InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remember Me in the Stars ❯ Rivals ( Chapter 21 )

Rivals

Sesshoumaru looked at his watch. Time had gone past slower than a snail, and he was being

held up by a marriage meeting. Pathetic, he thought, as he looked at the mother hoping for a

marriage for her daughter. His secretary had called him for an important matter, but

something like this? He would have to better inform his secretary in the future to not set up

meetings such as these. After the mother had finished talking, she looked at him, waiting for

an answer.

"No. Jaken, you may lead her out."

"But, Sesshoumaru-sama, my daughter really is lovely and she would be perfect!"

"Jaken."

With a no nonsense face, Jaken led the woman to the door, intrusting a servant to show her

the way out.

"Jaken."

"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama."

"In the future, I will not tolerate meetings with mothers hoping for a marriage."

"Ah, but sire, your father asked me to help pick you a fiance."

"Jaken, you are fortunate to have remained in our service for so long. Do not let your luck

end now."

"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Sesshoumaru got up from his chair and took his coat from a servant.

"Ano, where are you going sir?"

"You do not need to be informed about my whereabouts."

He left the room with a stuttering Jaken. Driving his car to the hospital and looked at his

clock. It was quite late at night, but he felt he had to check up on Kagome. When he opened

her door he could hear the sound of two people gently breathing. Letting his eyes adjust to

the darkness, he could see Kagome in her bed sleeping. And in a chair by the bed, his hated

brother. *When had he come here?* Glaring at his brother's sleeping form he quietly crept to

Kaogme's bed. Her face was almost angelic, though, from touching her cheeks, she was

starting to feel hot again.

"You love her, don't you?"

Sesshoumaru didn't turn, knowing that his brother was cautiously watching him.

"What makes you say that?"

"Instinct and observation. Since when have you shown any care for a girl?"

"Why do you care."

"I love her, and I won't stand to see you hurt her in any way."

"Love? She is a challenge, brother, merely a challenge. And what of Kikyo?"

"Kikyo is something of the past, and it looks like she is hanging onto your arm these days,

brother." He spat the word brother out in vehemence.

"Jealious?"

"No, I have no reason to be. Kikyo is all yours, but leave Kagome alone."

"As elder brother, don't you think it is only right that I get the first pick?"

Inuyasha jumped from his chair and stood in front of Sesshoumaru.

"You do love her, don't you? Why don't you just admit it, instead of skirting around the

question."

Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed dangerously in the dark.

"As I said before, she is a challenge."

"Then why did you come?"

"So much heat over a girl, Inuyasha?"

"She means a lot to me, so leave her alone."

"You can try to keep me away, but remember, Kagome won't trust you as much. Ever since

that despicable act in the gardens during winter, she is still wary of you."

"You're wrong, she forgave me of what I've done and we are friends."

"Ah, my little brother, still as ignorant and naive as ever. Deep down inside, she knows she

still can't fully trust you. Seeing as how easily you were induced away from her by Kikyo.

We'll see who the victor of this battle will be."

Sesshoumaru brushed passed his brother and walked out the hallway. Before leaving, he

talked to his doctor into checking up on Kagome again because of her hot cheeks. Inuyasha

sat back in his chair and watched Kagome sleeping. He knew his brother was expressing some

feelings for Kagome, and it made him uncomfortable. He denies it, of course, but

Sesshoumaru showing concern over a girl was making Inuyasha aware of all the times he had

seen the two near each other. He rubbed his tired eyes with his hand and got up. He walked to

Kagome's bed and touched her cheek the same place that Sesshoumaru had touched, as if to

wipe it away. He walked out the door and headed for home. When the door had closed Kagome opened her eyes. *What was that all about? Sesshoumaru in love with me? No way,

impossible. I don't think that guy has a sensitive bone in his body. So he thinks I'm a

challenge? Is that why he had been so nice to me? Am I really just a challenge to him? Mou,

what am I talking about? I sound like I care!* Kagome turned to her side and stared at the

blank wall. *Sesshoumaru is right though, I still can't fully trust Inuyasha. If Kikyo can take

him away, she can probably do it again. I can't trust him, even if I want to* Why is love

complicated? Better yet, why was her relationship between the two brothers complicated?

One had stepped on her heart, the other was trying to play with it. A merry-go-round of

feelings in Kagome head made her want to scream out the frustration. Something slipped out

of her hospital shirt and when she looked down she saw her mother's necklace. She threw off

her covers and slowly walked to the window. When she opened the curtains she could see the

lights of the city. Looking up at the dark sky, Kagome could see faint stars that were faded out

by the city lights. She sat down by the edge of the window and put her feet up on it. Staring

down she could see couples going hand in hand past the shops. Loneliness bit down on her

heart and she shivered. She got up, picked up a blanket, and went back to her seat by the

window. Huddled in the blanket she tried to push feelings of confusion and loneliness away.

But it only made her more aware of how much she missed her family. Grandfather, Souta,

Mama. The happy and content life she had had felt like it was millions of miles away. She

closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on dim images of her lost family. Holding on to her

mother's necklace she finally went to sleep.