 300 kilometers!

And just when I started relaxing, his image came back into my mind. I could clearly feel my cheeks burning. I was so embarrassed. The things I thought about! My gosh, since when did Miroku start rubbing off on me! I'm not supposed to be the perverted one! HE WAS! I groaned as I curled away from the door and started to constantly hit my head on the wall beside me. Somebody just get the kitchen knife and kill me now! And what's more aggravating is the fact that I have to come back in to treat his wounds! Lord, give me strength!!!!

"Kagome…?" I heard from Souta's room. I looked and found that Souta was coming out of his room.

"Souta, did I wake you up?" I said coming near him and kneeling to his level.

"I had a dream," he said groggily rubbing his sleepy eyes.

"Oh, was it a nightmare?" I asked with worry. My brother may be extremely annoying at daytime, but at nighttime, he's just a sweety pie!

"No… it was about Sessho-sama." Sess-kun? I know the boy idolizes him, but never dreamt of him before. "He was my big brother. And he gave me my birthday cake. And you were there too! You were talking to this really pretty girl with green eyes. And I was playing with this funny little girl with a gap-toothed smile." I couldn't help but raise a brow at him. He dreamt that it was his birthday. And Sess-kun was his big brother. And I was talking to Hitomi while he was playing with… 'Rin?'

"Souta, do you know who the little girl with the gape-toothed smile was?"

"She kept referring to herself by the third person, but I can't remember her name." He said scratching his messy hair covered head.

"Well, as long as it's only a dream…" I said. Oh, speaking of Sess-kun… "hey, Souta, guess what." I smiled.

"What?"

"Sessho-sama is staying over for tonight!" I said. Seeing him brighten up so quickly made me so happy that I told him.

"Really?! Where is he?" he said fully awake and ready to play with Sessho-sama.

"He's in my room. But I don't think he wants to play right now. Maybe tomorrow, ok?" he smiled up at me.

"Hey, Sis?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you ever consider marrying Sessho-sama?" I was certainly taken aback and a blush started to occur on my face! Where did he get these stuff?!

"I-it's getting late, Souta. Go to sleep!" I said pushing him into his room and closing the door. He didn't argue coz I guess he's sleepy too.

"Goodnight, Sis…" I heard his muffled voice through the door. Aw! I smiled at Souta's show of sweetness. I guess even a little devil like him can be sweet at times too. I just wish he'd do that more often, that way we could get along more!

"Goodnight, Souta-chan…."

I went back to my room's door and knocked…after I prayed that he was done dressing.

"Sess-kun, are you done? Can I come in?" I said. 'I can do this, I can do this.' Then I remembered how stupid I must've looked. 'I can't do this, I can't!' and then, the door opened. 'TOO LATE!'

"Come in, I just finished." I looked him over. He wore the polo without tucking it in. And the pants fitted him quite well, actually. The only problem: three of his buttons were gulp unbuttoned. And now, I have the sight of his lean chest. 'I guess all those nightly work outs did him GOOD!'

'Ok, you can do this Kag, you can do this.' I said, reassuring myself. "I just came to-uh heal your wounds. So just take a seat, while I get the med-kit." He nodded and took a seat on my chair after dragging it closer to the bed. I took the med-kit and put it on my lap. Then I opened it, 'Ok, time to get to work.' I thought.

I started on disinfecting his right cheek. He flinched but other than that, nothing. I'm sure that this is hurting like hell. The face is the most sensitive part of the body, and a wound as big as that would have catched a lot of germs. I could see that his whole body was tense, so I paused. I probably pressed it on too hard.

"Sorry…" I said.

"Continue." He replied.

I continued, but a little lighter this time.

He seemed to relax, and so did I. Silence overruled us, but neither one of us minded. I traced his features, his wounds with the disinfectant, while he studied my face with his golden orbs. Something about his eyes took me in, though. It was as if he was drawing me in his mind. Every single detail, every strand of hair. The same eyes I loved to watch while he drew all in his sight. All the beauty to behold.

"Where did you get the clothes?" I almost jumped at his sudden voice. But I had to think quickly.

"Um-uh, S-S-SOUTA! Yeah, Souta! We were preparing for his growing up, well actually, mom was preparing for his growing up…way too soon. And they bought these clothes for Souta to wear." Phew! That was a good enough excuse! Good thing, Souta's my excuse!

His eyes narrowed but soon he disregarded it and looked away. I got curious and looked at his face. His eyes looked tired and filled with… sadness? Pain? This was all new to me. Normally, I'd see Sess-kun with his Neutral façade: even if he was just goofing off with me. But now, to see his eyes so weak and tired, it makes me feel so… sympathetic. I finished disinfecting him and so I laid down my hands on my lap.

"Kagome… thank you." I heard him whisper. I smiled. Hearing him being so thankful makes me realize how vulnerable he really is right now. And how much he's depending on me. It's actually nice to think about. The Great Sesshoumaru, depending on little old me. It had a nice ring to it. I wonder why though. I shook my head while saying, "No sweat. You've been through a lot. I understand." I said putting the disinfectant back into the med-kit.

"No, thank you… for saying you'd stay with me. It added great relief." he said looking at me straight in the eyes. I got caught. How beautiful his eyes were. It was sparkling under the light of my room, and reflecting nothing but my image. As if the only one he sees is me. There was no room around us. No bed, no desk, no chairs, no doors… just… me. I was the only thing in his mind.

I snapped out of it suddenly realizing that I had been staring at him all this time. I blushed and tucked yet another imaginary stray strand of hair behind my ear. I looked away and cleared my throat.

"So, uh, sleep tight. I'll be downstairs if ever you'll need me." I said pointing to the door and seeing him nod. I walked towards the door fully intending to go outside right away, but I stopped halfway from grabbing the doorknob.

"Sesshoumaru?" silence answered me, but I knew he was listening.

"I meant it. I will stay with you… and I DO mean forever." Silence once again answered me. I silently laughed at myself. I guess he's already asleep. "Goodnight, Sess-kun." I said opening the door and shutting it behind me. But before I shut it completely…

"Goodnight, Kagome…"

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