When My Heart Shatters

By Utena

Water Runs Dry

We don't even talk anymore

And we don't even know what we argue about

Don't even say I love you no more

'Cause saying how we feel is no longer allowed

Some people will work things out

And some just don't know how to change

Let's not wait till the water runs dry

We might watch our whole lives pass us by

Let's not wait till the water runs dry

We'll make the biggest mistake of our lives

Don't do it, baby

Now, they can see the tears in our eyes, yeah

But we deny the pain that lies

Deep in our hearts

Well maybe that's a pain we can't hide

'Cause everybody knows that we're both torn apart

Why do we hurt each other?

Why do we push love away?

-"Water Runs Dry" by Boyz II Men

A smile deepened upon her lips. "I'm here to represent Kagome in this entanglement."

"Kimi," Toga growled warningly. It was enough to see his ex-mate in front of him but to find out that she had come to meddle in the middle of a discussion over the fate of their son's mating. She had no reason to be here. Normally, she would have long since detached herself from the realities that held any problems belonging to her son. So, why was she here now? It did not make sense to Toga. Even the fact that she had come to represent Kagome did not make sense.

Toga folded his arms and narrowed his golden eyes narrowed. Kimi would only come if she had something planned. His ex-mate was devious and her appearance here in the Yokai Council meant she had come to play some of the cards she had prepared. What these were would be anyone's guess.

"Ah Toga," Kimi greeted her former mate, "I see you are not so happy to see me." She pouted slightly. "Here I thought my appearance would bring you much happiness."

"Why are you here, Mother?" Sesshomaru quietly demanded. He did not want the others in the Council to hear their discussion. He stepped forward to close the gap between them. His eyes roamed the faces of the others noting the smug look from Naraku and glare from Kikyo.

Kimi looked over at her son. "I told you that I am here to represent Kagome in this entanglement," she commented reminding him of her earlier statement. "Kagome asked me and her sister to represent her in this mess you have made of your mating."

"Why isn't Kagome here to do that for herself?" Sesshomaru seethed. He had planned a great apology here with the hopes of reconciling and leaving this whole thing behind. He knew that Sango still retained a presence, but he would get rid of the problem. He just had to figure out how.

"In your negligence, Kagome's health is in decline," she stated firmly. "She was left behind so that both Inuyasha and her adopted kit, Shippo, are taking care of her. "

Sesshomaru opened his mouth the say something negative, but his mother stopped him with a raise of a hand.

"No, Sesshomaru," she remarked angrily, "you betrayed her and insisted on Sango being a better choice for you. So now, you will deal with your own mistakes and let Kagome go free. I won't let you imprison her in this mating just so you can have your cake and eat it too. I won't allow this grievance to continue."

Kimi's eyes skimmed the crowd behind her son until they landed on Sango. A smile – an evil, devious smile – crept upon her lips. She could not wait until the time came for her to release her secret. She was rather looking forward to it….

…. And she could not wait to see the consequences that would come from the fallout from it.

"This is not finished –"Toga had started only to be cut off by the sound of the arrival of the yokai judges. He watched as Kimi, Naraku, and Kikyo sauntered over to the other side and took their places by their chairs.

In front of the entire court were five seats meant to hold a member of the four lords of the lands. The fifth one was held by one of the highest ladies – Kimi. With this court having to do with the Western Lands' royals, both Toga and Kimi had recused themselves from the court. It would not be fair if either had come to the council to make a judgment. Instead, both had a long trust that the other fair lords of the other realms would make the right judgment.

"All rise for the great Lords of the Court," the voice from the right ordered. From his place in the corner of the front left side, he could see the three lords enter the room and take their respective places in front of the court. "All be seated."

Sesshomaru took his seat and stole a glance over at his mother and sister-in-law. He had no idea that Kagome had become ill. He had never seen her sick since their mating, but since their marriage had been in decline, he had rarely paid mind to his mate. Maybe if he had, he would have sensed her illness.

So many what ifs dancing in your head, his beast noted hidden within the darkness of his mind.

Sesshomaru rubbed his aching temple. He was not going to dignify his beast with an answer. The point was mote if anything. The council room would think he was crazy for answering the beast within and certainly grant whatever power his mother had come to gain from here.

Yet, he wished more than anything he could see Kagome. He wanted nothing more than turn the hands of time backward just to erase this entire mess from this chapter of his life.

Within the deepest recess of his mind, his beast smiled allowing his sharp pointy fangs to show beneath the white silky fur of his mouth. The moment his mother arrived he could smell the plot coming from her skin. He knew that his mother always came to events with a plan up her sleeve. He just didn't know what she had planned, but whatever it was it could not be anything good for either Sesshomaru or that dirty slayer, Sango.

Raising his slender claw to his chin, he tapped lightly. The boy needed a lesson taught to him and perhaps a chance to learn what he had done was completely wrong. Nothing he did would be enough to salvage a second chance with Kagome. Now, he could step in and try to reconcile with the mate he had chosen the moment she had passed his person in the halls. Her smell had been pure, sweet, and floral. It was a scent that had captured him entirely and it was the woman who could hold herself against him that made him love her even more.

Well, that had been until Sesshomaru had long decided that the slayer had become a better match and a better chance to give him the heir he craved.

It was something the beast did not understand at all – the need for heirs. Yes, he understood the continuation of the line, but their purpose had not been necessary at this point between himself and Kagome. Her trouble becoming pregnant may be due to that small spark he could feel every time he had come into contact. The beast knew that she had come from a family of monks and Mikos; he surmised that it was just her power beneath her skin.

The Beast paused in his thoughts and strained to hear the outside world. He could hear talking but he could not make out anything that was being said. Perhaps it was time to inch closer to listen. After all, that idiot boy was far too busy listening to pay any mind to him.

Kikyo leaned back in her chair watching the three lords of the Yokai Council. It had been quite some time since she had seen them. As the mate of the second son, she rarely attended any of the bigger events that her sister had no choice but to participate in. It had been the one thing about being married to the heir that Kikyo did not envy. Kagome had always been the social butterfly between them. Kikyo may have been the eldest of the two, but she always did shelter her sister from the storms raging in life's realities.

Part of her wished that she had done everything – listened to her mate's everyday rants over his eldest brother. Maybe – just maybe – she would have been able to keep her sister from crossing paths with him.

"Don't worry, Kikyo," Naraku leaned in and whispered, "Kimi has everything planned. All we must do is watch the show."

Kikyo turned her head to glare at Naraku. She did not like how he openly tried to flirt with her by putting her at ease. If it had not been for the need for his co-operation, he would not be here beside her.

"I am well aware of it," Kikyo hissed quietly. "I don't need you to remind me of this."

She turned sharply away, folding her arms underneath her chest.

All this did was bring a smile to Naraku's lips.

"It is a rare case where we are called upon to discuss the break-down of a marriage once given hope by all those who once held a human close to their hearts," began Kirinmaru, the great Lord of the Eastern Lands. His dark eyes narrowed upon the elder son of the Western Lands.

"And yet, we have been called by Lord Toga of the Western Lands to discuss this matter and give forth our final decision once presented with evidence and witnesses," continued Gorai, the great Lord of the Northern Lands.

"As Lord Toga and Lady InuKimi have decided to recuse themselves for this," added Karou, the great Lord of the Southern Lands, "it will be left to our honest opinion to decide upon the result that is needed to either the ending of this mating or the continuation of it with the hopes of reconciliation."

"My Lords of the Council," Kimi was the first to speak and the first to rise to her feet. She had the determination to lead the story. "First, I must apologize to the Council over the fact that Kagome, current Lady of the Western Land, is indisposed and resting in an undisclosed area. I am taking care of Kagome's health and I have been monitoring her since I left. My stepson, Inuyasha, and Kagome's adopted son, Shippo, are both with her as well."

"She is sick?" Karou inquired leaning back in his chair and stroking the beard at his chin. "Could you explain, Kimi-sama?"

Kimi moved to the front of the table and answered, "She was in poor condition the negligence my son left her in." There was a small pause allowing Kimi to keep her emotions reigned in. Any slip of her mask would be trouble for her and Kagome.

"We nearly had to put her in a medically induced coma to force her body to recover," Kimi remarked. "She has recovered only slightly. Her body is resting and may take some time before her recovery."

"Would you like us to stop this here and set another time at which Kagome may attend?" Kirinmaru stated casting his dark eyes upon Toga and Sesshomaru.

Kimi shook her head and her lips curled into a rather dark smile. "Kagome wishes this to be over and done. Besides, I have someone I want to introduce before the Council that could help to bring quite a bit of chaos."

Gorai raised a thin brow and then looked over to his other two colleagues. Kimi had piqued his interest. He knew that there had been a reason why Kimi had come to the Council not as one of the members, but as one of the players in this game. He had seen she had set up the chess board and began setting up her little soldiers and royals upon the board. He had to admit this was going to be interesting,

"I suppose we should let you set it all up, Kimi-sama," Gorai replied and gestured that the floor was now hers. " Would you like to begin opening arguments?"

"Of course, I would," she answered and turned herself around to face the yokai and that of her own family. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to begin this with…."

Chapter End