Disclaimer: Look at every chapter, and deal with the facts. InuYasha is not mine.

WARNING! Some of you might think this is the end. It's not. The last chapter will be an epilogue. As this is not, you may rest assured that this is NOT the end.

Last Time:

Sesshoumaru knew he had never had a chance. He wasn't even sure if he had wanted a chance. But this was who he was, and he wouldn't stop being this person, no matter who wanted him to.

She wouldn't accept that.

Sesshoumaru sheathed Tokijin and did the one thing he never thought he'd do: he ran away.

CHAPTER 23: REJECTION

When Kagome saw Mamemitsu blow up, several thoughts sped through her head.

1. OH MY GOD I JUST WATCHED A LIVING BEING BLOW UP!

2. Huh. It looked just like the movies.

3. Ew, I did not just think that.

4. How much of this blood is Sesshoumaru's.

Thought number four was what kept Kagome frozen as she looked around at all the blood and gore. Is all this blood Mamemitsu's? Or is her blood mixed with Sesshoumaru's? Oh my goodness, what if he's injured! What if it's his blood everywhere! Oh my kami, how badly is he hurt?

By the time she'd calmed enough to ask her questions, Sesshoumaru was already gone. Without her focus on him, the scent of blood and guts invaded her nose. It made her dizzy, and so she quickly stepped out and closed the doors. After she took a few gulps of air, she felt much better. She started walking through the palace, looking for the room that she'd first arrived in. Maybe she'd be able to get back to the Western Palace.

She wasn't really looking forward to the conversation the two of them would have when they returned. Firstly, he'd just left her there to find her own way back. Secondly, he'd probably be upset that she was there. He'd want to forget all about the entire incident. Her arriving wouldn't help matters. But she had a legitimate excuse, besides hoping that he'd want to keep her around. All her stuff was still there!

She sighed as she continued to search. Sesshoumaru would probably pack her up and send her home. That's what she would do if she were him. She'd just have to prepare for that eventuality.

She reached the room that Mamemitsu had poofed her to and froze. She had no idea how to work the darn thing. "Shoot!" Kagome growled. "Don't tell me I have to wait for that pompous ass to come get me!"

She tried thinking of the Western Palace. She tried ordering it. She even tried asking nicely. It didn't work. "Of all the stupid things that have happened to me in all the years I've been here, this has got to be the most ridiculous one!" She sputtered. "Let me through, darn it!" Seeing that the stupid circle would not cooperate she turned with a frustrated groan.

As she did so, she saw something move in the doorway. Warily, bow and arrow in hand, she stepped towards the door. As soon as she got near, she rushed out, pointing her bow in the direction she felt youkai. She expected some remnant of a guard that she had missed.

Instead, she found a maid staring at her in complete and utter fear. "I, I wasn't trying to do anything, I swear!" The maid shouted. "I was just looking for someone!"

Kagome looked at her, and saw that she was telling the truth. She quickly loosened her hold on the bow. "Do you know how to work that magic circle?"

The maid stared at her strangely. "You're not going to kill me?"

"Not unless you give me a reason to." Kagome answered honestly. "Believe it or not, I don't go around purifying demons for the fun of it."

"But you're with Sesshoumaru-sama." The maid protested. "He loves killing things."

"Do you secretly want me to kill you?" Kagome asked, honestly curious. "Because it sounds like you want me to."

The maid started to tremble. "Please, Miko-sama-"

"Don't." Kagome said, dropping the bow and arrow. "I'm not going to hurt you. You have my word."

The maid relaxed a bit as Kagome slung the bow over her shoulder. "I apologize if I offended you, Miko-sama."

"My name is Kagome, just Kagome." Kagome said. "There's no reason to call me sama. Now, back to my original question. Do you know how to work the magic circle?"

The maid shook her head. "No."

Kagome sighed. "Shoot! I'm going to have to go back on foot, aren't I?" She turned and started for the steps. "I'm going to kill him! I don't even care that Rin will hate me forever! I am going to purify that gigantor of a jerk and send him to a deep and unrelenting hell!"

The maid hesitated, then called out. "Kagome-sama?"

Kagome stopped and turned. "Don't call me sama!"

The maid ignored her. "I think I know who might know how to work the circle."

!# Sesshoumaru #!

He'd run as far as his feet could take him, hearing his mother's voice in his head.

Humans cannot see beyond their ridiculous notions of right and wrong. She'd said, so many times. In their mind, killing is wrong unless they are the ones doing the killing. Then, it's all okay. We youkai do not believe in such ridiculous notions. Neither should you.

He'd learned that lesson the hard way. Multiple hard ways, actually. His mother's "games," her ways of forcing him to learn to kill and how to mentally deal with death. Like the kill or be killed game, when she locked him in a room with a starving and wounded human and refused to release him until it was dead.

Or her favorite, make Sesshoumaru go on a rampage game, when she would dump him in the middle of a human village and force him to fight his way out.

And when he'd gotten too old for these things to be a challenge, she'd improved her games, or worsened them, depending on which side you were on. The starving, wounded humans were replaced by desperate and terrified houshis and mikos. The human village was replaced by larger villages.

Sesshoumaru had ended up nearly dead several times, and his father had warned his mother every time that there would be consequences if it happened again. His mother always avoided trouble though, claiming that she was only trying to make her only son strong.

It was a lie. Every time he was injured, or when it looked like he was about to die, he'd seen the sick and desperate joy in her eyes. It was the only time she had any emotion but disgust when she looked at him. And childish as he was, he wanted to be the reason for that joy in her eyes, even for a moment. So he never spoke up.

Then she'd gotten her "best" idea of all: lock him in a room filled to the brim with mikos and houshis, and then use a spell to bind his youkai so tightly that he could barely move. For the first time in his life, he'd been in actual danger. And for the first time, someone thought to alert his father. He'd died that day, and the houshis and mikos had been released, to their joy. He felt as if he floated, and a small part of him was relieved: he'd never have to be strong again. And then suddenly he was awake, staring up at his father as he sheathed Tenseiga.

It was too late though. He'd learned the lessons his mother had intended though.

1. Emotions are a weakness.

2. Depending on others will get you killed.

3. Humans will always believe in good versus evil

4. Humans will always believe youkai are evil because they fear them.

Somehow, he'd managed to forget these lessons when he was around Kagome. He wasn't sure how, and he wasn't sure why. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that he had somehow, even knowing who and what she was, fallen in love with her.

That alone scared him more than any demon attack on earth. Physical attacks he was used to. Mental attacks could be handled even better. But emotionally? He didn't stand a chance, and he knew it.

!# Kagome #!

Kagome arrived in the Western Palace only two hours after the encounter with the maid. She reappeared in Mamemitsu's rooms with a grin. "I am so awesome! I bet I made it back before Sesshoumaru too!" She did a mental victory dance and left the room, heading towards her own.

Except she was quickly lost, mostly because she hadn't actually been awake when she'd been dragged to Mamemitsu's room. She growled in frustration as she took yet another wrong turn and ended up right back where she'd started. "Darn it all!" She shouted. "Why can't I catch a break!"

"Kagome-san?" Kagome turned to see Yui. "Is that really you?"

Kagome grinned and ran over to hug Yui. "Yup! Sesshoumaru rescued me, killed Mamemitsu, and then left me to find my own way back. So I used Mamemitsu's circle transport thing." She frowned. "Is Sesshoumaru back yet? I'm going to give him a piece of my mind!"

Yui had gotten over her sudden reappearance by now, and mentally shook herself. "No, Sesshoumaru-sama has yet to return."

Kagome sighed. "Okay then. I'll just head to my room so I can pack up my stuff. He's not going to want me around anymore."

Yui watched her walk away, and saw the sadness that tinged her friend's movement. With a small cough, she gained Kagome's attention. "That's the way to the men's quarters."

Kagome glared up at the sky. "I hate you so fucking much! Why don't you just fall out of the sky and become mortal so I can kill you all!"

Yui walked up next to her, a bit worried now. "Who are you talking to, Kagome-san?"

Kagome pointed up, but all Yui could see was the ceiling. "Those damn kamis who thought it would be funny to remove any sense of direction I had and then stick me in the most confusing, maze-like place in all of Japan! I swear, they did this on purpose, and I know they can hear me! They should come down here so I can kick their repective asses."

Yui stared at her, and mentally reminded herself to get Kagome some soothing tea. "When you're done with that, would you like me to help you locate your room?"

Kagome took a deep breath, aware that she was acting like an idiot. "That would be most appreciated."

!# The Palace of the Gods #!

Amaterasu was still staring at her mirror, watching the "two complete idiots" as they each made their way home. She mumbled under her breath as she watched, occasionally letting out a yell of frustration.

Inugami saw her still watching and sighed. "Amaterasu, the curse is over. Time to move on."

Amaterasu ignored him, continuing to focus on the scene in front of her. Inugami tried again. "Amaterasu, it's over. They are not going to end up together. You were wrong. Get over it."

Amaterasu turned to him with a glare, and Inugami literally froze. The ice covered everything from the neck down. "It is not over." She whispered. "Not even close."

Inugami looked confused. "But the curse is no longer in effect."

Amaterasu shook her head. "The curse was never the point. A simple curse to make him care for one person would never change anything." She watched Sesshoumaru finally slow and turn West, the direction of his palace. "It's like I told you, Inugami. When she's around, he really acts like he's learned his lesson. But when she's not, he reverts back to his old self."

Inugami shook his head. "I still don't get it."

A new voice interrupted them. "You knew." The two kamis turned to see InuTaisho staring at Amaterasu in shock. "You knew that Kagome would save him. You knew that the curse would force them together. You knew that the person who Sesshoumaru would care for more than his own life would be Kagome. You knew that he would fall in love with her, and her with him. You knew that only that would change him."

Amaterasu kept her gaze focused on the screen in front of her. "You presume a lot, InuTaisho."

"I have yet to hear you deny a single word."

Amaterasu smirked at that. "That's fair." They sat in silence for a time.

Finally, Inugami spoke. "So your plan revolves around Kagome and Sesshoumaru mating?"

Amaterasu nodded shortly. InuTaisho was the one who spoke the necessary words. "You're insane."

"So I've been told."

"It'll never work."

"Perhaps not."

"You just wasted all this time and effort for nothing!"

"Maybe so."

"How can you be so calm about failure?" InuTaisho shouted.

Amaterasu stared at the image in front of her. "Because I rarely fail."

!# Sesshoumaru #!

He arrived at the Western Palace, determined to forget the damned miko. He hadn't wanted her anyway, and was going to send her packing now that the curse had been removed. He was going to be fine.

So why had Kagome's look of horror bothered him so much?

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" Sesshoumaru turned in time to see Rin hurtling towards him. "Rin is very glad to see you. Lady Kagome said you would be back soon, but Rin was still worried."

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. Kagome had said he would be back soon? How in the world had she done that?

Rin continued with her babbling. ". . . and then Lady Kagome said she would teach me how to make a barrier. . ."

When had Rin become so attached to Kagome? He couldn't really remember all that well. Perhaps he should have paid more attention to his ward than he had. He would have to rectify that after he kicked Kagome out.

After Rin had left, Kai was the next to find him. "About time you got here." He said, grinning widely. "I was getting worried."

"About this Sesshoumaru?" Sesshoumaru wasn't sure whether to accept it or be insulted. He decided a bit of both. "Your concern was unwarranted."

"Right." Kai said knowingly. "Because we all know how well you handle your mother."

Sesshoumaru was half tempted to claw his body guard, but thought better of it. Kai couldn't do his job if he was disemboweled. So instead, he tried to ignore him. But Kai asked another question. "Is it done?"

Sesshoumaru knew what he was really asking. Did killing your mother help you at all? Sesshoumaru could give no answer. So instead, he merely walked away.

In a few short moments, Sesshoumaru had reached his study. He was expecting some quiet time to contemplate the problem of Kagome. He was expecting his staff to ensure he was left alone. He was expecting to have plenty of time.

So of course, the universe decided they would not indulge him.

A small knock on his door made him sigh. "Enter." Sesshoumaru called.

The door opened, and Sesshoumaru bit back the combined urge to groan and stare as Kagome entered. How in the world did she get here?

"The magic circle that transported me in the first place." Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow, and Kagome sent him one of her characteristic grins. "You were wondering how I got here before you." It looks like he's alright. I don't see blood, and he didn't even need any healers. It must have been mostly Mamemitsu's blood in that palace. Thank kami.

That grin sent an unfamiliar ache through his body. If possible, he would have stared at himself in shock. How could the rejection of just one, frustratingly mortal miko cause him to feel so strongly? Frustrated, he turned his frustrations and hurt into anger. "Why are you here, Miko?"

Kagome looked at him as if the answer was obvious. "My stuff is still here, of course. And besides, even if you no longer need me, Rin still needs to be taught. I'm not going to abandon her."

Completely logical reasons. Damn it! After her disgust earlier, why would she try so hard to stay?

Maybe she wasn't-

Don't even try to say it. We were rejected. Do not try to "make it better" by rationalizing it.

"Sesshoumaru, I know that you probably won't want to answer, but have you seen InuYasha?" Kagome asked. Sesshoumaru felt a stab of pain as he heard those words.

She still belongs to him. She asks for him, and didn't even bother to ask how I was.

Maybe because we're standing right here, so she figures we're uninjured.

But that would be logical. And Kagome is chaos incarnate.

Sesshoumaru turned to her, and saw Kagome still standing there, waiting for him to speak. "The half-breed has moved on."

Kagome stared in shock. "You mean, he's really gone this time?"

Sesshoumaru felt a stab of guilt as he saw the sadness fill her eyes, but couldn't help the bitter tone that crept into his voice. "Yes."

For a moment, Kagome remained silent. Sesshoumaru couldn't see her face, as it was bowed in such a way that her hair covered her face. After her moment of silence, she looked up, a smile on her face. "I'm glad."

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow. "Explain."

Kagome's smile never wavered as she spoke. "He wasn't supposed to linger here. He was supposed to go on to heaven, to be with his mother and your father. It's what he earned. He didn't deserve being stuck here watching me like a hawk."

Sesshoumaru could feel something churning in him, and in another demon would have called it jealousy, at Kagome's sad and yet happy voice. "Your assistance is no longer needed. You will leave tomorrow."

Kagome stared at him, shock evident on her face. Before she could speak, Sesshoumaru continued. "Your duty is over, and there is no longer a need for you to stay."

"Rin still needs-"

"A tutor will be found for Rin. You no longer need to involve yourself."

"That's stupid!" Kagome shouted. "Have you ever thought that maybe I don't want someone else to teach her? That maybe I like helping her? She's a fantastic girl, who deserves to be around people who accept her. Not someone who's only teaching her because they're afraid you'll disembowel them if they don't!"

Actually, that was exactly what he'd been planning on doing. But she didn't need to know that. "Someone will be found. You will leave tomorrow."

Kagome just continued to stare at him. "Did I do something?" Kagome asked. "Cause this is way more than 'I don't want to be reminded of a certain curse that is no longer in affect, so I'm going to send you packing.' Even at your worst, you normally make sense!"

Sesshoumaru could feel his hackles rising, and found he couldn't stop himself from lashing out as the confusing storm in him reached a climax. "I do not need a worthless copy and disgrace to the name miko teaching my ward. I will find someone worthy, not a weakling with no sense of proper respect." He knew that these words would cut her down, and that they were irreversible once said. He knew she would never forgive him.

Kagome froze then, staring at him in shock. She stared at him, unable to form the words that would normally be drilling a hole straight through him. Sesshoumaru continued. "You had a purpose, but that purpose is now over. You will leave tomorrow, or you will find yourself thrown out."

Kagome felt numb. She couldn't breath, and her head was spinning. Somehow, she managed to walk out of the room, to smile at Sarra, Yuri, Kai, and Yui, to enter her bedroom. Only then, with the door securely fastened and herself under every blanket she could manage, did she allow herself to cry.

That was how Yui found her. The inuyoukai had been one of her tormentors. Then she'd been an unwilling body guard. Now, she was just a friend who saw Kagome in pain. She reached her side and wrapped her friend in a hug. Words weren't needed, because there was nothing to say.

Finally, about an hour before dawn, Kagome managed to force her tears back. "Thank you." She whispered.

"Kagome, are you sure about this? Just going down without a fight?" Yui asked quietly.

"I won't look back." Kagome answered. "I can't look back. Because I can't afford to fall apart."

!# Sesshoumaru #!

Sesshoumaru felt his beast clawing at him from the inside out. He grasped his middle as his beast's rage became physical pain. Soon he felt himself falling, and he had to work to bite back the howl that threatened to escape him. He wouldn't let himself be controlled. Not by his beast, not by emotions, not by anything. He didn't care what it took, he would set aside his foolish-

Another surge of pain later, he was curled up in a ball, whimpering like a pup. So much for being strong.

Kagome.

This is for the best.

Kagome!

This is better for us.

KAGOME! Sesshoumaru's beast struggled, fighting agianst the chains that kept it in place. It did little good. So instead, it turned directly against Sesshoumaru. This is your fault! Why did you let her leave us?

It was necessary-

You just don't want anything to change! You're so afraid of being hurt that you push anyone that gets close away!

You don't know what you're talking about.

I'm your other half! Who would know better than me?

His beast fell silent after that, but kept pounding against the walls.

Sesshoumaru couldn't answer, as he was too busy trying to keep himself from shattering under the pressure from his inner demon. He kept fighting, the physical pain mounting with every assault. It felt like his beast was literally being torn apart from the inside out.

An hour before sunrise, Sesshoumaru's beast finally collapsed. It continued to whimper while Sesshoumaru struggled to reorganize his mind and power. Then he finally managed to make it to his bed. The last thing he heard before falling asleep was his beast's last words. You're never going to forget her.

-----------------------------------------------------Author's Rant-----------------------------------------------------

Obsessive_Goddess: What you guys think?

Sesshoumaru: And so ends this horrible excuse for grotesque literature. Hope you all enjoyed it!

Obsessive_Goddess: Um, Sesshoumaru, this-

Kagome: What a sad ending!

OBsessive_Goddess: But it's not-

Horse Wolves: How dare you end it here! What happened to this being a Sess/Kag! They have to end up together.

Obsessive_Goddess: I know. Shut up and I'll ex-

InuYasha: BOOYAH! I knew they wouldn't end up together!

Obsessive_Goddess: [shouting] WOULD YOU ALL SHUT UP! [everyone goes quiet] Now, as I was trying to explain, THIS IS NOT THE END!

Kagome: It's not?

Obsessive_Goddess: As previously stated, I am a hopeless romantic. I cannot write stories with sad endings. It's against everything I believe in. So again I say, because you people don't listen, THIS IS NOT THE END.

Sesshoumaru: Damn.

-----------------------------------------------------End of Author's Rant-----------------------------------------------------