Chapter Twenty-two – Honor and Promise
Bright sunlight showered warmth upon the Western Fortress. In the gardens, Kagome lay on fresh green grass near a small patch of lilies. Breathing in the calming scent of lilies, she hoped to calm her thoughts as well. Instead, her mind continued to run wild and replayed yesterday's memory of his embrace.
'I love you.'
She remembered.
In his embrace, she couldn't resist whispering those words to herself. The very words her mind whispered were ones she had tried to suppress for months. Now, everything she tried to restrain came undone.
'I love him.'
Red burned against Kagome's cheeks. She quickly covered her face with her hands. She was certain everything started when she asked him to help her dress. A surge of emotions overwhelmed her as a consequence of suppressing them. She didn't realize until now how much her feelings for him has grown.
She loved him… so much.
But she couldn't abandon Inuyasha. Their promise was the only chance he had of living in peace.
The hands that covered her face clenched into a fist to now cover her eyes.
The glares of disgust, the injustice treatment, and the hurtful words he had to endure. She could rid him of this…with the promise.
Her fragile heart broke a bit more.
She couldn't break her promise. Not when her love might never be returned. Not when she seeks happiness and leaves him in darkness.
Conflict clashed within her sending trembles of pain to spread through her body.
'But…'
Tears trailed down from the side of her face splattering onto the ground.
'I love him…'
She was foolish to think she could hide her feelings forever.
Unable to hold in a cry, a sob escaped her quivering lips.
Kagome bare her sorrow with Nature as the only witnesses. A warm breeze swept past her to try and dry her tears. Lilies swayed in the wind to release their scent to soothe the Miko's aching heart. The sound of the grass rustling cooed the Miko to help swallow her sorrow.
In the distance, the sound of her whimper reached Sesshomaru's ear. Concern and worry flickered past his golden eyes as he headed towards the sound. Silent footsteps quickly headed for the gardens. But as he reached the gardens, the sight before him caused his feet to halt. He saw Kagome crying as she lay on the ground curled up on her side. Watching her tears fall, one foot unconsciously took a step forward. But just as he was about to approach her, he heard her whisper, "What do I do, Inuyasha?"
Golden eyes dimmed. Sesshomaru decided it would be best to leave her alone for it seemed her tears were related to Inuyasha. Though his mind had decided to do so, his body moved in the opposite direction and walked towards her. Sitting near her, he gently began running his fingers through her hair. Sesshomaru noticed her sobs silencing, but still scented fresh tears. Disliking her tears, he tried to comfort her with a soothing growl.
Like this, he stayed until her tears ceased.
Like this, he comforted her without asking the reason for her tears.
Just like this.
Wiping away the last of her tears, Kagome slowly got up from the ground and shifted her gaze to look at him. Though she wanted to start crying again when her eyes met with his, Kagome whispered gratefully, "Thank you."
His usual stoic expression softened at the sight of her swollen eyes and red nose.
"Crying does not suit you. Do not do it again."
Kagome softly giggled as she said, "I'm sorry to have worried you, Sesshomaru. But I'm sure humans and demons alike cannot control their tears sometimes."
He was relieved to see her giggle and look much brighter. Running his fingers through her hair one last time, his gaze became tender.
Feeling shaken by his touch, Kagome knew she had to leave.
"I better wash my face," she said without looking him in the eye. Abruptly standing up, she quickly stalked out of the gardens to escape his presence. Kagome continued to walk in long strides inside the Western Fortress, trying to calm down the waves of emotions swirling inside. Concentrated on easing her heart, Kagome didn't recognize Lady Inukimi nearby.
"My dear!" Inukimi called out. Determined to figure out the reason for the Miko's strong refusal to break off her ties with Inuyasha, Inukimi said sternly, "Follow me."
Inukimi brought the Miko into her room and sat her down on a chair. Sitting down across from the Miko, Inukimi finally noticed the swollen face.
"My goodness, you look awful!" Inukimi blurted out. Kagome gave a sheepish smile before lying, "I slept for too long."
"Well," Inukimi thought nothing more of it and continued her investigation, "Tell me your reasons to decide not to break off your ties with Inuyasha for the Hime Tradition."
Catching the Miko's brows furrow, Inukimi waited patiently for her answer. She could tell that the Miko was contemplating on whether to tell her or not. What the Miko didn't know was that she had no choice. The Miko will tell her everything. She will find out.
Deep in thought, Kagome realized her promise with Inuyasha was never really a secret. Plus, Kagome trusted Lady Inukimi. Deciding to answer Lady Inukimi truthfully, Kagome began from the beginning. She told her of Inuyasha's request to pretend to be his intended mate because her status was higher. After seeing Inuyasha being treated so harshly by the demon society, she promised Inuyasha to become 'Hime'. Using the title of 'Hime' she decided to protect Inuyasha from a life-time of hatred and disrespect.
"I truly didn't mind the thought of mating Inuyasha at that time. We are close friends, so I didn't mind…" Kagome trailed off as she thought of how conflicted she felt now.
'At that time?' Inukimi raised a brow. Inukimi had caught the Miko's use of past tense about her acceptance towards her promise with Inuyasha. Hope glimmered at the sight of the Miko's disheartened look as she confessed the promise.
'Perhaps the Miko no longer wishes to keep her promise to Inuyasha…' a smirk tugged on Inukimi's lips. Choosing her words wisely, Inukimi said, "My dear, the demon society is no longer the same as it used to be. Your influence has changed their attitude towards Inuyasha, don't you think so?"
Reminded of the image where her friends have all accepted Inuyasha, Kagome felt that Lady Inukimi was correct.
"This promise can be beneficial if you wish for a comfortable life with Inuyasha. But, I'm sure Inuyasha would be displeased if you are keeping up this promise by force….if you, by any chance, fell in love with another," Inukimi said calmly. Swiftly covering her mouth with the tip of her sleeve, Inukimi secretly smirked. Now understanding the 'promise' that tied the Miko to Inuyasha, she knew her words would convince her to reconsider. She expected the Miko to mutually break things off with Inuyasha within the next week or so.
"By the way," Inukimi added, "Sesshomaru told me that he will be leaving for the Western Castle today."
"But he has just recovered from an injury!" Kagome exclaimed with surprise. Inukimi slightly shrugged before saying, "I shall give you permission to stop him. Off you go then."
The sound of her room door closing was heard. Finally alone, Inukimi closed her eyes. She hoped for her son's love to be returned. Sesshomaru shared many similar traits with her and made her fear his unrequited love for the Miko the most. If anything similar to her in terms of love, she knew he would never love another. Shifting her gaze to look up into the sky, a sad smile appeared. The image of her mate flashed through her mind.
"Mate," she softly whispered. Though he was gone and though he never loved her, she still did…forever.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
"Sesshomaru!" Kagome yelled as she pushed open the doors to his room. Seeing him holding his armor ready to be strapped on, she knew he was preparing to leave.
Quickly grabbing his heavy armor out of his grasp, she said sternly, "You are not going anywhere! You were injured just yesterday!"
Pausing in her footsteps, she realized that he was planning to leave without her. Pointing at him accusingly, she huffed, "And you were planning to head to the Western Castle without me!?"
"Work," he informed her stoically. It was not a lie that he was heading first to the Castle to finish the work piled up. But, the main reason he had to leave was because he was at his limit. Feeling her hand grasp onto his sleeve, he trained his expression to remain stoic.
Kagome voiced worriedly, "Let me at least check to see your wounds."
The memory of his wounds still burned into her mind. Blue eyes slightly widened as she felt his sleeve pull away from her grasp.
"Do not concern yourself with me," she heard his voice say impassively.
'Because I love you,' her heart whispered yearningly. Remembering Inukimi's words, she knew she had to speak with Inuyasha.
The beating of her heart quickened.
"I will," she said stubbornly. Turning her eyes to meet his, a burning sensation began to sizzle underneath her skin.
"You are not needed to," his voice rang hollow. Golden eyes dimmed.
'Because I love you,' she could only whisper the answer to herself again. She would tell Inuyasha the truth.
Blue eyes stared lovingly towards the one she loved.
"I still will," she replied softly.
Sesshomaru took a step closer towards her as she took a step back.
"Why?" he finally asked.
'Because I love you,' she wished to say out loud. It was no use, she couldn't mate Inuyasha.
"Because…" she weakly trailed off, truly wishing to tell him now.
Sesshomaru stared into her blue eyes that seemed to unveil longing. Longing? For whom? Was it for Inuyasha? Even though he dreaded to know the reason, he couldn't take his eyes away from her beautiful expression. It almost looked like she longed for…him. Trapping her against the door with his arms he demanded, "Why!?"
Though she remained silent, Sesshomaru thought he heard a faint whisper say, 'because I love you.'
It broke him.
Gently cupping her cheek, his heart trembled.
His control lost at the touch of her smooth soft skin.
His honor.
She managed to take his honor as well.
Closing the gap, he captured her lips with his. One hand brushed along her soft cheek as the other moved to wrap around her waist and pulled her closer. Her soft lips gasped open in shock, allowing him to deepen the kiss.
His touch burned. His lips caused her heart to race. Desire pulsed through her blood. Drowned by the emotions he stirred within her, Kagome slowly rested her hands against his chest. Slowly sliding her hands upwards her arms soon wrapped around his neck. She pulled him closer.
He thought she was going to push him away. So the moment she pulled him closer, he felt undone. Slightly tugging her kimono to bare her shoulders, he kissed the area on her neck where a mating mark was to be placed. As if drugged by the taste of her skin, his senses blurred out everything but her.
Pleasure sent waves of shivers through her body. Her hands clenched his haori in a fist to stop the odd sensation. Feeling his tongue against her neck made her legs weaken. A moan escaped from her swollen lips.
"Sesshomaru," a husky voice she did not recognize as her own called out. Sensing him suddenly tense from the sound, Kagome felt her cheeks burn red from embarrassment. She let go of him and covered her face as he pulled away.
It took his last bit of control to pull away from her. But any longer, he wouldn't be able to stop.
Red cheeks turned to the color of her swollen lips.
Her kimono slowly slipping off the edges of her shoulder.
Blue eyes glazed with desire.
She looked alluring.
Unconsciously leaning closer wanting to kiss her again, he was stopped by her hand. He watched her scurry out from his grasp and let her run out of his room.
Even though she was gone, any spell she must have placed on him did not leave. Golden eyes were still heavily filled with desire and want. The burning sensation scorched the skin that touched hers.
It didn't matter anymore, whether she was Inuyasha's intended mate or not.
He wanted her.
He wanted to hold her again.
His honor be damned.
Author`s Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I am truly curious to know your thoughts and opinion of this chapter and story. Your support and views to this point amazes me. Feel free to check out my other stories I`ve completed, "The Masked Truth" and "Kingdom Walls".
Thank you for reading,
Your reviews are cherished.