InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secret Lovers ❯ Writer's Block ( Chapter 25 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: saphira404 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 09.25.2013 | Pages: 5 | Words: 9.5K | Visits: 262 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 09.25.2013 | Pages: 5 | Words: 9.5K | Visits: 262 | Status: Work In Progress
Part 25: Writer’s Block
A/N: I can’t believe I’m this late with posting the new chapter once again. A thousand apologies! At least this installment will be super long to make up for the wait.
Disclaimer: Sadly even though I love writing AU stories on my OTP, they don't belong to me. I tried to buy them, but all I could afford were plushies. Oh well better than nothing lol.
“Talking”
'Thoughts'
“You did what?!” Kanna roared into the phone. The sudden information she had just received let her realize the conversation would require her undivided attention. She reached next to her and used the remote control to pause the video that had been playing on her television. She only did the delivery exercise videos because it made her dear Yukiyo fret less, but the young woman was quite sure that after successfully birthing two babies, she knew well enough what to expect in the delivery room.
“How could you break up with him?” She angrily snapped at her older sister. The pale skinned Jiyuu sister had been in a terrible mood the entire day, courtesy of a baby pressing on her bladder, and preventing her from sleeping all night long, and since her husband, who usually suffered the brunt of her mood swings was not in the vicinity, Kagura would have to take it for now.
“We did not break up!” Kagura snapped back. She took a sip of her coffee, and let her crimson eyes rest on the group of seniors who were happily exercising in the garden close to the sunny terrace where she was lounging. Her aunt, who usually enjoyed the light aerobics class, had not been well enough to join the session today, and was resting in her room, while her eldest niece was free to roam the premises of the assisted living facility.
“Is that why you decided to run off to go see Aunt Kaede?” Kanna forced herself to take one calming breath. She was quite close to her due date, and knew that she needed to stay as calm and collected as possible lest her third son be born prematurely as his two older siblings.
“Is that all you can focus on? Did you not hear a word about how Sesshoumaru betrayed me?” When Kagura had called her sister, she had hoped to find a compassionate ear and a sympathetic soundboard on which to vent, but at the moment she was not getting the support she expected nor wished.
Kanna rolled her eyes in annoyance. She was beyond happy that Kagura seemed to have finally severed all ties with Shikon Magazine and Naraku, but the one thing she was focused on was the fact that her sister was sabotaging her relationship with Sesshoumaru.
‘He’s the best thing to have happened to her in a long time. I don’t see why she would be willing to throw it all away so stupidly.’ Kanna allowed herself one additional calming breath before she spoke aloud.
“Look Kagura, the way I see it, Sesshoumaru was in an intolerable situation. He was put there because of our DNA provider. If you want to be pissed at someone, blame Naraku.” Kanna knew that her sister was preoccupied because for once she did not scold her for referring to their father as a mere ‘DNA provider’.
The eldest sister hated the way Kanna was acting as Sesshoumaru’s personal cheerleader. “Why are you defending him? You should be on my side.”
“It’s not about taking sides, but Kagura, you should know that whatever happens, I will always be on your side. You’re my only sister, I would do anything for you. It’s because I love you so much that I can come out, and let you know how ridiculous you’re acting…”
“Oh great, now you think I’m a stubborn child too.” She said angrily, echoing the words Sesshoumaru had thrown in her face the previous night. “He’s the one not acting like an adult. The least he could have done is apologize!”
Kanna ignored her sister’s retort, and continued speaking as if she had never been interrupted. “All I want is for you to be happy Kagura, and you can’t lie to me. He makes you happy. I know he does. That’s why I want you to work things out with Sesshoumaru.”
“You know what Kanna, I’ve got to go. I promised Aunt Kaede I would go visit her.” The lie easily rolled off of Kagura’s tongue. Their aunt was having a bad day, and would not be in any shape to have visitors as she would barely be able to recognize them. She just needed a good excuse to get off the phone. ‘This conversation has not gone as I had expected…’ She thought to herself. She was still not over the fact that her usually accommodating sister would defend Sesshoumaru so adamantly in her eyes.
“Alright, kiss her for me and the boys, and we’ll talk later. One last thing, do promise me to give Sesshoumaru another chance, okay? Bye! Love you!” Before giving her older sister a chance to argue some more with her, Kanna quickly hung up. ‘I will not let my sister ruin her one chance at true love. If the two of them won’t fix this, I will.’ She vowed to herself as she twirled a strand of pale hair around her finger. A small twitching pain in her stomach interrupted her industrious thoughts.
“Oh!” She gasped at the short stabbing pain etched away. “Maybe I should go rest for a bit.” She mused out loud even as she headed for her bedroom, all the while rubbing her large belly right over the spot where she had experienced the cramping.
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“Keh! To think this is the only place I can come to be by myself.” Inuyasha grumbled angrily. He was currently walking around the Edo University campus, trying to clear his mind, and find some peace. After his argument with his parents two nights ago, he had sought refuge over at his girlfriend’s house. While Kagome and her family did not mind having him around, he was the one having a hard time. ‘If I have to hear one more sermon from Kagome, I will go crazy!’
From the moment he had told his girlfriend about his parents’ plan to have Sesshoumaru move out, she had relentlessly tried to make him see the bigger picture as well as given him advice on how he could handle the situation.
‘I guess she just didn’t like it when I said I wasn’t going to forgive my parents for how they’ve treated Sesshoumaru… What’s their problem anyway? Why are they so afraid of us becoming closer? Maybe I should become Sesshoumaru’s best friend. I’m sure that would make dad so fucking happy…’
Inuyasha once again reflected on their father’s motivations. As much as he tried, he could not get out of his head the words Kagome had spoken to him before he had stormed off.
*Flashback*
“Inuyasha.” Kagome had said even as she looped her arms around his neck, forcing him to pay attention to her. He simply could not resist her when she handled him in such a tender way. “You know, I’ve been thinking about this whole situation. Maybe your parents…”
He may have been turned pliable by her touching him, but as soon as she mentioned his parents, he stiffened, and broke the hold she had on him. Kagome sighed as she felt him retreat from her. She reluctantly let go of the hold she had on him and stepped away from him.
“Don’t talk to me about them right now. I can’t believe how they tried to manipulate Sesshoumaru.” His face broke into a dark scowl, and he crossed his arms over his chest in a petulant pose.
Kagome gave a silent prayer for patience, and turned to face her boyfriend. The two of them were sitting on her bed. Ever since he had stormed into her house, Inuyasha had been complaining and ranting about his parents’ devious plan. She had taken advantage of him pausing to weight in her two cents, and despite his reluctance, she had every intention to have her say be heard.
‘I guess I just have another view of things.’ Her heart still constricted in pain when she recalled the look of longing and deep sadness etched on Touga’s face as he told her about his estranged older son all those weeks ago in his office.
“That’s just it! Maybe you’re looking at things wrong.” Kagome interjected. “Hasn’t it occurred to you that maybe Touga and Izayoi are trying to do the best they can to protect Sesshoumaru too? This city must hold so many horrible memories for him, and my meddling lately sure hasn’t made things better for him… Maybe your dad thought he was helping out Sesshoumaru by offering him the chance to leave, and start fresh in a new place.”
‘I think it would be best for Inuyasha, you, me and especially Sesshoumaru if he left’
Inuyasha shook the memory of the words his father had spoken in confidence to Izayoi while he eavesdropped on them. Despite that, he still refused to believe in Kagome’s theory that Touga had Sesshoumaru’s best interest in mind as well.
Inuyasha’s scowl did not leave his face. “When did you become my dad’s number one cheerleader?”
The bitterness in his voice did not put her off her goal. She aimed at calming him down, and making him work things out with his parents. “I’m just offering you another way of seeing things… ”
“Keh! I didn’t come here to ask for your help. I know damn well what my parents are up to. Nothing you can say can make me think what they did was right.” The words had barely left his mouth that he jumped to his feet.
‘If I wanted to listen to a freaking lecture, I would have stayed home. Can’t a guy simply find a place to rest and collect his thoughts?’
“Inuyasha! Where are you going?” Kagome’s question cut through his thoughts. It was only then that he realized that he was indeed on his way out the door of her room.
“I need some air, okay? I’ll call you.” He had slammed the door on his way out, and had purposely tuned out his girlfriend’s shout of his name.
*End of Flashback*
At the moment, there was only one place where Inuyasha was sure that no one would think about looking for him and where he knew he would not be disturbed. Ever since the Miko Powder scandal, Hiten and his Thunder Brothers had deserted the God Tree as their favorite hangout spot. Now that campus police carried out regular patrols the place was simply too conspicuous to be of interest to the university’s delinquents.
‘It will be just the place I need to rest up and think about things without everyone trying to influence me.’ He thought to himself even as the familiar shape of the centuries old tree greeted his eyes. Despite the darkness of the night and the slight light emanating from the few lamps on the university grounds, he could still make up the outline of the massive tree and its trunk.
“Oh shit!” The young man suddenly cursed under his breath. He had been so busy admiring the tree that it was only now that his golden eyes had spotted that someone else was sitting under the God Tree, and it was the last person he wished to come face to face with at the moment. Inuyasha immediately turned around, and attempted to scurry away before the other person had a chance to see him. Unfortunately, he was not in luck that evening.
“What a surprise. Are you running away from me little brother?”
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“You’re looking well tonight.” Kagura smiled happily as she sat across from her aunt. The two of them were in the older woman’s room. Kaede was having a good day. Her memory and cognitive functions were as good as before she had been struck down by her illness. Due to the positive situation, Kagura had taken her aunt out to see a movie then going shopping. The day had culminated with a lovely dinner. They were only now getting back to the assisted living facility Kaede called home.
‘Spending the day with her has brought me back to how things were before she became sick.’ Kagura realized how much she was aching for the tough, smart and wise woman she remembered from her childhood. Kaede, who had spent her entire life traveling and enjoying life had had to take in her two young nieces after the traumatic death of their mother, and raised them as best she could. ‘And she did a fantastic job at it. Kanna and I wouldn’t be the women we are today had it not been for Aunt Kaede.’
Kaede purposely ignored her niece’s words, and decided to dive right in. “Now that we’re back home, will you finally tell me what is preoccupying you?” The fact that Kagura had purposely skirted every question her aunt had launched her way about her work and her boyfriend had not escaped the old woman’s all too knowing gaze, and she intended to get to the bottom of things.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Kagura shrugged, trying to once again deflect her aunt’s prying.
Kaede fixed her with a sharp glare. “Kagura! You know how much I hate being lied to!”
As much as she tried not to wince, Kagura felt as if she was an unruly little girl being scolded once again.
“Alright, alright. You win…” She gave in to her aunt’s reprimand, and broke down. Before she even realized it, all her story came out. She told Kaede about finding out Naraku’s plan to leave Shikon Magazine to Sesshoumaru, and just how much she felt betrayed by the man she loved. She ended her tale by relaying her nighttime argument with Sesshoumaru three evenings ago, which had prompted her to drive out and visit her aunt.
Complete silence followed Kagura’s story. She felt unnerved at her aunt’s lack of response. The old woman was staring into a blank spot next to Kagura’s head.
After a long moment Kaede sighed then spoke. “You’ve always been such a hot head. You always act before you think.”
Kagura thought about defending herself, but decided against it in the end; deep down she knew her aunt was right. She could all too well remember the plan she had concocted to make Sesshoumaru jealous the evening she had thought he was taking Touran out to dinner months ago. She in turn recalled the frantic way in which in a fit of anger the usually cool Sesshoumaru had made love to her against the wall of her living room.
“Now, you’ve made quite a muddle of things, haven’t you my girl.” Kaede’s intervention mercifully diverted her from her raunchy thoughts.
“Why is everyone trying to blame me?” Kagura angrily snapped, recalling her sister’s words the previous day. “How about some compassion for what I’ve been put through?! I essentially wasted my time at Shikon Magazine for years, and found out the man I love had been lying to me all along.”
Kaede sent her niece an understanding smile. She could tell Kagura was really hurting, and she hoped to make her feel better. “Well, I am not sure I would say you wasted your time. Things may not have turned out the way you expected, but you learned skills you’ll use for the rest of your career. Now you can move on to a better position thanks to the experience you accumulated at Shikon. Plus seems like you found love there, isn’t it enough? Don’t be too greedy.”
“Some love he turned out to be.” Kagura snorted. “He betrayed me… not that I should be surprised, my last boyfriend did the same.”
“Oh honey.” Kaede ached at seeing the pain displayed in her niece’s eyes. She remembered how much Kouga’s cheating had shredded Kagura’s heart. When she had met him, she had not liked him, neither had Kanna. ‘I always trust her instinct. Kanna is never wrong about people, and from what I heard from her, Sesshoumaru seems like such a nice man, I have a hard time believing he would set out to hurt Kagura like this.’ Kaede stood from her spot on her bed to join her eldest niece on the divan, which occupied a side of her bedroom. She looped her arms around the young woman’s shoulders, and gently pushed back her dark bangs to stare into her crimson eyes. The action caused Kagura to bring forth a reluctant smile. It had been years since her aunt had given her a comforting hug, and at the time it was exactly what she needed.
“I am sorry to see you in such pain. After what Kouga put you through, I was afraid you would never risk your heart. This is why I was so happy about you getting together with Sesshoumaru. I just wish for you to be happy. If he doesn’t make you happy, then there is no reason for you to patch things up with him.”
Kagura sighed at hearing her aunt’s words. “That’s the problem. I’ve never been happier with a man than with Sesshoumaru. He gets me, and he’s done things for me that no man has ever even tried to do for me... that’s why his betrayal hurt so much!” As much as she tried to block the onset of happy memories fleeting through her head, she could not. She recalled his unwavering support of her expansion of the Shikon website, including her restaurant critique section, the way he had taken care of her when she was sick, the surprise birthday dinner at La Rosa Roja and more recently the excitement of moving in together. Remembering all the happy times they had shared only made her realize how much she loved Sesshoumaru. They had only been apart for three days, and she missed him tremendously. It was only her stubborn pride that allowed her to soldier on, and not break down in tears in front of her aunt.
“Maybe you should see things from another perspective. I am sure he never aimed to betray you. Has it not occurred to you that Sesshoumaru may have been afraid of telling you?” Kaede then retorted as the thought popped in her head.
Kagura pushed out of her aunt’s embrace, and struggled not to laugh out loud at Kaede’s words. “You clearly haven’t met Sesshoumaru, or you would know that the last thing the man could ever be is afraid.”
“When it comes to love, the bravest of us can be rendered frightened.” Kaede smiled sadly. “Not to mention that a fierce exterior can hide a tender heart, you should know something about that…” She paused to give her niece a meaningful look. “The way I understand things, it seems your young man was backed up against the wall. Once he was involved with you, he could not come out and tell you about the arrangement he had with Naraku. Considering your hot-headedness, I am certain you would have broken things up. Maybe he feared that outcome too much, and decided his best option was to keep quiet…”
Kagura could not dispute the fact that she had done precisely as her aunt predicted. She did however hate the fact that Kaede was so perfectly echoing the words Kanna had spoken to her only the day before. ‘Then again, maybe the two of them are on to something…’ She mentally conceded. She was suddenly assaulted by a few words Sesshoumaru had thrown at her in the midst of their argument, which actually supported the theory of her sister and aunt.
"And what? If I had told you, how would it have affected things? Would you have not fallen in love with me? Would you have quit Shikon at seeing how useless your efforts were?"
Kagura heaved a deep sigh. ‘Maybe I should follow Kanna and Aunt Kaede’s advice… I guess I could give Sesshoumaru another chance to explain himself... I was so angry when he tried to speak to me last time that I didn’t pay too much attention to what he was actually saying.’ She acknowledged as she ran her hand over her tired face.
Kaede could tell her words were slowly sinking into her niece, she could almost see the wheels turning behind her crimson eyes, but the old woman knew very well she was far from her end goal. “All I can ask of you is to give Sesshoumaru just a chance to explain himself, and please do not let Naraku ruin someone else’s love.” Kaede knew her ex brother in-law too well, and was sure he had purposely revealed his arrangement with Sesshoumaru in order to hurt Kagura.
Kagura’s brows furrowed at hearing her aunt’s last words. When it came to her own love life, Kaede had always been tight lipped. Kagura and Kanna had speculated over the years about who their aunt had been involved with before or after she had taken in her nieces, but had never gotten an actual confirmation.
“Aunt Kaede, what are you talking about?”
Kaede realized her sudden slip of the tongue, and wanted to knock her head against the wall. She however knew that she had gone too far to backtrack now. She had always intended to tell her nieces the truth, but had never found the right time.
“Does the name Tomoyo mean anything to you?” She saw Kagura rack her brain, but when she did not give her any answers, Kaede forged on. “He was a friend of your mother…”
Kagura eyes lit up in recognition. The name suddenly brought back memories of a fair-haired tall man with a soft voice, gentle demeanor and a sunny disposition. “Yes, uncle Tomoyo! He used to bring me candy every time he would come over to the house. I can’t believe I forgot all about him.”
Kaede sent her niece an indulgent smile. “You were so young at the time; it is surprising you even remember him.”
Then as she remembered the context of their conversation, Kagura sent her aunt a sly smile. “Were you involved with him?”
“No, your mother was.” Kaede’s matter of fact answer shocked Kagura beyond words. Before her niece had a chance to get over her shock, she continued on. “As you have experienced first hand, your father is a hard man to live with. I will admit that both you mother and I were relieved when he left with his bimbo of the moment. When she met Tomoyo, Naraku had moved out a long time ago, but he refused to give your mother the divorce she wanted. Being a single mother with two young children, she felt that she did not deserve another chance at love. She tried to resist, but Tomoyo won her over. I have never seen her happier than with him. He was such a good man. He loved your mother as much as he loved you and Kanna… When Naraku finally agreed to the divorce, your mother and Tomoyo were planning on getting married. They were going over to his parents’ hometown for a weekend before breaking the news to you and your sister about their marriage plan. That is when they were both killed in that cursed plane accident.” Recalling the pain and feeling of loss caused by her sister’s death caused Kaede’s dark eyes to cloud with tears.
“Your mother was finally going to be happy and have everything she had ever dreamed of when she was taken from us.” She paused to wipe away a tear with a shaky gnarled hand. Her sister had been dead for almost 25 years, but it did not lessen her pain, or make her regret the unfairness of the situation any less. “In many ways you resemble your mother so much. I know how much your father and Kouga have hurt you, but I never want you to be afraid of latching on to your happiness as she was when she first met Tomoyo. Take each day, and enjoy it to the best of your ability.”
Kagura was stunned by her aunt’s revelations. She did now vaguely remember Tomoyo, and how much he was able to make her mother laugh. She was glad to know that her mother had known love after Naraku, and had not been alone when she died. ‘Aunt Kaede is right, I deserve to give Sesshoumaru a shot to set things straight. If my mother could get over what Naraku put her through and give love a try, then I can do it too. I need to stop looking at what my father and Kouga put me through, and focus on what I have in the present.’
“Now, why don’t you pick up your phone and give your young man a call?”
The thought of speaking with Sesshoumaru after the harsh things they had thrown at each other’s face terrified her, but Kagura gathered her courage and fished her phone from her purse. In the event that her sister called her back to berate her, or worse, that Sesshoumaru try to get in touch with her, she had turned off her phone for the best part of the past three days, she was therefore not surprised to see that she had many voicemails when she powered on the device. Deciding to deal with those later on, she made use of the speed dial. She drew strength from the reassuring smile her aunt was giving her, and waited for the call to be connected.
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Several miles away, a phone went off in an empty car parked in a lot. Its owner, Sesshoumaru Tashio was completely oblivious to the fact that Kagura was trying to get in touch with him. He had purposely left his phone behind as he collected his thoughts. He had not wanted to stay at the condo as the last thing he wanted was for Kagura to walk in on him mopping around their living room. He had therefore headed straight for the one place he was sure no one would expect to find him: his old university campus. When a few weeks back he had come for a follow-up piece on the Miko Powder, the fact that the God Tree was completely deserted had not escaped his gaze. He was sure it would therefore be the perfect place for him to seek refuge at the moment. A distraction was the last thing he needed, which explained why a groan escaped his lips as he heard the unmistakable sound of incoming footsteps. He turned and a mix of annoyance and revulsion spread through him as he saw who had come to disrupt him. He let out a small unamused chuckle when he saw the other man attempt a retreat.
“What a surprise. Are you running away from me little brother?” The words had left Sesshoumaru’s lips before he even realized it. His mocking tone made the other man stop dead in his tracks.
“Feh! I’m no coward and I don’t run away from nobody!” Inuyasha stubbornly stated even as he cautiously walked towards his older half brother. He was expecting for Sesshoumaru to lash out at him any moment. He could still remember their argument when both of their girlfriends had worked together to set up a surprise dinner reunion. ‘I would have expected him to once again pretend I don’t exist… why is he calling me over?’ Inuyasha wondered. The treacherous small part of him that had always wished to have a relationship with his estranged brother was elated by Sesshoumaru’s beckoning. For this was how Inuyasha interpreted his brother’s words despite the taunting undertones they contained.
The younger pale haired man stopped in front of his half sibling, and looked down on him. Sesshoumaru was sitting right on the soft grass under the God Tree, his right leg pulled up against him and his arm resting on his raised knee, a contemplative look on his face.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Inuyasha was not sure if he was going to get an answer out of his brother, and was slightly surprised when after a long pause, he received one.
“This Sesshoumaru could ask the same of you.”
“I’m a student here at Edo, duh!” Inuyasha couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but for some reason Sesshoumaru looked different. It was as if the tough icy rock hard veneer that usually enveloped the imposing older man had thawed away. To his surprise his older half brother seemed almost approachable, which was one scary thought.
“Keh! What happened to you?” Inuyasha hated the fact that he had blurted his feelings in such a way, but he was burning with curiosity wondering what exactly had caused his brother to appear before him in such a way.
Upon hearing the query, Sesshoumaru only bothered to turn his head to send one of his traditional cold glares towards Inuyasha. Somehow seeing that side of his brother made Inuyasha feel better. A cold and condescending Sesshoumaru he could deal with much better after all.
"Look, I get it you’re pissed off because of me… and you have every reason to. I don’t blame ya." Inuyasha grumbled. He was still seething over his parents’ plan.
“What makes you believe you have the ability to affect this Sesshoumaru’s emotions?”
Sesshoumaru was not about to let Inuyasha know about the real root of his anger; namely his argument with Kagura. While he was mad at her and hated the way they had parted ways, he was also extremely worried about her. He had not heard from her in days, and despite everything, he missed her and wanted her back. He had not dared go back to the condo longer than it would take for him to shower and change as he did not want to run into her at home. The next time they faced, he wanted for it to be on his terms. He intended to be ready for the confrontation it was sure to produce. After all he had just moved into the condo when their disagreement had occurred. To him the place was still too much of ‘Kagura’s home’ for him to be able to relax there, and wait for her to come back from wherever she had disappeared to.
‘Which explains how I ended up here. All I wished for was some peace and quiet and a place where I could collect my thoughts. He just had to come and disturb me…’
“You hate me!” Inuyasha’s interjection brought Sesshoumaru out of his thoughts.
“This Sesshoumaru does not hate you." This time around he did not bother to look at Inuyasha before he spoke.
The two brothers were shocked by the elder’s admission. The most surprising part was how sincere he sounded. Finding out about the real relationship between his parents and Izayoi had opened his eyes. He now realized how ridiculous it was for him to have hated Inuyasha and blamed him for what he believed had been his mother’s suicide. However acknowledging his feelings, and sharing them with his brother were two completely different things.
“Hating you would require for this Sesshoumaru to bother thinking about you, which I assure you, I do not waste any time on.” His attempt at backpedaling did not fool his little brother one bit.
“Feh! You can stop pretending… I would be upset too if I was victim of the plan our dad concocted to get you to leave town. I can’t believe them. What they did was so wrong!”
The reaction of the elder Tashio brother was immediate. He shot up to his feet, and stomped over to Inuyasha. “What did you say?”
Since he was not going to cower in front of Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha stood straight, rolled his shoulders back, and stared right up into his brother’s eyes. At that precise moment, he very much disliked the few inches he lacked to be on the same level as his slightly taller brother.
“I know about our dad’s stupid plan to get you a job in another town. I can’t believe they’re so afraid of us getting close that they would scheme to keep us apart so badly.” Just thinking about the conversation he had overheard a few nights ago was enough to make his face break out into a deep scowl. “Feh! And Kagome thinks that they’re doing it to protect you, and help you in your career or whatever.”
Although he did not know how close Kagome was with her in-laws, Sesshoumaru realized that she could have an inside insight into Touga’s plans. ‘I do however have a hard time believing that I am a prime concern when it comes to our dear old dad.’ Even as he refuted the idea, as much as he tried, he was not able to dispel a weird feeling inside of him that revolved around the idea that his father could actually care about him.
‘I am not a child to have such thoughts. I have no need of him’ He reflected internally even as he squashed his thoughts. He had now come to the realization that if he ever felt a need to be filial, he could content himself with having a family of his own, preferably with Kagura, and far from his dysfunctional relationship with his father and step-mother.
“You know what, fuck it! Want a drink?”
Sesshoumaru’s thoughts were interrupted by Inuyasha’s question. It was only then that he realized his little brother was carrying a six-pack of beer. Without waiting for an agreement, Inuyasha stepped away from Sesshoumaru, and walked over to the spot his brother had been occupying before he had walked in on him.
“I came over here to relax with a drink, but since you took the spot, how about we share?” He accentuated his words by sitting under the tree and popping open a can of beer that he then extended behind him in the general direction of his brother. He took a deep breath, but did not dare turn back as he was too unnerved to see if his brother would take him up on his offer.
Sesshoumaru thought about turning around and marching straight back to his car, but before he could even register his own actions, he had snatched the offered drink. While he sipped his semi-cold beer, he stood ramrod straight next to his younger half sibling.
Inuyasha was surprised but pleased that the other man had accepted his peace offering. It had always been his fondest wish to have a relationship with his brother as well as find a way to assuage his guilt towards Sesshoumaru. From as far back as he could remember, a feeling of guilt had inhabited Inuyasha when it came to his brother, and the conversation between his parents that he had overheard had only accentuated his feelings.
‘I’ve always had supportive parents fighting in my corner… but Sesshoumaru lost his mom when he was a kid, and dad didn’t pay him as much attention as he could have. I know that Sesshoumaru probably didn’t want to get any help from dad, but maybe if dad had tried harder they would have been able to work out some sort of relationship… Sessh was just a kid when he left home after all.’ Inuyasha shook his head, and decided to focus on the problem at hand. ‘Maybe now’s the chance I always wanted to get to know Sesshoumaru and actually be in each other’s presence without tearing each other apart.’ The fact that they were completely alone allowed him to be more honest with his feelings.
Out of the corner of his eye, Sesshoumaru observed the various emotions being displayed on Inuyasha’s face. He did not know exactly what the other man was thinking about, but he was sure he was not going to like it. ‘Just because I am drinking one of his beers does not mean we will become best friends. He just conveniently appeared with something I wanted, so I took it.’ He had never been prone to drinking, but since his argument with Kagura, he had come to realize that a drink or two were useful in trying to tune out the many thoughts flying through his head.
“Whatever fantasy you are spinning in your head about the two of us forging a brotherly bond this evening, stop right this instant.” Sesshoumaru said in the hopes of letting Inuyasha know exactly where he stood where their relationship was concerned.
Inuyasha sent his brother one of his trademark scowls before gulping down a large swallow of beer and answering. “You don’t even know what I was thinking!” The guilty look on the younger man’s face however let Sesshoumaru know that his guess was not far off the mark.
“What do you want Inuyasha?”
Sesshoumaru decided to make an effort. He knew that if Kagura were here, she would encourage him to take advantage of the moment to try to get to know his brother. She had after all on so many occasions tried to convince him to make-up with Inuyasha; culminating with her and Kagome’s misguided attempt at making them all share a dinner together.
“I don’t want anything from you. All I wanted was for you to know I disagree with the old man. Until I heard about their little plan, I hadn’t realized how controlling my parents are. I see now that it’s past time I also become freaking independent. You were younger than me when you moved out of the house… I got a friend who can hook me up with a job as a production assistant for the midday news show on channel 6. Sure it’s not glamorous and won’t get me a fancy award like the one you won, but it’s a part time job and a start in the business.”
Inuyasha had never expected it could be this easy to vent to his brother. He did not have any close friends other than Kagome, and he knew that if he spoke to her about this, she would try to fix things between him and his parents. On the other hand, he was very aware that Sesshoumaru would never attempt such a thing. ‘Maybe because he doesn’t give a damn about me.’
Sesshoumaru frowned slightly. Up until that moment he had forgotten that his brother was also interested in the media industry. He suddenly recalled the internship application Inuyasha had sent in to Shikon Magazine almost a year ago, and remembered even more vividly the passionate love making that had occurred between him and Kagura that same night when they had confided in each other about their messy family situation.
“It is not an easy profession.” Sesshoumaru was shocked to see himself engaging in a civilized semi-conversation with Inuyasha. ‘It must be the alcohol…’ He reflected before taking another swig of his can. The admiration in his younger brother’s voice as he spoke about the award bestowed on him he realized might also have mollified him. He would never admit it aloud, but the fact that his half sibling followed his career and was aware of his accomplishments did please him.
“Keh! If you can do it, so can I!” The older man’s response was to roll his eyes at Inuyasha’s arrogance.
The atmosphere between the two of them was disturbed by the sharp ringtone of a phone.
Inuyasha fished into the pocket of his fiery red jacket and retrieved the offending device. He quickly checked the name flashing on the screen, and let a groan of annoyance leave his lips. He had half expected it to be Kagome checking up on him again, so he was half surprised to see the word ‘MOM’ displayed in bold letters on the screen. Without even thinking about it, he rejected the call. Since he didn’t like her to worry, he would send her a short text once he got back to Kagome’s place, but for the moment he wanted to enjoy the few minutes he was allowed to spend with his estranged brother.
“Ugh why can’t mom understand that I’m not coming home?” Inuyasha muttered as he shoved back his mobile in his pocket.
All the pieces of the puzzle suddenly fit in Sesshoumaru’s head, and he got a clear picture of what had occurred. Based on the conversation between him and Inuyasha, he guessed that he was at the root of the reason why his younger brother had suddenly moved out of his parents’ house. The simple thought of it both enraged and pleased him at the same time. He had to admit that it was nice knowing that someone had his back. It was not a feeling he was accustomed to. From as far back as he could remember he had had no one in his corner. The only person who had been supportive of him in recent years had been Kagura, and he had run her away. He decided to shift his focus away from the woman he loved, and focus back on the matter at hand.
‘I have no need of Inuyasha fighting my battles.’
“Whatever happened between our father, Izayoi and I has nothing to do with you. You have no reason to involve yourself.”
“I have a right to stand up for what I believe is right. I hate what they did to you, and I want them to know I do.” Inuyasha stubbornly proclaimed.
“The situation has nothing to do with you.” Sesshoumaru repeated himself. “Go home, figure out your own problems and do not become involved in my affairs anymore.”
Being lectured like a little child made Inuyasha surly. “Keh! Who do you think you are, ordering me around? You’re not my father!”
“No, but I am your older brother.” Sesshoumaru snapped back. Both of them were halted by the words. It was the first time Sesshoumaru had claimed a familial bond aloud in front of Inuyasha. As much as he tried not to pay attention to it, the younger Tashio was warmed by his brother’s words.
Calling on Inuyasha to face things only made Sesshoumaru realize that he too needed to stop moping like a child, and had to face his own responsibilities.
‘I should have apologized to Kagura when she first confronted me. Maybe if I had given her the benefit of the doubt, and told her about Naraku’s stupid plan months ago things wouldn’t have been blown out of proportion like this.’ The anger he had felt simply evaporated. He realized that he needed to get a hold of her and patch things up between them. They needed to find a way to move things forward.
“I have to go.” The words had barely left his mouth that Sesshoumaru shifted and headed towards the parking lot where he had left his car. The fact that he had showed his half brother a softer side of him also contributed to his wish to scamper away as quickly as possible.
“Hey wait!” Inuyasha scrambled to his feet, but fell short of following Sesshoumaru. When his older brother turned around to look at him, he struggled to find the words to express himself. He had ached for a relationship between the two of them for so long, and after spending a bit of time in a civilized manner he could feel his wish was in reach, but just didn’t know how to get to it without coming off as pathetic and whiny. He therefore blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. “Feh! You could at least have thanked me for the drink.”
Sesshoumaru took a long hard look at his younger brother. He recognized the yearning in Inuyasha’s eyes, and it made him feel guilty. It brought him back decades ago to when as a young child Inuyasha had taken to following him around the Tashio household silently begging for his attention. The more he ignored him, the more persistent his much younger brother would become. It had taken years for Inuyasha to understand that his brother did not care for him, and behave more indifferently towards Sesshoumaru. Growing up, despite the hatred he had for his brother and everything he represented, the way he had treated Inuyasha had always caused a small sense of guilt to inhabit Sesshoumaru, and now, for the first time in a long time this was not the case.
Sesshoumaru knew that he would never be able to forgive Touga and Izayoi, and he still needed to find a way to make amends with the role his own mother had played in their sordid arrangement… but one thing he knew for sure was that he needed to disassociate his feelings towards them from Inuyasha. Like it or not his little brother had nothing to do with anything.
“I might just have to return the favor one day.”
Inuyasha’s mouth spread into a small smile, which he quickly attempted, and failed to conceal. “Keh! Just look me up online whenever you want to get me that drink. It shouldn’t be too hard for someone who calls himself a journalist.”
Without bothering to speak any additional words to his brother, Sesshoumaru walked away. Even if he would never dare admit it to anyone, he felt as if a weight had just been lifted off his shoulders. He and Inuyasha would never be best friends, but at least they would not be enemies anymore.
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“Ugh! Of course he’s not answering when I want him too.” Even if Kagura tried to come across as carefree for her aunt’s benefit, she could not help but feel worried. Up until now she had expected that if she decided to come back to Sesshoumaru, he would welcome her back with wide-open arms. It was only now that she realized he may be the one unable to forgive.
‘Maybe he hasn’t been waiting for me as I expected…maybe he doesn’t want me anymore.’ She gently bit her lower lip.
Kaede might be practically blind out of one eye, but she could still read her niece like an open book.
“Go home and fix things up with your young man Kagura. It is always best to talk face to face.”
Kagura smiled. She was glad she had come to see her aunt. Kaede had always been able to keep her in line, and give her the best possible advice.
“You’re right… but I do hate leaving you…”
The old woman did not intend to let her niece find a way to backtrack. “We’ve spent a delightful day together today, which is more than I could have asked for. It’s time for you to go home, and fix your life. I am eager to meet this Sesshoumaru I have heard so much about, so bring him along soon.”
Kagura felt a bittersweet feeling spread through her. Even if she was indeed glad that in the few days she had spent at the center she had been able to see her aunt on a good day, she was sad as she knew that he progression of her aunt’s disease meant there would be less and less such days for them to enjoy. With a quick shake of her head, she pushed such dark thoughts away from her mind.
‘Aunt Kaede is right, I need to focus on getting my life back on track.’
The young woman’s thoughts were interrupted by the shrill sound of her ringtone. She felt her heart’s beat quicken in a mix of fear and anticipation.
“It must be him!” Kaede exclaimed with excitement. “Sesshoumaru must be calling you back. What are you waiting for? Answer!”
After taking one deep breath, Kagura did as her aunt bid.
“Hello? Kagura? I’ve been trying to call for ever!”
As much as she tried, Kagura tried to not let her disappointment show as she recognized the words of the person at the other end of the line. “Yukiyo? Why are you calling so late?”
“It’s Kanna… the baby… surgery”
In between her brother in-law’s mumbling and sniffling these were the only words she was able to make out.
“Yukiyo, take a breath and explain things to me. What happened? Are Kanna and the baby okay?” Kagura asked. She was frightened, but did not intend to let it come through. She attempted to sound as calm as possible to prevent Yukiyo from going in full blown panic mode.
He let out a small whimper before answering. “Kagura you need to come. There’s something wrong… the doctor said she might need surgery….” He suddenly pulled away, and she could only make out the sound of another man’s muddled voice. “The doctor’s back.” Yukiyo spoke again in the phone. “I’ve got to go, please, I need your help for Kanna and for the boys.” Even if he did not dare say it, Kagura knew that he too could use her support.
“I’m on my way. I’ll take the train, I’ll be there as soon as I can.” When she had driven from home, the trip had taken her hours, but she knew she could make it to the hospital within the hour if she hurried. For the first time she was truly grateful that she and Kanna had chosen a facility for Kaede where the youngest of the Jiyuu sisters would be able to get to in less than a hour courtesy of the high speed train.
“Thank you.” Kagura knew that things were really bad when the usually calm, collected and polite Yukiyo hung up without any form of greeting.
“What is it? What happened?” Kaede saw the lines of worry etch themselves on her niece’s face as she spoke on the phone, and she was not liking this one bit.
“It’s Kanna, it seems like she had to be checked in at the hospital. Yukiyo is there with her.” Even as she spoke, Kagura fluttered around the room, picking up her things.
“My God! Isn’t it too early for her to be in labor?”
“Both Haku and Akago were born prematurely, and they’re fine. I am sure this latest baby will be too. She stopped in front of her aunt’s seated form, and pressed a kiss to her tanned leathery cheek. “I love you aunt Kaede, and I will let you know what’s going on as soon as I get there.”
“I love you too child, please look after your sister for me.” Once again Kaede cursed the debilitative disease, which had her confined to the special facility. Something told her Kagura and Kanna would be needing her, and she wished she could be there for them.
“You know I always do.” With those final words, Kagura bolted out of her aunt’s room. She briefly glanced down at her watch, and saw that the next train would be leaving the station in less than fifteen minutes. She would have to drive like a mad woman, but she knew she would be able to make.
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Sesshoumaru took one relaxing breath before inserting his key into the lock. He slowly opened the front door, and slipped into the condo. The stillness of the place, and immaculate state let him know that Kagura had still not come home. He sighed, in disappointment, and decided that he might as well make himself comfortable if he was to wait. On his way to the kitchen to fetch a snack, he saw that the answering machine was blinking. He leaned over and saw that they had received five messages; a truly unusual occurrence. A crease in between his brows, he pressed the play button.
‘Kagura! Damn it answer your phone or your cell… You need to come to the hospital. Something’s wrong with Kanna and the baby. It’s not looking good. Please we’re at the central hospital, we need you!’
While the caller had not identified himself, Sesshoumaru knew it was Yukiyo, a very panicked Yukiyo. A curse flew out his mouth, and he reached for his cell phone. It was only now that he saw a missed call from Kagura, and he could have smacked himself for not answering at a time when she clearly needed him. He tried calling her back, but only got a busy tone.
“Damn it!” He reached for his recently discarded coat and car keys, and sprinted back down to the parking garage. If he put the pedal to the metal, he could be over at the hospital in two hours. Something told him he was about to make one of the longest and most unnerving drives of his life.
To be continued…
A/N: Phew! These were some heavy conversations. It was so hard to write Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha coming to an acceptable place. I am sure that conversation was very OOC, but for this fic, it works ;) The next chapter should come out much more easily, and I should have it up sooner. The end of the fic is so close I can taste it :)
A/N: I can’t believe I’m this late with posting the new chapter once again. A thousand apologies! At least this installment will be super long to make up for the wait.
Disclaimer: Sadly even though I love writing AU stories on my OTP, they don't belong to me. I tried to buy them, but all I could afford were plushies. Oh well better than nothing lol.
“Talking”
'Thoughts'
“You did what?!” Kanna roared into the phone. The sudden information she had just received let her realize the conversation would require her undivided attention. She reached next to her and used the remote control to pause the video that had been playing on her television. She only did the delivery exercise videos because it made her dear Yukiyo fret less, but the young woman was quite sure that after successfully birthing two babies, she knew well enough what to expect in the delivery room.
“How could you break up with him?” She angrily snapped at her older sister. The pale skinned Jiyuu sister had been in a terrible mood the entire day, courtesy of a baby pressing on her bladder, and preventing her from sleeping all night long, and since her husband, who usually suffered the brunt of her mood swings was not in the vicinity, Kagura would have to take it for now.
“We did not break up!” Kagura snapped back. She took a sip of her coffee, and let her crimson eyes rest on the group of seniors who were happily exercising in the garden close to the sunny terrace where she was lounging. Her aunt, who usually enjoyed the light aerobics class, had not been well enough to join the session today, and was resting in her room, while her eldest niece was free to roam the premises of the assisted living facility.
“Is that why you decided to run off to go see Aunt Kaede?” Kanna forced herself to take one calming breath. She was quite close to her due date, and knew that she needed to stay as calm and collected as possible lest her third son be born prematurely as his two older siblings.
“Is that all you can focus on? Did you not hear a word about how Sesshoumaru betrayed me?” When Kagura had called her sister, she had hoped to find a compassionate ear and a sympathetic soundboard on which to vent, but at the moment she was not getting the support she expected nor wished.
Kanna rolled her eyes in annoyance. She was beyond happy that Kagura seemed to have finally severed all ties with Shikon Magazine and Naraku, but the one thing she was focused on was the fact that her sister was sabotaging her relationship with Sesshoumaru.
‘He’s the best thing to have happened to her in a long time. I don’t see why she would be willing to throw it all away so stupidly.’ Kanna allowed herself one additional calming breath before she spoke aloud.
“Look Kagura, the way I see it, Sesshoumaru was in an intolerable situation. He was put there because of our DNA provider. If you want to be pissed at someone, blame Naraku.” Kanna knew that her sister was preoccupied because for once she did not scold her for referring to their father as a mere ‘DNA provider’.
The eldest sister hated the way Kanna was acting as Sesshoumaru’s personal cheerleader. “Why are you defending him? You should be on my side.”
“It’s not about taking sides, but Kagura, you should know that whatever happens, I will always be on your side. You’re my only sister, I would do anything for you. It’s because I love you so much that I can come out, and let you know how ridiculous you’re acting…”
“Oh great, now you think I’m a stubborn child too.” She said angrily, echoing the words Sesshoumaru had thrown in her face the previous night. “He’s the one not acting like an adult. The least he could have done is apologize!”
Kanna ignored her sister’s retort, and continued speaking as if she had never been interrupted. “All I want is for you to be happy Kagura, and you can’t lie to me. He makes you happy. I know he does. That’s why I want you to work things out with Sesshoumaru.”
“You know what Kanna, I’ve got to go. I promised Aunt Kaede I would go visit her.” The lie easily rolled off of Kagura’s tongue. Their aunt was having a bad day, and would not be in any shape to have visitors as she would barely be able to recognize them. She just needed a good excuse to get off the phone. ‘This conversation has not gone as I had expected…’ She thought to herself. She was still not over the fact that her usually accommodating sister would defend Sesshoumaru so adamantly in her eyes.
“Alright, kiss her for me and the boys, and we’ll talk later. One last thing, do promise me to give Sesshoumaru another chance, okay? Bye! Love you!” Before giving her older sister a chance to argue some more with her, Kanna quickly hung up. ‘I will not let my sister ruin her one chance at true love. If the two of them won’t fix this, I will.’ She vowed to herself as she twirled a strand of pale hair around her finger. A small twitching pain in her stomach interrupted her industrious thoughts.
“Oh!” She gasped at the short stabbing pain etched away. “Maybe I should go rest for a bit.” She mused out loud even as she headed for her bedroom, all the while rubbing her large belly right over the spot where she had experienced the cramping.
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“Keh! To think this is the only place I can come to be by myself.” Inuyasha grumbled angrily. He was currently walking around the Edo University campus, trying to clear his mind, and find some peace. After his argument with his parents two nights ago, he had sought refuge over at his girlfriend’s house. While Kagome and her family did not mind having him around, he was the one having a hard time. ‘If I have to hear one more sermon from Kagome, I will go crazy!’
From the moment he had told his girlfriend about his parents’ plan to have Sesshoumaru move out, she had relentlessly tried to make him see the bigger picture as well as given him advice on how he could handle the situation.
‘I guess she just didn’t like it when I said I wasn’t going to forgive my parents for how they’ve treated Sesshoumaru… What’s their problem anyway? Why are they so afraid of us becoming closer? Maybe I should become Sesshoumaru’s best friend. I’m sure that would make dad so fucking happy…’
Inuyasha once again reflected on their father’s motivations. As much as he tried, he could not get out of his head the words Kagome had spoken to him before he had stormed off.
*Flashback*
“Inuyasha.” Kagome had said even as she looped her arms around his neck, forcing him to pay attention to her. He simply could not resist her when she handled him in such a tender way. “You know, I’ve been thinking about this whole situation. Maybe your parents…”
He may have been turned pliable by her touching him, but as soon as she mentioned his parents, he stiffened, and broke the hold she had on him. Kagome sighed as she felt him retreat from her. She reluctantly let go of the hold she had on him and stepped away from him.
“Don’t talk to me about them right now. I can’t believe how they tried to manipulate Sesshoumaru.” His face broke into a dark scowl, and he crossed his arms over his chest in a petulant pose.
Kagome gave a silent prayer for patience, and turned to face her boyfriend. The two of them were sitting on her bed. Ever since he had stormed into her house, Inuyasha had been complaining and ranting about his parents’ devious plan. She had taken advantage of him pausing to weight in her two cents, and despite his reluctance, she had every intention to have her say be heard.
‘I guess I just have another view of things.’ Her heart still constricted in pain when she recalled the look of longing and deep sadness etched on Touga’s face as he told her about his estranged older son all those weeks ago in his office.
“That’s just it! Maybe you’re looking at things wrong.” Kagome interjected. “Hasn’t it occurred to you that maybe Touga and Izayoi are trying to do the best they can to protect Sesshoumaru too? This city must hold so many horrible memories for him, and my meddling lately sure hasn’t made things better for him… Maybe your dad thought he was helping out Sesshoumaru by offering him the chance to leave, and start fresh in a new place.”
‘I think it would be best for Inuyasha, you, me and especially Sesshoumaru if he left’
Inuyasha shook the memory of the words his father had spoken in confidence to Izayoi while he eavesdropped on them. Despite that, he still refused to believe in Kagome’s theory that Touga had Sesshoumaru’s best interest in mind as well.
Inuyasha’s scowl did not leave his face. “When did you become my dad’s number one cheerleader?”
The bitterness in his voice did not put her off her goal. She aimed at calming him down, and making him work things out with his parents. “I’m just offering you another way of seeing things… ”
“Keh! I didn’t come here to ask for your help. I know damn well what my parents are up to. Nothing you can say can make me think what they did was right.” The words had barely left his mouth that he jumped to his feet.
‘If I wanted to listen to a freaking lecture, I would have stayed home. Can’t a guy simply find a place to rest and collect his thoughts?’
“Inuyasha! Where are you going?” Kagome’s question cut through his thoughts. It was only then that he realized that he was indeed on his way out the door of her room.
“I need some air, okay? I’ll call you.” He had slammed the door on his way out, and had purposely tuned out his girlfriend’s shout of his name.
*End of Flashback*
At the moment, there was only one place where Inuyasha was sure that no one would think about looking for him and where he knew he would not be disturbed. Ever since the Miko Powder scandal, Hiten and his Thunder Brothers had deserted the God Tree as their favorite hangout spot. Now that campus police carried out regular patrols the place was simply too conspicuous to be of interest to the university’s delinquents.
‘It will be just the place I need to rest up and think about things without everyone trying to influence me.’ He thought to himself even as the familiar shape of the centuries old tree greeted his eyes. Despite the darkness of the night and the slight light emanating from the few lamps on the university grounds, he could still make up the outline of the massive tree and its trunk.
“Oh shit!” The young man suddenly cursed under his breath. He had been so busy admiring the tree that it was only now that his golden eyes had spotted that someone else was sitting under the God Tree, and it was the last person he wished to come face to face with at the moment. Inuyasha immediately turned around, and attempted to scurry away before the other person had a chance to see him. Unfortunately, he was not in luck that evening.
“What a surprise. Are you running away from me little brother?”
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“You’re looking well tonight.” Kagura smiled happily as she sat across from her aunt. The two of them were in the older woman’s room. Kaede was having a good day. Her memory and cognitive functions were as good as before she had been struck down by her illness. Due to the positive situation, Kagura had taken her aunt out to see a movie then going shopping. The day had culminated with a lovely dinner. They were only now getting back to the assisted living facility Kaede called home.
‘Spending the day with her has brought me back to how things were before she became sick.’ Kagura realized how much she was aching for the tough, smart and wise woman she remembered from her childhood. Kaede, who had spent her entire life traveling and enjoying life had had to take in her two young nieces after the traumatic death of their mother, and raised them as best she could. ‘And she did a fantastic job at it. Kanna and I wouldn’t be the women we are today had it not been for Aunt Kaede.’
Kaede purposely ignored her niece’s words, and decided to dive right in. “Now that we’re back home, will you finally tell me what is preoccupying you?” The fact that Kagura had purposely skirted every question her aunt had launched her way about her work and her boyfriend had not escaped the old woman’s all too knowing gaze, and she intended to get to the bottom of things.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Kagura shrugged, trying to once again deflect her aunt’s prying.
Kaede fixed her with a sharp glare. “Kagura! You know how much I hate being lied to!”
As much as she tried not to wince, Kagura felt as if she was an unruly little girl being scolded once again.
“Alright, alright. You win…” She gave in to her aunt’s reprimand, and broke down. Before she even realized it, all her story came out. She told Kaede about finding out Naraku’s plan to leave Shikon Magazine to Sesshoumaru, and just how much she felt betrayed by the man she loved. She ended her tale by relaying her nighttime argument with Sesshoumaru three evenings ago, which had prompted her to drive out and visit her aunt.
Complete silence followed Kagura’s story. She felt unnerved at her aunt’s lack of response. The old woman was staring into a blank spot next to Kagura’s head.
After a long moment Kaede sighed then spoke. “You’ve always been such a hot head. You always act before you think.”
Kagura thought about defending herself, but decided against it in the end; deep down she knew her aunt was right. She could all too well remember the plan she had concocted to make Sesshoumaru jealous the evening she had thought he was taking Touran out to dinner months ago. She in turn recalled the frantic way in which in a fit of anger the usually cool Sesshoumaru had made love to her against the wall of her living room.
“Now, you’ve made quite a muddle of things, haven’t you my girl.” Kaede’s intervention mercifully diverted her from her raunchy thoughts.
“Why is everyone trying to blame me?” Kagura angrily snapped, recalling her sister’s words the previous day. “How about some compassion for what I’ve been put through?! I essentially wasted my time at Shikon Magazine for years, and found out the man I love had been lying to me all along.”
Kaede sent her niece an understanding smile. She could tell Kagura was really hurting, and she hoped to make her feel better. “Well, I am not sure I would say you wasted your time. Things may not have turned out the way you expected, but you learned skills you’ll use for the rest of your career. Now you can move on to a better position thanks to the experience you accumulated at Shikon. Plus seems like you found love there, isn’t it enough? Don’t be too greedy.”
“Some love he turned out to be.” Kagura snorted. “He betrayed me… not that I should be surprised, my last boyfriend did the same.”
“Oh honey.” Kaede ached at seeing the pain displayed in her niece’s eyes. She remembered how much Kouga’s cheating had shredded Kagura’s heart. When she had met him, she had not liked him, neither had Kanna. ‘I always trust her instinct. Kanna is never wrong about people, and from what I heard from her, Sesshoumaru seems like such a nice man, I have a hard time believing he would set out to hurt Kagura like this.’ Kaede stood from her spot on her bed to join her eldest niece on the divan, which occupied a side of her bedroom. She looped her arms around the young woman’s shoulders, and gently pushed back her dark bangs to stare into her crimson eyes. The action caused Kagura to bring forth a reluctant smile. It had been years since her aunt had given her a comforting hug, and at the time it was exactly what she needed.
“I am sorry to see you in such pain. After what Kouga put you through, I was afraid you would never risk your heart. This is why I was so happy about you getting together with Sesshoumaru. I just wish for you to be happy. If he doesn’t make you happy, then there is no reason for you to patch things up with him.”
Kagura sighed at hearing her aunt’s words. “That’s the problem. I’ve never been happier with a man than with Sesshoumaru. He gets me, and he’s done things for me that no man has ever even tried to do for me... that’s why his betrayal hurt so much!” As much as she tried to block the onset of happy memories fleeting through her head, she could not. She recalled his unwavering support of her expansion of the Shikon website, including her restaurant critique section, the way he had taken care of her when she was sick, the surprise birthday dinner at La Rosa Roja and more recently the excitement of moving in together. Remembering all the happy times they had shared only made her realize how much she loved Sesshoumaru. They had only been apart for three days, and she missed him tremendously. It was only her stubborn pride that allowed her to soldier on, and not break down in tears in front of her aunt.
“Maybe you should see things from another perspective. I am sure he never aimed to betray you. Has it not occurred to you that Sesshoumaru may have been afraid of telling you?” Kaede then retorted as the thought popped in her head.
Kagura pushed out of her aunt’s embrace, and struggled not to laugh out loud at Kaede’s words. “You clearly haven’t met Sesshoumaru, or you would know that the last thing the man could ever be is afraid.”
“When it comes to love, the bravest of us can be rendered frightened.” Kaede smiled sadly. “Not to mention that a fierce exterior can hide a tender heart, you should know something about that…” She paused to give her niece a meaningful look. “The way I understand things, it seems your young man was backed up against the wall. Once he was involved with you, he could not come out and tell you about the arrangement he had with Naraku. Considering your hot-headedness, I am certain you would have broken things up. Maybe he feared that outcome too much, and decided his best option was to keep quiet…”
Kagura could not dispute the fact that she had done precisely as her aunt predicted. She did however hate the fact that Kaede was so perfectly echoing the words Kanna had spoken to her only the day before. ‘Then again, maybe the two of them are on to something…’ She mentally conceded. She was suddenly assaulted by a few words Sesshoumaru had thrown at her in the midst of their argument, which actually supported the theory of her sister and aunt.
"And what? If I had told you, how would it have affected things? Would you have not fallen in love with me? Would you have quit Shikon at seeing how useless your efforts were?"
Kagura heaved a deep sigh. ‘Maybe I should follow Kanna and Aunt Kaede’s advice… I guess I could give Sesshoumaru another chance to explain himself... I was so angry when he tried to speak to me last time that I didn’t pay too much attention to what he was actually saying.’ She acknowledged as she ran her hand over her tired face.
Kaede could tell her words were slowly sinking into her niece, she could almost see the wheels turning behind her crimson eyes, but the old woman knew very well she was far from her end goal. “All I can ask of you is to give Sesshoumaru just a chance to explain himself, and please do not let Naraku ruin someone else’s love.” Kaede knew her ex brother in-law too well, and was sure he had purposely revealed his arrangement with Sesshoumaru in order to hurt Kagura.
Kagura’s brows furrowed at hearing her aunt’s last words. When it came to her own love life, Kaede had always been tight lipped. Kagura and Kanna had speculated over the years about who their aunt had been involved with before or after she had taken in her nieces, but had never gotten an actual confirmation.
“Aunt Kaede, what are you talking about?”
Kaede realized her sudden slip of the tongue, and wanted to knock her head against the wall. She however knew that she had gone too far to backtrack now. She had always intended to tell her nieces the truth, but had never found the right time.
“Does the name Tomoyo mean anything to you?” She saw Kagura rack her brain, but when she did not give her any answers, Kaede forged on. “He was a friend of your mother…”
Kagura eyes lit up in recognition. The name suddenly brought back memories of a fair-haired tall man with a soft voice, gentle demeanor and a sunny disposition. “Yes, uncle Tomoyo! He used to bring me candy every time he would come over to the house. I can’t believe I forgot all about him.”
Kaede sent her niece an indulgent smile. “You were so young at the time; it is surprising you even remember him.”
Then as she remembered the context of their conversation, Kagura sent her aunt a sly smile. “Were you involved with him?”
“No, your mother was.” Kaede’s matter of fact answer shocked Kagura beyond words. Before her niece had a chance to get over her shock, she continued on. “As you have experienced first hand, your father is a hard man to live with. I will admit that both you mother and I were relieved when he left with his bimbo of the moment. When she met Tomoyo, Naraku had moved out a long time ago, but he refused to give your mother the divorce she wanted. Being a single mother with two young children, she felt that she did not deserve another chance at love. She tried to resist, but Tomoyo won her over. I have never seen her happier than with him. He was such a good man. He loved your mother as much as he loved you and Kanna… When Naraku finally agreed to the divorce, your mother and Tomoyo were planning on getting married. They were going over to his parents’ hometown for a weekend before breaking the news to you and your sister about their marriage plan. That is when they were both killed in that cursed plane accident.” Recalling the pain and feeling of loss caused by her sister’s death caused Kaede’s dark eyes to cloud with tears.
“Your mother was finally going to be happy and have everything she had ever dreamed of when she was taken from us.” She paused to wipe away a tear with a shaky gnarled hand. Her sister had been dead for almost 25 years, but it did not lessen her pain, or make her regret the unfairness of the situation any less. “In many ways you resemble your mother so much. I know how much your father and Kouga have hurt you, but I never want you to be afraid of latching on to your happiness as she was when she first met Tomoyo. Take each day, and enjoy it to the best of your ability.”
Kagura was stunned by her aunt’s revelations. She did now vaguely remember Tomoyo, and how much he was able to make her mother laugh. She was glad to know that her mother had known love after Naraku, and had not been alone when she died. ‘Aunt Kaede is right, I deserve to give Sesshoumaru a shot to set things straight. If my mother could get over what Naraku put her through and give love a try, then I can do it too. I need to stop looking at what my father and Kouga put me through, and focus on what I have in the present.’
“Now, why don’t you pick up your phone and give your young man a call?”
The thought of speaking with Sesshoumaru after the harsh things they had thrown at each other’s face terrified her, but Kagura gathered her courage and fished her phone from her purse. In the event that her sister called her back to berate her, or worse, that Sesshoumaru try to get in touch with her, she had turned off her phone for the best part of the past three days, she was therefore not surprised to see that she had many voicemails when she powered on the device. Deciding to deal with those later on, she made use of the speed dial. She drew strength from the reassuring smile her aunt was giving her, and waited for the call to be connected.
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Several miles away, a phone went off in an empty car parked in a lot. Its owner, Sesshoumaru Tashio was completely oblivious to the fact that Kagura was trying to get in touch with him. He had purposely left his phone behind as he collected his thoughts. He had not wanted to stay at the condo as the last thing he wanted was for Kagura to walk in on him mopping around their living room. He had therefore headed straight for the one place he was sure no one would expect to find him: his old university campus. When a few weeks back he had come for a follow-up piece on the Miko Powder, the fact that the God Tree was completely deserted had not escaped his gaze. He was sure it would therefore be the perfect place for him to seek refuge at the moment. A distraction was the last thing he needed, which explained why a groan escaped his lips as he heard the unmistakable sound of incoming footsteps. He turned and a mix of annoyance and revulsion spread through him as he saw who had come to disrupt him. He let out a small unamused chuckle when he saw the other man attempt a retreat.
“What a surprise. Are you running away from me little brother?” The words had left Sesshoumaru’s lips before he even realized it. His mocking tone made the other man stop dead in his tracks.
“Feh! I’m no coward and I don’t run away from nobody!” Inuyasha stubbornly stated even as he cautiously walked towards his older half brother. He was expecting for Sesshoumaru to lash out at him any moment. He could still remember their argument when both of their girlfriends had worked together to set up a surprise dinner reunion. ‘I would have expected him to once again pretend I don’t exist… why is he calling me over?’ Inuyasha wondered. The treacherous small part of him that had always wished to have a relationship with his estranged brother was elated by Sesshoumaru’s beckoning. For this was how Inuyasha interpreted his brother’s words despite the taunting undertones they contained.
The younger pale haired man stopped in front of his half sibling, and looked down on him. Sesshoumaru was sitting right on the soft grass under the God Tree, his right leg pulled up against him and his arm resting on his raised knee, a contemplative look on his face.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Inuyasha was not sure if he was going to get an answer out of his brother, and was slightly surprised when after a long pause, he received one.
“This Sesshoumaru could ask the same of you.”
“I’m a student here at Edo, duh!” Inuyasha couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but for some reason Sesshoumaru looked different. It was as if the tough icy rock hard veneer that usually enveloped the imposing older man had thawed away. To his surprise his older half brother seemed almost approachable, which was one scary thought.
“Keh! What happened to you?” Inuyasha hated the fact that he had blurted his feelings in such a way, but he was burning with curiosity wondering what exactly had caused his brother to appear before him in such a way.
Upon hearing the query, Sesshoumaru only bothered to turn his head to send one of his traditional cold glares towards Inuyasha. Somehow seeing that side of his brother made Inuyasha feel better. A cold and condescending Sesshoumaru he could deal with much better after all.
"Look, I get it you’re pissed off because of me… and you have every reason to. I don’t blame ya." Inuyasha grumbled. He was still seething over his parents’ plan.
“What makes you believe you have the ability to affect this Sesshoumaru’s emotions?”
Sesshoumaru was not about to let Inuyasha know about the real root of his anger; namely his argument with Kagura. While he was mad at her and hated the way they had parted ways, he was also extremely worried about her. He had not heard from her in days, and despite everything, he missed her and wanted her back. He had not dared go back to the condo longer than it would take for him to shower and change as he did not want to run into her at home. The next time they faced, he wanted for it to be on his terms. He intended to be ready for the confrontation it was sure to produce. After all he had just moved into the condo when their disagreement had occurred. To him the place was still too much of ‘Kagura’s home’ for him to be able to relax there, and wait for her to come back from wherever she had disappeared to.
‘Which explains how I ended up here. All I wished for was some peace and quiet and a place where I could collect my thoughts. He just had to come and disturb me…’
“You hate me!” Inuyasha’s interjection brought Sesshoumaru out of his thoughts.
“This Sesshoumaru does not hate you." This time around he did not bother to look at Inuyasha before he spoke.
The two brothers were shocked by the elder’s admission. The most surprising part was how sincere he sounded. Finding out about the real relationship between his parents and Izayoi had opened his eyes. He now realized how ridiculous it was for him to have hated Inuyasha and blamed him for what he believed had been his mother’s suicide. However acknowledging his feelings, and sharing them with his brother were two completely different things.
“Hating you would require for this Sesshoumaru to bother thinking about you, which I assure you, I do not waste any time on.” His attempt at backpedaling did not fool his little brother one bit.
“Feh! You can stop pretending… I would be upset too if I was victim of the plan our dad concocted to get you to leave town. I can’t believe them. What they did was so wrong!”
The reaction of the elder Tashio brother was immediate. He shot up to his feet, and stomped over to Inuyasha. “What did you say?”
Since he was not going to cower in front of Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha stood straight, rolled his shoulders back, and stared right up into his brother’s eyes. At that precise moment, he very much disliked the few inches he lacked to be on the same level as his slightly taller brother.
“I know about our dad’s stupid plan to get you a job in another town. I can’t believe they’re so afraid of us getting close that they would scheme to keep us apart so badly.” Just thinking about the conversation he had overheard a few nights ago was enough to make his face break out into a deep scowl. “Feh! And Kagome thinks that they’re doing it to protect you, and help you in your career or whatever.”
Although he did not know how close Kagome was with her in-laws, Sesshoumaru realized that she could have an inside insight into Touga’s plans. ‘I do however have a hard time believing that I am a prime concern when it comes to our dear old dad.’ Even as he refuted the idea, as much as he tried, he was not able to dispel a weird feeling inside of him that revolved around the idea that his father could actually care about him.
‘I am not a child to have such thoughts. I have no need of him’ He reflected internally even as he squashed his thoughts. He had now come to the realization that if he ever felt a need to be filial, he could content himself with having a family of his own, preferably with Kagura, and far from his dysfunctional relationship with his father and step-mother.
“You know what, fuck it! Want a drink?”
Sesshoumaru’s thoughts were interrupted by Inuyasha’s question. It was only then that he realized his little brother was carrying a six-pack of beer. Without waiting for an agreement, Inuyasha stepped away from Sesshoumaru, and walked over to the spot his brother had been occupying before he had walked in on him.
“I came over here to relax with a drink, but since you took the spot, how about we share?” He accentuated his words by sitting under the tree and popping open a can of beer that he then extended behind him in the general direction of his brother. He took a deep breath, but did not dare turn back as he was too unnerved to see if his brother would take him up on his offer.
Sesshoumaru thought about turning around and marching straight back to his car, but before he could even register his own actions, he had snatched the offered drink. While he sipped his semi-cold beer, he stood ramrod straight next to his younger half sibling.
Inuyasha was surprised but pleased that the other man had accepted his peace offering. It had always been his fondest wish to have a relationship with his brother as well as find a way to assuage his guilt towards Sesshoumaru. From as far back as he could remember, a feeling of guilt had inhabited Inuyasha when it came to his brother, and the conversation between his parents that he had overheard had only accentuated his feelings.
‘I’ve always had supportive parents fighting in my corner… but Sesshoumaru lost his mom when he was a kid, and dad didn’t pay him as much attention as he could have. I know that Sesshoumaru probably didn’t want to get any help from dad, but maybe if dad had tried harder they would have been able to work out some sort of relationship… Sessh was just a kid when he left home after all.’ Inuyasha shook his head, and decided to focus on the problem at hand. ‘Maybe now’s the chance I always wanted to get to know Sesshoumaru and actually be in each other’s presence without tearing each other apart.’ The fact that they were completely alone allowed him to be more honest with his feelings.
Out of the corner of his eye, Sesshoumaru observed the various emotions being displayed on Inuyasha’s face. He did not know exactly what the other man was thinking about, but he was sure he was not going to like it. ‘Just because I am drinking one of his beers does not mean we will become best friends. He just conveniently appeared with something I wanted, so I took it.’ He had never been prone to drinking, but since his argument with Kagura, he had come to realize that a drink or two were useful in trying to tune out the many thoughts flying through his head.
“Whatever fantasy you are spinning in your head about the two of us forging a brotherly bond this evening, stop right this instant.” Sesshoumaru said in the hopes of letting Inuyasha know exactly where he stood where their relationship was concerned.
Inuyasha sent his brother one of his trademark scowls before gulping down a large swallow of beer and answering. “You don’t even know what I was thinking!” The guilty look on the younger man’s face however let Sesshoumaru know that his guess was not far off the mark.
“What do you want Inuyasha?”
Sesshoumaru decided to make an effort. He knew that if Kagura were here, she would encourage him to take advantage of the moment to try to get to know his brother. She had after all on so many occasions tried to convince him to make-up with Inuyasha; culminating with her and Kagome’s misguided attempt at making them all share a dinner together.
“I don’t want anything from you. All I wanted was for you to know I disagree with the old man. Until I heard about their little plan, I hadn’t realized how controlling my parents are. I see now that it’s past time I also become freaking independent. You were younger than me when you moved out of the house… I got a friend who can hook me up with a job as a production assistant for the midday news show on channel 6. Sure it’s not glamorous and won’t get me a fancy award like the one you won, but it’s a part time job and a start in the business.”
Inuyasha had never expected it could be this easy to vent to his brother. He did not have any close friends other than Kagome, and he knew that if he spoke to her about this, she would try to fix things between him and his parents. On the other hand, he was very aware that Sesshoumaru would never attempt such a thing. ‘Maybe because he doesn’t give a damn about me.’
Sesshoumaru frowned slightly. Up until that moment he had forgotten that his brother was also interested in the media industry. He suddenly recalled the internship application Inuyasha had sent in to Shikon Magazine almost a year ago, and remembered even more vividly the passionate love making that had occurred between him and Kagura that same night when they had confided in each other about their messy family situation.
“It is not an easy profession.” Sesshoumaru was shocked to see himself engaging in a civilized semi-conversation with Inuyasha. ‘It must be the alcohol…’ He reflected before taking another swig of his can. The admiration in his younger brother’s voice as he spoke about the award bestowed on him he realized might also have mollified him. He would never admit it aloud, but the fact that his half sibling followed his career and was aware of his accomplishments did please him.
“Keh! If you can do it, so can I!” The older man’s response was to roll his eyes at Inuyasha’s arrogance.
The atmosphere between the two of them was disturbed by the sharp ringtone of a phone.
Inuyasha fished into the pocket of his fiery red jacket and retrieved the offending device. He quickly checked the name flashing on the screen, and let a groan of annoyance leave his lips. He had half expected it to be Kagome checking up on him again, so he was half surprised to see the word ‘MOM’ displayed in bold letters on the screen. Without even thinking about it, he rejected the call. Since he didn’t like her to worry, he would send her a short text once he got back to Kagome’s place, but for the moment he wanted to enjoy the few minutes he was allowed to spend with his estranged brother.
“Ugh why can’t mom understand that I’m not coming home?” Inuyasha muttered as he shoved back his mobile in his pocket.
All the pieces of the puzzle suddenly fit in Sesshoumaru’s head, and he got a clear picture of what had occurred. Based on the conversation between him and Inuyasha, he guessed that he was at the root of the reason why his younger brother had suddenly moved out of his parents’ house. The simple thought of it both enraged and pleased him at the same time. He had to admit that it was nice knowing that someone had his back. It was not a feeling he was accustomed to. From as far back as he could remember he had had no one in his corner. The only person who had been supportive of him in recent years had been Kagura, and he had run her away. He decided to shift his focus away from the woman he loved, and focus back on the matter at hand.
‘I have no need of Inuyasha fighting my battles.’
“Whatever happened between our father, Izayoi and I has nothing to do with you. You have no reason to involve yourself.”
“I have a right to stand up for what I believe is right. I hate what they did to you, and I want them to know I do.” Inuyasha stubbornly proclaimed.
“The situation has nothing to do with you.” Sesshoumaru repeated himself. “Go home, figure out your own problems and do not become involved in my affairs anymore.”
Being lectured like a little child made Inuyasha surly. “Keh! Who do you think you are, ordering me around? You’re not my father!”
“No, but I am your older brother.” Sesshoumaru snapped back. Both of them were halted by the words. It was the first time Sesshoumaru had claimed a familial bond aloud in front of Inuyasha. As much as he tried not to pay attention to it, the younger Tashio was warmed by his brother’s words.
Calling on Inuyasha to face things only made Sesshoumaru realize that he too needed to stop moping like a child, and had to face his own responsibilities.
‘I should have apologized to Kagura when she first confronted me. Maybe if I had given her the benefit of the doubt, and told her about Naraku’s stupid plan months ago things wouldn’t have been blown out of proportion like this.’ The anger he had felt simply evaporated. He realized that he needed to get a hold of her and patch things up between them. They needed to find a way to move things forward.
“I have to go.” The words had barely left his mouth that Sesshoumaru shifted and headed towards the parking lot where he had left his car. The fact that he had showed his half brother a softer side of him also contributed to his wish to scamper away as quickly as possible.
“Hey wait!” Inuyasha scrambled to his feet, but fell short of following Sesshoumaru. When his older brother turned around to look at him, he struggled to find the words to express himself. He had ached for a relationship between the two of them for so long, and after spending a bit of time in a civilized manner he could feel his wish was in reach, but just didn’t know how to get to it without coming off as pathetic and whiny. He therefore blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. “Feh! You could at least have thanked me for the drink.”
Sesshoumaru took a long hard look at his younger brother. He recognized the yearning in Inuyasha’s eyes, and it made him feel guilty. It brought him back decades ago to when as a young child Inuyasha had taken to following him around the Tashio household silently begging for his attention. The more he ignored him, the more persistent his much younger brother would become. It had taken years for Inuyasha to understand that his brother did not care for him, and behave more indifferently towards Sesshoumaru. Growing up, despite the hatred he had for his brother and everything he represented, the way he had treated Inuyasha had always caused a small sense of guilt to inhabit Sesshoumaru, and now, for the first time in a long time this was not the case.
Sesshoumaru knew that he would never be able to forgive Touga and Izayoi, and he still needed to find a way to make amends with the role his own mother had played in their sordid arrangement… but one thing he knew for sure was that he needed to disassociate his feelings towards them from Inuyasha. Like it or not his little brother had nothing to do with anything.
“I might just have to return the favor one day.”
Inuyasha’s mouth spread into a small smile, which he quickly attempted, and failed to conceal. “Keh! Just look me up online whenever you want to get me that drink. It shouldn’t be too hard for someone who calls himself a journalist.”
Without bothering to speak any additional words to his brother, Sesshoumaru walked away. Even if he would never dare admit it to anyone, he felt as if a weight had just been lifted off his shoulders. He and Inuyasha would never be best friends, but at least they would not be enemies anymore.
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“Ugh! Of course he’s not answering when I want him too.” Even if Kagura tried to come across as carefree for her aunt’s benefit, she could not help but feel worried. Up until now she had expected that if she decided to come back to Sesshoumaru, he would welcome her back with wide-open arms. It was only now that she realized he may be the one unable to forgive.
‘Maybe he hasn’t been waiting for me as I expected…maybe he doesn’t want me anymore.’ She gently bit her lower lip.
Kaede might be practically blind out of one eye, but she could still read her niece like an open book.
“Go home and fix things up with your young man Kagura. It is always best to talk face to face.”
Kagura smiled. She was glad she had come to see her aunt. Kaede had always been able to keep her in line, and give her the best possible advice.
“You’re right… but I do hate leaving you…”
The old woman did not intend to let her niece find a way to backtrack. “We’ve spent a delightful day together today, which is more than I could have asked for. It’s time for you to go home, and fix your life. I am eager to meet this Sesshoumaru I have heard so much about, so bring him along soon.”
Kagura felt a bittersweet feeling spread through her. Even if she was indeed glad that in the few days she had spent at the center she had been able to see her aunt on a good day, she was sad as she knew that he progression of her aunt’s disease meant there would be less and less such days for them to enjoy. With a quick shake of her head, she pushed such dark thoughts away from her mind.
‘Aunt Kaede is right, I need to focus on getting my life back on track.’
The young woman’s thoughts were interrupted by the shrill sound of her ringtone. She felt her heart’s beat quicken in a mix of fear and anticipation.
“It must be him!” Kaede exclaimed with excitement. “Sesshoumaru must be calling you back. What are you waiting for? Answer!”
After taking one deep breath, Kagura did as her aunt bid.
“Hello? Kagura? I’ve been trying to call for ever!”
As much as she tried, Kagura tried to not let her disappointment show as she recognized the words of the person at the other end of the line. “Yukiyo? Why are you calling so late?”
“It’s Kanna… the baby… surgery”
In between her brother in-law’s mumbling and sniffling these were the only words she was able to make out.
“Yukiyo, take a breath and explain things to me. What happened? Are Kanna and the baby okay?” Kagura asked. She was frightened, but did not intend to let it come through. She attempted to sound as calm as possible to prevent Yukiyo from going in full blown panic mode.
He let out a small whimper before answering. “Kagura you need to come. There’s something wrong… the doctor said she might need surgery….” He suddenly pulled away, and she could only make out the sound of another man’s muddled voice. “The doctor’s back.” Yukiyo spoke again in the phone. “I’ve got to go, please, I need your help for Kanna and for the boys.” Even if he did not dare say it, Kagura knew that he too could use her support.
“I’m on my way. I’ll take the train, I’ll be there as soon as I can.” When she had driven from home, the trip had taken her hours, but she knew she could make it to the hospital within the hour if she hurried. For the first time she was truly grateful that she and Kanna had chosen a facility for Kaede where the youngest of the Jiyuu sisters would be able to get to in less than a hour courtesy of the high speed train.
“Thank you.” Kagura knew that things were really bad when the usually calm, collected and polite Yukiyo hung up without any form of greeting.
“What is it? What happened?” Kaede saw the lines of worry etch themselves on her niece’s face as she spoke on the phone, and she was not liking this one bit.
“It’s Kanna, it seems like she had to be checked in at the hospital. Yukiyo is there with her.” Even as she spoke, Kagura fluttered around the room, picking up her things.
“My God! Isn’t it too early for her to be in labor?”
“Both Haku and Akago were born prematurely, and they’re fine. I am sure this latest baby will be too. She stopped in front of her aunt’s seated form, and pressed a kiss to her tanned leathery cheek. “I love you aunt Kaede, and I will let you know what’s going on as soon as I get there.”
“I love you too child, please look after your sister for me.” Once again Kaede cursed the debilitative disease, which had her confined to the special facility. Something told her Kagura and Kanna would be needing her, and she wished she could be there for them.
“You know I always do.” With those final words, Kagura bolted out of her aunt’s room. She briefly glanced down at her watch, and saw that the next train would be leaving the station in less than fifteen minutes. She would have to drive like a mad woman, but she knew she would be able to make.
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Sesshoumaru took one relaxing breath before inserting his key into the lock. He slowly opened the front door, and slipped into the condo. The stillness of the place, and immaculate state let him know that Kagura had still not come home. He sighed, in disappointment, and decided that he might as well make himself comfortable if he was to wait. On his way to the kitchen to fetch a snack, he saw that the answering machine was blinking. He leaned over and saw that they had received five messages; a truly unusual occurrence. A crease in between his brows, he pressed the play button.
‘Kagura! Damn it answer your phone or your cell… You need to come to the hospital. Something’s wrong with Kanna and the baby. It’s not looking good. Please we’re at the central hospital, we need you!’
While the caller had not identified himself, Sesshoumaru knew it was Yukiyo, a very panicked Yukiyo. A curse flew out his mouth, and he reached for his cell phone. It was only now that he saw a missed call from Kagura, and he could have smacked himself for not answering at a time when she clearly needed him. He tried calling her back, but only got a busy tone.
“Damn it!” He reached for his recently discarded coat and car keys, and sprinted back down to the parking garage. If he put the pedal to the metal, he could be over at the hospital in two hours. Something told him he was about to make one of the longest and most unnerving drives of his life.
To be continued…
A/N: Phew! These were some heavy conversations. It was so hard to write Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha coming to an acceptable place. I am sure that conversation was very OOC, but for this fic, it works ;) The next chapter should come out much more easily, and I should have it up sooner. The end of the fic is so close I can taste it :)