InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fall From Grace ❯ Chapter 5

Ch. 5

Inuyasha walked through the darkened halls of the old manor, his jacket slung over his shoulder. Kikyo trailed after him, yawning every now and then. Since it was nearly dawn, everyone at the manor was asleep. He made his way up another flight of stairs before arriving at his assigned living space, which included a bedroom, bathroom, and a small sitting area. The large dining room on the first floor served as the common dining area. The manor was located on the outskirts of town on a large piece of privately owned property. It served as housing for many of the Coven members.

He unlocked the door and pushed it open, dropping his jacket on a black leather recliner. Kikyo walked in after him and shut the door softly. She gave him a peck on the cheek before heading into the bedroom. Inuyasha slumped down onto the recliner, resting his head against the soft, cushiony back. As tired as he was, his mind was too preoccupied for rest.

`Kagome.'

He closed his eyes, seeing her image flash through his mind. God, even after all this time, she still looked beautiful, even more so. He wanted so badly to see her again, to touch her. A heavy sigh escaped his lips. That was definitely not a possibility. If he did that…he wouldn't even think of the consequences. But what could the Coven do to him that hadn't already been done? He smirked. Although most people feared death, Inuyasha wasn't one of them. He was already dead.

~~~~~~

Kagome awoke to a beautiful morning. Birds were chirping, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Too bad it felt like an elephant was tap dancing inside her head.

Wincing, she sat up, gingerly holding her throbbing head between her hands. Her memory was a little hazy, but she was guessing alcohol played a hand in her current demise.

"Never again will I touch alcohol in any shape or form," She muttered, throwing her legs over the side of the bed and standing slowly to her feet. She made her way to the bathroom and splashed some water on her face, hoping to sooth the heavy bags that had gathered under her eyes. Once she'd showered and brushed her teeth, Kagome followed the tantalizing aroma wafting in from the kitchen. She found she was surprisingly hungry.

"Wow," She said with genuine surprise upon entering the kitchen. Sesshomaru was standing at the stove, a stack of pancakes, platter of scrambled eggs and plate of bacon by his side. He glanced up at her, one eyebrow arched.

"Looks like you have a hangover," He observed, fixing her a plate and handing it to her. Kagome gratefully accepted it and sat at the table, eagerly attacking the food. Sesshomaru grimaced.

"And the manners of a pig." He muttered, fixing his own plate. Kagome shot him a glare, but slowed down and took her time eating. Kagome peered up at him, chewing her food thoughtfully.

"You're full of surprises," She said, washing down the food with a gulp of orange juice. Sesshomaru looked at her, his gaze wary. "Dare I ask why you say that?" Kagome gave him a small smile.

"You cook." She said, more of a statement than a question. She sounded slightly amazed. Sesshomaru shrugged. "I wasn't exactly born with a silver spoon in my mouth," He stated pointedly. The comment stung and Kagome hung her head. Sesshomaru instantly felt ashamed for the low blow. After all, Kagome didn't exactly choose her family.

"That was uncalled for," He said by way of apology. Kagome nodded, knowing that was the best she was going to get. "I guess maybe I sort of deserved that," She said softly. "It seems like I keep making all these assumptions about you that I have no right to." She raised her head tentatively, her misty gaze finding his own golden one.

"I'd like to…get to know you better, Sesshomaru." She said quickly. "I mean, if I'm going to be staying here, I at least want to know the man I'm going to be sharing a house with." She waited for his response. After a few moments, he nodded his head slowly.

"That can be arranged, starting today." He told her. Kagome looked at him questioningly. "I have to stop by the office this afternoon to finish up some paperwork, but that should only take a half hour at the most. Since it's the weekend and you don't have classes, we can do dinner and anything you want to know about me I will be more than happy to tell you." Kagome gave him a bright smile. "Sounds good."

~^~

"Are you always so brusque with your secretary?" Kagome asked as they exited the law offices of Boyd & Cullen and into underground garage. Sesshomaru pulled out his keys, and pressed a button. Kagome heard the automatic locks pop open as they made their way towards the SUV.

"I don't exactly look at it as me being brusque as much as I look at as me being businesslike." He explained. Kagome climbed into the passenger's side, giving him a skeptical look. He sighed as he started the engine and smoothly pulled out of the parking spot. Angling the vehicle toward the exit, he glanced at her.

"Maybe I do treat her a little…harshly at times, but she's a half wit who doesn't know her right foot from her left." He slid into the light late afternoon traffic. Kagome gave him a secretive smile.

"She has a bit of a crush on you," She told him teasingly. Sesshomaru looked at her as if she'd just told him Rin was an alien. "Don't be ridiculous." He scoffed. Kagome nodded her head forcefully. "I'm not!" She insisted. "The way she looks at you, the way she talks to you…it's all evidence that she adores you."

Sesshomaru considered her words before brushing them aside. Whether what Kagome was saying was true or not, it didn't matter. He wasn't interested. "If, in fact, my secretary does have feelings for me, she'll get over them." He said matter-of-factly. He turned down a one-way street; missing the incredulous look Kagome threw his way.

"She'll get over them?" She repeated, amazed that one person could be so callous. `This is Sesshomaru Haturo you're talking about.' She reminded herself. "Sesshomaru, you've obviously never been in love."

Sesshomaru visibly stiffened. He was no longer comfortable with where the conversation was heading. Kagome sensed his discomfort, but pressed ahead anyway.

"If you had, you wouldn't carelessly brush aside this woman's feelings so quickly," She propped her elbow on the door and looked at Sesshomaru curiously. "You haven't, have you?"

Sesshomaru kept his eyes on the road, appearing as if he hadn't heard her. Kagome knew he had however. His jaw was ticking rather persistently. She opened her mouth to apologize for butting into his personal life, but he interrupter her.

"Love is not an emotion I give in to. It makes you weak and foolish and I can't afford to be either of those." His voice was low and emotionless, his expression blank. If Kagome couldn't plainly see that she was talking to a man, she would have sworn he were nothing more than a robot.

"If you seriously feel that way about being in love, then I feel sorry for you." Kagome said softly, turning her gaze to the world outside. Why was he so cynical, so jaded? His attitude only made her want to dig deeper, get to know the man behind the mask.

~^~

"So the only pet you ever had was a toad named Jaken?"

Sesshomaru grinned wryly, shrugging his shoulders. They were walking from the restaurant to the attached parking lot. "I found it in the backyard one day after a storm. They're low maintenance and they don't keep you up at night." He said defensively. Kagome giggled and burrowed deeper in her jacket. Dinner had been nice. Sesshomaru had kept his word and told her everything she wanted to know about him. She finally felt as if she at least had an idea who Sesshomaru Haturo was.

Dusk had long since fallen and the city was lit up like a Christmas tree. Kagome loved the city when it was like this; people bundled up in heavy jackets and scarves, lights strung up on lampposts and buildings. She glanced across the street, hearing the faint strains of "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole. She clapped her hands together.

"Ice skating!" She squealed. Sesshomaru winced at her high-pitched squeak and eyed the children and adults alike gliding happily on the large ice rink. He quickly shook his head. "I don't skate." He told her forcefully. Kagome clasped her hands together as if she were praying and pleaded with him.

"Please, Sesshomaru! I haven't been skating since I was a kid and it would be fun!"

"Well, I have never been skating and I don't particularly feel like falling on my ass in front of a bunch of strangers." He told her. Kagome pouted and grabbed his arm, steering him across the street toward the ice rink.

"Live a little!" She exclaimed as he resisted her pulling. She let him go and crossed her arms over her chest, one perfectly arched brow raised. "You're not afraid, are you?" She asked, taunting him. His gave hardened. "No." He answered. Kagome smirked. "I think you're lying. I think you are afraid that you'll make a fool of yourself in front of all those people." She said, jerking her thumb toward the crowd skating behind them.

Before she could voice her next taunt, Sesshomaru grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the booth where a man was collecting money and dispensing rented skates. Sesshomaru slapped down a twenty-dollar bill and demanded skates for both of them. Kagome watched in amusement as he sat down on a wooden bench and hurriedly shoved on the skates. She sat down beside him and proceeded to do the same.

"You know, you don't have to prove anything," She said casually, lacing up her skates. Sesshomaru snorted. "I'm not." He said. Kagome smiled to herself and stood to her feet. Sesshomaru followed her lead, his legs shaking. He gripped the edge of the rink, a deep frown on his face.

"How the hell are people expected to balance on these damn things?" He muttered, taking baby steps towards the opening that led onto the slick ice. Kagome laughed and grabbed his hand, pulling him out onto the rink. "It's just like riding a bicycle," She told him as he stepped onto the ice. "You never forget how to do it."

She watched in amusement as Sesshomaru gripped her hand, his free arm flailing about wildly as he fought to gain his equilibrium. She found it wildly hilarious to see Sesshomaru, the Ice Prince as her friends liked to call him, acting like a newborn colt just getting used to his legs.

"See, this isn't so bad!" She told him cheerfully as he finally managed to stand without wobbling about. He glared at her. "Can we leave now…" His eyes widened as Kagome pulled him toward the center of the rink, facing him with a mischievous smile.

Sesshomaru gripped her arm with his free hand, holding on for dear life as she picked up speed. He watched as more experienced skaters whizzed by.

"Kagome, for God's sake, slow down!" He said loudly over the whistling wind. Kagome's smile grew wider as she slowly started him in a spin. Sesshomaru saw the young man skating behind Kagome with his eyes closed, obviously showing off for his friends standing nearby. He groaned, seeing the collision just minutes before it happened.

"Shit."

Kagome's eyes flew wide as the young skater knocked into her, propelling her towards Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru let out a whoosh of air as he caught her around the waist, but not before he felt himself falling backwards. They hit the ice with a hard thud, Kagome landing directly on top of Sesshomaru.

Kagome looked down at Sesshomaru, an apology poised on her lips, but found she couldn't speak. She was suddenly aware of their position, their bodies in full contact with one another. Her hands were on his chest and she spread her fingers, feeling the hardness underneath his coat. Sesshomaru's gaze was locked with her own, conflicting emotions swirling within his golden depths.

Her lips were just inches from his own and he felt as if a magnetic pull were pulling them closer. He wanted desperately to close the small distance between them, to taste her, but he hesitated. Was it him she wanted to kiss or someone else he strongly resembled?

"Kagome, I--"

Kagome put a finger to his lips, her eyes searching his face. They were so much alike, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. But at the same time, they were so different. As she gazed down at him, she realized how different they were. Where Inuyasha's features were rugged and boyishly handsome, Sesshomaru's features were sharp and defined, nothing short of beautiful. Even his eyes were uniquely his own, honey gold rather than the burnished amber of Inuyasha's, like two glittering yellow diamonds.

What was this strange attraction she felt for him? How could she even be attracted to Sesshomaru, the brother of the only man she'd ever loved? Whether it was right or wrong, Kagome couldn't stop herself from being drawn to him.

Kagome leaned down, practically feeling his lips on hers when a voice broke the spell she'd been over.

"Uh, miss, I'm really sorry about knocking you over,"

Kagome's face fell, realizing it was the guy that had collided into her. She glanced up at him, suddenly self-conscious. She climbed to her feet and brushed the hair out of her eyes.

"It's fine. No harm, no foul." She said lightly. He gave her an apologetic smile before skating off to rejoin his friends. Kagome looked away as Sesshomaru carefully made his way to his feet.

"We should get going," Sesshomaru told her coolly. He grabbed onto the edge of the rink and slowly skated to the exit. Kagome sighed heavily and followed after him, now more confused than ever. Why was she feeling this way towards Sesshomaru when Inuyasha still held her heart even in death?

a/n: well, there's another chap out. thanks for the reviews…glad you all enjoy the story. got some good things planned so i hope you all stay tuned! see ya next chap!