InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ LOVE LIFE ❯ Don't Leave ( Chapter 8 )

[A/N]

Yume: Finally, I'm back. Sorry for the long wait

CF: Like always, but Yume's been uber-busy!

Yume: No lie, but I'll never leave you guys. ^^ Last time, Naraku intentionally let it slip that he knew of Sesshomaru's engagement, and is now putting his plan into effect. Will Sesshy reveal to Kagome his dark secret before it's too late?

CF: And who's the mystery woman? CF knows! (but won't tell)

Yume: Don't forget to read and review at the end!

[Disclaimer]: Currently broke, so there is no way that I can be the owner of Inuyasha.

~ @ ~

LOVE LIFE

By: Youkai Yume

Chapter 8: Don't Leave

She flicked ebony bangs out of her eyes, an expression of extreme dissatisfaction etched on her face as she glared out the window. 'How the hell did I ever get messed up in this?' She thought bitterly, crossing her legs and pulling at her clothes.

"We're almost there, Ms. Takera," the driver said, glancing back at the girl who was obviously displeased in the back seat of the limo. She gave a scoff.

"And just where are we going anyway?" She asked, her voice annoyed.

"You mean your father didn't tell you?"

"All he told me was I'm being sent to give my fiancée a little visit…" She spat bitterly. "The next thing I know, I'm forced into this bloody limo, going to who the hell knows where…" The girl averted her eyes from the window to her red painted nails, idly looking them over to see if she had nay dirt under them.

"We're going to Tokyo University," the driver commented. She scoffed again.

"Figures father's trying to marry me off to some rich, prissy-ass snob…"

"I take it you haven't met him?" He asked, "So I suspect you don't-"

"It's none of your goddamn fucking business! So keep your greasy nose out of it!" She snapped, her crimson eyes flashing.

"Sorry, miss. It was not my place."

The black tinted window that separated the both of them pulled up, and when it closed the whole way, she let herself sigh, slumping back against the leather upholstery.

"What could father be thinking?" She thought miserably. "He knows how I feel…" Her slender fingers slipped inside her pocket, pulling out a golden necklace shaped in a heart. A locket to be more precise. Flipping it open, she stared longingly at the picture within.

"I don't want to do this, darling…" She said quietly to herself. "You know I didn't want it to be like this…" The car came to a complete stop, and looking out the window, her red painted lips thinned. It was Toky U. The prestige university for snobs and know-it-alls…this was where she was to meet the man that she desperately did not want to marry, and yet was forced to.

"Oh, Hiten, my love…" She closed the locket, holding it close to her chest as she let her mask slip back on before exiting the car which the driver opened the door for her. 'What am I to do?'

~ @ ~

Sesshomaru remained silent, watching as Kagome waved almost stiffly to her departing friends as the group began to break up. Although her smile was plastered on quite well, he knew better that something was bothering Kagome deeply. The look of uncertainty, of worry did not leave her-not since they had left the bookstore, and Naraku.

He could see it every time she looked at him.

"About your business arrangement."

Naraku's silky voice echoed in his head, recalling that horrified feeling of panic when he said it earlier. Could it possibly be that the professor had let it slip to Kagome about his family affairs? What if…she knew already?

He shook these foreboding thoughts from his mind, not wanting to let his fears get the best of him. Whatever happens, she needed to know straight from him…

What if she'll leave me?

The blasted words kept repeating over and over, every time more painful than the last. Coming out of his thoughts, he gazed at Kagome, who had not moved from her spot, still staring blankly at the direction Inuyasha and the others left.

"Kagome," Sesshomaru called out softly to her. She turned slowly towards him, sapphire eyes soft but still filled with the uncertainty that so irked him. "Let's go."

She nodded solemnly, her eyes averting to the suddenly fascinating pavement, refusing to meet his golden gaze and followed after him as they left for his car.

Their ride was taken in silence…a very awkward silence. It was starting to get to Sesshomaru. Kagome had not said a word since she had gotten into the car, and even then all she did was steal nervous glances at him once in a while. But most of the time she spent staring with a troubling expression out the window.

He knew somewhere, that he should be a bit angry at her for ignoring him. However, at the moment, Sesshomaru was more preoccupied with the thought of what to say himself.

What could he say? 'Kagome, I'm sorry I forgot to tell you, but there's a girl somewhere that I've never met but nonetheless agreed to marry?' He could just imagine the sharp slap across his cheek, and grimaced mentally at the thought.

He never felt such a strong resentment for his father as much as he did at that moment. Inutaisho knew of Kagome, how he felt about her and his serious relationship with the girl despite it being long distance. He knew how deep Sesshomaru's love ran for Kagome, how deep it still went…On top of that his father knew of his promise to her too.

'He knew and yet he still…'

Sesshomaru cursed his father for caring more about his bloody company more than he did for his own son's well-being. How in the hell did he allow himself to let Inutaisho win? 'I didn't,' He reminded himself. At the time, he felt so depressed and tired of it all, that he simply did not answer, and his father had taken his silence as a 'yes.'

He was so bitter about it that he could almost taste it on his tongue. Sesshomaru glanced at Kagome, who was now twisting the fabric of her skirt rather uncomfortably. He noticed her biting her lip, and refrained from the urge to kiss her.

After all, considering their current mood, it would only make things worse. He knew she was thinking the same thing he was. About this business arrangement that had so abruptly come up.

'Damn it, this was not the way I wanted it to work out…' He growled. He had never even met this woman after all, how could he possibly marry her? There was no way, whoever she was, could compare to his sweet Kagome.

Perhaps if he could just explain to her about how his father had forced him. That he had never met this girl, and had no intentions of going through with the marriage, that she would be the only one he wanted…maybe…

"Wait for me!"

A distant echo rang in his head. The voice of a Kagome in an airport three years ago.

"Always."

His chest began to ache painfully. It doesn't matter, in a way he had brought this upon himself. He had fought tooth and nail against his father about the arrangement, perhaps he would have Kagome in his arms, unconditionally, no secrets or lies attached.

But the truth remains. He didn't. He let it happen. He broke his promise. The throbbing in his chest became more painful, and he clutched the steering wheel tighter, gritting his teeth as he repressed a low growl of frustration.

"Sesshomaru?" Kagome's soft voice tugged at his attention, and he eased somewhat, staring over at her worried face. She looked at him gently, placing her hand on his arm in a comforting touch. "Are you alright, Sessho-kun?" Kagome asked earnestly, forgetting momentarily about the arrangement.

Sesshomaru stared at her, surprised as she began to move her hand to his forehead.

"You don't look too good," She murmured, looking him over as he slowed the car to a stop at the red light. In a second he grasped Kagome's wrist, his hand firm on her delicate hand. She gasped lightly when he brought her finger to his lips, kissing her knuckles tenderly.

"Kagome…" He whispered, his voice laced in what she could only recognize as sadness. Her sapphire eyes softened, seeing for the first time that she had known him…that he was afraid… 'Of what?' She couldn't quite place her finger on it, but when she tried to pull away her hand, he only held onto her tighter.

"Sesshomaru?"

"Do you love me?"

He asked so suddenly that it shocked Kagome into silence.

"O-Of course I love you…" She answered when she found her voice. "Since forever. You know that…"

"We are lovers?" Sesshomaru asked, his voice emotionless as ever, yet she knew he wanted to hear the answer more than anything.

"Yes, lovers," Kagome said the word rather shyly, as if it were a sacred prayer only permitted to be spoken by pure souls.

"And lovers…do not keep secrets from each other…"

"…No, there are no secrets between lovers." Kagome found herself growing redder with each word that passed her lips. Her hand was still held closely in Sesshomaru's grasp, and he caressed the back of her hand with his thumb as if it were silk. He kissed it again.

She could tell…this conversation was leading up to something, a something that she perhaps dreaded. He was growing nervous, she noticed, as he let out a heavy sigh. 'Is he trying to tell me something?' A twinge in her chest. 'Perhaps about….(gulp) the business arrangement that Naraku-sensei mentioned?'

"Kagome, I do not want to keep any secrets from you…" Sesshomaru began, his golden irises locking with her sapphire ones for the first time since they entered the car. "I…"

His voice trailed off, as if his voice was caught in his throat, and he was unable to let it out. Kagome's stomach began to twist with tension.

"Yes?" She urged, wanting to get this over with as much as he. 'It can't be all that terrible, right? RIGHT?!'

"The truth is, Kagome, I-"

BEEEEEEEEEEP!

The loud sound of a car's horn snapped them out of their moment, and Sesshomaru instantly let go of Kagome's hand. They looked to the back, where cars were honking loudly for them to notice that the light had gone green.

Muttering to himself, Sesshomaru put his hand back on the steering wheel, his eyes on the road, and traffic resumed. But apparently, that was the only thing that resumed, for judging from Sesshomaru's ice cold expression, he wasn't going to return to the topic. Still, Kagome made the attempt.

"What was it that you were going to say?" She asked cautiously.

"Nothing." He replied coldy. "It can wait until later."

Kagome sighed, slumping back against her seat and looked out the window once more. Her mind could not leave the conversation, yet she could tell that her boyfriend was doing everything in his power to avoid it.

She didn't like having this tension in between them, it just made him seem so much farther away-even when he was sitting right next to her.

Nonetheless, the awkward silence returned, and the drive continued as if the small intermission had never happened.

The air was turning cool by the time his car slowed to a stop to park by the dormitories. Kagome stared outside, knowing that this was her cue to step out and end this tension that clung so heavily to them. She bit her lower lip, glancing nervously over at Sesshomaru.

"Well, thanks for everything today…" She said softly pulling on the strap of her bookbag. Sesshomaru did not even move. Her heart sank, reaching for the knob of the door. It opened with a click, and she put a foot outside. "I guess I'll call you…or something. Well, um, bye."

Just as she as about to exit the car completely, she found that Sesshomaru's firm grip on her arm was holding her back. Kagome glanced back in surprise at him, almost melting when she saw his intense golden gaze on her.

"Sessho…"

"Promise me you won't ever leave me, Kagome…" He all but breathed.

"H-Huh?"

"Promise me!" She stared back at him, his expression no longer cold and expressionless, but almost pleading. Was…this what he was afraid of? Kagome smiled, leaning down and kissing him in a reassuring kiss.

"I promise."

Before she knew it, Sesshomaru had pulled her back down for another kiss, this time longer, passionate, and almost desperately hungry. Kagome noticed how feverish and almost possessively he consumed her, as if he was trying to make her stay with him, and by the gods he was deeply tempting her, his tongue caressing hers in the most seductive of ways.

She parted from him, ending it before actually did convince her to stay. Gasping for air, she stared flushed at him, seeing that he was equally panting for air, his eyes darkened in his desire and love. The look of worry still plagued him, however.

Kagome smiled, knowing not to push him. She gave him a quick peck on the lips and got out of the car.

"I really should go."

Sesshomaru watched her retreating form as she walked into the dormitories, sighing as he leaned almost tiredly against his seat. He had been so close to telling her, so close!

But at the last moment, the little nagging feeling in his head came back, the one that kept taunting her that Kagome would walk out of his life if she found out. He growled. Since when did he, Sesshomaru, subject to such little voices in his head?

His lips still tingled from her sweet kiss.

He loved feeling her lips against his, tasting her, holding her… if he revealed to her everything, would he be denied of such simple pleasures? Would he be denied Kagome?

Sesshomaru drove away from the dormitories, watching it in the rear view mirror as it grew smaller and smaller in the reflection. But after hearing her promise to him just now…a part of him felt more confident that she would not leave him. That she would still love him no matter what.

A smile curved his lips. She was an understanding creature, she never doubted him, and she loved unconditionally. He could not imagine a life without her, never could. 'And I don't want to…' He decided. He would never know how it felt to live without her laugher, her warmth and her kisses.

He would make her see that no matter what anyone else says, she is his soul mate. 'To hell with father,' Sesshomaru thought with a sudden welling of pride. 'To hell with the company…Kagome is mine. And I sure as hell am not going to give her up.'

Looking at his watch, Sesshomaru thought it just enough time to stop by the mall. There was one last thing he needed to pick up, and this certain thing happened to fit perfectly around Kagome's ring finger.

~ @ ~

"There you are!" Inuyasha's brash voice bellowed to her as soon as she entered. He walked briskly up to her as she closed the door with a gentle click.

"Hello to you too, Inuyasha," Kagome sighed, leaving her shoes by the door while the silver-haired boy took her book bag from her.

"The rest of your bags have been moved to your room, 'kay?"

"Okay, thanks."

"I didn't think you'd get back here later than me," He said honestly.

"Me neither," Kagome plopped down onto the couch, glancing at the t.v. to see what Inuyasha was watching.

"Geez, don't tell me you and Sesshomaru were at it again," He grunted. Kagome slapped his arm playfully.

"Get your mind out of the gutter. There's more to being boyfriend and girlfriend than just sex."

"There is?"

This earned him another slap, and he grimaced at her, a boyishly handsome grin on his face. However, it quickly disappeared when he saw her troubled expression.

"Hey, what's wrong Kagome?" He asked, his voice serious. She shrugged.

"I don't know…" She moaned. "It might not even be all the important-"

"Come on, 'Gome," Inuyasha urged, poking at her ribs and causing her to giggle momentarily. "I'm still your best friend right? You can tell me…"

She sat up, pulling her knees to her chest as she stared blankly at the television.

"Um…well, it's about Sesshomaru…"

'I knew it,' He sighed. After what his brother had talked to him at the soda shop earlier that day, he wasn't at all surprised that Kagome would be preoccupied with the subject as well. He waited for her to continue.

"He was acting all strange on the ride home. I mean…he started asking me if I loved him, and if we were lovers or not…"

"What?" Inuyasha almost choked. "Sesshomaru?" It was strange hearing his brother saying stuff like that, after all, he wasn't the mushy romantic type…

"Yeah, and then he…he said that lovers shouldn't keep secrets from each other…"

Inuyasha remained silent. He knew where this was going, and the puzzle pieces began to come together in his brain. 'He was going to tell her…' He thought. 'Or maybe…he did?'

"Inuyasha. You know earlier today, at the bookstore?"

(Gulp)

"Uh…Yeah?"

"And how Naraku said something about…um…uh…a business arrangement?" Kagome added the last part rather quietly.

"…Yeah."

"Well, he also told me that Sesshomaru was…a…a…"

"A what?" Inuyasha pressed, tense as he waited for her to finish.

"A player."

"WHAT?!"

"I'm just telling you what I heard!" She bemoaned. "I didn't believe him at first, but then Sesshomaru started acting all weird, and all that stuff he said to me just now…he was all afraid that I was going to leave him…AH!"

She buried her face into her hands.

"I don't know!" She whined, almost like an endearing child that Inuaysha could not help but put a comforting arm around her. He hated seeing Kagome like this.

"So, he didn't tell you, huh?"

"Tell me what?"

"Uh….."

Kagome glared at him.

"YOU KNOW TOO, DON'T YOU! What the hell is everyone keeping from me?" She pointed an accusing finger at him.

"Tell me, right now!"

The boy swallowed nervously.

"S-Sorry Kagome, but it's really not my place to tell you. I really think Sesshomaru should be the one to do this." As much as he was afraid of his best friend at the moment, he was more afraid of his brother. Kagome huffed, staring once more at the flickering screen.

Inuyasha cautiously put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I'll tell you one thing. Sesshomaru would never be unfaithful to you. He…he loves you." He almost choked out the words. For some reason, it was hard for him to say, even harder when Kagome turned back to look at him with pleading sapphire eyes that would make any guy melt.

"Honest?"

"Yeah," He comforted, smiling softly at her. "Don't listen to what that creep Naraku says. You're the only one my brother would ever look at." Kagome sniffed, and in a fleeting moment, she had Inuyasha in a tight hug, leaving him blushing and sputtering.

"Thanks Inu-chan, hearing it from you means everything to me." She muttered into his shirt. Inuyasha's face grew even redder. A bubbling feeling of warmth seemed to rise within his chest as the seconds ticked, looking away when she pulled away.

"Ah, you worry too much anyway," He scoffed, still looking at the opposite wall. Kagome giggled.

"Hey, Inu-chan…" She called out to him. He turned to her, seeing that she was looking at the television with a wide grin. "Were you watching Finding Nemo?"

Blush.

"N-NO!"

"Then what's that?" She pumped up the volume, and Dory the fish's voice boomed from the speaker.

"Essscaaapppaaaay! Hey that's funny, it's spelled exactly like Escape…"

Inuyasha quickly grabbed the remote from her and scowled.

"Hey, those fish are wicked cool."

"Hey, I believe you." She laughed. "Hey, is there any coffee here?"

"Um, no. But there is a vending machine downstairs."

Kagome sighed.

"Fine, if that's what it takes to get my caffeine. I'll be back soon. You want anything?"

"Um, yeah, Krispy Kreme donuts please."

"Somehow I don't think they don't have those in the vending machines."

~ @ ~

Kagome pounded her fist against the machine, cursing at it as it ate her quarter.

'Damn! I give you my money and you go and EAT it! Where's my coffee?!' As if her day hadn't been crappy enough, she was just about fed up and was about to kick it when all of a sudden a sharp "Ahem," brought her to the living world.

She looked up to see a girl with piercing crimson eyes staring at her, eyes that reminded her of a certain professor. Her aura radiated one of aggression, and Kagome could tell she was the type of girl that demanded attention.

She looked a bit older than herself, and if Kagome had to guess, she would've thought two or three years at the most. Her ebony hair was short, tied in a twisted ponytail in the back of her head, and her lips were almost as red as her eyes.

Kagome had to conclude that even though there was something scary about her, the girl was very pretty. 'Like a fashion model!'

"Um, hi?" Kagome broke the silence, feeling awkward under her intense gaze as she looked Kagome up and down.

"Do you live here?" She asked, not even bothering to say hello back. Kagome blinked.

"Yes, why? You need help finding your dorm or something?"

"No." She said quickly. "I'm looking for someone," her voice was bitter as she spoke, as if she really didn't want to be where she was.

"O-Oh? Who? Maybe I can help, though I just got here myself so…"

"Sesshomaru Taiyoukai."

Kagome froze, looking at the young lady closely, as she stared blandly back.

"Do…do you know him?"

She scoffed. Kagome swallowed.

"Are you a friend of his?" She asked nervously, noticing how incredibly plain she was next to the attractive girl as the minutes passed.

Still, she said nothing, glaring at Kagome with her crimson eyes, and crossing her arms over her chest. Finally, in a somewhat resentful tone, she answered.

"I'm Kagura. Sesshomaru's Fiancée."

End Chapter

~ @ ~

[A/N]

Yume: Agh! Sorry for the cliffie! But you know me, I love to write them. ^^

CF: But Yume hates to read them…

Yume: lol. Yes, such a hypocrite! So believe me, I know how flustered you all feel. Sorry for the late update. I caught a cold and I feel like crap.

CF: (nods) Plus, finals are coming up! STUDY! (goes to get hot chocolate and marshmellows)

Yume: Okay, stick around, next chapter: Will Sesshomaru get a chance to explain to Kagome? Or will she leave him, like he feared?

CF: SOAP OPERA!

Yume: Thanks for all of the reviews! WE LOVE YOU!

CF: Please read and review! No flames please. We know it's tempting, but please refrain. ^_^

Ja!