Almost Twelve Roses

Chappie 10: This feeling?

Author: Funnyfan the GRANDTABULOUS

last time

There is the saying that if you cherish someone, if you truly love someone, you would give the world up for them. You want them to happy, because you love them. If you truly cherished someone you wouldn't try to make them choose.

… … … … … … … … … …

"Apologies, Kagome, are not in need here. What has happened has happened. I've no way of changing that, and neither do you. However, there is a new road up ahead. One that is in dire need of directing, and instead of worry about mistakes you have made in the past, or perhaps ones others have made, you should instead watch your step now. There is no use in trying to mend the road behind you, the one no one walks, when there is a road ahead of you needing attention, the one you shall tread upon." Kikyo said wisely. Kagome smiled at Kikyo.

… … … … … … … … … …

"Kagome, you have felt love before, though you may not remember it, the feeling is undoubtedly still there." Kikyo had said before they had left.

… … … … … … … … … …

Kagome's eyes drifted shut as she let herself go, falling into the kiss. His lips engulfed her own and before she knew it she was kissing him back. She felt his hand cup her cheek and hold her, deepening the kiss. Gratification took over her body and as soon as she desired more he pulled away and she lifted her lids in a dazed look and looked up at his face.

… … … … … … … … … …

Closing the door behind her Kagome walk onto the sidewalk and stretched her arms up high. "Your midriff is showing," Kagome spun around and came face to face with someone she did not suspect to find, by a bar, at this time of night, on a weekday. Kagome gasped.

"Inu…"

Now

"…Taishio?" Kagome questioned as she tilted her head, hoping it would help her see better in the dim light. It looked like him, however faint the image was, and it sounded like him. But many people sounded like others, and she could barely make out the person. He had told her once before he worked week days, as well as nights.

"You know you haven't seen a person enough when they question who you are." Taishio sighed as he traded his dimly lit portion of the sidewalk for the properly lit portion. He laughed and looked at the sign on the building, Danny's Pub. "I see you've enjoyed your night." Taishio commented.

"Ah, yes. It was a great night." Kagome said nervously. Did he know about her job? He knew she had one, but did he know what as? Would he be mad?

"Hey Kagome you forgot you pur—" Marisa started quickly as she burst through the door, that is, until she say Taishio. She handed Kagome her purse and walked over to Taishio. Making an 'hmm' sound she walked around him a few times before standing in front of him, looking him up and down and than looked to Kagome and back to him again. "Gold eyes, long silver hair, handsome features, you wouldn't happen to be Sesshomaru, would you?" she said rather coldly, narrowing her eyes to match her tone. Taishio laughed and shook his head.

"Nonsense my dear, I'm not Sesshomaru." He laughed again and slapped the woman on her back. "Nice try though, nice try." He smiled, "I must say, I'm quite flattered to know I have 'handsome features'."

"Of course you are, male egos always are." Marisa commented.

"Ah, outspoken aren't you. Very nice choice in co-workers Kagome." Taishio laughed and Kagome froze. She turned slowly towards Taishio.

"Y-you are mad?" Kagome questioned carefully. Taishio rose an eye brow.

"Of course not, I just said she was a fine choice for a co-worker." Taishio said blandly, though knowing what she meant by the question.

"No," Kagome shook her head, "I mean where I'm choosing to work." Kagome corrected.

"Ah, yes, of course." He coughed a little and put on a fake angry face. "Kagome, I'm very disappointed you found a job that involved working hard, smiling and getting great cash. Very, very disappointed," he shook his head to augment his statement. Then, he started to laugh. "Of course not my dear, what could you be doing that's so horrible?" Taishio asked. "You only mix drinks, correct?"

"How do you know?" Kagome asked suspiciously.

"Ah, ah, ah, Kagome my dear. T'is a secret." He wagged his finger.

"I'll see you tomorrow Kagome." Marisa said and left the two of them with a slight wave of her hand as she disappeared through the door.

"So why are you here?" Kagome questioned. Taishio smiled.

"Come now my dear, its past three in the morning, you wouldn't think that I would let you walk home, alone." Taishio shook his head and hook his arm with Kagome's. "I shall protect you from all that lurks in the night." He puffed up his chest and began to scour ahead of Kagome.

"And who's going to protect you?" Kagome laughed as he dramatically fell to the ground and pounced back up only to push himself against a wall.

Kagome wanted to cry as she looked at her schedule for the next month. She had asked for extra hours yes, but, this was insane. Did her boss think she had coffee in her veins? How was she supposed to keep up with these hours without looking suspicious? If Sesshomaru found out he'd be furious. Wait. Why was Sesshomaru first on her list? Shaking her head she added an InuYasha, a mother and a younger brother factor in. They'd all be suspicious and she knew InuYasha's response wouldn't be happy, she wasn't sure if her mother would be okay or give her a look that said she wasn't okay with it but said she was any way, and her brother, she wasn't sure what her brother would think. He would probably agree as long as she made enough money for his birthday presents. She sighed.

She was putting in so many hours already and she was so tired. Now, her hours were amplified and she was beginning to feel the exhaust twenty times over. Taishio had found out, perhaps she could ask him to cover for her, say she went to a friends, decided to sleep there, went out for a night of fun, something.

"Of course I'll help." Taishio agreed after hearing Kagome's story. "Lying is exciting when your sons are demons." He added with a laugh.

"That's perfect!" Kagome said happily, hugging Taishio tightly.

"Yoh! Kagome!" Koga's voice rang through the halls and Kagome and Taishio's head poke out of the door frame. Smelling Kagome he spun around. "There you are! The maid let me in." Koga announced. "Your scents in almost every hall, you're bloody hard to find."

"I have to go for a date now, so I'll see you later." Kagome nodded towards Taishio as a good-bye and linked her arm with Koga's and steered him down the hall.

Good thing he's in a meeting Taishio thought as he closed the door to his study. By he of course, Taishio meant

"Sesshomaru, what do you have to say about changing the style of the advertisements?" one of the many shadows asked. They were all shadows, following him where ever he went while he worked. Standing over his shoulder while he wrote documents, signed his signature. He wasn't given a moment of privacy when he was at work. And right now, he was in a room with these bumbling shadows having a meeting with them about the style of advertisement.

That's when the scent hit him. He growled inwardly. What was he doing in his house? The bastard had a lot of courage coming to his home. He dared to enter his house? Then Kagome's scent hit his nose. So, they were going on another date. The bastard, he thought coldly.

"Sir, Sesshomaru?" one of the shadows asked carefully.

"A new style is fine, bring me the ideas by Friday and I'll look over them." He stood up and adjusted his tie. "Now, gentlemen, if you'll excuse me, I have business to take care of." Without waiting for their response he left the room quickly and gracefully.

Kagome was leaning her head against Koga, not because she was trying to be romantic or cuddly, no, it was because she never felt so tired. She was beyond tired now, she was exhausted and feeling more than woozy and dizzy. But, she thought determined, I have a date to go on. She didn't know how to say no to him. It seemed like a lousy excuse to her.

As they came to the stairs she realized she couldn't lean on him while they walked down the many stairs below. So picking herself off of him she held herself straight and walked to the banister. It wasn't as hard as she thought, and she was sure she was beginning to feel better. That is, until she reached the first stair. She felt everything blur for a second and she wobbled toward the banister a bit before her vision cleared and she was fine again. At least we'll just be sitting, watching a movie, Kagome thought confidently as she walked down the stairs.

"Yoh, Kagome, we've got company," Koga whispered to Kagome from beside her. She barely heard his whisper and was about to ask what he had said when she heard his voice.

"What are you doing in my home, wolf?" Sesshomaru asked coldly.

"Picking up my girl for a date," Koga said truthfully.

"Leave my house, and leave Kagome." Sesshomaru said emotionlessly, though one could tell, not only through the gestures his hands made, or the anger in his eyes, he was angry through the way he worded his sentence. Koga sneered at Sesshomaru.

"Yeah, that's going to happen." Koga said snidely back. Snide can mean; mean, nasty, unpleasantly, malicious, spiteful, unkind, hurtful, but, in this case, though it was meant with sarcasm all of the above definitions would fit the way Koga used it. And though Kagome didn't catch onto the above definitions Sesshomaru did.

"Learn your place wolf! This is my house, and you are not welcome here. So leave." Sesshomaru said plainly, no excess volume made in his voice, no cruel gestures were made with his hands, no unsaid word were spoken with his eyes. His face and body were placid and he was serious. Kagome gulped down her fear and stomped back up the five stairs her and Koga and descended.

"Stop acting so condescending all the time!" Kagome all but growled. She made it to the top stair, feeling fine and not in the least bit dizzy. "This is InuTaishio's house, not yours. Stop pretending your king!" Kagome said, her voice heightening in volume. A tinge of barely noticeable dizziness came over her.

"Stop trying to be Queen." Sesshomaru said slyly.

"Stop pretending your Casanova, you arrogant," another tinge of dizziness, "heartless," and another, "cowardice," more than a tinge, "selfish pig!" Kagome shouted and as she finished her last words her vision blurred, her body numbed, her knees buckled, her eyes clashed closed, and she fell. Vaguely she felt arms wrap around her, keeping her from hitting the cold floor. But, after that her mind fell blank.

She had worked another double shift, and she was tired. She didn't want to have a bath, like she had planned previously that night, she just wanted to go straight to bed. No changing from her work clothes to her P.J's, she was too tired for that. All she wanted to do was fall onto her own bed and drift into a slumber, with out without dream, so long as she slept.

She paid the cab driver his fee, thanked him and was already at the entrance of the shrine steps. Why, she groaned mentally, do we need to have so many stairs leading up the shrine? As the cab drove off Kagome made her way up the stairs. Carefully she held onto the banister, because the farther you got up, the darker it got. No street lamps were above the stairs and the light from the ones below were blocked out by the many trees that incased the shrine. Carefully guiding her feet up the stairs she held onto the banister tightly.

Making her way to the top of the stairs, stumbling only once she reached the last step, she tried to make her eyes adjust to the lack of light. Not succeeding in her attempt she carefully moved along what she hoped was the path to her house. As her feet edged forwards she felt herself stumble and her legs swayed slightly. Oh no, she thought horrified. Quickly she shook her head and got her balance back. Feeling for the path again she continued to make her way towards the house.

Reaching her destination she started to walk up the two stairs she had. Making it up she went to take a step towards the door when her head shook and her vision blurred before she felt herself falling backwards. Her vision cleared and she braced herself for the hard fall that she had no way of stopping. Though, someone else did. She felt strong arms catch her, wrap around her waist, and pull her up. They held onto her for a moment before they were sure she was stable.

Turning around to thank her savior she was surprised to find who it was. What was he doing here? At this time? She was about to ask when he pulled her into tight hug.

Arms were wrapped around her tightly and she couldn't move an inch if she wanted to. Not that she did, her body felt like a ton of bricks. Her legs were sore and her calves ached, not to mention the soles of her feet. But, she wouldn't mind who ever it was giving her the death hug to let up at least a little.

"Kagome, don't die!" Koga's voice said dramatically.

"She's not dead you fool." That was Sesshomaru's emotionless tone.

"And what if she was?" Koga's voice shouted with dramatic tension. Kagome wanted to open her eyes and stare at him with disbelief but they felt glued shut.

"She is not dead wolf." Geez, Kagome thought, he sounds so worried that I…what did I do? Kagome tried to open her eyes and push herself up but her eyes would only open a blurred millimeter, and her body was still being clamped to the ground by what Kagome would assume to be Koga.

"K-Koga, you're…crushing me." Kagome pinched out through exhausted breaths. Koga immediately let her go. She tried to get up but she still felt too heavy. Doing what she thought was shaking her head she tried to clear her head. She had to at least open her eyes. Gradually, after clenching her eyes closed she tried to inch them open. Making them half way up she could see she was lying in Koga's lap and Sesshomaru was leaning against the wall, casually, staring down at them. Kagome smiled inwardly, and she thought outwardly. So, she thought happily, he does care. Logic was logic, and fact was fact, he wouldn't have let Koga hold her otherwise without a fight. She felt her body tingle.

"You're not dead!" Koga said triumphantly with a hint of worry in his voice. There was a clapping sound and Koga swiftly turned his head towards Sesshomaru, while Kagome slowly turned hers.

"Bravo wolf, you get a cookie." Koga growled at Sesshomaru's sarcasm. Kagome gave a muffled laugh. Both Koga and Sesshomaru's head swung towards Kagome, though Kagome could barely make out their faces since everything was blurred. Kagome yawned and felt her eyes begin to close. Her body felt like it was being engulfed by warm, soft sand, and she loved it. Giving into the beckon of sleep she felt herself drift away. A smile tuned on her face.

Not only did they call Dr. Naru, but some how Miroku, Sango, InuYasha, Taishio, Souta, her mother, and a few nurses she didn't recognize were there. Taishio and InuYasha made sense, they lived in the house, but, why everyone else? As it turned out everyone had been called since they thought this was her big memory relapse, but, as things would have it, it wasn't even close.

It's merely fatigue Dr. Naru stated plainly, wondering also why everyone had been called. After that though, he stated a few rules, ones Kagome couldn't pretend to forget since everyone was standing around her listening to the Doctor's every word. No work, no outside adventures, that means dates Koga, Sesshomaru. Perhaps some light gardening, a soak in the hot tub. Just some relaxing. Of course, how long had been asked. Around a week, more if necessary. But, no less. He commanded and gave Kagome a stern look that said to obey what he had told her.

So, not only was her predicament over dramatized, and everyone was called away from their previous endeavors, she was told she wasn't allowed to do anything 'over-exert-full'. Meaning all those extra hours she had taken on were being passed onto someone else. That being either one of her many co-workers, or who ever Taishio pushed into that slot. She had pleaded silently with him about her job, and he nodded his head and had left to take care of some business as he had stated.

But that wasn't what burst her bubble the most. What irked her most was that she was being lectured for working. Didn't parents spend their children's youth reminding them to work hard? Obviously Sesshomaru thought other wise, because right now, he and Kagome were arguing over work ethics.

"What are you working as anyways?" Sesshomaru asked coldly, thinking the worst. "How could you possibly be so tired."

"What's that face for?" Kagome demanded. "Don't assume the worst. Ever think of long, messed up hours?" Kagome sneered. Why was he always on her case?

"Than get better hours!" Sesshomaru demanded.

"Oh, that's the pot calling the kettle black!" Kagome retorted. "You drag me here, knowing your working hours like the back of your hand, and you expect me to smile at you when you don't spend any time with me?" Kagome crossed her arms over her chest and turned her head away with an angry blush on her cheeks. "You're a find example for unruly hours Sesshomaru." Kagome said, her voice lowering down to an inside volume. "Your hours are so messed up you couldn't even show up for breakfast, let alone time to wave to me in the hall."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Sesshomaru demanded. Kagome turned herself in her bed, she'd been forced to stay in it for the rest of the night, and looked at Sesshomaru with disbelief written across her face.

"You couldn't even give me a curt nod of hello in the hall, what made you think you'd have time to talk to me?" Kagome asked in a sad sort of whisper.

"There were plenty of times to say it other wise." Sesshomaru comment wryly, Kagome sighed and lay back down, covering herself up.

"That's just it Sesshomaru. Why should I have to go out of my way for things you plan?" Kagome asked as she turned her back to Sesshomaru, leaning into her pillow and closing her eyes shut. Sesshomaru let out a long breath that some would classify as a sigh, and left the room, knowing full well the conversation was over and won.

They have a talk about weird messed up hours and what does he do? He goes on a business trip. The nerve of the man. Right after he complains about her unusual hours he leaves on a business trip. And it's not that it was a business trip, but the fact that he left a mere twelve hours later. And she had been asleep when he left. And of course, since he was going some where he felt the need to wake her up, at three in the morning.

But, it beings so damn early, she thought it was just a dream. A weird dream at that. So the next morning she went down for breakfast, no Sesshomaru, which was odd. Since around this time he was supposed to be getting a slight let off for work. But, none the less, she continued on with her day. Now that she looked at her day, she was glad to have the week off. She didn't have a care in the world right now, except maybe who it was doing her job.

"No need to worry ladies, I'll be your Kagome for a week!" Taishio shouted triumphantly, both hands fisted and waving around in the air for effect. Marisa, as well as the other co-workers, all stared at him with disbelief and confusion. Whispers of 'who is this man?', 'are we being robbed' and 'how old is he?' swept across the room. "Have no fear, I'll make a perfect fill in!"

Sighing with content Kagome leaned back against the hot spring's siding. This really was nice, she had no idea there was even a hot spring, though she should have been surprise. It was absolutely wonderful looking. Wooden floors, with little ticks of grain (or something, Kagome didn't know) for grip, surrounded the nicely polished wooden case hot spring. A few rocks, fake or real Kagome didn't care, were placed in the middle and along the sides, a waterfall spilling down from one of the larger rocks. Who knew indoor hot springs could be so positively relaxing?

Though, her relaxation ended quickly when she was called for lunch, which, Sesshomaru did not attend. That, however, was not unheard of. He didn't usually eat lunch. But, Kagome went on with her meal happily. Eating merrily undisturbed, with InuYasha and Taishio as guests for the first quarter of the meal. The left as soon as they were finished and rushed to work. Taishio working on the company and InuYasha to his own work. Neither saying more than a simple good-bye with an added, relax.

It was supper time when Kagome began to wonder where Sesshomaru was. Now-a-days he made it down for supper. But, he wasn't there. That's when Kagome started her interrogation. "Where's Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked. Both Taishio and InuYasha gave her funny looks.

Her interrogation was cut short with Taishio's simple answer. "He's on a business trip Kagome." InuYasha nodded his head.

"He woke you up this morning and you growled at him, glare at him, shouted at him for waking you up, told him to take his time and to stay for a week, and then you went back to sleep." InuYasha stated.

"Yes, such a romantic good-bye." Taishio added.

"The nerve, I mean, we talk about wonky hours and weird schedules and what does he do? He leaves on a business trip?" Kagome ranted as she re-told the story of Sesshomaru's leave to Marisa. What had started out as a short story telling to let off a little steam turned into a rant of how 'stupid' and 'idiotic' Sesshomaru really was.

"If it's a business trip, how can he control that?" Marisa asked. Kagome shook her head.

"It's not that it's a business trip, it's that those things take time to plan. Meaning, he had tons of time to tell me about it, which he does at three in the morning on the day he leaves. It's the fact that he actually gets mad at me for my time schedule and work ethics and than up and leaves. He just, pisses me off!" Kagome said, starting off calm and ending worked up.

"Hey, you never know it could have been a last minute trip," Marisa said in defense of Sesshomaru.

"There's no way Sesshomaru would allow something that last minute, he's far too timely and proper to do that," Kagome stated matter-o-factly. "He's just so…" Kagome started off on another rant about Sesshomaru and his indecent, bastardly ways. Continuing on with idiots, fools, pathetic, sardonic twits, morons, the list goes on. And as Marisa listened to Kagome she began to remember all the other things Kagome had said about Sesshomaru.

It wasn't so much as, what she said, but when she said it. What she had said was a bit of a hard question, but, ask when she said it and the answer was straight forward. Any chance to talk about the man and she took it, which lead Marisa to believe once thing.

"You know Kagome, I hafta say, you sure sound like you like this guy." Marisa cut in as Kagome started getting riled up. "A lot," she added. Kagome stopped her rant and blushed furiously.

"I do not." Kagome said sternly. Marisa laughed.

"Why not Kagome? You talk about him enough, never stopping." Marisa winked.

"I'm complaining, not adoring," Kagome stated plainly.

"What's the difference? Either way, you're making him the center of your world." Marisa said with a dramatic sigh. She winked at Kagome again. "Besides, from what I hear, he ain't bad lookin' in the looks department."

"That's besides the point. He's arrogant and a prick." Kagome stated officially.

"I didn't hear any disagreement there Kagome." Marisa laughed, nudging Kagome with her elbow. "Admit it, you think he's sexy, you think he's hot, you think of him all the time." Marisa teased. Kagome's face burned red. "You want to hug him, you want to kiss him, you want to love him…" Marisa laughed as she continued poking fun at Kagome.

"Shuddap!" Kagome shouted shaking Marisa back and forth as she continued to rant on things Kagome 'wanted' to do. Kagome's face was beet red.

"Marisa, Kagome, back to work." Their boss, some how appearing out of no where, shouted. "You just back from your week and a half break Ms. Higurashi, don't start slacking now." he commanded and disappeared. With that commanded, both girls stopped giggling, though Marisa was the only one, and got back to work. Kagome was finally back, after her week and a half break, which she enjoyed immensely.

"Why the hell are you getting mad at me?" Kagome shouted into the phone.

"You should have done it," he stated simply.

"How the hell am I suppose to phone you when I don't even know your number Sesshomaru!" Kagome growled through the phone. Sesshomaru had called only moments ago, a fight, naturally, already ensued, demanding reasons why Kagome hadn't called him. Of course, Kagome just got mad back at him, ten fold.

"Ask one of the servants, girl," he stated as if it were obvious. Kagome's eyes narrowed at the wall.

"I shouldn't have to phone you when you're the one who left." Kagome retorted.

"I'm on a business trip, what makes you think I have time?" he questioned.

"If you're so busy, how am I supposed to know when to call you?" Kagome countered.

"Ask the servants, girl," he repeated.

"If you wanted me to call you, you should have left information," Kagome stated. "Even so, I see no reason for me to call you at all any way." Kagome said with a sigh.

"Why would you not?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"What do you need me to call you for? Make sure you remembered your toothbrush? A clean pair of underwear?" Kagome asked sarcastically (Sesshomaru looked down at his bag and noticed he did forget his toothbrush.). "You're no baby Sesshomaru, don't act like one." Kagome snapped arrogantly.

"Watch your place, girl," Sesshomaru said with a less than emotionless tone.

"Or what Sesshomaru? You gonna give me a time out?" Kagome laughed.

"I was kidding." Kagome mumbled as she sat in the corner of the room. Three servants, very big ones, came in and grabbed Kagome, carrying her down the hall as she struggled to get away. The quickly came to a bare room where they set her down and disappeared from the room. A speaker came on and the servants informed her that 'Lord Sesshomaru' had ordered her be put in a room for a 'time out'. Kagome growled and had started off by banging on the door but had quit once a TV came down through the ceiling with an image of Sesshomaru on it.

You, dear Kagome, are in a time out. Now you'll know for next time to keep your place Sesshomaru had stated coolly and cockily. Kagome narrowed her eyes at the TV. You won't be let out until you've calmed down and become the well-behaved lady you aren't.

And here she was, two hours later, lying on the floor, snoring loudly.

"Can Rin braid Kagome's hair now?" Rin asked after viewing herself in the mirror. Kagome had spent the majority of an hour braiding all of Rin's hair, which was a longer and harder task than it looked. Rin had thick hair. Kagome nodded her head and both switched places, Rin climbing onto the bed Kagome previously sat on and Kagome sliding to the floor, where Rin once sat. "Does Kagome want Rin to do big braids, or small braids?" Rin asked.

"Surprise me," Kagome smiled. Rin gave a cheerful 'okay' and started braiding away at Kagome's hair. They sat in a giggly chat, talking about the all the cute boys in Rin's class she liked.

"Does Kagome love master Sesshomaru?" Rin asked as she flipped the three hairs in a twisted pattern.

"No Rin," Kagome answered simply and softly.

"Didn't Kagome love master Sesshomaru before?" Rin asked.

"I…don't know," Kagome answered truthfully.

"Why does Kagome not know?" Rin asked curiously, still twisting Kagome's hair in the pattern of a braid.

"I got a bump on my head and lost some of my memories," Kagome said with fake cheer in hopes of not making the moment to depressing.

"Is Kagome sad?" Rin asked.

"A little," Kagome admitted. "I don't remember most of my friends and I have to meet them all over again."

"No, isn't Kagome sad she forgot who she loved?" Rin corrected, giggling a little. "Rin would be sad if she forgot who she loved. It would make Rin very sad." Rin said softly.

"I don't think I can be sad about losing something I don't remember." Kagome stated calmly with more fake cheer.

"Rin thinks Sesshomaru is sad too," Rin sad, ignoring Kagome's comment. Yeah, Kagome thought, he sounded so sad talking to that hooker on the phone. "Rin would be even more sad, if the person Rin loved forgot Rin and Rin's love." Rin said with a slight pout. "Wouldn't Kagome?" Rin asked, poking her head around Kagome's. Kagome smiled as she looked at Rin.

"Yeah, I guess I would." Kagome admitted. That doesn't mean I feel sorry for the ass.

"Rin very much likes the garden now Kagome. Rin thinks Kagome did a pretty job at making the picture clear again." Rin commented, changing the subject. Kagome turned her head and looked up at Rin.

"What picture?" Kagome asked. Rin pouted when Kagome moved her head and ruined the braid she was working on. Her pout disappeared when Kagome's question hit her.

"Rin will show Kagome!" Rin shouted, letting Kagome's hair go before jumping of the bed and grabbing Kagome's arm and dragging her out into the hall. Running up and down halls, turning left and right Rin steered them around like she knew the place like the back of her hand, and Kagome didn't doubt that she did. "Master Sesshomaru gave it to Kagome as a present one day. Kagome cried lots. Rin thinks it's because Sesshomaru got Kagome to plant all the flowers." Rin laughed as the spun right then left.

"What?" Kagome questioned. Rin stopped at a four way intersection in the hall. Thinking a moment she looked left and right, then ahead. "Left," Kagome unconsciously said.

"Right!" Rin laughed happily and pulled Kagome down the hall, walking this time. "We're almost there," Rin announced.

"Rin, what did you mean, he got me to plant the flowers?" Kagome asked. Rin looked back at Kagome and smiled.

"Rin means that Sesshomaru told Kagome the gardener couldn't do anything right and started to complain about Mr. Gardener. Kagome got mad and said she would do it if it meant Sesshomaru would stop complaining. Then Kagome worked for three days straight working on it." Rin explained. He made me do my own present? Kagome thought furiously. Rin laughed. "But, Kagome did it wrong and Master Sesshomaru noticed it when Kagome finished." Rin added.

"Let me guess," Kagome said dryly. "He made me start over?"

Rin shook her head. "No, Sesshomaru went out in the middle of the night, using lamps, and re-did Kagome's garden. When Rin found out, Sesshomaru told Rin not to tell Kagome, but, Kagome doesn't remember the garden, so Rin thinks its okay." Rin finished. "Look!" Rin said excitedly as they came to a long window that opened to look into the back yard of the property, or at least part of it. Kagome looked over the edge thinking it was going to just be another flower, or some other lame picture. She was surprised to find something far different. It wasn't extravagant, but it wasn't lame either. It was simple and so unlike Sesshomaru.

A heart made from red flowers, Kagome couldn't tell what kind from the window, encircled violet and blue words that read 'I love you'. So simple, yet so sweet. Kagome smiled at the floral picture. Green and orange flowers outlined the heart, with a small 'Sesshomaru' off to the side at the bottom. Kagome felt her stomach flip and her heart flutter. Backing up she held her chest wondering what had just happened.

"Is Kagome okay?" Rin asked, Kagome nodded her head.

"Rin, I'm going to stay here for a little bit okay?" Kagome said. Rin smiled and gave a loud and happy 'okay' before she waved and ran down another hall.

So, Kagome thought, he did care about me. She shook her head, no, he did love me. Kagome smiled at the thought. He wasn't just a jack ass, he did have a heart. And, Kagome looked over the widow's edge again, he gave it to me. So what did this mean now, she wondered. It didn't mean a whole lot actually. Why should knowing he loved her before mean anything now? He may have loved her then, but it was apparent his interests laid elsewhere now. Besides, even if he did love her now, that didn't mean she loved him. She had to admit, letting her believe she did the beautiful design below was sweet and making it was even sweeter, but, that was about to be the thing that decided whether she loved him or not.

Though, she had to admit, she missed him. The phone call earlier had made her happier than she had felt since he did leave. But…did that mean she loved him? No, certainly not. She couldn't remember him. But, who's to say she had to remember him, to love him? She shook her head side to side, no one, but that didn't mean she did. Marisa's words came back to her and she felt her stomach drop.

You want to hug him, you want to kiss him, you want to love him, she had said.

I want to remember him she thought sadly to herself. Everyone had said they were such a happy couple before. She wanted to remember those times, because now, they were nothing like that. All her and Sesshomaru did was argue. She sighed, things just didn't work out between the two. He was ice to her fire. Two completely different elements, two completely different people. But Marisa did have a point, after they had started to work she had said, seriously, you probably just miss Sesshomaru. She had scoffed the idea earlier, but now…for some stupid idiotic reason the idea made sense. She had looked around to see if he'd come home since the man had left. It was true, he pissed her off like no other, but, for some weird reason, when they argued, it got her adrenaline pumping, and she loved it. It was weirder than anything in the world and she wanted to scorn herself for being so idiotic. And every time she thought about him her stomach did flip flops, her heart felt like it skipped a beat then sped up.

Was she…falling in love with the idiot? Kagome shook her head vigorously. Never! She may have found arguing with him fun, and she may have agreed with Marisa that he looked okay, but she refused to believe she was falling in love. Because even though there were those times she enjoyed, there were still the times she hated and it made her despise him. Like, how he had to do everything the hard way, everything always had to be over the edge, never simple. And then there was the fact that he thought he was better than the rest of the world, and how he was always condescending her.

This was getting her no where! She didn't love him, end of story. Period. Nothing more said. But, then again, if she didn't at least like him, why get jealous of another woman. She shook her head. She wasn't jealous of the other woman, she was mad she was forced to stay in this house when he was with other woman. Yes, Kagome decided, that was why. Oh who was she kidding herself, she was jealous. But, that didn't mean she loved the man. Not even close. Like, perhaps, but not love.

Sesshomaru growled as he lay back onto his bed. These meetings were absolutely terrible, boring, and tedious. Not to mention long. He was going onto his second week in this place and the meetings had gone nowhere. It was starting to piss him off. He didn't like spending time with these people at home, moving elsewhere did not help.

Not only were the meetings and long, but so was the distance between where he was now, and where Kagome was. What if she was hit by another vehicle? He shook the nonsensical thought from his head. Not that there was any progress that she would forget this time around. The woman disliked him and dared not to hide it. Their relationship was nowhere close to where it used to be.

If anything he would say Kagome hated him more now than she did before. He hadn't made any progress with her and needless to say she didn't love him. He wanted to growl, to rip apart the pillow he was lying on just to get some anger off his chest, but he stayed calm and controlled himself.

Perhaps, he thought to himself, I should give her up to Koga. For some idiotic reason she liked the wolf. That pissed him off even more, since the wolf had his chance and blew it once before. Though, it wasn't like he could talk. He'd put Kagome in tears more than once. He'd be damned if he did it again. Besides, wasn't there are saying that said if you love someone, let them go and if they come back they're yours, if they don't, they never were. It was quite obvious Kagome wasn't his.

But, maybe he should let her go. Let he leave the house fall in love with some other lovesick fool. Let her make her own choice, because it certainly wasn't him. He and Kagome…just weren't working. They just weren't, meant to be. Sesshomaru growled. He'd just have to forget about her while he was here, and when he got back, he'd just send her home.

And that, was that. Things were decided.

End of Chappie 10

A/N: For those of you who didn't read my profile, I'm putting out an early update because today is MY BIRTHDAY! YAY! Hope you like my present to you. - Also, this means no update on Monday, keep that in mind!