InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Not Soon Forgotten ❯ No More Waiting ( Chapter 12 )

Sesshoumaru made his way to the small art gallery not too long after he got off of the phone with John. The man had not sounded like himself and Sesshoumaru was genuinely curious as to why. Perhaps it was that woman who liked his painting? That was probably the best conclusion; John always did act differently around a beautiful woman.

 

He shook himself from his thoughts and entered the gallery. The small chiming bell brought John out immediately from his office. One look at Sesshoumaru and the wheels in John's head began turning.

 

“Hey Sesshoumaru!” John shouted.

 

Sesshoumaru raised a suspicious brow and John's over-exuberance. Now he knew that something was going on with him.

 

“John-is everything…okay?” Sesshoumaru asked almost hesitantly.

 

“Of course it is! I just met a wonderful young woman who told me the most incredible story!” John exclaimed. “It was the woman who liked your painting.”

 

“Do tell,” Sesshoumaru said out of mild curiosity.

 

“Well, she was a very lovely young woman, but the poor thing has a mild case of amnesia. She can't remember anything that happened within the last year or so and so for the past six months she's been trying to piece her life back together. Isn't that awful?” John told him a bit too happily.

 

“Indeed,” Sesshoumaru commented. “So this woman took the painting?”

 

“Well, no not yet. I told her to come back tomorrow after I talked to you about pricing.”

 

Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding. “I stand by what I said; she may have it. I have no use for it anymore.”

 

On the outside John was indifferent, but on the inside he was grinning like a Cheshire cat. As soon as he had hung up with Sesshoumaru earlier, he had made a few phone calls to some of his fellow art dealers. One of them just so happened to know Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru's younger brother, who just so happened to know Kagome.

 

Inuyasha had been more than happy to tell Kagome's story if it meant that Sesshoumaru and she would finally come together and talk about their situation. Inuyasha had told John that as much as he loved Kagome, she was as stubborn as a mule when it came to changing her mind about something she had already decided on.

 

John had been all too willing to set Sesshoumaru and Kagome up after Inuyasha had told him about Kagome's situation. Sesshoumaru had merely existed for the past six months. He never did anything of any excitement and quite frankly, he was beginning to worry.

 

So with the help of Inuyasha, John had developed a plan that was extremely simple, but would be quite effective.

 

“Sesshoumaru,” John began, “I would like you to get a hold of a friend of mine. He is another art dealer and it would probably be useful to have your painting hanging in more than one gallery.”

 

“I have no need to take my business elsewhere. Having my work in your gallery is giving me a steady income,” Sesshoumaru casually pointed out.

 

“Yes, but Sesshoumaru,” John tried again,” He is really good at what he does, and wouldn't it be nice to have some extra money to travel again? Perhaps back to the home in Hawaii you're constantly going on about?”

 

“I suppose,” Sesshoumaru said with another raised eyebrow. “If it will keep you from bothering me you may give me his number.”

 

John wanted to laugh aloud that his plan was taking shape. “Well you see, I lost his card, but you can look it up in the phone book. His last name is Higurman, you can use the phone book at my desk if you'd like.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Sesshoumaru moved towards the desk and opened the phone book that was conveniently placed out on the desk for him to find. Scanning through the pages, Sesshoumaru looked for John's friend Higurman, but his finger stilled when he ran across the name of Higurashi, Kagome. He had not thought of looking her up before, but now, when her address was right in front of him, he could not help himself.

 

Sesshoumaru grabbed a small piece of paper and a pen and quickly jotted down her address before folding the paper and tucking it safely in his coat pocket. He then found the other name he was looking for and wrote that down as well; not exactly positive that he would even call.

 

“Did you find it Sesshoumaru?” John asked from a back room.

 

Sesshoumaru did not answer, but instead he left the gallery without as much as a `see you later' to John.

 

John came out of the back room after not receiving an answer and realized that Sesshoumaru was no longer there. He finally released his smile and walked over to the desk and saw that the phone book had been left open to the page that Kagome's name and address was on.

 

“Ha! What till Inuyasha hears about this!”

 

 

****

 

 

The next day found Kagome lounging lazily in her easy chair with her favorite book in her hands. She had gone back to the gallery as promised to pick up the painting that Sesshoumaru had done of her. She was not vain by any means, but the painting itself was done exquisitely and she could not and would not pass up the opportunity to bring herself even just a little bit closer to her supposed fiancé.

 

Imagine her pleasant surprise when she went to get it and the gallery owner had told her that Sesshoumaru said to give it to her for free. At first she was worried that the owner, John, had told Sesshoumaru that it was she who was taking the painting. But after he had assured her that he had kept his promise of secrecy from Sesshoumaru, she had gratefully accepted the gift.

 

So now it hung in her bedroom as a sort of goal for herself; to become the woman in the painting that known and loved the man Sesshoumaru. Lately her dreams of him had become more detailed. She had even remembered a conversation that they had had on the cruise she could not remember.

 

It had been a nice, slightly-drunken, conversation:

 

“You know Sesshoumaru,” she said. He didn't miss the fact that she didn't use his last name this time while addressing him. Ah, the wonders of alcohol. “You're exactly how I imagined you to be.”

 

“Ah, so you've thought of me before?” Sesshoumaru asked amusedly.

 

“Well yes, I mean, what red blooded woman hasn't thought of you in one way or another,” she stated.

 

“And precisely which way have you thought of me Kagome?”

 

“That's for me to know and for you to-”

 

“Find out?” Sesshoumaru interrupted. “I'd be delighted.”

 

“Don't be crafty Sesshoumaru. Your skills may have worked on other women, but I for one, am not falling for it.”

 

“You cannot blame me for trying,” he stated. “You know you're a lot easier to speak with when you have been drinking.”

 

“Yes, so I've been told. I guess I'm not very good at holding my liquor; I'll only have one more glass after this.”

 

Kagome smiled at the fond memory; it was the clearest one she had of him and she cherished it deeply.

 

“Ok Ms. Higurashi,” her housekeeper announced, breaking the spell that Kagome was in. “I think I am finished here for the day. Is there anything else I can do for you while I'm here?”

 

“No Lindsay, please, go home and relax. You deserve it,” Kagome said with a smile.

 

Lindsay thanked her and walked towards the door. She stopped and turned to Kagome again. “You seem happier today Ms. Higurashi. It's nice to see your smile again.”

 

As if reinforcing Lindsay's position, Kagome gifted her with another smile. She then sat back again in her chair to read her book.

 

Lindsay shook her head and smiled herself. She was privy to what Kagome was going through and sympathized with her adamantly. She turned and opened the door but was startled when she saw someone blocking her way.

 

“Excuse me,” Sesshoumaru asked Lindsay. “But does Ms. Higurashi reside here?”

 

Lindsay could do nothing but stare dumbly at him with her mouth open. She managed a small nod and then glanced back with her eyes.

 

Sesshoumaru followed her gaze and noticed Kagome sitting in a chair near a fireplace wearing much the same expression that the woman who opened the door was. He stared at Kagome, trying to think of the best thing to say to her, but could not make out any words. Deciding that the best way to start a conversation with her was to actually say something, Sesshoumaru said the only thing he could think of.

 

“Hello.”

 

Kagome said nothing as she continued to stare at him in disbelief. Sesshoumaru was actually here in her apartment and no doubt came looking for answers from her and she had no idea what she was going to tell him.

 

Sesshoumaru took off his coat and set them on a coat rack that was close to the door. Lindsay smiled to herself and then quietly bowed out of the room, giving the two of them some much needed privacy so that they could hash things out.

 

Sesshoumaru walked over to the still silent Kagome and sat down on the table in front of her.

 

“How are you Kagome?” he asked her.

 

“F-fine. It's, uh, good to see you,” Kagome told him.

 

Sesshoumaru let out a nearly inaudible breath. This was a start.

 

“It's good to see you too Kagome. How are you feeling? I did not interrupt anything did I?”

 

“No, I was-I was just reading,” Kagome said quickly. She swallowed the large lump in her throat that had slowly started to constrict her breathing. She was beyond anxious having him so close to her, yet she could not look away from those familiar eyes.

 

Sesshoumaru stood then and casually walked around. “That's good; I'm glad to hear that you are well.”

 

“And you? How are you?”

 

Sesshoumaru looked at her and then shrugged. “I have been…well, I have been reasonable,” he settled. He did not want to tell her that he had been absolutely miserable the past six months without her; without knowing what happened. “It's been a long time.”

 

“Yes, I suppose it has,” Kagome replied. “It's-it's good to see you.”

 

“Yes, you've already said that,” Sesshoumaru pointed out. He walked over to the chair next to her and motioned towards it. “May I sit down?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“I won't take up too much of your time,” he told her. “I only just stopped by to see how you were.”

 

“It's okay; I don't mind,” Kagome assured him.

 

Sesshoumaru sighed and sat back in the chair. He felt like a blubbering fool not being able to form complete sentences. In his defense, Kagome seemed to be as nervous as he was. He cleared his throat and continued as best as he could.

 

“I suppose you are wondering how I got here?” he asked her.

 

Kagome nodded her head, but did not say anything.

 

“Well,” Sesshoumaru began, “I was looking in the telephone book for someone with the last name of Higurman and then I saw your name, Higurashi, Kagome.”

 

Sesshoumaru looked at her and she pulled in her bottom lip between her teeth. It was such a simple way of finding her that she had not even thought of the possibility of him using that method.

 

“I began to think to myself,” Sesshoumaru continued, “if this was the same Kagome Higurashi that was an old friend of mine.”

 

“-And it was,” Kagome offered.

 

Sesshoumaru nodded his head. “Yes, it was. I thought that the least I could do was come by and speak with you. You see, I had an appointment with this friend of mine in July, but I did not keep it.”

 

Kagome furrowed her brows in confusion. She could not remember any appointment that they had made with each other, but apparently, like he had admitted, he missed it. So, he came to apologize.

 

“You-you didn't keep your appointment?” Kagome asked him.

 

“No, I am afraid I did not,” he continued. “And I do not believe that is a great way to treat an old friend.”

 

Sesshoumaru's voice began to hold a rather sarcastic tune to it, and Kagome had to wonder if he was the one to actually miss the appointment. Starting to put some of the pieces together, Kagome calculated that it was July when she had her accident.

 

Her eyes widened at this new revelation; she had been the one to stand him up, although not purposely. A flash of her memory streaked across her mind then. She remembered looking up at the Empire State building and having a feeling of euphoria when she observed the top.

 

“No, I don't suppose that is a great way to treat a friend, is it?” Kagome agreed.

 

“No, it's not. So please accept my apologies,” Sesshoumaru said with a small bow.

 

“There-there's no need to apologize. I-” Kagome started.

 

“I thought so.”

 

“You know; I've thought about you a lot,” Kagome told him. “I've wondered how you were.”

 

“I've thought about you quite often as well. So,” he questioned, “you were not angry with me for missing our appointment?”

 

Kagome thought about her answer. She still was not completely ready to tell him about her amnesia; the last thing she wanted was for him to feel sorry for her and burden himself. She thought over her possible answers and decided to go with the flow and answer how she thought he would have felt.

 

“Well, at first I was angry,” she lied. “I mean, wouldn't you be?”

 

“Indeed I would be. Did you wait long for me? How long did you wait?” he asked her.

 

“Well, I-I waited until-”

 

“Two in the morning.”

 

Kagome worried her bottom lip and felt tears form in her eyes. So, he had waited hours for her to show up at this appointment they had set and she never showed. Still, what was so important about the meeting?

 

“Then what did you do?” Sesshoumaru asked her.

 

“W-well,” Kagome began nervously. She really hated being toyed with, but better to keep up appearances. “I…you can imagine that I was getting pretty angry standing, waiting up there-”

 

“-In a thunderstorm,” Sesshoumaru quickly added.

 

Kagome let one tear fall. She felt absolutely awful that he had waited up there, in the rain, for her and she could not even remember him completely. The man in front of her obviously loved her a great deal for putting up with so much, and if he were to know that she could not even remember him…well she could only imagine what a slap in the face that would be.

 

She sighed. “In a thunderstorm,” she repeated quietly.

 

“And then, what did you say to yourself?” Sesshoumaru continued on with his line of farce questioning.

 

“I suppose I told myself to go home, dry off, and have a drink,” Kagome sighed.

 

Sesshoumaru shook his head. “But you did not do that did you?”

 

“I didn't?”

 

“No. Well, perhaps you did drink a little, say every hour for about a month,” Sesshoumaru stated as he stood up from his chair.

 

Kagome swallowed loudly and closed her eyes. Perhaps she should just get this over with and tell him. “Sesshoumaru-”

 

“No. I do not believe I am finished,” he said now rather agitated. “The least I could have done was leave a note, but I did not. And I promised that if we were to ever see each other again that I would explain.”

 

Kagome was letting her tears fall freely now, but they were silent. She had obviously hurt him very much and she was ashamed of herself for not telling him sooner now. She could not imagine all of the hurt that he had gone through not knowing why she never showed up to their appointment.

 

“Sesshoumaru, I'm sure if one of us didn't show up, it would have been for a very good reason,” Kagome managed to get out.

 

“Like what for instance?” Sesshoumaru bit out.

 

There was a deafening silence between them after his question and Sesshoumaru sighed. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered her one to which she kindly refused. He lit his cigarette and took a drag on it, all the while watching her. He wanted nothing more than to just take her in his arms and forget everything that had happened and start over.

 

Sesshoumaru chuckled then in slight mockery of himself.

 

“You know, I walked all the way here,” Sesshoumaru informed her. “Twenty-six city blocks, and the entire way I was debating on what would be the best way to wring your beautiful neck.”

 

Kagome watched him as he slowly took another drag on his cigarette. The silence between them had not been broken even by him speaking aloud. It seemed to permeate the air around them and Kagome had to fight with herself to just stay silent while he vented out his frustrations.

 

“All the way here I argued with myself, and what do I do? I find myself not even able to ask you why you did not show up. Did you know that I came here to ask you that?” Sesshoumaru questioned.

 

Kagome nodded slowly as her answer.

 

“When I am around you, I find it difficult to do the things I want to,” he said.

 

Kagome reached up to her throat to relieve some of the tension that had gathered there and Sesshoumaru noticed that she was not wearing a wedding band.

 

“Hn. No wedding ring I see.”

 

Kagome shook her head. “Nope.”

 

“Hn…I thought when I saw you-”

 

“At the concert?” Kagome asked. “No…no, he was just taking me out…as a friend.”

 

“I see.”

 

“How-how's everything with you Sesshoumaru?” Kagome asked trying to gather more information about him. While she had the chance she wanted to see him open and honest. She had an instinctive feeling that he was usually quite closed off about his feelings.

 

“Quite honestly everything was fine until I saw you again. I just…can't do this anymore,” Sesshoumaru softly said to her. “I've decided to move to Hawaii; it's been rather difficult living in the same city with you, no matter how big it is.”

 

Sesshoumaru motioned to leave, but gave her a chance to protest his departure. Kagome was having an inner battle with herself about what to do. On the one hand it had sounded like he was finally making peace with himself and what had happened, but on the other hand she wanted him to stay and see what could become between them. Her battle with herself was halted when he spoke again.

 

“You're happy aren't you?” Sesshoumaru asked her.

 

“I suppose,” she whispered. “Things could always be better. Are you happy?”

 

“I'm not exactly sure. To be honest, I am a bit unsure of the future,” Sesshoumaru spoke a bit upbeat. “I'll continue making paintings in my exhausting emotion-filled states.”

 

“Sesshoumaru I-” Kagome tried again.

 

“Before I forget,” Sesshoumaru said as he walked towards his coat. He pulled out a small bag of flower seeds and a couple of tiny flowers that he had stored carefully away. “I brought you something.”

 

“You didn't have to-”

 

“Think nothing of it,” he said as he handed her the items. “I would have sent them to you, but I did not know where you resided until today.”

 

Kagome took the offered items and observed them carefully. She was touched at how beautiful the tropical flowers where and smiled gently.

 

“Sango wanted me to give them to you,” Sesshoumaru said.

 

“Sango?”

 

“Yes, you remember her; the woman in Hawaii that lives with her husband and now two children in my `home away from home' as you so helped be dub it.”

 

Kagome was again speechless as she tried to remember the events and the people he was talking about; but still, nothing came to mind. She looked back to the flowers and closed her eyes as she took a sniff at them, reveling in their fragrant aroma.

 

Sesshoumaru watched her carefully and went to pick up his coat.

 

“I guess I should be going,” he started. Sesshoumaru looked back at her and smirked. “You know, I painted you like that…with the flowers and your hair…I wish you could have seen it, you probably would have liked it. My dealer, John, swore it was my best work of art. I never thought he'd part with it. But a young woman came into the gallery and he told me that she had seen everything in that painting the way I saw it; and the way I thought you'd see it.”

 

Kagome bit her lip as he continued on with his story.

 

“So I told him that she could have it. He told me a bit about her, that she was lovely, but that she…” Sesshoumaru trailed off as a thought came to his mind. He looked around the room in search of something while he continued with his story.

 

“Well, I told him to go ahead and let her have the painting,” he repeated as he continued his search.

 

Kagome watched in anticipation as he walked around her apartment. A part of her wanted him to find the painting so that she would not have to explain everything, and the other part that was protesting was not allowing her to move.

 

“I had no use for the painting anymore, and it is the holiday season,” Sesshoumaru rambled on.

 

He came to the door leading to the only room he had yet to check in his search. With bated breath he pushed the door open to her bedroom and stopped in his tracks.

 

Hanging there, above her bed, was the painting he had done of her. Her hair was down and blowing in the wind and she delicately smelled the tropical flower in her gentle hands. Sesshoumaru forced himself to breathe when he now realized why Kagome had not met him that day.

 

Kagome felt her heartbeat dance madly in her chest as she watched him re-enter the room she was occupying. The look in his eyes told her that he now knew everything, and she did not know what to expect from him now. Would he be livid? Relieved? Would he look at her with pity in his beautiful amber eyes?

 

Sesshoumaru walked towards her and knelt by her side.

 

“There was one more thing that John told me about the woman who wanted my painting…” Sesshoumaru said. “Why Kagome? Why didn't you just tell me? I could have been there for you- I could have helped you!”

 

“I-I was afraid of what you would think of me. I mean, dammit Sesshoumaru; you waited for me in the rain and I can't even remember you!” Kagome sobbed. “I was afraid that you would burden yourself with me, and I just couldn't bring myself to do that to someone I can't even remember!”

 

Sesshoumaru would not lie to himself; it did hurt knowing that she did not remember their time together, but at least he knew now why she had not met him that day. It was better to know this than to think that she did not show because she no longer wanted him.

 

“Kagome; my life without you for the past few months have been awful. You have turned me into an emotional wreck-and that's saying something considering who I used to be.”

 

“I'm so sorry Sesshoumaru…I'm just…I'm so sorry,” Kagome said as she continued to cry.

 

Sesshoumaru moved up to her and wrapped his arms around her shaking form. He wanted to sigh in content at having her back in his arms, but now was not the moment.

 

“Kagome; you do realize that I am not going anywhere now. My place is here with you, and we will get through this,” he told her.

 

Kagome drew back from him a bit. “That's what I was afraid of. I don't want you to do something like that for me. I want you to be happy with your life and not be burdened by me. I-”

 

“Kagome I say this to you now because I love you…shut up.”

 

“What?” Kagome asked a bit surprised.

 

“You heard me and I will not repeat myself. Now, I know it may be awkward at first having me help you; me, someone that you know and yet do not, but trust me when I say that it will work.”

 

Kagome did not know what compelled her to do what she did next, but all the same she did not fight it. She quickly closed the distance between them and placed a longing kiss on his lips; and she merely allowed herself to enjoy the feeling of kissing the man that had plagued her dreams for over half a year.

 

Sesshoumaru froze up at first, not expecting her to be so forward, but quickly lost the battle to stay focused. He closed his eyes and brought his hands to her face to deepen the long awaited kiss and held her there as if his life depended on it.

 

Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck and felt silent tears trace down her face. This felt right; it felt absolutely right in her mind. For the first time in months she felt complete again. She opened her mouth and immediately he followed suite.

 

A year's worth of longing, frustration, and desire went into their kiss and both Sesshoumaru and Kagome were reluctant to part. They did however, and Kagome placed her forehead on his.

 

“Kagome,” Sesshoumaru said, “we will get through this.”

 

Kagome nodded. “Yes; I know that now. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you.”

 

“Let us not dwell on the past; for it is behind us,” Sesshoumaru told her. “And don't ever think that I will let you forget me so soon.”