Kagome was having a wonderful morning. Despite Kikyo's particularly sensitive soul the day before, she had slept well. Her morning had started out with a hot bath and a serious hair and body care session following. And she just felt exuberant.

Today was Rin's first day back to her preschool, which left Kagome with lots of spare time. Not that she was complaining, because in just one morning she had gotten more done than the past few weeks combined. Setting some ingredients out on the counter, Kagome decided to bake some cookies for Miroku. She was going to need to tell him sometime that she planned on getting a real job, and she figured her luscious chocolate-chip cookies might smooth over some harsh emotions.

As she pulled the baked cookies out of the oven, her mind wandering, she heard Sesshomaru enter the room. "Good morning, Sesshomaru."

"Hello," he replied calmly. After a beat, he continued, "I have something I must talk to you about."

Kagome placed the cookie sheet on the counter and wiped her brow. "What's up?"

"I wish to speak to you in a different setting," he answered her in his deep voice. Turning to meet his eyes, she wondered what he could possibly need to talk to her about. Had something happened?

"Okay, no problem," she sighed and walked over to the main hall to retrieve her jacket. "Where to?"

He led them out the door and to his car, mildly surprised by how easy it was to get her to agree. He had been expecting a fight, and for her to demand to know what he needed to tell her, right then, but she hadn't opposed him. Sesshomaru found that even though she wasn't predictable in that sense, he like how she kept him on his toes. Most humans were not so interesting.

Sesshomaru held the passenger door open for her and she slid in gracefully, thanking him. He slid in and started the car. After only a few minutes, Kagome began to fidget.

"Can we turn on some music?"

Sesshomaru glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "If you must."

She grinned and started the radio. Smooth classical ballads sung from the speakers and Kagome laughed. "It's so like you, to listen to classical music!"

He frowned and turned down a side road. "Hnn," he merely acknowledged her statement.

"Not that I don't appreciate the classical, but do you listen to anything else?"

"No."

"Have you ever tried?"

He remained silent, and did not answer her. A grin crept on her face, and she suppressed a childish giggle. I wonder if you can teach this dog new tricks…

"What about old music? New music?"

"You forget, I lived through the decades of your 'old music.' Everything is new compared to the music I was born listening to."

"Sure, sure," she waved her hands in the air, not bothering to hide her amusement. "I bet you didn't listen to that music then, either. How'd Mozart weasel his way into your traditional Japanese heart?"

Sesshomaru let out a quiet chuckle. "I understand his musical achievements."

"So do I, but for once, try listening to something different." Without asking for permission, Kagome leaned forward and changed the radio station. Ayumi Hamasaki's enchanting voice filled their car.

Combing a stray hair behind her ear, she watched Sesshomaru's miniscule reactions to the music. He seemed… contemplative. Kagome was pleased with his reaction. He wasn't in love with the music, but she hadn't expected him to be. What he was, though, was surprisingly open-minded. And that made all the difference.

They arrived at a secluded coffee shop on the outskirts of town. Leaving the car, Kagome looked around, suspicious of his motives. He had obviously brought her someplace public for a reason, but it wasn't popular at all. From what she could see through the dim windows of the shop, there were five, six customers at most.

The door chimed and he directed her through the door. Once in, Kagome noticed how small the coffee shop actually was. The store had no more than five tall tables and one tiny counter, and one staff member. All of the people there looked like regulars, and each one noticed them as they crossed the store to get some coffee.

They bought their drinks and took a seat at a table in the far corner. After a few quiet moments, Kagome started.

"So…" she blew on her hot cup of coffee, in a meek effort to cool it down, "what did you have to talk to me about?"

"Our marriage," He sat in cold, impersonal silence. Kagome frowned, instantly understanding why he'd brought them out to this semi-populated shop. With a few witnesses around, she wouldn't be inclined to fight with him. He'd have the upper hand, being the unemotional Taiyoukai he was, and she'd be forced to listen to him without making a disruption.

Basically, she couldn't fight back.

"What about our marriage?"

"Due to certain circumstances, I think it would be better for us to separate."

He remained quiet and watched her take in what he had said. Sesshomaru wanted to avoid telling her the details of his circumstances, but when her eyes met his, he saw blue fire.

"What do you mean? You're the one who said we'd have to stay married until I die," she took a deep breath to steady herself. "Why the sudden change?"

"The less you know, the better." He flared a bit of his youki, in a subtle attempt to warn her to back off.

She noticed his changing aura, which only served to fuel her irritation. Leaning close to him, she spoke to him in low tones. "Don't try to intimidate me, Sesshomaru. If you're going to try and kick me out, you can at least have the decency to tell me why."

He quirked an eyebrow, "Very well. However; I will only tell you what you need to know."

She rubbed her lips together, and blew out a sigh. "Fine. Have it your way." Gesturing her hands, she leaned back and said, "So tell me… what is so dangerous that we need to separate?"

He admired the quickness of her mind. Somehow, she had picked up the motives of his decision. She had miscalculated, though. He wasn't trying to detach her from him to protect her, only so that he would have an easier time while he was on the mission.

"Long ago, a skilled miko defeated a hanyou who was a threat to society. Now, he has been reincarnated, and is back for revenge. That is all."

Kagome's heart skipped a beat. Sesshomaru's tale sounded all too familiar. Just a coincidence… "So you're going to eliminate him?"

He nodded.

She took a sip of her drink and tried to appear casual. "How long will it take?"

"Two months, if everything goes according to my plan. Two years, if not."

She doubted something like this would go as smoothly as he said it would. Trying to pry further, she smoothly inquired, "So this hanyou—what did you say his name was again?"

"I did not tell you his name."

"Oh." She shrunk back, feeling defeated. His message had been clear: it wasn't any of her business.

He sat back in his chair, his gold eyes observing her every move. "Hnn."

Kagome sighed, and glanced around the shop. It had a surprisingly cozy feel, with little green table cloths and plush cushions on the chairs. Keeping her tone as light as she could, she continued their conversation. "When did you find out this would be happening?"

"At my meeting yesterday night."

She stared at a painting on the wall composed of two figures dancing in the sunlight. "I think you should be the one to tell Rin. She deserves to hear this from you." In her mind, she lamented over how Sesshomaru had been bonding with the little girl. He had been bonding with her, too.

"I will not tell her about the circumstances of my departure, only that I will be leaving."

She nodded. Trying to stop her flow of questions, she decided one last question would suffice. "Where are you going?" What if something happens to you?

"That is confidential."

"Oh," she frowned, feeling dejected again.

The silence stretched, and Kagome twirled her cup, unsure of what to do next. A question had been tugging at her mind, and she was begging to know the answer. Gathering the last bit of her courage, she met his gaze.

"What happens to us, after you are finished?"

In his eyes, she saw a brief flicker of desire. Of curiosity. And, if she dared to say, uncertainty. Though he would never admit it, he was as unsure about their future together as she was.

"We will talk about it then. It is quite possible we would end the marriage, or live separate permanently."

Kagome tried to conceal her emotions with her utmost control. She was shocked that he felt that way. But more than anything, she was hurt. For all the moments she'd been enjoying his presence, she now wondered if the feeling hadn't been mutual.

Without speaking another word to each other, they left the store. Taking one last sad glance at the coffee shop, she threw out her cold coffee cup in a trash bin by the car. After all, the coffee was never going to be warm again, and who liked cold coffee anyways? Kagome knew how to abandon a sinking ship.

Hi, everyone! How was this chapter? I had a couple different versions... but I liked this one the best so... ta-dah! Hope you enjoy it!

Oh, and a special thanks to my reviewers. I love hearing feedback and if you liked the story, so thanks a bunch! You've brought many smiles to my face :) ~Gracie

All Characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.