InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Special delivery ❯ All in the open ( Chapter 52 )

Chapter 52: All in the open

 

 

A/N: Early update, aren't you guys glad? I've been so anxious about posting this chapter, but I hope you do enjoy.

 

 

Thanks for leaving me a review:

 

Syzhale

Little25victor

Sesshkagufan13

BlackMagicWhiteMagic

Rudhu (x10) Congrats on leaving the 650th review!

Soul.fleur

 

Kagura's number one fan (I'm sure Kagura had her daughter's best intererest in mind when she scolded her. Kagura's secret will be revealed in full for sure.)

 

Rogue reader (I'm glad to get a new reviewer! I don't know if I'll be up to your expectations when it comes to the big reveal, but I did try)

 

Thanks to Dogsfang for the nice PM.

 

 

On MediaMiner.org

 

Zetsuii (Your wishes may come true in this chapter… tough Naraku's plan will be exposed later on)

 

 

Disclaimer: If I owned Inuyasha, Sesshy and Kagura would be happily mated and working on silver haired baby number three by now…

 

 

“Talking”

`Thoughts'

 

 

“This is not how I wanted things to turn out. I wanted to be the one to tell you. I should have explained all this to you sooner… This was what I wanted to tell you tonight.” She sighed after taking a deep breath; aiming to get some strength back.

 

“It isn't too late. I am willing to listen…now.” He added remembering how he had dismissed her explanation the night of the gala. He had now come to realize she had probably wanted to tell him everything. He was not sure how much he could trust Naraku's words, and since he had not read the spider half demon's black book, he did not have that much information about Kagura's past.

 

`For all I know Naraku's words might have only been lies.' He told himself, slightly hopeful.

 

After briefly hesitating on how to explain, Kagura opened her mouth to start speaking; she knew it was time to come clean.

 

“Naraku has some special clients; close friends and business partners of his. To them he doesn't simply offer girls to accompany them to dinner or to events as dates...” She interrupted herself to take a breath and then spoke as fast as possible “Well as I'm sure you heard... I was more than an escort…” She interrupted herself to moisten her lips as she felt her heartbeat quicken.

 

“I... used to be a prostitute.” As soon as she let the words out, Kagura lowered her gaze not able to look her friend in the eyes. Even if the dog demon had told her he knew of her past, admitting her past shame aloud still hurt.

 

'To be honest even before Naraku told me about her past occupation, ever since I met her I had a feeling something was up. After all the first time I met her I had thought she was a prostitute.' The dog demon suddenly remembered the night of the gala, when Kagura had tried to tell him about her past, and how he had dispelled her concerns, and assured her he did not need to know about her past 'job'. 'I should have realized sooner that she was carrying such a burden.' The dog demon thought with a sigh.

 

“I see.” He breathed out; unsure of what to say. After a brief hesitation he added. “I am sure you have more than that to tell me, do you not?”

 

“What is there more to know?” She asked surprised. She rose her ruby red eyes, gaining some of her usual spunk back. “Why do you want to hear more?”

 

“We are done hiding things. This Sesshoumaru wishes to know everything. How you started, what happened… what made you rebel…” He trailed off. He was sure that if Kagura answered these questions, she would be able to feel better about herself.

 

“It's not important… it's all in the past now... Isn't it what you used to say all the time?” She shook her head, willing to forget about her past. She had worked very hard in the past months to forget what Naraku had made her go through, and she was not keen on reopening her slowly healing wounds. The wind sorceress took advantage of Sesshoumaru's split second of hesitation to side step his imposing presence and walk towards her small couch.

 

He immediately followed her, and to her surprise looped his arms around her waist. Then without even bothering to turn her around to face him, he forced her back against his larger body, and encircled her tightly. Looking over her head, he slightly bent down to place his lips next to her ear.

 

“In the past you have faulted me for not understanding your point of view, or following your wishes. Explain yourself to me then. Make me understand.” The familiar warmth of his body sipped into her skin, and helped her relax.

 

“Okay. Fine. I get it. I'll tell you everything.” She gently shrugged off the hold he had on her, and turned around to stare up into his eyes, but he did not remove his hands from her body, for which she was grateful; feeling him supporting her was granting her more strength than she could have ever wanted.

 

`Sesshoumaru wants to know everything, and swore he could forgive everything… and I guess it is time for me to come clean. I've kept all of my secrets for so long; working so hard to ensure no one would ever know them, but now I have to open my heart to him, and trust him. And I think I can do it.'

 

The dog demon lowered his golden eyes to look at Kagura, searching her crimson gaze to find out where her mind was going to.

 

`Knowing her, she may be trying to find a way to get out of telling me everything.' He thought, furrowing his brows. `I just have to make sure this does not happen.' Just as the thought formed in his mind, he got an idea.

 

Before Kagura had time to let out a squeak of surprise, she found herself settled on the dog demon's knees while he sat on her old couch, his arms around her thin frame, preventing her from going away from him if she wanted to.

 

`It feels good to be in his arms. I had almost forgotten the feeling of comfort he brings me.' Kagura thought taking a deep breath, resisting the urge to burrow her face against his neck, the way she used to when the two of them went to bed together.

 

“What are you doing?!” She asked him shocked. Even if she felt she should protest harder, she could not; she had missed the dog demon's touch too much.

 

“Kagura do not waste time. Just speak, and I will listen.” He said as he gently squeezed her waist, causing a blush to appear on her cheeks and a shiver of pleasure to run through her. “Please. I really want to know.” He forced himself to add before running a hand down her dark hair.

 

Hearing the arrogant inu youkai put aside his legendary pride, and plead her made her heart flutter and resolution waver. She then and there knew that she wanted to confide in him and tell him everything, and so she did.

 

“When I was thirteen years old, Naraku decided that his no good, big mouthed rebellious daughter could be of some use to him. He told me that if I wanted to keep living I'd have to help him and his business.” She paused to clear her constricted throat. Due to the emotional turmoil she found herself in, she was finding it increasingly harder to let words out.

 

As if understanding her troubles, the dog demon once more ran his hand down her hair, aiming to soothe her. He knew how much she enjoyed the simple gesture, and would do anything to make her feel better.

 

“In what ways were you helping?” He asked even as he feared the answer to the question. `From what I have seen of Naraku, I was sure he would have forced Kagura to work for him early on, but I never could have imagined he was that much of a monster. She was only a child.' He thought to himself, truly sickened.

 

“At first I did deliveries of illegal stuff like drugs and forged art pieces to clients and friends of his. Then when I was sixteen, I started working as an escort.” The wind sorceress paused. “Having men spend money on me, take me out… I'll be honest I found it a little exciting at the time. Wearing expensive dresses, be covered in jewels… It was fun, it made me feel important and grown up... I was taken to high end restaurants, big parties stuff like that.” She placed her head against his shoulder. Admitting her dark past did make her feel better. She had never confessed any of this to anyone, and knew that other than to Sesshoumaru never would.

 

“You were so young, too young to know better.” Sesshoumaru commented, preventing the urge to press a comforting kiss to her forehead.

 

“Pff. Don't bother trying to reason, or excuse my behavior. Age doesn't change what I did.” She sighed.

 

“Kagura…” For a second he struggled for something fitting to say, then relented. He figured he could try to build her self esteem later on. For now he was dead set on finding out about his past. “What happened next?” He tried pressing her on gently.

 

“As I told you before just after graduating from high school, when I was eighteen years old I met Shinichi, and fell in love.” At the mention of her ex's name she felt Sesshoumaru tense under her, and tighten the hold he had on her, but decided to ignore it, and continued her tale.

 

“Only a few weeks later I got pregnant. He was my first you know…well Naraku was not pleased. I only found out much later on that he had intended to auction off my virginity to some rich pig friend of his. I'm glad I at least managed to thwart his plan on that end…” She interrupted herself to let out a snort. “The whole time I was pregnant Naraku left me alone, I guess I should be thankful for that… but once Kanna was born…” She abruptly stopped her tale. Speaking of one of the darkest times of her life, even to the man she trusted the most was still not that easy.

 

“After Kanna's birth…” He gently probed her, his warm tone encouraging her.

 

“Naraku felt like me being more than an escort would be more rentable for his business. Turns out many of his clients got a kick out of having sex with the boss's daughter.” She felt him stiffen under her again. She only hoped that Sesshoumaru was angered by the way Naraku treated her, not with her who had not been able to resist her father.

 

“It was horrible. My first client, who later on became a regular was that old bastard of Yamashita. At first I tried fighting him off, saying no, but when I noticed how much he enjoyed it, I just simply let it be and pretended it didn't affect me; I didn't want to give him the pleasure of knowing how much I was hurt and disgusted…” Her usually vibrant crimson eyes suddenly glazed over as she thought back to the different men she had had to sleep with due to her father.

 

“Before the day you came to take me away that was my daily life. Yamashita wasn't the only one of my clients of course, but I don't really want to get into that.” She instinctively buried herself closer to him as he silently listened. He occasionally ran his hand down her arm, providing warmth and comfort to her.

 

“Throughout all this I had one thing helping me hold on; Kanna. I realize that a stronger person would have given her up for adoption or something… try to give her a better, safer, life, but I couldn't do this. She's always been the best thing that's happen to me. I needed her, and I like to believe she needs me too.”

 

“Do not doubt it.” He took the time to interrupt her.

 

“Thanks.” She smiled briefly. “I wanted to leave Naraku for a long time, but I didn't have the means. He always paid attention to have power over me, to make sure I'd never leave him. I had put some money aside, but you coming that day sped things up. You've also been a great help ever since... Well that's the end of my tale.” Kagura stopped speaking then, silently letting Sesshoumaru hold her.

 

“Is that all?” The dog demon asked looking into her crimson eyes, right across from his.

 

“Is that all? That's all you have to say?!” Kagura exclaimed in shock and disappointment. It had taken a lot out of her to admit her dark past, and Sesshoumaru's weak reaction vexed her.

 

“What else would you like me to say?” He retorted. He did not see what she wanted from him. He had lent her a helping ear, and a comforting shoulder.

 

“Didn't you hear what I just said?! I don't know I thought… I thought you'd be angry, disappointed or something…” She tried conveying to him her feelings.

 

“Why would I be?” He asked her. As much as he looked inside himself, he could not find any of these emotions. The only thing burning inside him were his hatred of Naraku and his will to destroy him while protecting Kagura and Kanna.

 

“Are you kidding me?! I'm filthy…” She choked the words out.

 

“No you're not!” He cut her, not willing to hear her keep going down that road.

 

“I am. I just told you I used to have sex with disgusting strangers. All that for money!” She lashed out at him, shocked by his apparent acceptance. “Don't lie and tell me you're okay with that! Especially when you must think of the times you made love to me...” She added letting out a faint sob, tears of pain and anger falling from her crimson eyes. Looking for a way to vent her anger, she tried swinging at him.

 

At her casual mention of the time they spent together, Sesshoumaru's eyes briefly flashed red. He easily stopped the blow she was aiming at his chest.

 

“Calm yourself.” He ordered. He held on to her arm, even as he did his best to prevent her from leaving his lap, where he actually quite liked having her. “I did not say I appreciated it. I am however aware it was not your choice. And as you just said, it was your... clients… let's say for a lack of a better word, that were disgusting, not you. Never you.” He assured her as he captured her chin between his fingers and leaned forward to press a small gentle kiss on her forehead.

 

“I could kill Naraku for what he made you go through. No woman should ever have to know such a horrible fate. You may have been forced to have sex with these men due to Naraku's selfish desires, but this has nothing to do with what the two of us did. You said it yourself; we made love.” He said softly trying to appease Kagura. It was not in his habit to sound this sentimental, but he would do anything for her, even lay aside his monstrous pride.

 

`At least as long as Inuyasha and Miroku are out of hearing range...' He mentally added after reflecting on his behavior with Kagura.

 

“Really? You're not disgusted by me?! Or even angry I didn't tell you anything before? I mean you had to learn from Naraku of all people because I didn't have the guts to be honest with you.” Kagura said once more, feeling a tear fall down her cheek.

 

“No and no.” He answered firmly brushing away her tear with the pad of his thumb, mindful of his deadly claws. “Talking about one's past is never easy. In any case as I told you before the past is what it is, the past and is not relevant to today. You are a brave woman Kagura, and I respect you.”

 

“Me? Brave? I have doubts on that.” She let out with a snort.

 

“How many times will this Sesshoumaru have to tell you not to put yourself down?! You are brave. You are strong. Accept it. You need not look far to find proof of that. As you just said, despite the pain and the fear, you dared rebel against your father and took the hardest way out.” She closed her crimson eyes and took a deep breath, masking the small smile she could feel coming on thanks to Sesshoumaru's soothing words.

 

“Speaking about the asshole. Did he ever try to get in contact with you again?” Kagura asked. The idea that her father had blackmailed Sesshoumaru unnerved her to no end.

 

“I threatened him. He must have been scared off because he promised not to contact me or you.” The dog demon admitted.

 

“First Shinichi then Naraku. I am sorry that they all tried to squeeze you for some money like that. I can't help but feel responsible. If you hadn't gotten involved with me, then… ” He interrupted her by placing a long finger on her crimson lips.

 

“Not one more word of this Kagura. Besides I have meant to apologize about the Shinichi situation before. I should have told you about his parental rights on Kanna, and me paying him…” He finally admitted. Had he had a change to do things over, he would have done the same except that he would have told Kagura about what he had done. Keeping her in the dark was the only one of his mistake in his eyes.

 

“Yeah I would have liked to know, but I'm really glad he's out of Kanna's life. He is scum, and he would have hurt her eventually. That I am sure of. So, in a way I'm grateful for what you did, even if I disapprove of the method you used.” She rested her head against his neck, her warm breath causing shivers to run down his skin.

 

“I am glad you managed to forgive me.” He commented placing a hand against her head, pushing her further in the crook of his shoulder, where he felt she belonged.

 

“Well I'm glad you forgave me too; it's not like I don't have any wrongs here… Anyways the way I see it, having to deal with my bastard of a father was punishment enough, so I guess I do have to forgive you. Besides I am aware that you thought you were acting in my best interest. I apologize and feel bad for getting mad at you before, and for the mean things I told you when I left that day... I know you actually care about Kanna and me, not like my dear old dad.” Kagura let out a humor less chuckle. “I can't believe I'm related to that man. I hate him so much.”

 

“We do not get to choose our relatives.” Sesshoumaru said thoughtfully. Now that she had calmed down, and did not need his support as much, he could not help but notice her, and the position they were in, and how much he, and his body, had missed the wind sorceress and her appealing curves, which at the moment he could really get a feel of.

 

“Inuyasha is not as bad as you make him sound.” She laughed lightly, truly amused. The action made her move slightly on his lap, making him feel her body even more; he almost groaned. Not able to stop his hands from roaming, the dog demon moved his hand from her head to her hip, pushing her deeper against his body. He felt like scum for taking advantage of her momentary weakness, but could not prevent himself.

 

“I was not talking about the idiot, but my mother. She called me just yesterday, but I saw no reason to pick up the phone…” He suppressed an annoyed sigh from passing his lips. Thinking of the old dog demoness caused his arousal to drop down immediately.

 

“She's alive?!” Kagura almost jumped from his lap.

 

“Did I ever say she was not?” He asked furrowing his brows in confusion.

 

Kagura thought back to their past discussions, but could not remember him ever saying so. “I guess not, I just thought… the way you speak about her…”

 

“Well she is alive and thriving, but I do not wish to see her.” The dog demon thought back to his troubled childhood. The wind sorceress knew she should not delve into the subject more since she could see it annoyed him greatly, and yet wanted to find more.

 

“Why not? She is your mother, your flesh and blood. Besides I'm sure that I win in the crazy relative category.” She smiled gently at him, encouraging the dog demon to pour his heart out as she just did.

 

“We are not speaking about this now.” The dog demon finally let out. Speaking of his mother always caused one of his recurring migraines, and he could think of a better way to spend his short time with Kagura.

 

“You never change. Here I am disclosing to you my darkest, most shameful secrets, yet you won't talk about your mommy issues.” She said masking the sadness she was truly feeling. After what she had just shared with him, she felt closest to Sesshoumaru as ever, and only hoped he felt the same as well.

 

“Kagura. I truly meant my earlier words. You have no reason to be ashamed…” He said again, doing his best to mask his irritation.

 

The wind sorceress felt tears of joy and relief bud in her eyes. She could have never imagined Sesshoumaru to be this understanding of her situation. Although she was angered at herself to be teary eyed so easily.

 

`Ugh I can't remember when was the last time I cried so much.' She sighed brushing away her remaining tears.

 

Seeing her tear stained face, the dog demon wanted nothing more than to heal her pain. He was smart enough to guess that one thing which surely cause her pain, was her fear of the opinion he might have of her.

 

`Knowing Kagura, I am sure she does not believe my words.' He thought to himself, letting a small sigh escape his lips. `Maybe she will need more than my words to believe me…'

 

Before he could think his idea through, Sesshoumaru laced his arms around her waist, making her move even closer to him. He bent over the wind sorceress then crushed his lips against hers in a searing kiss. He wasted no time pushing his smooth tongue through the resistance of her lips. He searched for her tongue with his own just as his hands gently raked along her ribs, going up to her breasts then down to her hips, reacquainting themselves with her luscious curves he had spent hours worshipping only months before.

 

He wanted to do much more to her, but feeling her salty tears touch his taste buds, he immediately broke their lips lock. Without leaving her the choice, he placed her next to him on the couch and quickly took to his feet. He had known staying next to her wreaked havoc on his self control, and that he would have a hard time being close to her without touching her, but he was also aware that for the sake of their relationship it would be better to wait.

 

“My apologies.” He breathed out, facing away from her. He had not intended to lose control like that; no matter how appetizing Kagura was looking. The fact that she had neither pushed him away, nor kissed him back made him wonder about her feelings towards him.

 

“Sesshoumaru…” Kagura gasped taking a deep breath. Her mind was too jumbled to try to make sense of their kiss. `He still desires me? Even after what I told him? Then again maybe not… he wouldn't have stopped if he really wanted me. Knowing him, had he still wanted me, he would have kept going. He would have kept on kissing me, or even more.' She could not help but think as searing pain grew in her chest. To her it seemed that Sesshoumaru had pushed her away, little did she know he had done so for her sake, for fear of her reaction…

 

“Sessh… do you want to talk about us… I mean our relationship, and what I told you means for the two of us?” Kagura asked meekly. `Not to mention that there's the other thing I need to tell him about...' Her heart suddenly sped up. There was something else she wanted to disclose to the dog demon, but did not dare. She was disgusted at her own cowardice, but still kept her lips shut.

 

I'm too afraid to tell him that I miss him, that I want him, that I want to get back with him, and that I'm in love with him. He might run for the door if I tell him how I feel. After all he's not one who enjoys displays of affection, and something tells me love declarations are not his cup of tea…' She thought a sigh escaping her lips. `Not to mention that what I told him about my past is about all I'm sure a sane man could handle. I'll just keep my mouth shut, at least until I figure out where us and our relationship stand.'

 

Another heavy sigh escaping her lips, Kagura tried to make light of the situation between them despite her muddled mind. She had promised him she would come back to his side was she to gain complete independence, and now that she did, she saw no obstacle to them getting back together. `I can only hope Sesshoumaru wants me back too… well he did kiss me.' She thought feeling reassured.

 

“Kagura. There is no need to rush things. We can take our time trying to figure out things.” He told her, still facing away from the wind sorceress. `I have to tread carefully lest the wind witch feels cornered and runs away from me again. She is like a small injured frightened animal that needs to be approached carefully and despite needing to be taken care of refuses assistance.' He almost chuckled at his idea. He knew that Kagura would kill him if he ever said such a thing to her. `I may be a dog demon, but she is the one who resembles most a barking puppy.' A corner of his mouth rose in a half smile due to his humoristic thoughts.

 

“I think we better got to sleep.” He added his usual seriousness back. “I am taking Rin back to the orphanage early tomorrow.” He said calmly, only now daring to look back at Kagura. He had missed the look of pain in her eyes, but the desire in her deep eyes, or her swollen lips due to his earlier hard kiss, did not go unnoticed by him.

 

“Okay sure.” She answered feeling both relieved and vexed. So much had gone on, and she could use some time to get used to things, but now that she and Sesshoumaru were speaking, she wanted to a stay by his side a little longer.

 

“Well since the girls are sleeping on the only bed, we'll have to share the couch. It's a sofa bed though.” She remarked as she went to a nearby cupboard in the hallway to gather linens.

 

“You do not mind?” He asked her his golden gaze resting on the old sofa. Due to its small size they would have to sleep very close to each other, not that he truly minded. `It will be just like old times.' His mind fondly brought him back to all the nights he had spent sleeping with Kagura by his side.

 

“We don't really have a choice. I'd rather have the girls share the bed.” She said without missing a bit. At her answer, he wasted no time unfolding the sofa in a small creaking bed, then took a side step, letting Kagura unfold blankets on her sofa, making a makeshift bed for them to share.

 

“I'm exhausted, so I'll just go to bed now. Good night Sesshoumaru.” The wind sorceress immediately slipped under the covers, not bothering to change clothes.

 

Kagura felt her heart speed up when the dog demon turned the lights off before joining her. A part of her rejoiced in the fact that his body was this close to her, but she was still tensed.

 

“Goodnight.” He breathed inside her ear before slipping his arm around her waist, placing his body closer to hers. The two were facing in the same direction, gently spooning.

 

`I may not have her tonight, but this will have to do… for now.' He thought breathing in her delicious scent. `Soon she will be back where she belongs, by my side.' He wiggled slightly, aiming to get more comfortable, which was a fruitless effort; it only made Kagura slide closer to him, and the thin mattress of the sofa creak loudly. A groan escaped his throat as he then mentally added. `And back in my comfortable bed.'

 

 

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Sesshoumaru Takahashi had spent a horrible night. It had been a long time since he had slept this badly. Having Kagura this close to him without being able to have her, or touch her was pure hell. He had done his best to behave as a true gentleman, and kept his hands to himself, no matter how much it had cost him to do so. Not to mention that the creaking, bumping thin mattress did not do wonder on his back.

 

`Had father been here he would surely mock me, and refer to our ancestors who slept on the hard and wet forest floor during the Feudal era… I guess father was right when saying modern day demons have grown soft.' He thought to himself.

 

“Sesshoumaru.” Kanna said masking the growing smile on her lips. She was so glad to see her mother this close to Sesshoumaru. She was happily reminded of the afternoon she had spent sleeping sandwiched in between the two demons at the beach house, while her mother was feeling sick, and Sesshoumaru was taking care of them.

 

“Kanna? Rin?” He groaned opening his eyes to see both little girls looking at the two adults with interest. Kagura, who was still fast asleep, was entangled with him, her delicate hands clutching at his expensive designer shirt and did not look eager to let go any time soon. Sesshoumaru then stopped moving, not willing to disturb Kagura's head who was using his chest as a makeshift pillow.

 

“Rin and Kanna are hungry.” The young human said letting go of the hold she had on Kanna's hand to rub her growling stomach. The two little girls had silently slipped out of bed, and walked hand in hand in the living room to find both Sesshoumaru and Kagura asleep holding on tightly to each other; to the duo's greatest pleasure.

 

“I will take care of you, but let Kagura sleep. Come on.” The dog demon stood up, paying attention not to rouse Kagura. He gently placed back the blanket over her before heading towards the kitchen, both Rin and Kanna trailing happily behind him.

 

From the couch Kagura looked at the threesome leaving the living room area silently. None of them had noticed that she was actually awake, and she decided to take a few minutes of peace to reorganize her confused thoughts. Truth be told, all she could think about was how her past discussion with Sesshoumaru had served to reinforce her feelings for him. The way he had openly accepted her and her past, had melted her heart, and made her even happier, but what it did most was make her fall for him even more.

 

`When did Sesshoumaru manage to get me to love him this much?' She asked herself because she knew only love could make her want him so badly despite all that had happened between them. As she heard the clear laughter of both her daughter and Kanna coming from the kitchen, she could not resist getting up and joining them.

 

“Wow what do we have here?” Kagura asked. She walked inside the kitchen, her crimson gaze sweeping over the scene in front of her. Kanna and Rin were seated at the little kitchen table, slowly eating their bowl of cereal while Sesshoumaru was at the stove making scrambled eggs. The scene reminded Kagura of the times spent living with the dog demon in his penthouse, and the mornings when he would surprise Kanna and her with breakfast.

 

“Good morning mommy!” Kanna smiled happily at her mother.

 

“Good morning Miss Kagura!” Rin exclaimed at the same time.

 

“Good morning everyone.” Even as Kagura responded, her eyes did not leave Sesshoumaru.

 

“We're having breakfast!” Rin said her deep brown eyes travelling from Kagura to her daughter.

 

“Yes I can see that. Do not stop on my account. Keep eating. Little girls need to eat to their full if they want to grow up.” Kagura chuckled. She walked over to the table to gently ruffle both the heads of Kanna and Rin.

 

“The same goes for grown women who want to remain strong.” The dog demon slid a plate of eggs towards Kagura. He had not forgotten the words of Suikotsu about her anemia, besides he also intended to have her regain the weight she had lost. During the time she had spent at his penthouse he had done his best to have her put some meat on her bones. He had greatly enjoyed her fuller figure, and rounder curves, and even though since she had moved out she had lost weight, he was sure he could make her gain it back by the time she moved back in with him.

 

Not bothering to protest, Kagura quickly dug into her plate of eggs. She knew it was one of the three things Sesshoumaru could `cook', the others being calling for delivery, or picking up take out.

 

The wind sorceress looked up from her plate, and frowned when she noticed Sesshoumaru look down at his watch. He caught her looking at him, and decided to explain his seemingly impatient behavior.

 

`I would not put it past the witch to think that I am trying to run away from her or something, so I better explain myself.' “We need to hurry Rin. Haruka will not be very pleased with me if I take you back too late.”

 

“Okay. Rin is almost done.” The young human buried her face in her bowl, gulping the rest of her milk.

 

“Good.” Kanna mumbled under her breath, even though Sesshoumaru had heard her, he pretended not to have. She may have accepted Rin, but she did not enjoy having to be in her presence. `But I want Sesshoumaru to stay…' She sighed unhappily. She knew that he would have to leave at some point, but she had wanted him to stay with her and her mother a little while longer. `Well as long as he gets back with mommy…'

 

“It thought you said it was okay if she had a sleepover?” Kagura questioned the inu youkai.

 

“She has told me yesterday that it would be okay, but you never know with Haruka and how she may react.” He scoffed. “She is known for having a very fickle nature.” He had not forgotten about the young woman's behavior with his brother.

 

`Hum he seems to know that mysterious Haruka a little too well, not to mention that she managed to make him do mentoring… I wonder what their real relationship might be. She's obviously not the only woman he got close with during our `break.' There is also that mysterious silver haired demoness I saw him with in Kanna's mirror.' Kagura thought jealousy swelling inside her. Instead of complaining, she reached over to the nearby kitchen counter to grab the mug of coffee Sesshoumaru had made for her, and took a generous sip of the beverage. She sighed happily when she noticed he had remembered how she liked drinking her coffee; with lots of cream, but no sugar.

 

“Rin is all done!” The young human said as she jumped off the chair she was sitting on.

 

“Kanna too!” She exclaimed even if she could not stand up from her high chair. Luckily for the young youkai, her mother wasted no time to take her out of her chair. After placing a quick kiss to her daughter's cheek, the wind sorceress placed her on the kitchen floor.

 

“Good. We will be leaving now then. Rin go change back in your clothes.” He instructed as he finished sipping his coffee and placed his empty mug inside Kagura's kitchen sink. The young human wasted no time rushing to the wind sorceress's bedroom, where she had left her clothes. She quickly changed out of the T-shirt Kagura had lent her, putting on her own jeans and orange shirt.

 

While the young human had gone to change, the three demons stayed in silence, until the wind sorceress broke it.

 

“So you're already leaving?” Kagura expressed her disappointment before her daughter did.

 

“Do not worry. The both of you will be seeing more of me from now on. Count on it.” He gently said, his golden eyes staring into Kagura's crimson gaze. The way he had spoken made her shiver in pleasure.

 

“When are we going out again?” Kanna decided to ask.

 

“Hum next weekend?” He asked looking at the wind sorceress.

 

“Will Rin be there too?” Kanna asked looking up at Sesshoumaru.

 

“Would that bother you?” Her mother asked the young child.

 

“Hum maybe not.” Both Kagura and Sesshoumaru looked at the young youkai with surprise. Kanna herself was shocked by her own answer, what shocked her the most was that she had actually been honest.

 

“Well as I told you before, I take Rin out every Saturday… maybe we could go to the park, or the swimming pool. I believe it is time to check on the swimming lessons I gave you a few months back.” He reached down to place a comforting hand on Kanna's pale blond hair.

 

“Oh yes! Mommy please!” Kanna turned to look up at her mother with pleading eyes. The wind sorceress smiled lightly at the level of eagerness on the little girl's face; she still had a hard time getting used to seeing Kanna be this expressive.

 

“Well I guess next Saturday will be okay, even if we won't be able to stay out late. I have a big exam on Monday on a tough subject, and since I work on Sundays, Saturday is major study time for me.” Only thinking about her upcoming Western history exam made her sigh.

 

“I see. We could always go to the pool on Saturday, and I could help you study on Sunday evening once you get off work, or even before you start your shift.” The dog demon said a plan hatching in his mind.

 

“You'll help me study for my history exam?” The wind sorceress echoed his words. Now that she thought about it, having someone help her study the difficult material might make her understand the subject better.

 

“History has always been one of my favorite subjects, after painting and drawing.” He smiled confidently. He was not telling a lie after all.

 

“Okay then. It's a date.” Kagura smiled brightly at him. She decided to let him try to figure out what she had meant by her use of the word `date.'

 

“Rin is ready!” The child came tumbling inside the kitchen.

 

“Come on then let us go.” Sesshoumaru said as he took Rin by the hand and walked towards the living room. He did pause to throw over his shoulder in as warm a voice as he could.” We will see the both of you next weekend.”

 

As he walked out of Kagura's small apartment, he knew that the looks inside the mother and daughter would stay with him until the next time they would see each other. Kanna's expression was easily readable as one of excitement and longing. However he was not sure what the enigmatic light in Kagura's crimsons orbs had meant, but he was looking forward to finding out.

 

 

To be continued…

 

A/N: Wow that was a long chapter. This talk had a long time coming, but wasn't it good? We'll see how things progress for our fave couple in Meetings. Soon some more old questions will be answered, but it'll have to wait a little bit. I have finals coming up, and tons of term project due… projects I should have started weeks ago tee-hee I'm such a procrastinator. Well in other words no updates next week for sure, we'll see about posting something the following one. Sorry!