A/N: Takahashi Sesshoumaru: 27
Harada Rin: 21
Kaze Kagura: 24
Takahashi Inuyasha: 23
Higurashi Kagome: 22
Houshi Miroku: 23
Taijiya Sango: 22
'Italics': Thoughts
Bold: Emphasis
'Bold Italics': Flashback
Yes I deserve to be shot on the head! It's close to a year since my last update! And for that please, please please accept my utmost apologies. I've been thoroughly busy with my personal life that I don't even get some time to have this story written! In addition to that, my computer and laptop died on me, both almost at the same time. I'm sincerely sorry for taking too long to get back with a new chapter.
On a lighter note, I've been getting reviews from my lovable readers for more updates. This is it for you people. Thank you for sticking by me all these while despite the delay of completing this story. Please pardon me for the extremely long wait.
Thank you so much to all my reviewers. I ought to thank all of you individually, but due to time constraint I'm unable to do that. Just bear in my mind that Restria loves each and every one of you. Truthfully, no joke. :)
I seriously want to come up with new stories, but for the moment I'd like to get this piece done first before starting another one.
I think I've held you guys back long enough so please do enjoy this chapter.
PS: I'm so sorry if you found it slipshod!
Chapter Thirteen: Aftermath
"You know, you shouldn't have said that to Rin-chan. She…she loves you way too much to deserve a divorce from you."
I looked up at Kagura from my drink. There, opposite me, sat Kagura playing with her food on the plate. 'She's beautiful. So beautiful.'
"Would you want me to take back my words and then go back to her?" I teased her.
Now it was her turn to give me her undivided attention. Her crimson eyes pinning mine as her lips moved trying to form some coherent words.
"Well- Actually- If—"
"I wouldn't go even if you want me to. Because I'm not leaving you for that bitch."
"Sesshoumaru! You will not say such foul things about Rin! She's my friend after all."
I gave her a bitter smile. 'She still treats Rin as her friend. To think Rin was the reason for all this mess makes me want to strangle her!' I thought to myself.
It had been slightly more than a day after the episode in my office. And here I was with Kagura at a Japanese restaurant having our breakfast.
I had gone back to my apartment, which was located at the rural part of Japan, with Kagura just after the whole incident happened. No one would be able to locate us there. Besides no one except Jaken knew about this apartment I had. I had called Jaken and gave him strict orders regarding the confidentiality of my apartment. He knew better than giving anyone the information of current residence.
"What are we going to do now Sesshoumaru?" Kagura broke my thoughts with her question.
I looked up at her once again and quirked my eyebrow. "What is there to do?"
A frown marred her features as she huffed in frustration. "Are we going to be like this forever? Escaping from everyone and doing nothing at all?"
I heaved a silent sigh as I grabbed her hand from where I was. "I'm going to file a divorce and once I've divorced Rin, this Sesshoumaru will marry you," I said solemnly.
"Are you willing to divorce her Sesshoumaru?"
That question caused me to catch my breath. I diverted my attention back to my drink as I countered her back, "What kind of question is that?"
"You were hesitant yesterday. And you don't even mean it as you said it now. Answer me Sesshoumaru- are you willing to divorce Rin?"
'Am I willing to let her go? I don't love her anyway. I can let her go right? After all, she put me in whole lot of shit.' I cleared my throat and looked at her once again. "Why can't I divorce her?"
Kagura placed her chopsticks down on her plate and gave me a wry smile, "You can divorce her but you don't want to. Am I right? You don't love me Sesshoumaru, you love her don't you?"
"What nonsense are you blabbering?! I don't love her. This Sesshoumaru only loves you. Don't you get it? I love you. If I love her I wouldn't want you, I wouldn't yearn for you!"
"You want me, but you need her. Eventually it's her that you want to be with, not me."
I stared at Kagura in incredulity. What the hell was going through her mind? How could she say that I didn't love her or need her?! However as much as I wanted to contradict her I knew somewhere deep in my heart what she said was somewhat true. I cleared my throat as a form of diversion and continued eating my breakfast.
"I know that my feelings for you are special, but it's not as strong as I have for Naraku. I know I can simply forget him by having you for myself. In that way, my feelings for you will definitely grow stronger. But I don't want to, because if I have you for my own, I will be destroying Rin's happiness…and yours."
I stopped chewing on my food and eyed her surreptitiously. When I thought I knew what I was doing, this enchantress had to muddle my thoughts. It seemed like she could read my deeper feelings. The murderous ones which I forbade from poisoning my mind and my decision. Yes, I did not want to file a divorce, because I was worried that it might break Rin apart. But would it cost my happiness if I were to be with Kagura and leave Rin? I was uncertain myself.
"I really hope you will reconsider your decision to divorcing Rin," Kagura concluded.
"What if I don't?" I challenged her.
"Well, if you wouldn't…then I'll think about that later. I'm certain you would."
I snorted and concentrated on my meal once again. Kagura, on the other hand, just gave me a serene smile and continued to play with her food once again.
"Sesshoumaru! All of us have been worried sick about you! Where have you been for the past two weeks?!" Rin exclaimed the very moment she saw me enter our house. I totally ignored her and walked past her, to the stairs leading to the second storey of the apartment. Rin simply trailed my path.
Once I reached to the door of my room, I opened it and entered, closing it behind me before Rin could enter.
"Sesshoumaru? Where is Kagura? How is she?" Rin asked from the outside of my room. I simply ignored her, just like what I had been doing the moment I stepped into my house.
Two weeks had past since Father found out about my relationship with Kagura. And two weeks had past since I returned back to my mansion. I had left Kagura in apartment and had promised her that I would return after settling everything with Rin. She had been shocked to know that I was still stubborn and I wanted a permanent separation from Rin.
FLASHBACK:
"Sesshoumaru, are you really certain about this? I'll have you know that it'll break Rin apart." Kagura said in a strangled voice.
I paused on buttoning up my shirt and glanced at her through the mirror, before continuing my task. "Does it matter if it'll break her or not?" I countered.
A frown marred her face before she got up from our bed, walking towards me. I totally ignored her and continued dressing myself. Just as I was wearing my watch, I felt a pair of hands creeping around my waist.
"Must you do this Sesshoumaru? I'll feel really guilty all my life if you decide to divorce Rin," I heard Kagura's muffled voice. Letting go of my breath, I turned around in her arms and faced her. She looked up at me with her pleading ruby eyes. I took her face in my hands and kissed her softly on her lips.
"We've been through this before Kagura. I mean it when I say it. I want to conduct a family with you, not Rin. This Sesshoumaru does not love Rin. He only loves you. I've never asked anything from anyone. You'll be the first and last one I'll ask for something. Please, do not feel guilty. You have no idea how much it hurts me to see you guilty for something you didn't do. Don't worry, things will be better for the both of us after today," I assured her.
She gave out a sigh of resignation before nodding. I soothed her features with my fingers before drawing my face close to hers to kiss her lips. She returned my kiss fervently as her hands slowly moved around my shoulders.
One thing led to another. Before I knew it, I had to re-set my priorities for the day. Making sweet love to Kagura came before my visit to the mansion…
END OF FLASHBACK
I plopped down on my bed as a smile graced my lips. Making love to Kagura was incredible. She was incredible. I loved the way she moved along with me. I loved the way she arched her back when she was close to her climax. Most of all I loved the way she screamed my name when she came.
"Sesshoumaru please let me enter. I want to know how Kagura is doing," Rin's voice broke into my reverie. I frowned in annoyance as I got up from my bed. Fishing out my mobile phone I dialled Jaken's number and waited for him to answer my call.
"Aaak! Sesshoumaru-sama! How can this Jaken be of service to you?" Jaken's voice came over the line.
"Get over to my mansion with the documents now," I simply commanded.
"Erm…documents? Which docum—"
"Jaken if you're not here with the divorce documents in ten minutes time, I'll let you know that you wouldn't be alive to see the Sun rise tomorrow," I threatened and hanged up the phone without even bothering to hear his reply.
I glanced at the door of my bedroom and walked towards it to open it. Rin was standing just outside my door, looking up at me with a shaky smile.
"How have yo—"
"This Sesshoumaru needs to talk to you," I intervened in her question.
Her searching eyes roved over my face before they dropped to the floor. 'She's scared. She avoids eye contact when she's scared or anxious,' I told to myself even though I wondered how the hell I knew such minor things about her.
"What is it you need to talk about?" she half whispered as her eyes continued gazing on the floor. I looked at her for another moment or two before walking past her, then down the stairs of the mansion. Her eyes immediately darted to me.
"Sesshoumaru, where are you going?" she dared herself to ask. Again, being the taciturn bastard that I was, I ignored her question. I walked down the living room and then to the dining room, all the while Rin following me.
Taking a seat at the head of the table, I directed Rin to sit next to me. She took several hesitant steps before taking the seat. Her eyes immediately went to the table finding for something to catch her attention.
Both of us were quiet. She, waiting for me to talk, while me, waiting for Jaken to arrive. Meanwhile I took this chance to study her. It had been two weeks since I last saw her after all.
I was pretty surprised to see heavy eye bags brooding under her puffy eyes. Her cheeks had lost its colour, replacing with sallowness. She must have lost some weight as her cheeks seemed to have flattened and her eyes lost all its light. All in all, she looked like hell. 'She has not been sleeping well and eating well. She probably has been crying also,' I concluded to myself.
I felt a contraction in my heart as I saw her in this state. Was it because of me she was like this?
Again, I felt that accursed connection I had with her.
'No that's impossible. She doesn't love this Sesshoumaru, so why would she bother? Probably it's because of Kagura?' I questioned myself. As much as I convinced myself that she did not love me, my heart didn't seem to buy my words.
'Why, would it bother me so much?! So what if she doesn't love me! I don't love her anyway…' I reprimanded myself. However the more I told myself that, the more I felt my heart contract, the more I felt as if I was in love with her all my life.
Before I could question Rin for her present state, I heard a squawky voice coming from the living room.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! Doko ni iru no?! Sesshoumaru-sama!! Sesshoum— Aaah! There you are!" Jaken's voice came from the entrance of the dining room.
Rin looked at him with wide eyes and then back at me while I ignored his statement, as I waited for his short leg to bring himself towards me.
"Here are the documents Sesshoumaru-sama!" he exclaimed as he handed over the documents to me. I looked at the front page of the documents and flipped through them. Satisfied with the content, I looked at Jaken and commanded him to leave.
"Hai Sesshoumaru-sama," with that said he left the dining room.
'This is it.' Taking a deep breath I pushed the documents toward Rin. "This is the documents for our separation. I believe this was what you wanted all along. Just sign these documents and then we will be on our separate ways. You will require time to read through them, so I'll give you time till next week."
Rin seemed not to heed a single word that I have said. She simply flipped through the pages as her eyes scanned through the words written in the documents.
If I had thought that there weren't any light in her eyes earlier, then now her eyes lost every essence of life from them. I swallowed away my guilt and hurt as I watched her eyes for any form of emotions.
"Sesshoumaru, are you really certain about this? I'll have you know that it'll break Rin apart."
Kagura's words mocked at me at the back of my mind. She was right. The documents are shattering her soul bit by bit. 'Take back your words Sesshoumaru! Snatch the papers away from her and tear them! Do it before it's too late Sesshoumaru!' my conscience ordered me.
Instead of heeding my conscience, I immediately got up from my seat, breaking Rin's thought. She stopped flipping through the pages and looked at me. Seeing me stand, she stood as well, giving me a tremulous smile.
"I'll see you next week then," I said and walked to the exit of the dining room.
"Send my regards to Kagura, Sesshoumaru. Oh and please invite me to your wedding with Kagura. I would love to see the both of you married happily," Rin said as she forced some cheerfulness into her voice.
I merely grunted and walked out of the dining room.
Ok this is the end of it. I don't know when will I be able to have another chapter up, but please be patient with me. I will definitely have the next chapter written for all of my readers out there. In the meantime you can always tell me how this chapter was for you. And you can always get to me by emailing me. =)
Looking forward to hearing from all of you people! :)