Chapter 26: Understanding

Sesshomaru

She slept so peacefully tucked into, my side. I ran my thumb over the crescent moon mark on her neck. My fang marks were already beginning to fade. I pulled the sheet covering her with it. I watched her sleep for a few more minutes. Until she stirred from her sleep, she looked up at me and smiled.

"Good morning."

"Good morning handsome. You know, some people think it's weird to watch people sleep."

I chuckled. "It is something you will have to get used to."

"Can I ask you something Sesshomaru? A personal question."

"Of course. Those are the only questions worth asking."

"Why did you follow me out to the car that night? I know you'd chosen me, but why that specific night? Why not earlier?"

I exhaled. "My longing for you overwhelmed me. I am a patient man. Still, there is only so much one can take. As for why not earlier., you were not ready. I did not want to rush you and ruin things."

She laughed. "Basically what you're saying is I took too long. So you had to set things in motion."

I smiled. "Precisely."

"Another question. When are we supposed to go back to work? We can't just lay around all day."

"Work?"

She playfully rolled her eyes."Yes, work Sesshomaru."

"You do not need to worry about such a trivial thing. I indulged your wishes earlier but after last night. I cannot allow you to work. Especially not under me at the company."

She looked at me strangely. "So, I'm just supposed to sit around? To do what, collect an allowance? Is that what you're telling me?" I asked him.

"Not an allowance, but a card with your name on it. Spend as much as you like. There is no limit. It is yours to do with as you wish. What is mine is yours." He explained. "Sesshomaru I can't just sit around all day doing nothing. I want to work. I enjoy it. You sound like Sango right now."

I smiled. "Your friend is correct and besides, do not worry. You will be busy."

She tried to roll away from me, but I held her in place.

"Oh yeah? Busy doing what exactly?"

"Busy planning a wedding."

A blush spread across her cheeks.

It was so easy to tease her.

"Yeah, whatever, don't be cute. This is not the end of this." She mumbled.

She laid her head on my chest. "I get what you mean now; when you said I'm your home because you feel like mine."

I kissed the top of her head. She had no idea how much that meant to me.

She grinned. "So, a house huh?"

I chuckled. "Yes, a house."

"You just up and bought yourself a house. Rich people know no bounds." she joked.

"I bought our home." I corrected her. "However, you will have to spend some time in it without today."

She looked up at me. "What why?"

"I will be going to my parent's home today."

I felt her tense up in my arms. "That's right. Inuyasha."

"Yes, Inuyasha. He needs to be set straight."

"Are you going to hurt him?"

"If that is what it comes to. I will do whatever it takes for him to understand that you are mine."

She sighed. "I understand. I guess I can just tell Sango to come over today."

I kissed her. "Good. I will be back soon. I promise you."

I ran into the bathroom and took a quick shower. I slipped out of the bathroom and dressed quickly; trying not to wake her. I kissed her and left. I needed to settle this and settle it soon.

I sat in the dining room of my father's home. I was growing impatient. father had told Inuyasha to hurry. That had been almost two hours ago.

"Sesshomaru."

"Father."

"Go easy on him."

"I will not. He's been coddled too much."

"I was too hard on him when he was younger."

"Yes. Then you completely let him run free. That is why he is this way now. You let your guilt cloud your judgment; buried yourself in your work."

He sighed. "Perhaps you are right. Still, the two of you are brothers. You should not say anything you cannot take back."

"He has done things he cannot take back. As my brother, should he not have some respect for me? Should he not know boundaries?"

He downed the rest of the rum in the glass.

"Tell me what he has done Sesshomaru. You asked me to call him here. Yet you have not told me what he has done wrong."

"You will hear once he arrives. Then we will see if I am being too hard on him. Where is Izaiyo?"

"She is out running errands."

"Good, she does not need to hear any of this."

She would be disappointed in her son.

I heard the bell. Totosai passed by the doorway, heading to get the door. I could hear his footsteps getting closer. He frowned when he saw me. He groaned and took a seat at the table.

"Dad is this what you called me over here for? Kikyo and I have errands to run. I can't stay long."

"I see. So now you remember you have your own woman."

His eyes narrowed at me.

"Inuyasha, what does your brother mean by that?"

He chose not to answer. He only scowled at me.

"Yes, Inuyasha tell father; tell him how you refuse, to put an end to this useless and unwantedpursuit of Kagome."

Our father sighed. "Inuyasha we have already been through this. What is it going to take!?"

"No!" he yelled at him. "It must be nice huh? Getting everything you've always wanted. All the time. You have everything. She was the one thing that was mine, and you had to go and take that too!"

"This again?" I said plainly.

"Yes! This again. Sesshomaru, the golden boy. The first-born son who always got everything that he wanted. Perfectly perfect Sesshomaru. Intelligent, good-looking, full-blood. The son who could do no wrong. Everyone adored you. You got everything Sesshomaru; EVERYTHING! Why couldn't just one thing be mine?" he whispered the last part.

"Thing? Kagome is a human being; one with her own wants and needs. You are neither what she wants or needs. Kagome is far too kind for the likes of you. You do not deserve her. That I am sure you're aware of. Even if you do not wish to admit it; This is not about love. You do not love her, you never have. You did not want to lose. If you truly loved her. You would have treated her right to begin with! Your pride is hurt because you are unhappy with being lesser than. You are jealous and childish. If you were unhappy with things. Perhaps you should have tried harder, little brother. You did not want her. You strung her along and said terrible things to her. She had genuine feelings for you, and you took that for granted as if it was all a game to you. She was only ever an afterthought to you. Kagome is not something to be kept; not a toy you can dust off and play with when you finally want to pay her some attention."

"That is bullshit! You come in here and speak to me like that. You don't know shit okay! You don't understand what our relationship was. You had no right to ruin it! I picked her! I picked Kagome, but you came along with your stupid beast and chose her. Just like you did everything else. Everything had to be yours."

"You have no idea what I have given up for you. The things I have done for you. So that you could live however you wished. I was perfect so you did not have to be! your ungrateful child! Perhaps I should have let you deal with it all. The nerve of you. You picked her!? You have never picked her. You have only kept her around. She has never been a priority for you. You mistreated her for years! Now you want her. Now you need her! You go as far as to corner her bathroom! You are lucky yelling at you is all I am doing." He glanced over at our father. "Do not look to father for help! He is only here for your safety because God knows I could kill you right now. You have your own woman, yet you seek out someone else's. One that does not want you. You need to accept it and be happy with what you have. With who you have, because you will never have her. It is time you let go. If you truly wanted to you would have. She had made her choice. She no longer wants you. This will be the last time I will speak to you about this. You are my brother Inuyasha. Do not make me forget that."

He looked me in the eyes as he gripped the table. His eyes filled with water. The look in his eye was no longer one of anger. That sadness, hurt and regret had fully set in. He had accepted it. he looked away from me, but not before, I noticed a tear roll down his cheek.

"Do we have an understanding?

He nodded.

"No. I need to hear you." I commanded.

"Yes," he whispered.

"What is it that you understand?"

He clenched his jaw. "I understand that she is yours... I understand I need to let her go."

"Good."

I stood and pushed my chair in. "The two of you enjoy the rest of your day," I said walking away. Totosai opened the door as I headed out.

"Master Sesshomaru," he said, as I walked out.

For his sake, he'd better understand.