Chapter 3 – To Feel

Sesshomaru stood in his office. Looking, as ever, at the image of the one whom he had loved on the wall.

Naraku had killed her.

And then Inuyasha had killed Naraku.

And Sesshomaru bore him a resentment for that. A deep bitterness, that he was not the one who had avenged his lover's death.

So why was he trying to help his brother now?

Because Kagura had wanted him to. She had always made him feel guilty that he had paid no attention to his surviving family.

Only she could make him feel that guilty.

Inuyasha knocked hesitantly on Kagome's door.

No answer.

He knocked again.

Again, there was no answer.

Frowning, he pushed against the door gently. It was open.

His eyes widened at the site he was greeted with.

There was a knife on the bedside table, with a thin trickle of blood running down the side.

Instantly on the alert, he put his hand against the sword which he always carried at his side.

And pushed the bathroom door open carefully.

She was sitting under the stream of water. Fully clothed, eyes open, unseeing.

He backed out slowly, slowly, and closed the door.

And ran to Sesshomaru.

"What the hell?!" he blasted furiously. "What the hell is up with that girl?! What are you hiding from me?!"

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow.

"Hello to you too, little brother."

"Cut the crap," Inuyasha hissed furiously. "What-"

"If you would stop throwing a temper tantrum, perhaps I would be obliged to share with you," Sesshomaru commented drily.

Inuyasha stomped over and sat in the chair, crossing his arms defiantly.

Sesshomaru glided over to his desk, taking a seat, before steepling his fingers and looking at his younger brother sternly.

"What I am going to tell you will require some consideration on your part," he said mildly. "Something I doubt you possess."

Inuyasha began to rise from his chair in anger. "Why you-"

"Shut up, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru told him patiently.

He waited until his younger brother was seated, still fuming, before continuing.

"Kagome drowned."

That stopped Inuyasha short.

But Sesshomaru continued.

"It was, indirectly, because of her that the rest of her family is dead to," he went on blankly. "If not for her… enthusiasm… to go out in the middle of a storm, then they would not have begun hydroplaning, and would not have been thrown into the lake. Kagome was the only one of her family to survive the accident. And she feels that she does not deserve life. She feels she has been granted a curse, to live while everyone she loves is dead. And so, when she begins to feel happy, she punishes herself."

Inuyasha sank back into his chair. "Punishes herself…" he mumbled. "Why…?"

"Because she is breathing," said Sesshomaru bluntly.

Inuyasha remained silent for a few more seconds.

Then he rose.

"Thanks, Sesshomaru," he said.

And he strode out the door.

She was crying, keening softly, into her hands, clasped over her mouth.

The door opened.

"Go away!" she choked.

A body joined her beneath the cold stream.

"No," a voice said firmly.

Inuyasha.

He held her.

"Get out!" she screamed, pushing weakly at his body, struggling in his hold.

"No," he said.

Her struggles died. She merely sat, stiffly. Not responding to his touch.

"Kagome," he said. "Give me your hand."

She shook her head.

He reached over and pulled it from her.

"I can do this without your cooperation," he told her, "But I'd much rather you paid attention."

She sullenly looked at him.

He took her hand, and placed it over the centre of her chest.

"Feel that?" he whispered.

Thump thump. Thump thump.

"That's your heart, Kagome," he murmured into her ear. "It's beating, telling you you're alive."

He took her other hand, and placed it over his chest.

Thump thump. Thump thump.

"Feel that? That's my heart too," he said to her. "They're beating together."

She shook her head.

He raised an eyebrow. "And if my heart can beat with yours, doesn't that mean you've done something right?"

She shook her head again.

"You're still alive, Kagome. They wouldn't want you to punish yourself, would they? Not for living. No one could ever begrudge you that. Your heart is beating. You are living."

And he kissed her.

And Kagome's heart began to heal.

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And that's where it finishes. Sorry guys, but it just wasn't fair to continuously bore you with uninspired dribble.

Still, I hope it was ok.

Sorry!

Libra Sorceress xx