Chapter 7

Three years later

Sesshomaru couldn't help the grunt that left his throat. He was buried deep between Kagura's legs, his cock throbbing with pleasure. He had brought her here for a reason and one reason alone. He had only ever been to the meadow once. It was so many years ago that he couldn't remember exactly when it was, but he knew this meadow, knew it would be the perfect place to hurt Kagome one last time.

Sesshomaru's life had been nothing but isolation for the last three years. His father no longer spoke to him unless he had no choice. The people feared him and his volatile temper. InuYasha didn't know who he was outside of the rumors heard. If Izayoi looked at him, it was with nothing but pity, and then there was Kagome.

She was the person that had irritated him the most. She didn't look at him. Didn't acknowledge him. Didn't even act as if he existed. He had taunted her the next time he saw her. The scar on her face was obvious and ugly. Despite the rolling of his stomach, he insulted her about it, told her she looked better with his claw marks marring her face then she had before. However, she hadn't reacted. The next time he saw her, he once more insulted her, but she continued on as if he hadn't even spoken. Every time after was the same.

It infuriated him. There was a ball of something that churned in him, kept itself noticed at all times. It had been there since he attacked her, and despite trying to figure out what it was or destroy it, it just wouldn't leave.

Between that, and her ability to make him feel invisible, he decided the best course of action was to make her see him. He didn't know why he was doing this. He wanted to leave her alone, to never see her again, but he just couldn't stop. He needed her to see him, needed her to know that he was here and wasn't going anywhere.

Pushing Kagura down, he took out his frustrations on her. Her hair was fisted in his hand, yanking back hard. He had his other hand over her mouth, keeping her quiet as he fucked her relentlessly. Her hand was gripping his wrist, nails biting into his tattooed skin. Fangs bared, he grinned as he heard soft footsteps coming towards them.

Finally. He had forced Kagura to camp here for three weeks, waiting on the day that Kagome came to see her meadow. Kagura had complained, but he shut her up by sleeping with her. He wanted to be prepared for Kagome, making sure she saw everything that he was doing to another woman. Because of her, he had been isolated from everything. Now he would devastate her, destroy her so badly there would be nothing left.

Sesshomaru heard as Kagome stepped into the clearing, freezing when she spotted him. Slowly he lifted his head, meeting her gaze. Something in him snapped, seeing her while feeling so much pleasure. His body made it seem like it was her that was wrapped around him and not Kagura. His orgasm slammed into him, and he was forced to yank himself out of Kagura, finishing over her back. When his eyes opened again, Kagome was gone and he scowled, frustrated with himself that he had missed her reaction.

Stepping back, he looked up towards the sky, fangs bared. She had seen him. That was what he had wanted, and yet that ball in his stomach just got bigger, nearly suffocating. He had hoped this would be what was needed to finally make that ball disappear, but he was wrong. It was bigger than ever.

"Sesshomaru." Kagura begged, still needy and wanting. Normally he would finish her off, be ready to go again after a few short seconds, but not this time. His length was limp, the thought of Kagome keeping the arousal he had just felt at bay. He didn't want Kagura anymore. He just wanted to go home.

"We are done." Sesshomaru picked up his scattered clothing, dressing quickly. Before he could leave the meadow, Kagura grabbed his arm, staring up at him in confusion. She opened her mouth to speak, but he stopped her, bored of her. "I will not seek you out again. You bore me."

"What does that mean? Are you leaving me?" Kagura refused to release him. He grabbed her fingers, bending them back until she yelled out in pain. When she fell to her knees, he let her go, glaring down at her.

"I want nothing more to do with you, Kagura. Our relationship, as insignificant as it was, is over. Find another to spread your legs for." He turned then, leaving her behind on the ground. He had been steadily losing interest in Kagura, but now that he had seen Kagome, now that his body could envision what it felt like to finish while being buried in his soul bonded, he knew Kagura wasn't going to be enough. He needed to find someone else.

Leaving her behind, he took to the skies. He could have called Nakoa, but he had let her go for a run. She would realize that he left and come home when she was ready. Flying through the sky helped him to clear his mind normally, but this time it wasn't.

His mind kept going back to Kagome. She had seen him with another. She hadn't burst into tears or cried out in pain. She had just left silently. He hadn't even heard her footsteps as she retreated. She was just gone.

How did she feel seeing him with Kagura? Had she even cared? Did she find him attractive? He growled in frustration again. Attractive? He wanted her to hate him, not fawn over him. Enveloping himself in his orb, he hurried home. All he wanted to do was go to his rooms and sleep. He didn't want to be anywhere near anyone at that moment.

Within seconds he had traveled a hundred miles to his Shiro. As his feet touched the ground, he was stunned frozen as the scent of Kagome brushed against him. She was here, in his home. He had no idea how she had gotten here so fast. It was physically impossible for a human to move quick enough to move as fast as she did.

Following her scent, mind swirling with possible explanations, he sought her out. It didn't take long for him to find her in the gardens. He was finally seeing the reaction he had wanted, and at first glance, that ball inside of him exploded. She was sobbing, crying into Touga's chest as he held and cradled her.

"I have done everything in my power to keep from getting in his way, Touga." She clutched onto him, her hands gripping into his haori as he held her, shushing her. "He rejected me with a single glance, and I respected his wishes. I didn't throw myself at him. I kept my distance. But he keeps finding me, putting me in these situations. He wants me to leave him alone, but he's the one that follows me around just so he could hurt me. Why? What did I do wrong?"

"You didn't do anything wrong, Kagome." Grabbing her shoulders, Touga pushed her back enough to look into her tear stained face. "Sesshomaru doesn't understand what he is doing. But that doesn't mean you have done anything to deserve this."

"I hate him, Touga." Kagome covered her face with her hands, her sleeves slipping down to expose her wrist. For the first time Sesshomaru saw her mutilated wrist. His name wasn't visible at all. She really had carved his name from her skin. She hated him. After everything he had done to get to this goal, hearing that he achieved it forced him to acknowledge what that ball inside of him was.

Guilt. Breathing heavily, his mind played what he had done to her over the span of fifteen years. The words, the actions, the attack, and now the betrayal. He had done everything in his power to make her hate him, and now she did. He wasn't satisfied or happy. He was devastated. He was upset and broken. His soul bonded hated him.

For the first time since all of this started, he admitted the truth to himself. He regretted the moment he rejected Kagome. He treated her terribly because of his decisions. He wanted her to hate him because it was better than knowing that he lost her because of his actions.

But now, watching her cry, listening to her speak of her hate of him, seeing her scars caused by his own claws, he knew he made a mistake. He regretted the moment he turned her away, and every second after.

Stepping back, he swiftly turned, heading up towards his room. He was confused and uneasy. He knew he regretted what he did, but he couldn't explain why. Was it just because she was his soul bonded? He hadn't taken the time to get to know her, so he knew he couldn't possibly love her. He couldn't want her as a mate, and yet… his heart hurt, constricting painfully in his chest.

Changing his clothing, he dressed for travel. His sword was at his side, his armor in place. He needed to leave. Staying here wasn't for him anymore. For a moment he thought of leaving behind a note to his father, letting him know that he was going, but Sesshomaru changed his mind at the last second. Touga hadn't spoken to him about anything outside of their duties for years. Touga wouldn't care, probably wouldn't even notice if Sesshomaru left and never came back.

Mind in turmoil, Sesshomaru exited his room. Throwing out his aura, he felt for the one he needed, got a location on Nakoa. He was going to take her with him. Before he could bring his aura in, Kagome's brushed against his. He felt her anguish and hate towards him, felt his heart constrict at it. Her words weren't just words. She legitimately hated him, and it was all of his doing.

Rage burst through her aura, and almost on impulse she was rushing towards him. When she rounded the corner, panting from breath, he could only look at her. Her eyes were still swollen, wet from her tears. He could see the loathing in her gaze, felt it cut into him like a knife.

"Leave me alone!" She screamed, hands balled up at her sides. "Go away! I hate you, Sesshomaru. I hate you and our bond. I wished I never met you. I wish you were dead!"

Sesshomaru barely contained the flinch at her words. His eyes looked her over, lingering on the scar over her eye. His claws had marred her beautiful face. Lips parting slightly, he felt his breath coming quicker, in pants. It hurt so much. His heart was tearing in his chest, and the pain was only getting worse. Without realizing, his hand clutched the top of his armor, over his heart.

"Sesshomaru." Touga stood behind Kagome, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You've done enough, boy. Leave her be. Don't come near her again."

Sesshomaru looked back down at Kagome, seeing her eyes still full of hatred towards him. Swallowing, he gave a nod. "I am leaving. I am unsure if I will come back." He saw his father's surprise, knew Touga was wondering what had changed, but he made no move to stop Sesshomaru from going.

Looking down at Kagome, he saw her relief. She was glad to hear that he was leaving, the final nail in the coffin. She hated him, wished him dead, and wanted him gone. He did this to her. He broke her down until her heart was a shattered mess. He never thought that breaking her as he did, would break him as well. She was in pieces but so was he. Looking down to his wrist, Sesshomaru stared at Kagome's name. He looked back up at her, his eyes nothing but pools of regret. Shock passed over her face, but it was gone quickly, replaced with the contempt she held for him. Turning, he left, feeling as their bond severed more with each step he took. He ruined any chance they had, and it was all his fault.

...

In the last chapter, Sesshomaru began to feel regret, but he didn't know what it was. this caused him to want to take it out on Kagome. Now he knows exactly what he feels, and he also realizes there is nothing he can do to make it better. However, while he knows he feels regret and guilt, he still doesn't understand why. From this moment on, it's nothing but character growth for Sesshomaru. Slowly he will start to understand exactly what he is feeling. He will come to terms with himself and mature. This also takes thirty-five years. He's a demon, and demon's age slower than humans. but just like humans, their bodies age faster than their minds and emotional stability. He is learning, but it takes time. In this time, he and Kagome will not cross paths at all. These next few chapters will be nothing but an eye opener for him. With that being said, I hope you all enjoyed. Thanks to Didithereaper for editing.

Here's a challenge for ya'll. You all know I like your reviews. I also know there are plenty of silent readers out there. I appreciate you just as much. But, reviews are literally my fuel. It's annoying, but it is what it is. Currently this story has 98 reviews. If it can get twenty more reviews, from all different people, by Wednesday, I'll post another chapter. If this end up working, I can make this same offer every Monday with a different goal amount. If it doesn't, I'll stick to my Monday updates. No harm, no foul. Good luck!