Weeping Willows
By Dragoness
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story. They are the product of the wonderful Rumiko Takahashi .
Hey everyone I am back. Thank you for the wonderful reviews and input you guys are great.
The wedding was wonderful and it was nice to see my sister and just hang out. I know I am a little behind but remember I did warn you I would be. To make up for wait I made this chapter a little longer.
Chapter 9 A Crying Shame
Sesshomaru was getting antsy.
What in God's name was taking her so long? He knew Kagome was independent and would not appreciate him coming for her so he stayed at the table. Two singers had already come and went and she still wasn't back.
Sesshomaru closed his eyes and imagined Kagome looking in the mirror.
He imagined her slowly applying lip gloss to her luscious lips, and then straightening out her clothes. He then saw her turn around and make sure the back of her looked decent. He saw her there checking her teeth and gargling Listerine.
Sesshomaru's eyes snapped open. This was doing the exact opposite of what he was trying to do. Instead of trying to think of what she might be doing to explain her delayed absence it just made him want to see what was keeping her even more.
Deciding she would just have to be mad he started towards the back of the bar scanning the crowd for her as he went. Sesshomaru spotted Kagome and his hands automatically tightened into fists at the sight before him.
Narrowing his eyes he watched as Kagome talked to some man at the bar. WTF, not only was she talking to him but now she had her hand on his arm like they were old friends or something. Ready to fight he walked faster toward the couple.
It was only once he got closer that he realized something was wrong. Yes they were close but she looked worried and the man had his head down on the bar. Just what was going on? Sesshomaru shook his head lightly and decided it didn't matter because he was going to find out right now.
"Miroku?"
This was not her Miroku. He looked like he hadn't shaved in days and his eyes were red and puffy. Whether it was from tiredness or the amount of alcohol he had consumed she wasn't sure. His clothes looked wrinkled and just dirty.
If Kagome had to use one word to sum up Miroku's appearance it would be grungy. Which was not Mr. I need to look sharp at all times because I never know who I might meet.
What happened to him? Why did he look like this? And where in God's name was Sango?
While Kagome was trying to recover from her shock and process what she was seeing Miroku had ordered another beer.
Sitting beside him on the next stool Kagome put her arm on Miroku's shoulder and really looked at him.
When she finally got his attention Kagome asked, "Miroku Where is Sango? Are you here by yourself? What happened to you?"
"Nothing," Miroku replied sluggishly.
"What do you mean nothing?" Kagome asked getting more and more concerned. "Where is Sango?"
Taking a large drag of his beer Miroku sat in silence for a minute. Looking into the depths of the bottle he replied, "I don't know we got in an argument and I left."
Kagome was beyond shocked. Miroku and Sango never fought, at least not seriously anyway. It must have been pretty heavy if he looked like this. Kagome instantly wondered what condition Sang was in.
"Miroku when did this happen?"
Miroku looked puzzled for a moment and then started counting on his fingers. After three attempts and two beer bottles being knocked down in the process Miroku finally met kagomes eyes.
"Eight days ago," he replied softly as his eyes started to tear up.
Kagome 's heart ached for her friend. The pain and despair she saw etched in his face was almost a mirror image how she had looked once upon a time and it was hitting way too close to home.
Looking around she spotted Sesshomaru walking towards had an unreadable look on his face and judging by the way Sesshomaru was walking he was very tense. Crap I forgot about him, Kagome thought. But he has to understand this is Miroku after all. I'm sure he'll be fine once I explain everything to him.
Putting on her best smile she greeted the extremely pissed off male. "Hi, I was just coming to find you; we have to get him out of here."
Sesshomaru was quite irritated and went to let her know just how irritated when he looked and spotted Miroku. His anger instantly faded as it was replaced with curiosity.
It was then that Sesshomaru really looked at Miroku, his right eyebrow arching in unspoken questions. Taking in his disheveled look and smell Sesshomaru understood immediately. He still didn't know what was going on, other than the man was obviously drunk, but he understood why Kagome hadn't at least come back and told him she would be a minute.
Kagome was extremely caring towards everyone but when it came to those she loved it was to the point of ultimate self-sacrifice. Upon seeing one of her best friends here in such a state of course she would forget everything and everyone else to focus solely on that person.
He had seen the relationship the three shared and was not surprised at all. Her fierce loyalty was one of the many fine qualities she possessed that made him so taken with her. He himself had grown fond of Miroku as they had become good acquaintances as the last few months had progressed.
Deciding this was not the time for inquiries Sesshomaru nodded and moved to help the man up. He put his arm around Miroku's shoulder and started leading them out of the bar towards the car. Fortunately Sesshomaru had parked right in front, though he was in fine shape the dead weight of Miroku was a little hard to maneuver.
Sesshomaru was also trying not to get any closer than necessary. He might like the man but he really had no intention of his clothes smelling like Miroku did at the moment.
Sliding into the passenger seat as Sesshomaru laid Miroku down in the back Kagome turned around and regarded her friend.
"We are going to take you home Miroku don't worry," Kagome said reassuringly.
"No," Miroku shouted his voice full of pain. "Not there,… anywhere but there."
"Well, where have you been staying at?" Kagome asked getting a little frustrated. She needed to get him somewhere where he could lie down and she could tend to him. She also needed to find out what the heck was going on.
"A hotel," Miroku stated morosely. "You know the Hilton down the street from your building." Kagome nodded absently. She knew it all right, it was the source of many late lunches and disappearances for Sango whenever Miroku had a day off.
"Well I am not just dropping you off at some hotel alone," Kagome decided. "You will come home with me for the night."
Miroku was tired mentally and emotionally and he didn't have the strength to fight. He knew it would be a lost cause to argue. Once Kagome made up her mind to help that was it, and Miroku was not fool enough to turn down the help he knew he desperately needed.
As soon as the car stopped Kagome jumped out to open the door to the house.
Sesshomaru followed a little slower as he had to half carry/ half drag a semi-conscious Miroku. After laying him down on the couch Sesshomaru saw Kagome nod in his direction.
Following her into the kitchen Sesshomaru stopped short of the kitchen table as Kagome turned to face him, speaking softly so as not to disturb Miroku.
"Thank you for your help. I am just going to get him comfortable and then turn in." Sesshomaru regaurded her quietly, noticing his hesitation Kagome added, "Don't worry I'll be fine alone with him. He just needs some mothering and a friend right now. There's really nothing else we can do at this point."
"I'm so sorry our evening had to end like this," she added softly. "Rain Check?"
"Hn," Sesshomaru nodded still eerily quiet.
Having nothing else to say Kagome led him to the door and opened it for him. "Have a good night Sesshomaru. I'll call you tomorrow once everything settles down. I hope you're not too upset."
Fixing Kagome with a heated stare Sesshomaru finally spoke, "How could I be upset with you for being there for your friend? There is no rush we have plenty of time to go out and enjoy each others company. Right now you need to take care of Miroku. He needs you."
Stepping close enough to feel the heat Kagome's body was radiating, Sesshomaru reached out and tucked a stray hair behind Kagome's ear.
He then moved his hand down to caress her cheek, after pausing to make sure not to scare her with his forwardness Sesshomaru tilted her head up and kissed Kagome softly. It was only meant to be a modest kiss but the closeness of their bodies and Kagome's moan made Sesshomaru forget that momentarily. Stepping even closer he wrapped his hands around Kagome's waist pulling her to him to deepen the kiss. It wasn't until he felt her hands traveling up his back underneath his shirt did some sort of clarity come to Sesshomaru through the fog that had shut his mind down the minute Kagome moaned into his mouth.
Summoning all of his strength Sesshomaru ended the kiss, finishing up by a light nip on Kagome's neck. Smirking at the sounds of protest coming from Kagome he stepped back admiring her bruised lips as he fought his body from attacking them again.
Waiting until she opened her eyes Sesshomaru once again tested his control. Leaning in again he licked the shell of her ear causing Kagome an involuntarily shutter.
"I understand you have to be there for Miroku so I will leave you to it, should you need anything just call. I promise we will finish what we started another time," Sesshomaru said huskily.
He then opened the door and left. Staring after him Kagome wondered just what part of their evening they would be finishing.
Either way, it was a promise that Kagome was determined to hold him to. Smiling to herself at the different ways they could continue their date Kagome locked the door and headed back to check on Miroku.