Chapter 23: A Chance.
AN: I just wanted to say, I'm glad you're all enjoying the story. Thank you.
Sango had left me suddenly. I should have known better when she asked where I worked, that she was going to go down there. I hope I still have a job by tomorrow morning. I had picked myself up off the floor and taken a shower. If I was going to continue feeling sorry for myself. I was going to be at least clean. I had turned all the lights off and crawled into bed. I kept checking my phone. To see if I had any messages or calls. It had been almost half an hour and Sango still hadn't returned. Part of me thought she had gotten arrested. She did get ahead of herself at times. Things were only worse when they were about me. When we were younger she'd always tell me. I needed to stand up for myself more. Anywhere I lacked she tried to make up for it. No doubt she was down there giving Sesshomaru a piece of her mind. It served him right. I felt my phone vibrate. I looked down at it and it was Sango. She had sent me a message. She was telling me to come and open the door. I slid out of bed and went over to the front door, opening it. I expected to see her standing there, but she was still in her car waving at me.
"You're going to thank me for this, and stop being so gullible!" she yelled before she drove off.
"What was that supposed to mean?"
Suddenly Sesshomaru stepped into view. I didn't have a chance to say anything. Or close the door in his face. He stepped inside. I backed up and he closed the door behind him.
"Leave," I said, trying to hold it together.
I was getting choked up again.
I said leave, but I wanted nothing more than for him to stay, and I was angry with myself for it. Why did I want to keep people around that hurt me?
"Let me explain," he said softly.
"I don't want to hear what you have to say."
"Kagome-"
"No! Go speak to your FIANCE!"
He backed me against the wall and trapped me there.
"She is not my fiance," he said looking me in the eye.
"I don't believe you."
"Kagome-"
"Why would she lie?"
"To hurt you. To come between us. She is jealous. The reasons she's done this are far too many, but please. Listen to me. Please." He begged.
I waited for him to go on.
"She is not my Fiance," he repeated.
"So, then why would she..." I said trailing off.
"She lied to you. It was her way of trying to chase you off. Nothing is going on between Himari and I. There never has been anything between us. There never will be. I promise you that."
"Did you know she would do that?"
"She has only done that to women who have shown interest in me. I did not think she would go as far as this?"
"Then why would you have her around like that?"
"Out of pity. I was not thinking clearly. I am sorry. I should not have put you in this position. I need you to understand that anything she might have said to you was a lie. She is living in a delusion. She wants what she cannot have."
Should I believe him?
"She is gone Kagome."
"You told her to leave?" I asked quietly.
He nodded. "I told her that I have chosen you. She understands what that means and how much it means. I told her how much you meant to my family; and to me. She is never to show her face again; to either of us."
I looked at the floor. I bit the inside of my cheek going back and forth. Should I believe? Was I just being toyed with? I was trying to hold back my tears Suddenly nothing but doubts and insecurities clouded my mind.
"You haven't even asked me to be your girlfriend." I blurted out.
I regretted saying it the second it had left my mouth. I shut my eyes and hoped that I would disappear. That's when I heard him chuckle. It only made me feel more embarrassed. I looked up at him.
"What is so funny?"
He cupped my cheeks.
"Such a silly word. I want you to be more than simply my girlfriend," he said. "I want - no, I need you to be so much more than that. Kagome, you are more than that. You are mine and I am yours."
He looked me in my eyes and took my hand. He kissed my palm; then my wrist.
"My carelessness has hurt you. I am sorry. I promise you that it will never happen again. Allow me to make it up to you." he said pulling me closer.
"Sesshomaru I..." I said trailing off unsure.
I was getting in my head. I had let her get in my head. She had almost gotten what she wanted; us apart. I had to stop that.
"If you do not forgive me. Or at least give me a chance to try. I am sure Sango will have my head. Allow me to make it up to you." he teased.
"Well... how would you make it up to me?"
"Give me three hours."
I smiled. "Okay, three hours."
Before he left, he told me to shower and look my best. Hour two he had clothes shoes and jewelry sent to my house. Now the time was 7:25. I looked at myself in the mirror. The dress was floor-length; black with a slight V cut. So it didn't show too much cleavage. It hung off my shoulders slightly. More importantly, it fit me like a glove. it made me wonder where he had even gotten my measurements. If I had to guess I would probably say Sango. I'd put my hair in an updo; with a few curls framing my face. Sango said whenever my hair was up; it accentuated my 'fuck me eyes'. Whatever that meant. My jewelry was simple. Diamond earrings that dangled, and a diamond necklace with a matching bracelet. I grabbed a black clutch from my closet, that I had borrowed from Sango. Anything I owned and tried to pair with this dress. It would pale in comparison. I kept the makeup light. I didn't want to look too much. I was counting the minutes go by. We'd reached our three and I was getting anxious. I wanted to see what he had done. My doorbell rang, pulling me from my thoughts. I grabbed my keys and put them in my clutch, while I made my way to the front door. I opened it and saw him standing there. He smiled looking me over. His hair was pulled into a high ponytail. He wore a black three-piece suit, and he was gorgeous. I think he actually made the clothes look better
"You're stunning."
I could feel my face getting hot. "Thank you," I said trying to hide my embarrassment. "You clean up really nice yourself. Besides, it's all thanks to the clothes you sent over."
He slipped his hand into mine, and I closed the door.
"Kagome, you are breathtaking. The clothes have nothing to do with it."
He led me to his car and opened the door for me. I got in and he closed the door behind me. I waited for him to come inside. I have to admit so far so good. The anticipation was killing me. I couldn't help but give him a small smile. He started the car and sped off. I kept glancing at him from time to time. He would smirk each time I did.
"Care to tell me where we're going Sesshomaru?"
"No. That would ruin the surprise. However, I know I said you would never have to see her again, but this will be the last time. There will be a few familiar faces there. Some that you do not wish to see; but they need to be there to bear witness."
I tensed up. There were three people I was not going to be keen on seeing. Himari, Inuyasha, and the third-place spot could be a toss-up between, Kikyo and Kouga. I wanted to know more before I jumped to any conclusions. Think and have less reaction.
"Bear witness to what exactly?"
"How much I love you, continuously; Immensely."
He had such a way with words. They'd always stick with me.
"You care about me that much."
He stopped at the traffic light and turned to me.
"I could start fires with what I feel for you Kagome," he said kissing me softly, before driving again.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Why was he so perfect? I paled in comparison. I wanted to be better for him.
"So, what I'm hearing, is you're going to rub how much you love me in their faces."
That I can deal with; that I will enjoy.
He chuckled. "Essentially. Sango all but said I do not know how to deal with women. I must prove her wrong."
I laughed. "That sounds exactly like her... Thank you."
"For?"
"Saving me from him; from myself. You questioned my judgment when it needed to be I needed that. I feel like I haven't said that."
"You got yourself out of that burning house. I simply waited outside for you. You did that. Do not take away your own credit. The thanks while appreciated, it is not necessary."
"I appreciate and care about you Sesshomaru. I really do, and I need to show it more. I will show you more. You deserve that." I said
He smiled and brought my hands to his lips kissing it.
"Careful Kagome. It sounds as though you love me." he teased.
I snatched my hand away from him and folded my arms. I turned towards the window. My face was burning. The last thing I needed was for him to see me blushing this hard. He laughed at my reaction.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Was he right?
Sesshomaru had driven for about another forty minutes or so. We were in another rich area, on the outskirts of the city. There were stretches of land in between all the houses. That is why it took us so long to get her. We'd spend forty-something minutes driving past all these houses. I could tell it was the kind of place, where you need to have money, status, and power. To even step foot in. It was a gated community of sorts. Not with small apartment builds but with mansions. The one we had stopped at had to be the biggest. It was even bigger than Sesshomaru's parent's house. I could hear music coming from behind the doors. I was going to ask if we should knock, but before I could. The doors opened. The inside of the house was lavish, but not too done up. It was modern, but it still had some comfort to it. There was even a red carpet rolled out. I could smell the food and it was making my mouth water. There was even a butler. He took our coats, bowed, and then disappeared.
Was this a friend's house? Or did he book it just for the night? Did rich people like him even know how to rent things?
"Come.", he said, yanking me out of my thoughts.
I hooked my arm around his and followed him up the grand staircase. I felt like I was in one of those castles from a fairytale.
"You are nervous."
I smiled awkwardly. "Is it that obvious?"
"I can hear your heart pounding."
"Sorry, mysterious things make me anxious. I love a good surprise, but still. I guess I can't wait to see what's happening."
"Hn," he said with a smile.
I stopped. "Wait, is there a bathroom I can use?"
"Stomach troubles?" He teased.
"Very funny, no I just need a second, and I'll be right there."
"There is one right at the end of the hall." He said, pointing the way. I hurried down the hall.
"You can go in without me, I called over my shoulder.
I heard his footsteps fade away followed by a door. I reached out for the door. It opened and someone reached out and pulled me inside.