Sesshomaru and Kagome: An Elevator Ride
Kagome forgave Sesshomaru on the incident the next day and everything was fine again. Kagome then told Sesshomaru about visiting her mother the next week.
"Oh, yeah, that's fine. I already knew, you see. I overheard you and Sango talking yesterday about it," Sesshomaru told Kagome.
"Thank you for understanding," Kagome said with a smile. "So, you're off today?"
"Yeah. I was planning on going down to the rink today. You know, with it being winter now and all. Want to come?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Oh, yeah. Sure, I'd love to. I used to be a wonderful skater, but work cut into my time and all my free time was taking up by Inuyasha's demands or something or another. I haven't skated in such a long time," Kagome sighed.
"Ok, grab your skates and let's go," Sesshomaru said, walking to his. Kagome stammered before telling him she left her skates at the house where Inuyasha was staying. "Oh, what's your shoe size?"
"Eight, women's," Kagome answered.
"Here," Sesshomaru said, passing some shiny pink skates. "My last girlfriend's."
Kagome chuckled at that comment and tried them on. Perfect fit. "Did you really mean that girlfriend comment?" Kagome asked as they drove to the rink in Sesshomaru's black BMW.
"Yes. Kagura Fujin, I recall," Sesshomaru said. "Nasty fantasies, I might say."
Kagome gagged and took that thought out of her mind. Gosh, Sesshomaru shared a little too much information, a lot.
Once Sesshomaru unlocked the doors to the empty rink, Kagome slipped the skates on and stumbled onto the ice. But she fell flat on her ass with her first step. She cursed about once or twice and Sesshomaru just chuckled, helping her to her feet.
"Take it slowly," Sesshomaru said, skating away from her backwards. Doing a twist in the middle of the rink didn't help, and Kagome fell again, this time onto her stomach. Sesshomaru laughed again, only infuriating Kagome more. "Ok, I'll help."
Kagome was helped to her feet once again and Sesshomaru took her hands, steadying her. She started skating on her own, but Sesshomaru told her just to be dragged along so that she got used to the skates. She hated the thought, but he went slowly backwards, taking her with him. He held her hands tightly, but not too tightly that it blocked the circulation or anything like that, but enough so that she was steady and that if she fell, he could help her up instantly.
"Oh, gosh. I feel so small," Kagome said as she glided on her own next to Sesshomaru. He had his hand on her back, steadying her. He laughed at that comment and caught her from falling once again.
"Just quiet and steady," Sesshomaru said.
"But it's true," Kagome said, gliding over to the wall and grabbing it with a death grip, hoping it would steady her. "I used to be able to do twirls and jumps and axels and everything."
"Really? That's shocking since you actually are now looking like it's your first time on skates, ever," Sesshomaru said, skidding to a halt next to her.
"Yeah. I haven't been on skates in years, so give me a break. It really doesn't help when you keep doing all those jumps and twirls and stuff like that when I'm trying to get my ass off the ice," Kagome sort of snapped. Sesshomaru laughed again and Kagome was just infuriated. How could he think this was so funny? "It's not funny!"
"The way you put it, it is. I can't help it. You just say it so funny," he said with a smile. He reverted to more seriousness, but a smirk remained. "Look, you just have to get used to the skates and skating. How about come in every Sunday, since I'm off those days, and we can skate? It's empty in here up until one, so we'll have lots of time alone. And plus, in January, the pool in the basement of the mansion freezes by my staff and I use that as my skating rink afterwards. You can join me if you like."
"Sure, just I'm going to be gone this Sunday. I'm planning on staying with my mom for a few days, leaving on Wednesday, if you don't mind," Kagome told Sesshomaru, skating along the wall. She kept one hand on it to steady herself, the other one flying back and forth every time she lost some balance. Sesshomaru grabbed that one and kept her steady with it. It also enabled her from poking his eye out.
"No, I don't mind," Sesshomaru told her, allowing her to step back onto land. "But I will miss you."
"Aw, so sweet," Kagome sighed with a laugh.
"Seriously. Who else will bother me or make me laugh?" Sesshomaru said, scratching his chin. "Oh, yeah, Rin."
Kagome laughed and stumbled to sit on a bench. She removed the skates from her sore feet and rubbed her feet with her hands. Gosh, now she remembered why she hadn't exactly minded missing all the skating. It usually killed her feet afterwards. She looked up from her feet to Sesshomaru landing an axel. But he lost his balance and skid to his knees. Kagome slipped her boots on and walked to the wall separating the ice from the land and watched him try over and over, but he would always land off balance and skid to his knees.
"Hey, come over here," Kagome said to Sesshomaru, walking to the opening in the wall. Sesshomaru skated over there, stopping perfectly. "Try a little twist of your foot before you land. It'll keep you balanced and steady and also allow you to continue skating easily."
"And this coming from a girl who falls on her butt every few minutes," Sesshomaru joked.
"Come on, trust me. I had that axel with some difficulty until my trainer told me to do that twist. Just try it," Kagome told him. He shook his head.
"I'll get it, eventually," he told her. He then looked up at the clock. It was almost one. "Let's go. The public should be coming in soon."
He stepped onto land and quickly changed to his boots, sliding the protectors over his skates. Kagome glanced at hers; open blade.
"That's really dangerous, you know?" Sesshomaru told Kagome, picking up her skates. "They can cut the slightest thing with the wrong move."
"That's why you're carrying them, isn't that right?" Kagome joked, skipping away. She did a pretend twirl and seemed like she was in a very good mood. Sesshomaru just laughed and walked out to the car, Kagome fooling around and laughing and making jokes.
Kagome made sure that her cell phone and charger were packed when she was waiting for the taxi to pick her up. She double-checked that she had her money for the food she needed and id and everything necessary for a trip.
"Waiting for a cab, in this rain?" Sesshomaru asked, coming up from behind her. She looked behind her and nodded and then out into the rain. Yep, rain was expected for that day. "I could drive you. I mean, you'll be there in a snap, instead of waiting forever for a cab."
"Don't want to be a bother. And it's not like I'm getting wet or anything," Kagome said.
"I insist. When do you have to be there, by the way?" Sesshomaru asked. "And where, exactly?"
"It's just in the next state, in L.A," Kagome old him with a sigh.
"A simple trip. I'll get the Ferrari," Sesshomaru said, disappearing.
Kagome turned and responded, "The red one, please!"
The red Ferrari pulled up, and Kagome flipped her hood on her head and carried her bags into Sesshomaru's trunk. She then climbed into the passenger seat.
"A little wet, huh?" Sesshomaru teased.
"You could have helped!" Kagome snapped playfully.
Sesshomaru chuckled and started driving, heading down the highway to L.A.
It was much better scene in the neighbourhood Kagome had Sesshomaru drive down. She told him number 21, so he drove slowly, looking at every number. Finally seeing number 21, he drove into the driveway. It was quite a shock; Kagome's family lived in a church!
"You never told me your father is a reverend," Sesshomaru said.
"He wasn't," Kagome said, exiting the car. "My mother is the one."
"She's a priestess?" Sesshomaru asked, exiting the car. "Then what is your father doing then?"
"Being food for worms, I guess," Kagome said, popping the trunk and pulling bags out.
"Oh, I didn't know," Sesshomaru said quite shameful.
"No problem. He's been dead for years. Just don't mention it in front of my mother. She knew him more than me," Kagome said, seeing her mother run down the steps of the church.
"Well, of course. She was married to him," Sesshomaru said.
"I was three when he died," Kagome remarked. "Now just shut up!"
Sesshomaru fell silent, much to Kagome's pleasure, just as Kagome received a huge hug from her mother.
"Kagome! You're finally home!" Kagome's mother exclaimed, finally releasing Kagome. She caught a flash of silver and looked over to find a man standing tall, who looked a lot like Inuyasha. She leaned over to Kagome's ear. "Is he who you're dating now?"
Sesshomaru caught that and went on alert. Did she call them dating?
"Mother, Sango's been lying to you. I'm not seeing anyone at the moment. This is Mr. Sesshomaru Youkai. Sesshomaru, Mother dearest," Kagome said, introducing them.
"Oh, him, Inuyasha's older brother," Kagome's mother said, holding out a hand to shake. Sesshomaru accepted it. "It's lovely to meet you, Mr. Youkai. Kagome talks about you often."
"Do not!" Kagome said, a blush creeping up her cheeks. Sesshomaru put note to that.
"Just call me Sesshomaru and I am very flattered. I see where Kagome gets her very kind ways and looks," Sesshomaru said. Kagome's mother had the exact blush, and tried to hid it by holding her cheeks.
"I like him, Kagome," Kagome's mother whispered. "He's your best so far."
"MOTHER!" Kagome exclaimed, her blush growing deeper.
"Would you like to stay for supper? My dearest son, Sota, is making he famous sushi. You must stay and try it," Kagome's mother insisted.
"I shall, since I have heard Kagome's brother is going into being a chef," Sesshomaru said. Kagome did talk a lot, but it wasn't like Sesshomaru didn't listen. He heard, and remembered, every word.
Sesshomaru offered the women his arms, which both accepted with smiles and led them inside.
"Kagome, dear, show him around. I need to finish practicing for this Sunday," Kagome's mother said. "You can bring your bags up later."
Kagome's mother gave Sesshomaru a shy wave good-bye and left the main hall.
"Sesshomaru, right this way," Kagome told him, walking up the steps of the old church. Upstairs, Sesshomaru saw many pictures hanging on the wall. mostly of kids, or family portraits. He stopped to look at them all, but when he saw a little girl in a tutu, he asked if that was Kagome. She blushed her darkest shade of red and nodded to the ground.
"Nice, almost innocent. Is this how you started skating?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Somewhat," Kagome said, and then remembered she had tons of pictures in her room of her as a little kid, some very embarrassing. "Uh, promise me this stays between us?"
"Sure. It's too cute to share," Sesshomaru said with a smile and continued following Kagome down the hall. Her room, she told him, was at the end of the hall, so it gave him more pictures to see. Some were of Sota and Kagome's parents in their early years. But others actually had Inuyasha in them. He was holding Kagome with great smiles, and every one Sesshomaru pointed out, Kagome took off the wall. She had about five under her arm by the time she got to her room.
She opened her door and threw the pictures onto her bed. It was quiet neat room, with nothing on the floor or out of place. Everything had it's place, and was in it, and her desk was almost completely cleared. Except more pictures were on it. He walked over to it and laughed. One was Kagome as a child in a bubble bath that looked like too many bubbles and not enough water. Another showed an older Kagome, more likely a year ago, landing a triple axel perfectly. She was dressed very nicely in that one.
"Intrigued?" Kagome asked shyly, wondering how he thought of her as a child.
"Any others?" Sesshomaru asked, picking up the one while she skated.
"Actually, of that, yes," Kagome said, going over to her bookshelf and taking out an album. She flipped through the pages, trying to find the section where the pictures of her skating. But Sesshomaru caught a picture that did intrigue him and stopped her. She saw the picture that he was looking at. She and her father in the background of a large castle. She remembered the man that had taken that photo was slightly like Sesshomaru. He did have silver hair. Oh was that the present mixing up with her past. "What is it, Sesshomaru?"
"I've seen that picture before," Sesshomaru said. He seemed like he was looking at the picture intensely, trying to figure out where. He then took his wallet out and flipped through the pictures in it and finally found where he had seen it before. It had been in his father's wallet, which he inherited, and there it was again. It was exactly the same.
"Where did you get that?" Kagome exclaimed.
"It was my father's wallet," Sesshomaru said trying to find some sort of difference in the picture, but it was the complete same.
"So, your father took my picture all that time ago?" Kagome asked. "How can he still be alive?"
"He isn't, that's the thing. But Kagome, we... we're..." Sesshomaru turned to her. He really, truly hoped it wasn't her, but it turned out to be.
"We're what?" Kagome asked, looking up at him with worry.
"We're-" Sesshomaru was about to say, but Kagome's mother walked in.
"Sorry to interrupt, but Sota's home and really wants to see his older sister," Kagome's mother said apologetically. A teenage boy came running in and Kagome and him hugged.
"Sota, you little twerp. How ya doing?" Kagome asked, giving her brother a nuggie.
"Now I know why I never called," Sota joked, trying to get out of Kagome's grasp. Kagome looked over at Sesshomaru who was looking out the window.
"Look, we'll catch up at supper, ok? I have a guest here, so if you-" Kagome was interrupted by Sota.
"Inuyasha, come on. I have this brand new-" Sota then saw the man turn and find out it wasn't Inuyasha. "Oh, really sorry sir. I thought you were Kagome's fiance."
"Fiance?" Sesshomaru asked, slightly shocked. Kagome gave Sota a look and Kagome's mother and brother left the room in a hurry. Kagome closed the door behind them. She dug into her pocket and found the ring Inuyasha had used to propose to her with.
"He asked me two months ago," Kagome told Sesshomaru passing him the ring to inspect. He did and then looked up at Kagome.
"Did you-" Kagome interrupted.
"Accept? No. We had just been on a break, so why would I say yes?" Kagome asked. She sat down next to Sesshomaru had him give her it back. "But now that I think about it, Inuyasha wanted me to marry him this day, here, in my church."
"Why do you have the ring then?" Sesshomaru asked.
"He told me to have it and think it over. Perhaps I would change my mind," Kagome said, and looked away from Sesshomaru and let a sob let lose. Sesshomaru went to touch her shoulder comforting, but pulled his hand back. "Now that I think about it, I went home to tell him I decided to marry him and that's how I found them. On my couch, in my house, with my sister!"
"Kagome, perhaps I should go," Sesshomaru said, looking away.
Kagome looked at him with shock. "No, I'm not blaming you. You can stay, I insist you stay for at least Sota's cooking. He's great, I tell you," Kagome said, standing up with Sesshomaru. "Please."
"Kagome, I need to get back anyways. I need to get to work tomorrow early in the morning, so please. Tell your mother I'm sorry," Sesshomaru said, passing Kagome without a look. He opened her door and looked back at her. "Thanks for showing me your pictures."
He left down the hall with Kagome standing in the middle of her room heart-broken. She didn't mean to push him away, or out, for that matter. But she did that to everyone. It shouldn't have been a shock. She was about to close the album, but found the picture they had been looking at missing. Sesshomaru must've taken it with him. She shrugged. It was no big deal. He probably knew more about the picture than her.
She put the album back on the shelf and hurried downstairs, following the smell of sushi, to tell her mother and brother Sesshomaru wouldn't be joining them. At least there would be one good thing that night; homemade cooking.