Chapter 120: Misery

Kagome nodded solemnly, looking back down at her hands. Tears stung the back of her eyes, threatening to spill out if she even blinked.

"Thank you for listening anyways." She got up and exited his room, closing the door behind her.

She walked into her own room, closing that door as well. Then onward to the bathroom, shutting herself in. She turned on the shower, but could no longer hold back back the tears. They trailed over her cheeks and down her chin, landing on her chest. She was silent, no sobs this time, only tears. Hopefully Sesshoumaru wouldn't notice just how much his rejection had hurt her through the three closed doors.

She stayed in the shower much longer than she should have, the water ran cold long before she had felt like getting out. She stood in the bathroom, shivering and wet, wrapped in her towel glaring at her reflection in the mirror. Why had fate chosen her? She was nothing special. She was just your normal run of the mill 15 year old, before fate had stepped in and turned her world upside down. Fate was cruel. Yes, she had met some of the best friends the world could ever know, but then was ripped from them just as quickly. She wasn't done with the past yet. Why couldn't she have chosen for herself wether or not she wanted to stay? Didn't she deserve some shred of happiness after what she had done to help right the things that had gone wrong? After defeating Naraku?

Guess not.

She opened the door of the bathroom and walked a few steps out, lost in thought. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed something out of place. She turned to look and yelped, completely caught off guard.

Fumbling with her now falling towel, she hastily tried to hide her nakedness behind it. Giving up quickly, she darted into her walk-in closet and slammed the door none to gently.

"Sesshoumaru... why are you in my bedroom?!" She shouted through the door her back was pressed against. She wasn't sure just how much of her he had seen, but by her standard, he had seen too much! She pulled the towel tightly around herself, as if that would undo the fact that Sesshoumaru had already caught a glimpse. After several long minutes with no answer, she quickly pulled on a t-shirt and sweat pants, before peeking out of the closet.

Sesshoumaru sat there, on the edge of her unmade bed, staring at her. Kagome slammed the door again, feeling just as exposed as she had been whilst in the towel. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she took several long dramatic breaths to calm herself. Once she gathered her bearings, she opened the door fully.

"What do you think you are doing?" She demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.

No answer.

Kagome sighed, "Look, you can't just come into my room unannounced. Especially when I am showering. There is a reason the door was closed..."

Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed minutely.

"Are you even listening to me?" Kagome asked.

"No." He replied.

Kagome growled in frustration. "Clearly you are, since you answered me. Did you need something?"

"No."

Kagome threw her hands up in the air, "Care to explain why you are in my room then?"

"No."

"How much did you see?"

"This Sesshoumaru had no desire to see you in a state of undress."

"I didn't ask if you wanted to see me naked! I asked how much you saw..." Kagome was growing highly annoyed. "I could just kill you... you are as bad as Miroku, lecher!"

"Try." Sesshoumaru stated, his eyes had a predatory glimmer.

Kagome was quite furious now. Arrogant ass, coming into her room while she was showering, and then not even explaining why he had done so. "Fine, don't tell me. Enjoy my room..." she walked out of her room and closed the door behind herself before she got herself into trouble due to her mouth. She headed into the kitchen to make some breakfast.

She grabbed down a box of cereal and a bowl and spoon, putting them on the table. Opening the fridge, she found the milk. She stopped. Sitting at the table was Sesshoumaru. Same spot he always took when she ate meals. She rolled her eyes and set the milk on the table.

This time, the meal was awkward. She still felt naked whenever Sesshoumaru looked at her. She didn't like this feeling. She had managed to keep most of her front covered, but her backside... she was sure he had seen her butt in her haste to make it into the sanctuary of her closet. It still bothered her that she didn't know why he had come into her room. She crossed her fingers under the table like a child, hoping that these awkward feelings of being exposed would go away soon.

(0o0)

Over the next two weeks, Kagome asked Sesshoumaru daily, "If I were to ask your assistance in doing a favor, would you assist me?" and each time she was met with the same answer, "No." However, she was not giving up. She planned to ask every single day. She smiled to herself, imagining how much she was annoying the demon lord. He hadn't shown any annoyance yet, but he rarely showed any emotion anyways.

Other than asking that question and normal pleasantries, they didn't speak much. He would sit with her at all meals, and she would sit out in the living room with him at night watching television or a movie before going to bed. She was now checking his back every other night, it was healing wonderfully. There would be scars, but not near as many as she had originally thought, which was good. It was the same routine, day in and day out. It was rather boring, to be honest, but comfortable.

The effects of him seeing her undressed still lingered occasionally. She'd become bashful in his presence or he would look at her and her cheeks would instantly grow hot. The frequency was diminishing as time passed.

"Lord Sesshoumaru?" Kagome asked, walking into the living room Friday morning.

"No." He answered.

Kagome laughed, "I haven't even asked anything yet!"

Sesshoumaru glared at her.

"Oh... I wasn't going to ask that this time!" She smiled as she plopped down next to him on the floor.

Sesshoumaru ignored her childish antics.

"So, I was thinking... would you like to go out tonight? Staying inside the house is becoming rather tiresome and I thought maybe you'd like to get out for a while... you know, with me." Kagome smiled brightly.

"No." Sesshoumaru said without hesitation.

"Okay, so I will see you in about an hour than." Kagome ignored his answer, hoping that by saying she'd just see him in an hour, that he'd just go along with it anyways. She got up and left the living room, retreating to her room to get dressed. Once she shut the door, she squealed like a teenage fan girl, fully aware the Sesshoumaru could still hear her.

(0o0)

Kagome decided on a simple, short black lace skirt. While the skirt was rather short, her school uniform that she wore to the past was shorter. For a top, she selected a tight, crimson red top that left her shoulders bare and hugged her body. She was finally feeling better after the little incident of Sesshoumaru catching her after her shower. There was nothing wrong with wanting to feel beautiful, was there? She applied a small amount of natural looking makeup, just to make herself seem a little older, since she still resembled a 16 year old, and left her hair down and wavy.

Upon entering the common room, she was blissfully surprised. Her little manipulation had worked! Sesshoumaru sat in his usual spot, having changed into a long sleeved, black button down shirt and dark blue jeans. He stood when she entered and Kagome's breath caught for a moment. While he looked completely wrong in modern clothes... he also looked completely...right! The fabric clung to his toned body in all the right ways, accentuating his long lean muscles. She had never seen this shirt before, she didn't even remember purchasing it, but she was certainly a fan of it. You know, in a completely platonic way. His silver hair was a stark contrast to the black shirt, flowing down past his broad shoulders. He still held his ethereal beauty.

"You look amazing, Lord Sesshoumaru." She smiled brightly up at him.

"Lets go." He said, walking to the door, obviously in a hurry to get this over with.

"You really don't have to come if you don't want. I just thought you'd like to get out too..." Kagome said, grabbing a light jacket out of the closet to ward off the slightly chilled night air. School was just a few weeks away.

"It is acceptable." Sesshoumaru stated.

"I'm glad. I am sure you'll enjoy yourself... you know, as much as you enioy anything. Do you enjoy anything?" Kagome asked. At first she was being playful, but the question was serious.

"Miko." Sesshoumaru growled.

Kagome rolled her eyes so he could see, "Calm down. I wasn't being sardonic, it was a serious question. It's not like I'd tell anyone, 'Oh hey, did you know Sesshoumaru actually enjoys things!' I am pretty sure no one would care, regardless. Remember, there aren't many alive now that knew you when you were Sesshoumaru, Lord of the West..."

"I AM Lord of the West!" He snarled, none too politely.

"Yes, I know... sorry that came out wrong. All I was trying to say was who do you have to impress now? No one, except me, is around that even knew you back then. You can relax a little, I won't judge you. You'll always be regal Lord Sesshoumaru to me." Kagome said, opening the front door for him to exit. She locked it behind herself.

They walked down the sidewalk in silence.

"I have found enjoyment in aspects of life." Sesshoumaru eventually said.

Kagome smiled, "No worries, I will keep your secret."

"It is not a secret."

"Oh? Well, I'll still keep that information to myself." Little did Sesshoumaru know, but that information was indeed a secret. From what she knew of him, the only thing he found enjoyment in was killing people and making Inuyasha's life full of misery. He always vowed to be the one to end Inuyasha's life, silently she wondered if maybe he had accomplished that task after she had been thrown back into the present. She just couldn't bring herself to ask about Inuyasha again. It was too painful for her still, and asking would only enrage the demon lord. It was beyond her how one could hate their own brother. She could never imagine hating Souta, and she wondered what Sesshoumaru's and Inuyasha's reason was.

"Why?"

Kagome smiled a knowing smile. "Maybe you'll eventually grow to trust me enough that you'll tell me more."

"Very doubtful."

Kagome merely shrugged. She had the time to wait.