Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or the main characters in the story.

A/N: Thank you to all those who reviewed! I'm glad you guys like "Rewind", and I hope you guys will continue supporting this story. I'm still thinking of the plot as I go along, so I have no idea how the story will turn out eventually as well. We'll see how it goes, so let's enjoy the process of creating this story together.

This chapter will be done in Sesshoumaru's POV unless stated otherwise.

Title: Rewind

Chapter 4: Desperation

"What do you want?"

I looked up from my laptop as my wife picked up the ringing phone, her features grim and her voice monotonous. The atmosphere in the air took a turn for being simply silent to becoming suffocating, while I pretended to return my attention to my work.

Her eyes were narrowed and her lips were pursed tightly into a thin line. There was silence on her part for awhile, before she replied icily, "Haven't I told you not to call again? Don't you think you've crossed the line?"

Without checking the caller ID, the question in my heart was answered. The caller was none other than Miroku, obviously still looking for Sango.

It's been more than a month now, and Kagome has withheld Sango's whereabouts from Miroku, in her bid to protect her best friend from any further hurt.

Sango is still a shadow of her previous self, simply burying herself in her work all day long. She even requested for a change in workplace, changed her cell phone number and everything else, simply to avoid Miroku.

"I don't think her affairs have anything more to do with you."

Another period of silence from Kagome, followed by agitation. "Just stop trying to look for her! She doesn't wish to see you, do you get it? Stop tormenting her!"

With that, she hung up angrily, her breathing harsh from the emotional agitation. Running a hand through her long raven hair, Kagome sighed, plopping down onto the bed.

"Who was that?" I asked deliberately, feigning greater interest in my work by keeping my eyes on the laptop screen.

"Who else?" She muttered, looking up at the ceiling above, absentmindedly fiddling with the edge of the comforter. She exhaled loudly, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead.

I typed for another minute, before asking quietly, "Don't you think, at the very least, he deserves to know where she is?"

That got Kagome clambering up into a kneeling position on the bed, all sighs of her earlier lethargy dissipated.

"And you think he does?" She asked, her voice somewhat dangerously quiet. "You think he deserves to see her again after all he has done?"

"Kagome," I began, mentally sighing for I had just gotten myself into trouble again. "I don't know about you, but I can tell he is remorseful."

"Well, it's not the first time, isn't it?" She asked. "I lost count of the times I forgave him for hurting Sango. He was remorseful every time, but that didn't stop him from making mistakes again."

"I think he truly loves her."

"Yeah, enough to get another woman pregnant. I just don't like seeing my best friend get hurt so badly, alright? I'm sick of seeing her broken and devastated, do you get it?"

"Kagome."

She didn't reply; instead, she turned away, plopping back down onto the bed with her back facing me. Her shoulders were shaking ever so slightly, and I could hear soft sniffles coming from her.

Saving my work, I left the study table to lie down by her side on the bed, placing my arm around her waist.

"Hey…"

I was never good with words, not in the past, not now. It was only with Kagome that I feel like speaking freely; she changed me from what I used to be.

"Go away." She muttered, trying to push my hand off.

"Don't cry," I did not relinquish my hold on her, guilt eating at my insides. I shouldn't have brought up the topic of Miroku and Sango's impending divorce when Kagome was so badly affected. She was so stressed out over the entire incident, being caught between both parties.

"Who says I'm crying?" She said stubbornly between sniffles.

I reached over to cup her cheek in my hand, before drawing back to show her my tear-stained hand.

"Then, what's this?" I asked, turning her around gently to face me. "I'm sorry, my dear."

I could feel her take a deep breath, before wrapping her arms around me and drawing me close to herself.

"Me too…I'm being oversensitive." She said quietly. "You know, I somewhat get the feeling that you feel I'm being very heartless towards Miroku."

I didn't reply, and simply waited for her to continue.

"I love him so much as a friend too, Sess. He really matters to a lot to me, just as much as Sango does. But…but I am no saint, I cannot find so much kindness within my heart to forgive him for all he has done. I know he's terribly worried about Sango, and if I were him, I would want to know where she is as well. These few weeks, I've been asking myself, 'Am I being too harsh on him?'…but once I do that, I recall Sango's tears, and I cannot bring myself to forgive him." Kagome drew a deep shuddering breath.

"It hurts me to say all those nasty things to him, but I really don't know how I can act as if nothing had happened and go on being friends with him. It's as if the incident with Sango has left a permanent scar on my friendship with Miroku. I'd hate to lose him as a friend…but I don't know what other option I have. How can something so good become so bad? We all used to be so happy…"

With that, her tears started welling up again, before she buried her face in my chest.

"Kagome…I understand what you're going through. Let me help…let me talk to Miroku, alright?"

The only response I got was louder sobs and nodding of her head.

"She's at my place."

Brown eyes widened in what I could make out to be relief, joy and surprise, before the sparkle in those eyes died down. A simple question followed, a stark contrast to the lively interior of the café we were in.

"How is she?"

I picked up the mug of latte in front of me and took a sip, before replacing it. How am I going to answer this question?

"She's fine." That was all I could say, which was truthful if 'fine' meant eating, sleeping and working.

He looked so different from the last time I saw him two months ago; it was as if he aged ten years in a month.

"Oh." He too, appeared to be at a loss for words. "Thanks for asking me out and telling me this, Sesshoumaru."

I shook my head, looking at nowhere in particular. "I'm doing this for Kagome. She's upset over what is happening between you and your wife."

"I see…I know this is too much to ask, but can you please tell Kagome how sorry I am for putting her through all these emotional pain?" He asked, and was quick to add, "I don't dare wish for her forgiveness, but I would like her to know how apologetic I am for causing so much trouble."

"Hmm."

For the first time since our meeting half an hour ago, he allowed a weak smile to creep onto his weary face. I couldn't help but notice the two unopened sachets of sugar beside his half-full cup of cappuccino.

"What about you?" I spoke up, picking my latte up.

"Me?" He asked, as if unsure about what I was referring to.

I feigned nonchalance as I took a long sip and placed the mug back on the coffee table.

"I'm asking about your problem. What about the woman and the child?"

His mouth opened ever so slightly in a small display of surprise, before a tired sigh escaped his lips.

"Ah."

"Do you require assistance in any form?"

"I never thought you'd still regard me as a friend, Sesshoumaru," He smiled somewhat cynically. "Not after seeing what a failure, a pathetic excuse for a man, I am."

"What you did wrong and how I regard you are two separate issues."

He nodded slightly, giving me a small smile.

"I haven't got to know her better yet…all I know that she's called Asami, twenty years old, and currently jobless. I don't really know anything else…" He said, his voice resigned and tired. "But of course, not that understanding changes the situation. The fact that she's pregnant remains."

"And the child is yours?" I asked, a thought coming to my mind. I shouldn't be harboring such doubts, but there's always a possibility.

"Well…I'm not going to deny it…we did spend the night together…" He admitted with regret deep in his voice. "What's more, she has no reason to lie to me…She's just a young girl."

"Hmm." I nodded, picking up my latte.

He exhaled loudly, burying his face in his hands before looking up. "Anyway, I know I'm asking too much…but can I talk to her?"

I hesitated. I wanted to say yes, seeing how desperate he was, but part of me was reluctant to betray the trust my wife placed in me. Kagome trusted me to talk to him, not arrange for him to see Sango. Not to mention how affected Sango would be if he approached her now.

"I don't think so." I replied. "At least, not for now."

He was silent for a moment. "It's alright…I shouldn't have asked…"

"I'm sure she'll agree to see you one day…just give her some time."

"Hmm…thank you, Sesshoumaru."

"It's only coffee."

"No, no…it's much more than that. Thank you for being my friend."

To be continued…

A/N: That was chapter 4 of "Rewind"…It's so tough trying to make icy Fluffy helpful towards Miroku! Please review if you enjoyed this!