Shout outs: to EVERYONE reading this, because you didn't give up on me, even though I think its been a year or more. I have no excuse. I was lazy and unmotivated and I am sooooo sorry for that. The next piece will be posted tomorrow.
Chapter 22:
It's been three days and I still smile whenever I think about what happened that night. Since then, neither Sesshoumaru nor I have brought up my leaving again. I guess it's just easier to think it's not happening and to forget about it until I that moment I actually have to get on the plane.
To help get my mind off topics I do not wish to dwell on, I've decided to go shopping again with Sango and Ayame. Looking at my watch to see if I'm late, I hurry out the door, locking it behind me, and run down the street to Kouga's house. There, I meet the girls.
"We were just about to call you to see if you were still coming." Ayame says when I arrive.
"Yeah, sorry, I was folding laundry and lost track of time." I reply as I try to catch my breath.
"Oh well, shall we be off then?" asks Sango. I can tell by the way she looks at me that she knows I was not folding laundry, but rather thinking about when I leave in one week and five days. "We don't want to miss all the bargains at the stores with sales."
I smile, silently thanking her for not giving me away, as I get into the back seat of Kouga's Mini.
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"Oh man, I'm so tired!" Sango exclaims as she drops into a chair at Starbucks with her many bags scattered around her.
"Well San…" I smile, "I don't think you will need to go shopping again for, oh, say, two weeks." Ayame and I laugh while Sango pouts.
"But seriously Sango, you did buy a lot." Ayame says while she takes a sip of her coffee and glancing at the plethora of evidence that someone loves clothes.
"Well, what can I say? I'm going to be here for a while yet, so I need more clothes." She shrugs.
Ayame leans over to me. "I hear you got accepted into the school you wanted. Congratulations, when do you leave?"
I smile as best I can, "Thanks, I have to leave next Saturday."
Sango puts her latte down. "How is Sesshoumaru taking it? You have told him about it right?"
"Yeah, I told him on Saturday. He's taking it pretty well I think. I mean, he knew when he asked me here that it was just a summer thing, and I explained that though I wish I could transfer or apply closer to her, it is just not possible at the moment. Besides, its Sesshoumaru, he usually takes things well." I had almost mentioned what happened after we got home, but looking at the crowded coffee house, I decided not to mention it just yet…..come to think of it, it was a miracle that Sango's "sonar" or whatever it is, hasn't ferreted out that something more meaningful has happened between us.
"Well," Ayame begins, "I admire your resolve. I would never be able to go that far from Kouga for that Long."
"Yeah…" I trail off, looking at my watch. "Hey 'yame, don't you have that party to go to tonight, we better take off if you don't want to be late."
She glances at her watch. "Oh my gosh! Is it that time already? Hurry, we have to split!"
Helping Sango with all her bags, we chase after Ayame to the car before she decides to leave us.
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After saying goodbye to Kouga and Ayame, Sango and I start heading towards Sesshoumaru's house. Halfway there, I grab her arm and pull her over underneath a tree. "Okay, I can't hide it anymore…. have to tell you something. Now…while we're alone."
She looks worried. "Oh god, don't tell me that Sesshoumaru didn't take it well. Did you two get into a fight or something?"
"What?" I'm stunned, "No…no nothing like that, Quite the opposite actually." She looks really confused now. "Alright…this is between you and me. I don't want anyone else to know if it can be helped. Okay?"
"Kagome, you better just tell me what's going on because you're not making any sense." She says as she grabs my shoulders.
"Right. Well…that night, after Sesshoumaru and I discussed my leaving, when we got home I headed on up to bed while he stayed downstairs for a bit.
She nods her head, "Ok…I'm following you so far."
Really Kagome, how hard is it to spit something like this out to your best friend. Taking a deep breath, I continue. "Well, when he finally got upstairs…let's just say that I wasn't asleep yet." I smile a bit as I look at the ground.
"I'm a little confused. What are you trying t…" She gasps, "You mean that you and he…" She trails off.
I nod my head, blushing a little.
"Wow. I mean WOW! This is unbelievable, especially since you initiated it! Well, are you going to give me details! How was it?"
Shocked, I look at her, "No, I'm not going into detail. Let's just say that it was…nice." I look off towards his house.
"Nice! That's all you can say, it was...nice?" She shakes her head, "Only you would be able to make this huge step in your life seem so insignificant."
"Okay, so it was more than 'nice' it was 'Amazing,' 'Spectacular," 'The whole world stopped and only we two existed!' No matter what adjective I use to describe it, that's the only one you're getting, and you'll just have to accept that. Whatever happened between Sesshoumaru and I stays with Sesshoumaru and I."
She gives me a slight pout but once she sees my 'no discussion face' she shrugs and gives up. "What if he told the guys?" She asks. "It won't stay a secret for long if he has."
"No. He wouldn't do that. Now come on, we need to get back before Miroku and Sesshoumaru think we've disappeared." I laugh while running up to the house.
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"Hey." I jump up, startled, as Sesshoumaru joins me in the living room. "What are you doing awake at three in the morning. You have to be at the airport at seven-thirty, you should be getting as much sleep as possible."
I smile as he sits beside me on the couch. "Yeah, I know. I just…..I can't seem to get to sleep. My mind is going like one-hundred miles an hour."
He pulls me into his lap. "Really? Why don't you tell me what's on your mind. Maybe I can help."
I snuggle into his shoulder. "It just seems like I'm dreaming. That by going back, I'm acting like none of this ever happened. And I don't want that."
Sesshoumaru rubs my back soothingly, "Go on."
"I can't help but worry if I'm making the wrong choice." I look into his eyes. "Is it right for me to leave? We both love each other and it feels as if I am trying to ruin that by doing this." My eyes stare into his, questioning how he feels about everything I've said, then I glance down into my lap.
He sits silently for a bit before placing his fingers under my chin and gently tilting my head unto our eyes meet again. "Kagome, I love you and nothing will change the way I feel about you, not even being across an ocean, though thank goodness you're not going that far. So go, follow your dream and I'll be waiting right here for you."
I smile, "I love you Sesshoumaru, "
He wraps his arms around me in a hug, "So are you ready to go to bed yet?
I shrug my shoulders, "Well, I'm not really tired, but I suppose I should at least try." I move to get up but he quickly scoops me up into his arms and carries me upstairs. Once back in bed, we both continue talking until I fall asleep in his arms, which sadly didn't take long. If it had been a dream, it could have gone on forever if only I could have avoided 'falling asleep.'
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"Do you have everything?" Sesshoumaru asks as we make our way to the check in line at the airport.
I smile, "Well, if I did, it would be too late to get it now. Plus, if something of mine is left, you just have that much more to remember me by."
They all laugh.
"Hey! Do you think we can convince them to let us see you all the way to the get?" Inuyasha asks me.
I shrug my shoulders while Miroku replies "I don't know Inu, but it can't hurt to ask."
We make our way up to the counter and after checking my bags, Kouga asks the receptionist if there was any way for them to join me beyond security. The lady at the desk types for a bit on her computer before responding. "Well, I can print off one temporary pass, so one of you can go. The rest of you will have to stay in the check-in area. Sorry."
"Thanks." Kouga says as he accepts the pass. Turning, he hands it to Sesshoumaru. "Here mate. This way you can say goodbye at the gate."
Sango runs to me and gives me a big hug. "I'm gonna miss you so much. You better be online or call me as much as your schedule allows."
"Same for all of us." Adds Ayame over her shoulder as she joins the hug.
Letting go of the now teary-eyed Sango, I turn to each of the three boys and give them hugs and a kiss on the cheek.
"Stay cool Kagome." Says Kouga.
"And don't pull too many pranks on people." Adds Inuyasha.
Hugging Miroku last, I whisper into his ear, "You be sure and take good care of Sango."
Pulling back he gives me a smile and a wink. "You know it."
Waving goodbye to them all, Sesshoumaru and I head over to security where we some how manage to get through without any hassle.
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"Calling all passengers of flight B7921 from Tokyo to Okinawa, you may now proceed to the gate for boarding."
Looking at Sesshoumaru, I squeeze his hand. "That's me."
He nods his head as we walk towards the gate. Without warning, he stops, spins me around and kisses me. After a few seconds, we pull away from each other, panting slightly and he whispers "I love you."
Still trying to catch my breath, as well as control my emotions, I nod. After a few more seconds I whisper back "I love you too." Slowly I pull away, holding his hand until the last moment. Turning towards the gate, I present my boarding pass before proceeding down the corridor and onto the plane. Finding my window seat, I look towards the airport and can just barely make out Sesshoumaru's form at a window, watching the plane. I wave, but when he doesn't wave back I assume that he can't see me.
After all of the boarding procedures, we begin take off. I stare out the window at the airport as long as I can. Once it is no longer in sight…the tears start to fall.
Author's note; again, I am SO terribly sorry for the delay in updating, and though this chapter isn't amazingly long, I hope it helped soothe some of you. Also, sorry for the fast pace, but as I've said before, this story has already been written and is being tweaked. Next post will be tomorrow, and yes, if you can't tell, it will all be coming to an end soon.
Reviews would be nice, but I wouldn't blame you for holding out since I have been a terrible poster and left you all hanging.