InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of a Rose ❯ Friends Again ( Chapter 3 )

Secrets of a Rose

By: Moonlight Secret

Previously:

"Why did you kiss Koga?" Sesshoumaru questioned her, feeling the familiar flicker of anger growing inside him as he remembered that heartbreaking memory.

Kagome looked at the man beside her and her mouth dropped opened in shock. "I did what!?"

Chapter three: Friends Again

"Don't try to deny it, Kagome." Sesshoumaru growled impatiently. "I saw you making out with Koga in your room; it was on the same night that I left."

Kagome's blue eyes immediately brightened in realization. "Oh, you mean that kiss."

"Yes, I meant that kiss." Sesshoumaru replied bitterly. "Now please, do care to explain yourself, Higurashi."

Kagome closed her eyes in remembrance. "Remember the play that I was in? I was the leading woman and Koga was the leading man." She began. "We had a romance scene to rehearse and the director wanted us to practice the kissing part before dress rehearsal." She paused before opening her eyes and continuing. "What you saw were just me and him practicing our parts and nothing more."

Sesshoumaru stared at Kagome intensely because doubt still lingered at the back of his mind. "Give me one good reason to why I should believe you."

Kagome raised her head and looked at Sesshoumaru straight in the eye. "I would never have cheated to you, Sesshoumaru." She whispered softly. Her eyes never once left his', nor did it ever flinched as she said those words, assuring him that she wasn't lying.

For Sesshoumaru, it felt like as if a heavy weight was lifted from his shoulder but his anger was starting to grow again; however this time, it was directed to himself. `You are so stupid!' his inner voice screamed at him. `Why did you jump into conclusion like that?! Stupid, stupid, stupid.'

"What about you?" Kagome asked him, breaking him from his wandering thoughts. "Why did you move away without telling me?"

"I was angry," Sesshoumaru answered and lowered his head in shame. For once, he allowed his defense to fall, giving Kagome a chance to see his real emotions. "I thought you were cheating on me. So, I left because I didn't wanted to see you again."

Kagome remained quiet and didn't say anything; instead she stood up and walked to the edge of the pool. Sesshoumaru followed her, curious to know what she was thinking.

"So… you just left without letting me explain myself?" she asked quietly. Her eyes were filled with overwhelming sadness but a gleam of mischief lingered at the corner.

Sesshoumaru nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for the fact that he was the cause of her despair. "Kagome, I apologize. I should have talked with you rather than to have just leave."

"Yes, you should have," Kagome agreed.

Suddenly, Sesshoumaru felt Kagome's small and delicate fingers on his back, gently tracing the curves of his well-toned muscles that were visible under his shirt. Just as he was beginning to relax into her soft touches, he felt himself being roughly shoved into the pool. When Sesshoumaru resurfaced from the water, his ears were greeted by the sound of Kagome's melodic laughter.

"Revenge is sweet!" she said in between giggles towards the soaked bachelor. "Take it as my payback on you for leaving me." But soon, a pair of perfectly muscular arms reached forth and grabbed her petite waist, pulling her into the pool.

"Eek," Kagome cried in surprise as her body hit the water.

"Indeed, revenge is sweet," Sesshoumaru smirked as her head surfaced from the water.

A delicate flush graced the singer's beautifully sculptured face as she crossed her arms in front of her chest, indicating that she was angry. "No fair, Sess." She pouted. "It was supposed to be my revenge."

Sesshoumaru smiled until Kagome's hands reached forth again, as she dunked his head into the water. Under the water and away from Kagome's reach, Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around her slender legs and dragged her underneath with him.

On the surface, Kagome shrieked in surprise as she felt a pair of strong arms wrapped around her leg, dragging her underneath the water. The singer held in her breath as she felt her entire body go under the cool, refreshing water. She opened her eyes again and was greeted with the sight of a smirking Sesshoumaru. Had Mother Nature given her the ability to talk under water, Kagome would have been shouting nonstop to him by now.

Sesshoumaru gazed in silent awed as Kagome's silky hair gently floated around her in the still current and the rays from the sunlight from above penetrated the water, casting her skin an illuminated glow. Indeed, even underneath the water, she looked as beautiful as ever. Slowly, Sesshoumaru reached out and softly caressed her flawless cheek, admiring her delicate skin. Kagome looked at him curiously and her head tilted in questioning. However, the moment was interrupted when the singer realized that she couldn't hold her breath in for any longer. Quickly, she swam upward and resurfaced, silently thanking God for letting her breathe again.

"I bet you find this very amusing," Kagome choked out in between coughs as she coughed out some of the water that she accidentally swallowed, while at the same time, looking at Sesshoumaru's stoic mask. Although his face was expressionless like usual, his eyes were twinkling with laughter.

"Very," he replied before wrapping his arms around the singer, pulling her into an embrace. Gently, Sesshoumaru laid his head on the delicate curve of her neck, breathing in her familiar and sweet, natural scent of cherry blossom and jasmine. "Kagome, what are we now?" he asked her.

Kagome stayed silent for a moment. "Well… now that we solved our misunderstandings and no longer wants to kill each other, I guess we are friends then," she replied slowly.

"What if I want to be more than that?" Sesshoumaru whispered seductively in her ear.

Kagome sighed before answering, "Sesshoumaru, it's been eleven years since we last seen each other; we both have changed since then, and I am pretty sure that so has our feelings. I think it's better if we just start over as friends first."

If Sesshoumaru was disappointed or hurt by Kagome's answer, he didn't let it show. Instead, he replied smoothly. "Sure; however, this is The Bachelor show, and you and I will eventually have to go out." He then paused and gave her a small but real smile that he would give to her, and her only. "So, how about going on a date with me, tomorrow?" he asked.

Kagome returned his smile with one of her heart-warming ones. "Sure, I would love to."

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Behind a thick bush and hidden from view, a pair of eyes watched and listened with growing hate and anger at Sesshoumaru and Kagome's conversation. "Have your little fun with him for now, Kagome." The person whispered hoarsely. "But Sesshoumaru belongs to me."

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At night

"So, how was your day?" Sango asked Kagome.

"It was pretty good," Kagome answered. "I managed to work out some differences with Sesshoumaru."

"Oh my God," Sango squealed in excitement. "Does that means that you two are getting marry? I am so happy for you! Can I come to the wedding?"

Kagome laughed and fought a blush that was threatening to rise. "No Sango, it's not what you are thinking; I am just going on a date with him, tomorrow."

However, the singer's cell phone rang and interrupted the two girl's conversation. Giving her friend an apologetic smile, Kagome flipped opened her phone and answered. "Hello?"

"Hey Kaggy," a voice cheerfully greeted her from the other end.

"Miroku?" Kagome asked. "Why are you calling me?"

"I am your manager, remember?" Miroku replied back. "It's my duty to check on you every now and then."

Kagome chuckled, "What do you need?"

"Well," Miroku began. "I will be flying over to wherever you are to discuss a very important, one month tour that I have scheduled for you."

"Oh," Kagome said. "Can't we just talk about it over the phone?"

"No, because I have some papers for you to look through."

"Fine, but how long will you be staying?"

"I don't know; for as long as it takes to get the tour organized and prepared."

"Okay."

"By the way, Kagome. Um… where exactly are you?"

"In America," the singer replied as she rolled her eyes. Her manager, whom was only one year older than her, sure doesn't know how to keep track of her.

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Next day

"So Sesshoumaru," Kikyo began in a low, seductive voice. "Tell me a bit more about yourself."

"Like what?" Sesshoumaru asked in a bored manner. `Why did I even agree to a lunch date with her?' he pondered. When he first saw Kikyo, he noticed that she kind of resembled Kagome except for the fact that her hair was flat and dead straight, while Kagome's were full of volume and texture. Besides the hair, their eyes also differ greatly. Where Kagome's blue ones were filled with life and liveliness, Kikyo's dull brown ones were…well…just dead looking (A/N: like everything else about her). Now, Sesshoumaru was beginning to realize that besides their looks, Kikyo have nothing in common with Kagome. Kagome were always so lively and she wore her emotions on her sleeve while Kikyo were just cold, emotionless, and slutty.

"Well, how about what you do?" Kikyo suggested. Her eyes were expressionless except for a sparkle of greed gleaming at the corners.

`And she's also greedy,' the little voice in his head pointed out. Sesshoumaru inwardly sighed before answering her question. "I work as a super model and I own a company."

"You must be very, very rich," Kikyo said, giving him a flirtatious smile.

"I am aware of that," Sesshoumaru answered as he took a small sip from his glass of wine. Stealing a quick glance at the restaurants' clock overhead, Sesshoumaru realized that only an hour had passed. `Still another hour to go,' his unconsciousness complained.

Growing desperate for Sesshoumaru's attention, Kikyo rose from her seat and walked over to him. Slowly, she sat down on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

`Get it off, get it off,' Sesshoumaru's inner voiced shrieked as if Kikyo was a spider on his lap. `Ew, ew, ew.' Resisting the urge to strangle her for there were cameramen filming the date, Sesshoumaru only stared at her coldly. "Get off of me," he growled. Reluctantly, Kikyo rose herself from his lap. "You are no fun, Sesshy." She pouted.

"I am not enjoying your company either," Sesshoumaru replied as he stood up. "This date is over." And with that said, he turned and gracefully walked out of the restaurant door. `Free at last,' Sesshoumaru's unconsciousness cheered and he smiled. Time to get ready for the date with Kagome.

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"I wonder where Sesshoumaru is taking me," Kagome wondered out loud.

"Probably somewhere romantic," Sango said as she dug through Kagome's clothes. "Man, I wish I have a wardrobe like yours'."

The singer smiled as she pulled out an outfit. "Perfect," she said and walked over to the bathroom to change.

Once she came out, Sango squealed in excitement as she saw Kagome's outfit. "White is definitely your color!" (A/N: yup, I am obsess with the color white… and baby blue).

Kagome grinned and walked over to a full-length mirror. She wore a tight, sleeveless white, halter-top shirt that wrapped around her neck and went an inch below her bellybutton, leaving a centimeter or so of her stomach bare. On her legs, she donned a pair of tight, no pocket, white pant. And to top it off, she had on a medium heeled, ankle length, white boots.

"Hey, I think Sesshoumaru just came back from his date," Sango pointed out as she looked out the window. The bachelor was getting out from his expensive car and was walking towards the mansion.

"Date?" Kagome asked her.

"Yeah," Sango answered. "He just went on a lunch date with this bitchy girl named Kikyo."

Kagome's face darkened slightly before quickly turning back to its normal, cheerful façade. With a wave, she said bye to her new friend before walking out the door to meet Sesshoumaru.

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"Hey," Kagome greeted the bachelor, whom was waiting for her by the door. "Where are we going?"

Sesshoumaru nodded to her in greeting. "Horseback riding," he replied.

Kagome's ocean blue eyes immediately brightened and she gave him a genuine smile. "I love horses."

Sesshoumaru smiled a small, knowing smile and the two walked towards his car. Arriving to his black sedan, Sesshoumaru opened the door and sat himself on the drivers seat with Kagome next to him, on the passenger seat. Together, they drove to a near by horse ranch.

"Oh, this one is beautiful!" Kagome exclaimed as she spotted a pure white, powerful horse.

"Kagome, it has been fifteen minuets already. Please, just choose a horse." Sesshoumaru told the bachelorette, whom seemed to be having trouble finding the perfect one.

"Alright," Kagome said and looked at the white horse again. "I will take this one." Carefully, the singer mounted onto the horse, silently thanking her parents for forcing her into taking horseback-riding lessons when she was young. Following Kagome, Sesshoumaru climbed onto his chestnut brown horse and together, the two rode off into the open fields.

"The scenery is breathtaking," Kagome said as she looked around the fields of fresh, green grass that seemed to stretch endlessly.

Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement. They were riding alongside and their horses were on a trot, taking them along the fields that were part of the ranch. A comfortable silence settled among the two as they quietly enjoyed each other's company. But out of the corner of his eyes, Sesshoumaru spotted a figure following him. His head quickly turned around to see who it was but was surprised when he found out that there was no one behind him. `Must have been my imagination,' he thought.

However, his thoughts were interrupted when Kagome's horse gently pulled to a stop. "Sesshoumaru, look" she said as she pointed to the sky. Sesshoumaru looked to where she was pointing and indeed, it was a breathtaking sight. The cloudless sky was a blanket of fiery red as the sun began to set below the horizon. Overhead, the mountains blocked out most of the glowing star from view, as if the mountains itself were longing to touch the setting sun. However, Sesshoumaru's attention was not directed on nature's beauty for he was too busy looking at a certain someone that was next to him. Kagome's midnight black hairs were gently swaying against the breeze, often being blown against her face whenever the wind picked up. The rays of the setting sun cast out golden glows to surround her figure, making her look like a goddess. "Beautiful," Sesshoumaru softly whispered.

Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru and blushed when she saw that he was staring at her in an intense gaze. But she too, had a hard time from not staring at him. His long, silver hair and perfectly sculptured, stoic face gave him an unearthly beauty. Handsome yet deadly. However, the moment was interrupted when a rock suddenly whizzed passed Sesshoumaru and hit Kagome's horse squarely at the side. Her horse shrieked loudly in surprise and broke off into a mad dash. Kagome quickly held onto the rein of the horse to stop herself from falling but her efforts were in vein, as the white horse lifted its front legs and threw her off of its back. In quick reflex, Sesshoumaru dismounted from his horse and was able to catch the singer before she hits the ground.

"Are you okay?" Sesshoumaru asked her, worry evidenced in his eyes.

Kagome smiled weakly. "Just a bit shocked but other than that, I am fine."

Sesshoumaru nodded and looked over to the rock that hit her horse. It was squared shape and about roughly the size of his fist.

"I am sure that it was nothing," Kagome said as she eyed the rock.

Sesshoumaru nodded again and pretended to agree with her. He didn't wanted to worry Kagome but however, he wasn't convinced. After all, rocks don't go around flying and hitting objects by themselves.

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On the way back to the mansion, the drive was quiet until Kagome broke the silence. "The Rose Ceremony is coming soon," she pointed.

"I am aware of that," Sesshoumaru said and waited for her to continue.

"Sesshoumaru, please don't give me a rose unless you really want me to stay," Kagome said to him.

From the corner of his eyes, Sesshoumaru glanced at the bachelorette. "I know." He paused before continuing again. "But Kagome, do you want to stay?"

The singer rested her head against the passenger window. "I don't know," she mumbled as she closed her eyes. "I really don't know." For Kagome, she had always dreamed of establishing a relationship with the perfect someone, base on love and trust. But with Sesshoumaru… well… one minuet, he's dating her and the next; he's dating someone else. It makes Kagome feel cheated and insecure to know that ever day, he's out with some other women. `I just don't want to have a relationship like this,' she silently thought.

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A few days later

"Well, it's time for the rose ceremony," Mr. McNeil said to Sesshoumaru as he patted him on the arm. A week had passed since the bachelor was first introduced to the 25 bachelorettes and now, it's time to see who he wants to keep and who he wants to leave.

Sesshoumaru nodded before walking into a spacious, dimly lighted room. The room was bare except for a few roses and lighted candles, and on the wall, there was a framed photograph of every single, 25 bachelorette. The main purpose of this room was for the bachelor to reflect back to his time with the women and decide which bachelorettes he would like to keep, and which ones he would like to eliminate. But for Sesshoumaru, his main focus was on the photo of Kagome, whom he still haven't decided whether he should give her a rose or not. Of course, he himself really wanted to give one to her but Kagome had already pointed out that she wasn't sure if she wanted to stay or not. Fifteen minuets later and still undecided, Mr. McNeil came into the room.

"It's time," he said to the bachelor.

Sesshoumaru took a deep breath before putting his emotionless facade on again, and went out to meet the bachelorettes. The Rose Ceremony was out door in the large garden, decorated with romantic lightings to brighten up the night sky and beautiful flowers. In the center of the garden was an elegant, small table and located on top of the table was a plate filled with 15, delicate roses.

Sesshoumaru walked next to the table and waited as one by one, the 25 bachelorettes came to stand around him.

"I would like to take this moment to thank you all for coming," Sesshoumaru said to them. "I had a great time getting to know all of you but unfortunately, there are 25 women and I have only 15 roses." Slowly, Sesshoumaru took out a rose from the pile and called out one of the Bachelorettes. "Eri."

Eri grinned before walking up to Sesshoumaru. "Eri, will you accept this rose?" Sesshoumaru asked her as he held out the rose.

Eri smiled and nodded. "Yes."

And so, one by one, Sesshoumaru called out 13 more names until there was only one rose left. So far, Eri, Sango, Ayame, Kim, Kate, Jessica, Angela, Eva, Sophia, Nicole, Mary, Lucy, Cherry, and Kagura had gotten a rose. Mr. McNeil walked up to the Sesshoumaru and looked at the women. "Well, this is the last rose of the evening," he said before walking off to the side again.

Sesshoumaru picked up the last rose, still undecided whether he should give it to Kagome or not. "I want to thank you all again," he began his speech to the 11 remaining bachelorettes. "But I only have one rose left." He paused, still trying to decide. Stealing a quick glance at Kagome, Sesshoumaru saw her soft, familiar and beautiful smile. Finally, he made his decision. Holding up the final rose, he looked at the singer. "Kagome," he called out her name.

From the group of bachelorettes, Kagome slowly walked up to Sesshoumaru. "Kagome, will you accept this rose?" Sesshoumaru asked her.

Kagome gazed at the red rose and then, back to Sesshoumaru's face. "I would love to," she said and gently took it from him. Holding the flower with her delicate fingers, she made her way back to the group of bachelorettes.

Mr. McNeil came back to Sesshoumaru's side and looked at the 10 females that didn't receive a rose. "I am sorry ladies," he said to them. "But you must immediately go back to the mansion, pack your bags, and leave."

The ten bachelorettes nodded sadly before waving goodbye to Sesshoumaru and headed back to the mansion to get pack their belongings.

Once the eliminated bachelorettes left, glasses of wine were handed out to the bachelor and the 15 bachelorettes. "Here's a toast to a new adventure," Sesshoumaru said as he held out his glass. Together, the bachelorettes raised their glass and toasted with him. And from up above, the soft glow of the moon brightened the night sky, waiting patiently for a new day to come.

A/N: Well… that's the end of chapter three; I hope you like it. Thank you to everyone for voting and it's been decided that Mr. McNeil is going to be Myouga. Anyways, I would like to give another big thank you to everyone that reviewed. And to let you all know, Miroku is appearing and it will be M/S. By the way, I have thought about the fact that Toutousai doesn't appear very often in fanfics so I will try my best to add him into this story, although I can't guarantee anything. And my update schedule is usually every Saturday or Sunday, but with the pressure of school and the stress of daily life, I may be a bit behind on my updates. Please review!

If anyone of you still doesn't understand how `The Bachelor' eliminates people, please allow me to explain again. `Clear throat', every week there is the Rose Ceremony and during the ceremony, the bachelor will hand out roses to the bachelorettes. Those that receives a rose will get to stay for another week and those that doesn't receive one will have to pack their bags, and go back to their homes. Yup, that's about it. Till next time, Bye. Oh, and PLEASE REVIEW.