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

-To Sip of Black Velvet-

Chapter 17: False Expectations

Important announcement in Author's Note at the end.

Don't get me wrong. I was elated to have been rescued and freed from Naraku's clutches. Relief filled my entire frame and I was more than happy to have been spared the fate that I had been mere seconds from.

But as I glanced over my shoulder at he who had been my savior, I felt just a small pang of disappointment in my chest. He was not who I had expected. For the first few moments that I had opened my eyes, I had been sure that my rescuer had been who I longed for, that my love had come, that it was Sessohumaru who had run in to the darkness to save me.

But who was I kidding really? He had given me his word. For my own sake he'd agreed to stay away from me. Before this night I'd begun to think of it as a testament of his love for me that he had remained at a distance. Had it have been in any other incident rather than the one I'd just been in, I would have held it against him strongly for breaking that promise to me. For him to have broken that trust So as unfortunate as tonight could have been, I was almost content in knowing he hadn't been the one there for me… almost.

I had gotten lucky this time or so it seemed. Perhaps fate hadn't turned its back on me after all. Fate who had led a sinister demon such as Naraku to make me into his obsession, fate who'd fathomed it purposeful for me to fall in love with a married man, and fate who had ripped that man from my grasp. And now it seemed that fate had thought it best to send me Inuyasha… Sesshoumaru's despised half-brother, but I was saved… and that just had to count for something, didn't it?

Inuyasha had insisted on giving me a lift to my apartment under the ruse that it was the gentlemanly thing to do. But I knew that he was trying not to worry me and that his true aim was to stick around in order to continue protecting me. And I feared that he would need to so I'd accepted his offer gingerly. I could almost feel that Naraku was still out there somewhere… watching. I'd surely need to begin making plans so that I'd never have to walk alone again.

"You scared me for a second there Ms. Higurashi." Inuyasha admitted, breaking through the silence that had been our other companion as we walked slowly towards his car.

"You fought off my attacker and I'm what managed to scare you?" I asked incredulously, with one eyebrow raised.

"Well yes, Kagome—can I call you that?" He gave me a tentative glance and I nodded, so he continued. "When I pulled him off of you, you were so still... almost lifeless really. For a moment I'd questioned if you were even still alive." Inuyasha said quietly. "The commotion of our fighting didn't stir you… and after he'd run off I had to have called your name at least three times before I worked up the nerve to grab you." His golden eyes glanced over at me worriedly. "Are you sure you're okay?"

I couldn't help but ask myself at that moment why he wasn't Sesshoumaru.

"I'm okay Mr. Taisho, I—"

"Inuyasha is fine." He cut in.

"Ok, well I'm alright… Inuyasha." I answered. "I guess I had just shut the world out, I apologize for worrying you."

He nodded at me and stopped walking.

"Well this is my car." He said gesturing towards a vaguely familiar looking SUV. I cocked my head to the side and furrowed my brows as I remembered why it looked so familiar. I had not expected it to bethat car at all.

"…This is your car?" I asked, my eyes shifting back to him. I was fairly sure it was the one I'd seen earlier… following me. I'd assumed it had belonged to Naraku. " Have you been—were you following me?"

Inuyasha's face took on a panicked expression.

"No… well, yes—when I saw your shoe I—"

"This vehicle" I interrupted pointing to it, " had been following me all night Mr. Taisho, long before my assailant dragged me off." I stepped back from him. "Did you tell him where to find me? Is this some kind of trick?" I asked frightened.

He reached out to grab me and I tried to ready myself to retaliate. Naraku may have liked the sting of my powers but I was quite sure that Inuyasha would not.

"No! No!" He assured. "It's nothing like that… I—I was following you. I have been…every night… this week. But it has nothing to do with that vermin, I promise you."

I calmed slightly.

"Then why have you been following me Mr. Taisho?" I asked him suspiciously. I watched him rub the back of his neck. I guessed it to be a nervous tick of his.

At that time I was sure my glare rivaled even his brother's. 'Wait…his brother?' And that's when the idea crossed my mind. It had to be Sesshoumaru, he must have had Inuyasha follow me.

For a moment I'd inwardly smiled at the thought that Sesshoumaru had indirectly saved me until I remembered he couldn't have possibly known about Naraku which would have meant he'd been having Inuyasha follow me for… what? to keep tabs on me?

Had that been all he'd done in these pass months? Had he been watching me struggle at the loss of him? Had he broken his promise to me after all? I began to get angry.

"Tell Sesshoumaru that I don't appreciate being watched!" I hissed at Inuyasha, who's face transformed from one of nervousness to confusion.

"Sesshoumaru?" He asked. "What are you talking about Kagome? Why would Sesshoumaru have me follow you?"

I stared back at him puzzled. "…Sesshoumaru didn't—?"

"No." He answered immediately before adding. "I mean he had been acting… different since that day you came in to the office which I guess was partly why I couldn't get you off my mind but I ventured out to find you on my own. Why would he—"

"No reason." I cut him off firmly. So Sesshoumaru hadn't sent him? I felt that small pang of disappointment reassert itself… and then I processed what else he'd said. "…You couldn't get me off your mind?" I asked even more confused.

Inuyasha sighed.

"Ms. Higurashi can we please just get into the car?" He asked exasperated. "It's very cold out here and maybe even dangerous. I promise that I was not sent here to hurt you by whoever your assailant was… or anyone else for that matter."

I searched his face cautiously, looking for any hint of malice, any sign of untrustworthiness. When I was pleased and didn't seem to see anything other than someone who resembled the only being that still managed to own my heart, I got in to the car.

..O..

Stepping out of the shadows and into the streetlights of the nighttime city, an unsatisfied and increasingly annoyed red-eyed, black-haired demon made a call on a pay phone.

It rang once before a voice on the other end picked up.

"Is it done?" said voice whispered in to the receiver.

"There were complications… I hadn't planned on any interruptions." Naraku hissed, his voice dark and irritated.

"You good for nothing —" The voice stopped and exhaled a frustrated breath. "Look, I didn't have you released to play games Naraku. You get this done or—"

"Don't think for one second that you're in charge of me." Naraku growled into the receiver. "You may think you know me but you don't know who you're messing with, I—"

"It's you who doesn't know who you're messing with." The voice hissed back through the phone angrily. "I'll have you sealed away again so fast you won't even have time fuck your own hand much less that worthless miko. I don't care what you do to her beforehand but I want her dead, you got that? Just get the job done!"

Naraku paused before readying himself to retaliate; only to be quickly stopped by the sound of the dial tone. He hung up the phone harshly but then after a moment he smirked to himself. Somehow he had a feeling this was going to be even more fun than he'd originally expected.

'I'll have you next time my sweet little miko.' He thought confidently within the confines of his own disturbed mind. And then as quickly as he'd appeared he vanished somewhere back into the shadows of the night. It was so nice to be free again.

Word Count: 1462

Author's Note: I promise this is still completely a Sess/Kag story so don't be disappointed at the turn of events or anything, it's all just part of the plot. Also, I have decided that the title of this story will be changed. Expect this to happen by the next chapter. I've already got some ideas but I'm still taking suggestions. If you have any, feel free to either leave them in a review or send me a message. I really appreciate you guys reviewing and keeping me driven btw. Thanks for reading!

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