InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ LOVE LIFE ❯ Broken ( Chapter 9 )

[A/N]

Yume: Wai! Please don't hurt me! I didn't mean to leave it at an awful cliffie for weeks on end! XD

CF: (poke) Yume lies…it's actually been like a month.

Yume: (glares) need I remind you who pays your chocolate allowance?

CF: (whimpers)

Yume: Okay, finally the next chapter to LOVE LIFE! In the last chapter, Sesshomaru decides to make a big decision about him and Kagome, and while he goes off and make sure everything is perfect, Kagome meets the mystery woman!

CF: Drama-rama! Read on!

[Disclaimer]: Honestly people don't you ever tire of this?

===

LOVE LIFE

By: Youkai Yume

Chapter 9: Broken

The silence was deafening. The tension was so thick and heavy in the air that you could slice it with a knife. Golden eyes shifted from one girl to the other; one of which was nervous and somewhat frantic, the other cool and calm, and looked very bored.

Inuyasha sighed, watching as Kagome twisted the fabric of her skirt in her lap uncomfortably. Once in a while, she would steal a couple of glances to the woman named Kagura, who was sipping her tea daintily. She noticed both their eyes on her, looked up with a rather piercing gaze, and set her cup down.

"How long until Sesshomaru arrives?" She quipped impatiently. "I haven't got all day, and frankly I have better things to do," Kagura sat back against the chair, crossing her legs and staring around their dorm room with disgust.

Kagome squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the burning sensation that stung them to the brink of tears. 'No, it can't be true…Sesshomaru wouldn't…I mean, this is all a big misunderstanding…' She bit her lower lip, trying to seem even a little bit collected. Though, on the inside she was raging with uncertainty, not ever really quite recovered from their meeting.

After she had ran into Kagura in the hallway, Kagome had hesitantly lead her up to her dorm room, telling her she should wait with them until they reach Sesshomaru.

Though, at the time Kagome didn't want anything to do with the girl, and wanted to instead have played coy and lie about knowing Sesshomaru before sending her away. She silently cursed herself for being an honest person, and cursed even more at the fact that she wanted honesty in return.

'I have to know that what she says is true, that she's his…his…' Kagome shook her head, not even wanting to finish the sentence. She still refused to believe it. Not her Sesshomaru, it couldn't be… 'He promised me…'

She looked up once more at Kagura.

"Um, how long have you been…I mean, since when have you been…e-engaged to Sesshomaru?" Kagome's voice was trembling. She looked casually to her, crimson eyes cool and somewhat annoyed.

"Tch. For about two years now, I suppose…"

Kagome's heart seemed to have stopped, her sapphire eyes widening. 'Two years…Two whole years…' That must have been about a year after she left! And already Sesshomaru went and got himself another woman!

She felt like a hundred knives were piercing her heart, and it was breaking agonizingly slow. All the while, the words, 'She's lying, she's lying,' kept going over in her head over and over again. She refused to believe it until she heard it straight from Sesshomaru's mouth.

Inuyasha sat down next to Kagome and put an arm around her shoulder, squeezing it lightly in a comforting manner.

"It's okay, Kagome, things will be alright," He whispered softly to her when he saw the beginning of tears forming in her blue eyes.

Kagura raised an eyebrow at them.

"You too are sweet, but will you please answer the question? When is he going to be here? I swear…"

Inuyasha looked up, glaring at her.

"Geez, will ya just wait? We're going to get him to come as soon as possible!" He snapped, almost snarling at her. They both glared at each other, Kagura huffing before she slumped back against her seat. Inuyasha gave Kagome's shoulder a tiny squeeze once more, which she was grateful for the comfort, then stood up and entered the kitchen.

The silver-haired boy glanced backwards at the two of them, a scowl coming onto his features as he observed Kagura sipping her tea sourly.

'Damn. I didn't think she'd find out this way…' He thought, looking ruefully once more to his best friend who was near trembling. Picking up the phone, Inuyasha began dialing the familiar phone number for what seemed to be the hundredth time that day.

Pressing it against his ear, he tapped impatiently as he waited for it to pick up, the constant ringing in his ear getting to be an extreme annoyance.

"C'mon, pick up the damn phone, Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha grumbled under his breath.

Needless to say, just as he was really getting into Finding Nemo, Kagome had come in. He would have goaded her for the coffee that she promised to bring back if not for the fact that there was a strange woman behind her. The cold stare that she sent him rivaled even his brother's, and it had sent shivers up his spine.

He was beyond shocked when Kagome introduced her with a shaky voice.

"Inuyasha, this is Kagura…she's…she's…" Kagome's voice had been lost, and she was unable to finish the sentence, her frame trembling.

"I'm here for Sesshomaru Taiyoukai," The woman had answered coldly.

Shit. That was the only word that had resounded in his head-the only thing that still resounded in his head. Gathering from Kagome's reaction to the words, he could only conclude that this Kagura was the one…the woman that Sesshomaru had been forced into betrothal. And now, Inuyasha only feared the worst.

The brothers had never met this woman herself, but now that the younger of the two did, he felt simply terrible for Kagome. 'She must feel even worse sitting next to her…' He was a male. Kagura's beauty did not go unnoticed, even though she was snobby as hell with an attitude of a snake.

After ringing for what seemed the hundredth time, the automatic messaging came on, and Inuyasha cursed under his breath. Once the beep went off to activate the recording Inuyasha wasted no time.

"SESSHOMARU WHERE ARE YOU?! PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE! I've been trying to reach you all friggin' day! Listen, as soon as you get this, call back! It's about Kagome!!"

He hung up the receiver, sighing and scratching his silver head uselessly as he allowed amber eyes to travel back to the main room. Kagome looked like she wanted to curl up into a ball in the corner of the room.

His heart seemed to ache for the young girl. He hated to see his best friend in pain…he never thought she deserved to look so tortured as she did now. Kagome…his Kagome didn't deserve this. He silently cursed his brother for not telling her sooner, for not straightening things out with her before all of this happened.

And now…now his as well as her happiness was on but a single thread-one that was deadly thin, and was about to snap any moment. He wasn't sure what Kagome would choose…

Slowly, Inuyasha looked back to the phone, expecting it to ring any second. But…it remained silent. Sighing one more time, he went back to the couch, seating himself beside Kagome, who looked up at him with a heartbreakingly sad expression.

He bit his lower lip, pulling her into his embrace and holding her gently.

"I promise…things are going to be okay, it's not what it seems…"

Kagome hung onto his red shirt tightly, pressing her face into the crook of his neck.

"I don't want to look at her…" She whispered quietly so that only he could hear. Almost reluctantly, Inuyasha ran his hand up and down her back soothingly, ignoring the warmth of her body against his own.

A scoff was heard across the room, and he shot a glare over at Kagura, who sipped her tea tersely.

"So what? Is she your girlfriend or something? Sorry if I was interrupting anything…" She almost mocked.

"Will you just shut up?!" Inuyasha snapped.

"That's no way to speak to your guests," She simply said, her tone caustic.

"Believe me, you're not wanted," He bit back, his amber eyes glittering in challenge.

Kagura slammed her cup down upon the table, splattering the contents slightly onto the coffee table. She stood up, her crimson eyes narrowed in a dangerous glare, her hands formed into fists.

"You insolent, obnoxious dog!" She spat, her voice rising.

Inuyasha was just about to get up as well, and personally kick her out, but Kagome's grip tightened on him holding him back as if to keep him with her. He settled for growling low at her instead.

"Fine, it's not like I want to be here myself. I'll just leave you two to your mindless endeavors," Kagura snapped, turning heel to leave.

"Yeah, good riddance!" Inuyasha yelled over his shoulder as her footfalls resounded to the door, "And don't you ever come back here you stupid wench!"

"Like I would WANT come back to this filthy dump." The door slammed loudly, and as soon as she left, Kagome let the tears fall onto Inuyasha' shirt, clutching him tightly.

Nervously, the boy held her shaking form, rubbing her back comfortingly and hushing her as she whimpered cries into his hair.

It was all a mixed jumble, but he managed to catch words like:

"It can't be….not true…she's lying…he promised…"

'Sesshomaru,' He growled. 'Damnit, where are you? If you don't do something you're going to lose her!'

===

Golden eyes scanned through the many items of sparkling jewelry displayed before them. All of which were intricately made, shining with unparalleled luster, and all of which were rings…

Sure, he knew he could pick any one of the expensive rings and she would be happy. Kagome was easily satisfied…but no, this wasn't just some random gift he was going to give her…this was special. And he wanted it to be absolutely perfect; he wanted to find the piece that would match her sapphire eyes-though he doubted any would be able to outshine her irises.

In fact, he doubted that any of the jewelry could ever match Kagome's beauty. An unknown feeling of butterflies fluttering in his stomach seemed to manifest with each second that passed as he was looking through the glass cases.

A part of him couldn't believe that he was even here in the first place, let alone looking for an engagement ring. Sesshomaru Taiyoukai, the once cold and emotionless man contemplating marriage…it was almost a matter to be laughed at, if he had not been so serious about it.

Soft footsteps could be heard, and Sesshomaru looked up to see the shopkeeper-a plump, middle-aged woman with blonde hair and big spectacles smiling amiably at him.

"Hello, sir, and how may I help you?" She asked in a cheery voice.

"I'm looking for a ring…" He started, his golden gaze returning to the display items. The woman nodded.

"Ah, yes, the men's rings are over in this section-"

"No," Sesshomaru interrupted, "I'm getting it for my girlfriend," He finished, looking up at her. She smiled, and chuckled, a twinkle in her eye.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Is it a gift?" She asked, approaching him. Sesshomaru shook his head, running slender fingers through his silver hair.

"No, it's more serious than that…"

The lady's eyes widened, and she smiled broadly, a knowing sparkle ran through her beady black eyes.

"My! That certainly does call for a ring!" She joked, causing the young man to roll his eyes slightly. She gestured over to where she stood, which he complied, pointing to the rings in the display.

He looked at them all carefully. They were all beautiful, yes, but not quite the one he wanted for his Kagome.

"See anything you like?" She asked. Slowly, Sesshoamru shook his head.

"I'm afraid not…"

"Oh, well, I have more!" She pressed, not wanting Sesshomaru to leave. (judging from his clothes she concluded that he had more than enough money) The saleswoman pulled out boxes from behind the counter-from what Sesshomaru surmised as the "really expensive jewelry" as they seemed to be ten times more beautiful than the displayed items.

She placed them in front of him, her hands folded together.

"Oh, by the way. It would probably help if you preferred the ring gold or silver?"

Sesshomaru thought for a moment. Kagome didn't seem like the gold type of person…

"Silver," He said firmly. Yes, he had always thought the girl was more compatible with silver-pure, simple, and elegantly beautiful over the shinier and attention drawing gold.

The shopkeeper smiled and pulled out more boxes-this time with silver rings out for him to see. After closely examining each one a glimmer of sapphire caught his eye, and he was immediately drawn to it.

Sesshomaru picked it up, examining it carefully. It was a silver band, with a sapphire gem in the middle, on either side of it were little designs and charms. 'Perfect,' He thought. After making sure it was the right ring size, the woman put it in an elegant velvet box, and Sesshomaru paid her a pretty penny.

As he exited the shop, Sesshomaru couldn't help but feel the bubbling excitement increase ten-fold. 'I'm going to ask Kagome to marry me,' He thought over in his head, and still he repeated it over and over again, the disbelief never quite settling in.

A little voice in his head asked him if it was a bit impulsive, if all that he was doing was derived from the simple fact that he was afraid Kagome would leave him. True, the very thought of living a life without Kagome brought him the deepest of sorrows-so much so that it hurt just to think about it.

But now that he thought more and more about it, he WANTED it. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, share every waking moment with her filling his senses. He wanted Kagome near him always, in his arms every night, hear her voice every morning, and feel her touch forever.

He almost scoffed at his own thoughts. 'Have I really grown into such a sentimental fool?'

Love brings even the mightiest trembling to their knees…

A small smile curved his lips. Before he knew it, he had allowed Kagome to become everything that he lived for, and he almost kicked himself for not realizing that he should have fought tooth and nail against his father that fateful day. To make Inutaisho see that he could care less about he company and that the business may be his father's life, but Kagome was his.

Of course, Sesshomaru knew he was risking being disowned from the family by just contemplating marriage with Kagome, let alone going out to buy the ring and everything. But at the moment, he could care less. Let his father hate and ban him from sight. Let him spit his shame and ridicule upon his eldest son.

'Heck, Inuyasha can take over the company,' He thought to himself, mentally chuckling at the thought of his younger brother running a prestigious establishment, then shuddering as he thought more and more about it. But that was beside the point.

He wanted this more than anything-no, he needed Kagome more than air. He had fallen completely and unconditionally in love with her. Sesshomaru had always felt like he never deserved someone as pure as his sapphire-eyed angel. Someone as cruel, disheartened like him…he had always believed he would be alone, despite being around with others.

And now that he had found heaven, he wasn't going to let it go. 'I won't let HER go.'

It wasn't just about the engagement; he wasn't just using Kagome to get out of it. No. He wanted to be with her now and always. 'First I'll tell her, and…if she's willing to forgive me…' Sesshomaru's hand tightened around the velvet box in his pocket. 'Then I'll propose.'

To hell with his father. If he cut him off from all financial funds, Sesshomaru knew he could get a job. There were more than enough willing people to hire him, and he take care of Kagome. They could start a new life together, just the both of them, without anyone else trying to come in between them.

Sesshomaru's smile widened a mental picture of his future family formed in his head. 'Gods, I must be in love if all of these completely cheesy thoughts keep coming into my head.'

Approaching his car, he unlocked it and climbed inside, slumping against the seat and sighing almost heavily. Should he propose to her tonight? Or later? No…he had to tell her of the engagement first… Just as he was about to start the car, Sesshomaru saw a blinking light out of the corner of his eye. He realized that it was his cell phone.

The blue LCD screen was blinking with the words: 1 new message; and 8 missed calls.

Picking it up, his golden eyes seemed to narrow when he realized that all of them had been from Inuyasha's dorm. 'What could he possibly want?' He mused. 'Must be important if he's willing to bug me this much…'

He activated the voice message, and just as soon as he did, Inuyasha's gruff, loud, and very angry voice could be heard through the ear piece.

"SESSHOMARU WHERE ARE YOU?! PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE! I've been trying to reach you all friggin' day! Listen, as soon as you get this, call back! It's about Kagome!!"

At the mention of Kagome, Sesshomaru's expression grew serious, and he quickly dialed Inuyasha's number. A sudden worry came over him. 'About Kagome? Did something happen to her?' The anxiety was eating away at him, as the rings seemed endless before the phone finally picked up.

"What's going on? Is Kagome okay?!" He all but barked, not even letting Inuyasha say "hello."

"Feh! It's about damn time!" Came Inuyasha's voice. "Just where have you been? Why didn't you pick up? Did you ignore me because my name came up in the caller id?" He gruffly asked.

Sesshomaru growled.

"I left my phone in the car, and didn't get your calls until I got back in. NOW WHAT HAPPENED TO KAGOME????" He snapped, almost screaming through the phone.

"Heh, I take it then that psycho witch hasn't found you yet?" Inuyasha scoffed.

"Psycho witch? You're not making any sense, stop it with the games and get to the point already!"

"There was some lady here just a couple of minutes ago, claimed that she was your fiancé or something!"

The color from Sesshomaru's face drained and it was all he could do just to hold the phone to his ear.

"That fucking bitch…Said a lot of mean things too. Kagome was crushed. Sesshomaru, she knows…"

Sesshomaru didn't hear past 'Kagome was crushed.' His chest began to throb and a panic grew in him.

"Gods no…" He whispered to himself.

"The woman's name was Kagura. She left not too long ago, but I think you'd better come over all the same. Kagome hasn't stopped crying ever since."

"Gods no…" Sesshomaru repeated again.

"Hurry!!!"

With that, he clicked the phone close, and turned his engine on. His car was speeding at a rate at which he was sure he was going to get a ticket for. But he didn't care. All that was on his mind was Kagome, and her ruined plans. 'I didn't want…not like this…'

===

The tears had finally stopped-much to Inuyasha's relief, but her eyes were red and puffy from crying, and now shining with something akin to anger, disbelief, and lost resolve.

"Where the hell are you going to go?" He shouted at her, watching as she looked furiously around for her coat.

"I need air," She said frostily, wiping furiously at the remainder of tears from her eyes. They still burned, and her whole body still ached, but she knew that if she stayed in one place any longer, she would break down completely. She needed to cool off, and fast.

"Listen, just sit tight for a sec! Sesshomaru's coming over right now, and I-"

"I don't know if I can face him…" Kagome said quietly, her voice cracking. She looked at the silver-haired boy with liquid blue eyes, her expression pleading. Not saying another word, Kagome put on her shoes and prepared to leave.

Her hand grasped the door, turning the knob and opening it, when she stopped dead in her tracks. There in the doorway was Sesshomaru Taiyoukai, his silver hair disheveled for once, his golden eyes shining in worry, and he was panting hard.

"Kagome-"

SLAM! She shut the door as quickly as she could before he could enter, pushing her back against it and just standing there, a forlorn feeling engulfing her. 'I can't face him!'

Inuyasha was looking through the hallway, his mouth agape at seeing her just slam the door in his older brother's face.

On the other side, Sesshomaru pressed against the door, his heart tearing to shreds, as he caught a glimpse of he heartbroken expression. 'Please no, don't let it end like this…'

"Kagome, Please! Let me explain!" He pleaded, his emotionless voice of ice gone, only to be replaced with one of desperation and pain. "Open up, Kagome! Kagome…Kagome…" He pounded his fist against the wooden frame, hoping that she'd hear him.

He could hear soft whimpers and sobs on the other side of the door very clearly, and he guessed that she was probably still at the doorway. Sesshomaru pressed his entire body on the door now, his ear pressed close.

"Kagome…Please…" He whispered.

After a deathly long silence, he heard a few sniffles on the other side, and Kagome's cracked voice spoke.

"I-Is it true?"

His heart nearly leapt at hearing her. At least she was speaking to him…Still, he dreaded to answer.

"I…"

"Sesshomaru. No more lies…Is it true? Your business arrangement…the one Naraku spoke of…this was it wasn't it? You were engaged to be married…to…to…Kagura?" She choked, and he wanted to kill himself right then and there as he imagined the streaks of tears running down her face this very instance.

"Kagome…Please…Open this door."

A long silence, and then, he could hear a slight click, and the doorknob slowly turned and the wooden door creaked open. He was faced with a miserable looking Kagome, and he wanted nothing more than to sweep her up in his arms and whisper words of comfort and love in her ear. But right now, he was sure Kagome didn't even want him to touch her.

She stepped backwards, letting him in.

He did so hesitantly, his golden eyes never leaving hers. The tension in the room seemed to have spiked ten-fold.

"Please tell me it isn't true," She pleaded, her irises glittering with tears.

He wished he could've erased this and started over, he wished he refused his father when he had told him of the absurd idea, he wished he didn't have to be standing right now at Kagome's doorstep pleading for understanding and mercy. He wished he didn't have to tell her like this. But he couldn't hide from her anymore. Kagome would not budge, and he knew that if he evaded the subject any further, their relationship was gone for sure.

"…It's true…"

"NO!" She screamed, her hands instantly shot up to cover her ears. "No! No! No! No!" She shook her head violently, backing away from Sesshomaru and stumbling into the living room. He ran towards her, but with each step that he took forward, she retreated. And with each step, his heart seemed to break.

"You PROMISED ME!!" She screamed, the tears flowing freely from her sapphire orbs. "You said you'd wait for me! You said you LOVED ME! And I BELIEVED YOU!" Kagome's expression was one of heartbreaking anger, she seemed to be radiating with rage, and at the same time all consuming sadness.

Sesshomaru reached one hand towards her, trying to touch her.

"Kagome-"

"And just as soon as I left you went and got yourself another girl…" Her body was shaking uncontrollably now. "Tell me, Sesshomaru, was she just some comfort toy for you to indulge in while I was gone? Were you always going to cheat on me with her? Or were you with her the entire time?" Kagome spat, her anger shining more than her sorrow now.

"Kagome! It's not like that!" Sesshomaru urged, desperate to get Kagome to listen, but the girl wouldn't stop, nearly hysterical in her tears.

"Oh, don't give me all the stupid nonsense about how you fell in love with her-enough for marriage! Enough to leave me, and throw what we had away! But hey! I shouldn't be surprised, we were only together for a week, right? I was just a fling!"

Sesshomaru shook his head violently, his breathing ragged and his chest and stomach twisted painfully under Kagome's broken words. He had to make her see…he couldn't lose her! And yet he felt she was slipping farther and farther away with each word that she threw at him.

Not able to stand it anymore, he took her roughly by the shoulders, in which she struggled from his grasp, wincing under his touch. He would never admit it, but it tore at his insides like a hot knife through butter.

"Kagome! Please listen to me, I can explain!"

"Explain WHAT?" She spat. "That it was all just PUPPY LOVE? That when I got back, I was just an opportunity for you to have some sexual fling until the wedding day? You were going to leave me in the dust once you take that Kagura bitch to the alter?!" Kagome was far beyond reason now. She was so angry that it clouded all of her judgement.

At the moment, all she wanted was to get away from him. The man that she had grown to love more than life…but he obviously didn't feel the same way. All this time, pining and yearning for him, all this time searching for a way to get back to his arms….all for nothing.

Sesshomaru's grip on her shoulders was painful now, and his eyes glowed a determined look. His arms wrapped around her trembling frame and he held her close to himself. Kagome used all of her strength to get out of his unwanted embrace. But to no avail, he only tightened it further.

"Please Kagome, STOP! It's not like that…"

"LET GO OF ME! YOU PROMISED ME! YOU PROMISED!" She uttered the words over and over again, still not able to believe that he had broken something so sacred. "YOU PROMISED!!!"

"KAGOME!" He called out desperately. But all of his pleading words were lost, as Kagome managed to pull away only just enough to send her hand flying right across his cheek in a deafening slap, using all of her strength, sorrow, and feelings of betrayal into the blow.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!"

It sent Sesshomaru stumbling backwards, his hold on her slackened, and he let go of her entirely. Holding his body against the wall, Sesshomaru stood absolutely still with his head to the side. His golden eyes were widened in shock, letting the pain of her rejection sink in more than the stinging pain that she left on his left cheek.

Everything seemed lost to him, as he stood there, hearing only the sound of Kagome's sobs and her dying footsteps as she undoubtedly ran out of the dorm. In the background, he could hear his brother shouting and pleading for her to come back.

And then there was silence. Deafening, all consuming silence. She wasn't coming back.

'Kagome…' He brought a trembling hand to his red cheek, wincing when his fingertips made contact with the stinging skin.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!"

Her words rang over and over again in his head,.

"YOU PROMISED!"

His legs lost all feeling in them, he slid down against the wall until he landed onto the floor, his breathing ragged and his body ached all over.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!"

In that one moment, Sesshomaru felt his whole life crash down. A painful feeling scratched from the inside of his chest, his whole being felt numb with pain.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!"

The sound of heavy footsteps could be heard, and for a wild second, he imagined it to be his loving Kagome, come back to forgive him, and take him into her arms and kiss him senseless. But all of his hopes were crushed when his brother's face came into view.

Inuyasha kneeled down beside his elder sibling, a look of worry and apology on his face.

"Sesshomaru, she left. C'mon! Get up! You have to get to her! Get her to listen! None of it was true!!!" He panted.

And as much as he wanted to do so. As much as he wanted to run to his Kagome and plead her understanding, fix this entire catastrophe, he couldn't. Sesshomaru's entire body was numb, and he couldn't move. The pain from his stinging cheek seemed to have spread all over his being with a searing white pain,that never seemed to fade.

"YOU PROMISED!"

All he could do was mutter one word over and over, as if it was the only word he was capable of saying.

"Kagome. Kagome. Kagome." His eyes seemed to glaze over with an empty pain, and yet he did nothing to stop the tears from blurring his vision, falling from his eyes, and streaming down his face. "Kagome. Kagome. Kagome."

'It wasn't supposed to be this way…'

Steadily his eyes seemed to droop, his body seemed unable to hold up his frame and he slowly fell. Inuyasha called out in concern somewhere in the distance, but he couldn't hear his cries.

'Not like this…Not…'

Falling to the floor, Sesshomaru slipped into the fading black darkness, letting it claim him into unconsciousness.

His brother tried desperately to wake him, in his plight not noticing the velvet box that slipped from Sesshomaru's pocket.

The remnants left of a broken dream.

End Chapter

Yume: GOMEN! Sorry so much for the EXTREMELY LONG WAIT! Even sorrier for the no doubt tons of mistakes in there. (sweatdrop)

CF: Not to mention, Yume-sama left it at a horrible spot…Maybe Yume overdid the angst?

Yume: Arg…I know, Kagome was being a bit stubborn in not listening. But I think it's a bit like Kagome to be impulsive and rash at times. Hey, wouldn't you if you just found out the love of our life happened to be engaged for nearly two years out of the three that you've been apart, and didn't even bother to tell you? So yeah. Sorry if Kagome seemed TOO stubborn and rash, but afterall, it IS my fic, and it's crucial to the plot. Also, you may notice a little Kagome and Inuyasha interaction. Gomen for that too! But it's also crucial…

CF: Currently this chapter is only posted on A Single Spark; The Killing Perfection; and Mediaminer.org

Yume: Until I get things straightened out on fanfiction.net, new updates for my stories will only be on these sites. That being said, it may be a while, for my deadline for the Rising Stars contest draws closer, the next week or so will be entirely devoted to finishing that.

CF: THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR REVIEWS! PLEASE DROP ANOTHER ONE! No flames please!