Chapter 15

Takeda Sesshoumaru, Heir to the Takeda Family Enterprise looked himself over in the mirror. He was...nervous. He and Kagome had a date tonight, they were to go to dinner, but he asked her to come up to the penthouse for a moment. She was in the elevator.

Taking a deep breath, he nodded to his suit clad image and went to meet the lift before the doors opened. She walked in, looking as breathtaking as always, this time in a floral number that showed off her shoulders and flowed to her knees. They shared a kiss in greeting, and he led her to the living area.

"What's all this?" she asked, looking curiously at the chair set up in the middle of the room with a heavy looking suitcase beside it. "Am I going to get a show?" she asked, grinning naughtily.

He laughed, some of the tension leaving his body, though the majority remained.

"Actually," he started, then released a deep breath. She then noticed that he was a bit tense.

"I wanted to play for you" he whispered into the quiet room. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in shock. He had never played for her before. She didn't even know he still played music. It was a topic that wasn't really brought up because she knew the painful emotions behind it.

"Thank you." she said honestly, feeling warm that he wanted to share this with her. "I'd love that."

He led her to sit on the couch while he got ready in the chair in front of the window. The city scape and moon framing him in a beautiful composition.

His nerves increased as he set up his beloved instrument. This was a big step for him, for them. But he felt like it was necessary to show her that he felt strongly. InuYasha had pushed for him to do something. Gruffly telling him what Kikyo had learned about how Kagome felt about their relationship and the fact that she unlisted her apartment in Monte Carlo as a rental.

'Normally I don't want to get into your business, but Kikyo thinks you need to do something. And I agree, you need to get your ass in gear. This whatever the fuck is going on ain't helping nobody.' InuYasha had said. And while he could have been more tactful, he was correct. So here he was, heart on his sleeve, about to show her all of himself and he hoped it was enough for them to step over that chasm they had been dancing around.

She was leaving in a few days and they only had so much time before then. She promised that it wouldn't be a long trip, but he knew he had to do this for her, for them.

Kagome sat comfortably and held her breath as he began, the first few notes floating tenderly through the silent room. He didn't have any sheet music so she knew this must be a much-loved piece for it to be played entirely from memory. The chords and progressions floated through her as she watched him expertly control the instrument.

He was beautiful.

Her heart thudded, in her chest and she was captive to his spell. He kept his eyes closed, emoting through his motion as if he were on stage leading the Japan Philharmonic through this piece. The piece itself was dramatic, going through varying levels of peaceful, and beautiful long high, sometimes piercing notes. Then there were the deeper more guttural portions that sped up and seemed more stilted and jagged.

The ebb and flow was exquisite, no doubt a piece that took years to master. She wondered at the composer, for a moment before being swept away in the music that was being played for her and her alone. She idly thought it represented him in a way. And as if a lightbulb went off, she realized that that might be the reason he chose this peace.

As the last notes faded into the night, Sesshoumaru opened his eyes to gauge her reaction. She was standing with her hand over her mouth and tears in her eyes. Gently he laid the cello and bow on its side and walked quickly over to her, hoping everything was okay.

She stepped into his arms, and looked up at him, awe shining in her clear blue eyes. Tugging his head down, she kissed him with everything she had in her. She put all of her emotions in that one kiss that almost had her knees buckling at the intensity he returned.

"That was beautiful. Thank you" she whispered reverently, as they broke apart. "Thank you for sharing that with me."

"Thank you for listening." he replied, just as softly.

They stood in silence for a moment, just staring into each other's eyes and then he kissed her again, softly, sweetly.

"Kagome, I love you." He said seriously, she smiled happily as she did the first time. Still excited to hear the words coming from his lips. She was confused, however, when he stepped away from her. That confusion quickly morphed into a stunned expression as he got down on one knee before her. Her eyes widened and mouth dropped in bewilderment as she watched him lift a velvet box from his pocket and raised it to her in askance.

"Kagome, I love you." He said again, opening the box. "Will you marry me?" heart in his eyes, he waited nervously as she seemed to jump start her brain.

"Oh my, a-are you sure?" she whispered, hesitant, pinching herself to see if she was dreaming. He nodded once, swiftly, tense.

"Yes." she whispered again, fresh tears spilling from her eyes. He released a deep breath before standing, lifting the glittering ring from its pillow and sliding it home on her finger. He kissed her strongly once more.

"This is beautiful Sess." she cooed, admiring how perfect it fit her even matching her sparkly French manicure. The 3-carat solitaire sparkled atop the equally glittering infinity band as the ring sat snugly as if it had always been there. She looked up at him. "Is this for real?" she giggled, unable to keep the goofy grin off her face.

"I've had this ring since Christmas." he murmured, she gasped in realization of just how long ago that was. It was late May. She then froze, wondering if they were ready for this step. It was easy to get consumed in all the happy emotion, but had they really deserved this moment? She fingered the ring on her slender finger, was it right for her to accept this?

He felt her stiffen in his arms knew he would need to do more than just present her a pretty ring and assume everything would be fine. He eased back, holding her away from him so he could look directly into her eyes. The hesitancy there stung, but he had been the one to put it there, with his poor reaction and then inaction.

He did everything wrong.

"I have no excuses for what I did, I did everything incorrectly, and allowed insecurities to grow between us like weeds. I was stupid, and I got in our way. But, I promise, no more mistakes." He continued, seriously. Assuredly. "I learned what it was like without you in my life and I never want to feel that way again. Please give me another chance, give us another full chance."

She took her time, and watching him, the earnest emotion in his face, his eyes full of emotion, of hope. Reaching up, she brushed her fingers over his cheeks. Reminding herself that it was her life and she had always been a person to go after what she wanted.

And she wanted him.

What happened was in the past, the past hurt sometimes but you learn from it. And of all the things he's done to prove his remorse, this mattered the most.

She eased up and kissed him tenderly in her response. Wrapping her arms around his neck in her familiar posture. He pulled her into his chest tightly, kissing her back as deeply as he could.

They stood there under the light of the moon, just basking in each other.

"So, Fiancé." she teased after a while, a stupid grin on her features "I think we should get a head start on practicing for our wedding night."

His grin mirrored hers, "I think we could try a bunch of different things, see what works best."

She laughed aloud as he hefted her into his arms and took the stairs two by two.

And that weekend, after the Grand Prix was raced and won and the champagne finished spraying, they spent the evening making love in her Monte Carlo apartment.

.:o0o:.

*looks on in excitement* Well?

For Reference, the cello piece is Brahms: Cello Sonata No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 38 - I. Allegro non troppo.

So technically this is the end of the story. *dodges rotten fruit and veggies* BUT I wrote an epilogue. I really love this universe, so I'll probably write another drabble/one shot or two about their dates or whatever. We see what inspires me.