She calls, but he doesn't answer.

From his desk in his office, Sesshoumaru slants a look at his phone as her name pops up on the screen. But he doesn't give it more than a second of his attention before turning back to his work.

Doesn't listen to the voicemail that pops up a minute later.

Ignores the hollow that begins to form in his chest.

A couple of hours later, he has a text message from her and makes the mistake of reading it.

Hey! I'm home now! Did you get caught up at work?

He swallows, throat thick.