Hey! I'm really, really sorry that I haven't updated in (ahem)overtwoweeks(ahem)...but...I kinda lost interest in this fic, I've gained a new interest in my new one! But, just to make my readers happy, I WILL continue to write this fic...I'm not that mean. Lol.
Anyways, my mom is taking away my internet and giving it to my sister, so I won't be able to update but...oh...once every two weeks, if even that, obviously...I haven't updated in like, 20 days. Sorry :P
Also, just if you haven't noticed recently, this entire story is really OOC! Please, if you don't like OOC-ness, then please don't read it. It brings down my mood, which in turn brings down the mood of the story. Thanks :P
Well, enough of my blabber. Thanks much for all of the wonderful reviews! They are (literally) the only reason why I continue this fic! They also make me very happy ;)
On with the chapter!
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Chapter 22: Coming to Terms
Kagome and Sesshoumaru walked through the doors of the main hall, right into everyone they knew. Miroku and Sango stood right in the middle of the guards and servants, with Shippo standing right beside Rin, giggling and waving to Kagome. Inuyasha and Intaya were seen walking into the main hall, along with several more guards following them. Kagome's heart lifted up.
'They're all here to greet us?'
Kagome's thought soon ended as Shippo ran up into the arms in Kagome, talking over 1000 words a minute, and squeezing her as tightly as his tiny form could. Rin stood at the leg of Sesshoumaru, squeezing his leg, and giggling frantically. Sesshoumaru and Kagome both had the same thought running through their minds: How long were they gone exactly?
They actually had their own welcoming party!
Kagome laughed, and hugged Shippo back. She started walking up to Sango and Miroku, giving them both warm smiles. They both smiled back, and pulled Shippo off from her.
"So, why are you guys all here in the main hall, waiting for us? Is there like, something new going on that I don't know about?"
Kagome's gaze lifted to Sesshoumaru who now stood next to her. His face, that normally was void of emotion, was now full of confusion. He was just as baffled as she was.
Kagome looked back at her friends, whose faces were full of felicity. Sango was the one who spoke up first.
"Well, Miroku and I decided to just give you a little happy welcoming, so we got Seekou to force most of the guards and servants to meet you here in the main hall when you arrived."
As Sango spoke, Seekou walked out from one of the many hallways that attached itself to the primary hall. He chuckled as he strode up to the small band of friends.
"I just arrived a few hours ago, and as soon as I got here, Sango and Miroku were jumping at my feet asking for a big favor. It was all just so funny, I couldn't refuse it."
Sango and Miroku's faces both turned red with embarrassment as Kagome and Seekou laughed. Inuyasha and Intaya both walked in on the conversation, both with smiles on their faces. Sesshoumaru looked at the people surrounding him. It was all entirely too happy! He sighed, and poked Kagome's arm lightly, to get her attention. She looked up at him, and saw the look in his eyes, the look of wanting to get away from everyone. She giggled, and spoke up for him.
"Okay, everyone, Sesshoumaru and I would really like to be somewhere alone, we have to talk about...basically everything, actually, so if you wouldn't mind..." Kagome was cut off by the warm voice of Seekou.
"We understand. You don't have to explain. Go ahead and go."
Kagome smiled and nodded her head in thanks, and Sesshoumaru shot Kagome a look of gratitude as they both walked away, alone. When they were entirely out of earshot, of even Seekou and Inuyasha, they both sighed.
"Well, that was kinda embarrassing. I really wasn't expecting that small little gathering. Now, that were finally alone, do we really have anything to talk about, or did I just lie entirely back there?"
Sesshoumaru looked down at Kagome, and shrugged.
"Well, if you want to talk, we can. But, I had something entirely different on my mind..."
Kagome gave Sesshoumaru an indifferent look. She cocked her head to the side, and her eyes grew wide with curiosity.
"What did you have on your mind? I mean..."
Sesshoumaru stopped Kagome from talking as he planted a kiss right on her lips. He smiled when he noticed the glazed over expression that was placed on Kagome's face. She slowly looked up at him.
"But...shouldn't that wait until night? I mean, I don't want to..."
Kagome was once again shushed, but this time it was by Sesshoumaru's deep chuckles, and not a kiss. Kagome looked up in wonder.
"I did not mean anything like that. We can go for a walk in the gardens, or play with the children. Well, you can actually play with the children, and I'll just watch. That is, unless you really do want to do what you had on your mind."
Kagome's eyes grew wide, and she faced Sesshoumaru. He had a devious grin on his face, one that did not suite his composure well. It actually made Kagome shiver. She then realized what he just said, and huffed, pushing him aside.
"Your such a dog!"
Sesshoumaru chuckled once more, until he swept Kagome up, and held her, bridal style. Kagome struggled to break free from Sesshoumaru's hold on her, but she failed. She humphed, and crossed her arms over her chest. Sesshoumaru looked down at her, and smirked.
"You know, you look entirely too wonderful when you are angry. It makes you all the more appealing."
Kagome's eyes grew wide, and she hit him lightly on the chest. She looked up into his eyes mockingly, and grumbled out her remark.
"Well, Mr. Lord Cold turned Rummy, I have nothing to say to you at the moment. You are absolutely unheard of in my ears right now."
Kagome crossed her arms once again, and turned her head to the side, closing her eyes, and putting a pouting look on her face. Sesshoumaru just rolled his eyes, and continued to walk to his private study.
They were silent for a few moments more, until Kagome realized that she had no idea where they were going. They weren't in any of the guest halls, or in the primary halls, or basically any hall she recognized. She looked up at Sesshoumaru in question.
"Sesshoumaru, where exactly are we going? I don't really recognize this hall too well, actually, I have no idea where we are..."
Sesshoumaru made no move to reply, and this just made Kagome angry. She huffed, and growled.
"Are you going to tell me where we are going, Lord Schizophrenic?"
Sesshoumaru just looked down at Kagome with his normal, cold eyes, and questioned her.
"Why do you keep calling me these peculiar names? I am nothing but Lord Sesshoumaru."
Kagome just snorted at Sesshoumaru's reasoning, and shook her head. She forgot he wasn't acquainted with the modern phrases yet... After a few moments more, Sesshoumaru finally did answer her though.
"We are going to one of my private studies...only a few servants know about it, only the ones who actually clean the room. Other then that, it is really undocumented as of the moment."
Kagome's gaze drew to the path ahead of her, as she finally realized why she had no idea where they were. So, how did he manage to keep it a secret all of the years he had lived here? Kagome could only wonder why, as they continued to walk down the hallway.
Eventually, the both of them came upon a door, marked with engravings of dog youkai, in their true forms. It was a pretty large door, one that stood over five feet taller then she, and over five feet either way, on each side. Sesshoumaru pushed the door open with no ease, and set Kagome down, inside the room. As she looked up to inspect the room, she gawked at the sight placed in front of her.
The room was huge. No, it wasn't huge, it was enormous. Placed in front of her was a very large row of bookcases, ones you could find in the libraries. But, these bookcases were twice the size of the normal ones, and there were over ten of them, placed side to side. Behind them, on a level slightly higher then the one they were on now, were even more bookcases, with stairs leading to them. To Kagome's right, lay several beds, all suited even for the most royal of lord and ladies. To her left, lay a rather large desk, with papers sprawling all over it.
The room was the most logical thing to call a study. But, it would be anything but private. It was entirely too large to be private! Kagome gazed at the scene, drinking in all of the details of the room. In her opinion, it was the most beautiful of all the rooms in the castle. The ceiling even had arched supports, carved and decorated with the most detailed of all arts. It was definitely a sight to see.
Sesshoumaru stared intently upon Kagome, amused at her facial expression. She was awed, and it humored him so. She looked so lost, so drowned in beauty, that he couldn't even place a word on it. So entirely, it just amused him.
Sesshoumaru's gaze left that of Kagome, and he looked ahead at the bookcases. There were books scattered among the floor, just as how he left them when he left here, last time he was there. He growled.
'Servants can't even do their jobs right...'
Sesshoumaru's growl had thrown Kagome off guard, and out of her thoughts. She looked up at Sesshoumaru with query.
"Sesshoumaru...are you okay? Do you want me to leave or something?"
Sesshoumaru looked down at Kagome. He got lost in her chocolate orbs as soon as he looked down into them, and he almost forgot what she asked.
"No, Kagome. I'm just angry that the servants didn't clean this place up correctly. They act as if they touch a single book in here, they will be burned by it."
Kagome giggled, and skipped ahead. "Oh, its okay! This place is still amazing, this small mess on the floor isn't nothing compared to the size of this room."
Kagome's voice had started to echo throughout the room, and her head tilted up at the sound of it. The room was that big, that it actually produced an echo when you spoke too loudly! Now that, was something to brag about when you had a large room. She was once again speechless.
Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, wasn't fazed at all by the echo. He had heard it plenty of times before to get over it. He walked over to the bookcase, next to Kagome, and stood next to her, watching her every move. She picked up a book, and started flipping randomly through the pages, skimming parts of the book, to see if it was worth the read. When she decided that it wasn't, she put the book back down, and picked up another one, to start the process all over again.
Sesshoumaru watched on with interest, and then when she finally came upon a book that actually interested her, and looked up at Sesshoumaru.
"Sesshoumaru...do you mind if I read this book?"
Sesshoumaru, even impressed that she could be able to read a story of that sort, chuckled and nodded. He then turned his back to her, and walked toward his desk.
"You go ahead and read that book. I have some legal business I need to attend to, like signing papers and that sort, at my desk. Go ahead and find any place you want to read that book, it doesn't matter to me. Those beds have actually not been used in ages."
Kagome smiled, and nodded her head. She turned toward the many beds that placed themselves at the other end of the room. There were several beds, chairs, lounges, anything you could imagine was on that side of the room, and they all looked entirely too comfy to pass up. Kagome eventually found a chair that was worth sitting in, and a footrest to go with his. She sat on the chair, propped up the pillows, and snuggled down to read the book.
Sesshoumaru, on the other side of the room, watched Kagome as she finally chose somewhere to sit, and snuggle down. She was a great distraction, and he was almost hesitant to why he brought her here. But, her aura had calmed him so, so he wasn't stressed when he signed the papers and such, he would just look up to watch Kagome for a few seconds, and became content enough to sign more papers.
All the while, Sesshoumaru made a permanent mental note to being Kagome here every time he came back here. He watched her slowly fall asleep, until the book was face down upon her chest. She snored slightly, but it only make Sesshoumaru crack a smile.
After awhile of Kagome's light sleeping, Sesshoumaru gave into the small urge that started swelling inside of him, and stood up, to go walk over to Kagome. He picked her up carefully, and placed her on one of the beds, ever so gently, as not to wake her. He then slid in the bedside next to her, and curled his arm around her waist, pulling her body gently toward him. He sighed in content, and breathed in the fresh scent that her hair gave off. He closed his eyes, and allowed, for once in a long while, for sleep to consume him.
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Inuyasha and Intaya walked along the gardens edge, talking about their lives when they were apart, and settling in all the facts that they missed. They were both felicitous, both content with the relationship that they had started to form. Inuyasha was already starting to take a small liking to his old crush once again, he almost didn't allow himself to give in, but he just gave into the urge.
Intaya, also starting to take a small liking to Inuyasha, was laughing happily, glad that her old friend was finally at her side again.
"Oh, Inuyasha, I'm so glad that you are back! Even some nights I have dreamed of you coming back, and the dreams actually came true! I thank all Kami's for this!"
Inuyasha laughed at her outburst, and nodded. He was glad too. For a few moments, they were both quiet, walking calmly in peace, until they passed by a familiar couple. Except, one of them was lying on the ground, with a bright pink mark on his cheek.
"PERVERT!"
Sango's angry voice rang through Inuyasha and Intaya's ears, causing them both to laugh. Inuyasha shook his head, and closed his eyes.
'Miroku, you will never change...'
Inuyasha then looked up, and noticed a very pissed off looking Seekou lounging lazily in a tree. He was staring intently upon Sango and Miroku, and this made Inuyasha want to laugh even more.
'Seekou, you will never understand the relationship that Sango and Miroku hold...'
Inuyasha shook his head, in pity for Sango. She would have one helluva week with the two men. Inuyasha felt sorry for her.
Inuyasha's thought were interrupted when Seekou jumped out from the tree, and approached Inuyasha and Intaya. Intaya smiled at her brother, and Inuyasha nodded to him, greeting his upcoming. Seekou nodded back, and placed himself on the other side of Inuyasha, to that Intaya was on the right side of Inuyasha, and Seekou was on the left. They all three walked in a seemed peace, until Seekou decided to speak up.
"So...have you two finally gotten reacquainted with each other?"
Inuyasha closed his eyes and smiled, and nodded slowly. Intaya, on the other hand, was more eager to her response.
"Oh, yes Seekou! I'm so glad that I've finally found Inuyasha! You know how gloomy I've been ever since the incident, I'm just glad everything can continue on how it did that so many years ago!"
Intaya's happiness and joy passed itself onto Seekou, who in turn laughed. He hadn't seen his sister that happy in over 100 years, or so to say. He was glad that she could finally regain her composure, and not be so gloomy all the time. It just wasn't like her.
Inuyasha smiled the entire time, happy that he was actually worth something in someone's life. Sure, he knew that Kagome cared for him, but it was more of a brotherly and sisterly bond, not a love bond. He would say that he and Intaya were developing more of a love bond, one that he eagerly wished to have for quite some time now.
Then, a thought popped up in his head. Where was Kagome? She and Sesshoumaru had left awhile ago, to go talk, or something like that. Had he actually mated her already? No, it wouldn't be that quick. And, he was almost sure that Kagome wouldn't allow it so soon anyway. He could even imagine the look that would be on her face when he asked her to. This made him smile.
Intaya looked up at Inuyasha, and noticed that he was smiling. She really didn't care whether or not he was smiling because she was with him, or because of something else. As long as it mattered that he was happy. If he was happy, then she was happy. It was that simple.
She had wanted to ask so badly, if he still loved her. She knew it was quick, but she already longed for his love. She had waited too long for this all to happen, and she was growing very impatient.
She was sure that she loved him. She was ready to mate him and all. But the question was: did he love her back, so soon? She would just have to wait to find out.
But, in the meantime, her, Inuyasha, and Seekou walked along the garden path, in a seeming silence, all with thoughts running through their minds. All of their loves, wonders, and regrets that they had made.
Oh, it was going to be a helluva week, indeed.
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Haha! I finally finished this chapter! Yup, I know its really OOC. I mentioned that earlier. Yupers. Anyways, I really hope you guys liked this chapter! I tried to make it as best as possible :P
Heh...I also don't think that the chapter title has anything to do with the content of this chapter. I just liked the name of that title, so I named it that. I had nothing else better to put :P
Please, Read and Review! They are the things that make me update quicker! ;)
Until next time... :)