InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dusk Curse ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7: The Book's Influence

 

~Newport, NH.

~8:30 PM, June 9, 2000

 

Sesshoumaru busily typed on his computer, working on the layout of his business and trying to find a place to put it. There was a nice open lot right in town, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to stay here. The doorbell interrupted his thoughts, but he ignored it right off and continued to immerse himself in his work. The maid was on duty, she could answer the doorbell. Inuyasha wasn't home, thank god. He typed furiously and when a sharp knock was heard on his door, he almost deleted the whole thing. He swore and got up quickly, wrenching the door open.

 

“What?” He snarled into the face of a female. The woman was not his maid, but the same one as the one whom he had communicated with silently five days ago. Sango, that was her name, it was one of Inuyasha's and Kagome's friends.

 

“Inuyasha is not home.” He said immediately. He was surprised by the intensely angry look on her face. She swept into his room uninvited and then turned around to glare at him.

 

“I'm not looking for Inuyasha. He may have hurt her before, but never on the scale you must have.”

 

This got his attention.

 

“What in the world do you speak of, woman?” He demanded, though he knew exactly what she was talking about.

 

“My name is Sango and you know what I'm talking about. When Inuyasha cheated on her with Kikyou, she told me all about it, crying over the phone, and then she took off. Whatever you've done to her, she won't even tell me about it.” She took a few steps toward him that were supposed to be menacing. She was scary in all of her misdirected fury, though he did not fear her. “What in hell did you do to my friend?” She said, her voice even and low.

 

“I did nothing to her. It is not something I wish to speak with the likes of you about.” He said crisply. She smiled grimly.

 

“I thought you would say that. But that's why I did some investigation about you first. It wasn't too hard to find out all about your step-mother.” He was shocked, but the shock quickly turned into fury, unmitigated, all-consuming fury.

 

He advanced a step on her. “Bitch.” He said quietly. She nodded slowly.

 

“I might be that. Now you will tell me what you did to Kagome, or else I'll tell everyone all about your past with your stepmother.” He took another step towards her, his hands shaking to grasp her neck and choke off her life for prying into his life this way. She didn't budge, the courageous little witch. His hands dropped to his sides and he sat at his desk, gesturing impatiently for her to do the same.

 

“What specifically is it that you wish to know?” He just about snarled. He had never been angrier, except that day long ago…

 

“I want to know what has made Kagome as sad and depressed as she is. I want to know why you did not finish the road-trip with her.” Sango said quickly.

 

“Do you know your depressed little Kagome's past?” He asked, his voice infinitely cold and unemotional now that his handle on his emotions was back firmly in his hand. Sango shook her head. “Your dear, sweet Kagome was abused as a child. Her father was sexually abusing her. Her mind must have blanked it from her memory in a survival instinct. At a hotel one night, I came upon her and the hotel clerk struggling when she should have been out walking. He was attempting to rape her. I stopped the guy and later when I asked her about it, she fainted on me and then awoke scared out of her mind. She was rambling about being touched and hit and then how her mother had come upon the scene and stopped it.”

 

Sango looked shocked.

 

“She could not handle the memory of it and went catatonic on me. She responded to direct commands and did not speak nor move otherwise. I brought her to a park and she came out of it when she saw a little boy about to be hit by a truck. She managed to save the boy from being hit by the car and after that she returned to normal. But she saw me as something more then I was. I admit to trying to help her through it. But she seemed to think that it was something more. The next morning she brought a person in the hotel room and ate breakfast with him while I showered. She then had mistaken my anger at her for being as naïve as she is and letting a total stranger into the room as something other then what it was.”

 

Sango looked as though she didn't quite believe him. He continued, acting oblivious, though he sure as hell wasn't.

 

“She told me that with all that has happened, she thought of me as more then a friend, and then hinted that she loved me. An impossible, silly thought it was, and I told her so. I told her that it was the result of a few stressful events and my being there when they happened. She got overly angry and then told me that she was still continuing this trip, but if I wanted to go home I would have to find another way. So I did, I rode the train home.” He slid a glance at her. “Satisfied?” He growled.

 

“No, but I will make do with that.” She said quietly. Her eyes came to meet his and a question appeared to him quickly. He hardened his gaze, carefully making himself unreadable. “Do you harbor any feelings for her?” She asked.

 

“No.”

 

“I think your lying. Why else would you have gone with her in the first place? Why did you go looking for her when she went out walking at the hotel?”

 

“I never said I went looking for her. I came acro-”

 

“Liar. Like I said, why else would you have gone with her? And why did you try and help her with her obviously psychological problem? Why did you care so much that she had a guy in to eat with her?”

 

He knew that if he tried to answer her she would call him a liar. He should kill the wench now. If he tied weights to her and threw her into the ocean, no one would ever find her. But he could not, of course. He was no murderer.

 

And she had seen his weakness. She had seen his entire soul, somehow, despite how well he hid it. He despised her with all of his being. She knew something he had promised himself no one would ever know. Two things he had promised to keep from the world.

 

“Why don't you just tell her? Why don't you give her a chance? She might learn to love you, if whatever she feels now isn't love. Is she not good enough for you or something? I'll bet you see her as your brother's sloppy seconds. But what you don't know is that she never did anything with him. She's still a virgin in a way, you know. She's never… not willingly anyway.”

 

Sesshoumaru was shaking.

 

“Get out.” He snarled, standing suddenly and looming over this Sango woman. “Leave my house!” His bellow scared her more then anything else had so far. He could see it in her eyes and it made the blood pump faster in his veins. But she would not back down.

 

“You do love her. And I doubted it.” She shook her head, blatantly ignoring her fear. His fist crashed into the door next to her head. He brought his other hand to the other side of her head, caging her. His face was inches from hers.

 

“Leave this house and never enter it again.” He said, his voice full of venom despite the lack of volume. She ducked out from under him but did not run, no, she glared at him and stood there.

 

“You lie to yourself. Just know that you might have had something with her, and you never will now. I wont let it happen.” She slowly walked out of his door and down his stairs. He stared after her in something close to shock before the rage took over.

 

Sango held her fear in check all the way down his stairs. It was only when she heard his roar of total anger and the splintering crash of his door being thrown shut did she allow her fear to overrun her system. She broke into a headlong flight out of the house and into the balmy night.

 

Sesshoumaru stared at his broken door, his chest heaving, his blood boiling. He wrenched the door right off its hinges and heaved it to the floor, swearing. Finally he stopped, stumbling back to the bed and sitting down on it, his head in his hands. A great despair washed over him, soaked into every pore on his body. He could not understand why he felt this way, but it would not be denied.

 

~**~

 

~North Newport, NH

~9AM, June 21, 2000

 

Kagome threw her last bag into the car and shut the trunk. She turned back to Sango, Miroku, her mother and Souta. Sango had tears coming down her face and Miroku looked sadder then she had ever seen him. He was always so cheerful and positive. Her mother looked torn between locking her up and throwing her arms around her and never letting go. Souta looked sad, but being his age, he wasn't as effected as the others. He didn't think that he might never see her again, or whatever other thoughts roamed through the others minds.

 

She stepped forward to her brother and smiled at him warmly. He returned her smile.

 

“Kagome, when will you come back to visit?” he asked mournfully.

 

“I'll be back in two years, just two years, that's it. It will pass before you know it.” She ruffled his hair. Then she stepped forward to her mother and hugged her warmly. She felt her mother clutch at her and then release her slowly, as if it was painful for her. No words were needed as she stared into her mother's face, smiling.

 

She hugged Miroku warmly, telling him to take good care of Sango and to quit with the hentai stuff and act like a normal guy. Sango pretended not to hear any of it, even when Kagome whispered in Miroku's ear that he actually had a really good chance with her. His gaze, when they drew back, was serious. She smiled at him and leaned up to kiss him gently on the cheek. Then she turned to Sango, her best friend Sango. They fell into each other's arms.

 

“I can't believe your really leaving us, Kagome.” She sobbed.

 

“I'm not leaving forever. I can call sometimes and you guys better write back to me when I write.” Sango laughed through her tears.

 

“You can bet I will. Oh, Kagome, I know about everything. I wanted to tell you before you left. I forced Sesshoumaru to tell me. Don't be angry with him for it, okay? Although I can understand why you would be angry at him in the first place.”

 

Kagome drew back, shocked. “You… you know? Why didn't you say anything before now?”

 

“I wasn't sure I was going to tell you. I didn't think you needed know, and you didn't want to talk about it anyway. So I never mentioned it.”

 

“I… oh. Well, I had better go. I'm going to be late for the flight.” She quickly turned and got into her car, starting it and putting it into gear.

 

“I promise to call and write often. I'll see you soon. I love you all. Bye.”

 

And with that terse but heartfelt goodbye, she stomped on the gas and squealed away from the house she had come to love. She drove a little too fast, her mind not on her driving, but on what Sango had told her. She drove into downtown Newport and found herself slowing down and stopping outside of the Takahashi house. She still had about an hour before she had to be to the airport. She gazed up at the house and killed the engine, staring up and wondering which room was Sesshoumaru's. Inuyasha's car was not in sight. Sesshoumaru's was parked in the driveway. Slowly she got out of the car and shut her door, wondering what she would do next.

 

~**~

 

~Newport, NH.

~ 9:15 AM. June 21, 2000

 

Sesshoumaru printed out his final plans and looked them over. Everything was perfect, down to the T. He had planned it so carefully, imagining every detail he could. He had decided to buy the place in town that was between the spa and the bookshop. It, of course, would only be the headquarters to his new start up idea. He had it all down on paper, how he would expand, where, and to whom he would sell out to when he had made a name for himself. He quickly shuffled the papers and set them down, getting up and stretching his back. He had been at his computer constantly for the last week and a half.

 

It was time for a break.

 

He grabbed his keys and opened his new door, thinking carefully on where he was going. Perhaps he would go to a bar and have a few celebratory drinks. He took the stairs two at a time, moving down them quickly. Soon he was at the front door. He opened it, thinking that it would be rather lonely to drink all alone. Lonely, he was never lonely. He shut the door and started down his front steps.

 

And that was when he saw her.

 

She was leaning against her car, looking for all the world, totally lost. She seemed to be the calm in the middle of a chaotic storm of rushing and moving. Her head was bowed and her body was unmoving. He simply stared at her, bereft for words. All around her, the world went on its timely and forceful way, and yet she was still and timeless. As if she sensed his eyes on her she drew her gaze slowly up to his. There was no anger in her gaze, no accusation. She simply looked lost and confused and so sad.

 

“Sesshoumaru…” It seemed a whisper on the wind, yet he knew it came from her mouth. Finally he came back to himself.

 

“Why are you here? Don't you leave for Japan today?” She stepped toward him, closer to where he was frozen to the spot. He seemed to be rooted to the ground since having seen her.

 

“I do. But I don't have to be there for another hour and I just wanted to say goodbye…” She shook her head, the sadness intensifying. “No, that's a lie. I wanted to know what Sango could have done to make you tell her what happened. I know, somehow, that you would never have told anyone if you hadn't been under intense pressure. What does she hold over you, Sesshoumaru?” She walked right up to him, and now she was within reach. His arms ached to hold her; his fingers itched to touch her. His whole body screamed for hers, to feel her against him once again.

 

“Sango came and asked. I told her what she wanted to know.”

 

“You wouldn't have without some outside force.”

 

“It is not a matter I wish to discuss.”

 

“Please, Sesshoumaru.” She closed the small distance between them, laying her hand gently on his arm. “Please. I just want to know. I won't judge you because of it. I don't care what it is. I just want to know what could make you say things you didn't want to.”

 

His limbs were weak. The cap on his control was about to be blown off. As it was it was slowly becoming unscrewed. He tried to tighten it, but his attempt became fruitless when she looked up at him.

 

“I cannot tell you. I will only say it is a matter that parallels this one in many ways.”

 

His whole body shook when she wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug and laid her head on his shoulder. Despite how he willed his arms to stay at his sides, they slowly came up around her to hold her to him. Something diabolical and molten threatened to explode.

 

“You can tell me. You know everything about me. Give me this little piece of you. It's the only thing I'll have.” Her soft tone almost undid him totally. His tongue tried to loose itself, but this old secret was not one that could be let out totally.

 

“I once believed in love as you do. It got me into trouble as it has you. That is the topic in subject. That is all I will tell.”

 

His tone held such finality that she did not contradict him. For many moments they stayed like that, holding onto each other, their faces masks of sadness. It was Kagome who moved first. She stretched up on her toes and lightly kissed his cheek, holding her lips there long enough to get control of herself. But it was his control that finally snapped. He clasped her head in his hands and let his lips find hers in a primeval attempt to rid himself of what he felt. But it was no use, his want for her only grew with each little bit he took or received. His lips crushed her in a bruising, possessive kiss, but she returned it with just as much fervor.

 

He released her with a suddenness that almost sent her to the ground. Long, hurried yet as always graceful strides carried him to his car. His eyes met hers for a brief instant and then he was tearing away.

 

Kagome watched him and her knees gave way. She fell to the grass, crying quietly. Her head jerked up at the sound of her name.

 

~**~

 

~Same place, five minutes after Kagome arrived at Sesshoumaru's.

 

Sango was worried about Kagome, that was all. She had been driving far too fast, which meant she was thinking about either Inuyasha or Sesshoumaru. She was guessing it was the latter. She quickly parked her car some ways from Kagome's. She peered from behind a bush and watched as Kagome stood leaning on her car for a full five minutes in front of Sesshoumaru's house. Sango was getting a cramp in her thigh when finally something happened. The front door to Sesshoumaru's house opened. He shut it and started down the steps without even seeing Kagome. At first she thought he was ignoring her. And then he looked up.

 

Everything on his face told her all she needed to know. The fucker did love Kagome. His eyes were glued to her and he was frozen to the spot as if petrified by her presence. Kagome stepped toward him, and Sango was just far enough away that she didn't hear what was said. And then Sesshoumaru's voice, even in its low tones, carried all the way to her.

 

“Sango came and asked. I told her what she wanted to know.”

 

Kagome was asking him about the conversation she had had with him. Kagome seemed to want to know it, for some reason.

 

“You wouldn't have without some outside force.”

 

“It is not a matter I wish to discuss.”

 

“Please, Sesshoumaru.”

 

Kagome had gone to him, laying her hand upon his arm. Sango could hear them both clearly now.

 

“Please. I just want to know. I won't judge you because of it. I don't care what it is. I just want to know what could make you say things you didn't want to.”

 

Dear, smart Kagome. She knew that Sesshoumaru would not have spoken without her threats. Kagome wanted to know what she had done to make Sesshoumaru talk. Or maybe she just wanted to know what would break Sesshoumaru down enough to talk. She knew he had to have some weakness, and she wondered pitifully what it was.

 

“I cannot tell you. I will only say it is a matter that parallels this one in many ways.”

 

Kagome reached forward and embraced him like she would an old lover. Sango almost turned her eyes away from it, but she could not. It was painful to see two people who loved each other the way they did be at such odds with each other. They simply misunderstood each other.

 

“You can tell me. You know everything about me. Give me this little piece of you. It's the only thing I have.”

 

“I once believed in love as you do. It got me into trouble as it has you. That is the topic in subject. That is all I will tell.”

 

Sango knew the whole tale. Sango knew that once before Sesshoumaru had fallen in love with the wrong person and had gotten into major trouble for it. She knew who it was, and why it had been so troublesome. And now she understood why he could not allow himself to get near Kagome. It was because he hated love. He hated what it did to him. He hated what it caused.

 

She knew, that deep in his heart, he hated what it was doing to Kagome as well.

 

Kagome had seemed to accept what he had told her, because she did not ask for more. She simply hugged him, and he held her in return. It hurt like hell to watch this. A man who was confused about love, and a woman who might never give him a second chance because he had broke her heart so fully the first time.

 

Kagome then stood on her toes and kissed his jaw gently, as though to imprint on his mind the feel on her lips on him. Sango almost got up when he grabbed her head and kissed her full on the lips. But Kagome was not pulling from him, no, she was kissing him desperately back. Sango did stand when Sesshoumaru shoved her away from him and strided quickly and lithely to his car. Kagome stumbled away from him and managed to keep her feet under her. Sesshoumaru roared away in his car and Sango's heart just about broke when she saw the tears on her friend's face. Sango rushed forward as Kagome's knees folded under her and she bowed her head in pain.

 

“Kagome!”

 

She quickly went to her friend, but Kagome had looked up at the sound of her name and was shaking as she got to her feet. Her face held nothing as she stared at Sango. Sango had stopped, because perhaps she was seeing what Sesshoumaru had seen when he had come out of the house. Timelessness, stillness. Her face was etched in loneliness and despair. And yet, there was no accusation, no blame directed in her gaze toward Sango. There was no anger. Instead, there seemed to be an acute calmness the surrounded her like a dense cloud.

 

She smiled slowly at Sango before climbing into her car and driving slowly away.

 

Sango stood there for many moments, because she detected something about Kagome, something she knew that neither her, nor Sesshoumaru, knew. Kagome seemed to hold some higher knowledge of the future or the past that she dared not give out for fear she would be wrong.

 

Sango wanted to know what it was. She watched as her best friend drove away, remembering that her last image of Kagome would be that lost, sad, calm look.

 

~**~

 

Shorter then the others, I know. But I decided not to add any more to it. I like it just the way it is.

 

RyuuAngel