Chapter Nineteen- Her Answer
'She is from the future'.
Sesshomaru leaned back against his chair as he placed down the report in his hand. This fact explained the odd objects she carried around, her knowledge on advance numbers, and her effective healing supplies. He always predicted that she was brought up in a different area just by observing her strange behavior. However, he never considered she might be from a different time. He recalled Kagome voice her guilt for gaining demons respect because she held the advantage of her knowledge on the future.
The memory brought a soft chuckle to escape his lips.
A tender look shined through his softened eyes.
Had she truly tried to take advantage of her knowledge on the future, she could have sold her healing supplies. She would instantly be showered with riches. She could have exposed her wisdom on advanced numbers to the entire demon society. She would gain their respect immediately. He could think of so many other ways to take advantage of the knowledge on the future era.
Yet, she did none of those.
No, Kagome would use her healing supplies to heal the weakened and sick.
No, she would use her knowledge for the sake of those who need it.
"Foolish onna," Sesshomaru whispered to the empty room. His voice reflected a loving tone. Her secret was meant to sicken him and lose interest in her. Instead, she did the opposite. He could only admire her even more. Suddenly, the memory of her soft hands stroking through his locks of hair flashed through his mind. Intense heat flowed through his blood, almost causing his body to tremble from the sensation.
She had forgotten again.
Grooming was only for mates.
A piercing pain followed the heat that circulated within him.
He didn't know if he should curse or thank her forgetfulness.
Successfully distracted, he knew he couldn't focus on his work anymore. Gathering a few scrolls and books, Sesshomaru walked towards Kagome's room.
Knock Knock.
Sesshomaru opened the door to see her standing outside her balcony. With her back turned towards him, he saw her staring at the vast view of the Western lands. A soft glow surrounded her figure. His breath hitched from the beauty. Each step he took towards her had his chest pounding harder. Reaching to stand beside her, golden eyes glimpsed at her from the corner of his eye.
A few minutes passed by as the two continued to stand side-by-side in silence. Kagome was enraptured by the beauty of the land that she couldn't stop gazing at its magnificent view. Knowing of Sesshomaru's silent presence beside her, a smile appeared on her lips. She knew his hard work caused his land to maintain such beauty as she recalled the pile of paper work he had to go through each day.
"You have done a great job, Sesshomaru, with the Western land," Kagome complimented truthfully.
Golden eyes slightly widened after hearing her soft words.
How?
Those words…
He wanted to hear his Father speak the words Kagome had just spoken. But with his Father gone, he thought he would never hear those words or care to hear them from another.
A tingling sensation stirred his heart.
Her words were enough.
"And thank you," Kagome said shyly as she lightly grasped onto his sleeve. She saw him raise a brow questioning what she was thanking him for. She hoped her eyes portrayed everything she was feeling as she looked into his golden ones.
"For accepting me, understanding me…for everything," Kagome said softly. Sesshomaru was the first one who did not need to know of her secret, but told anyways.
His eyes softened.
Red flushed against her cheeks.
He couldn't take his eyes off her.
Blue eyes looked away from his gaze in embarrassment.
Adoration flickered across golden eyes.
Her grasp on his sleeve loosened.
He felt her let go.
She had to escape his gaze somehow.
He unconsciously captured her hand in his.
Her heart pounded against her chest quickly.
His heart beat thundered in sync with hers.
Although it was just a moment, the moment seemed to last forever for the two.
A precious moment.
"Books!" Kagome blurted out quickly after spotting the books in his other hand. Her beating heart couldn't take it anymore. She needed to escape his gaze and his hold, so she blurted out the first thing she saw to distract him.
"They are the duties you asked for," Sesshomaru said. About to pass the books and scrolls to her, he spotted her glancing at the hand he was still holding onto. He was about to reluctantly let go of her hand until he saw her darkening blush. Golden eyes revealed his growing amusement at her blush.
"These scrolls need to be recorded," he said. Her blush darkened as she just nodded her head to avoid eye contact. Golden eyes twinkled with laughter as he tried to stall the time for when he had to let go of her hand.
"When you are finished, bring them to me." She nodded her head quickly to show that she understood and he could leave. She didn't think her heart could take anymore.
Waiting a few more seconds, he finally let go after seeing her blush turn crimson. He handed her the books and scrolls before turning around to leave. Had Kagome looked up to see him before he left, she would have seen a small smile linger on his lips.
-A Weeks Later-
"Kagome," she heard her name being called from behind her room door. Knowing it was Inuyasha, she said, "Come in."
Kagome thought her friend would take longer in his patrol. However, this time he came back after only a week when usually he took about a month to patrol. Smiling at her friend, she said cheerfully, "Good morning!"
She lightly giggled at his grumpy face for she knew he was cranky in the mornings. He grumbled out, "Sesshomaru called us both to his study room."
Tilting her head to the side, she wondered why Sesshomaru was asking for both her and Inuyasha. With a shrug, Kagome slipped her arm around Inuyasha's as they both headed to meet Sesshomaru. As they neared the study room, Kagome noticed Inuyasha begin to slow down his pace.
"What is it, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.
"She's here," he said with a hushed voice.
"Who?"
"Sesshomaru's mother."
Kagome couldn't help but notice Inuyasha's uncomfortable expression. Understanding his reason to feel so, she patted his arm in reassurance.
"It will be fine," she voiced confidently. Kagome knew Inukimi did not have a grudge against Inuyasha. And it was the confidence in her voice that made Inuyasha's hesitance cease.
Inuyasha knocked on the study door and heard a female voice order, "Come in."
Creak.
The door opened to reveal Inukimi standing beside Sesshomaru's desk as he remained seated.
Both bowing in respect to the Lady, Kagome asked, "You called?"
"Yes," Inukimi said stoically. It took a lot of control to hide her excitement to see the Miko again. She couldn't wait for the full moon to appear to meet with the Miko. So, she decided to come earlier than planned.
"I have decided to host the evening ceremonies for the Hime Tradition today," she informed calmly, even though she was excited to share the news. Today, she would announce the Hime Candidates.
"To-T-Today?" Kagome asked with confusion.
"Yes, all the preparations have been handled," she said coolly.
Kagome glanced at Sesshomaru with confusion and saw him massaging his temple. Guessing that his mother is one to always do things her way, Kagome softly giggled. She could already imagine his mother driving him crazy in the past.
Inukimi slightly smirked. She noticed her son stop massaging his temple after hearing the Miko's giggle. Her voice exposed her excitement, "I will be announcing the Hime Candidates today. But, the reason I've called for you and Inuyasha is because you need to make a decision."
Silence rested upon the study room as everyone waited to hear what Inukimi would say. Confusion clouded Sesshomaru as he too did not know what his mother was about to sprout.
"I plan to choose you as one of the Hime Candidates, Miko," Inukimi said. Kagome glanced at Sesshomaru and sent him a grateful look. It was through his words that helped her feel deserving to be chosen.
Inukimi's voice suddenly turned serious as she stated, "However, the one who wins the title of Hime is usually not mated and has no intended. This is because strong demons wish to mate with the Hime. So, I suggest you break off your betrothal with Inuyasha for now."
Inukimi tried to hide her sly smirk. It was her intention to rid the Miko of her promised ties with Inuyasha. She knew her son would never try to reveal any of his feelings if the Miko was promised with another. It was dishonorable.
But what if the Miko was no longer promised to anyone?
"NO!" Kagome yelled abruptly.
Silence filled the study room as all glanced at Kagome in shock.
She promised to gain the title of Hime for Inuyasha. She promised to mate him. She promised to help him see the hidden beauty within the demon society.
How could she have forgotten her promise with Inuyasha?
She had forgotten that everything she did within the demon society was supposed to be for Inuyasha. Breaking off the betrothal with Inuyasha was the same thing as breaking off her promise with Inuyasha.
No, she would not break off her promise with Inuyasha.
She couldn't.
Feeling Inuyasha pat her head, Kagome looked to see gratefulness shine through his eyes. Meanwhile, Kagome felt shame sinking into her heart for forgetting her promise with him. She felt unworthy for receiving any thanks from her friend. But sensing his hand rest on her shoulder, blue eyes hardened with determination to follow through with her promise.
Inukimi recovered from Kagome's surprising outburst and said, "You can always choose Inuyasha to be your mate after being titled Hime, Miko. I am just suggesting that if you are determined to win the title, you will have a higher chance of being chosen if you cut off from Inuyasha for now."
Inukimi struggled to keep her voice stoic. She desperately needed to convince the Miko to break off her betrothal with Inuyasha.
Her son…
Her son could have a chance.
"I sincerely appreciate your advice to gain the Hime title, but I will not break my promise with Inuyasha because of this Tradition. Not even for a few months," Kagome voiced sternly. Then, grabbing Inuyasha's arm, she bowed and walked out of the study room.
'I am to mate Inuyasha,' Kagome whispered to herself.
Pain throbbed against her heart.
The image of Sesshomaru flashed through her thoughts.
Her heart ached.
She knew why...but she would never label the emotion.
She would never say the words as to why the thought of Sesshomaru made her heart ache.
Grasping Inuyasha's arm even tighter, she tried to ignore the pain by focusing on her fiery determination to keep her promise.
Back at the study room, Inukimi stood frozen. She had not calculated to receive such a strong refusal from the Miko. Avoiding eye contact with her son as if afraid to see his reaction, Inukimi voiced coolly, "Well, that didn't go as intended."
Silence.
"Well, I need to make a few more arrangements for tonight's ceremony…"
Her eyes managed to glimpse towards her son.
She flinched.
Her heart dropped.
Silence.
"I will see you tonight then, Sesshomaru," Inukimi said to quickly leave the room. She heard her voice crack, caused by the lump of sorrow constricting her throat. She had wished to assist her son with his relationship with the Miko. But instead, she had made things worse. Glancing at her son once more, she knew she would not see him at the evening ceremony tonight. He wouldn't be able to control the pained expression that she witnessed.
-The Evening Ceremony-
Inukimi scanned the crowd and sighed. Her heart felt heavy as she realized her predictions of her son's absence was correct. She did not see or sense him in the ceremony hall. Knowing he would not show up if he had not already, Inukimi decided to go through with the ceremony without him. The moment she raised up her hand, the chatter within the hall ceased.
"I have decided the Hime Candidates," Inukimi voiced stoically. Tucking her hands into the sleeve of her haori, Inukimi announced, "Lady Inari, Heir to the Eastern Lands. Lady Kura, First Princess of the Northern Lands. Lady Kagome, the Shikon Miko. These are the Hime Candidates."
Kagome busily searched amongst the crowd and did not hear her name being called out as one of the chosen Hime Candidates. It wasn't until Chika and Akihiro approached her did she realize her name was announced. Gratefully accepting her friends' congratulations, Kagome secretly continued searching the crowds.
'Sesshomaru,' her heart cried out.
Scanning the crowd, blue eyes came in contact with glaring green eyes. Without flinching, Kagome glared back. Lady Inari's glare did not scare her. Instead, she knew that Lady Inari has recognized her as an official threat to the title of Hime. Watching Lady Inari look away with a scoff, Kagome felt her determination increase. She would not give up on the title of Hime. She would try her best, even with Inuyasha as her intended mate.
Ache.
She was glad her eyes met with Lady Inari's for she had once again strayed away from her promise. Her promise with Inuyasha will always be threatened if she got any closer to Sesshomaru.
Ache.
Gently placing a hand over her heart, Kagome unveiled a wistful expression.
'Go away,' she whispered to her aching heart.
She knew it was impossible to erase the pain, but she would master the ways of burying them.
Kagome patted her heart once and then twice.
The cries from her heart silenced.
"Kagome," she heard Inuyasha voice with worry. Blue eyes softened towards her dearest friend.
"I'm fine now," Kagome whispered to him. Linking her arm with his, she looked forward with a forced smile.
'I will be fine.'
Thank you for reading,
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Author's Note: Sorry for the late update, dear readers! But I hope you enjoyed this chapter.