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

-To Sip of Black Velvet-

Chapter 9: For Now

"Are you awake?" I whispered out to Sesshoumaru in the dark. I still lay held within his arms in the silken hotel sheets, my head resting lovingly on his chest. I didn't know how long I had been sleeping but it was still nighttime when I awoke feeling more content than I could remember ever feeling before.

As I began to think, I could not keep the light that was my happiness from dimming. Despite what had happened and how right it felt to be with him, I still knew that there was much that was left unsaid. I knew that he was sorry for the way things had turned out before but I had no idea what that really meant. What did he expect of me? How were we going to proceed after this… if we proceeded at all? My heart lurched at that thought, I did not want to repeat the suffering I'd felt when I was without him.

"Hn.." He replied, his voice slightly groggy."I am awake now Kagome."

"…W-What took you so long?" It was the first question that came out of my mouth. I didn't know why since it was not one I had been quietly thinking to myself.

It was met with silence, and I strained to see that he was arching his brow questioningly in the dark. I attempted to explain myself further.

"I mean, you never contacted me and you never returned my call for over a month." I paused. "You just kind of showed up at the bar unexpectedly, insisting that I leave with you."

"Yes, it was rather unexpected." His voice held a hint of confusion and I found myself joining in on the feeling.

"Why didn't you let me know?" I asked, my brows tightly furrowing together.

"I did not know I was coming." He replied back evenly.

I shifted slightly to gaze up into his beautiful face, my eyes relaying the puzzlement that I felt.

He blinked slowly, perhaps to gather his thoughts before he continued.

"I was driving home from a meeting and I—ended up at the bar." He answered. "And then you were in front of me." He explained, his voice perfectly composed.

"But what does that mean exactly?" I inquired. He fixed his eyes on mine, drawing me in like a moth to a flame. Unconsciously I began twirling a few of his silver strands around my finger.

"I came to you and I come to no one." He affirmed, his expression relaying no feelings on the matter.

"Is that a good thing?" I breathed out, the words leaving my lips in a whisper.

"That I did not have complete control?" He stopped contemplatively and then I felt his strong hands momentarily grip me tighter before he continued. "I suppose it was."

A solemn quietness surrounded us and in the peace I found myself straining to match the rhythm of my breathing to his. I had almost succeeded when he broke the silence with his deep baritone.

"I do not wish you to flee from me again." He stated stiffly and I couldn't tell if he was beseeching me not to or if he was commanding it. It did not matter either way, I would not run again.

I wondered if that was all he wanted. Just for me to be there when he needed me, for me to not deny him? Could I dare to hope for more?

"Is that all?" I held my breath, my heart aching as I awaited his answer. I hoped that he would say no that it wasn't it, that he wanted more. I hoped that he'd say he was going to take steps to be with me; to make me his. He would divorce her because I could feel that I was supposed to be the one to stay by his side forever.

He took some time before coming to a conclusion.

"Yes, that is all..." He started, his voice more hesitant than I'd ever heard it. My skin paled and my resolve plummeted. I was suffocating. It felt like forever before he finished his statement with a firm, "for now." And I let a small optimistic smile grace my lips.

I didn't ask any more questions after that, although I probably should have. I merely went back to sleep comforted that he wasn't going to disappear on me again. And I dreamed of what our future could become after 'for now.'

The next morning I woke up alone and confused. But before I could panic, I noticed an elegantly written note on the nightstand beside the bed. It was short and to the point. He had left early that morning for business and I was to retrieve a new set of clothes for me that he'd had someone place in the closet. He went on to say that he had not felt it necessary to wake me but that we would be in contact soon. All I had to do was inform someone in the lobby who I was and I would be driven anywhere that pleased me. He signed the note "Yours, Sesshoumaru Taisho" and I smiled at that.

I wondered when he would truly be mine.

Word Count: 872