"Where is Sesshomaru? He has weapon training in 10 minutes!" Inukimi shouted, pacing back and forth. Inutaisho laughed, looking out the window. "I think we should let him pass, just this once." Inukimi gazed over his shoulder. "Fine. I guess it cant be helped." she smiled.
"Kagome-chan, you shouldn't climb that high, especially considering your back just healed!" Sesshomaru shouted, watching as Kagome climbed the tall cherry tree. "There are plenty of cherries down here in the low branches, so come down!" he reasoned. She met his gaze and shook her head, continuing to climb until Sesshomaru couldn't see her through the branches. Suddenly, a juicy cherry bursted on his forehead. "Kagome-" and then she was next to him, her head slightly tilted as she studied him. "Sesshomaru." "Uh, what?" "You were supposed to catch the cherry, not waste it." she sighed as she grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him down to her level. "Hold still." "Wh-what are y-you doing?!" he asked as she lightly licked the remnants of the cherry from his forehead. He fell backwards in surprised. Kagome tilted her head once more and studied him, obviously amused. She reached a red tinted hand down to him and helped him up, though he refused to meet her gaze. "Here, try this." she said, reaching up to the lowest branch and pulling off a cherry. He plopped it into his mouth. "It tastes normal." "Now try this one." she said, handing him one that she had gotten from the top. "It's sweeter...better." he admitted. Kagome smiled at him and nodded. "The cherries at the top have been through much, weathered the cold rain and the blistering sun. They have ripened well during their trials of life. The ones here at the bottom have never known the cruelties of life, and therefore do not taste as good. Reaching for that which seems unreachable, forgoing the cheap mediocrities at the bottom, that is how you will find that for which you long for." she said, walking away. "Like you..." he whispered and smiled, jogging to catch up to her.
Kagome studied her room for what seemed like the hundredth time. Could this really be "my" room. Do I belong here? Do I belong anywhere? She sighed as she sat down on the railing on her balcony. "Kagome." a deep voice sounded behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see Lord Inutaisho standing in the darkness of her room. "Kagome, are you okay?" "Am I?" She turned and studied the moon, wondering if it were just as lonely as her. Lord knows it's just as isolated as I am. "I have a request of you. Will you stay here, with us?" he asked. Kagome looked back over her shoulder once more, her eyes widening. "But there is a catch..." I knew it. Too good to be true. "Isn't there always?" she laughed. "We enjoy your company here. Sesshomaru has become exponentially happier since you've arrived. He actually smiles now." Lord Inutaisho said, running a hand through his white hair. "But the royals...the royals say you don't belong. But they are willing to accept you if you travel to the Forbidden Garden of the Lost Lady and retrieve the rumored black rose...alone. And though it is selfish of me to ask you to accomplish this feat...will you?" Kagome sighed. "How about I just leave? That would be easier." "It wouldn't be easy for you." he said sadly. Kagome jumped from the railing, "Kagome!" Inutaisho yelled as he ran and looked over the balcony. "You do not know what would be easy for me. You do not know what I've seen, done, or been through. So do not assume you know anything." she laughed as she ran to the front gates. She had just walked through the gates when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Kagome-chan, you can't go. You can't..." She roughly swiped his hand off of her shoulder. "I can, and I am. Goodbye." she said angrily. My heart hurts, though it is not the burning that comes when I need to feed...What is this? Suddenly his hand was on her shoulder again and being whipped around, her face buried in Sesshomaru's comforting chest. He tightly hugged her as she stood there, not knowing what to do. Kagome closed her eyes and silently breathed in his scent. Morning dew...citrus... She raised her arms to embrace him back, but quietly dropped them back to her sides as she pulled away, her gaze cast downward. Sesshomaru slowly pushed Kagome's bangs away from her face and gently kissed her forehead.
Then, she was gone. And the emptiness set in once again.
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