Sequel to Chapter 34 (SessKag, Flight Attendant, Green)

Kagome paced nervously inside her hotel room. Her usual routine called for a nap, but she'd been too wired after reuniting with Sesshoumaru to actually sleep. She'd taken a shower instead and forced herself to down a sandwich before her nerves propelled her into walking in circles around the bedroom. Granted, the entire room was basically the bedroom, so she didn't have a lot of space to do so, but she was too on edge to sit.

He was alive. And not only alive but wanting to talk.

She bit her lip, pausing in front of the television. Had Jaken really been the one to mess everything up? Finally flopping backward onto the bed, she glared up at the ceiling. If she ever got her hands on the retched little toad, she'd tear him limb from limb.

Kagome draped an arm over her eyes, reciting the letter Sesshoumaru had shown her on the plane from memory for the millionth time. He'd wanted her, and more than as just a passing fling. His seal had been on it, and Jaken had thought—what? That she was still unworthy? That she was too human?

And more importantly, why hadn't Sesshoumaru given it to her himself? Why hadn't he asked her himself? Nothing made sense, and the more she thought about it, the angrier she became, practically yanking the door open after his curt knock.

"This is all your fault!" Sesshoumaru blinked in confusion, his hand still raised. Kagome stomped back into the room, pacing again. "You could've just come and talked to me yourself. If I'd known that you felt the same—but no, you had to be all secretive about it—" She turned to keep going and ran right into him, his arm wrapping securely around her waist to keep her from escaping.

"You are spiralling," he said softly.

"I am not!" Kagome pushed against him, trying to free herself. "I thought you hated me, so I came back here. I've been alone, but you've been alone longer, and it's not fair—" He cupped the back of her head, cutting off the rest of her tirade by claiming her lips. Emotion welled up, tears rolling down her face as she whimpered.

She tried to kiss him back but had worked herself up too much, chest heaving, so he kissed each cheek, wiping away her tears even as they were quickly replaced. Kagome wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his neck.

"I missed you so much." His grip on her tightened, and he slid his cheek along hers, which only made her angrier. "Don't you dare apologize! You're supposed to deny any fault so I can stay mad at you! And then blame it all on Jaken!"

His chuckle was low but strained. "He is already aware of my displeasure, but you were correct in your earlier assessment of my lack of participation. This would not have happened if I had simply presented the suit myself."

She hiccupped as he lifted her off the floor, settling her in his lap as he sat on the edge of her bed, and her heart clenched at how right it felt. "I should've forced you to talk to me."

"I will remind you, miko, that although your tenacity knows no bounds, I have spent centuries perfecting my stubbornness."

Another hiccup, this one more of a laugh, and she nudged him in the ribs. "Still an ass, I see."

"Would you have me any other way?"

Kagome finally pulled back, lashes damp with tears. "Am I allowed to have you?" she whispered.

The amber in his eyes darkened, and he brought her hand to his mouth, kissing the inside of her wrist. "I would accept the claim from no one else."

"Even after being alone for 500 years?"

"Especially then."

Her expression softened, and she traced the lines on his face, the glamour having been removed when he'd entered her room. "I missed you."

"So you have said."

She was tempted to flick him but pressed their foreheads together instead. "Is this a busy trip for you?"

"I have a few meetings with the board of directors to set up a new wing in their museum, but they are spread out over the week." He sniffed, brow furrowing. "I was encouraged to 'take in the sights' to gain a broader perspective of their culture."

Kagome grinned. "Meaning you're supposed to have fun."

He lifted his chin. "I do not know the meaning of the word." His tone was solemn, but the side of his mouth quirked.

"Guess I'll have to show you around, then," she sighed dramatically. "However will I live with myself?"

"By living with me, instead." She froze in his lap, pulling back in time to see the marks on his cheeks turn crimson. "A slip of the tongue. I meant—"

"Yes." She couldn't tell which of them was more surprised and gave him a hopeful smile. "If that claim thing is still valid."

He kissed her deeply, the angle awkward with how she was sitting in his lap, but her toes curled all the same. "As I said, there could be no other." She beamed up at him, then launched into all the places she wanted to show him in town, uncaring of how busy it would keep them.

They had nothing but time now.