Sorry I didn't update yesterday. I honestly have no excuse. I literally did nothing hahaha. But here's another update! Please keep reviewing, it makes me happy as a writer and let's me know i'm doing good. Thank you again for viewing my story. Just FYI I believe this is going to be a long chapter. But I am very excited to write it and I think you will enjoy it. Finally some confession! My heart was actually racing while writing this last part. Enjoy! (:

Chapter 20

Sesshomaru growled lowly next to Kagome. "Idiot." He said whispering so only her and Inuyasha could hear him. "W-What? You mean you haven't told her yet? Bro, it's been 500 years!" Inuyasha said hissing at his older brother. "It was not yet the right time. It has been that long for me, but only a short week for her." Sesshomaru said pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. Kagome was blushing like mad and she felt like stuttering. Her insides, however, were on fire. He actually felt the same way about her? Him, the great and powerful Lord Sesshomaru, felt love for her, a silly human girl. She turned around in her seat but was interrupted by their waitress. "Have you all decided on a meal yet?" She asked smiling. "No, we will need some time." Sesshomaru said to her. She smiled and walked off and Kagome touched Sesshomaru's shoulder. "S-Sesshomaru, is it true? Is that what you really feel for me?" She asked embarrassed to be asking him this in front of Inuyasha. Sesshomaru turned around to stare into her brown eyes. "I wish to speak about this in private away from my idiotic half brother. Can you wait until tonight for any questions? I do not mean to lead your thoughts a stray, trust me. But now is not the place and time. I had planned to speak about this matter with you later, not so soon. Please forgive me." He said sighing. Kagome just reached up tentatively and cupped his cheek with her right hand. "You have no reason to be sorry. I would rather speak in private as well. Let's pretend that Inuyasha just hadn't opened his big mouth." She said smiling at him who in return smiled back. "Aye, I can hear ya you know." Inuyasha said crossing his arms pouting. He hadn't meant to out Sesshomaru out about his feelings so soon, he just assumed he had already told her considering how deep his feelings for her were and how long he had waited for her. It wasn't as weird to him anymore, knowing that Sesshomaru, his brother who he spent half of his life loathing, loved someone he had once loved himself. It was actually refreshing to him to know that he was capable of feeling such things. Inuyasha smiled to himself. "Well it looks like I got it started anyways. You're welcome, bro." He said grinning feeling as if he had done his brother a great service. "Tsch, you are truly an idiot, little brother." Sesshomaru said looking at the menu trying to decide what he wanted. "Yeah, I may be that, but at least you love me." Inuyasha said smiling. "Tolerate. The word you are looking for, Inuyasha, is tolerate. I simply tolerate you. It would be "illegal" in this day and age to simply kill you." Sesshomaru said smirking making Inuyasha roll his eyes. "Feh, whatever."

Kagome smiled while she looked down at her menu. Did he really love her? Inuyasha sure seemed to think so. 'Oh kami, if he does I may have a heart attack.' She thought to herself. Her stomach was in knots now and she had butterflies that she now classified at bats, flying around in her stomach making her dizzy. 'Or maybe that's just the wine? I've been practically chugging it to shake off my nerves.' She thought to herself. She really didn't take her alcohol well. She was a huge lightweight. Kagome was extremely nervous that she was going to actually open up about her feelings with Sesshomaru later. She didn't know if she was ready for this. It had been over a year, so she had had time to think and process how she felt, and it wasn't like she jumped into it like she had with Inuyasha. She utterly and truly loved him to her core. But knowing that she had to speak with him about it and hear what he had to say scared her. What if he didn't feel as strongly? What if...no she wouldn't think about "what if's". She had too much going on in her life already for doubt. She would remain positive. "Ma'am, are you ready?" The waitress asked snapping Kagome back to reality. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were both watching her. How long had she been there? "Oh yes, um can I just have the Chicken Parmesan?" She asked smiling. "And some more wine."

Sesshomaru lifted an eyebrow when she asked for more wine. "Miko, you are already light headed, do you think you should drink more?" He asked her. Kagome just blushed. "U-Um, can I just have water instead please?" She asked. The waitress nodded and smiled and walked away. "Sorry, it calms my nerves, though I've never been able to take my alcohol very well." She said laughing. Sesshomaru just smirked at her. So she was nervous as well? Good, that made two of them, though he would never admit it out loud. "Keh, you nervous? You sure as hell weren't nervous when you kicked Naraku's ass." Inuyasha said smirking at her. "Well, I was scared. But it had to be done. Besides, he had it coming." Kagome said grinning. "Indeed he did. And I dare say you did a fine job in killing him. But I believe I never trained you properly. We will have to start that again." Sesshomaru said smiling down at her. "Really? But there's isn't any danger now that needs that kind of skill, is there?" Kagome asked getting excited. "No, I do not believe so. However, it is a good skill to know just in case and it is enjoyable, is it not?" He asked her smiling at her growing excitement. "Oh of course! I would love to train again. It would connect me back with the past." Kagome said smiling and getting a longing look on her face. How she missed the past. She would never be rid of these feelings, and it seemed they only grew more and more the more she thought about them. The rest of the evening was spent talking about the past and the present with banter between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru in between. Kagome smiled to herself while watching them argue over who was better at handling Sesshomaru's company, Inuyasha or Kyoto, a close friend of Sesshomaru's. "It seems you two are close now. How did that happen?" Kagome asked interrupting them. The two brothers turned and looked at her. "Keh, we ain't that close." Inuyasha said crossing his arms. "Well you definitely aren't trying to kill each other." Kagome commented. "Indeed. We are closer, closer than we used to be at least. It happened 200 years after you disappeared. The Southern Lands had declared war on my Lands and I needed recruits. I sought out Inuyasha and asked for his help and after some fighting and attempted killing, he gave in and decided to help me. After we won the war, Inuyasha became my personal assistant, which is the position he has held ever since. We have grown closer together and I dare say I almost do not hate him. Almost." Sesshomaru said smirking at his brother. "Yeah yeah, definitely feelin' the love bro." Inuyasha snorted taking a sip of his beer. 'Be it Inuyasha to drink beer in a nice restaurant like this.' Kagome laughed mentally. The check came and Sesshomaru paid for it. Getting up from the table they left the restaurant and got into the black limo pulled up front. Kagome sat next to the window and stared out worrying her bottom lip. She was so nervous. Soon her and Sesshomaru would be alone and talking about their...feelings. She shuddered, kami this was going to be awkward. "Kumi, drop Inuyasha off at his house and then take me and Kagome to mine. I will take her home in my own car." Sesshomaru said to his driver. "Nah, just drop me off at work. I got some paperwork to finish up anyways and it's on the way." Inuyasha said. Kagome kept worrying her bottom lip. 'Okay, I can do this. No big deal. Breathe in, breathe out.'

The ride to Sesshomaru's business was short and they were there in no time. The limo stopped in front and Inuyasha slid over to the door and opened it. "Kagome, let's hang out really soon. There's so much I have to talk to you about. All good things though. I love ya. Sesshomaru, go easy on her would ya." Inuyasha said winking as Kagome laughed awkwardly and waved to him as he closed the door. The car was in motion again and Sesshomaru got up and sat in front of her on the opposite seat. Holding her chin in between his fingers and lifting her face so that she looked at him he smiled softly. "You are nervous. I can smell it on you. Why? Do you not trust me?" Sesshomaru asked her. Kagome looked at him surprised. She wasn't used to him being so open with her. He almost seemed...hurt. "No, I trust you. It's just that, well, i'm not entirely used to you being open about your feelings and i'm scared kinda and nervous because I mean I haven't ever really felt this way and I haven't ever been this open with someone..." Sesshomaru silenced her with a kiss to her lips and pulled way. "It seems you speak too much when you are nervous. You have nothing to be afraid of. I want to be completely honest with you. Honesty is key in any relationship. Trust me, I have no intention of ever hurting you." He said looking her in the eyes to reassure her. "Okay, I trust you." Kagome said smiling at him and blushing lightly.

They arrived at Sesshomaru's home and Kumi, his driver, parked in front and got out to open their door. Kagome climbed out as best as she could lady-like and stared at the mansion in front of her. Well, mansion to her anyways. In front of her stood a three story home painted dark blue with a crimson door. 'Like his markings. How appropriate.' She thought to herself. There was a huge iron gate in front of her with two dog stone figures on each side. Kagome smiled. This house was the epitome of what Sesshomaru was. Feeling at hand on her shoulder she looked up into golden eyes. "Come, let us go inside." He said smiling down at her and taking her hand in his left one. They walked to the gate and Sesshomaru opened it and they walked inside and up to the door. Taking out a key he unlocked it and opened it and held out his hand motioning for her to enter first. Kagome walked in and surveyed around her. She was in a hall of some sort, but it was dark so she couldn't see that clearly. Sesshomaru flipped the lights on the the hall lit up revealing yellow walls. 'Like his obi!' Kagome thought happily to herself. "Does my home please you, little one?" Sesshomaru whispered next to her ear. Kagome gasped at how close he was to her. He was so close that she could feel the heat from his body radiating off of him. "Y-Yes, it's beautiful. The colors, they are your colors." She said blushing. Sesshomaru walked in front of her and turned to look at her smiling. "Yes, they are the colors of the Inu Demon family." He said to her. "Come, let us go to the living room." he said motioning her forward. Following behind him they took a left and ended up in a blue room with a huge fireplace. Sesshomaru went over and lit a fire and walked back towards her. "I must go change from these irritating clothes, that is if you don't mind?" He said smiling down at her. "Oh no, of course not." Kagome said blushing. "Sit and make yourself comfortable. I shall be back shortly and then we can talk." He said bending down to kiss her forehead before exiting the room. Kagome walked over to the fire and stood there letting it warm her. She looked around the room and noticed that most of the furniture was made out of mahogany. It was all so very beautiful. Noticing a chair next to her, she sat in it and leaned back resting her arms on the arm rests. She didn't remember how long she had been sitting there thinking about what she was going to say but she heard foot steps coming and she turned around to look towards the door way. Sesshomaru came walking in and walked up to her. He was wearing clothes that men back in the feudal ear had worn. He had on dark blue hakamas and a white haori. His hair was also down and flowing about him freely with some over his shoulder. Looking up at his face she smiled and stood. "You took down your magic." She said happily. "Indeed. I promised that I would when in only your company." He said taking her hands in his. "Would you care to talk while sitting in front of the fire?" He asked her smiling. Kagome nodded and he led her to the front of the fire place. They sat down in front of each other he crossing his legs and she putting her legs to her right side. They were so close that she could kiss him if she wanted. 'No! Now isn't the time girl. Get a grip!' She exclaimed to herself mentally berating her thoughts for always wandering in that direction. "Okay, let us talk. I will start." Sesshomaru said as Kagome gulped hoping for the best.

"Inuyasha was an idiot for telling you how I felt so soon. As I mentioned earlier, I had planned on sitting down and talking with you like this at a later date after I had courted you more properly, but it seems he has ruined that plan. He mentioned to you that I love you, and he is in fact right." Kagome gasped audibly and her face flared. "It has taken me many many years to understand these feelings, Kagome. No woman has made me feel the things that you make me feel." Sesshomaru paused and looked into the fire gathering his thoughts before he continued. "Aside from Rin, I have never felt love. No one has ever told me that they had those feelings for me. The feeling has been foreign for me up until a little over a century ago. I have tried in vain over the centuries to write off my feelings for you as lust, because as many man lusts after a woman that he wants, I do with you. It is only natural. But that is not all I feel. And that is why this is difficult for me. I am not used to being this open with anyone. I was not even this open with Rin whom I treated as my own daughter. She is the only being in the world whom I have ever mentioned the words "I love you" too. I never even felt love for my own parents, not because I did not want to, but simply because they never bestowed that feeling upon me. I was simply their heir; someone to take over their work and raise a kingdom. And that is what I believed for so long. But then you came along and my heart started to change; to thaw. If I am going to be honest with you, I am going to tell you everything. I would also like for you to let me finish before you ask questions, okay?" Sesshomaru asked her. Kagome was in complete shock. She felt like a tidal wave had knocked her over and it kept on coming. She nodded her head yes too tongue tied to say anything. Sesshomaru smiled softly and then continued. "Many centuries ago, I was sought out and summoned by Goshinki, the tree of knowledge. Goshinki knows things that have and are to happen and he only ever seeks people out if he has important news to tell them. For me, he had fairly huge news, though at the time, I believed to be a lie. It seems I was wrong and if he were still alive today I would personally thank him for the information in which he bestowed upon me. I went to him, completely upset that he had summoned me, for back then, no one summoned me. As you may know." He said smiling at her. Kagome laughed softly remembering his past self. "When I came to him he told me he had seen my future. Now you must remember, this was a century before you came to the feudal era. You had not even been born yet. I asked rudely what he wanted with me and he told me what he had seen; a vision of my future and you were in that vision. He told me that even if I did not believe it, our fates were intertwined. He mentioned to me that you would be the great priestess who defeated a great evil and that demons and people for years to come would know who you were. He also mentioned that you would come from the future, to which I scoffed at that. You see, little one, you need to also know that some demons and humans have soul-mates. It is very rare. Humans may not ever know that the one they are with is their soul-mate, but demons upon meeting theirs, always know. Their beast upon meeting them for the first time claims them. When the beast has chosen who it wants to spend the rest of it's life with, the demon has no choice in the matter. Goshinki, all those years ago, mentioned this to me. He told me that you and I are indeed soul-mates and that my beast would claim you, and Kagome, he has." Kagome gasped out loud and put her hand to her mouth. She was visibly shaking now. She wasn't scared anymore. She wasn't even nervous. She had more emotions running through her than should even be humanly possible; happiness, confusion, love, lust, and anything one could feel for a lover. Her heart was beating rapidly and she was on the verge of tears. How had the kami's granted her this...this magnificent being in front of her...this life. Had she really done that much good to deserve it? Tears started to spring from her eyes and roll down her face.

Sesshomaru stared at her in confusion. She was crying and so many emotions were rolling off of her in waves. "I have upset you..." He commented lowering his gaze. Kagome reached up with her right hand and cupped his cheek. "Not at all. I am very happy. These are tears of happiness. Please continue?" She said begging him to continue. Sesshomaru smiled softly and continued. "Very well, but if I say something that upsets you, please do tell me." he told her as she nodded. "As I stated, a beast when it first sees it's soul-mate will claim them. When I first saw you with Inuyasha before we went to my fathers tomb, my beast claimed you, well more like shouted that you belonged to us. I tried in vain to keep it quiet. I told it that you were but a mere human and that I needed no one. It worked for a while, but every time you and your group would pop up, my beast would mention it's claim. Years past and I was able to mostly tune him out until one day. I had not seen you in a year. I had been busy with my own lands and my search for Naraku had become boring. There was talk of him destroying a village in the west, in my territory, so I ventured out and I ran into you and your group there. You were there helping those who had been injured. It was the first time I had seen you in a year and you had grown in beauty and maturity. I hardly believed I was seeing the same person but my beast restated its claim and stated that it was indeed you. Your scent was even the same; Jasmine. It had been four years since I had first laid eyes on you, and one since I had last seen you. You had grown into a beautiful young woman. You were no longer a silly naive girl. You had the body of a woman and you smelled of raw power. I had always believed you to be beautiful, even when you were young. You had spirit and fire and I respected that. But seeing you then, I knew I was in trouble. No woman has ever made me feel like you have and did then. Kagome, I do not mean to tell you this out of spite, but to simply state how I feel about you. I have been with many women over the course of my life, simply for my please, but for the first time in my existence it was you who I wanted to touch, to please, and to maybe even love. I left there that day trying to rid you from my thoughts, but it would not do. Goshinki had been right. He told me that I could fight how I felt all I wanted, but it would be in vain because I would eventually give over to my feelings. This was the beginning of the year, the same year you disappeared with the jewel. I saw you in the winter and I last saw you in the fall of that year. In the course of one year my emotions bloomed; my heart thawed. I wanted you, no, I craved you. But I fought it every step of the way. I decided to try and forget about you but I ended up running into your group many times over the course of that year and each time my feelings only grew more and more until I was so tired from fighting them that I did what I said i'd never do. I gave up. I simply gave in to the feelings. I remember walking through the forest one day and I heard you scream and I smelled your blood. I almost changed into my full form right then from knowing someone had hurt you; hurt what was mine. After I saved you I began to travel with you and your group." Sesshomaru was interrupted by a light knock on the door. "My Lord, would you and your guest care for something to drink?" The black haired girl at the door asked. "Yes, two glasses of red wine please." He said dismissing her.

Kagome breathed in deeply. The tidal wave of information just kept coming and coming. It almost felt like it was too much, but she was deeply enjoying hearing all of this. To know that someone felt this deeply for her made her smile brightly. "You are happy?" Sesshomaru asked seeing her smile. "Yes, very much so. Please continue. I enjoy hearing your voice." She said blushing. Before Sesshomaru could begin the girl walked back in with two glasses of red wine in her hands. "Here you are my Lord." She said giving them to him and bowing. "Kagome, this is Mika one of my servants. Mika, this is the miko Kagome." Mika gasped at hearing this. "You mean...you're really her? You're the one my parents taught me about? You're the savior of demon and human kind alike? Oh my Lady, it is such an honor to meet you." Mika said bowing lowly to her. "Oh no, you really don't have to bow, and please just call me Kagome." She said blushing furiously. "Oh yes my L...Kagome." Mika said giggling before bowing again and scurrying out. "People know of me that well? Kagome asked taking the glass from Sesshomaru's extended hand. "Yes, very much so, but that is another story for another day." He said taking a sip of his wine and setting it down. "Where was I, oh yes, my traveling with you. It seems my beats had talked me into traveling with you and your group and being as close to you as possible. I had given up fighting so I decided to go along with it. I even went as far as to teach you how to sword fight just so that I could be alone with you, though I also believed you would be better at fighting with a sword than using your bow and arrows. When I kissed you in the field that day while teaching you how to spar, it was an accident. Well, I should not say accident. I lost control. I had wondered how soft your lips were for so long that I gave into temptation, and I dare say I was not disappointed. Two weeks passed and the final battle came. You showed such power that you put even myself in a sense of awe. When you destroyed Naraku all I could do was stand and stare. I had never seen a human wield so much power. It was such a beautiful sight and it is not something I will ever forget. When you made a wish on that jewel, I feared the worst, and to be honest, my fears became reality when you disappeared with the light of that damn jewel. In it's wake you were no longer standing there staring back at you. Your presence was gone; your scent was gone. It was if you had never been there. My heart had never felt so much turmoil and pain. I simply walked away and killed whatever was in my path including servants when I came back to my palace. It took me years, centuries, to understand why I was so affected by your absence in my life. I was depressed and alone for the first time in a year. I had grown accustomed to your light and your presence in my life and with that wish you were taken away from me. I would lay awake at night and think about what it was that I felt and then it hit me. I was so utterly in love with you that my heart clenched in pain whenever I thought about you. I wanted to cry and scream to any kami but then I remembered my promise to you. "Until the future, little one." That is what I had said to you and I intended to keep that promise. I promised myself that I would not give over to death if only to see your face once more. That promise was the only thing keeping me grounded. I went through many centuries discovering new things that I loved about you; your laugh, your bright smile, your big chocolate eyes, your long silky hair, the softness of your lips beneath mine, the feel of your skin against my fingers, your melodic voice. I could name more but it would take days. When I sensed you in the museum yesterday, my heart beat sky rocketed. I wondered why any kami would torment me with your scent but then I heard your sweet voice and it was like music to my ears. I walked up to you and spoke and you sensed me as well, for when you turned around and saw me, confusion passed through your emotions, and then was replaced by happiness. That was the best moment in my life. Seeing you standing in front of me. I wanted to reach out and touch you, to kiss you, but I wasn't sure how you felt about me. For me it had been 500 years, but for you it had been a week. But I need you to know, Kagome, my love for you is deeper than the deepest ocean. I love you so ardently and so fully and I wish to do so for the rest of my life."