Chapter 22 - Deja vu

"H-Hojo what are you doing?"

"Where is he, where is my brother!?"

I slowly stood up. "Please listen to me. He can't be trusted."

"Shut up, you don't know what you're talking about. He's the only family I have left."

"He's planning to kill you." I lied.

"W-what?"

"After he gets rid of me. He said he'll tie up the last loose end.. which is you." I lied again

In that moment Kouga came tumbling down the stairs. I took my window of opportunity while Hojo was distracted. I made a mad dash for the door. The sound of a gun shot rang in my ears. A sharp pain struck my shoulder. I fell to my knees, I shot back up. I refused to go back there.. into that room. Through my blurred vision, I saw a neighbor opening her front door. I sprinted across the street, clutching my bloody oozing shoulder.

"Oh my god are you okay."

"Please... help me." I gasped.

She brought me inside slamming the door behind her. She left me for a second, returning with a towel wrapping it around my shoulder.

"My name is Ayame, can you tell me what happened?

"Two men... they're ... after me." I said, gasping for air.

"I'll call the police don't move."

Don't move she said. As if I was going anywhere. I laid there bleeding out on her living room floor. Until I fell out of consciousness.

I

I

I

I opened my eyes blinking away my blurry vision. I woke up in another hospital room. I was sore all over. I felt something touch my hand, I slowly turned my sore neck.

"Sesshomaru?"

"How many times are you going to scare me like this?"

I laughed. "Ow. You're right. We have to stop meeting like this. I've been in this room so many times, they might as well put my name on the door."

He chuckled. His face getting serious. "What happened in there Kagome?"

I sighed. "They're brothers. Kouga and Hojo, Hojo was hiding him the entire time."

"What?!"

Before I could answer, a man in a suit entered my hospital room.

"Sorry for the intrusion Ms. Higarashi, my name is detective Onigumo. Naraku Onigumo. I was wondering if you-"

"No absolutely not. No more cops no more detectives. I've had enough of all of you."

"Please Ms. Higarashi, we really need to know what happened today."

I ignored the urge to roll my eyes. Sighing, I said. "Fine."

I explained the entire ordeal to detective Onigumo. Both he and Sesshomaru stood there shocked expressions plastered on their faces.

Detective Onigumo cleared his throat. "If you'll excuse me, I must be getting back to the station. I'll need to put A.P.B's out for them both." He said leaving the room.

Sesshomaru sat at the foot of my bed. I feel him looking at me... I wanted to hide. To hide from that intense stare. Those amber orbs.

"Kagome."

"Sesshomaru."

"Come with me."

I looked into his eyes. Here he was asking me the same question, so many years later. Even after I'd given the ring back..

"Sesshomaru I-

"Please Kagome. I can't do this. I can't go on living my life knowing your out here on your own. You don't have to marry me.. just let me keep you safe until this is over. You owe me that much."

"Owe you!?"

"You promised me that you'd let me keep you safe... then time and time again. You get yourself into trouble. Putting yourself in danger.. and that is something I just can not live with.. so please... come with me."

I sighed, giving up. "But the nurses haven't told me anything about getting discharged."

"Yes. They said they do not want you to leave. That you'd be safer here."

"So then.. I can't leave."

"You can leave.. they just won't know about it."

I smiled. "Sneaky bastard."

He grinned. "Wait here." He said... as if I was really going anywhere.

He returned moments later with a wheelchair and a plaid dress, and flip flops.

"Where'd you get the dress?"

"Gift shop. They sell everything."

I ripped off the hospital gown, with my good arm. I slipped on the dress, hissing at the pain in my shoulder. I shoved my feet into the flip flops, sitting in the wheelchair. He wheeled me out, doing his best to avoid the nurses. We'd safely made it out. He scooped me up in his arms, placing me into the passenger seat. Running my fingers over the leather... it had been a while since I've been in here.. I missed it. He got into the car, revving up its engine and speeding off.

We were on the expressway now. "Where are we going?"

"The Park Hyatt. We can't go back to the house. It'd be better if we stay there. It's more public, wouldn't be easy for him to find you, or sneak in. Kagome, about the ring."

""Sesshomaru.. please don't."

"I don't believe you when you tell me you don't love me. I won't."

"It's true." I lied.

He slowed the car, pulling over to the side of the road.

"You Love me. Admit it, you're just to afraid to say it. You're to afraid to love anyone or anything, because you assume they'll get hurt."

"Assume! Look around you Sesshomaru. Look what's happened. I'm not assuming anything, I'm trying to protect you! Why... why can't you can't you see that?"

"If you don't love me.. why would you want to protect me?"

Shit.. he caught me. I was in love with him. "Fine you're right. I love you.. and all I do is want to protect you!"

"I can protect myself Kagome! I'm a grown man, I don't need your protection."

"Okay? And I'm a grown woman, I can protect myself. Each and every time I've gotten away from him."

"How long will that luck last? Hmm? Don't get yourself killed just to prove a point. You don't have to do this alone."

"YES I DO! Going in I know that my life is the only one at risk. I don't have to worry about whether you're in danger or not. Even if I do die... I know you'll be safe, because once I'm gone it'll be over."

"Kagome you don't know that." He said.

"It's wroth a try..."

He cupped my cheek. "Just because you love me.. doesn't mean you should give your life for mine."

I pushed his hand away. "That's exactly what it means." I felt my eyes starting to water. "You don't get it... I can't live without you.. without you Sesshomaru, my world would fall apart. Everything would just...stop, and I would brake. So yes Sesshomaru, I'd gladly give my life up for yours." I turned my head away, looking out of the window. Not wanting him to see me cry...

I

I

I

Sorry for the late update guys. Had mild writers block :/