Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters. They are the sole property of Takahashi Rumiko.

-An Affair to Remember-

Chapter 7: Cleaning up the Mess

I grabbed the broom from the closet in my apartment. I needed to clean up the glass shards that littered the floor of my tiny living room. My eyes were still clouded over with tears and I hoped that I could see them all.

As I cleaned my mind ran over what had happened.

. . . .

"Yes." He replied evenly to me as if it meant nothing.

"What do you mean yes?"I yelled angrily at him.

"You inquired if I was married, and I am." He responded as his naked body was still resting against mine.

I tried to drag my body from underneath his, but he was too heavy.

"Get off of me!" I yelled, for the second time.

"Cease your shrieking." He replied, a slight edge to his tone. A moment later he arose, eyes fixed on mine as he slid out of me deliberately slow.

I tried to ignore the feeling that shot up my body and stood up to reach for the nearest fabric to cover my exposed skin. It turned out to be his dress shirt.

"I'm sorry." I apologized for most likely hurting his sensitive ears with my yelling. And then I was angry at myself for actually feeling bad for it. He was the one who should feel bad.

"Why would you not tell me you were married?" "Why did you sleep with me?" "Why—" I asked so many questions that I couldn't even keep up with them. I was too preoccupied trying to keep my eyes averted from his perfectly sculpted and still completely bare form.

"I have worn my ring every time that you have seen me… you approached me at the bar, you called me, you came here, and you begged for me tonight." He said evenly with an expressionless look on his face.

A memory assaulted me. I had thought I'd seen something gleaming in the bar lights when he'd motioned for me to sing that night. So, I had begged for a married man? I felt disgusted with myself.

"But—I didn't…" I paused. "Do you always cheat on your wife?" I asked accusingly. I felt dirty and used. It was only right that I make him feel disgusting too.

"No. We have been married for what you would consider a long time and I have not." He replied flatly.

"I thought demons mated for life. I thought you couldn't cheat or you'd be dishonored." I stated, pretty sure about the knowledge I'd learned growing up at the shrine. "You're a disgrace." I hissed at him.

He moved so quickly that I hadn't had time to think. He grabbed my arm and as red blended into his gold irises, roughly kissed me. I was appalled at my body for reacting how it did. I tried to shut my legs tighter and disregard the sensations that redeveloped there.

He pulled back and turned away from me. I gasped for air.

"She is not my mate. We are only married." He firmly replied back, walking towards what looked to be the bathroom. I realized I hadn't even been in the suite long enough to know.

"Well marriage is supposed to be for a lifetime too!" I screamed, threatening tears stung the back of my throat.

"Marriage is nothing more than a human triviality." Sesshoumaru scoffed, closing the door behind him.

"Then why are you even married!" I pointlessly yelled back at him. My only reply became the sound of beaded water crashing into his flawless skin. My tears began to spill.

I felt sick.

I ripped his dress shirt off of my body and began frantically searching for my clothes.

When I found my dress I hastily jumped into it, not bothering to fully zip up the back, as I bolted for the door. After getting off the elevator I darted through the lobby with smeared makeup and messy hair. I had almost reached my car when familiar green eyes popped into my vision.

"Ms. Kagome are you okay?" Shippou asked, the worry in his voice was very sweet, "It's two in the morning."

"I'll be fine Shippou, I just have to get out of here." I replied faking a smile before brushing past him and hurriedly rushing off to my car.

When I finally reached home, I had still not stopped crying. I was far madder than I felt like I had ever been. I pushed open my door and slammed it shut behind me. Eyeing the belongings in my apartment, I realized just how alone I really was for the first time. My life was empty, I was empty. I hadn't even been a good enough singer until I had him to sing for.

I picked up the vase from off my mantle and did not notice what I had done until I heard it shatter against the floor. My knees buckled under the weight of my sobs and I sat down. Shards of glass nipped on the skin of my legs, as I felt nothing. I thought of him and how he had made me feel, both so high and so low. I hated him… I needed him… I was a fool.

I got up unceremoniously to get in the shower. As the water drops ran down my face I could no longer separate them from the trails of my own tears. I halfheartedly scrubbed away the layer of our sweat that coated my body. And I didn't even realize I'd left the water cold until I reached to turn it off. I drug myself into my bedroom to lie in my bed. It was 4 in the morning when I laid down and it was 7 when I finally retrieved the broom to clean up my mess.

Word Count: 960