Chapter 12
Things were starting to look up. After his father took over his chair in office, Sesshomaru received a call about Naraku's second autopsy. He hired a team of forensic analysts to test every inch of Naraku's cadaver and stressed the severity of finding anything that may lead them to any suspect. He may have threatened them with their jobs but either way, it worked. One of the analysts found a fingerprint in the crevice of Naraku's knee. They were running it through the system and would shoot him a text once they got something. Sesshomaru took a couple of pulls of his cigarette and flicked it away.
"Oooooh, I'm telling on you." He heard a familiar voice and saw Koga pull up beside his car outside of the DDC headquarters.
"Koga." Sesshomaru flicked his eyes at him. "You're late and I have somewhere to be. Did you get it?"
"Yes, your highness! Your loyal servant has come through yet again." Koga bowed and handed him a bag of presents. "Let me tell you, you owe me big for this. You know I hate kids, except yours, of course… that toy store by Central Park is a nightmare! Why didn't you get your psycho secretary to go for you?"
Sesshomaru ignored him as he rummaged through the bag of gifts and nodded approvingly at him. Koga frowned at him and crossed his arms.
"No thank you?"
"I've abolished the points on your license, expunged your ticket violations and removed the warrant for your arrest. You now have a clean record, how's that for a thank you?"
"There's a warrant out for my arrest?" Koga's mouth dropped.
"Yes, Koga." Sesshomaru sighed and placed the gifts in the passenger side of his car. "That tends to happen when you don't pay your tickets."
Koga smiled. "You the man, Sesshy!"
"Don't call me that." Sesshomaru placed his shades on and walked to the driver side.
"You comin' to the party, right?"
Sesshomaru looked at his watch and hesitated an answer. After a long pause, he got into his car.
"I plan to."
Koga leaned into his window as Sesshomaru pulled the seatbelt over his lap. There was a very serious expression on his face; a look of concern.
"What, Koga?"
"Listen, I know you're off saving the world and shit, but you have to make more time for her. She's not herself lately. That guy is just waiting in the sidelines for you to fuck up so he can take what's yours."
"I'd like to see him try." Sesshomaru gripped the steering wheel so tight, his knuckles turned white.
Koga shook his head. "Dude, all that macho shit aside, he would be in the right because she needs someone there, and you're…not there. So, do me a favor, whatever it is, put it on hold, because she needs you right now."
"My ultimate priority right now, is keeping my family safe. If she can't understand that…"Sesshomaru exhaled angrily.
Koga rolled his eyes. "Look who you are, Sesshomaru. You're the General of the demon race. You end one threat today, there will be a new one tomorrow. I'm telling you this as a friend, if you keep pushing her away; she's going to stay away."
Sesshomaru powered up his window.
"Go ahead and ignore me," Koga forced into the cracks of the window before he completely closed it on him. "You know I'm right!"
Sesshomaru drove off not wanting to listen anymore. He was getting sick of everyone telling him what he should do and what was best. He knew what he was doing. One day they'll understand.
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The last few nights, Kimora has had vivid dreams she couldn't shake off. She tried to ignore it but there were moments in her waking life that reminded her of scenes she wished she could forget. One scene haunted her the most; her mother in a casket with a bullet hole in her head. Her father stood beside the casket, holding a gun in his hand. They were in the great room of their manor. Flowers filled the room with people sitting in white fold-out chairs and everyone bore smiles on their faces, including Samara as they stared at her mother's casket.
"Daddy, what did you do?" Kimora cried.
"I had to, Kimora." Her father buried his face into his hands.
"Mommy, wake up!" Kimora ran to the casket and shook her mother's arm. "Mommy, wake up! Don't leave me alone!"
Samara paraded into their room holding an assortment of dresses interrupting Kimora's thoughts. "What are you wearing to the party? I was thinking the dark green velvet dress grandmother gave you."
"I don't care. I'll just wear what I'm wearing now." Kimora shrugged, sketching into her book. She stopped and looked to see her sketch. Sometimes, she didn't know what she was drawing. She would black out and paint a whole picture and not have any clue as to why she painted it.
Samara studied her sister's wardrobe. "You're wearing overalls and a T-shirt that says 'I'm with stupid'?"
"I was planning to stand beside you the whole night." Kimora smirked and Samara scoffed.
"Really, Kimora? This is how you're going to treat me from now on? I haven't even made any remarks to you lately."
"I can replay the ones you've said to me in the last few months."
"I've apologized!" Samara gritted her teeth and searched through her closet violently yanking dresses off the hangers.
"Your apologies mean nothing when you continue to make stupid comments every day at school."
Samara furrowed her brows and bit her lip.
"I told you, it's just a front. I have to say those things so people don't realize what's going on, okay? I don't mean it!"
"Well, it hurts every time you say it, so don't expect me to play into your façade!"
"Get over it!" Samara growled. "You think you're the one who's hurt? Try living in this house with a human mother that hates her demon daughter!"
"Oh please, Sam. You're such the drama queen. Mom doesn't hate you."
"You don't see the way she looks at me, Kimora." Samara breathed heavily as she threw the dresses over her shoulder.
"Probably because you've been acting like a diva who thinks she's too good for us!"
"Are you really going to treat me this way, Kimora? I'm your sister."
"I don't know who you are lately."
Kimora went back to sketching. She stopped when she noticed Samara crying and she closed her sketchbook and stood up from the nook beside their window.
"This house is broken." Samara sobbed. "I hate being here. Father disappeared once again, Mother wants nothing to do with me and now you, you won't even speak to me."
"I told you, it's because you were being mean to me!" Kimora cried.
"I was being mean to you because mom loves you more than me! She always protects you and takes your side!"
"That's not true!"
"Yes, it is! You guys are always watching TV together and baking cookies in the kitchen."
"She always asks you to join us and you snub her each time!"
"Because she doesn't really want me there!"
"Oh my goodness." Kimora blew her cheeks. "Maybe you should try apologizing to her! She has feelings, you know! You probably hurt her with all the mean things you've been saying."
"I tried." Samara sniffled and Kimora tilted her head at her. "Yesterday I tried to talk to her and she said 'not now, Samara, I have a headache.'".
"Mom hasn't been feeling well, you know that. It was just bad timing."
"NO, she hates me!"
Samara continued to sob and shook her head. She crawled onto her bed and curled next to a pillow.
Kimora sighed and dropped her sketchbook on the floor. She curled next to her sister and pulled her into a hug. Samara tried to squirm out of it but Kimora held tighter.
"You're being absolutely irrational. If you quit being stubborn, you'll see just how much that isn't true."
Samara choked a few times as she cried more into her pillow.
"I miss daddy…" her voice trembled.
"Me too…" Kimora stroke her sister's hair. "but you know what, grandpa says it's a rough patch we are all going and we have to stay strong and remind one another what matters most."
Samara pulled herself together, wiped her tears and sat up. Her puffy eyes and red nose grinned at Kimora.
"Grandmother says Grandpa's senile." she added and they both giggled. Samara took a deep breath and bowed her head. "It just hurts to see our family like this and I'm so scared. I'm scared that mom and dad are going to divorce. She's always around Mr. Hideko now and I see the way he looks at her. I don't want a step-father, Kimmy, I absolutely cannot tolerate it."
"Look…"Kimora wiped her sister's face. "I know it's been an awful year in this house but I'm not going to let it crumble. I believe mommy and daddy are like a fairytale. Didn't you see them on Christmas? There were sparkles in their eyes."
"Oh, Kimmy," Samara chortled. "sparkles?"
"Yuh-huh, I saw it and when daddy shows up today-"
"Kimora, he's not going to show up."
"He will."
"No, he won't. He'll be busy like he always is."
"But it's our birthday, he'll show up and when he does, we're going to march right up to him and make him stay!"
Samara snorted. "Sure… he'll just obey the great Lady Kimora's demands!'
Kimora flicked her silver hair. "I can be very persuasive."
Samara smiled and looked down at Kimora's sketchbook. She tilted her head at the book and her eyes darted back to Kimora.
"Is that what I think it is." Samara reached for the floor and snatched it up. She opened the book wide. "Is..is that mom?"
Kimora hadn't noticed how vulgar and disturbing her sketches were becoming. She had drawn her mother with red eyes, fangs and blood dripping from her mouth. There were a few of the lady with blue hair and a couple of strange tribal symbols.
"Yeah…I don't know. Lately I have weird things in my mind and they keep haunting me so I have to draw it. Please don't show these to anyone. It's a bit embarrassing. People are going to think I'm a loonball."
"You are a loonball." Samara teased and nudged her softly on the shoulder. They were quiet for a moment. "You're still getting the nightmares?"
"Yep, it's getting worse. It's like, it happens when I'm awake now."
Samara continued to flip through the pages and stopped at one. It was a drawing of Naraku's body, his limbs contorted and bullet holes in his chest.
"Mr. Onigumo?" Samara faltered. "You saw the video in father's study?"
"Yeah…it's been haunting me ever since. I can't get it out of my mind. I'm worried because I had a dream of Mr. Onigumo a few months ago, I dreamt he was shot, and the video was exactly how it happened in my dream."
Samara blinked and looked through the sketchbook again.
"Kimora, you think maybe what you're having are premonitions or something?" Samara added.
Kimora looked dumbfounded and cocked a brow.
"Remember, mom's grandpa said that there were psychics in our family? That mom had priestess blood but she denied her calling?"
"I'm not psychic, Samara." Kimora rolled her eyes. "That's just silly. It's just coincidence. It's not like every thing I dreamt or thought of happened." She stopped and looked at the sketch of her mother. "and I hope it never does."
"But-"
"GIRLS! GIRLS!" they heard their grandmother calling them. "You have a sparring match at 10am sharp, please be ready and make sure you eat a good breakfast. You'll be sparring with the twins from the Western Hebi Tribe.
"Oh, we're fighting Reishu and Rani. They're wimps." Samara stuck her nose in the air. Kimora closed her book and stuffed it in her backpack. She twirled around and faced her grandmother with a smile.
"Oh, darling, never underestimate your opponent. It will be the end of you. I heard they grew five inches since you saw them last. " Saya looked at Kimora's shirt. "Take off that shirt this instant, child. Where'd you get it?"
"Uncle Koga gave it to me." Kimora said, innocently.
Saya sighed and walked away. "He is not your uncle!"
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Kagome must have looked at her phone a million times. No response, as usual. She shouldn't be surprised. This was something she dealt with for the last two years. There was always some stupid excuse to why he never texted back and she always fell for it each time. How much longer could she really do this? Loving a person just isn't enough to stay in a relationship. It wasn't fair. She threw her phone into her bag and scowled at her mother-in law as she walked by.
"Really, Saya? You set up a sparring match on their birthday?"
"They mustn't miss practice, darling, or they'll fall behind."
"What if they get hurt?" Kagome gnawed at her nails. "This tradition is so useless. We're in the 21st century. The only threatening altercation these girls will ever get into is fighting over a dress on clearance at Forever21. Do we really need them to learn how to uppercut some random 16 year old girl? Is that what we're teaching kids these days?"
"Darling, get a hold of yourself. You'll undo everything we did at the spa. Did you and Mr. Hideko go to Adalberto's like I advised?"
"Yes, Saya. We went for breakfast after the spa, and can I tell you how awful that idea was? Sesshomaru and I have been going there since we first started dating. Can you imagine how uncomfortable it was to have the entire staff shooting me disapproving looks? The manager who loves Sesshomaru looked at me as if I were having an affair!'
"Perfect," Saya smiled. "Then things are going according to plan. Well done. Where's Mr. Hideko now?"
"He went to get us coffee." She said, avoiding the stares she was getting from everyone around. The clan members whispered amongst themselves. She could hear some speak of her inappropriate relationship with Sasuke.
Two ladies passed them and bowed their heads. "Lady Kagome, what a pleasure to see you. As always, you look divine." One girl cooed.
"Absolutely ravishing, "the other added. "We can't wait to attend your party tonight."
"Party?" Kagome repeated and looked at Saya. "You mean, my 9 year old twins' party? You're coming to that?"
"Yes, Lady Saya invited us." One of them said and dragged the other to their seats. "See you later!"
Kagome stared at Saya in disbelief. "Why'd you invite Malina and Devorah? They don't have children."
"Oh, you know, I just invited a few people here and there…"
" How many people did you invite?"
Saya scrunched her nose as she counted in her head. "I may have invited…the entire clan."
"Saya, are you crazy? It's a kid's party, not a gala."
"Oh, I just thought it would be a perfect opportunity to introduce the girls to everyone as their future leaders."
"Saya, that's never-"
"Oh, speaking of which, I have to go back to the manor and make sure they're setting everything up correctly."
"Saya-wai—"Kagome hovered over her seat before accepting Saya wouldn't come back. She sat down and rubbed her temples. Haji was about to come over but she smiled at him.
"I'm okay, there's no cure for mother in 'law- induced migraines, I checked."
The room went quiet and an elder from the snake tribe came out. He wore a long velvet robe with a symbol of a serpent with a crown entwined on a cross, a family crest. He gave a boring history of the tradition and why it needed to be practiced by all generations to come. Kagome tried not to yawn. Her motherly instincts perked up when she saw the boys her daughters were about to fight. She couldn't believe this was the same Reishu and Rani that played with her daughters when they were four. Growth spurt didn't cut it; somebody must have given these poor kids steroids.
Sasuke quietly walked down the row and sat down next to her. He handed her a cup of coffee but she didn't acknowledge it. She ran her fingers through her silky brown hair and clasped them together in front of her lips. Kimora and Samara stepped out onto the mat. Reishu and Rani stepped onto it from the other side. They all marched toward each other, stopped and bowed. The elder introduced them to everyone and revealed what clan they were from. There were clans who traveled from far countries who didn't know who Samara and Kimora were but they've definitely heard of the great General Sesshomaru. People were leaning in their seats, some taking out their cellphones to record the match. Kagome's attention was on the girls the whole time. Kimora looked nervous. Samara, just like her father, showed no emotion whatsoever.
"I can't watch this." Kagome cringed. Sasuke rested his hand on her shoulder.
"They'll be fine."
Anxiety filled Kagome's body when a demoness in the corner banged on drums, some other demon blew on a horn to add hype to the match. The drums stopped, and both set of twins stared at each other, waiting for the other to attack.
"Kimora…"Samara whispered. "Whatever you do, control it."
Before Kimora could respond, Reishu lunged at her with a foam bokken sword. He wielded it savagely and she dodged as she stepped back to unravel hers. She struck him on the shoulder with an agile swift of her sword and he grunted. Samara, concerned about Kimora, didn't realize Rani went after her and felt the blow to her chest from his kick. Samara gasped for air but jumped to her feet within seconds. She took out her bokken sword and blocked him from striking her in the head. She twisted into a roundhouse kick and struck him in the chest. Rani doubled over for a second and growled. He showed off a few martial art stances and Samara rolled her eyes at him. She twirled the sword in her hand and flashed her fangs.
There were gasps heard in the crowd and Samara quickly closed her mouth. She knew she lost points for that one. She focused back on her composure and squinted at Rani. She repeatedly kicked her leg around a few times but he quickly evaded it and clipped her in the knee with a punch, she tried hard not to whimper. Her eyes darted back to Kimora when she noticed she froze on the mat. She was just staring into space. Her lips trembling.
"KIMORA!" Samara screamed but it was too late. Reishu shoved her to the ground using his entire body. Kimora covered her face as he swung a few punches at her and in a sudden flash, he was off her. She looked up and saw Samara grab him by the collar and flip him over her shoulder. Rani came forth at an incredible speed and rammed his fist into Samara's cheekbone. She collapsed to her knees and they both started kicking her. Kimora's eyes flickered red and she growled. She grabbed both bokkon swords on the matt and jumped on top of Reishu's shoulders, wrapped her legs around his neck and flipped him over to the ground. Before he hit the ground, she slammed her foot into Rani's neck and he fell backwards, Reishu landing on top of him. She grabbed her bokken from the floor to take a few swings at them, but Samara, still on the ground, reached out and grabbed her ankle.
"No, Kimora, they're down."
Kimora tried to ease the growling inside her. Her eyes still burned and she stared down at the mat to shift her eyes back to normal.
"Just breathe like I taught you." Samara whispered.
Kimora took a few deep breaths and after the fifth breath, her eyes shifted back.
A loud gong sounded and they had to stop. Kimora helped Samara up and then they both went to help out Reishu and Rani. Another gong sounded and they bowed at each other, then they bowed at the elder. They stepped off the mat and were led to another room by their sentry.
Samara caught up with Kimora and grabbed her hand.
"What was that all about?"
"I don't know." Kimora panted as she clutched her robe. "I don't know, Samara, but something doesn't feel right."
"You feel sick?"
"Yes…but I feel…death. I can't explain it, but I can taste it."
Samara rubbed her shoulder and pressed a finger to her lips. "Shhh.."
"Is it over?" Kagome said, her hands cupped over her eyes.
Sasuke nodded. "Oh yeah."
"That was fast, how bad is it?"
"For who?" he chuckled.
"What happened?" Kagome looked through her fingers.
"Well, it's good and bad…I can predict what the elder's going to tell you."
Kagome dropped her hands to her lap and groaned.
Sasuke cleared his throat. "Lady Kagome, although your daughters exhibit courage and strength, their lack of composure, sloppy stances and logic are still those of an amateur."
Kagome cocked a brow. "Jeez, harsh much?"
Sasuke laughed. "I'm sorry, but I've gone through this my whole life with my own rite of passage along with my brothers. Personally, I think your daughters' kicked ass."
Kagome giggled into her hands and covered her mouth when everyone started looking their way. She bit the insides of her cheek and forced a stern look.
"It's good to hear you laugh, Higurashi."
Kagome grinned and bowed her head. She hadn't heard her maiden name in such a long time. She sipped her coffee and her eyes beamed.
"I needed this. Today's been a rough day to start. Last night, I had this killer migraine…"
"I noticed you've been getting those a lot, have you seen a doctor?"
"Yes, Dr. Paulovich has been on my case since the girls were born. It's a side effect that never went away after I had them. They're still trying to figure out what happened to me. I wasn't supposed to survive after their birth, but…I made it."
"Thank the heavens, you did." He smiled. "So what other side effects do you get?"
"Well, Dr. Paulovich believes, "Kagome rolled her eyes. "Don't laugh…"
"I can't promise that."
Kagome smiled. "He says it's as if my DNA's changed but I'm not a demon or anything, I just inherited the awesome perks, like my eyes burn red and my gums ache because I keep growing fangs. I've had them extracted five times but it comes back…and sometimes smells and noises are so extreme, I get really sick."
"That doesn't sound funny at all." Sasuke said. "It's very strange how that happened to you, you know. I mean, in theory, both Samara and Kimora should have been half demons. But instead, you birthed one full fledge and the other a half demon. Or maybe, Sesshomaru's line is so pure, you were supposed to have two full fledge demons but your body absorbed some of Kimora's DNA?"
"That's my doctor's theory."
"You are one lucky girl."
Kagome snorted. "Lucky? Hm, not quite. My daughter hates me, the clans are waiting for Sesshomaru to divorce me, my mother in law is driving me up the wall and I haven't heard-" she stopped. "I am so sorry, I'm venting and I'm spewing out my personal life."
"It's okay, Higurashi. You can vent to me anytime. I'm here for you." Sasuke grabbed her hand and caressed it.
"Um…Sasuke" she started when they both felt a presence and looked up from their seats. Sesshomaru towered over them, looking lean and sharp in his Bvlgari suit. His ever so welcoming stoic expression glowered down at them, his eyes jumped back and forth between them. Eventually his amber eyes landed on their lap where their hands entangled with each other. They casually unlocked their hands and Kagome cleared her throat, ignoring the anxiety rising in her chest.
"What are you doing here?" Kagome tried to steady her voice and stood up from her chair. Sasuke did the same.
"Why are you surprised?" he responded curtly and flat-toned. "It is our daughters' birthday today."
Kagome knew his tone well. He was pissed but she disregarded it. Sasuke extended his hand out.
"Lord Sesshomaru. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you. Sasuke Hide-"
"I know who you are." Sesshomaru interjected, still observing the closeness between Sasuke and Kagome.
There was a lingering silence between them but Samara, thankfully, walked up to them. She contained herself when she saw her father and just grinned slightly.
"Mother, Kimora needs help getting out of her gi. She tied the knot too tight and I can't get it off." She paused and looked at her father. "Oh, father, to what do we owe the honor of your presence?"
Kagome sighed and grabbed Samara. "Excuse me, will you. Where is she?"
"She locked herself in the bathroom stall." Samara's voice faded in the crowd.
Sesshomaru clenched his teeth and scanned the room. Sasuke stood beside him mentally debating what to say.
"Just wanted to say you're doing a great job, sir."
"Do you have difficulties responding to requests, Mr. Hideko? I clearly recall having my secretary reach out to you."
"Well, sir…" Sasuke hesitated. "I am between secretaries right now. I haven't been receiving most of my messages."
Sesshomaru studied him briefly. He knew he was lying but he let it go.
"What business do you have hanging around my wife?" his eyes locked on his.
"We're old friends, that's all. My son is good friends with your girls. Kagome's going through a rough time, I'm just keeping her company."
"Keeping her company?" Sesshomaru repeated distastefully.
"I mean, I…look, it's not what you think."
"Oh? And what is it you think I'm thinking?"
"That my intentions with Kagome are ignoble."
"Are they?"
Sasuke faltered and looked around the room. He let out a sigh and nodded his head. "I won't lie to you…I care for her."
"What are you hoping to achieve in my absence and what gall do you possess to think you can."
"With all due respect, sir. I don't hope to achieve anything. I am a man of honor and I do not believe in breaking a household."
Sesshomaru felt the heat fuming out of his collar. He inhaled the longest breath and turned his back on him.
"But…" Sasuke said, and Sesshomaru tilted his head, his ears listening in on what Sasuke was about to say. "If I may be bold, I really think you should make more of an effort to be there for her. And perhaps this will come off as rude, I've always loved Kagome and I made a very poor decision to let her go. It's a regret I have to live with. However, at any point, on her own terms, if she needed comfort, I wouldn't hesitate to give it to her."
Sasuke barely uttered the last word before Sesshomaru grabbed him by the collar. Everyone stared, his father among the crowd. His father made a face and Sesshomaru's fingers slowly uncoiled from Sasuke's collar.
"That is very bold of you." Sesshomaru simpered and forced his way through the crowd searching for Kagome. He saw the girls pop out of the women's bathroom and he brushed off any anger he harbored. His arms reached out to catch a very excited Kimora.
"Daddy! You came! You came! I knew you would!" he wrapped his arms around her tightly breathing in one of the many scents he'd missed. Kagome met his gaze and he rolled his eyes at her. Samara stayed behind all of them texting on her phone.
Kagome put her game face on and tried to act like everything was fine. She looked at Samara and placed her hand over her phone.
"Samara, why don't you give your father a proper greeting."
Samara's lips twitched. "For what? He'll be gone in a few hours."
Kagome noticed Sasuke in the crowd and he shot her a sympathetic look. He waved goodbye and she was about to wave but Sesshomaru's look of contempt made her think twice.
They followed their security to the limo as Kimora rambled on about her day.
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"No, no, no…the ice sculpture goes in the great room!" Lady Saya scolded as she waved her clipboard. "What is this? I specifically asked for half chocolate, half vanilla and you give me this crap? What am I supposed to do now! And you!" her heels clicked against the marble floor. "How many balloons do you plan on blowing before you bury us all?"
Kagome and Sesshomaru walked in holding mountains of presents. Samara ran past them up to her room while Kimora skipped with glee toward the great room.
"I can't do this anymore." Lady Saya pinched the bridge of her nose. "I forgot how stressful this is."
Kagome smirked. "Yep, and I sincerely appreciate all your help."
Lady Saya scowled. "They messed up the cake."
"What?" Kagome's eyes widened. "What did they send?"
"Pineapple crème"
"Who even likes that?" Kagome scoffed. "I guess I can bake one, but...it won't be ready until 8?"
"There's no time. The party is at four. I'll call everyone and change it to six. Saya protested.
"Ok, calm down. It's a little before noon, we have time. They don't have to eat the cake exactly at 6. We can stall. "
"I invited some really important people!"
"Honestly, Saya? You're using the girl's party for some political proposal, are you kidding me?"
"darling, after all these years, you should know if I see an opportunity, I take it."
"I thought you changed."
Saya smiled and looked at her nails. "Well, you're a fool to have been so hopeful! Seriously, we need a cake! A nice cake! Not some homemade…human contraption!"
"Listen, If I wasn't a lawyer, I would have made one helluva' baker!" Kagome frowned. "And don't underestimate what I can do!"
Sesshomaru made a remark under his breath and walked toward the kitchen.
"What's his problem?" Saya scrunched her nose.
Kagome leaned close to her and whispered, "Your little scheme just blew up in my face, thanks."
"Oh, he'll get over it." Saya walked away. "I need that cake, darling, I needed it yesterday. Run along now..." Saya waved her fingers toward the kitchen.
Kagome stormed off and pushed through the swinging doors. Sesshomaru was at the kitchen counter, his back toward her. She ignored him and went to the fridge.
"We need to talk." He said.
"Not now, I'm kind of busy."
"Yes, I can see that." He muttered and she frowned at him.
"Just say it already."
He crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. "Alright, I will. You want a divorce, let's get a divorce."
Kagome's mouth dropped and she tried hard not to show shock. She felt like someone just punched her in the stomach. She looked up, her breath shaking and frowned.
"What's the matter, isn't that what you want anyway?" He pulled his ring off his finger and set it beside her hand on the island counter. "I think you'll do just fine."
Kagome fought back angry tears but Sesshomaru raised his hand.
"Don't even dare. You have no right. You want to start crying like you're the one who's hurt? You've been effortlessly throwing those words at me for the last year. How does it feel?"
Kagome grabbed the box of flour from the cabinet and bit her lip.
"Can we not do this please?" she forced out.
"I don't understand." He pressed his palms on the counter and stared at her. "We spoke about this. I thought you understood. You said you understood."
"It's easier said than done, okay!"
"What is so hard about being loyal?"
"Wha-"she glared at him. "I have not been disloyal!"
"Whether that is true or not-"
"It is true!"
"You parading around the city at this man's side is disloyal. Are you really that desperate for attention! If I'm not giving it to you, you seek it somewhere else?"
"Stop being a jerk!" Kagome choked on a sob. "Don't make me out to be some whore, I'm your wife!"
"Then act like it!" his hand slammed on the edge of the counter.
"He's just a frie-"
"First of all, he's an ex." Sesshomaru pointed toward the window. "Let's make that clear. You bringing someone you have a romantic history with into my house, around my daughters is completely disloyal, not to mention, highly disrespectful!"
"You want to preach about disloyalty and disrespect? Having your bimbo secretary naked at your hotel door is disloyal!" she snapped and dropped the box of flour. "and disrespectful!"
Sesshomaru was at a loss of words and closed his eyes in frustration.
"Oh, you thought I didn't know about that? I have a lovely clipping from an Italian newspaper with her naked body at your hotel door!"
Sesshomaru rubbed his face. He realized he let the situation get out of hand. This was far from his intention. He knew he was being unreasonable but when he saw their hands clasped together, he could hardly keep it together.
"Listen…"he reached out to grab her hand.
"Don't touch me!"
"Kagome, listen..."
"I'm done listening! You always do this to me! You lure me with false hopes that things will go back to normal and then it's the same crap all over again. You thought you had all the ammo, didn't you? Acting like some chivalrous saint."
"We go through this all the time. It's the burden of our relationship to be under scrutiny at all times. You know that picture means nothing. However, I saw with my own eyes the closeness between you and him!"
"That was just bad timing."
"Oh?" Sesshomaru gave a wry laugh.
"Don't patronize me. He was trying to comfort me, as a friend."
"That man does not want to be your friend, Kagome. I hope you're not that naive."
"I know that but that doesn't mean I feel the same way. Besides, you claim the tabloids are fabricating a story behind you and your secretary, but answer this, why would she be at your door naked? What would compel her to think that it was okay to do that? Did you give her a reason?"
He was quiet for a moment and bowed his head. He just wanted the fighting to stop. This isn't what he wanted. But he knew it wouldn't end after what he was about to confess. He was an honest man and nothing would change that.
"I…had been drinking and it's possible during my inebriated state…I may have mistaken her for you and I…"he looked into Kagome's hurtful eyes and sighed. "I may have…inadvertently led her on."
Kagome's mouth dropped but nothing came out. She needed to get away from him immediately.
"Nothing happened. I knew right away it was a hallucination." He blocked her from leaving the kitchen. "Just stop, please. Nothing happened. It was a misunderstanding."
"And she is still working for you?" her voice cracked.
"I am letting her go. I just-"
"Just what? You make a surprise visit, accuse me of being unfaithful yet you're overseas having 'misunderstandings' with your secretary. How typical."
"Typical?" Sesshomaru spat. "I am just being honest with you. Would you have rather me lied?"
"YES!" Kagome retorted vehemently. She walked over to the sink and opened the box of flour.
"Is this a joke? Stop playing the victim. Do you even realize that I am actually working every day while you you frolic with an ex- lover over brunch and playdates?" Sesshomaru lowered his voice.
"I was humoring your mother!"
"Leave her out of this. I know you. She doesn't make you do anything you don't want to do."
Kagome bit the inside of her cheeks and laughed and it immediately turned into a sob. She wiped her tears on her sleeve and looked at the clock.
"I can't do this." She cast an exhausted look at him. "I can't…"
"Why would you do this to me?" Sesshomaru begged for an answer. He could hear the vulnerability in his tone and he resented her for doing that to him. All of his life, he worked to be impervious by all and had built a strong wall around him and she came along and easily knocked it down. He hated who he was becoming. He was being weakened by her. "Every single thing I've done was decided with you always on my mind. You have zero faith in us and I can't continue to be with someone who will easily throw in the towel when things get rough. Why must we keep coming back to this? I have established my feelings, I don't need to reiterate them every goddamn second! If you're so unsure, Kagome, then I surrender. I cannot continue fighting for you if you're just going to quit."
"You make it seem like I've made no effort!" she sniffed. "I have been fighting for you for 11 years! I am always competing for your attention, whether it is with your job, your clan, your family, I have been putting up the fight for a long time and I am fuckin' exhausted!" she slammed her hand on the counter.
"It hurts so much." She continued. "Not hearing from you for weeks. I've told you so many times that I want to be by your side, no matter what and you push me away because you say it's too dangerous. Am I supposed to stay in the sidelines for the rest of my life with you?"
Kagome threw the bowl of flour into the sink and wiped her hands. They were both quiet. He stared at her and all the things he had said was the opposite of what he wanted to do. He just wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her forever. As upset as he was, he just couldn't let her go. Before he could recant his feelings, she wiped her face and walked around the counter.
"I'm sorry you think I'm weak, but I am human, in case you forgot. I'm sorry I am prone to things like loneliness and depression. I tried to be strong for you, the girls…but I am just…tired."
"I've entrusted you to what's been going on, Kagome. Naraku's dead, because of me. You think I can live with myself if that happens to you or…our daughters? Seriously, what do you want me to do, I'll do it! I will drop everything, will that make it better?"
Kagome walked toward him, pressed her hand on his chest. She rubbed the lapel of his suit and looked up at him through her wet lashes. His hands hovered over her shoulders but he feared touching her. She would most likely brush him off.
"Yes, it would. You know why? Because we would deal with it case by case, together. I'm not a damsel that needs saving, Sesshomaru. I'm willing to fight by your side. So yes, I do want you to give it all up. But you never will, will you?"
She walked toward the table and grabbed her coat hanging from the chair.
"Where are you going?"
"I need air…" she sniffed. "I can't breathe…Haji!"
Haji was by her side within seconds and he cast a look of confusion to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru nodded and watched them leave. He heard the sound of the car start and he looked out the window. They drove off in a limo and he cursed under his breath. He stared down at the counter to reach for his ring. It glistened in the light. His fingers fumbled around it and his lips parted as his heart ached to see her ring lying next to it.