Chapter 10

Do You Love Me?

Sesshoumaru sat in a big leather chair in his late father's study. He was fully clothed now, and ready to relax. Well, relax as much as he could after just being caught fucking someone else's property. Why did Inuyasha have to come along at that moment? It was very unsatisfying to not finish what he had started.

The youkai leaned back, and sighed. He should be feeling happy. He had just gotten what he wanted, hadn't he? Why was he feeling so... uneasy? It did not make sense, he hadn't done anything wrong...

Flashback

Inuyasha punched him in the stomach, making his brother fall of the miko, onto the floor. The hanyou grabbed Sesshoumaru's hair, pulling him up to face him.

"Do you know what you have done?" he hissed, slapping the youkai's face with his claws, leaving deep slashes on Sesshoumaru's cheek. Inuyasha pushed his brother away from him, towards the door.

End Flashback

Sesshoumaru sat up, quickly. Shit! he thought. How could I have forgotten? Inuyasha had made the slave his own. In doing so, he, Sesshoumaru, had no right to touch her. No wonder Inuyasha had been so angry! Of course, he is no match for me, but something told me what I was doing was wrong, so I left without a fight. Now I know what it was. he thought, gritting his teeth.

The old youkai laws. They had been planted in his head, ever since he was a little child, which was a very long time ago. How could he have forgotten?!

I will just have to pretend that everything is fine, that I did nothing wrong. Soon everyone will overlook it, right? Wrong. No one would forget what he had done anytime soon. Could he bear the humiliation? No, he would have to talk to the hanyou right away, and say—Sesshoumaru curled his lip up, clenching his hands at his sides—that he was sorry. Better do it as soon as possible.

The youkai stood up, and walked up the stairs to his brother's room. When he got there, he knocked on the door. There was no answer. Sesshoumaru pushed the door open, and then stopped. The room was bare. He went to the taijaya's room, and the monk's. They were empty as well.

Sesshoumaru stood in the hall, cursing silently to himself. Inuyasha was gone.

Sango crouched low over Kilala's back, as they flew through the air. Looking down, she saw Inuyasha turn right below them and she turned the fire cat to follow him. Behind her, Miroku sat holding Kagome, who lay in his arms with her eyes closed. They were both silent, and Sango did not urge them to talk. She knew that the miko was still in shock, and that Miroku was silently trying to comfort her.

The taijaya glanced down at the hanyou again. She knew that he was not much better. Inuyasha had hardly spoken two words to them since they had left the castle, four days ago. He had not told her where they were going, only to follow him. Therefore, she did.

Sango hardly knew anything about why they had left. Only that Sesshoumaru had raped the miko and Inuyasha was disgusted with his brother and wanted to leave. Well, that was what Inuyasha had told her, anyways. Poor Kagome. What a horrible thing to have happened to her... and Inuyasha must be feeling the same pain.

Miroku felt Kagome shiver, so he tightened his arms around her. She had her eyes closed, and the monk knew that she did not want to talk to anyone right now. Instead, he stared at Sango's back. He wanted to talk to her, but had the feeling that she just wanted to think. Like the taijaya, he knew hardly anything about why they were leaving. He hoped that Inuyasha would tell him sometime...

The monk sighed. He felt sorry for the two. Sango had told him that Inuyasha had admitted he liked Kagome. What a horrible thing to have happened to them both...

Inuyasha wanted to run, run away from all his emotions, all his hate... all his love. He was so angry with his 'brother', how could he have done that? Sesshoumaru knew the youkai laws as well as himself, so why had he gone ahead and broken them? Besides, no matter how bitchy and annoying the slave was, she did not deserve what had happened to her.

Damnit! Sesshoumaru does not love her! He just did it to get under my skin! the hanyou slashed out at a nearby tree, cutting it into the ground. 'He also knew that you couldn't stand having your brother touch the miko' said a small voice inside him.

Inuyasha rammed his fist into the ground. That was true, and he knew it. It sickened him at the thought of his brother touching the miko's beautiful skin. One good thing was he had interrupted them before Sesshoumaru had had a chance to mark the slave as his.

Was there still a chance for him? Would the miko want ANYONE after what had happened? He could only hope. She had not spoken for four days, and Inuyasha was getting kind of worried. True, he hadn't said much ether, but what could he say? Maybe she felt the same way...

Kagome lay in the monks arms, eyes closed. She pretended to be asleep, not wanting to talk to anyone at the moment. I do not need their sympathy! I am fine on my own! she thought, annoyed, a little bit of anger flashing through her. Then she felt it fade, suddenly, realizing it would not be so bad if it was Inuyasha who came to comfort her. Miroku was nice, and she considered him a friend, but that was all, just a friend. It was not the same as Inuyasha.

But would he still want her, now that she had been touched? Not that she ever thought she had much of a chance with him, and this lessened them even more. She noticed how silent he had been, always thinking about something. Well, it was not hard to guess what it was, for it was always on her mind, as well.

Tears prickled her eyelids, threatening to fall from under her closed eyes. Why the hell did she have to fall for a guy that would never return her feelings? Why was she attracted to him? It made no sense.

Suddenly a cold gust of wind blew against her, and the miko shivered. She felt Miroku's arms tighten around her, and she leaned into the warmth. She would never get used to flying on Kilala's back. And where was Inuyasha taking them? She felt Sango shift in front of her, and opened her eyes slightly. The taijaya had turned round to glance Miroku, and from the look on her face, she did not know where they were going ether.

It was evening the next day, when they finally arrived at a small village. Inuyasha stood outside a small hut and waited for Kilala to land. When they did, Sango hopped off of the fire cats back, a huge grin on her face. Miroku and Kagome followed more slowly.

"Inuyasha!" laughed the exterminator, "you should have said that we were going to Kaede-sama's!"

The hanyou just grunted, and turned to knock on the door. Sango turned and winked at Kagome, who lowered her eyes. She still isn't feeling better thought Sango, frowning. Just then, Kaede came to the door, and they were all distracted by greeting the old woman.

Grinning broadly, the old miko brought them into the house, saying that they were just in time for supper. Sango, Miroku, and Kaede all talked cheerfully. Inuyasha and Kagome sat in silence. The miko hadn't spoken since they arrived, except to be introduced to Kaede. The old miko noticed this, and drew the taijaya away slightly.

"Sango, child, what is wrong? This is not the Inuyasha I remember!"

Sango looked over at the monk. "Miroku, Kaede and I are going for a walk. Want to come?" the monk noticed the look on her face, and agreed. The three left in silence. After they were gone, Inuyasha stood up, and walked out the door, following them.

Kagome was staring at her dirty clothes in dismay, wondering if there was a lake or something near by that she could wash up in, when the four retuned. She looked down, avoiding their gazes. She knew what they had been talking about. She felt Sango sit down beside her.

"Sango, is there a place near here that I can wash up?" the miko mumbled, not looking at her.

"Oh ya! Of course, there is a hot springs right around here! Just follow the path outside, and you'll come right to it!" the exterminator lay down on a mat, as Kagome stood up.

"Want to come with me?" she asked her friend, but Sango shook her head.

"Sorry, but I'm beat! Next time, I will."

Kagome nodded, and walked out the door. It was dark out, but the moon was bright enough that she could see the path that led to the hot springs. Quickly she hurried along it, until, after a seven minute walk, she came to a small clearing, the pool in the middle.

Kagome shivered slightly as she got undressed, and quickly slid into the warm water. She sighed, and leaned back against a rock, closing her eyes, her hair floating out around her. It was so warm and relaxing, she felt herself begin to get drowsy...

Inuyasha stood in front of her, gazing deep into her eyes. Kagome gulped. "I-Inuyasha? What are you doing here?" The hanyou walked slowly towards her, his eyes never leaving hers. "Kagome..." he whispered, and she felt a shudder of longing run through her body. Why did he affect her like that? What spell had he cast upon her? He had reached her now, and she stared up into his beautiful golden eyes. "Kagome," the hanyou murmured again, "Kagome, I have to tell you something." "What is it, Inuyasha?" she asked, trembling in anticipation. He sighed, and looked away. "I am sorry, Kagome, but I don't want to raise your hopes. I don't love you, I can't. You are just a slave, a USED slave, a slave that has been touched. It would not work out between us." Kagome looked up at him, feeling as though her heart was being ripped in to. "I-Inuyasha—" he stopped her. "No, Kagome, don't try to change my mind. I was stupid to think that I ever had feelings for you. I don't love you, so leave me alone!" Tears fell down her cheeks, as she watched Inuyasha walk out of her life forever...

Kagome woke with a start, tears still running down her cheeks. How long she was there, she had no idea, but when she woke, it was really dark, so she knew that it was probably very late. Quickly she washed her hair, and got out, wrapping a towel around her. She tried to get the dream out of her head, but it had seemed so real! Had it been trying to tell her something?

A stick snapped behind her, and she spun around.Inuyasha stood in front of her, gazing deep into her eyes. Kagome gulped. "I-Inuyasha? What are you doing here?" The hanyou walked slowly towards her, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Kagome..." he whispered, and she felt a shudder of longing run through her body. Why did he affect her like that? What spell had he cast upon her? He had reached her now, and she stared up into his beautiful golden eyes. "Kagome..." the hanyou murmured again, "Kagome, I have to ask you something."

The miko gulped again. It was exactly like her dream... only the slightly worried look in Inuyasha's eyes was different. Sango probably told him that I am in love with him, and he is worried about how he is going to tell me not to get my hopes up, cuz he doesn't fell anything for me. she thought, as he walked closer to her. So the dream HAD been trying to tell her something!

"Kagome, do you love me?"

She just stared at him. What was he trying to do? Get her admit she loved him, so he could break her heart even more? Well, she wouldn't let him. "No!" the miko spat, "I fuckin hate you."

Inuyasha blinked. "I see." He said quietly, and turned away, but not before Kagome saw the pain, the hurt, the sorrow, reflecting in his eyes. He started to walk away.

The miko watched him walk away. Then, suddenly it hit her. 'Kagome...' He had called her by her name! Not wench, or bitch, slave. He had never called her by her real name before... Did that mean...

"Inuyasha! Wait, don't go!" she called after him, but it was too late. He had already disappeared.

tbc...

hey guys! I am so sorry that it took so long to update! thanks to all reviewers! next chapter soon!