A First for Everything
Chapter 23
Kagome hummed to herself as she walked through the grocery store. A light smiled graced her features as she moved throughout the isles with a small red basket swaying rhythmically from her arm. Her blue eyes scanned the shelves, looking for anything that she could use for the upcoming week. She was in a good mood that morning. The interview two days ago had been amazing, leaving her feeling as she had left a good impression for herself and the upcoming debut of her novel. The rest of that day, and evening, had worked out for her as well. She blushed innocently as flashes of intimate moments revisited her. Even though she had given into to the handsome man that she so wished to fight, she was pleased. After all, who could not like the affectionate attention of a stunningly good looking man?
The soft, classical ring of her cell phone caught her attention as she walked. Stopping, she reached into her purse absentmindedly, bringing the small piece of plastic to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Kagome?" a quiet, feminine voice questioned.
Kagome smiled. She recognized the voice as Sango's. 'She's probably calling to tell me about her evening with Miroku,' she thought. 'I knew those two would get along!'
"How are you, Sango?" Kagome asked cheerfully as she continued to walk through the store.
"Where did you go the other night?" Sango questioned, ignoring Kagome's inquiry.
"Huh?" Kagome responded, slightly confused. Her nose crinkled as she thought. 'What does she mean…oh, yeah. I left with Sesshomaru without telling her.'
"I went out," Kagome responded vaguely, wishing to lead her friend on for a while. She knew that Sango would hassle her about being with him, and want to know all of the details.
"Did you go out with Tashio?" Sango said timidly.
A frown marred her features. How did Sango know? She was taking all the fun out of this conversation. "Yes, I did. How did you know? Is it that obvious?"
Silence was her answer. Kagome stopped walking once again, unaware that she was standing in the middle of the store's isle. Why wasn't Sango responding? It was one thing that she knew, but why wasn't she asking Kagome questions? Why wasn't she interested in the why, the where, and the how?
"Sango?" Kagome asked softly, her pulse beginning to quicken. "What's wrong?"
She could hear a slight sigh of doubt. This action immediately put Kagome on her guard. Her back stiffened as her hand began to tremble slightly. Her eyes became clouded with worry and tension. What was going on?
"Kagome, I…" Sango began sympathetically.
"What is it?" Kagome asked quickly, trying her best to keep her voice calm and steady. "Did he say something?" 'I'll kill that bastard!' she thought.
"Well, not exactly…"
"What does that mean? Did he or didn't he?" Kagome snapped as her eyes began to fill with anger.
"Have you seen this mornings Scoop?" was the quiet question.
"No," she replied slowly. 'This is not good,' she thought franticly. 'This is not good!'
"So you don't know…"
"Don't know what?" she interrupted.
"Kagome," Sango said sorrowfully. "Look, I'm sorry, but maybe you should go see what's in it…"
Swift strides began to carry Kagome as she pivoted and began to walk towards the registers where the tabloids were held. "I'll call you back, Sango," Kagome muttered as she hung up her phone, ignoring the protests from the other line. Her eyes were trained upon the stands, seeing nothing else but those papers. As she approached, her eyes began to bulge from their sockets. 'This can't be true,' she thought. Her heart pounded against her chest, screaming in anguish. The bright blue eyes scanned the articles with sorrow before flaming into anger and defiance. There it was; the magazine that she was to see. It lay in front of her, mocking her with its presence.
The Novelist and the Publisher?
Is This a Budding Romance?
Tashio Denies Any Claims of a Relationship
"That bastard," Kagome hissed as she grabbed the issue from the stand. She brought it to her face, her trembling hands crushing the delicate paper. "I'll kill him."
Whirling towards the door, Kagome began to make her way from the store, the offensive article still clutched desperately in her hands. However, a timid voice called out to her before she could leave.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but you can't take that unless you pay for it," a cashier called to her.
Narrowing her eyes in a deadly fashion, Kagome turned to the young cashier who gulped in fear at the sight of Kagome's anger. She slithered forward to the register. Flinging the paper down unto the conveyer belt, Kagome slammed her hand upon the belt as well.
"Very well," Kagome bit out. "I'll pay." Reaching into her purse, Kagome grabbed her wallet, muttering to herself as she flipped through the dividers, looking for the cash that she knew was there. Finally, she fished out a few dollars, flinging them onto the belt in frustration. "There," she said before picking up the magazine once again. "Have a great day."
Inuyasha groaned as his phone continued to ring. He rolled over in his bed, resting upon his side as he glared at the machine that was interrupting his sleep. His silver hair stuck up in various places and his eyes were still half hooded in tiredness. He continued to stare at the phone, willing it to stop ringing. Moments later the noise stopped, and he grinned to himself as he shut his eyes.
"I should do that more often," he muttered.
However, he did not get to rest for long. The phone immediately began to ring again, causing Inuyasha to bolt up in bed wide eyed. "Fuck," he yelled as he placed a hand on the smooth, bare skin over his heart. His head turned to the phone once again, glaring daggers into the plastic.
"This better be fucking worth it," he muttered as he leaned across his mattress to pick up the receiver. "Yeah?" he answered.
"Inuyasha," stated the hard, angry voice over the line.
Inuyasha blinked in confusion. The voice sounded familiar; however, there was an edge to it that made him doubt the identity of the owner. His hand came up to his head, running through the strands in a soothing manner, but ended up becoming caught in the tangles.
"Kags?" he asked as he tugged upon his hair, trying to free his hands from their trap.
"I want a new publisher," she declared.
"Huh?" Inuyasha replied. He temporarily forgot about the trapped hand in his hair in the confusion that he felt. 'What the fuck is going on?' he thought. "What the hell are you talking about, Kags?"
"I want out of that damned contract," she replied, her voice still hard and angry.
"Are you shitting me? What the fuck is going on?" Inuyasha retaliated, growing frustrated from the lack of answers.
"Just do it," she said, her voice raising.
"Did that bastard do something to you?" he asked, ripping his hand from his head and hopping out of bed. 'I'll kill the fluffy fucker!'
She sighed over the line. "Yash, don't ask. Please, just do it for me."
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. "Kags, I can't do anything unless I know what happened. You have to tell me," he pleaded.
Kagome snorted, which was followed by a cynical laugh. "I don't have to tell you. You can read all about it in the god damn Scoop. Just get it done," she said resentfully.
"What!" he screamed, his eyes nearly bulging from their sockets. "What are you talking about?" he asked. However, Kagome was already gone from the phone. "Shit, fuck, piss!"
Grabbing a pair of jeans that were lying on the floor, Inuyasha hurriedly threw them on, dressing quickly as he continued to swear. Grabbing a set of keys and his wallet, Inuyasha ran from his room, determined to find his asshole of a brother and figure out what exactly was going on.
The dark haired woman sighed as she hit the end button on her cell phone. She stared at the phone before hitting the redial button. As the ringing began, she started to pace the floor, tugging at her white tank top in frustration. "Come on, answer your phone," she muttered. This was the sixth time that she had called the number, and it was the sixth time that she had received no answer.
She skimmed through the papers that she had picked up from the front door in time to the phone's rings. However, she stopped once her eyes found the Scoop once again. This was the paper that was causing so many problems. This was the article that was changing so many things. This was the headline that brought the onslaught of distress. She picked up the paper, staring at it with unseeing eyes before closing her phone. She bowed her head, desperately trying to find a solution.
"What am I going to do," she muttered.
"What's wrong?" a smooth, masculine voice asked from behind her.
The slender woman flung her head up at the sound, startled. She had not heard the man coming. And how was she to explain what was wrong? Would he share her feelings over this? Would he worry as well? 'There's only one way to find out,' she thought as she turned to the bare-chested man.
"This is what's wrong," she said simply as she handed the dark haired man the Scoop.
Lavender eyes scanned over the page, widening instantly. They scanned over the same section once more, in disbelief of what the actual words were. His mouth dropped open in his shock. After a few moments of staring, he lowered the paper, turning his gaze to the lovely, raven haired woman that was perched upon his couch.
"Well, Sango," the man said, "it seems as though our friends have gotten themselves into quite a mess."
Sango nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, they have. It sounded as though Kagome was going to have a heart attack when I told her to read the paper. I haven't been able to get a hold of her since. I'm worried about her, Miroku."
Miroku sighed, moving to sit beside her on the couch. He leaned next to her, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders before resting his cheek upon her head. "I know, Sango. But Kagome is a strong woman. If anything, I would hate to be Sesshomaru right now. Being the target of Kagome's wrath is not a safe position."
Sango wrapped her arms around Miroku's waist, burying her head into his chest. She huffed against his skin in frustration. "Yeah, I know, but I can't stop from worrying about her. I just don't know what to do…or what she is going to do for that matter," she confessed.
Bringing a hand up to Sango's face, Miroku brushed the soft hair from her cheek in soothing strokes. "I'll tell you what. Why don't you try calling her again and then we can go get dressed. If she doesn't answer, then we can go and try to find her."
"But how do we find where she is?" Sango asked, pulling away to look at Miroku in bewilderment. "She could be anywhere."
Miroku gave a small, almost sad smile. "I think I know where she is."
Immediately, Sango sat straight up, gasping as Miroku's words hit her. "What!" she cried. "Where would she be? I mean, how?"
"Well, my lovely Sango, to find Kagome one must ask themselves one simple question: If you need to find Sesshomaru Tashio, where do you go?"
"Tokyo Productions," Sango blurted out as she sprang to her feet and began to run to the bedroom.
"Yes," Mirkou replied as he watched the woman disappear into his bedroom. "If you want to find the dragon, you must go to its lair."
The large, elegant door to his office slammed open. Sesshomaru sighed. This seemed to be happening often. What was his security and secretary good for? He paid them well enough; they could at least prevent people from barging into his office without an appointment. 'Remind me to fire the people responsible,' he thought. Slowly, he set down the pen that he was using to sign documents.
"I assume that you do not have an appointment," he claimed disinterestedly, as he raised his head from the stack of papers. However, as he raised his head, his eyes widened momentarily, shocked at who stood before him.
There, in the doorway to his office, hands planted angrily on the frame, stood a fuming Kagome. She was dressed casually with just jeans and a simple t-shirt adorning her body. Her body was rigid and she was panting heavily. Her mouth was molded into a thin, angry line, easily showing her displeasure. Her vivid cerulean eyes danced with fury, sparking and igniting alarm into those that saw her. In her left hand was a crumpled paper, stretched and wrung from her anger. From her appearance, it was no wonder why security and his secretary did not stop her. It would be foolish to approach an infuriated woman such as this.
"What is it, Miss Higarishi," Sesshomaru asked carefully.
"Oh, I see we are back on a formal basis, Mr. Tashio," she spat out. "And to think that you were the one that kept insisting that we were beyond that level. After all, we did sleep with each other."
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, pursing his lips into an angry scowl. "Shut the door, Miss Higurashi," he responded, leaning back in his chair as he glared at the woman, expecting her to obey his command.
"And why should I do that?" he angrily countered. "It is already public news, so why bother hiding it? It's just another claim you can add to your résumé."
She relinquished her furious hold on the door, turning around so that she could face the waiting area of his office. "Guess what everyone?" she loudly asked.
The workers on his floor all turned to look at Kagome. Some looked at the spectacle with interest, while others shifted nervously, afraid of both Kagome and their boss.
'What is this woman doing?' Sesshomaru thought angrily. 'She would not dare…' Immediately, Sesshomaru leap up from behind his desk, taking long strides to reach the woman. His long hair whipped behind him in his wake, his cold eyes piercing into his workers, showing them his displeasure. Those that saw his face looked away, knowing that they would be punished if they listened to the hysterical woman.
"I," Kagome began loudly, "slept with…"
Kagome did not get to finish her words. She was yanked into the office by a firm hand and pulled into a chest. The wide door slammed shut in front of her, closing her off from the others and effectively stopping her announcement. She could hear Sesshomaru's warning growl from behind her and feel the sound rumbling from his chest.
"What are you doing?" he hissed into her ear.
"What the hell does it matter? It's not new news anymore, Tashio." Struggling, she attempted to free herself from Sesshomaru's grasp. She did not want to be touched by him, not now. She felt dirty and used and the fact that his touch aroused sensations in her body magnified the feelings into new heights.
"Let me go," she bit out.
"Are you going to continue your tantrum or are you going to behave yourself," Sesshomaru scolded.
Kagome snorted at his words. 'He is one to talk,' she thought. Kagome twisted her body violently, managing to wretch herself from Sesshomaru's hold. She flung herself from his chest, whirling upon her heel to face the man. Taking the paper in her hand, she shoved it against his chest, managing to push him back a step in his surprise.
"Do you want to tell me what all of this is about," she snapped.
Raising an eyebrow elegantly, Sesshomaru allowed his gaze to travel from her angry, yet still lovely, face to her tone, bare arms before they faded into the hands that were perched upon his chest. His hand went up slowly, his skin brushing against hers as he took hold of the paper. Kagome shuttered as he did so before jerking away her hand as if she was stabbed. Her breathing became even more staggered while her eyes amplified from their tapering expression.
"Very well," he muttered as he smoothed the papers slightly. Finally, his eyes traveled downwards, landing over the title that no surely had caused her distress. 'I see,' he thought, 'her anger is accounted for now.' But he still frowned as he read it. Even though this was a situation that he was far from uncommon, there was still that nagging feeling that told him this was different. Yet Sesshomaru merely steeled his expression before raising his head to look at the woman before him.
"Which part do you have trouble comprehending?" Sesshomaru asked dryly. His body tensed.
"We are in the damn paper!" she screeched.
"Yes. I am the owner of a multi-million dollar company. Photographers have followed me on many occasions. This should not come as a surprise to you," Sesshomaru replied arrogantly. He lowered his gaze.
Kagome growled. He did have a point and she hated to admit it. 'All it will do is boost his ego,' she thought. Taking a step closer, she tilted her chin upwards in silent challenge, glaring at him with her glowing eyes. "This is true," she began, "but you denied it."
"Hai. I did." He turned away. He could not look at her.
"You admit it?" she questioned. Her heart was aching. 'Be strong.'
"Did you not read the headline?" Sesshomaru countered hastily, permitting some iciness to omit from the sound. Why was this happening?
But she did not respond. Instead she lowered her gaze, no longer able to look at the snowy perfection of his mane covered back. She closed her eyes, clenching her fists, fighting the emotions that she felt inside. She had to know. She had to be sure.
"So Inuyasha was right," she muttered. It hurt to think about.
Sesshomaru's head jolted at the sound of his brother's name. A strange sensation washed over him. He did not like the sound of that half wit's name coming from her mouth. But something else bothered him as well. What exactly was it that Inuyasha told her? And how could that fool be right?
"What did my darling sibling tell you?" Sesshomaru commanded darkly. He was not happy.
"He told me," she began softly, but added trembling force as she continued, "that I was nothing to you. He told me that I was merely being used by you. I was a pawn, I was worthless, and I was merely a means for you to pleasure yourself. Inuyasha warned me. He told me that you would discard me when you were finished with me. But I didn't want to believe him because you came to me more than once. Now I know that he was right. You are nothing more than a cold bastard that does not care anything about me." Kami, why did it hurt so much? 'Don't cry now.'
Stunned, Sesshomaru stood quietly. His expression was blank, deep in thought as he digested the information that was given to him. His eyes gazed into nothing, seeing everything yet nothing at all. His hands clenched and unclenched periodically at his sides, the only sign that he was conscious.
Everything that she had said was true. All of it – he could not deny her words. He was cold and ruthless. He had used her, more than once…but why did he keep going back to her? Why was she the only one that he had touched since he met her? Did she know this? Of course, she must. After all, he did tell her so weeks ago. But did she really understand the weight of those words? Damn it, why was he even thinking like this? He growled in response.
"I see that my brother has a large mouth," Sesshomaru stated vaguely. Why did his insides feel as if they clenched?
"Is that all you have to say?" Kagome snapped heatedly, choking on the words. "Where are your normal witty, arrogant remarks? Have you nothing to defend yourself with? Maybe you're realizing that your brother is right." She didn't want it this way.
"Would my defense change anything?" His mind was clouding.
"Say something, damn it!" she cried out as the tears began to leak from her eyes. "Is this true? Is it true that you don't care for me?"
Sesshomaru took a deep breath. He could hear her sobs and racks of breath. Behind his closed eyes he could visualize her form, the desperate, wrenching sight that she would form. He had caused these tears. When had he ever heard a woman cry? His eyes opened, golden orbs peering into the empty space of his office. Drawing in a deep breath, he answered in a whisper that could almost not be heard, "Yes." Why did that feel wrong? A pain was felt in the area where he believed his heart would lay.
"Can't you face me when you say that?" she asked brokenly. She shook her head, the raven strands floating about her. "If it's not true, then you should have no problem saying it to my face. I doubt this is the first time that you would have addressed his problem."
'It's better this way,' he told himself as he began to turn. This is the way it is supposed to be. He did not need a female by his side to drag and hold him down. He did not need support or comfort from anyone. His corporation was a success, and he had did it all on his own. But as he turned, he could not tear his gaze away from the crystalline tears that carved rivers into her cheeks. Why did her tears bother him? 'It does not matter,' he thought angrily, steeling himself. 'Tell her how it is.'
However, Sesshomaru was never able to tell Kagome those words. Instead, the office door flung open once again, interrupting the two's conversation. In sauntered Inuyasha, fuming and swearing heavily as he entered the room and flinging the office door shut behind him.
"You god damn, mother fucking bastard," he yelled angrily, stalking closer and raising his fist to his brother. He did not seem to notice Kagome's presence until she spoke out.
"Yasha," she called out softly, thoughtlessly.
Inuyasha's head snapped towards the owner of the soft voice. His expressive, golden eyes softened with alarm as he took in Kagome's tears. "Kagome," he whispered, tilting his head to the side in an unconscious sign of sympathy. He slowly took a step towards her, wishing to bring her any comfort that he could. This woman was like a sister to him, and he would be damned if he allowed her to ache because of his heartless brother.
Inuyasha opened his arms as he approached her. Kagome chocked on a sob as he steeped to her, and she raised her arms in response. They wrapped their arms around each other in a fierce hug, Inuyasha rubbing her back lightly to soothe her distressed soul. "Shhh," he muttered into her hair, which was met with Kagome's tightening of her embrace. The tears seemed to stream down faster, soaking into Inuyasha's t-shirt. Inuyasha's gaze rose from her small form to glare at his brother once more. He would deal with him later; right now Kagome's comfort was all that mattered. Though, their brief moment of console was destroyed by the potent roar that sounded from Sesshomaru.
Kagome stiffened in Inuyasha's arms at the sound, slight fear slicing through her. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed at the sight of her reaction. He did not approve of her response. But the sight of her in his brother's arms displeased him more. It was not right. He had not even been aware of his reaction until the sound had ripped from his body. It had gained both of their attention, and now he knew that he would be confronted. Did he want to right this?
"What the fuck is your problem, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha snapped, pulling the shivering Kagome closer to his body.
"And how is it of any concern to you," Sesshomaru retorted. "This does not deal with you."
"Like hell it doesn't!" Inuyasha yelled. "Kagome is my client, as well as a good friend. My brother ruining her is my concern."
Sesshomaru growled as he took a step forward. "Why are you so angry about this occurrence? Did I lie to the papers? I do not think so. Miss Higurashi and I are not dating, therefore there is no 'budding romance,'" Sesshomaru explained as his eyes flashed. He could only see Kagome in Inuyasha's arms. It was making him angrier with each passing moment.
"Did you have to fucking lead her on like that, asshole? We all know the shit that you pulled, including the whole dinner party fiasco," Inuyasha began. He gently released Kagome, setting her behind him as he advanced towards his brother, cracking his knuckles as he proceeded. "And what the fuck was up with the interview? You might not know it, but there was, no, is, something going on."
The paper in Sesshomaru's hand crumpled as his hand tightened around it, crushing it into a ball with his anger. He straightened his back, rising himself to his full height, using his taller frame to intimidate his brother. The amber eyes narrowed critically, scrutinizing Inuyasha. Sesshomaru took a step forward, grunting at Inuyasha's words. "I do not know what you are saying, dear brother," Sesshomaru spit out. "The article is true. There is or never was anything else. It was merely sex," he finished, raising his head arrogantly.
A sob was let out as Kagome heard the words. Her heart pulled on her chest, making her feel heavy and cumbersome. So, it was true. She was nothing more than a toy for him, something for his pleasure only. She closed her eyes harshly, twisting her head away in pain. "I thought so," she muttered painfully.
Inuyasha stopped in his tracks as he heard Kagome's cry. His eyes immediately eased as he turned to her. His own heart ached as he saw her tears and pained expression. He felt as if this was his fault as well. He should have confronted his brother long ago about the treatment of Kagome, but instead he had let it continue, taking Miroku's insight that there was chemistry between the two. He had failed in protecting the gentle Kagome; he had allowed her to become injured. Inuyasha felt sorrow as he gazed upon her while he filled with the desire to end her tears. He was not aware that his brother felt the same.
Spinning his head back to Sesshomaru, he hissed out, "You god damn bastard," before he leap upon him with a roar.
Although surprised, Sesshomaru easily countered Inuyasha's incoming fist. Bringing up his hand, he simply caught his brother's hand in his own as he pursed his lips in resentment. Inyuasha's eyes flashed in annoyance. He swung with his other hand, knowing that his brother would block his fist once again. As Sesshomaru did so, Inuyasha used the moment to kick out with his leg, hooking it behind his knee and pulling.
Grunting, Sesshomaru began to fall. However, he managed to catch himself and retaliated with a roar. Squeezing the fists in his hands, he applied pressure until his nails bit into Inuyasha's flesh, drawing blood. His eyes danced with fury. This was the bastard that was keeping him from Kagome. He did not notice Inuyasha cry out in pain as his arms shook. Instead, Sesshomaru continued his treatment, shoving backwards with his weight, causing Inuyasha to tumble backwards, landing upon a wall heavily. Walking hastily towards the man that was leaning against the wall clutching his injured hands, Sesshomaru growled angrily. His insides were aching and fuming, being consumed in a wild flame that both singed and instigated.
Inuyasha hissed as Sesshomaru came close to him, grabbing him by his throat. He raised his fist, landing a direct blow to Sesshomaru's stomach. However, the man just grunted and tightened his grip before slamming Inuyasha's head into the wall. He dropped to the ground, the impact impairing him from being able to stand straight. His vision blurred, and an amplified form of Sesshomaru shoved him roughly onto his back, straddling his waist before raising another fist to his face. Inuyasha could do nothing more than close his eyes and grunt as the blows came. His muscles were powerless. He could not bring himself to fight now.
Kagome's eyes snapped open as she heard the primal sounds before her. She watched, wide mouthed and shocked, as the two brothers began to attack each other. "No," she whispered hastily. However, her voice would not carry to the two enraged males, nor would her shaking body carry her to them. So she stared as Inuyasha landed a blow on Sesshomaru and as Sesshomaru skillfully countered.
"No," she muttered, shaking her head viciously. Her eyes would not close, refusing to blink as they took in every action. She witnessed as Inuyasha flew into the wall with a sickening thud, causing a terrified shock to course throughout her. Her hands unlocked themselves from their frozen position, flying to cover her open mouth and to block her cries. Why was this happening?
Unable to bear the scene anymore, Kagome willed herself to move. Her eyes were trained upon the elder silver haired man, the one that had caused her pain. She watched as he continued to slap Inuyasha harshly. He did not seem to be aware of what he was doing, or that Inuyasha had ceased to fight back. Sesshomaru merely continued to strike, unaware of Kagome's slow approach.
"Stop this," she garbled as she neared. No one heeded her any notice.
Kagome took another step closer, reaching out a pale, wavering hand to the tall, elegant man. Tears shimmered in her blue orbs, forming as rapidly as they spilt. She did not see Sesshomaru's hand rise beside her as he reared back, the strong fingers spread apart to attack the skin on Inuyasha's face. She did not realize it…until those strong fingers connected with the soft, tender skin of cheek.
Time seemed to stand still. The moment that Sesshomaru felt silk against his hand on his swing and the heartbreaking shriek, he knew what had happened. His arm immediately stopped its movement. His eyes were open wide, clearly reading shock and horror through the regal gold. The slim lips fell open as he gasped for breath. His hand was still connected to Kagome: neither had moved.
Before Sesshomaru, Inuyasha's eyes shot open. He looked at the scene before him in disbelief. His mouth opened and closed quickly, attempting to speak. Nothing would escape from his throat in his astonishment.
"Oh, fucking Kami!" a foreign voice exclaimed.
With those words, the moment was broken. Kagome staggered away from Sesshomaru, crying out once again. Sesshomaru lowered his hand, along with his head, staring at the trembling appendage in alarm. Inuyasha began to curse as he struggled beneath Sesshomaru. He managed to push his brother off, who merely allowed himself to be shoved as he continued to stare at his hand. Kagome began to make her way to the door with her hand to her cheek, eager to flee the room. But as she made her way to the door, both Miroku and Sango stopped her.
"Kagome, what happened?" Sango cried out to her friend, carefully pulling her into a hug.
"Let me go!" Kagome screamed, trying to pull away from Sango in hysterics. "I want to go!"
With concerned eyes, Sango turned to Mirkou, hoping that he could clarify. Miroku shook his head in response. "Take her home," he said calmly. "Make sure that she is alright and comforted. Something tells me that she needs it."
Sango nodded, wrapping her arms more securely around the sobbing Kagome and leading her out of the door. "Come on," she whispered kindly. "Let's get you home, ok?"
As they were leaving, Sesshomaru's head raised slowly, his eyes focusing on Kagome's retreating form. "Kagome," he called out quietly. He watched her shutter at his words before the women scurried off in a hurry.
He shakily rose to his feet, staggering forward after the women. "Kagome," he tried again, almost desperately.
"Don't go near her, fuck face," Inuyasha snapped.
"Quiet, Inuyasha," Miroku scolded. As Sesshomaru neared his spot at the door, he held out a hand, placing it upon Sesshomaru's arm. "Please," he said, "I think that it is best to leave Kagome alone for now."
In response, Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as he snarled at the man. Looking back through the doors, he barely caught a glimpse of the hurt Kagome as the elevator doors closed.
"Kagome!" he bellowed with acute intensity, causing a tremor of regret to quake through everyone that could hear.
TBC…
A/N: Ahhh! Holy damn! Is this chapter long enough for everyone, haha. I didn't think that it would turn out this long, but hey, I guess it's all for the better. I am quite proud of this chapter…I think it is rather interesting ;)…
But, sadly, there are only 2 chapters left after this, including the epilogue. But there will be a sequel, so don't cry too much, haha!
I hope that you all enjoy this chapter, and thank you very much for all of the wonderful support of this story! Enjoy!