Chapter 11

Kagome stared listlessly out the window at the heavy layer of snow on the ground. Things had changed in a big way. Touga and her Grandfather didn't take the news of the Naraku Incident well. They were more upset that they couldn't do anything as the man was in police custody. So instead they ran a sort of smear campaign against him, blackballing him from the industry if he were to somehow beat the charges.

That was about a month ago.

The news cycle had finally let the whole situation go and the company had not been negatively affected. If anything, the brand had been bolstered in their public image, people were happy at their outing and ousting of a sexual offender. This also allowed for other women to come forward, accusing Tanaka Naraku of various sexual offenses against them.

Touga had offered her Naraku's position as another form of reparation, but she turned him down, not wanting to have anything to what that man had before. Instead, she was in sort of a hybrid role that she found more comfortable and suited to her. She didn't think she had the executive life in her.

Her mother and Izayoi gave her time to think through her emotions but reminded her that she needed to make a decision. She couldn't stay stagnant. She had done a lot of thinking in the last weeks. 'Too much' she thought with a sigh. But still, it was needed.

While she would never forget, she felt like she came to terms with what happened with Naraku. Beating herself up about not reporting him before won't change the fact that he assaulted her and that was not her fault. If anything it made her raise her guard up higher now and she was unafraid to let people, especially men, know vocally that they made her uncomfortable.

Working in the office of course led to seeing Sesshoumaru. They've spoken topically since she asked for space. It was obvious that things were different. He looked as perfect as always in his suits, with his hair up or down but knowing him as intimately as she did, she saw that he was still feeling horribly guilty. She'd gotten gifts over the time away; things he knew she would enjoy. Things she wished she were getting under different circumstances.

She couldn't sugar coat it or deny it, she was devastated. His lack of faith in her stung in a way she hadn't realized could hurt. It ached like a physical pain. She thought back to their relationship, as short as it was (only a few months old), she thought they were so good for each other, happy. They had been open and honest from the first day and she wondered if there were things he hid from her, even from back then.

There was a knock on her door and it brought her out of her thoughts, she realized she'd started crying again. Wiping her eyes, she glanced over in the mirror to see if her makeup had run. She needed to look normal today, and normal meant perfect.

"Come." she called, seeing her mother in the threshold.

The older woman looked at her kindly, seeing through the facade she tried to put up, but the nonchalance didn't quite meet her eyes. "Are you ready, Love?" she asked.

Kagome nodded in response and reached for her handbag and coat. They were going to the Takeda estate. It had been decided over Christmas that she would make her grand decision this day, obviously a happier result had been everyone's expectation. She had hoped she could have replied absentee, but she would not dishonour herself and her family like that.

Sesshoumaru for his part was miserable. Anyone close to him could see. He rarely ever put things to chance, to hope for a particular outcome. But he spent the morning praying to any deity he could think of, for another opportunity.

He fucked up. It was simple as that.

This would have been an easier, more straightforward situation if there had been some form of pre-existing fear or suspicion. But there wasn't. She hadn't given him any reason to think she would, or even could. She had even confided that she had been cheated on in her last relationship. Why would he let that be the first reaction?

He had wondered if he had been looking for something to go wrong, maybe subconsciously, because he remembered they were happy. He had been happy. He enjoyed spending time with her, sharing things with her. Just her.

He looked down at the velvet box he couldn't seem to put down as of late. He had gotten it during the Christmas holiday when this day had been selected but had waited for the perfect time to present it.

He had wanted to catch her off guard, sure they were already working towards marriage but that didn't mean he couldn't put some effort in. And in the past month he hadn't seemed to be able to put the damn thing down. Maybe he was punishing himself, it represented better times, things he could have had.

Closing the box and putting it back in its drawer at his bedside, he quit the room. She was coming over to seal their fate.

.:o0o:.

The room was quiet, tense. Touga and Izayoi sat at the central table with Suzuka and Hitomi sitting across from them, the four talking quietly. Behind and off to the side of them, sat their children. Souta, the Higurashi Heir sat stiffly across from Sesshoumaru who lounged seemingly carelessly. Kagome sat across from InuYasha, the former trying to not meet the latter's eyes.

Sesshoumaru couldn't keep his eyes off of her. She was sitting quietly, eyes off to the side. She seemed a world away. His heart clenched. He had hoped she would look at him, smile at him. That she wasn't even mentally there only meant one thing to him.

In one graceful movement, he stood and silently left the room. Protocol be damned. The parents paused in their deliberation and Izayoi looked at the retreating form of her stepson, then glanced over at the silent Kagome. She grabbed Touga's hand and called out to her.

"Kagome dear?" The younger woman looked over; her cerulean eyes dulled.

"Yes, Auntie Izayoi?" even her voice was airy, absent.

"Do you find InuYasha suitable for marriage?" she asked, hearing her son tense behind her.

Kagome bowed her head before shaking it. "He is unsuited to me." She took a breath, breaking protocol by continuing; "If I may make a suggestion, he is more suited to Takahashi Kikyo, and she to him." she fell silent again.

Izayoi fell silent and glanced at Touga. They had known their son was dating Kikyo, so this was no surprise, Kagome's blessing was also unsurprising as Kikyo was her cousin.

"Do you find Sesshoumaru suitable for marriage?" she asked again softly. Watching the younger woman tense then released a shaky breath.

"I am unsuited to him." her voice cracked, but she said her piece. And it was the truth. They were unsuited, but she was more so unsuitable for him. Why else would he have assumed what he did?

InuYasha's eyes widened and his head whipped to his parents who were glancing at each other silently, sadly.

"Then it is concluded." Suzuka said wearily. He wondered where the children went wrong. It was his assumption that they had been happy together. They sure made quite a fetching pair.

"Wh- No!" InuYasha protested. "Don't do this. Kagome!"

Kagome lifted her lips in a sad smile, fighting back tears. "Think about the positives Yasha, at least you and Kiki can have your time now."

"You can't do this to him, to both of you. Can't you see that you love each other?" he cried, trying to reason with her. She stilled and her sad smile disappeared.

"Then why aren't we happy?" she whispered brokenly.

InuYasha was at a loss. He had no response to her admission. Izayoi squeezed her husband's hand, her other covering her mouth mirroring the shock on Hitomi's own face.

Kagome sniffled once, before standing from her seiza and leaving the room quickly, unwilling to cry in front of everyone.

She made her way to the sunroom, hoping to disappear in between all the plants but stopped short when she saw Sesshoumaru. He stood in the middle of the humid room, staring out the window to the snow-covered garden. As still as a statue.

She turned quickly to make a beeline away from the room, but she made too much noise and he turned and called out to her. She stilled, and looked at him, still half turned away. He took her in, she dressed prettily as always. He sighed, knowing he was stalling.

"This is my fault." he said quietly, "I did this to us, and I am sorry, so very sorry." A tear ran down her cheek, followed by another, before she sniffled and managed to hold the rest back. He wanted to take her into his arms and console her, but he lost that privilege.

Kagome dabbed her eye lightly, knowing she was losing the battle with her tears. She stepped closer to him and he leaned into her unconsciously. Her heart ached, she wanted to just throw her arms around him and have him hold her, but she couldn't. They were broken. His fractured trust in her, in them, created a canyon that she wasn't sure they could cross.

Cupping his cheek lightly, he closed his eyes and leaned into her touch, she bit her lip, taking him in. she kissed his cheek lightly.

"Goodbye Sesshoumaru" she whispered, before walking away.

And he let her.

.:o0o:.

I'm sorry its been so sad. Please don't hate me.