AN/ Okay in this chapter there is gonna be some conflict, but it will work itself out over time, enjoy!
"That bastard! I'll kill him!" that was my first instinct, to sprint from the room and track down Sesshomaru so that I could kill him, rip him limb, from bloody limb. Only if it weren't for Miroku holding me back and Inuyasha was blocking the door.
"Kouga you have to calm down, if you attack him you won't only be kicked out but you could be sued! Do you really want that? "Miroku protested, but I honestly didn't care right now, I just wanted to hurt Sesshomaru, 'The cocky bastard!' and take Kagome away, to some place far away where we could be together.
"Let me go lecher! I have to kill the son of a..." I had been cut off mid sentence when I felt a fist make contact with my jaw and made me wince in pain, and surprisingly it had calmed me down somewhat.
"Snap out of it Kouga! Killing Sesshomaru now isn't going to do us any good, killing him at all is an overall bad idea, but right now we have to concentrate on Kagome" I glared half heartedly at Inuyasha, I knew he was right, even if he was a total dumbass that didn't mean that he wasn't right at least some of the time. I snorted and turned away from him, folding my arms defiantly across my chest.
"Fine...I still want the bastard dead though" Miroku chuckled as he released me from his, surprisingly strong, grip and sat back down on his spot of the floor.
"Why don't you two just let Kagome choose? Shouldn't this be about what she wants?" my eye twitched. The lecher was right; this was about who Kagome wanted to be with, not about a competition. I sighed in defeat before nodding in agreement; Inuyasha did the same moments later.
"Just state your cases to her and tell her how you both feel, and that no matter who she chooses you'll be happy for her-"Which is a down right lie" Miroku shot a stern look Inuyasha's way at that comment and went back to his explanation. -Anyway, you ask her for a chance to prove that you'd make her happy, and when she chooses somebody she will be happy, and the fight will be over...of course not everybody will be happy with the outcome, but Kagome will be, and that's what matters" I knew that the lecher was right, even if he was a pervert he could sometimes show the slightest sliver of wisdom, like now for instance. And when I glanced at Inuyasha I saw a determined look on his face. 'Feh, he thinks he's gonna win, like hell! I'm not gonna just sit here and let that happen!' I growled threateningly at him before lying down on my sleeping bag on the floor of Inuyasha's room. 'Tomorrow, I'm gonna ask Kagome out, Sesshomaru, or no Sesshomaru'
Scene Change
I laid there on my back staring defiantly up at the ceiling, trying to will myself to sleep. But I couldn't. I felt so tired, my eyes were sore from the need to sleep, but sleep just did not come to my tired body. 'What the hell is wrong? Why can't I sleep?' I rolled onto my side and snuggled into my pillow; 'Nope, nothing' I groaned impatiently as I glared at the night stand as if it were its fault for my sudden insomnia attack.
As I lay there, I decided that I should think about more important matters besides sleep, and hopefully if I wasn't concentrating on it, it would come. So I closed my eyes and tried to find something to think about. 'Sesshomaru' now there was something to think about, or rather, someone. My brows furrowed into a frown as the image of the Sesshomaru that I used to know, with his blank expression, and the coldness of his stare, despite the warm color of his eyes.
I shivered and snuggled closer to the sheets. He had changed so much from the way he used to be, now he smiles and show's affection; 'And he even confessed that he has feelings for me' I blushed a crimson color and buried my face in my pillow, I knew that no one could see me but it made me feel better. 'He can still be deadly serious, but tonight he was actually being affectionate, and he laughed, I swear that I'm probably one of the only people on the face of the earth who ever got to hear his laugh' That thought kind of made me feel a little special, knowing that he could laugh and be happy in my presence made me happy. Then my brows furrowed into another frown. 'But will he be that way tomorrow? Or will he go back to the way he usually is around everyone else?' I sighed and felt my eyelids begin to droop, and without even noticing it, I had fallen asleep.
Scene Change
I growled at the light that shone in through my window, shining directly into my face, burning my sensitive eyes. 'Damn sunlight' I sat up and threw the covers from my body, deciding that I would not be able to fall asleep again with the light glaring into my face the way it was, and turning away was useless since the light already bugged me. I moved across the room, my vision still slightly blurred from the early wake up call courtesy of the sun. When I reached my closet I pulled out a pair of tight fitting black jeans and a black, button down dress shirt. No matter where I was going even if I was staying in I always dress my best. Plus, I'd say that I look rather handsome in black. It went well with my silver hair.
After getting dressed I tied my hair back in a low ponytail, and washed my face with cold water, hoping that it would help wake me up more. It helped somewhat.
I lifted my face from the sink and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes immediately landed on the crescent moon on my forehead. It was a birth mark, and the family crest, and it was rare for any one to be born with it. I frowned, rubbing the mark gently with my thumb. Sighing tiredly I left the bathroom and started down the hall and the stairs to the dining room. From the raucous laughter and yelling I heard coming from the dining room I knew that the others were already up. I glared at the door, sure I wanted to sit with Kagome, but she was sitting with those idiots, and I was already in a bad mood, I didn't need a head ache to go with it. So I turned and headed through the kitchen doors, and was surprised (though I didn't show it) to see father, sitting at the kitchen table with Inuyasha, and Kagome.
"Ah Sesshomaru your up, good, I was just about to explain the situation to Inuyasha and Kagome" I raised an eyebrow, making sure that my face was expressionless.
"Wait, he knew about it before us?" Kagome's voice was tired, and a little dull. 'She must still be half asleep' walking over to the table I sat down across from Inuyasha, which was next to Kagome.
"What is it dad, I'm hungry!" Inuyasha whined hurting my ears, I sent an icy glare his way, and wasn't all that surprised when he returned it with enthusiasm. Father sighed as he waited for one of us to break it off, and that person was Inuyasha. I always won our fights, glaring contests included. After a few moments of silence making sure that we weren't going to start fighting again, father sighed, a deadly serious expression dawning his face.
"Now, I know that neither of you will be exactly enthusiastic about this, but me and Mr. Higurashi have already decided and Izayoi and Kagome's mother agreed that it is the best solution to the problem of who is going to inherit the company first…of course my first choice was Sesshomaru due to his intellect, then I thought that I'd make you two inherit it at the same time there fore you would have to work together, I decided that that was a horrible idea…but what Me, Izayoi, and Kagome's parents have decided is the only option left to us" I was glaring at Inuyasha through the entire first half of the explanation as he drummed his fingers on the hard wooden table top, I tried to keep calm, and restrain myself from snapping his hand from his wrist. Inuyasha yawned and leaned his elbow on the table with his chin resting on his fist.
"Yeah so what is it? You're dragging it along; it's like you're trying to prolong the inevitable…how bad is this decision of yours?" Father glared at Inuyasha who immediately ceased the drumming of his fingers.
"Finally, I thought you'd never stop that damn drumming" Inuyasha sent a glare Kagome's way, who; looked close to falling asleep on the table.
"As I was saying…the only option that we have is, well…if either Sesshomaru, or you Inuyasha, marry's Kagome" the reaction was immediate, Inuyasha had jumped from his chair and was about to start shouting when he nearly tripped and lost his train of clear thought, and Kagome's eyes had snapped open and she was staring in shock at my father, eyes wide, and mouth agape. I on the other hand, sat calmly in my seat and merely rested my elbows on the table and interlaced my fingers, allowing me to rest my chin on them. The room was deathly silent for what seemed like ages until I decided that the quiet was to unnerving. I cleared my throat to get their attention and was glad that it had worked, but regretted it immediately when Inuyasha started on a rant.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?! NO FREAKIN' WAY!" he started shouting about how Kagome was to good for me, how he and her were just friends, and how unethical the whole thing was…which surprised me a great deal considering that he might not even know what unethical meant. Then in an instant father was on his feet and had slammed his fists on the table top making it shake on its usually sturdy legs...and everything went silent once again.
"The decision has already been made and Kagome will eventually have to make her choice!" he sighed and rubbed his temples with his middle and index fingers, a habit that I had picked up from his that was useful for warding off headaches. Then he turned to Kagome, who was still sitting there with an expression of pure shock, and bowed his head in apology.
"I am truly sorry Kagome, but this is our only option...you don't have to make a decision right at this moment...but we would like one before the new school year starts, so that we can start planning as soon as possible so that everything will be done by your eighteenth birthday" after that everything was silent, then Kagome stood from her seat, with an extremely thoughtful expression.
"I want to be alone, I need to digest this...news" she then stood from her spot beside me and left, we could hear her heading up the stairs as we sat there in silence. I stared at the door for a moment before I sensed someone's gaze on me. I glanced over at my half brother to see him glaring at me. I raised a brow in question as I leaned forward to rest my chin in my palm.
"You knew…you knew and you didn't say anything! Why?" I sighed and rubbed my temple with my free hand.
"Because, you little runt, it was for father to tell, not me…if he wanted me to say anything I would have" we exchanged glares for what seemed like ages before we heard a small cough from the other end of the small kitchen table. We both looked up to see our father with an irritated look on his face.
"Will you two stop bickering for a minute? This is a very important decision that she has to make, and it's going to be hard for her…and your constant fighting isn't going to help Kagome's situation" Inuyasha snorted disbelievingly and waved his hand dismissively.
"Like this is going to be a hard decision! Why would Kagome want to marry the king of ice?" I glared at him.
"Being married to the king of ice is better than being married to someone who has barely half a brain" he growled and I smirked in triumph at successfully beating him in another verbal fight.
"Both of you just stop!" our attention was back on father immediately, both of us going quiet.
He glared sternly at the both of us and sighed before sitting back in his seat.
"Now, am I going to have to deal with any problems regarding you two?" he looked back and forth between us and frowned when he spotted the look of realization on Inuyasha's face.
"What is it Inuyasha?" my half brother blinked back to reality and folded his arms across his chest as if contemplating something.
"Well, actually dad, Kouga might be a bit of a problem," Father frowned before nodding.
"How so?"
"Well, he actually has a thing for Kagome as well; he will definitely be a problem" the frown on fathers face deepened as he leaned back in his seat.
"I see…hmmm" he closed his eyes and went deep into thought. I stared at the table top with an irritated frown. 'That's right, I forgot about the hound…now, how to get him out of the picture,' I glanced up at Inuyasha, who looked irritated as well. But I doubted it was because we had a problem. His stomach emitted a loud, hungry growl. We looked up at him with confusion.
"I told you I was hungry! You should have waited until we ate!" I glared at him with distaste as he stood from his seat and headed for the kitchen door.
"Wait, Inuyasha" he stopped and looked back at father.
"What is it now pop's? I'm starving!" he frowned and leaned against the wall next to the door. Father gave him a stern glare before resting his elbows on the table top and his chin on his fist.
"You must talk to Kouga, I want him to understand the situation so that we can have him out of the way, do you understand Inuyasha?" Inuyasha frowned before nodding in agreement and turning back to the door.
"Sure, but he's not going to take it well…if you wake up and find me dead in my room, than it's your own fault"
"We can only hope" I smirked as he growled at my remark. Father shook his head with exhaustion as he stood from his seat.
"Let's all go have something to eat, so Inuyasha stops his whining" I nodded in agreement and followed him out, but stopped at the bottom of the stairs up to the second level. I glanced up at them and turned, starting to climb the stairs.
"Where are you going Sesshomaru?" I stopped and glanced over my shoulder at father, who was looking up the staircase at me with a confused expression.
"I am not hungry, I am going up to my room" he nodded and continued his way to the dining room.
When I got to the door to my room, I merely glanced at it as I passed it and headed for Kagome's door. I understood that she must be very confused, and most likely really angry, nobody likes to be forced into something as serious as marriage. I stopped in front of her door. 'Marriage is a serious business, although I am sure of what I want, I don't think that Kagome is all that sure of herself…they should have waited longer to drop this on us' I shook my head and raised my hand to the door. Knocking twice on the cold wood of the door I waited, listening to the movement within the room. After a couple moments of shifting and soft thumps from inside, the door opened, revealing a dishevelled and tired looking Kagome. I raised an eyebrow in confusion at her current state. She frowned slightly and leaned against the door frame.
"What is it Sesshomaru? I thought you'd be down stairs eating" she even sounded exhausted, I actually felt a little sorry for her.
"I came to see if you are alright, I understand that this news is quite shocking, and I know that it was unfair of my father to just drop it on you so unexpectedly the way he did," I paused for a moment, taking in her reaction, she seemed somewhat less hostile, but still a little wary.
"Are you alright Kagome?" I waited for her answer patiently, staring at her face, watching as different emotions swam through her electric blue eyes. She sighed again as she stood up straight from her lean, and wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to gain some sort of comfort from herself.
"I'm fine, like you said I was just shocked, I never really expected that sort of thing you know?" I nodded in agreement, and backed up a couple steps as she closed the door behind her when she came out into the hallway.
"Sesshomaru?" she said my name in question, glancing around anywhere but into my eyes. I cocked my head slightly in question.
"Yes? What is it Kagome," she started fidgeting with her hands.
"How would you react if I chose Inuyasha?" my jaw clenched and I restrained the urge to ball my hands and punch something.
"I would respect your decision, and go on with my life," I had been careful not to show any of the anger or jealousy that had surged through me at the simple question. I didn't do it because I didn't want her to see, it was because I was so used to hiding my feelings that it had become as natural as breathing to me; then I noticed that a frown had settled itself on her pretty face.
"You seriously wouldn't care? After telling me that you had feelings for me and going through all of that you wouldn't mind if I chose Inuyasha? You know, maybe I was wrong about you Sesshomaru…I thought that you had changed, that maybe you had stopped being that cold, icy prick that I grew up knowing, but I was wrong, you haven't changed at all!" her words cut me deeply, causing a stabbing feeling deep in my chest. But before I could correct my mistake, she had already disappeared down the hall, leaving me standing in the middle of the hall alone. I had just made a big mistake.
Scene Change
I was angry and confused, but above all I was hurt. 'How could he say that to me? After all that stuff about having feelings for me, was he lying? Aahhh! I'm so confused!' I wasn't even sure where I was going. I had been walking around aimlessly, avoiding everybody.
I didn't want anyone to ask me if I was okay, because truthfully, I wasn't. I didn't even know why that simple statement made me so upset, it's not like I liked him that way, I was merely giving him a chance to make me change my mind.
'I thought he changed…' I snorted, 'And for once, my judgement was proven wrong…' I turned a corner and found that I had hit a dead end, well, not really a dead end. It was the door that Sesshomaru had shown me the night that he had confessed to me. I blushed lightly and walked up to the door. "I need to think," it sounded as if I was trying to convince myself of something, and I was pretty sure I was. So I opened the door and closed it behind myself. I walked down the short hall and up the stone stairs, noting that they were considerably warmer since the last time that I was here. When I reached the top I sighed in relief when I saw that no one was there. I walked up to the railing and stared out over Tokyo, heaving a tired sigh. 'I've been sighing a lot lately'
"This totally sucks…" I closed my eyes and tilted my head up a bit, inhaling deeply as a soft rush of air blew past me, only slightly ruffling my hair.
"I have to talk to dad."
AN/ Okay chapter 13 is up!! W00t! Sorry it took so long, writers block / hehe! Anyway, R&R! That means, READ AND REVIEW!!