Disclaimer: Me does not own and does not make money blahblahblah.. Title from the song by Sonata Arctica.
Chapter twelve – Last drop falls
"You. What are you doing here?"
Sesshoumaru leaned back in his chair and watched the tiny youkai who was standing on his desk.
"I have come here to congratulate you, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Myoga answered.
"Congratulate me? For what?"
"Kagome-sama is a very good choice! She really is everything one could ask from a mate: strong, loyal, gentle, sweet and caring..."
"..."
"And in any case it is already time for you to get a mate, you've already lived alone for so long. I know you're a bit of a loner but still I believe no one's meant to be alone for his whole life..."
"..."
"And I know your father would approve too, he would have loved Kagome and been very proud of you for getting yourself such a mate."
Even he thinks that we'd make the perfect pair! Why are you still fighting against it?
Not now, Sesshoumaru sighed.
You know that you stand alone in this fight.
Shut up.
You've already lost the battle, the inner demon announced brightly.
Fuck off.
Very well, his demon self laughed and ceased.
"Have you thought about the mating ceremony yet?" asked Myoga.
"What? No, I have no intention to – "
"My my, Sesshoumaru-sama, we should really get the preparations started now."
"Why you – "
Myoga hopped down from his desk and made his way to the door.
"Rin-san, could you come in?"
Sesshoumaru sighed and buried his face into his hands. He was not going to make the miko be his mate! This all was nonsense – misunderstanding...
Rin came in.
"Myoga-sama? Hello!" She picked up the flea.
Sesshoumaru slowly raised his head. Rin was conversing with the flea-demon. But that wasn't it all. There was someone else standing in the doorway.
The miko stepped in and walked over to him. She bowed deeply down.
"I need to apologise for my behaviour earlier this morning. I am sorry."
"Apology accepted."
She raised her head and look at him surprised – then she flashed a little smile.
"What is it, Myoga-sama? Why did you call me?" Rin asked.
Kagome turned and spotted the flea demon.
"Kyaa!" She shrieked.
Sesshoumaru soon found that the miko was clinging to him.
Well, this feels rather nice...
No, it's troublesome. I wish she'd let go of me, now.
Oh, do you really?
"Wha – wha- What is that!" She yelled pointing at Myoga.
"Uhh..." Rin rubbed her neck with the Myoga-less hand.
"That is my advisor, the flea demon Myoga."
It was then when Kagome realised she was clinging to Sesshoumaru and swiftly got off him.
Flea demon... Dog demon...
Everyone in that room cast long glances at the girl who had suddenly burst into a loud laughter.
"Well, I guess every dog has his fleas," she giggled, wiping away the tears of laughter.
Rin chuckled, Myoga blinked and Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrow.
Crazy wench.
"Uhh.. so.." Rin cleared her throat. "Why did you want me to come in, Myoga-sama?"
"Oh, right! We should start planning the ceremony. Ahh, Kagome-sama, excellent that you are here now too..."
"Planning the ceremony?" Rin blinked. "You can't mean – "
"Of course all the taiyoukais have to attend..."
"Wait a minute! What is the meaning of this, Myoga-jii-san? What ceremony?"
"But naturally I am talking about your mating ceremony," the flea answered matter-of-factly.
"My, uh, mating ceremony? With whom should I be mated?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Myoga raised his eyebrow.
Kagome turned to look at the silent dog demon sitting by her side.
"No, you can't mean – "
Myoga smiled.
"Woah... Slow down a bit, will you?" Kagome gulped nervously. Her face was flushed. Sesshoumaru had asked her to be his mate – but on the other hand he had also told her to forget the whole thing. What was he thinking about this whole situation anyway? His expression was as blank as always...
This would not do! She barely knew him! They wanted her to marry a guy she hadn't even dated? Weren't they now going a little bit too fast?
"I do not plan to be Sesshoumaru-sama's mate. No offence... But... It's just too rash right now, okay?"
Her words met utter silence.
"Uhh, right, I have to go to work now... Bye all!" Kagome walked out of the office, leaving two stunned demons and one pouting human after her.
"The famous singer dead, see the page 4," was on the front page of the magazine.
"Narita Ken, 19, sang himself into people's hearts with his song 'Gou'. Yesterday evening he left to Hokkaido travelling with his private plane. Narita-san never got to his destination.
'It was awful,' the pilot, Hirazuka Yoshino, 41, said. 'We hit the turbulence hard. I wasn't able to save us, we fell into the arms of the sea... It's a miracle that I'm still alive.'
'Unfortunate, very unfortunate,' commented Rin-san, 34, Narita's manager. 'I was just discussing with his recording company about making his debut-album.'
'He was too young to die!' says sobbing Sejimura Sakura, 17, a big fan of Narita-san. 'I can't believe something like this could happen to him!'
And what about Narita's mysterious girlfriend? (See the issue 34)
'Devastated,' tells Rin-san, 'she's completely devastated, I heard they were planning on an engagement.'
So, what did really happen? We found out that..."
"Nooo!" wailed the dark-haired, self-proclaimed Ken Narita's biggest fan as she settled the paper down from her hands. "This can't be happening!"
"I know," sobbed the other girl, "he truly was too young.."
"Losing such a talent..." the first girl sniffled.
"Narita Ken dead..." whispered the younger one of the two fans.
"I refuse to believe it!" the older one said, "he can't be dead, this is just a trick of some kind."
"Why would he do such a trick?"
"Maybe he got scared of all the publicity he got all of sudden."
"Or maybe he wanted to protect his girlfriend?" the younger suggested, taking out the issue number 34 of the magazine, taking out the article about Ken Narita and his girlfriend.
"Her identity is still unknown. Sure she has been lucky to get herself such a talented boyfriend.
'She rudely walked past all of us, that awfully arrogant look on her face,' says a fan, who wishes to stay anonym. 'That ugly wench just kissed him! Like that! Argh, that made me mad.' "
"Hello?"
"Uhhmm... Hi."
"Hojo-kun? What is it now?"
"I just... wanted to say that I'm sorry to hear that your boyfriend died."
"Umm... Thanks."
"And if you want to talk about it, I'll be here."
"Thank you, Hojo-kun."
"And maybe if you wish – "
"I have to go, sorry.. Bye!"
Kagome hung up. She had clearly heard the silent plea behind his words: "I still love you, Kagome. Say a word and I'll take you back.."
Kagome sighed. She wouldn't take him back, that was for sure. What had been between her and Hojo was over now. She did not love him. But what should she do then? She was alone now. She and her... Kagome placed her hands on her tummy. What kind of life would be waiting for her child? A half-demon child... How was she ever going to get herself out of this mess?
Later that day she saw Sesshoumaru. He was walking on the other side of the street. Kagome huffed. She had never really believed he would have died anyway. She was ready to bet that the arrogant bastard didn't even know how to die.
"Huh? Sesshoumaru-sama? Rin is not home."
"Doesn't matter, I came to see you."
What?
"Come in."
Sesshoumaru followed the cat demon in.
"So, what is it?"
"I wanted to hear your opinion."
"Yes?"
"What do you think about the miko?"
"Kagome-san? Well... She seems to be a sweet girl. I don't really know her so well, but Rin likes her a lot, and Rin rarely adores a person so strongly. Kagome is a gentle, caring woman, who also can be very determined and firm if needed... Certainly, she's a good girl."
"Do you think that I should take her as my mate?"
WHAT?
"I think it's your own decision, Sesshoumaru-sama. I doubt if you could settle down with someone, but if you would, that someone should be loyal and understanding, like Kagome-san is. But I really think you should decide for yourself. Don't let others to make the decision for you."
Sesshoumaru nodded.
"I appreciate your honest opinions."
There were very few persons Sesshoumaru liked. In his own way, he liked Hitachi. The cat demon was calm and silent like he was, but still he possessed the warmth the inu youkai lacked.
Maybe on some level deep down inside you would want to be warm like him, the inner demon philosophised.
Hmm.
Maybe a mate would help you to gain that warmth?
Would you already drop your nagging? I have made my decision.
And I have made mine, his demon self said, then becoming quiet again.
"But allow me to say this. No matter how solitary a soul one might possess, eventually, at some point he'll get lonely. He wishes to have someone by his side. The drastic changes we've been through these 500 years of living... To know Rin was by my side has really been a huge help. I think I might have not got over of the fast changes without her. When everything changed around you, you need to have something that remains always the same, you know? Everybody needs someone. Even a demon. And in the end, does it matter if the mate is a human or youkai? Nearly every youkai is already deceased now anyway. And there's really not so great difference between humans and demons, after all."
"Kagome, what is it?" Kouga asked, holding her hands in his own.
"I'm fine, Kouga-kun, really..." Kagome said meekly.
"No you're not! You're crying – and I can smell your blood!"
Kagome paled.
"Who did this to you?" Kouga insisted to know.
A rather interesting scene, isn't it?
Sesshoumaru's answer was a low growl.
We have never seen this side of Kouga before, haven't we? The inner demon noted.
"It's nothing.."
"The dog-brat should be taking care of you - ! Let me tend your wounds."
Kagome paled.
"There are no wounds," she said very quietly.
"What do you mean? I can clearly smell your – " he fell silent.
Kagome winced as Kouga's grip of her hands tightened.
"Kagome, please tell me now that you two... That you didn't.."
She paled, blushed and then paled again - and finally nodded.
"What? He mated with you!" the wolf demon bellowed. "He forced you, didn't he?"
"You're wrong!" Kagome snatched her hands free from his grip. "He did not take my by force."
"You gave your purity to him? Freely? Woman, are you out of your damn mind!"
I was wondering who it had been.
Huh?
When I mated the miko, she wasn't pure anymore.
What?
Seems like your half-brother got lucky.
"You don't understand, Kouga-kun..."
"No," he sighed heavily, "I do not understand. Why are you doing this, Kagome?"
She did not answer.
"Why do you stay by his side? Why do you sacrifice yourself for him? He treats you like shit! Why are you still so loyal to him?"
"You just don't get it…"
"Where is he?"
"Huh?"
"Where is Inuyasha? I need to talk to him."
"I – I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"He was gone when I woke up."
"What? He mated you! This means he is accepting you as your mate! He shouldn't just leave you like that!"
"But he did." She sighed, holding back a sniffle.
"He's supposed to protect you! What could possibly be more important to him than you?"
This time she wasn't anymore able to hold back the tears.
"Kikyo," she answered on a teary, pained voice.
"Kagome," he whispered softly. "I love you. I hate to see you suffer like this. Come with me. I'll take care of you. I'd never deceive you... Come with me, Kagome, become my woman. Become my princess."
"I'm sorry, Kouga-kun. I will stay by his side."
"Fine." Kouga turned and left. "You'll only hurt yourself," the wolf whispered into the wind.
But Sesshoumaru heard his words.
"Hello Kagome! What a lovely surprise!"
"Hi, mom," Kagome responded and returned her mother's hug.
"Come in, honey! Would you like to have something?"
"Ehhh, a cup of tea would be nice..."
"Right then. Make yourself home, honey, I'll go to make us some tea."
Mrs. Higurashi went into the kitchen.
Kagome walked into the living room, and sat down on the sofa. She didn't want to keep secrets from her mom, but how was she ever going to tell? She sighed. Her mother was so not going to like this.
Mrs. Higurashi came back with two teacups. Kagome extended her hand to take the other cup.
Mrs. Higurashi gasped.
"Your ring, honey! You're not wearing your ring!"
Here we go...
"Umm.. Mom... You see, the current situation is that..."
"He dumped you! Why would he ever do that?"
"Because he thought I was seeing other guy."
"He thought? Then you weren't seeing other guy?"
"Well... Not seeing per se.. It was more like.. Uh, all right, I just had sex with him."
"What? Kagome, you cheated on your fiancé?"
"Yes. Though I didn't mean to."
"Oh my God! But... But why?"
"I don't really know. I was drunk, so..."
"Kagome...." Mrs. Higurashi shook her head, clearly disappointed.
"It gets even better," Kagome said with a sigh. "I'm pregnant."
Mrs. Higurashi dropped the teacup she had been holding.
"Mom? Are you all right?"
"Yes.. I'm... just a bit shocked... For how long, Kagome?"
"8 weeks or so."
Mrs. Higurashi indeed looked shocked.
Kagome sighed and got up. She collected the pieces of the broken teacup her mother had dropped.
The man had a long white hair tied on a low ponytail in the back of his neck. He was wearing jeans and a blue, knitted sweater. Overall impression that he gave was a neat and classy, calm and collected man. Not exactly what she had been waiting. But however he might appear, it still did not change what he had done, she reminded herself.
The man raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"I'm here to have a little talk with you," the dark-haired woman announced.
"Oh, you are?"
"Yes."
"I don't think so." Sesshoumaru was about to close the door when she shoved her foot in the way, moving incredibly fast for a human.
He snarled.
"Don't you try to brush me off like that, young man! It's about time for you to take responsibility of all that you've caused!"
Woah, she sure has temper, the inner demon noted.
Too much temper, commented Sesshoumaru, growling.
"Calm down, woman."
"Let me in."
"Why should I?"
"Well, it's up to you, really. If you want that all your neighbours hear too of all you've done, then fine, we can have our talk right here..."
Maybe it would be better just to let her in.
Sesshoumaru opened the door wide open and allowed the woman to step in.
The apartment was really beautiful. It had big windows and high ceiling. It felt as if the whole house had been bathing in the light. White was the main colour. On the walls there were peaceful calming paintings. Some greenery. The rugs on the dark wooden floor were also white. They were very soft and fluffy. The sofas in the living room were big and cosy, and also white. There was several big white fluffy pillows on them. Overall impression of the apartment was cosy, light, spacious and extremely tidy.
Not at all what she had been expecting. No matter. She was not giving him any mercy. The woman casually threw herself onto his sofa.
"Who are you? What do you want from me?" Sesshoumaru inquired coldly.
"I am Mrs. Higurashi. I came to here to discuss about that all you have done to my daughter."
Ah, now I see where she got her temper from, Sesshoumaru calmly exclaimed.
This isn't good, pal, not good at all... An angry mother..
Like this Sesshoumaru would be scared of a mere human woman.
"What have I done to her then?" he asked, sounding bored.
"WHAT!" She shrieked.
Sesshoumaru winced as the high-pitched voice hurt his ears.
"How DARE you ask something like that! Insolent boy! You have ruined my daughter's life!"
"I fail to see how," Sesshoumaru said coldly.
"She was doing just fine! Her life was good! She had friends, a job and a good boyfriend... And then you came into the picture!"
"Yes?"
"You took an advantage of my daughter while she was in an incoherent state of mind!"
"What?"
"You slept with her and now, look what has happened! Her fiancé left her! She's pregnant for your child for Kami's sake... She's alone now! Totally alone! And she does not make enough money to be able to raise the child. And yet, you do nothing to help her!"
Sesshoumaru frowned as he spotted the tears streaming down her cheeks.
"She's alone," Mrs. Higurashi whispered hoarsely, "she's alone and it's your fault."
Blaming it all on him, huh?
"Look, my intention was not – "
"Intention! I do not care about your intention! The only thing that matters now are the results!"
Sesshoumaru suppressed a growl. Honestly, what was it with this woman?
"You.. You should just make up for it all. For her sake."
"If it's about money, you only have to tell me how much," Sesshoumaru replied emotionlessly.
Mrs. Higurashi laughed. It was a cold little laugh which held no joy in.
"Money is good, but not quite what I want for my only daughter."
Sesshoumaru looked at her coldly.
"I don't want her to be alone," she said, looking into his eyes.
He looked back, not blinking an eye.
"Marry her."
"What?" he hissed sharply. "Oh no. No. No way I would do that."
"You owe that to her!" Mrs. Higurashi insisted.
"Trust me, woman. If it'd be either a marriage with me or being alone, it'd be better for her to be alone. Now, may I ask you to leave my apartment."
Mrs. Higurashi eyed him for the one last time. Then she shook her head, wearing a sad expression. The human walked out of his house.
Just what the heck was that?
She had a point though, the inner demon reckoned.
Well of course. She agrees with you that I should take her as my mate, Sesshoumaru replied with a cold sarcasm.
That is not what I meant.
What then?
Have you ever stopped to think about how does she feel about all of this?
No. Why should I? Why should I care?
Even if you do not care of her, this is still your fault.
My fault? Mine? Oh no. It's entirely YOUR fault. It was you who mated with a filthy human. Not me.
Hmm... You're right. I am to blame.
Hey.. what are you up to?
I'm going to apologize.
Hell you are! You are to remain under my control.
Oh yeah?
The inner demon broke free.
He waited behind her door. He had just rang the doorbell. She would soon be coming to open the door... After waiting a few minutes he ran out of patience and sneaked in. Kagome was nowhere in sight.
And then his ears twitched. They heard the sound of running water.
So, she was taking a shower.
A grin spread on his face.
As silent as only a taiyoukai could walk, he crept to the door of the bathroom.
She was standing under running water, her back facing him. Hunger filled his mind as he watched her naked form, water dripping down onto the floor...
Soon he had closed their distance.
The sudden sensation took her by surprise. But Kami, it felt good... she moaned in response.
And then it finally fully hit her. Somebody was licking her!
Kagome screamed.
Whoever it had been, he startled and winced at the sudden shriek. Kagome grabbed hurriedly a towel and wrapped it around her wet form. She looked who the invader was.
And as she saw him she gasped.
"SESSHOUMARU?" Oh no, this couldn't be happening. Kagome clenched her fists. "You... What the hell you think you're doing! Sneaking in while I'm taking a shower! You SICK PERVERT!"
"I – "
And then she spotted his eyes. They were crimson.
"Oh, no, it's you."
"Kagome, please.."
"You just walked in and started licking me! Sheesh! Tell me a one good reason why I shouldn't kick your butt right here, right now!"
He kneeled down before her.
"Kagome... I don't know what got into me, honestly. I couldn't resist..."
Kagome buried her face into her hands.
"I came here to apologise."
"Huh?" Kagome raised her gaze, suddenly forgetting her anger.
"I destroyed your life by my actions. That wasn't my intention, honestly. You must believe me. You must forgive me."
NO! Sesshoumaru yelled somewhere on the background of his mind. What the hell are you doing? Give the control back to me right at this second..! You hear me? I'm not fooling around. ARGH! I'll slaughter you.
The inner demon ignored his threats. He kept on staring into Kagome's brown eyes, pleading for forgiveness.
"Please. You're my mate to be."
"Hey. Hold on a sec! Since when I've been your mate?"
"But surely you are my – "
"No, I'm not your mate."
"But it's all decided.."
"You can't make decisions for me!" she yelled, her voice rising again.
"But – "
"No buts! Now you listen to me! You think I could ever be your mate, knowing you want me and love me, while the real Sesshoumaru despises me and hates me? No way. I'll never be your mate. Nor his! Never! Heard me? I couldn't possibly live with you two... I'll.. I'll rather take Hojo back, than be your mate."
Sesshoumaru was still kneeled before her, stunned.
"NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"
He stood in the corridor, staring at the door she had slammed at his face for the second time now. He had been... rejected? It couldn't be. He had been rejected?
Even Sesshoumaru had stopped yelling dead threats.
The miko had rejected him? HIM? He was rich, handsome, powerful... He was the taiyoukai of the western lands for Kami's sake! The miko had the nerve to reject this Sesshoumaru?
For centuries women had fallen at his feet. There was no one, NO ONE, who would NOT want to be the lady of the western lands.
He would make her see.
Oh yes.
The plan was forming in his mind.
He would show to her. He would show! She would be begging before him, begging to be his mate.
And then it would be his turn to slam the door shut.
Oh yes. The perfect plan.