Kagome continued to stroll along the street as the breeze gently blew her hair from her coldly chilled face.
As far as she could tell time could pass as slow as possible and it wouldn't bother her at all. The leaves continued to crunch beneath rubber soled shoes her pace quicken.
'But today was different.'
She was supposed to meet Inuyasha at his house today for dinner. They'd known each other for years...actually...but the thought hadn't even crossed her mind until Inuyasha began to talk compliment her. Inhaling she knocked on the door. The door opened slowly to reveal a regal looking man in his mid 40's. "Good evening sir." She offered a small smile. Mr. Jaken was his name of course but it always seemed that he didn't' want to have anything to do with her.
The so called 'relationship' Inuyasha and herself seemed quiet distance and didn't seem like much but it was enjoyable at least. She had been continuously been asked out by all sorts of characters claiming they had fallen hopelessly in love with her.
But before she'd met her companion she'd was courted by a nice young name by the name of Hojo. 'Like I was interested.' she thought. He was just too normal, too nice, too much of the things she didn't find attractive. But than her best friend from the past came back into her life, and saved her from this horrible to be date. As they... "Hi Kagome." interrupted her thoughts.
She looked up. Handing him the gift she had arms wrapped around welcoming her. Kagome pushed him aside. "Hi Inuyasha." That was her reply. It was short and sweet and to the point. How long did she have to wait until this would be over? Following Inuyasha into the house she could smell the lightly seasoned chicken as it roasted in the oven. "Something smells good..." she mused.
He chuckled, "Well you're stayin' for dinner so go ahead and do whatever."
Leaving her blue jacket on one of the dining room chairs she ventured to the kitchen to help out InuMama. She leaned against one of the beams that supported the intricately decorated ceilings. Concentrated on her task the slightly aged woman wiped her hands on towel before turning around to greet Kagome. "InuMama why is it you cook so well?" Finally she got a good look at the woman. Black hair braided together away from the food she was lovely. "Well because I practice." She teased.
"How's Rin?" InuMama went back to the stove. "She's fine. Just outside playing with Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru's back?
The kitchen was left in but a comfortable silence as they two went on their business. Kagome left with the job of setting the table since she was small, and InuMama with the food in the other room. 'InuMama.' She'd given the name to Inuyasha's mom when she first met him rather than learning their last name. The lady seemed nice enough to let the small bit of laziness pass but as the years went by she grew use to idea of being called by another name.
Placing the last fork in its proper place she ran into the kitchen, "Do you mind of I watch the sky?" No reply. The day was perfect to just lie in the grass and gaze at the floating balls of fluff.
That meant she was welcome. Closing the glass door behind her she ran through the yard. "I forgot my jacket." she cursed. A hard wind blew all the leaves around her. The sun shone casting a shadow of the tree next to her. Kagome smiled. How long as it been since the tree has been climbed? Memories of herself and Inu falling from the tree flashed through her head. She stood there staring up in awe.
The tree was old and tall. AND just begging her to once more endeavor to climb its misshaped branches to reach the top. Reaching to grip on a branch she pulled herself up. 'I can do on...just a little bit farther....' The stupid baka use to beat her but no! This time she would reach the top and win! She moved quicker.
"KAGOME!"
She lost her grip. Small branches and leaves tumbled down with her as the force of gravity pulled. Closing her eyes waited for the fall.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!" she screamed.
"You can open your eyes" Kagome knew that voice with this icy tone. She knew where she was and how bad she was going to be embarrassed. "Sesshoumaru?" She asked.
She sat up. Before her eyes a particular face popped up as if to inspect her. "She's fine Sesshoumaru." The girl turned to look at something. "Now you may jump, Rin" Kagome jumped to her feet. She knew what would happen and now was not the perfect time for one of the girls backbreaking 'welcomes'.
And down she went. Rin lying on top her muttering how glad she was Kagome came. "Rin please stop talking for a moment please." The girl pouted but did so. Lifting the growing girl off of herself she got up. Brushing off any imaginary dust that happened to have come in contact with her she finally looked at Rin. "You've grown." She usually comes over to the house but Rin was usually away for some reason. Kagome stroked the girl's cheek and bent down to look at her face.
The girl simply beamed at the compliment. "Kagome did you miss me?" She asked expecting a certain answer.
"Of course Rin. Now go help InuMama in the kitchen," She ushered toward the house facing the West. Kagome made sure Rin was inside before closing the door and stepping out again.
"I have not yet received my welcome," a voicing stated.
Kagome turned around. He stood there with the silver strands attached to his head gently swaying in the wind, and the sun shone behind him giving him an unearthly look. 'Looking amazing as ever...' It just didn't seem fair that he'd always looked better than her. It's been about couple years since he'd really talked to her and to beat the pig to the pot they where alone and he wasn't forced into it.
"Sorry Sesshoumaru I simply forgot."
He arched his perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Really now....I suppose we haven't seen each other for a while now. But not enough to where you would forget." Kagome was mentally cracking inside. She missed him for sure but this year he seemed different and more...'More....attractive...' That was putting it into polite terms.
"I heard from mother that you and Inuyasha where dating..." He didn't even have to finish that sentence. Sesshoumaru had heard something and simply wanted to fill the silence. Yup! That was the reason. "Yeah for a couple of months now...out of the blue he asked me." She said placing a smile upon my lips for show. Kagome use to ask herself if she'd cared about Inuyasha at all. Maybe was all she knew.
Just maybe
She just stood there quiet and smiled as though she was happy. He'd been home since he'd been done with his course in collage. Kagome use to smile all the time until now he'd heard from his father. Sesshoumaru silently observed her as she leaned against the towering tree. She claimed she was happy and everything was fine. Which it probably was but he'd known something that the two of them shared for a while
It was a lie.
She was lying to him. Kagome never did do that before and Sesshoumaru didn't want her to start. Yet no words pasted through his mouth. The girl was had to find things out for herself and if he could help he would but...He still had been drawn to her for a while yet it seemed as though things wouldn't work out. He knew it wouldn't. So why try? "How's life treating you, Sesshoumaru?"
He looked at her. "Everything's fine. Rin and I have been with our uncle out of town. You?" A soft sigh pasted her lips and reached his ears. "Everything's fine Sesshoumaru. Everything's fine." She said shaking her head. Tucking a stray lock of hair, she looked into at him with her dark amber eyes waiting for him to continue.
Thoughts ran through his mind so much that he wished he was somewhere else, somewhere far away.
So he laughed.
"Did I miss something?" She asked arms crossed in front of her chest.
"No...Kagome you didn't...But..." He moved to get closer to her. "You shouldn't lie to me anymore. I know your false words are spoken." The look on her face was priceless. Her lips puffed and he could feel nervousness radiate off her as he got closer. It was wrong Sesshoumaru knew but maybe just maybe...
She pushed him aside. 'That was too freaky."What the heck do you think your doing!?"
Sesshoumaru was pleased. He'd gotten a reaction out of her. Picking himself off from the ground he got up. She'd grown. Everything about her was different with her new self, came the wisdom of age. Kagome's hair was longer, body more curved, and face angled to perfection.
'No wonder Inuyasha asked her out.'
He walked away, leaving Kagome with her thoughts to herself.
"KAYAAHHAHAHH!!"
"Get off Kagome." Sitting on top of him, she sat there legs around his waist smirking. 'I'm starting to think she's still a child.' How long until the staring contest was over...like he'd give up.
Placing her two fingers on her lips she kissed them and placed them on his cheek. Kagome blushed and got off. Running to the house she smiled and beckoned Sesshoumaru to follow behind. After she was gone he began to gaze into the sky and wonder what he was going to do. How long until Kagome would once more lose the empty, fake, facade, left on her while he's been gone.
A bright red car pulled up the driveway as a fairly decent looking woman stepped out from the seat. She waved. Ringing the doorbell she was answered by his mother. Kikyo. Sesshoumaru had met the woman and invited her to dinner yesterday. A bit older than Kagome she was far to controlled for his taste but he'd give it a try. He frowned. She and Kagome looked alike.
Too much alike.
Kagome sighed.
How long has it been she was able to enjoy herself like that? As much as she tried to remain in control when she was around Sesshoumaru she felt as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders, and the confides of her cage where tossed aside. She looked at her fork, glinting from the sunlight passing through the window, and wondered what was exactly going out. She'd been at Inuyasha house the entire time and she'd yet to even see him, except for when he greeted her at the door.
First to be seated at the dinner table lit with white candles that left an elegant look to the red tablecloth, she waited patiently for the other to join her. "Sesshoumaru!" She heard a high strung falsetto voice. Really eavesdropping was wrong but maybe just this once..."Kikyo." A low bass voice answered. The two shadows of each person merged. 'Who is she?' She didn't need to know she didn't want to know. 'Probably Sesshoumaru and his girlfriend.' She said the words but couldn't have the fact that the words toke a while to get use too. She brushed that aside.
The light scent of jasmine filled the air mixed with far scent of cookie filled her nostrils. Inhaling she waited for the two to come over and introduce themselves to her. A picture of an exquisite madam hung by the window framed with billowing, silk drapes. Her mind wondered to the little bundle in her arms covered with a bit of silver on the top. A baby. She got up and headed closer for a view into the left side of the room. Her eyes where but a royal gold that seemed filled with adoration yet her lips held a secret smile. 'She looks like....'
Sesshoumaru
Inupapa had once mentioned about his past wife. The two had a striking resemblance that seemed impossible to miss.
"Ahem"
Kagome turned around. Sesshoumaru stood there with an elegantly dressed woman called, 'Kikyo' while waiting patiently for her attention. Undivided attention. "Kagome this is Kikyo." She bowed low that so her long, dark, hair, sweep the ground.
"Kagome! When's dinne....r...." Inuyasha managed to stutter as his eyes met Kikyo's own. "Ugh...um..." It seemed he was unable to speak. 'So weird' "Inuyasha. This is Kikyo, Sesshoumaru's companion for tonight's dinner." The silence was piercing for a while as the four went on their own world. "Let's sit down ja?" Sesshoumaru sat in front of Kagome with Kikyo to his left.
The three people spoke as Kagome continued to gaze at the picture that had recently captured her attention. It seemed the picture was meant to capture the beauty of the season with the only person in the backdrop blending into the trees and...
"Kagome"
She looked up. "Yeah?" Sesshoumaru continued to look at her inquiringly. Kagome sighed defeated, but she continued persistently, "I'm fine Sesshoumaru." Pushing, the chair backwards she got up and picked up her coat. The coat brushed against the door as it closed signaling to the family inside that she had gone. 'I have no clue what to do. If this continues I swear I'll....I don't know.' Multi-colored leaves flew past chased by the wind of coming winter. She knew it was wrong but yet she'd continued. As much as she loved the house and the family who took shelter in it's lovely walls she knew if she'd stayed longer the current mood would go from relaxed to a burning infro of twisted words. Which would later probably become dying ember left sorely from the evening.
He stopped. The two besides him where happily chatting, as they were so completely engrossed in their conversation that he'd been left out of it. Kagome had gone after he'd simply inquired about her well-being. True, it wasn't polite rather blunt and directed the attention upon her, (He had forgotten Kagome didn't like attention. and rarely had it.) but she was strangely quiet and seemed to be another place.
Sesshoumaru got up.
It was like he would be missed. Inuyasha and Kikyo got along quite well. Throughout the evening they talked and stared at one another intently and hung on every word. Quite revolting isn't it? Inuyasha, his dear half brother, currently dating Kagome, was flirting with his date for the evening, Kikyo. By the looks of Kagome, he had been in been dating over woman with her knowing. She didn't act surprised. Her lovely face was unfilled with the emotions he had once found alluring. Yes this Sesshoumaru thought she was lovely. He'd watched her from afar and now maybe it was time to get closer.
His younger brother obviously had not been her confident. But she went, somewhere. Away from him. Sesshoumaru was tired of her impassiveness. The time for her old self to come forth is now.
A smile graced his lips and his pace quickened.
