Chapter 5: Run-Ins

I had been trying to get his attention all morning. He just continued to ignore me. The nerve of him. I had done absolutely nothing wrong.

"Sesshomaru." He continued to make his coffee.

I slapped it out of his hand, the glass crashing to the floor. It was childish but I had had enough.

He glared at me. "Stop ignoring me."

"What is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you? You've been ignoring me since last night, and I haven't done anything wrong."

"Woman, how dense are you? All I want, all I'm trying to do is help you get away from him. To keep you safe. I tell you I'm in love with you and all you can think about is going back to him!"

"I-"

"Don't even give me that it's for my family bullshit. I can keep them safe. I can keep you safe. Just... just give me a chance."

"Promise me. Promise that you'll keep my family safe."

He towered over me, cupping my face. "I promise you."

I wanted him to kiss. Worse than I did last night. I slipped my arms around his neck pulling him closer to me, where have I been hiding my feelings for him this entire time. Then, the god damn phone rang, again

He groaned, answering it. Not moving from the position were in.

"Hello... Hn I see... yes, it'd be smart not to call for a while." He hung up the phone

"Is everything alright?" I asked him.

"That was Sango, Kouga has returned. He dropped by her house just now."

"Oh my god is she okay? What about Rin? Miroku?!"

"She's fine. They're all fine, apparently, Kouga went ballistic trying to find you. He told her, that if he found out any of our family members were helping to hide you. There would be hell to pay."

"Oh god no, Sesshomaru what am I going to do?"

"I'll take care of it."

I watched as he whipped out his phone. He made a call to someone named Hiten. Apparently, he was the head of his security. I listened in on the call as Sesshomaru gave Hiten instructions to station at least at my sister's house. Sesshomaru asked for my mother's home address, he had 3 men stationed there as well. His instructions were clear. Stay hidden and stop Kouga by any means necessary.

He backed away. "There. It's taken care of."

"What now? Am I supposed to stay in hiding with you forever?"

"As enticing as that may sound. No, you cannot. When you feel ready, I suppose we could take this matter up with my lawyers. Get you a divorce, restraining order. Etcetera."

"That's a start," I said.

"Would you like to go out?"

I looked at him strangely. "Out?"

"Yes, out as in outside. Maybe for dinner."

I smiled so hard my face hurt. "Sesshomaru Taisho, are you asking me out on a date?"

He laced his fingers with mine. "I suppose I am. So, what do you say?"

"I'd love to have dinner with you."

"Great. I'll go get my keys."

I watched him run upstairs. Maybe he really was my savior. During all this madness he was keeping me sane. With him, I can be... normal. Even if it's only a matter of time before I'm thrown back into the spiral of doom that is my life. He came back down, skipping the last step. I'm just grateful for the time we have now.

"Let's go."

I followed him outside, into the car. We drove for about an hour or so.

"What is this place?"

"I remembered how much you love sushi. So, I thought I'd bring you here."

I felt the corners of my mouth turn up. "This is so sweet of you. Thank you for this."

I laced my fingers with his. We walked into the restaurant, the waiter showing us to our table.

"Hello good evening Mr. Taisho, will it be the usual."

He nodded.

"I thought you just moved back. How do they know you already?"

"I own the place."

I laughed. Hadn't done that in a while, it felt nice... genuine. "Exactly how many places do you own?"

"Many."

We locked eyes. He placed his hand on mine, stroking my wrist with his thumb. It's like time had slowed down. How had I not realized my feelings for him?

"Kagome, when this is all over. I would like for us to..."

"To what?"

"I would like for us to be in a relationship. I don't mean to rush things. It's been a long time and I don't want to wait any longer than I must. I know that you're hurt and scared, but I will never hurt you. I could never bring myself to harm you."

"If this all works out... It wouldn't hurt to try."

He let out a sigh of relief.

"Hello and I've brought your food."

I knew that voice.

She set the food down. "Kagome?" She grinned at me. She came closer whispering in my ear.

"My brother is looking for you, you know. I'll be sure to give him a call and let him know... how you've been doing." Her eyes darted towards Sesshomaru.

I watched her walk away. "We need to leave. Now!"

"What's wrong? Who was that?"

"That's Kouga's sister. We need to leave now. Oh god, I knew I shouldn't have left." I ran out of the restaurant and kept running. It was hard night I'd been sitting in that park for God knows how long. Midoriko knows. Kouga will find me. It's over, I don't know why I ever thought this would work. I've put my entire family in danger, how could I be so stupid. I buried my face in my hands. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Oh god! Sesshomaru how did you find me?"

"When we were kids, you'd always go to the park to clear your head. There are only four parks in this neighborhood, so it wasn't that difficult. "

"Sesshomaru, I've screwed up, and someone's going to pay for this. If it isn't me, he's going to hurt my family I have to go back."

"Kagome, you cannot go back to him. Your family is under my protection, no harm will come to them."

"One condition."

"Anything."

"I want to see my mother. Just once just to make sure she's okay."

"Absolutely not. Anything but that he could be watching. Waiting for you to show up."

"Please, I just need to make sure she's okay. Please Sesshomaru, come with me. Make sure that I'm safe."

"That would be most unwise."

"Please. I'll find my own way there if I have to."

He sighed. "Fine. We'll go tomorrow."

I smiled. "Thank you Sesshomaru."

The drive back to the lake house was silent. I stood in the bathroom, looking myself over in the mirror. The bruising on my cheek had gone away. The small cuts from the coffee table had gone too. I wrapped myself in a towel and went to Sesshomaru's room.

I knocked on the door. "Come in.

I entered closing the door behind me. "Is there something you need Kagome?"

"Would it... be okay if I slept in here tonight? I don't want to be alone."

He seemed surprised. "Come."

I slid under the sheets snuggling up to him, while he read his book.

"Are you going to tell me what that woman said to you at the restaurant?"

"She told me that, she'd be sure to let Kouga know exactly what I was doing. That'll send him on the warpath. If he wasn't already on one."

"Why? What would she gain from this?"

"Me being in pain. That's what she'd get out of this. In some ways, she's worse than Kouga. He'd invited her to stay with us once. She asked me, more like demanded I make her dinner. I told her no... when Kouga came home from work. She told him that she'd caught me flirting with the man that lived next door. That night he'd broken my arms, and my nose."

I looked up at him, the anger played out on his features.

"He believed her, just like that?"

"Of course, he did. That's his baby sister. He didn't even bother to hear my side of the story. The messed-up part is our neighbors are women."

He pulled me closer kissing my forehead. "I'll get you out of this. Don't worry, I'm here for you. He'll never get near you, as long as I'm around."

I looked into his eyes. "I sure hope so Sesshomaru. I sure hope so..."