InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beneath It All ❯ 72 Hours Later ( Chapter 16 )

Misera- (Dodges tomatoes and other throwable veggies) SORRYY! I'll.. try to update more.. but I'm absolutely swamped!

Please enjoy this longer chapter, and don't eat me!

Before we continue, here's just a bit of 1 or 2 Japanese words I'll use in this story because Naraku's fam came back from Japan :D I'll let everyone know if there are new words in the future.

- Otosama - Extremely formal way to say, Father. Less formal is Otosan, or Tochan, or Otoutou (something like that :D).

- Moushiwake gozaimasen - Extremely formal way to apologize to a Superior (ie, Father, Grandfather, Boss, King, Queen, Princess, etc)

Beneath It All
MiserablySweet

Chapter 16 - 72 Hours Later...

Previously...

"Am I falling for you, Kagome?" Sesshoumaru closed his golden eyes and leaned his head against the pillar once again. Would that reason explain why he felt horrendously jealous and angry whenever Naraku was around Kagome. Insanely jealous. Sesshoumaru chuckled bitterly, "I, Sesshoumaru can finally say... money can't buy everything."

His bitter humor dissolved quickly as the words of Naraku in his phone call sunk in: Kagome. The phone call was about Kagome. 'What about Kagome?' Sesshoumaru felt this grab his entire attention. He felt his innards coil with discomfort, something... or someone would try to harm Kagome, and that person may be Naraku's father...

Present...

"Otosama," a humble, and respectful Kikyou bowed before her father. "You called for me, sir?"

It had been a good ten years or so since she has last seen her father. He was as she remembered-- tall, quiet... and devious. There is a reason why he called her into his home today, but she wasn't quite sure what it was. Her younger self remembered the countless strangers in tailored suits marched into his study and never left the room until the next morning or afternoon. What they were talking about was of no importance to her... not important until her mother died.

It wasn't the fact that her father overworked, no... that is not. Her mother loved her husband unconditionally, but he was unsatisfied. Kikyou's father treated women like the suits he wore-- he adjusted them to his needs, and discards them if they have a slightest imperfection. He had a lot of women by his side, that he did. And that's what killed her mother-- a broken heart. She allowed her husband and his mistresses to walk all over her until her fragile heart shattered when he came home with an infant; Naraku.

Naraku, was her half brother. Kikyou knew it at the time, but her father and mother insisted that Naraku was an adopted child so being as naive as she was, she went along with it. It was then she saw her mother's health degrade every time she fed Naraku, changed Naraku and even played with Naraku. Kikyou was powerless to prevent her mother's death, nor does she blame Naraku or her father. She blames her mother for not being strong enough to take charge-- to set her own life away from her husband. Kikyou wouldn't waste her life for a man, definitely not... and Inuyasha is no exception.

"Inuyasha," Kikyou whispered her lover's name on her lips. Well, ex-lover now. The silver hair teen had traits like her father, so similar that it was uncanny. That is why she wasn't able to forgive him for breaking his promise. Though she knew in the back of her head that it really wasn't his fault, but she was tired of his countless frivolous relationships he had on the side.

"Kikyou, are you still dating Taishou's youngest boy?" The middle aged man looked to be about only in his early thirties.

"No, Otosama-- we've broken apart," Kikyou fidgeted slightly under his sudden criminous gaze.

"Is the relationship beyond repair?" her father folded his well toned arms in front of his chest and continues to to glare at his daughter.

"Y-yes. I mean, no Otosama. He apologized for what he did, but I have yet to forgive him," Kikyou stumbled to find the right words. If she said something to offend her father, she knew there would be dire consequences. He was not a man to toy with, definitely not.

"Well," the man chuckled in dry humor in his deep baritone voice. "Then forgive him my daughter. I have an errand for you to run."

Kikyou looked up at his father, she saw the devious glisten in his eyes-- he was up to something. But what? What can possibly involve Inuyasha? Her heart skipped a sudden beat when she feared for the worse-- that her father will harm Inuyasha. 'Damn,' she scolded at her naive self for worrying over Inuyasha's well being. It seems... she still loves the idiotic boy.

"I need you," he eased his elbows onto the desk and folded his hands under his chin, "to get the Taishou boy to grab a student's record for me."

"R-record? A student of RedWood High?" Kikyou was shocked at her father's request. 'This can't be good,' she bit her tongue to prevent herself from asking why-- that might just invoke her father. What can he possibly want with a high school student? One in her school especially. They were all shallow and materialistic, what help would they be to him?

"Yes, specifically-- Kagome Higurashi's record."

"Kagome Higurashi? Why do you need a record of her?" Kikyou's eyes widen in fear the moment after she finished asking her question. "Moushiwake gozaimasen Otosama, please forgive me. I spoke out of place," she bowed her head low to the ground to show her regret. She knew her father treated women badly, but she knows he can treat his daughter, her, even worse than the ones he had abused in the past.

Kikyou's father waved his hand in a gesture that meant to dismiss her. "Enough, you may leave. And Kikyou, Don't fail me."

Kikyou nodded and kept her head low and quickly scurried out his office, sliding the screen shut behind her as silently as possible.

"Fool," he smirked devilishly. "You will soon enough my dear, you will know soon enough."

-0-0-0-0-0-

"Kagome!" Shiori chirped her name as Kagome returned to her classroom, still somewhat shaken from what conspired three mornings ago. The fact that Sesshoumaru and his friends were present in this room was a surprise, but it didn't ease her anxiety one bit.

Kagome grimaced sightly at the glares that shot her way after Shiori called out to her. She hurried to take her place besides Shiori, "Shiori! You shouldn't shout my name like that."

Shiori laughed and waved it off with a gesture of her hand. "Why Kagome? Don't be scared of these people. You know how they are-- shallow, materialistic and will change their minds within a split second if it benefited them!" She opened her notebook and tore off a page to scribble something on it. "Here," she handed the folded paper to Kagome.

"What is it?" Kagome eyed the flimsy paper questionably.

Shiori chortled softly and shoved the piece of paper in Kagome's hand. "Take it," she enclosed Kagome's fingers around the paper. "It has my home phone number and cellphone number. If you need help with anything at all, just give me a call. Alright?"

Kagome blinked several times in disbelief. How is it that this angel in front of her wasn't scared of the Sesshoumaru's group's influence and better yet-- she's helping her. Her vision blurred when her salty tears threatened to spill over. "Oh Shiori! You're such an angel in this hell hole!" Kagome launched herself into Shiori's small frame for a tight hug.

"There, there... it's not that bad once we get used to it," Shiori ran her hands through Kagome's silky raven tresses.

The two ceased their embrace as the door to their classroom swung open with great force-- causing all to either jump in their seats or cringe with slight fear. Of course, all but Sesshoumaru's group. A familiar redhead cat-walked her way to the front of the classroom and cleared her throat as if it was a signal for something important.

Instantly, two girls who followed behind her grabbed the teacher's chair and eased it under the redhead's bottom. Grinning with satisfaction and arrogance, the redhead opened her mouth.

"As the Female Student President of RedWood High, I would like to announce that the week before the Autumn Festival..." the redhead paused to hope to get a dramatic tension. "We are all going on a ... cruise!" The redhead squealed in excitement along with the rest of the class's cheer.

"Really?! Where are we going Kagura?!" the students of RedWood High bombarded their female student president with ship loads of questions. Questions ranged from what should they were, where are they going, what are they going to eat, how are they going to get there, to even... are there any cute singles?

Kagura tapped her lips softly and giggled with highlighted arrogance, "Well well, I'll tell you when I want to."

Groans of disappointment can be heard across the room, adorned by glares of disgust from the female students. "Are you going to tell us or not?" A female's bored voice sounded through the room. The teens beside Kagura gasped in light shock and fear. Their president has never been subjected to such disrespect-- if you can call it that. At least, not since they saw that girl from the hallway. What was her name again?

"Kagome!" Shiori scolded in a hush whisper. "Why did you say that?"

Kagome raised an eyebrow at her friend's fear of Kagura, and ironically Shiori wasn't scared of Sesshoumaru and his friends-- but of Kagura. "It's not like she's the queen of the school or something," Kagome reassured herself and her frightful friend.

"What did you say, Hag-gome?" Kagura smirked proudly and mentally patted herself on her back for making an insulting joke out of Kagome's name.

Kagome snorted at Kagura's insult, "I said, Kagura, are you going to tell us about this cruise or not?" She smiled lightly, unfazed by Kagura's somewhat childish insult. "If you would kindly please finish your announcement... we have work to do in this class."

"Work?" Kagura crackled sharply-- very unlady-like of her. "Listen here, when I have an announcement, I can take as long as I want to deliver it." She tapped her well manicured nails on her chin and continued, "but what I'm about to say doesn't apply to you anyway."

"What are you talking about? I am a student of this school," Kagome ridiculed the thought that she was not part of the RedWood High community. Given, she wasn't as rich, well dressed or even popular as the rest of the students, but a student is a student.

"Yes, well sadly you are," Kagura murmured over her shoulder-- her friends shielded their lips with their hands to conceal their snickering. "But apparently, only students who can afford to pay for the cruise can go. Being someone like you who got in through a scholarship? Not likely to going to join us, you poor, poor thing." The crimson head smirked victoriously at the oohs and ahhs heard within the classroom.

Kagome felt she was going to explode-- yes, explode. Just when things couldn't get any worse, Inuyasha and Kouga began to guffaw at Kagura's comment and agreed openly.

"Yeah, just look at her. She's too poor to even afford to go to this school," Inuyasha leaned back against his chair and propped his arms up against the table with a wide smirk. "I bet she's too poor to even dream about going on the same cruise as us."

Kagome stared at Inuyasha with disgust etched in her cerulean eyes. From the corner of her vision she saw Bankotsu shift uncomfortably at Inuyasha's recent comment. Perhaps he thought Inuyasha went a bit too far-- maybe she was able to save their friendship.

"What makes you think she can't afford it, you guffawing hyena?" Naraku stepped through the class with his books tucked underneath his arm. He glowered at the girls who taunted Kagome and shot hateful glares at Sesshoumaru. "You people know nothing but to feed off of other's misery. She knows how to value her friendships and knows what's right from wrong. So tell me," he walked across the classroom and stood besides Kagome's desk. "- tell me, who is the richer one now?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Who needs values when they are filthy rich?"

"Apparently not you," Naraku mumbled and set his books on the empty desk adjacent to Kagome's. Though it was said in a soft voice, the class heard it clearly.

"Yeah? You want to say that to my face pretty boy?" Inuyasha shot up from his seat and stomped over to where Naraku stood his ground-- unfazed. Inuyasha didn't care if he was Kikyou's brother, hell he wouldn't even have cared if Naraku was Kikyou's father-- someone's going to get a beating and it won't be him.

Inuyasha stalked his way around the class and stood arrogantly in front of Naraku with his chest puffed with anger. "Say it again, I dare you" he titled his head side to side while flexing his hands-- he made sure his knuckles cracked threateningly.

Naraku raised a curious eyebrow at the shorter male in front of him, "Are you sure you want to test me, Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha scoffed loudly with arrogance, "Please-- like you can hurt me."

Without warning, Inuyasha reached the desk behind him to grab a notebook and hauled it at Naraku's face. He took advantage of Naraku's moment of vulnerability and swung his right fist into Naraku's left cheek.

Naraku stumbled back in shock. Soon a stinging sensation surfaced at the corners of his mouth seconds later he could taste the salty metallic blood in his mouth. Naraku brought a slender hand to his lips, and with a finger he wiped the apparent blood off the corner of his lips. He stared stoically at Inuyasha for a brief moment before flashing him a sadist smile. "You really shouldn't have done that."

Inuyasha glowered with pride and etched an arrogant smile on his face, "Oops." He said with sarcasm, "My fists seem to have slipped and landed on your cheek-- hard." He curled his lip lightly and scoffed, "Well I can't believe you bleed after such a whimsy hit." Let's just say Inuyasha wasn't the best person to have a play on words.

Naraku couldn't help but let out a sharp, amused chuckle, "Yes... How could I have possibly let myself bleed over such a whimsy hit from such a whimsy little puppy?"

Ah yes, having the same sarcasm thrown back at him tenfold was not something Inuyasha liked. Especially when he was being made fun of. "You think you're a smartass huh, Naraku?" Inuyasha shoved Naraku on his shoulders-- causing him to stumble back a few steps.

Naraku remained physically passive and continue to taunt Inuyasha. "Iie, Inuyasha. I'm not at all a smartass, but I know I am smarter than you," he kept his gaze locked on Inuyasha. With a slender hand he patted his own shoulders as if to get rid of invisible dirt. "You might want to consider bathing Inuyasha, you reek."

"Son of a b-" Inuyasha launched himself at Naraku. What a scene to behold! To his luck, Inuyasha had the upper hand in this brawl simply because he caught Naraku by surprise. He snatched and curled Naraku's dark tresses between his fingertips and pulled Naraku's face close to his. "I dare you to insult me again, see what I'll do to you."

Naraku chortled, "You might want to try a breath mint." He expected Inuyasha to punch him with his other hand. But instead, Inuyasha moved his hand to grip Naraku's forehead and slammed his head onto the wooden floors with immense force.

"Stop! No!" Kagome darted over the desk and leaped onto Inuyasha's back. "You're going to kill him you idiot!" She feared for the worse with every thump she heard from the impact of Naraku's skull against the floor. She tried fruitlessly to get Inuyasha to release his grip on Naraku's hair -- pulling, scratching, clawing... anything and everything. "Do something!" She turned her attention to the class who idly stood there and watched the fight. To her immense disappointment, they continued to stare-- fearing if they did stop Inuyasha, he would punish them individually.

"Not so tough now, are you bastard?" Inuyasha sneered triumphantly and pulled Naraku's face close to his. "Looking at you makes me feel guilty-- almost. But too bad I don't care!" He laughed at Naraku's half lidded-- almost unconscious gaze. "I'm through with you," He slammed Naraku's head onto the wooden floors once more before standing up and dusted himself off. Inuyasha looked down at Naraku's rather unresponsive body and glowered victoriously. 'That'll teach him,' he smirked and sent a heavy kick to Naraku's torso and returned to his seat beside his friends.

"Naraku?" Kagome brought her shaking hands to her lips. "Naraku...?" She whispered his name through her trembling lips. She waited for a response, she heard many-- but none of the gasps and mummurs came from Naraku. "This is all my fault," her vision blurred with unshed tears and brought his hand to her lips. "If anything happens to you, I'll never forgive myself." Kagome looked up at Shiori with teary eyes-- begging her to help lift her friend to the infirmary.

"Alright," Shiori nodded and smiled sympathetically.

Kagome slipped her arm behind Naraku's shoulders and started to pull him up while Shiori did the same to his opposite side. The two girls mustered as much strength as they can give to haul Naraku to his feet. Thankfully to them, Naraku seems to be gripping onto consciousness and took small steps instead of having the girls dragging him across the school. It was a daunting task to support the weight of a full grown teenager with a fit build. It felt like hours before they reached the door of the classroom.

All the while Kagome was lost in her thoughts, cursing Inuyasha to the deepest pits of hell or wished him bad luck for the rest of his life. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked over to Naraku's face. True, he wasn't bleeding but who knows what the damage Inuyasha has done to Naraku's brain? 'This is all my fault,' she berated herself once more. She looked over to where Inuyasha and his friends sat, "Are you people even human at all?" A lone tear slipped from her pained cerulean eyes before turning away and existed out of the room.

It pained Sesshoumaru to see her shed a tear, but he was preoccupied with planning on how to discipline Inuyasha later-- and Bankotsu couldn't agree more.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Inuyasha lit up a cigarette and leaned against the brick wall of the school, with his knee bent under him, his feet pushing against the wall. No doubt he had a smug smile on his face-- he was victorious against the one called Naraku. He inhaled deeply through the cigarette butt and let the smoke seep out his mouth through circulating waves. He was sure there was a chance Kikyou would never forgive him, but at this point there were no turning back. He did what he did, and he was proud of it.

The wind rattled the sakura and maple tree leaves planted around perimeter of the school. A familiar scent mixed with sakura caught his scent, "Kikyou?" The smell of her enticing perfume sent shivers up his spine. He did miss her, he'll admit that.

"Hey Inuyasha," Kikyou joined him against the wall. "How have you been these past few days?"

"Okay I guess, why?" Inuyasha shot her a suspicious gaze.

Without a warning, Kikyou slipped her arms around Inuyasha's waist and pressed her body against his for a warm embrace. "I've missed you," she whispered against his chest. It was true that she missed him. But she still hated him for his frivolous attitude when it comes to women.

Inuyasha lost himself in Kikyou's soft scent and found himself extinguishing his cigarette and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Mhm, me too," he buried his face around the side of her face-- his breath tickling her ear. "Have--," Inuyasha broke the comfortable silence between them but he couldn't find the words to continue. Did she come back to be his girlfriend again... or is this her way of saying goodbye forever?

"What is it?"

Inuyasha avoided her gaze and looked out to the distance, "Have you come to take me back?"

"Iie," came Kikyou's somewhat detached response.

"I see," Inuyasha clenched his jaw with new-found anger. This was another reason he can hate Kagome with a pure conscience-- it seems Kikyou wouldn't want to repair their relationship. "So then why are you hugging me?" He couldn't help but ask.

Kikyou evaded his answer for a brief moment, "I need a favor from you."

Inuyasha scoffed. He wasn't going to help her-- but he is curious in why she needed something from him. "I'll think about it. What do you want?"

"Kagome Higurashi's school records," Kikyou released her grip on Inuyasha and pressed her back against the wall beside him. Both acknowledge the warmth their body generated was greatly missed once the chilled air hit their bodies. "My father, he needs them."

"What for?" He turned his head to stare at the crown of her forehead. He was definitely interested in what she had to say now.

"I don't know. My father just wants it, okay? Will you be able to get it for me?" Kikyou began to lose patience with Inuyasha. He never did know how to get a clue. It was obvious Kikyou's father was planning something for Kagome.

"I can get it, what's in it for me though? I'm still grounded. It's kinda risky for me."

'Always the self pleaser,' Kikyou rolled her eyes. Inuyasha always wanted something for himself if he did a deed-- if he didn't... well that just wouldn't be Inuyasha. But to her dismay, she found out that she did miss his arrogant nature, his dimwitted way of though and lastly his passion. He always did come back to her after flirting with other women, and he always did attempt to pacify her with lavish gifts every time she caught him red-handed. Maybe it was a sign that he really did care. Was it enough to take him back though?

"Well?" Inuyasha asked with impatience etched in his voice.

"If you successfully get the document, then..." Kikyou paused momentarily "then I'll forgive what you've done wrong and we can start over." She inwardly grimaced, 'I can't believe I just said that.' She couldn't believe it, but she wanted it. She had missed her Inuyasha greatly.

Inuyasha's face lit up instantly with renewed passion. He swiftly swooped down and brushed his lips against the corner of Kikyou's lips and whispered, "I'll be back soon." Without waiting for a response from Kikyou, he raced into the school in search of his father's office.

Kikyou smiled with a happiness she didn't think she had in her. Maybe, it was better this way-- this is their way of life and they've grown accustomed to it.

-0-0-0-0-0-

"I'm so sorry Naraku, this is all my fault," Kagome kept whispering her apologies to her semiconscious friend. They have finally reached the infirmary and settled Naraku on a small bed. A doctor and a nurse greeted them momentarily. Even under distress, Kagome was astonished to see a fully equipped hospital staff and instruments in the rather enormous infirmary room.

"What happened to this poor boy?" The elder doctor examined Naraku's eyes with his mini flashlight.

A simple question sent Kagome into a higher state of distress. Her body began to tremble, a new set of tears began to slip down her cheeks-- what in the world happened to her? "It's all my fault, I started all of this stupid thing. It's all my fault," Her sobs racked her small frame. Indeed, what has overcome Kagome? Did she finally break after witnessing her childhood friend to such trauma?

"Miss, you have to calm down. Please step outside," the nurse ushered Kagome towards the door. "And you there, you will stay in this room and tell us how this boy fell into this state," she ordered Shiori, who meekly nodded and flashed a reassuring smile to Kagome.

Kagome reluctantly allowed the elder nurse to escort her out the room. She squeezed her eyes shut as the door shut behind her-- fearing if she opened her eyes, a new wave of tears will fall from her already distressed body. She numbly took a few steps away from the door and leaned her back against the wall. "Sorry," she whispered aloud. "I'm so so-sorry," she choked back a sob as she slid down the wall, and hunched over her knees until her forehead touched them.

"Kagome?"

She heard a familiar voice and footsteps approach her. Kagome lifted her head up to find Sesshoumaru staring down at her with small rays of concern shining through. Seeing his face, hearing his voice and acknowledging he was really in front of her... it set her off. Unable to contain her sorrow any longer, she directed it into anger-- to Sesshoumaru.

"YOU! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Kagome jumped up onto her feet and screeched at Sesshoumaru with unrelenting anger. "You! You and your stupid group of good for nothing friends!" She charged at Sesshoumaru with angry fists. "You people are not human!" She swung and punched Sesshoumaru with all her might and care not for his pained grunts.

"Kagome, let it all out," Sesshoumaru whispered. He can feel her anger and sorrow radiating off her eyes. What can he do? Nothing. He was Inuyasha's elder brother, he had the chance to stop the fight when it first started, he could've took charge-- but he didn't. He just sat there and watched. This anger he was receiving from Kagome, he deserved it.

"You bastards!" Kagome shoved Sesshoumaru to the wall behind him roughly. "He was just defending me!" She gripped Sesshoumaru's vest in her hands and push and pulled his now stretched vest-- looking as if she was trying to shake some sense into him. "Defending me! ME! He's hurt now, because of ME!!" Her voice cracked from the intense use of her voice. Kagome didn't release her grip on his vest and subconsciously leaned against his chest for support-- she was tired, very tired.

"... All because of me," Kagome sobbed into Sesshoumaru's chest.

Sesshoumaru furrowed his eyebrows and lips into a frown and shut his eyes as Kagome sobs coursed through his body. He wrapped his arms around Kagome's shoulders slowly and eased them both a few steps back until his back rested against the wall. "Shh...," he cooed and ran a hand through her raven hair, his other hand gripped Kagome close to his frame. Her sobs began to subtle into soft, short breaths of air.

"It is not your fault, Kagome," Sesshoumaru looked down to see Kagome staring up at him with swollen red eyes, her tear-stained cheeks and a ruby red nose. He stopped brushing through her hair and reached for his handkerchief in his pocket.

"It is my fault," she countered with defiance.

"Yes, but from what I saw, the cause of the fight was not about you... you, you were the subject that started the tension," Sesshoumaru dabbed his handkerchief over Kagome's tear stained cheeks. "Close your eyes," he order-- and she complied, and softly ran the cloth across her eyes. "From what I saw, what started the fight was the clash of two male powered egos who happens to be very hormonal," he lightly joked.

Kagome chortled briefly, "Th-at sounds a bit logical." Now that she heard this reasoning from Sesshoumaru, she couldn't help but feel utterly embarrassed for taking out her anger on him.

"I am always logical," Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at Kagome's lighter tone. "It's good to see you smile, it suits you more," he leaned closer to her face and planted a kiss on her forehead. "You were quite scary when you were screeching at me."

Kagome's face heated with embarrassment and tried to pull away from his embrace, "I-I was angry."

Sesshoumaru kept a tight arm around her waste and pull her flushed into his chest, "I know. It's understandable, I don't blame you for it." He rested his chin on top of Kagome's head and breathed in her flowery fresh scent.

She closed her blue hues and snuggled deeper into their hug, she felt comfortable-- in sheer bliss. However, a part of her gnawed at her thoughts and it grew larger and larger until it played a flashback in her head. Kagome gasped in shock when she realized Sesshoumaru was supposed to be angry with her about his necklace, and about Naraku three days ago. She immediately pulled away from his body and stared at him with a scrutinizing glare. "Aren't you supposed to be upset with me?"

"Hm?" Sesshoumaru had no idea what she was implying.

"The necklace... and Naraku's fiance thing... three days ago. You were so furious at me you humiliated me in front of the class."

Sesshoumaru clenched his jaw tightly, he didn't want to hear about Kagome being Naraku's fiance... at all... or ever. "That's right... you're Naraku's woman," he bit out in disgust.

"No! No, no, no!" Kagome threw her hands up in defense and shook them vigorously. "No, it's not what you think at all. We were young, in kindergarten... he was leaving... we were five... I was hungry... and chocolate cupcake... and and the plastic ring!" Kagome rambled on, stuttering on what seems to be every phrase she said.

Sesshoumaru tilted his head in light confusion but absorbed the information as best as he could. "So let me get this straight," he said after Kagome has ceased her rambling. "Because you and Naraku were five, and that you were extremely hungry, you promised to marry him for the cupcake?"

Kagome's jaw dropped in shock, did she really sound that idiotic? She shook her head and took a deep breath and calmed her nerves. "No, Sesshoumaru. Naraku and I always been good friends when we were in Kindergarten together. He always defended me like he does now... and that day he told me his father was taking him far away. The chocolate cupcake hid the plastic ring inside it and he gave it to me to eat, he always did share snacks with me. I was upset about him leaving, and he gave me the ring, promising me that when he returns he and I will marry... We were young Sesshoumaru. I was young. And, I made it clear with him that day when you got upset at me in the classroom... he knows now."

Sesshoumaru nodded, "Yes, I overheard you talking to him about it in the garden."

"You were there?" Kagome tilted her head to the side.

Sesshoumaru held back a smile-- she looked absolutely adorable while confused. "Yes, I was relaxing there. I somehow overheard it." Now that he finally have this matter cleared, the heaviness around his chest lifted and he felt free once more.

Kagome nodded and kept silent. The silence dragged on the seconds and Kagome found herself straightening her uniform. A light pressure from a pocket of her skirt had her reaching inside the pocket and held the object in her hand.

"You fixed it?" Sesshoumaru asked astonished-- it was his metallic cubed beaded necklace... the one he split in half and let it fall all over the floor when Kagome tried to return it to him after she had found it. 'She actually... fixed it.'

Kagome smiled sheepishly, "Yeah... I guessed you might want it back. It took me a while to collect everything after school and putting it back together-- but it was fun I guess. It looks really precious, something irreplaceable."

Sesshoumaru felt nauseating and grabbed Kagome's arm and pulled her into a deep embrace. "My mother gave it to me, the day before her accident. Nothing in the world can replace this," he whispered softly into her ears. He was missing his necklace since that day he stopped talking to Kagome, he missed it... he missed his mother... and he missed Kagome. "Thank you, Kagome. Thank you so much."

Kagome felt tears creep into the corner of her eyes-- not of out sadness, but of the passion and sincerity in Sesshoumaru's voice. "You're welcome," she enclosed her arms around the back of his shoulders and pulled him tight-- enjoying the warmth they created.

"Why don't you put it on for me, Kagome?" Sesshoumaru released Kagome and pulled up this hair with his hands-- exposing his neck.

Kagome nodded and reached over his shoulders, one hand on each side and slipped the necklace around his neck. She blushed brightly at their current posture-- they look like they were posed for an intimate slow dance.

Sesshoumaru kept his eyes glued on Kagome's flushed face-- he found her to be utterly beautiful at this point... inside and out. Not caring about her social or family background any longer, he closed in their distance just as Kagome secured the necklace around his neck. He swooped down to her level and surprised her with a soft kiss pressed against her lips. Who saw them kissing at this point, he didn't care-- he didn't think Kagome cared either. He let his lips linger on her soft ones for a few moments more before pulling back slightly and pressed his forehead against hers. "I've missed you Kagome. One day... I wish you would cry for me like you did for Naraku one day."

"But I already will-- if it were you in that situation!" Kagome blurted out without thinking over her words-- a habit that seems to surface many times. "And... I missed you too..." She adverted her eyes from his radiating gaze.

Sesshoumaru grinned, "Does that mean you like me? I know I'm irresistible."

Kagome scoffed in amusement, "You're so full of yourself sometimes Sesshoumaru."

"Mhm," Sesshoumaru pressed another kiss on her lips, "I know."

.

.

.

Misera- Well.... Huh.. who knew Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru can be sooo romantic? (snickers)

Not exactly a short chappie, but couldn't bring myself to end it half way.