Ch. 3

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Dear Diary,

It's almost been a week and Kouga hasn't showed up to school yet. I wonder where he is. Sesshomaru took me to his house after hours of begging, and it was as if no one had been there for a while. I don't know what's going on with him, but I wish he would of told me if he was leaving or moving...or something! I think Sesshomaru thinks I like Kouga. It's rather cute actually—though I know he'd rather die than admit it. And...I think he's jealous! I hope so!

My step father's still working on the treaty with Japan. He said that if everything went well this week, Japan would have to follow the example of the States and truly liberate all youkai. Their restrains would be removed and true equal rights restored. I'm glad, because there's a lot of good youkai that deserve to be truly and 100% free. Though slavery has been abolished, and segregation illegal, mankind still forces youkai into submission by placing restrains on them. I've seen Sesshomaru's collar and arm bands. They break my heart every time I see them, because they remind me of the cruelty my kind has inflicted on him. I'd give anything to help him—and all the other youkai, but like my mother sais, "time will fix any problem".

I hope so...for Sesshomaru's sake...

Always,

Kagome

x

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"Good morning Sesshomaru," Kagome greeted warmly from her car.

They'd agree the first day they were paired up for their project to arrive to school an hour early so they could work on it in the school's library. Sesshomaru was always there earlier than her, waiting for her outside the school's gate. Today though, was different. Today was Saturday, and they were both meeting to head to the city's library and finish their project once and for all.

Sesshomaru saw Kagome turn around and say something to the driver, and lean forward.

Sesshomaru nodded at her as she got out the car and walked to stand next to him. Kagome adored the way his pale moonlight hair glowed in the morning's early glow, shimmering every time he moved. Shaking her head out of her current train of thoughts, she beamed up at him.

"Would you like to go get some coffee?" she asked.

Sesshomaru lifted a brow in question, surprised she'd actually asked instead of simply informing him. Most humans he knew would never ask a youkai whether something was alright with them or not. It really shouldn't of surprised him though, considering Kagome was neither like most of the humans he knew nor selfish. He nodded once again at her and watched her turn and walk towards the car. Sesshomaru wondered if she wanted him to follow behind the car or meet her at the coffee shop, when she turned around and called out to him.

"Are you coming or not?" Kagome called out, waving at him.

Just when he thought she'd surprised him, she managed to do it a second time. She actually wanted him to ride with her? In the same vehicle? He arched a brow and walked towards her car, his body already tense and ready for the blow of disappointment when she would laugh at him and drive away leaving him behind. He stopped right in front of her, giving her time to change her mind. Yet, still she waited.

Kagome slided the passenger seat forward to allow him into the back seat, and moved out of the way. She saw him, amused, as he hesitantly climbed in and slid to his seat. Kagome almost shook her head, wondering what had made him so wary of humans, then almost banged her head on the car..duh! Humanity hadn't been exactly kind to him.

Kagome leaned down, "Mind scooting all the way so I can sit down too," she asked playfully.

Surprise held him still for a moment before he moved to the seat behind the driver, and watched as the miko slipped inside, skillfully closing the door behind her. She leaned forward and pulled the passenger's seat back.

"Alright mom, let's go!" Kagome called out enthusiastically.

"Oh, Sesshomaru, this is my mom. Mom, this is Sesshomaru, my partner I've been talking to you about," Kagome introduced.

The woman driving smiled into the rear view mirror, "Hello dear, Kagome's spoken so much about you."

Sesshomaru turned to see Kagome blushing lightly, and hid his faint smile. The woman's voice held nothing but compassion and kindness. Perhaps not all humans were the same, he thought. He was a little surprised that Kagome would even mention him to her family, even more surprise she remembered him outside of school. What surprised him further—and brought to him anew hope—was the woman's next remark.

"You're right dear, he's cuter in person!" Kagome's mother gushed, smiling at her daughter through the rear view mirror.

"Mother!" Kagome blushed fiercely. She snapped her eyes to see Sesshomaru's reaction and pivoted her eyes out the window when she saw his mischievous grinning face. Men!

Kagome peeked at Sesshomaru from the corner of her eye and found him looking out the window, a faint smile curving the tip of his lips.

"Sesshomaru?" she started.

Sesshomaru turned to stare at the girl next to him, silently indicating she had his full attention.

"Do you know what happened to Kouga?" she asked, hopeful.

Sesshomaru inwardly cringed. He did not want to be the one to tell her, but she deserved to know. Though the very fact she was asking for the wolf almost made his skin crawl with anger and...something else...

"Kagome" he started in his deep lazy voice, "Kouga will not be attending our school anymore." He saw the surprise in her eyes dim to disappointment. He wanted to growl his frustration out but knew doing so would probably scare her. He hated the thought that she'd been hoping for the wolf's return. But before jumping into any conclusions, he made a note to probe her feelings a little more later.

"Why is that Sesshomaru?" was Kagome's outburst.

"Because him and his family have left for the States," Sesshomaru finished, turning away to look out the window. His family had been planing to leave Japan and start over in the States that year, but things had complicated. The government simply wouldn't allow it, fearing the youkai would leave the country and leave all the low, hard jobs.

"Oh, well then I'm glad for him and his family," Kagome said softly, sensing the sadness radiating from the male sitting so close to her. She knew, in that moment, that Sesshomaru would of done anything to be in Kouga's place. To escape his homeland and travel to her's.

"Alright, we're here," Kagome's mother cheered, "Sweetheart, do you want me to wait for you two here or would you rather walk to the library?"

Kagome stopped her sliding, and turned back to look at Sesshomaru instinctively.

To say that Sesshomaru was surprised was an understatement. Was she honestly turning to him for an answer? For his approval? Did she actually care what he would wish or not? The way she'd turned, so easily and naturally, as if wanting his opinion was so natural. Sesshomaru decided to chance it and test what would happen. He nodded, "The library is not very far."

As soon as he said that, Kagome smiled at her mother and informed her they'd walk and she could leave. She slid out her seat and Sesshomaru could do no other than admire her perfectly round derrière. He swallowed discreetly and followed after her, closing the car door behind him. Kagome waved her mother good bye as both her and Sesshomaru walked into the coffee shop.

Kagome smiled up at Sesshomaru as he towered over her, looking up at the menu. "Do you like the coffee here? I love their cappuccino!" Kagome gushed, already tasting the warm, vanilla liquid in her tongue.

"This is my first time here," Sesshomaru answered.

"What?!" Kagome gasped, looking up at him. How could a person go so many years without tasting the wonderful tasting coffee from Moonbucks?

Sesshomaru looked down at the gawking girl, and lifted a brow. Was she so naïve? Did she not remember that up until a few couple of years, the very coffee shop they stood inside of did not permit youkai—or even hanyou—to step within it's building. Sesshomaru remembered then that she was from the States, where slavery had been long abolished centuries back. A place he and his family longed to travel to and leave behind their native motherhood; Japan.

"I was not allowed in here not long ago, Kagome," he stated matter-of-factly.

Kagome composed her expression and turned to the side blushing. How could she forget! She was in Japan, where demons were only just tasting their newly acquired freedom. She sighed and her eyes softened as she took him in again, analyzing ever angle and curve of his features. He was all hard angles and muscle, while she was all lithe subtle muscle and soft curves.

"Welcome to Moonbucks, how can I help you this morning?" the cashier asked, eying the tall youkai hungrily. Kagome narrowed her eyes at the cashier, wishing to just grab Sesshomaru and stuff him in her tote bag. The thought took Kagome completely by surprise. More from it's suddenness than it's meaning. She'd reacted so fast to another woman's attraction towards Sesshomaru even she got whiplash. She shook it off and gave her order, while Sesshomaru voiced his after her's.

Kagome let the strap of her tote slip of her shoulder to pull her wallet out when Sesshomaru pulled out his wallet in one smooth movement and handed the cashier a bill.

"Hey—this was my treat," Kagome chastised, frowning up at him.

Sesshomaru shook his head, "Simply because you beat me to it."

He was so serious when he said it, Kagome could do no other than to believe him. Would he really of asked her to get coffee if she hadn't beat him to it? She was left with the prickling curiosity when he moved around her and led her to a seat by the window.

Sesshomaru remembered he still had a mission to accomplish, and that was to probe the miko's inner feelings a bit more. Deciding the time was right, he stood to pick up their drinks from the cashier when they were done, and carried them back to their table. He sat right in front of her and made it a point to stare at her, making her shift as she took a careful sip from her cup.

"So, uh, what does your family do?" Kagome asked, feeling self-conscious.

Sesshomaru took a sip from his cup, keeping his eyes on Kagome from the rim of his cup. He took his sweet time to answer, "My father is in small, local politics. My mother passed away years ago."

Kagome's eyes widened, and she choked her gasp down. So he lived alone with his father, how lonesome he must be. "I'm sorry Sesshomaru," she whispered, reaching out to lay her hand over his warmly. She didn't see it as much, but something in his eyes shifted the moment their skin touched.

The feeling of her warm velvety skin laying over his comfortingly was more than words could define. The electrical shot that coursed through his body left it tingling and begging for more. He wondered if, by the way her eyes widened in wonder, she felt them too? Only one way to find out—she'd accepted him so far...

"Kagome?" he asked tentatively.

Kagome looked up at him, unconsciously turning her cup in her palms. "Y—yes Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru captured her eyes the moment they met his, unwilling to relinquish the hold he had over them. He wanted to know every reaction to his question. He'd learned that while a person gave half an answer to a question, their physical reactions would provide the other half.

In a bold move, he turned his hand so her's would rest on top of his palm. Shivers rippled through his body as his fingertips caressed her inner wrist, feeling the pulse there. "Kagome," he whispered longingly, dropping the guise and allowing her to see the real him. Allowing her to see the arrogant beast laying within, the wild passionate animal hiding underneath his flesh, and allowing her to see the hurt buried deep inside. But most of all, he allowed her to see the man in him—and the fear of being rejected.

Kagome saw so much in those warm honey eyes, she wrapped her hand around his, feeling for him. Though she could sense the great power within him, waiting to be unleashed, waiting for it's bonds to be broken, she could also feel the wounded man within.

"Kouga. Are you interested in Kouga?" Sesshomaru asked, needing to get it out of the way before he moved on or took the next step.

Kagome looked up, the pain she felt for him obvious in her expressive eyes, "No, Sesshomaru, I don't. He's a wonderful person, and I think we would have been great friends, but nothing more."

"Because he's youkai?" he asked, something else he needed out of the way.

"No," Kagome answered, not needing to think about it, "I've never judged a person by their origins—but by their actions. He's just not what I would look for in a man," Kagome answered honestly.

Sesshomaru held her hand tighter unconsciously, thinking. He could sense nothing but honestly radiating from her, and that pushed him to ask his next and final question.

"Kagome, what is it you really want?" Sesshomaru asked softly, his eyes softening at her lowered head.

A warm hue of soft pink tainted Kagome's cheeks as she lowered her head. She didn't know what would happen if she trusted her heart at the moment and answered honestly. Deciding not to think about it and screw the consequences, she lifted her eyes to his.

"You."

Plain and simple and straightforward. What ever would happen—would simply happen. Kagome felt Sesshomaru's heated hand tighten around her's. In a moment, he stood up causing her to follow. They both walked out the café, coffee's in hand and headed the opposite way from the library's direction.

Kagome didn't know if perhaps she'd said the wrong thing and confusion took over her thoughts as Sesshomaru turned and handed her his coffee. As soon as she had it held tightly in one hand, he lifted her up in one quick movement and sprung off, holding her head protectively to his chest.

Kagome tried not to panic and concentrated in keeping the hot liquid inside their container. She gasped when she felt the electrifying pulse of the collar around Sesshomaru's neck going off the moment it sensed Sesshomaru using his demonic speed. She could see it sending wave after wave of painful electrical shocks into his body, and felt the one's on his wrists going off as well. She tried nuzzling it with her nose and lips, but seemed to only make it worse when Sesshomaru let out a strangled half moan half growl.

"I'm sorry Sesshomaru!" she gasped. "Did I make it worse?" she asked anxiously—again reminding him of a tiny kitten.

Sesshomaru didn't slow down, but looked down at the small female in his arms. He slowed his pace as he was reaching his destination and bent to rub his nose with her blushing cheek. "Yes, but not in a painful way," Sesshomaru whispered over her flushed skin.

The sudden change in him made Kagome dizzy as he set her down in her feet. She looked around confused and turned to look up at him, her head tilted. "Why are we back at my house?" she asked, handing him his coffee.

"I'd like to ask your father's permission," he stated so calmly.

"For what?" Kagome asked, doubly confused. She saw Sesshomaru turn and walk towards the front of her house and followed closely behind, "Wait—how did you know where I live?"

Sesshomaru sent her a small grin over his shoulder, "Permission to court you properly Kagome."

Kagome froze to the ground as if roots had sprung from her feet and buried deep in the earth. Her eyes wide she ran up to him when he knocked on the door.

"What?" she asked, feeling silly.

"I am youkai, Kagome. My nature demands I ask for proper courtship," he clarified, reaching for her smaller hand and engulfing it in his.

Kagome smiled, and reached forward to open the door. "Come inside, it's my house remember," she teased. She made her way to the study, where she knew her father would be working. She was so lucky her step-father did not hate demons and fought to liberate them completely. Together, hand in hand, they knocked on the study guide and walked in, knowing that one way or another they'd make it work.