Title: A Christmas to Remember
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha and Co.
Summary: "Tell me Higurashi, did you and the mythological Lord have tea together?" Her teacher asked sarcastically. "No professor, The Lord of the Western lands and I never had tea together, although we did spend Christmas together." was her simple reply. S/K
A/N: Okay, so I got back home on late Sunday. I had initially been planning on posting an update on Monday. Yet, as luck would have it, I came back home with cold, fever—the whole package. Not only that, I had my diva go back to school today! (So there is that chaos going through my house, lol.) That being said, as I was driving halfway across the country, I realized that my muse had kept going in regards to both of my stories. Since I did not have my laptop, I just typed up my thoughts on my phone, haha. Thanks for being so patient in regards to the updates!
When he had beckoned her to the bed, she had thought to fight him and possibly argue. All it took was the flashbacks to the lesson. With those thoughts so fresh in her mind, she decided it was far too soon to challenge the alpha again. She had planned to prove him wrong, and to show him that a nap was not required. What she had not planned was falling into a deep sleep the moment her head had hit the pillow. As she drifted off to sleep, she reluctantly admitted that the Daiyoukai knew more about her own exhaustion than she did.
Yet, when she woke up, she realized several different things. Her phone had continued to vibrate several times and thus had been the reason for her waking up. Feeling oddly refreshed, she grabbed her phone and noticed that she had missed calls from her professor. Shit. How long had it been? How many days of classes had she missed? Groaning, she ran her fingers through her hair while contemplating on what her options were.
How had she failed to keep up with current events and responsibilities? She couldn't help but cringe at her situation. Everything had happened all at once and now, it seemed the only thing on her mind had been her former companions. Yet, as life continued on—so did her duties and responsibilities. Quickly, she assessed the most important topics to handle for the day.
Rent, school, Eri, and—Shippo!
She had meant to ask about him but hesitated when he wasn't mentioned by Sesshoumaru or Koga. She had known why Rin, Sango, Miroku and the rest were not brought up—they were humans. Naturally, that had meant death, and sorrow…and she was not sure if she was ready to speak of such things. However, Shippo had been a youkai, and one of the youngest there. He had to have survived.
At some point during the information overload, she had decided she would ask at the council meeting—but now she was hesitant. If the participants there were truly as terrifying as Sesshoumaru had made them out to be, would it be smart to reveal someone that she held dear? Still, her heart ached for her kit—no matter how grown he would be.
Turning on her voicemail, she began to listen her professor speak and was quickly surprised by what was being relayed over the message. Her professor had stated that he hoped she was recovering from her injuries and that extensions would be given for any assignments. He had then mentioned her request had been accepted. Her request? What request? Better yet, who had informed the school that she had been injured?
Sesshoumaru.
He had popped in her mind rather quickly but yet again, she hesitated. How would he have known all the details of her courses, her college and everything else? Getting herself out of bed, she decided she would find out. As she let out a stretch, she began to quickly make her way to his study.
Except he wasn't' there.
Or the range.
Or even the kitchen.
That had been the reason she had taken it upon herself to search for her Alpha. It had not been hard to search for his Youki—but that didn't mean that she should have been so careless. It was without care or worry that Kagome Higurashi had rather loudly opened the door behind the mysterious room and instantly regretted her decision.
Mildly irritated amber eyes met her sapphire ones. Without hesitation, he raised a brow in question, and she couldn't help but slowly back away from the entrance. Hearing his sigh, a demand followed shortly after.
"Come."
She was hesitant. She had all but opened his door unannounced and without a care in the world, to find the Lord of the Western Lands lounging in his bed topless. Still, she knew better than to ignore his order. Reluctantly, and much more carefully, she approached the Inu.
"Miko, I am not going to bite. Now, come."
He had beckoned her to sit on his bed—oddly enough, much as she had to him. Even though the situation was similar, it was much different. When she had asked him to sit on her bed, she had done just that—asked. The Inu had demanded. Nervously, she approached his bed and finally managed to plop herself down.
It was after a long moment of silence that she realized he was waiting for her to speak, and once again, she could not help but wonder if he enjoyed making her feel like an idiot. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she turned to face him, all the while attempting to ignore possible thoughts of the half-naked Inu from entering her mind.
"My professor called—"
"Ahhh, yes. I was going to commend you on your decision to finish your class online." His voice held humor and amusement while she took in his words. Online class? Her decision? Yet she hadn't made such a decision.
"But I didn't—" She was confused at first, but it wasn't until his next comment that realization dawned on her.
"Oh?"
Fake shock appeared on the Inu's face and she did not know if to laugh or glare at the Daiyoukai. She decided that annoyance was far better than allowing him to think he could take such liberties with her life.
"Sesshoumaru, you can't just—"
"You desire to aid with the council, live in our world, train, and take up classes that hold no relevance to your degree?"
This time his question shocked him. Apparently, he had done his homework on her. Kagome gave an annoyed glanced as she took in all the information. Reluctantly, she admitted that there was truly only one reason why she had taken her current class. Them. She had finished her degree last year, and this class had appeared shortly after. Naturally, she could not help but enroll back for that course alone. It had been her last hope.
"Shinji was the individual that spoke on your behalf."
Shinji? Suddenly it made much more sense. He had known the professor on a personal level as it was, and so it would have been easier to converse on her behalf. Oddly, she felt more at ease knowing that Sesshoumaru hadn't investigated her entire life. Had he taken up such a task, he would have no doubt been sorely disappointed at her life. After all, she was confident he had expected much more from the woman whom had helped save the world.
She had been so out of her thoughts that she nearly jumped when she felt a firm arm on her shoulder causing her to go from sitting on the bed to that of laying. Turning to Sesshoumaru in shock, she allowed herself to reluctantly lay down on the bed.
"Uhh…"
"I am your alpha and yet you are nervous near me. Tell me, how believable is such a thing?"
Another lesson. It had seemed that ever since she had chosen him, he had turned everything into a test. Letting out a sigh of relief, she plopped her head on his pillow. Allowing her body to relax, she couldn't help but laugh at the situation at hand. Here was the Lord of the Western Lands lounging in bed—and her right next to him.
All for the sake of training.
"Good."
Ignoring his comment, she began to once again think of everything that had occurred. When she had initially thought of training, she had thought it would be consistent training on different subjects—and yet, somehow, he had incorporated everything smoothly into everyday life. From leaving her present on the counter to waiting for her to throw her temper tantrum. Everything had been done based on her actions.
Koga.
Choosing an alpha.
Training her miko powers.
How to behave towards an alpha.
All of it. Everything she did seemed to hold a lesson without her realization. Had he expected her behavior before she had? Even this, he had somehow managed to formulate into a lesson.
Surviving council politics.
Well, if he was constantly two steps ahead of her, he would have no problem with her firing off some questions—in fact, he should have known they were coming. Turning to face him, she was surprised to find that his gaze never wandered off her. Deciding that it was better to know now, she asked the question that had been on her mind since she had left the Feudal Era.
"Shippo."
"Your kit. You waited a while to ask about him." He had not even flinched or seemed surprised at the mention of him, but he revealed nothing. Was this a test? Was she supposed to do something? If there was something that was not allowed to be a test—it was this. Trying to control her anger, she closed her eyes while mentally began to count to three.
One.
Two.
"He is flying back from America."
Her eyes snapped open in shock, and she couldn't stop the squeak of happiness that escaped her. Her kit. Her Shippo. He was alive! Suddenly tears began to fall while she laughed and sobbed all at once. Wiping her face, she stared at Sesshoumaru in awe and wonder. Why hadn't the jerk just told her sooner?
"I was sure you would have asked about his whereabouts much sooner."
Even with his comment, she had heard the words that he had not spoken. He had waited to see if something had changed. If the kit was no longer her priority. Had he truly thought she would have forgotten him? Forgotten them?
And then it hit her—Rin.
Had he not mentioned Shippo in fear of mentioning Rin? Had he thought that she had truly forgotten both of them? Instantly, the laughter disappeared and only sobbing remained. He had to know that would not have ever forgotten her. He had to. Wiping away the constant fall of tears, she tried to speak.
"Sesshoumaru…"
But she couldn't get the words out. She kept trying but the sobs wouldn't stop—and she just couldn't find the right words. There was no way to tell him without causing more pain. There was no way to make him realize that she had loved that little girl as much as he had. How had he not known such a thing?
She had expected him to ignore her, or possibly walk away. Maybe even to be annoyed at that fact that she was too weak to ask, or too unsure of how to tell him. What she had not expected was for him to pull her against his chest. What she had not expected was the words that came next.
"Rin honored you—like you honored her. I saw the window, little miko. Your actions were worth more than any words could be."
A/N: Guys, i'm still not over my cold from hell, but i'm trying to fight through it. Hopefully, you will be getting multiple updates a week once it's gone and i'm feeling better. Until then, I can only try my best!