Chapter Three

Jogging

…

{Sesshomaru's P.O.V}

I glimpse briefly at my cell phone as the front screen lights up and begins to vibrate against my desk. I growl and ignore it. No matter how many times I tell the wench not to call me, ever, she simply refuses to comply. No matter. I'll deal with that little problem later.

"You going to get that?" InuYasha asks flatly. I don't look away from my computer, deciding to ignore my younger hanyou brother as well.

InuYasha closes the file he's been analyzing for the past hour and walks over to my desk. Before he reaches down I snatch the phone and throw it in my briefcase on the floor. Our eyes lock for a moment.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" InuYasha snaps at me.

"I'd watch that tone of voice if I were you."

"I'm not the one acting like I have something to hide."

There's a brief pause between us and I can sense a tension building.

"I have nothing to hide."

"So why do you keep ignoring your phone calls huh? How do you know that's not Kagome trying to reach you or something?"

"Kagome knows not to interrupt me during work hours."

InuYasha folds his arms across his chest then returns to his chair by the window. For a moment I actually thought the conversation had ended but the unconvinced look on his face told me otherwise.

"So how is Kagome?"

The question throws me off a bit. I contemplate giving an answer, "Fine."

"Didn't you used to have a picture of her on your mantle over there?" InuYasha continues, paying no heed to my annoyance "It's missing...and I think it's been gone for a while."

"Are you implying something half-breed?" I snap at him.

"I'm implying that your office fucking reeks. And it didn't used to smell tainted like this until Kagome's picture disappeared." InuYasha gathers his files and places them under his arm. I watch as he makes his way towards the door then stops, "You're only fooling yourself if you haven't noticed."

The door swings shut behind him and an uneasy feeling latches on to me that I can't seem to shake. What the hell did all of that mean? And what exactly was he trying to say? Cocky bastard. Trying to address me with riddles I do not wish to entertain. His idiotic banter only wasted my time!

I decide to turn my attention back to my computer screen but only a few seconds pass before that irritating vibration continues at my feet. And then it hits me. Maybe that ill-bred hanyou was speaking clearer than I thought…

{Kagome's P.O.V}

"Remind me why we're running when we both own perfectly functioning vehicles?" Sango wines.

I giggle as she finally catches up to me while I jog in place, "Sango you agreed to do this with me once a week and we haven't gone in months."

"That's because," Sango exhales and plops down on a nearby bench "Every time we go jogging we end up running around half of the damn city. I'm sorry Kagome but this is too much. I have asthma."

I sit down beside her and take a swig from my water bottle, "You haven't had an asthma attack sense the 6th grade."

"And if I keep doing this shit one will come, you watch."

We both laugh.

It's beautiful outside today. I convinced Sango to come with me to the city park. It was the perfect place to run. There was a huge lake with the clear blue water and wild flowers surrounding the banks. We'd parked our cars on the opposite side of the lake and ran the entire perimeter. It was about five miles give or take.

"I just had to come out here and clear my head you know." I confess "I've had a lot on my mind lately."

"A lot like what?" Sango's charcoal eyes turn to mine, letting me know she's listening and ready.

I sigh, "Am I a bad person?"

"Of course not."

"Well do I do bad things to people without knowing it? Am I an aggravating person to be around?"

"Kagome, no. Why would you think that?"

I cough to fight back the incoming tears, "Because that's how Sesshomaru makes me feel. He's so cold towards me Sango. It'd be one thing if he just completely ignored me but the things he says…make me feel useless."

"Have you tried talking to him?"

"Only a million times. All he does is push me farther away."

A couple in matching jumpsuits jog by us and smile our way. They look so happy. I follow them with my gaze until they're out of sight.

"Well if that's the case then there could be something up with him. If he doesn't want to tell you then maybe he just needs some space. Men always try to hide their emotions and you happen to be dating the one man on earth who is the best at that. And if you truly feel the way that you say you do then maybe you need some space too girl. However, it does not justify him being a world class prick to you Kagome because you are far from useless."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes Kagome and I'm sure I'm not the only one. If Sesshomaru can't see how awesome you are then he's a complete idiot."

I hug her "Thanks Sango, I really needed to hear that."

"Anytime girlfriend," Sango stands up and pulls me to my feet "Now how about we head back, grab a bite to eat and then have a movie night at my place?"

"Sounds great…but I think I'm going to stay here and run a little more if that's okay."

"No problem," Sango hugs me one more time "We'll do a rain check. Just let me know if you need to talk some more okay?"

I nod and say goodbye as we head our separate ways.

My feet hit the pavement and I begin a slow jog along the sidewalk, Sango's words still echoing in my head. Maybe she had a point. People outgrow each other…maybe that's what was happening between Sesshomaru and I. unless something really was bothering him and he really did need space…away from me. Or was I the one who needed the space away from him? A part of me wanted to believe that everything would work out sooner or later. The other part of me had had enough of being treated like I wasn't appreciated. It was too much to think about.

I had barely picked up a steady pace before a black Mercedes with tinted windows slowed down beside me. At first I ignored it but then I heard my name.

"Kagome." I knew who it was before the window rolled down far enough for me to see.

"Naraku?"

"Good to see you miko." The car stopped and before I knew it Naraku was getting out of the back seat. My heart sped up a little as he walked over to me and kissed the back of my hand. His lips were so warm…

"Oh,"

"I hope I didn't startle you Kagome. I had my driver stop when I noticed you jogging." Naraku flashed his pearly whites at me.

I couldn't stop staring at him. Something was different…or was he this gorgeous when we first met and I just didn't notice?

Stop it Kagome!

"Um, no I was just in the middle of a run…well kind of." I managed to say "Where are you coming from?"

"My office is just a few blocks over." Naraku looked back at his car and then to me, "Kagome I hope you don't take this the wrong way but you look a bit hungry and I'm a little famished myself. I'd be honored if you would let me feed you."

"Excuse me?"

Naraku chuckled, "I know a wonderful sushi restaurant not too far from here."

The better part of me wanted to say no. The idea of walking into a restaurant wearing a pink jogging suit and tennis shoes with my hair up in a messy bun was not one that I wanted to consider.

"Naraku I don't think I should."

"And why is that?" He moved closer and the same scent that had carried me to sleep a few nights ago engulfed me all over again.

"I look a mess,"

"You look beautiful."

Our eyes locked and my insides felt like they were burning up. I couldn't remember the last time a man had ever seemed this…interested in spending time with me. Hell, Sesshomaru refused to even take me out for ice cream anymore.

Naraku held out his hand "I promise, once we're done I'll have my driver bring you right back here."

"Naraku I'd love to but…I'm sorry. I have a lot on my mind right now." I managed to hold my breath a little bit to keep my mouth from watering over the scent of his body. Part of me wanted to go, but of course, the practical side of me said to stay put. So I did.

Naraku's velvety baritone chuckled again, "And I'm sure boyfriend wouldn't like that very much would he?"

I looked down. This feeling crept over me that caught me off guard…Like I actually regretted tell him no.

"Tell you what," Naraku reached into the left pocket of his suit, pulled out a plastic card and slipped it into my hands "How about a rain check. This is my personal line. Give me a call whenever you like."

I stared at the little gold card in my hands. It had Naraku Kana written in fancy black ink with a phone number and address below it, "Alright."

"Have a wonderful evening Kagome. I look forward to hearing from you soon."

I blushed. The way he said my name sent shivers up my spine. Naraku eyed me up and down then turned and got back into his Mercedes. I bit my lip; the look in his eyes was almost…seductive.

I waited until he drove away before jogging back to my car. I would've ran the lake again but the way my legs were shivering and the moisture coming from between them suggested that I go home.

I couldn't believe that my body reacted that way off of one look. It'd been so long I almost didn't recognize the feeling. Naraku had actually turned me on…

I shook my head, get it together Kagome!

{Normal P.O.V}

Sesshomaru dropped his briefcase at the door and entered his home exhausted as usual. Tonight has been exceptionally rough. Not only had he worked after hours to meet an important deadline, an unexpected visitor had arrived and that was a visit he was not prepared for.

Sesshomaru unbuttoned his shirt as he made his way through the kitchen towards the bedroom. His mind was exasperated and he was beyond annoyed to say the least. All he could think about was taking a nice hot shower and collapsing into a deep sleep…today had just not been his day.

As Sesshomaru entered the master suite, he noticed steam coming from beneath the bathroom door. Great, he thought bitterly I'm going to have to wait for Kagome to get out.

For a second, Sesshomaru's mind floated back to a distant memory. When they had first moved in together, he and Kagome would take long bubble baths with each other or make love as the steaming water poured over their yearning bodies. Sesshomaru would grab Kagome by the thighs and hoist her up against the glass of the shower while taking long deep strokes in and out of her moist walls. She in turn would claw at his back and moan his name until he sped up the pace and Kagome screamed in sweet ecstasy.

Sesshomaru shook his head.

His manhood was starting to become hard and he knew that such an action would be no use. He hadn't touched Kagome in almost a year and there was no way he could possibly do it now.

Sesshomaru was about to leave the room and wait in the study when a faint strange smell entered his nostrils. It was sweet yet tangy at the same time and for a moment Sesshomaru thought it familiar. He moved to the left, closer to the source of the odor. It was coming from Kagome's hamper.

Curiously, Sesshomaru picked up the lid of the small wicker hamper. Although the smell was still faint it was strongest near a pair of pink jogging pants. Kagome must've worn these today. Sesshomaru lifted the pants and almost immediately his eyes narrowed to a small damp smudge between the legs.

Then it clicked.

Sesshomaru couldn't believe what he was seeing. He remembered the smell now. It was the smell of Kagome's secretion when she became aroused! But how could that be? He certainly hadn't seen the Miko all day…

"Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked. Sesshomaru turned around to see the innocent yet confused look on her face. She was standing in the bathroom doorway with her hair in a bun wearing nothing but a towel and slippers.

"What is this?" Sesshomaru fought to control his growing anger as his mind began to race.

"My jogging pants?"

"No," In one swift movement Sesshomaru was inches away from Kagome. He grabbed her by the arm and shoved the pants closer to her face, "This."

"What the hell is wrong with you!" Kagome yanked her arm away and took a few steps back. How dare he grab her that way?

Sesshomaru clenched his teeth, "Why do they smell as if you were aroused while wearing them?" He knew Kagome would never cheat on him, but the fact that something or someone else had sparked her stimulation made him livid.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me woman!"

"I'm not!" Kagome snapped back. She was beginning to feel hot and her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. A part of her did feel guilty for not washing the pants immediately. But still, it's not like Kagome did anything wrong. Her body had acted on its own. What was she supposed to do? Walk around like a hormone-less zombie because Sesshomaru refused to touch her?

"You know I don't get it," Kagome inhaled as tears began to threaten her eyes "I sit here every night, waiting for you to come home. I wait for you to come to bed, hoping that you'll hold me. Hoping that you'll want to talk to me or touch me like you used to. But you don't. And no matter how hard I try you continue to shut me out. What did I do Sessho? Why do you treat me this way?"

Sesshomaru's face hardened. It was a lot easier for him to ignore Kagome when his back was turned to her, but staring at the desperation and hurt in her face made him want to jump off a cliff. He couldn't bring himself to talk to Kagome anymore. Not after what he'd done. Although Sesshomaru knew that being cold and distant from her was hurtful, knowing the truth would only break Kagome and he was not ready for that. He didn't know if he ever would be.

Sesshomaru dropped the pants and headed to his dresser. He pulled out a shirt and a pair of slacks then threw them into a duffle bag.

"What are you doing?" Kagome wiped her eyes and took a few steps towards him.

"Leaving," Sesshomaru said coldly. He couldn't take seeing her this way. Perhaps sleeping at the office would clear his mind and allow him to think.

"Where are you going?"

Silence.

"Sesshomaru where are you going?" Kagome moved in front of the bedroom door "Talk to me, please."

Sesshomaru picked Kagome up and tossed her on the bed. He wasn't aggressive but he made sure to be rough enough so that she wouldn't follow him, "Stay here."

Kagome's eyes flooded with tears as she watched him walk out of the bedroom. She clutched her chest, trying to breathe as the pieces of her heart began to shatter. How many nights was he going to ignore her? How long was she supposed to endure his coldness? Kagome loved Sesshomaru more than he knew but it was becoming harder and harder to determine whether or not he felt the same anymore. And if Sesshomaru wasn't willing to communicate with her what else could she possibly do to make things better? She was starting to get tired of trying…

Kagome crawled beneath her covers and curled into a ball. Her body felt numb and she wished more than ever that someone was there to hold her. She couldn't take it anymore.

At that moment she made a silent vow. One that she promised herself to never break…that night was going to be the last night she would cry herself to sleep ever again.

Xoxo

Courageous Pearl

I know this chapter is a bit longer than the others but it was really important to me to get that last bit in there! I hope you all enjoyed it! My next update won't be for about two weeks because I'm moving back on campus and I don't think I'll have time to put chapter 4 up before then. So what do you think? Please review!