Unliving

Epilogue

"Trust me, I know Kazuki. He'll take it better if I just tell him by myself." Sesshoumaru was skeptic to say the least. Kagome smiled at him full of… something that may have been energy or resolution. The trip to Tokyo had been a rather long and tiresome one, but now they were home, her home, and the apartment seemed too small for the demon, who was accustomed to Muncaster's huge chambers and long hallways. It wasn't uncomfortable though, he enjoyed standing in the middle of her living room, noticing how "like her" the setting was.

What disturbed him was that faint scent of another male, a hanyou perhaps, lingering all over the place. He hadn't said anything to Kagome, though. But that didn't mean he wasn't wondering who that man was, and what his relationship with Kagome was. Her former lover? Her sibling? Who was he? Sesshoumaru realized he knew next to nothing about her life in Tokyo, and he found himself curious.

"Alright." he finally agreed. Kagome had asked him all the way home to let her talk to Kazuki before she introduced Sesshoumaru to her father. She didn't know how Higurashi-sama would take the news, after her stupid behavior, the last time she'd seen him. She wanted to apologize and explain her attitude. She didn't want any more fights with her father, enough was enough. She was a grown woman now, not a spoiled child of 16 anymore, and she had to mend her relationship with her strong minded father.

"Thanks." Kagome smiled with all her face. Sesshoumaru only raised his eyebrows a little.

"I'll be back soon, and we'll go se him together afterwards." again, that smile lit her face, and he took in a long deep breath, watching her close the door behind her. It had been two days since their confrontation with Alexis. Sesshoumaru could still hear the vampire's sad words, could still see his dull eyes and his sorrow. But as difficult as it may have been, that had been the best solution to their problem. Alexis' death would have made Sesshoumaru feel guilty for the rest of his days.

The demon didn't know if could have put passed him the vampire's death, especially if it had been him the one to kill Alexis. No matter the reason, he didn't want to take any lives, anymore. For 1200 years, he'd done nothing but that: killing without stopping to think that there might have been another way to solve the issue.

Kagome was so right to tell him he was a monster back then, she'd been so right to hate him, to reject him and to give him that slap over the face. Humanity is something one could find within themselves, even if they have no human blood. It shows in the way you act, in the way you speak, in the way you love… Compassion is indeed an asset, not a weakness. Sesshoumaru sighed quietly, walking into the bedroom. As he looked out the window, at the people passing on the street, he could almost smell the scent of a new life waiting for him. His heart began to beat faster, in expectance.

Soon, the year would change, and this time the change would bring something completely new, something he hadn't even been aware existed. It was like a poor joke, an immortal never knowing there could be real love on this Earth, an immortal believing that everything is passing by, and nothing ever lasts. His life lasted. Nature lasted. The sky and sun were lasting. The water still dropped down from the clouds every autumn, the snow returned, like a faithful promise, every winter, and the birds filled the trees at Muncaster every spring. Why would love be the one to fade?

The sound of the key turning in the lock made him turn his head only an inch, as he looked over his shoulder. Maybe she'd forgotten something.

But there was so sound coming from whoever entered the apartment. Sesshoumaru frowned a little and turned to see who the intruder was. Although the term couldn't accurately describe the person, since they had a key.

As he made his way to the bedroom door, he almost bumped into a young man, trying to carry a large bag.

"Kami!" Inuyasha shouted startled, as he noticed the youkai's presence.

"Who the hell are you?" the hanyou eyed the tall demon before him, and Sesshoumaru looked down upon him.

"Who am I? Who are you?" the demon replied. Inuyasha quirked a dark eyebrow, looking at Sesshoumaru suspiciously. He had a hunch.

"Sesshoumaru…" the hanyou whispered.

"I believe not." Sesshoumaru said, looking straight into Inuyasha's eyes.

"Oh, no, not me. I'm… obviously… not you." the hanyou said, narrowing his eyes, and analyzing the demon's features. They looked fairly alike, with those gold eyes, and the long white hair.

'She really does follow some pattern…' Inuyasha said to himself, then extended an arm to Sesshoumaru.

"I'm Inuyasha." the hanyou said, calmly.

Seeing as Sesshoumaru didn't make any attempt to take his hand, Inuyasha raised his eyebrows and dropped his arm.

"I'm… a friend of Kagome's. I suppose she didn't tell you about me."

"She did not." Inuyasha could roll his eyes at the defiant expression on the demon's face. The stood in silence for a few seconds, eying each other. Or, most like Sesshoumaru eying Inuyasha like he would have been some suspicious character, and Inuyasha looking away from time to time, waiting for the demon to finish. Little did he know that Sesshoumaru had limitless supplies of patience when it came to staring at people.

Finally, the hanyou got enough, and raised his palms in the air.

"Are we cool, or what?" Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow.

"You seem an agreeable… person." he said. Inuyasha felt like laughing, but something in the demon's scent stopped him.

"Thanks." he huffed out.

"Can I get my stuff?" Inuyasha said after a second.

Sesshoumaru seemed to straighten his back, if any further straightening was necessary, and extended a gracious arm to Inuyasha. The hanyou smiled in the corner of his mouth, and accepted the greeting. He got the feeling it was some big deal to have Sesshoumaru shake your hand by his own wish.

"I am Sesshoumaru." he purposely ignored the nobility title, sure that the hanyou knew who he was, by his name. Somehow, he didn't feel like forcing any superiority onto this particular… person. Inuyasha said his own name again, and nodded, wide eyed.

After a moment, the demon got out of the way, and Inuyasha headed for the closet, to collect his clothes. He'd meant to move out into his former apartment earlier, but things had been very busy at work, and he didn't have the chance to. Now, this demon was here, and he could feel a little bit of jealousy bite him on the heart. Maybe it was just his ego. Kagome and he were definitely over as a couple, but he still had that urge to protect her. And this one looked like he had icicles shoved down his pants. They might have looked very much alike, but they acted completely different.

Inuyasha threw Sesshoumaru a short look over the shoulder, but the demon wasn't looking at him. He was busy eying the street.

"So where is she?" the hanyou tried to start a conversation. He really wanted to know Sesshoumaru better, so that he could tell exactly what was wrong with him. Something was off with this guy, or… could it be just his imagination?

"Kagome has left to see her father."

"Higurashi-sama? Why?" Inuyasha asked, a little off.

"Apparently, they had unfinished business to attend to." the demon replied evenly. Inuyasha wondered how a high spirited woman like Kagome could fall for a distant person like Sesshoumaru. They were as different as the night was from the day.

"Yeah, she usually leaves stuff open like that." Inuyasha said, as he closed the large bag.

"That's the last of them." he said, as if packing would have been the most difficult task he'd ever performed. Sesshoumaru turned to look at him.

"Have you lived here long?"

Inuyasha looked up at the ceiling for a moment, crossing his arms.

"About a year or so. It was more comfortable that way… But I guess when it comes to relationships, it's better that you keep your options open." the hanyou smiled and Sesshoumaru frowned. What was that supposed to mean? Had this… person cheated on her? Had he hurt her? The youkai felt his temper flare.

"Options?" Sesshoumaru said, like a menacing echo. His calm was far more disturbing to Inuyasha than any kind of threat. The tilting of the demon's head made Inuyasha swallow.

"With the… accommodation, I mean. I've… kept my old apartment as well, so I don't have to look for another one… now." the words flew out of his mouth at a very high rate, making Inuyasha almost cough as he finished. Sesshoumaru narrowed his gold eyes, as he seemed to measure the truth in the hanyou's words. Inuyasha almost backed from the defiant stare of the Lord. He was really impressed that a piece of rock like this guy could win Kagome's heart… and that she could find his. Hey, wait, Kagome could find anyone's heart! Inuyasha felt like smiling, but the frowning on Sesshoumaru's face didn't really give him much space.

Sesshoumaru finally looked away, and Inuyasha got the idea that he was off the hook, for the time being. Boy, was he always like this? The hanyou almost shivered at the eerie feeling he got from the taiyoukai. All those questions he thought he was gonna ask him seemed to vanish into thin air, because Sesshoumaru didn't look like the one to answer them. No matter, he would just have to ask Kagome, then.

:---:

"Sorry I was late, I got stuck talking to Sango at Kazuki's… Inuyasha!" Kagome jumped happily, seeing her friend in the middle of her living room, with his bag all made and ready to leave.

"What are you… 'You leaving? So soon?" she breathed out fast, as she hurried to give him a big lingering hug. Inuyasha closed his arms around her and as usual, lifted her off the floor. Then Kagome gave him a fleeting kiss on the lips, before parting, and holding her hands on his shoulders. Inuyasha seemed a little distraught.

"What?" she said, very cheerful, but the realized her mistake.

"You are home." Sesshoumaru noticed from lack of something to say, more like the purpose of stating the obvious. Kagome felt her arms being pulled down by Inuyasha, and he took a step back from her. He felt a little sorry for having to do that, but as he didn't really know Sesshoumaru and how he saw things, he didn't want to cause trouble for Kagome. Nevertheless, he was going to keep a close look on Lord Icicle, to see if she was to suffer any abuse from him. He looked like the icy appearance-fiery temper type.

"Sesshoumaru… Yes. Kazuki's been very… swift, so to say. He wants us to meet over for dinner, at his place. Tonight. Nothing else accepted." she said in a playful tone. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow, thinking that the command tone was not to his liking.

"Oh, Kazuki's always yankin' my chain, no worries. We'll live through." Kagome smiled and waved at Sesshoumaru, and then turned to Inuyasha. There she was, between two of the three men of her life, and she felt positively joyful. Looking from one to the other, she blinked fast and pulled Inuyasha by the hand, walking towards Sesshoumaru. He took his hand as well, and looked from one to the other again. Finally, she said:

"I really want you two to get along, okay?"

Inuyasha laughed, throwing his head back, and revealing his fangs.

Sesshoumaru merely bowed his head a little, and remained silent.

Kagome got the idea.

:---:

Three months later

"I have this stupidly huge appetite, Sango, and I'm gaining weight as we speak. It darn drives me crazy!" Kagome looked out the window, from the sofa where she was sitting with her friend. Her legs were under her, and she had her right palm sustaining her chin, her arm on the edge of the sofa. Sango looked at her with a smile on her face.

"Did you tell him yet?"

Kagome shook her head.

"I didn't wanna do it over the phone. I wanna see his face. Actually, I'd pay to see his face!!" The women giggled and Sango cupped Kagome's cheek, smiling at her.

"You look happy."

"I am." Kagome whispered, as if it would be some great secret. Then she sighed.

"I wish he could be here though." Silence feel heavy in the warm room, and the fire was the only one who broke it, with its cracks and twists.

"Maybe he'll be here tomorrow." Sango tried to mend things.

"But it's Christmas Eve, and he's still in Tokyo. He brought me back here, stayed with me for two months, and then had to leave."

"He's been away for an entire month?" Sango couldn't believe what she was hearing. She knew Sesshoumaru had to leave for some time, but she couldn't imagine that it would take so long. Kagome shrugged her shoulders.

"It's a long story. It's been a while since he's gone to see things for himself, over at the office. I understand that it's something he felt he needed to do. But I would still have wanted him here. Especially now." Kagome said slowly, looking out the window again.

The hills at Muncaster were white due to the heavy snowfall from the last week. It had been snowing continuously for three days, then stopped for one day, then started all over again. Now, the snowflakes were so big and crowded, that she couldn't see as far as thirty feet outside. She liked the snow, it was soft and cold, it was clean and always still. Kagome smiled. It was just like him.

"Thanks for coming over this Christmas." Kagome said, looking at her best friend.

"I couldn't have left you all by yourself, now could I?" Sango said, and took a sip from her cup of hot tea. Kagome did the same.

"That jerk you used to have for a boyfriend said he'll be here too, tonight. When he heard you'll be alone on Christmas Eve, he practically jumped from his seat, and rushed to cancel any plans he might have had. He said he couldn't make it earlier than tonight, but he'll be here. So expect to see Inuyasha soon enough. He said he'll call when he arrives at the airport." Sango said, a little skeptical.

"I should send Sabrya to get him. No cab is gonna be on duty tonight." Kagome mumbled into her cup, looking at the clock ticking on the wall. It was 3:45 pm.

"Than weird girl is still here, on Christmas Eve?"

"I don't think she has a family to go home to." Kagome said, absentmindedly, stirring into her teacup. The dim light from the room made the snow outside look even more sparkling, and the snowflakes look like little fairies dancing in the air. Kagome smiled inwardly, thinking that her pregnancy had made her over-sentimental.

"I don't know, she might be a good assistant, or a good driver, or whatever she is, but she kinda gives me the creeps. Those blue eyes, and that perfect face… She's either cold as an icicle or overly excited." Sango raised her eyebrows. Kagome let out a short laugh.

"Yeah, that's what I used to think too. But she's just shy."

"Shy?" Sango almost shouted, unconvinced.

"Yes. As strange as it could seem, she actually is shy. That's why she doesn't know how to act around people. I mean, at the office she's great, because over there, she can follow protocol, and her behavior is very well defined. She has to be professional. But with me… she never knows how to talk to me, even after four months. She's alright though. You kinda get used to her."

"If you say so…" Sango replied, still incredulous. She used to doubt that Kagome would find life at Muncaster suiting, but there had been almost three months since she'd moved here, and she was showing no sign of boredom. She just missed Sesshoumaru. His departure had been imminent, Kagome knew that much, but she wished she would have him home for Christmas. She just didn't feel right without him.

Before he'd left, she didn't realize she was pregnant, so he didn't even know he was going to have a baby. In the last month, she'd gained a little weight, and her body became curvier. Her belly wasn't that swollen yet, not visibly, but she could see her pregnancy, she could feel the baby growing inside of her, and she longed every day to tell him, to see his face and to hear his laugh, at the news. Kagome smiled, looking at the snowflakes.

"We should go shopping for that baby of yours after the New Year, don't you think? And to get some mom clothes for you." Sango said, wishing Kagome wouldn't feel so alone anymore. She could almost punch the demon straight in his perfect nose for leaving her all alone!

"I think we'll have no choice. These clothes will soon fail to cover me anymore." Kagome declared, and they both smiled.

"Did you think of any names?"

Kagome shrugged.

"I don't know it it's a girl or a boy, so…"

"Which would you prefer?" Sango asked with curiosity in her voice.

"I just want my baby to be healthy, to have five fingers on each hand and foot, one cute little nose in the middle of the face, and his dad's eyes." Kagome smiled widely, and Sango raised her eyebrows.

"Oh, yes, Sesshoumaru's eyes… If it's gonna be a boy, he'll have all the girls in the UK running after him within the first ten years of his life. And if it's a girl, you'll have to watch out for all the boys in the UK!"

"Daddy's looks and mommy's temper. Would you imagine that?" Kagome laughed out, passing her fingers through her hair.

Sango widened her eyes.

"Oh dear… Hopefully, your temper won't be transferred entirely to the kid, or we'll have two of you running around lose in the world. Who knows what disaster could emerge from that?"

"Sango! I must protest to that!"

"You must protest? Careful, dear, you begin to sound like an English woman."

"Would that be so bad?"

"Pff! Knowing you… yes!" The women started to laugh very colorful. Soon enough, Kagome's eyes set on a moving dot in the horizon. She couldn't tell what it was, just that something was moving in the distance. She narrowed her eyes and leaned to the window, catching Sango's attention, who looked out the window herself.

"What is it?" the woman asked.

"I'm not sure. Just that… I think there's someone… coming." Kagome said, pausing between words, trying to make out the outline of that person's figure, through the thick curtain of snowflakes falling from the clouds. Her heart started to beat faster and faster, seconds before her eyes could tell her it was him.

"Oh, my God! It's him!" Kagome jumped off the couch, and on her feet, practically running to the door, to get into the main hallway. Sango jumped out of her seat as well, following her friend. From the speed Kagome was picking up, she was sure the crazy woman would go out dressed shallowly like that, and most probably with nothing but her socks on her feet. So she ran after Kagome and pulled her back by her arm just as she struggled to pull the main doors open.

"Kagome. are you nuts? You're gonna freeze out there!"

"I don't care, let go!" Kagome laughed out, anxious. Sango frowned.

"The baby, Kagome!" Sango said, determinedly, and Kagome's rush came to a fast stop, at the words.

"You're right. Gimme the boots." Sango rolled back her eyes, and went to get Kagome's boots, and a long coat. Kagome put them on as fast as she could. She looked awful, in that long, heavy blue dress she wore, the black coat over it, and army boots on her feet, but she couldn't care less. She exited like a bullet through the doors of Muncaster, running across the pavement in front of the castle, and then into the high layer of snow in the garden, fighting to get through it, fighting to get to him.

Sango looked at her friend as she ran through the snow, and shook her head, crossing her arms at her chest.

"Mental, that one!" she whispered, leaning against the doorframe. She could see Sesshoumaru's silhouette now, and Kagome running like a crazy person to reach him. The demon was walking slowly through the high snow, making his way with ease. He wore a long black coat, and his white hair was barely visible in the environment. There was no wind blowing, so the snowflakes rested on his shoulders, and on his hair. His head was a little downcast, so he didn't see Kagome, until she shouted out his name.

"Sesshoumaru!" she yelled, out of breath. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was struggling to make her way through the snow that almost reached her knees. Yet she was smiling, and Sesshoumaru smiled too, when he saw her beautiful eyes sparkling like that, her face shiny from the effort and the surprise.

She didn't make two steps more before he reached her, and Kagome just threw herself over him, knocking him down into the snow. Sesshoumaru fell back with her over his chest, embracing him as tight as she could.

"What are you doing out? You'll get…."

"Oh shut up!" she said, laughing and parting a little from him, to see his face.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" she asked, swiftly, demanding an answer. Sesshoumaru kissed her forehead.

"Surprise." he said calmly, raising an eyebrow.

"Jerk. I missed you." she said, pouting for about two seconds, and then smiling again.

Sesshoumaru gave her a look of intent, and Kagome turned crimson.

"Stop it. Not that way… I mean, that way too, but… Argh! You're a jerk, you know that?"

"So I've been told." As she stood over him, her heartbeat hitting them both in the chest, Sesshoumaru couldn't feel the winter's coldness anymore. She was warm, and… a little different. He couldn't tell what was different about her, but the way she looked was slightly changed.

Kagome kissed him softly, then again, and again, each time more avidly, until their kiss turned into a fiery one, and she thought they were gonna melt the snow around them. She changed her position a little, and her coat parted. Sesshoumaru suddenly broke the kiss, and stared at her. His hands went under her coat, feeling the curves of her body. Kagome breathed heavy, and fast, as his fingers searched her figure.

Kagome sat up on her knees, above him and allowed Sesshoumaru access to her body. Sesshoumaru frowned for a second, more curious than anything else. His hands felt her face, went lower on her neck, and over her breasts, slightly bigger now from the pregnancy. His heart pounded in his chest, as the idea took shape inside his mind. Kagome followed his fiery look, and loved the way it suited him. He almost knew, but he wasn't really sure. The insecurity in his gold eyes made her smile in the corner of her mouth.

Sesshoumaru hated that long; loose dress she had on, which didn't allow him to see her body. So he pulled it up a little and slid his hands under it, caught her hips, and then felt her stomach. The roundness on her body, the glittering look in her violet eyes, and that slight swell in her belly hit him like a hammer, all in the same time. She was pregnant.

His eyes widened at the realization, and a beautiful smile lit his face.

"Surprise." Kagome said, and Sesshoumaru pulled her back down to embrace her gently.

In a moment, he was up, carrying her into his arms.

"It was very reckless of you, to go out dressed like this." Sesshoumaru said. Kagome had her head resting against his chest, and one arm over his neck.

"Stop preaching me, I hate it." she said slowly, not minding though.

"I'm glad you're home." Kagome added.

"I am too." Sesshoumaru replied, as they reached the doors, where Sango was still waiting for them.

"Hello." she said, smiling at him.

"Hello." Sesshoumaru greeted her, putting Kagome down on the floor. He turned and closed the doors behind them.

"Sorry, she was gonna run out in only that dress, I just threw whatever I could find on her!" Sango apologized to the taiyoukai. Sesshoumaru nodded.

"We will have to take better care of her, then." he said, and Kagome huffed on her nose at the news. Nonetheless, the two looked at her very determined to carry out their plan.

:---:

By nightfall, both Inuyasha and Kazuki had arrived at Muncaster, and now they were seated in Kagome's favorite room, the one she'd first met Sesshoumaru in. The tree was all set, and the fire was burning quietly in the fireplace.

Sabrya excused herself after leading the two hanyou men into the room, and turned to leave.

"Sabrya!" Inuyasha's voice sounded in the chamber. Kagome gave him a short look, and then looked at the hanyou woman, who turned hearing her name being called.

Sesshoumaru was engaged into a conversation with Kazuki, and Sango was seated next to Kagome, both watching Sabrya and Inuyasha.

"Won't you stay?" the hanyou said, sitting up and walking towards the blonde woman dressed in a chauffeur's uniform.

Kagome raised an eyebrow, and Sango gave her an accomplice look.

Sabrya smiled and blushed a little.

"I just have to… change my clothes." she said, very shyly. Inuyasha raised his chin in acknowledgement, and then nodded at her.

"Okay."

"Okay." Sabrya said, like an echo. She couldn't place the fast beat of her heart, when she spoke to this man. He was very… at ease all the time, nothing like her. The drive from the airport had been an awkward one for her. He wouldn't stop talking, he'd insisted to sit in the front seat with her, and seemed to like her, for some reason.

Sabrya never thought of herself as a pleasant person. She was either too reserved, or too excited. She could easily offend people without even realizing she was doing it, and for that reason, she didn't have many friends. But Inuyasha seemed not to mind that much. She smiled faintly at him, and went to change her clothes.

Kagome looked at Inuyasha as he sat back down next to her.

Inuyasha raised his dark eyebrows and widened his eyes.

"What?" Kagome unsuccessfully tried to hold back her smile.

"Nothing." she said, cheerfully.

"Nothing at all." Sango added, taking a sip from her teacup.

"Stop it you two." Inuyasha threatened.

"She just seemed lonely, that's all." he continued.

"Uh-huh!" the women both nodded, each looking in their respective cups.

"Kagome, stop it, I mean it!" he said again, his menacing tone having absolutely no effect on the young woman. She giggled, and looked away, on the ceiling, on the walls, at the Christmas tree, anywhere but at the flaming hanyou. She knew he was embarrassed, and with good reason. But she liked the idea of him and Sabrya together. Yes, she really did.

.. .. .. THE END .. .. ..