Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha. Nor do I want to, but I'd love to own Sesshoumaru. Any tips on how?
Chapter 2.
Signed and dated.
Just as she had predicted, her husband hadn't even noticed that she was gone. It had been a full week, her staying in the empty apartment, trying to live her life as normal. But really, she was just passing the time by, trying to 'adjust'.
She could just imagine him, coming home from work, drunk as usual staggering in and passing out on the couch or somewhere on the floor. She wouldn't there to wake him up and cooed him into bed. But for sure, he didn't care, because he didn't notice. He was probably thinking she took time off, out of town to breathe, like she'd always done in the past when she caught him in his infidelity.
Except this time was different, she willed her mind not to give in. She wasn't going to come running back. No matter how much he was going to plead. No matter how much he was going to say that 'he'll change' that 'he's changed'. It had become rather monotonously predictable and belittling.
No, Naraku , this time will be different. She chuckled imagining the angry look on his face when he gets served with the divorce papers.
Yet as she held the papers in her hands, they shook as she scanned the lines over. She was really doing it. She was going through with it.
It seemed like hours passed as Kagome continued to stare at the 'signature' line. Her little fingers rattled frantically as she reached for her pen. She scribbled her little signature and dated the paper. A tear rolled down her cheek as she continued to stare at what she had finally done.
Her divorced papers, filed, signed and date. Waiting to be delivered.
Kagome dropped her pen on the desk and buried her face in her palms and bawled. How could someone she loved so much, had broken her heart so? She thought the day when they walked down the isle that it would be forever. Yet, now they were just another statistic of the long list of divorcees.
Kagome continued to cry over the lost of the man that she'd given her world to, yet he had tossed it away, like it meant nothing. She remembered the charming ways he courted her at the beginning. Chasing after her relentlessly even though she'd told him she was dating someone else. He didn't mind, he told her he'd wait for her until she was ready.
And when she walked in on Hojo pounding away at some woman in their apartment she'd run right into his arms. He'd welcomed her. He'd loved her. Yet now, she was treated worst than garbage.
Kagome found it hard to understand why she kept falling for the same type. Sweet and tender, attentive and loving and once they had her then she was worth nothing.
She was after all, quite pretty. She'd concluded that. She had a few talents, and she wasn't completely hopeless when it came to matters of the house. She was great in the kitchen, she kept the house fair and made it a home. She was great in bed, adventurous, spontaneous and she knew all his arousal spots. She was a successful business woman, confident and firm in her line of work. So what was it that she lacked that the other whores didn't?
The phone ringing brought her back to the reality she was in. She sniffled and wiped her nose. This is why he didn't want you! You've become a weakling! She heard her conscience chiding her.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Kagome?"
"Yeah." Kagome blew her nose.
"Kami, are you alright?" Kagura's voice bounced through the receiver a few feet from her ears.
"Yeah, fine. What's up?"
"Where have you been? Naraku's been looking for you! Don't tell him I told you though, you know him, always the macho man." Kagura laughed awkwardly.
Yeah, always the macho man… "Oh, you know, just taking some time away." Kagome answered, not wanting to let her sister-in-law know what she was really up to.
"Well, what happened? I think he wants to know when you'll be home but too proud to ask." Kagura played tried not to sound like she was gathering information.
"I don't know. You know, the usual." Kagome's voice was nonchalant.
"I'm sorry. Hey, can I take you out to dinner or something? To the movies, get your mind off my asshole brother?"
"No, thanks though. I'm tired. It's really sweet of you Kagura. Sorry, you're always caught in the middle."
"Kagome, if you need me, just let me know. And if you need a divorce lawyer I'll send mine. He got me a really nice settlement with my ex-husband." Kagura offered. Sister-in-law or not they were closer than some sisters. Kagura always thought Kagome was too good for her brother and especially when she learned of his infidelity. But it wasn't her place to do anything about it. She'd encouraged Kagome to divorce him years ago. The poor girl, so in love with him! Jerk off! Kagura cursed her brother under her breath.
Kagome let out an awkward chuckle. "Thanks Kagura, but I'm okay."
"I'm telling you, you need to loose him already! I've got a few guys who would treat you like a queen if you give them a chance instead." Kagura offered while Kagome could here the soft mumbling of Kagura's boyfriend in the background.
"No, thank you again, Kagura. I can handle this fine. Hey listen," she blew her nose again " I have to go. Thanks for checking up on me. I'll be fine okay?"
"If you say so. You know how to reach me if you need me okay?" Kagura giggled and Kagome could only assume what Miroku was doing to her. Kagome heard the soft, 'stop it Miroku!' over the covered receiver.
"'Kay. Thanks. Bye!" Kagome set the receiver back down on her desk.
Minutes later she found herself continued to bawl. Angry at how her life had turned out, she toss the file separator against the wall; paperwork and files strewn everywhere. It was hard to believe that after 5 years of marriage it had finally fallen apart. Or was it rather shocking that it had taken 5 years for her to let him go. Why does she continue to torment herself so? It wasn't as if it was anything new. If anything, this would give her a fresh start.
But she still reminisced on the warmth of her 'husband's' embrace. His tender kisses when he did care. The way he could take care of her when she was sick. That was what made her love him so. He'd spent every single day with her in the hospital when she had to have heart surgery. He never left her side except to go home and change into fresh clothing and to bring her some non-hospital food.
Every time she stirred, he was by her side. Every time she coughed he would hand her a cup of water. It brought tears to her eyes to realize that someone could go through that much effort and work, to show his love and dedication and one day, just take it all away.
Somehow he'd had her under his spell all these years. But last week was the last of it. Him bringing someone into their home. Their sanctuary, where they said, they'd raise their children. She was relieved that they hadn't conceived in the five years. It might have been another ball and chain to link her to him for the rest of her life. At least this way, she had no attachment to him after everything's said and done.
She slid the file back into its manila envelope and sealed it. She set it on her 'outgoing' mailbox for her secretary to send out. Kagome sighed and wiped her tears away. Her stomach rumbled. She hadn't eaten anything all day and it was already 4:30PM. Deciding it was time to leave her job for the day, she grabbed her coat and left.
It was behind her now. He was behind her now. Time to move on. And suddenly, an image of the Youkai flashed in her mind and it gave her much needed comfort.
The winter cold air welcomed her with a new chill through her body. Yet, it was refreshing. New. Very much welcomed. And needed. She hailed a cab to La Suite, her favorite upscale restaurant. She was way too tired to cook for the night, and she really wanted a good meal to accompany an excellent bottle of wine. Perhaps she'd stop at the jazz club again later and see who was playing tonight. After all, the last time she was there, she'd had quite a nice time. And secretly she was hoping she'd run into the hot Youkai again. Perhaps this time, she wouldn't be as nervous to talk to him. Become friends......
.....~.....
Across town, Sesshoumaru sat in the restaurant, his mind lost in a trance of a vague memory of a sweet scent. He was oblivious to the fact that he was surrounded by opulence. He was was also oblivious to the beautiful lady sitting next to him, until she reached out and touched him gently.
"Sesshoumaru, darling..."
"This Sesshoumaru hates that term." he cut her off. Irritation prickling across his skin. He rolled his golden ambers to look at her. A hurt look on her face. He thought about it for a second. What was wrong with him? Dressed in a low cut surplice wrap dress, her cleavage spilled over, diamond flashing around her neck. Her make-up flawless, donned by the infamous face that everyone knew. She was dubbed one of the most beautiful woman in the world, who'd grace many magazine covers and desired by millions of men. Yet she was the latest woman who had graced his arms, and his bed. He exhaled mentally.
"Forgive me, I have an important meeting early tomorrow. Would you care if we left early?"
"Not at all." She smiled brightly at him, clearly anticipating, but completely misguided, that he wanted them to be alone.
As he watch his woman stand up to go retrieve her fur coat, a familiar gentle scent caught his nose. That sweet seduction that he'd been entranced with for the past week. Yet this time, the saltiness scent of tears was much more pungent than the last. She'd been crying recently. He realized. From the corner of his eyes he watched as the host guided her to her table. Her face, pale with clean lines, cheekbones clearly delineated, almond-shaped held beautiful colbalt blue eyes. Jet black raven hair hung loosely over her shoulders, parted slightly in the center. When she moved her hand to tuck it behind her ear, it revealed those tantalizing eyes of hers. He felt his groin stiffened.
He watched almost ogling as she strode and settled into her seat with effortless feminine grace. He felt a tug on his arm and almost shook off the hand that rested there. He felt shocked for a moment that he'd become so entranced just watching her. He felt such desire to walk over to her and conjure up a conversation and befriend her. Like last time at the jazz club. But he remembered then that he was with someone else. Yet, it helped him realised that it was time for the famous woman in his life to move on. He was bored with her, if he was still fascinated by a woman he'd met only once by chance. He finally tore his gaze off the unknown woman and his lids rolled to stare into the green eyes of his 'girlfriend' who gave him a forgiving smile. She knew she was 'the most beautiful' and was not in the least offended. She didn't know it yet, but she was on her way out his door.
"Are you ready?" She asked him. Her voice soft and sweet, men would die to have such a voice whisper in their ears, but he felt it gave him such an annoyance he couldn't comprehend.
"Hn." He replied as he stood up and she took his arm. Together, they walked out the restaurant.
Kagome looked up from her menu and noticed long silver hair slipping out the door, next to golden blonde hair on his arms. She couldn't help but feel the disappointment lurking at the pit of her stomach.