Chapter 13
That night, Kagome lay on her bed and stared up at the ceiling.
She felt terrible that she had to lie to everyone, letting them all think she cared nothing for the taiyoukai. For she did care. Far too much.
When Sesshoumaru had kissed her, all she knew was that she wanted more. Hell, she wanted him!
What was going on! Why was she feeling this way? Didn't he hurt her? He treated her as though she didn't exist, all the while making sure her presence was completely unnecessary.
He could hurt her again and she knew she wouldn't be able to handle that.
But deep down, she knew. She KNEW that she still loved him. She had always loved him. It had started the morning after the mating when she turned over to look at him.
He was so pale, so perfect, so beautiful... She remembered thinking he looked like an earth-bound angel. Her heart was captured in that moment while she watched him sleep. His hair was spread around him like a shimmering silver fan. The hard surface of his body was draped by a thin, silken sheet and moulded to every curve and angle...
Kagome groaned audibly and turned on her side, burying her face in the pillows.
'Yes,' she admitted to herself, 'I love him. I always have loved him, despite the fact it had been a one-sided love. But should I allow myself to keep on loving him, even though he appears to have changed his feelings toward me?'
She was afraid. She wanted to trust him, to believe in him, but she couldn't.
Kagome thought back to her little bit of drama earlier. The damned dress. Anyone who knew her, knew she wouldn't have given a damn about some clothing, no matter how expensive. I mean, come on, she hadn't fronted the money for it!
But when she had whispered to him that she wouldn't leave him, she had spoken the truth. She hadn't wanted to but with Hiro, Yuki and Kouga standing there watching every move she made, she didn't dare put him in danger. Hiro was still looking extremely peeved when she was stroking Sesshoumaru's hair.
Then she finally noticed Inuyasha and decided it was time to bail. Shit, she didn't need anymore drama. She had to let the four of them believe that she had no intention of staying with him, thereby easing the tension in the air.
She was weary of Kouga's constant attention to her safety. It was very sweet and considerate of him to think of her so much, but enough was enough already.
And now, he had gotten her a bodyguard? No, scratch that. TWO bodyguards.
Again she sighed. It was just too much.
When she finally drifted off to sleep, the last thing that filled her mind was Sesshoumaru.
A couple of weeks later, Kagome had risen early because she and Sango were going out for a girls' day out...and Kouga's credit card was again at their disposal.
Kagome jumped out of bed, giddy just thinking about the day ahead. She ran to the bathroom.
She had just finished brushing her teeth when she heard loud voices arguing downstairs. Kagome ran out of her room, nearly colliding into Miroku as he and Sango ran past her room. Like her, they were still in their night clothes.
They reached the landing and looked out over the railing. Below them in the foyer, two silver-headed males were about to come to blows.
Sesshoumaru had pulled his arm back, his claws extended, ready to strike Inuyasha. Inuyasha was trying to keep his throat from being crushed in Sesshoumaru's vise-like grip.
Kagome gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. Every eye on the foyer below turned upwards in her direction.
"Kagome!" Sesshoumaru cried softly.
Kagome stared at him in horror. Everyone in the room seemed to have vanished except for him.
Sesshoumaru dropped his arms and backed away from Inuyasha, his eyes never leaving her face. She looked so exquisite, so divine this morning. Her black hair was loose and fell in silken waves over her shoulders. She was clad in a white, filmy thing that clung to her slim figure.
She looked like an angel standing there, looking down at him.
Kagoe saw him look at her with his heart in his eyes. His face had such a tender look in it, that she nearly ran down the stairs to throw herself in his arms.
"I love you, Kagome," he said quietly. His youkai wanted him to run up the stairs and take hold of her.
Kagome's heart nearly bolted out of her chest when he spoke those words. "Sesshoumaru, I... I..." she began but stopped. With a sob, she turned and ran back to her room.
"Now look what you've done, Sesshoumaru! You scared her off!" Inuyasha berated him angrily.
Without warning, Sesshoumaru slugged Inuyasha in the face. Inuyasha flew back and skidded to a halt on the marble floor.
"I do love her, Kouga," Sesshoumaru said solemnly, turning to face the okami who was standing with Shippo. "I can feel her youkai and by rights she is still my mate."
"But her youkai is confused, Sesshoumaru-sama. It doesn't know who you are," Shippo put in cautiously.
Sesshoumaru sighed, feeling slightly exasperated. "I know this, Shippo. That's why I am asking for permission to let Kagome and her youkai get to know me again. I want them to realize that I will not hurt her again."
Inuyasha sprang up, not wanting to be cut out of the picture. "Hey, I love Kagome too! But I'll never treat her like HE did." He jerked a thumb in his brother's direction.
Everyone followed Kouga into his study. He went around his desk and sat down, studying both inus carefully. How to decide? He too, still loved Kagome very much. He also felt that he should begin making his own intentions known to her. "Okay," he began, "this is a highly unusual situation. I do agree with you, Sesshoumaru, that since her youkai still lives, she should be returned to you."
Inuyasha's face went beet red and he opened his mouth to begin his rant.
Kouga raised a hand. "HOWEVER, since her youkai seems to be independent of you, then I must say that in all fairness Kagome should be allowed to choose her mate if she wishes to have one."
Inuyasha grinned at Sesshoumaru. "Keh. Well, looks like it's you and me, big bro."
Kouga leaned back in his chair and narrowed his blue eyes dangerously. "Not so fast, Inu-koro. I too, wish to have Kagome by my side."
Hiro and Yuki could hear the conversation in Kouga's study from where they were in the foyer.
Hiro fumed silently, glaring at Sesshoumaru's back while he stood in the study. Like Yuki, Hiro too, had fallen in love with the holy miko he was protecting. He just couldn't help himself. She was just so irresistable.
Yuki, however, just leaned back against the wall. He was contemplating ways to make Sesshoumaru's life miserable. Maybe Inuyasha's too, just because he could. He'd have to think about that one.
So the three youkai were all going to woo Kagome. Yuki smiled. This should be quite interesting. But he had a feeling he knew he would win. Hell, he'd already won. For Yuki had watched Kagome's face that night of the party. He'd seen the look on her face when she gazed upon her soon-to-be suitor.
It was so obvious. Kagome was in love with Sesshoumaru.
He felt bad for his brother, whom he knew was smitten with her as well. He too, felt the pull of the jewel that she carried within her. But unlike Hiro, he'd done his best to resist. Of course, he'd failed miserably at that task, for NO elf had ever been able to resist a holy miko who carried the Shikon no Tama.
Taking one more look at his love-sick brother, Yuki crossed the foyer and bounded up the stairs. He made his way down the hall until he found Kagome's room. It wasn't hard to miss. There were the sounds of sobbing and someone speaking gently.
He knocked and someone told him to enter. He did so and found Kagome lying on her bed, weeping softly. Sango and the man named Miroku were with her. Sango was sitting beside Kagome, gently stroking her hair.
Sango looked up and saw Hiro's brother standing in the doorway. She'd never really gotten a good look at him before, but she sure was trying to make up for lost time. He had to have been the hottest male she'd ever seen.
Yuki noticed the look Sango was giving him and he gave her his sexiest smile. As expected, Sango's face flushed a deep pink and she giggled.
The monk, however, did not look much pleased. He straightened up to his full height and squared his shoulders. Obviously, he wished to let Yuki know that he was ready to rumble should Yuki make a move on his woman.
"Are you alright, Kagome?" Yuki asked, coming over to the bed and sitting down. He looked down at the miko who finally raised her tusseled dark head. Those magnetic brown eyes stared into his, and he felt as though she was touching his soul.
"H-hai. I'm just having...a moment," she whispered hoarsely. She gave him a watery smile.
Yuki felt his control slipping. This was not good. He prided himself on his control when it came to women, but this girl was making him lose it. But before he could leave the room like he should have done, he asked, "I hear you and Sango were to go out today. Did you still want to? I could go with you." Mentally, he cursed himself for his weakness.
Sango, who was still flushed said, "I think we should, Kagome-chan. It will be good for you to get out of this house for a day."
Yuki noticed that the houshi grew angrier. "I think not, Sango. You were supposed to go with Hiro," he said, glaring at Yuki, who only stared back at him innocently.
Kagome sat up. "What's happened to Hiro? Is he sick?" she asked, obviously worried.
Yuki got to his feet. "No, he's not sick," he said, heading for the door.
"Well, what then?" Miroku asked, clearly relieved that the fair elf was leaving.
Yuki shrugged. "He's dealing with some...anger management issues at the moment. Just let me know when you're ready to leave," he finished quickly, before shutting the bedroom door behind him.
