Chapter 4: Friends?

It had been an entire day since I had left my "home" Kouga would be back from his conference sometime by tomorrow, and he is going to lose it when he realizes I'm not there. Sesshomaru hadn't said a word to me since we arrived, till now.

He tugged at my hair. "I've been meaning to ask you this. Why have you dye your hair blonde?"

"Oh this, Kouga told me to. He likes blondes."

He scoffed. "Of course, he did. We could dye it back to its normal color if you'd like."

I smiled. "That would be nice, thank you."

He sat on the bed beside me. "What could you have possibly seen in someone like him?"

"He wasn't always like this. We met our junior year in high school after you had left. He was sweet back then; he would buy me the cutest things. Tell me I'm beautiful every chance he'd gotten. Then, after our senior, he asked me to move in with him and I'd said yes. Against my sister's wishes of course. Sango could always tell when someone was bad news, but of course, I didn't listen. He proposed two years later, obviously, I said yes. He was the love of my life then. Everything was great until… he had graduated from medical school. When he'd become an official doctor, he just changed... something in him snapped. It was hell from there till now."

He held my hand, slightly squeezing it. "How badly has he hurt you?" His amber orbs burned holes into my chocolate ones.

"Over the years, he's managed to break both my arms. My left leg, six fingers, three toes, and my nose... tough Love is what he calls it. Seven, he broke my middle finger twice." I held up my splint-wrapped finger.

He pulled me into him, embracing me tightly. He smelled nice; his smell hasn't changed since then. He always smelled of roses.

"I'm sorry." He whispered in my ear. "If I had stayed, none of this would have happened."

"It's okay," I told him. "Don't blame yourself. You couldn't have known this would happen."

He looked me in the eyes cupping my cheeks. "No. I take full responsibility. If I was there for you, none of this would have happened and... Bankotsu would still be here."

I smiled at him. "You know, you're more kind than you let on."

He laughed. It's been a long time since I'd heard that laugh. "I am not kind. Merely understanding." He corrected.

We watched the sun go down. The room became darker, the moonlight was the only thing that kept it lit. I had missed this, now I remembered why we were friends. I was the only one who understood him. He kept me close while he pushed everyone else away. He was gazing at the moon, through the balcony doors. It's reflection, bouncing off his amber eyes. He had caught me staring.

He smirked. "It's impolite to stare."

"Oh, I'm sorry I just... couldn't help myself." I kept on staring.

He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "Like something you, see?"

I felt my face get hot; I knew I was blushing. "W-what n-no it's not like that I just..."

He slid closer leaning in, our noses touching. "So, you do not find me attractive."

"I do I... I... I um."

He chuckled at my stammering." Do you want to know the real reason why I came back Kagome?"

"The real reason? I thought that..."

"I lied." He slid me onto his lap.

"I'm here because I couldn't bear to be without the woman, I've been in love with for so many years."

I was stunned, Sesshomaru was in love with me? It all made sense now. Why he's trying to get me away from Kouga. Why he was willing to go to such lengths to keep me safe.

"Say something anything." He inched his lips closer and closer to my own.

A million questions flew through my mind. Oh god did I want him to kiss? If I did, would I kiss him back? Have I always had feelings for him? I could feel his breath on my lips... then, his cell phone rang. The irritation shone on his face.

"Hello?" He signed. "Yes, she is right here." He handed me the phone.

"Hello?"

"Kagome, it's me Sango. Thank God you finally left that prick. Please tell me you're going to divorce him."

"I don't think I should have left. Maybe if I go back right now, he-"

"Kagome stop it! For whatever reason you've been with him for this long, it can't be more important than you're life. I'm sorry I'll talk to you later Rin is waking up."

She had no idea how important this was. Me being with him kept them all safe. I handed his phone back to him. He seemed upset.

"Are you okay Sesshomaru?"

"I am fine, goodnight." He walked out of my room closing the door behind him. Was it something I said?