InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Ad ❯ Proposing Doubts ( Chapter 21 )

Ch. 21

Proposing Doubts

The Western Lord's mansion was dark as his daughter paced back and forth near the entrance hall in her 'Girl Power' pajamas. She would sometimes sit on the antique western chair, but she would soon stand up and look at her watch. Her footsteps echoed against the old tapestry covered stone walls as her slippers hit the marble floor in a very unladylike manner. The tall fortress-like walls were not as uninviting as the frown on her normally happy face. The house was as cold as it was empty, and it unnerved the young heiress greatly. She yelped in surprise and turned around when the large banging sound of the front hall doors opening reached her ears. She sighed in relief as she saw her father enter the house.

"Where have you been? Do you know what time it is? You didn't even bother to call!" She asked as she stormed towards him, hands firmly placed on her hips and glassy eyes examining him carefully. "I spent the entire night trying to call you! Why didn't you answer your cell phone? And why is your shirt missing?" Rin demanded as she stomped her foot. Her eyes suddenly widened, and with a shaky voice she asked, "You didn't spend the night with that Yura woman, did you?"

"No." He answered solemnly. He took her hand and led her into the house in a fluid motion. His initial reaction to her outburst was to remind her who the parent was, but he squashed that. One argument with a high strung female a day was all he could handle. He let her towards his room, and closed the door behind him. He grabbed a change of clothes before disappearing into the bathroom and changing. Once comfortable, he returned to his daughter, who was sitting nervously on his navy blue comforter.

He smiled sadly. The room was decorated in a very masculine fashion, with dark wood and animal fur rugs. He had even thought of putting trophy heads on his walls, but thought they would scare his little girl at night. Where Rin's room was bright and pink, Sesshomaru's was dark and black. The heavy velvet navy blue curtains were hardly ever pulled back, preventing any light from seeping in. His large bed was custom made, and when Rin was young, she had sworn her whole fourth grade class could sleep there comfortably. The ebony headboard was carved beautifully with the depiction of a great battle. The nightstands, bureau and closet doors were done in the same fashion. Even the hardwood floor beneath the youkai animal furs was ebony. The room was as spacious as it was stuffy; the only items of cheer were pictures of Rin in silver frames.

"Where were you last night?" Rin asked quietly. "I was so scared when I didn't see you after my date…I didn't know what happened." A single tear escaped his daughter's eye, making Sesshomaru happy of having chosen not to snap at her for her earlier behavior.

"I went to see Kanna, Kagura's sister."

"The one that's in the hospital?" Rin asked as she looked up worriedly. Sesshomaru nodded before continuing.

"I think you are old enough to understand a few things. One of them is Kanna…She is in a special hospital…a mental hospital."

"Oh…" Rin wasn't sure how to respond to that new piece of information. She knew Kagura loved her sister; the only times Kagura had been unable to be with her were when Kanna was really sick.

"Last night, Kanna had one of her attacks, and that upset Kagura."

"Was she there?"

"Hai…I took her home, but she wasn't feeling well, so I took care of her."

"Is that how your shirt got ruined?" She asked quietly looking up. She knew there was more to the story, but she wouldn't betray her father's trust. Besides, Kagura was easier to string for information.

"Yes." Sesshomaru answered truthfully.

"Is she better now?" The worry was not absent from her voice.

"I'm not sure?" The confuse look from his daughter was enough to make him continue. "You once asked me why Kagura and I didn't get along."

"And you told me you would explain things when I was old enough to understand." She replied getting comfortable on his bed. Sesshomaru's stoic face never faltered as he decided to share a secret with his daughter.

"Almost seven years ago, Kagura and I were involved."

"You mean as a couple?" The surprise was evident her large brown eyes.

"Yes, but then Kanna got sick, and started telling lies. Kagura believed her sister, which I'm not surprised. Her loyalty to her sister was unending. We broke up…it very violent." He spoke through his stoic mask, eyes staring beyond his daughter, looking back through the years.

"But when she found out that Kanna was sick, couldn't you two fix things?"

"We had hurt each other too much by that time." Sesshomaru answered looking back at her. "Last night, we forgot about the pain, and for a little while, it was like nothing had ever happened."

"That made you happy." Rin observed as her father's eyes seem to become less gloomy.

"For a little while, yes. But, this morning, things were back to normal, and I may have said a few things that hurt her more." Rin leaned forward and took her father's hands in hers and smiled.

"If you tell her how sorry you are, she'll forgive you. Kagura isn't the kind of person to hold a grudge." Sesshomaru chuckled lightly at her response.

"You don't know Kagura very well."

"Yes I do…I've known her since I was very little, and she's always been there for me, just like you." Rin smiled as she remembered why she loved the wind youkai so much. "When you made me go to school, I was scared…I didn't want to go. I thought if I left your side, you would be gone for ever, just like them. Kagura came to school with me that first week. She sat in the back of the classroom everyday, even during recess. All I had to do was look back, and she was there. It made me feel better."

"You never told me that." Sesshomaru replied, as he noticed the warmth and love that radiated from his daughter's eyes. She shrugged, in a very Rin manner, and replied,

"You never asked." He smiled the smile only she was allowed to see.

"As much as I wish I could just say I'm sorry, it is not enough. Besides, Kagura is not without sin herself."

"More the reason you two could make up. You were both wrong…you both have to yield." When her father remained silent, she ventured to ask, "What could have been so bad? Are you mad because she started to date uncle Inu?"

"Something like that…" He looked at his daughter and confessor, deciding it was time to speak his sins. "There is a clause in my father's will that could deny me this house."

"But this was your mother's house!" Rin protested.

"But it became his when she died. Since she didn't specify that it was to be mine in writing, my father used it to his advantage in his will."

"What does any of this have to do with Kagura?"

"I let Kagura walk out of my life partially because of that clause."

"Oh…that isn't easy to forgive." Rin replied as she took in the gravity of the situation. Sesshomaru kissed his daughter's forehead lightly before sending her to bed. She was too young to have to carry bags under her eyes.

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*****

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Kagome stepped into her sunny kitchen with a content smile on her face. It was late in the afternoon and a bit cold for November, but she didn't notice. She did notice her grandfather dicing carrots on the kitchen table without acknowledging her presence. She quickly moved to sit across from him, waiting for him to break the silence.

"You missed the morning rush…we had more tourists than we could handle."

"Sorry jii-chan…but it is the first Saturday I miss in eight years." She defended herself.

"Doesn't mean we don't need you here, nor that it is excusable." He looked up and continued, "No hanyou boyfriend to face the music with you today?" He asked coldly.

"There is no music to face, jii-chan. I didn't lie this time."

"Did…did you…were you two…intimate?" The old man flushed as he tried to phrase the question.

"Yes, but not in the way you're thinking." She answered as her grandfather let out a sigh of relief. "I know you're old fashioned, jii-chan, and I know your feelings towards sex, but you have to understand that this is my life…my choice."

"You say it so easily…A man like Inu Yasha isn't one to commit…what if you get pregnant?"

"But he has committed to me!" Kagome protested. "He has gone over two months without wild parties or sex for the sake of being with me…Not many men would change like that for a woman…especially when they have enough money to buy anyone's standards." Kagome tried to reason.

"I just don't want you to get hurt. I know that if you make that choice it would be because of love…I'm afraid that he might not. I know I pushed you to this…I was the one that encouraged your dating right after you broke up with that…that…that vermin you were seeing, but I don't want you giving yourself freely to a man that doesn't love you back." Her jii-chan pleaded as he took her hand before playing his trump card. "This old heart of mine won't bare much more…I don't think I could take it if I were to see you broken hearted because the time wasn't right."

Kagome's eyes watered as she was reminded of why she started seeing Inu Yasha Takahashi. That had been so long ago…at least that's how it felt. Then, she wouldn't have dreamed of ever feeling anything but a physical attraction to the young businessman, but she did. "Jii-chan…I know this hard for you to understand." Kagome raised her blue eyes to meet his tired brown. "I am in love with Inu Yasha Takahashi, and I cannot picture myself regretting giving myself to him because I know it wouldn't be a lie…at least not at that moment. But, I'm not ready to move that far with him, yet, and he understands."

The old man smiled as he squeezed his granddaughter's hand tightly. Her eyes were radiant with love, and her voice full of passion. This is what he had hoped for when he set their two paths together. If only he could be sure of Inu Yasha's intentions for his Kagome. Sesshomaru's words still struck a cord as he worriedly asked himself, "What if he is only using her to unlock his inheritance? What if he plans to leave her after everything is over? How can I look at her, knowing I was responsible for her pain?" His granddaughter smiled as she went to change into her miko attire, reminding the old priest of a vital piece of information, "Celestial matchmakers are never wrong!"

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*****

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The Kazanna Café was buzzing with business during Monday's lunch hour. The cooks were cooking at an incredible speed, the waiters were avoiding dropping the dishes in a miraculous manner, and the customers were chatting away as if speaking was going to be outlawed within the next few minutes. Well, not all the customers were chatting away. Two women sat quietly in a back booth unsure how to begin their conversation. Sango had hoped to be able to straighten everything out with her friend in the morning, but she had been called away on an important meeting. She had just arrived, and even though the last time they were in that café things hadn't gone to well, it was the closest thing to their workplace. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Kagome ventured to talk,

"I heard about this morning. Congratulations."

"Thank you…I wasn't expecting this promotion." Sango blushed.

"I'm not surprised. You deserve it…especially after how you handled the Moushi case and the senator."

"That was what prompted them…it was also why we couldn't tell anyone, Kagome. I'm sorry."

"Don't, be…I knew there was something between you two…I just figured that you would tell me before you became intimate. I thought there was that kind of trust between us." Kagome protested.

"It's not like I wanted to keep it from you…but Miroku's father was very insistent that no one knew." Sango tried to excuse herself, begging forgiveness with her eyes.

"I understand that part…what I don't understand is why I had to find out by seeing your man's naked ass." Kagome burst out laughing, unable to remain angry at her friend for long. "I'm scarred for life."

"You're not mad?" Sango asked incredulously.

"Well, I was, but then I got over it…it's hard to stay mad when your hanyou boyfriend knows how to make you forget…" Kagome gave her friend a Miroku-like smile that sent them both into giggles.

"Have you two…you know?"

"No." Kagome smiled.

"Hey, wait a minute! What do you mean you're scarred? My boyfriend had a fine ass!"

"Not as fine as mine!" Inu Yasha declared as he joined the two.

"Ignore them, Sango. You know best how fine my ass is!" Miroku announced as he sat down next to her. "You not mad?" He asked Kagome.

"No." She smiled. "I just thought I didn't have to see you naked again after seeing the nudist phase pictures." The thought of seeing the man she thought as a brother naked sent shivers down Kagome's back.

"Hey, I told you! It was very cold that day, and the picture was taken at a very bad angel by my four hundred pound aunt Henrietta!" Everyone laughed and relaxed. After the guys were able to order, the conversation started up again.

"So, when were you going to tell me?" Kagome asked.

"As soon as Sango got promoted." Miroku answered.

"I'm surprised you missed it…those two stunk of each other ever since the first day I met them!" Inu Yasha teased, making the other couple blush.

"Not all of us have youkai senses." Kagome protested as Inu Yasha indulged himself by slipping his arm over her shoulder.

"So, you are feeling better? You weren't too stable when you…stop by Friday." Miroku asked.

"Yeah…I'm better, but it'll be a while before I'm ready to talk to Hojo."

"There's no reason you need to talk to him." Inu Yasha protested.

"I need closure." She replied. "Besides, he was my best friend."

"Was being the appropriate word." Inu Yasha continued, but when he noticed her frown, he changed the subject. "I talked to an old friend of mine today, and he says he can get me your scores by the end of the day."

"But, the testing center said they would be unavailable for another two weeks."

"I pulled some strings, so I thought we should throw a diner party to celebrate your scores."

"Shouldn't I see the scores first?"

"I'm sure you did fine, besides, when was the last time your family and mine got together?" He asked as he arched an eyebrow.

"The whole family? Never."

"Then it's settled. We'll have dinner at my brother's tonight…eightish…cocktail attire…and," he turned to Miroku and Sango, "it goes without saying you two are invited as well."

"You're assuming that everyone is free tonight." Kagome protested. "You know I hate when you do that."

"Sorry babes, but it's a Monday night…and there's no football. What other plans could anyone have? Besides it's not that many people."

"Won't your brother mind? A diner party is a lot of preparation." Kagome asked thoughtfully.

"Diner at his house is an event every evening, all he as to do is tell the cook how many people, and I told him it was his place or mine, and he refuses to see my apartment after the last decorator quit."

"You had your apartment professionally decorated?" Kagome asked confused.

"Not exactly…I hired a few people, but none stayed longer than a day or two…something about me stifling their creative juices."

"That explains a lot." Kagome sighed as she looked up to favorite shopping buddy. "I need a new dress."

"And I need new shoe…we go after work?"

"Sounds good…Sango, would you like to join us? Your boyfriend has excellent taste."

"No, I'll pass. It takes him fifty minutes to decide if he wants the pair in black, brown or both." Sango complained.

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*****

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Kagura had no desire in attending the latest Takahashi diner event, but Inu Yasha had begged like a new born pup for her to be there. She caved at the sound of his fake whimpering. She knew this was important for him. It was the first time since he and Kagome started their relationship that both families would fully come together. Knowing he considered her family, she was honored by the invitation.

Unfortunately, Kagura had spent the rest of the weekend after her night with Sesshomaru crying and destroying things. Then that morning, she woke up nauseated. Even though it was a bit early, the thought that she might have conceived made her completely lose the bit of food she had consumed over the weekend. Since she couldn't get a hold of her doctor, she ended up going to the pharmacy and buying every singe home pregnancy test available. After three hours of tears, stress and vomiting, she was relieved to find all test gave a negative response.

After her stomached settled, she came up with a game plan. Sesshomaru thought her a slut; then, she was going to show him how wrong he was. First, she would make herself the most desirable woman at that party, and considering the only competition were to taken females, that would be easy. Second, she would make sure to pay no heed to him. She would make him beg for her attention, and when he did, she would very politely inform him that she was well above 'name calling assholes,' like himself. Then, she would take her very spiky heels and maim him in a way that would make the youkai rights people cringe.

To achieve her plan, she knew she needed her secrete weapon: the little strapless dress. Strapless never failed. She screamed a string of obscenities as she realized the flaw in her plan. The mark was still fresh and glowing with his golden aura. Walking into his house showing off his mark on her neck would be the equivalent of saying she belonged to him. Throwing the golden gown on the ground in a huff of fury, she searched her dresses for something with a turtleneck that didn't hide too much skin or curves. She found one, still in its original bag and tags, in the back of her closet. She slipped on the silver satin dress and buttoned the collar, pleased to find it hid his mark perfectly. The dress was fitted on the top, with the straps satin that covered her breasts parting down the center so an admirer could catch glimpse of her cleavage as she walked. Her back was fully covered by the satin, which complemented her curves. The dress fell loosely to her knees after it clung slightly to her hips by its red satin belt. Admiring herself in the mirror as she found the perfect shoes and accessories, she knew the dress would have been something Sesshomaru himself would have picked out for her.

"I suppose tonight has the potential of being entertaining." She smiled as she placed a silver feather in her low elegant bun.

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*****

.

"They're late!" Inu Yasha grumbled as he paced the halls as his niece had done the past Saturday morning. He felt inside his pocket once more for reassurance from the small object there. He had worn his favorite black suit with his lucky red shirt and tie combo. He wanted to feel comfortable, but he wasn't in luck.

"They are not late. It's just that for the first time in your life, you're early." His brother informed as he gracefully descended the main stairs of his house in order to enter the Main Hall, where his brother was pacing. Sesshomaru was the epitome of elegance, dressed in his favorite silver silk suit with matching shirt and tie. A red rose on his suit, probably picked by Rin, softened his look. "I still don't understand the rush."

"Keh." Inu Yasha grumbled as he checked his watch, revealing his peseta cufflinks. "It's eight o'clock; where are they?"

"When did you develop such good taste?" Sesshomaru asked motioning to the cufflinks.

"Keh, Kagome bought them for me." He announced proudly.

"And we find a logical explanation after all." Sesshomaru drawled out.

"I'm ready!" Rin sang as she rushed down the stairs in a pink lacy dress. She had worn a shawl to prevent her father from seeing that it was off the shoulders. It was cut below her breasts and fitted to her waist, giving the young woman's body the appearance of long legs and large bosoms.

"You are showing too much leg." Sesshomaru complained without looking at her.

"But it's the same length as my uniform skirt."

"You show too much leg then too." Inu Yasha agreed. Rin rolled her eyes refusing to change.

"Kagura thought it looked lovely on me."

"And I still do." Kagura agreed as Jaken open the front door for her. She smirked as Sesshomaru's eyes and hers met. She heard him growl when he looked at her neck; she glared in response, with her head held high. Their two companions observed the couple in a quiet awe as the tension seemed to grow between the two. "Sesshomaru," she greeted coldly enough to make Rin wince at her tone.

"We need to talk."

"You've already said more than you needed to." She announced as she glided past him towards the young girl she considered a daughter. The two began to talk of things only they considered important as Kagura's coldness seemed to melt. Rin complained of something, giving Kagura a rhinestone hair broach. The older woman used it to pin Rin's hair in its usual manner. Sesshomaru admired the two as he realized how much like mother and daughter they did look.

"Oi, what did you do this time, Fluffy?" Inu Yasha whispered.

"I told you never to call me Fluffy!" Sesshomaru growled.

"Lady Sango and Miroku Houshi Jr." Jaken announced as the couple stepped into the hall, Sango wearing a classic black dress that came below her knees, but accentuated all her curves, and Miroku his black plum ensemble.

"Kagome and the others are just behind us." Miroku announced. He didn't get a chance to continue since Inu Yasha rushed past him, his conversation with his brother forgotten, to open the door for the guest of honor.

"Now, if I could only get him that attentive at work…" Sesshomaru thought wistfully.

Kagome was surprised at the sudden opening of the door, but smiled at her agitated boyfriend. She kissed his cheek in order to relax him, which worked. Jaken took Keiji's coat, as Rin rushed to Souta's side. He gave her the small bouquet of flowers he had picked for her. She giggled and kissed his cheek lightly. Hearing her father clear his throat in the background, she pouted as she pulled away, leading her boyfriend into the house. "Is Kagura here with your father?" Souta asked in a quiet whisper that caused both youkai to stiffen.

"No." Kagura answered as she walked past him to greet her old friend.

"Sorry…It's just they match. I thought they planned it like we're doing for prom." Souta apologized to his girlfriend after he noticed the worried look in her eye. She relaxed as Kagura hugged Keiji warmly and laughed at his joke.

"You're brother isn't all that off." Inu Yasha whispered into Kagome's ear as he helped her out of her coat. "There is something going on between those two." He had initially been disappointed at the conservative simple cut of Kagome's navy blue above the knee dress, but as he helped remove her coat, he saw her bare back. The dress exposed everything from the back of her slender neck down to just below the small of her back.

"Do you like it? Miroku picked it out."

"He has excellent taste." Inu Yasha smirked as he kissed her just below the neck. Sesshomaru cleared his throat again. This was not what he considered appropriate behavior, especially not in front of his daughter.

"Shall we move into the dinning room? Myoga and Shippo are already there."

"Really old family friend that gets invited to all our diner parties." Inu Yasha explained before anyone could ask.

"Isn't he the private detective that we used on the Moushi case?" Sango asked and Kagome nodded as they moved to the main Dinning Hall. Like the previous diner, the room was lit with candles, and all the weapons that decorated the walls were sharpened and shined. The only thing that had changed in the décor was the theme of the table and china. This time, the table cloth and china depicted the love story between the Lord of the Western Lands and the Princess of the Eastern Lands.

Kagura growled lightly as she noticed that she was, once again, seated in the seat reserved for the Lady of the house. "I thought I told you I didn't want to sit here. I'm not your Lady." She whispered angrily.

"But that's the seat that corresponds to you…my intended mate." Sesshomaru's eyes flashed red with possessiveness as he walked past her to his seat. He waited for the rest to find theirs. His daughter and her boyfriend were in the same seats as they were the last time with Shippo, Keiji and Myoga next to them. The other two couples were to Kagura's right, with Sango being the furthest away from Sesshomaru.

As soon as they were seated, the conversational small talk started. The food was served, and all ate well. The tension between Sesshomaru and Kagura was obvious to all, and poor Souta thought he would be fed the wild youkai dogs as his girlfriend began to flirt with him. Though he kept his hands visible at all time, Rin wasn't as cautious. She had one hand on his knee all night, without mentioning she was in a cuddling mood. Sesshomaru growled every time Rin tried to steel a kiss or a hug, and Shippo would lean over express to the young priest-in-training what he believed Sesshomaru was going to do to Souta as soon as Rin was out of sight. After a while, it seemed a competition between father and daughter on who would give up first. At that time, Kagura spoke up softly, "Rin, sit still." The young lady smiled an 'ok,' and took her hand off her terrified boyfriend. Kagura did not miss the glare Sesshomaru sent her.

The other members of the party did not suffer such anxieties. Keiji and Myoga quickly started a conversation about Japanese history, while the other two couples never found it difficult to converse, though Inu Yasha was unusually quiet. He kept a tight hold on Kagome's knee as he forced her to sit unnecessarily close to him. "Inu Yasha, is something wrong?" She asked.

"No." He kissed her temple and tried to smile, but the insecurity never left his eyes. After the last course was done, Inu Yasha stood up, "I would like to propose a toast, to the guest of honor tonight, Kagome Higurashi." Everyone clapped and cheered as he took out an envelope from his coat jacket. "Who I'm sure is officially a lawyer." Kagome felt her mouth run dry as she took the envelope from Inu Yasha's hand. She had a hard time opening it, and was very tempted to just rip the damned thing to shreds, but considering she was in front of her boyfriend's family, she tried to remain calm. She finally opened the envelope and pulled out the paper. Her face went white as all air left her lungs. All the guests remained quiet, unsure how to react, until her soft voice said,

"I passed." The collective cheer released the tension in the room as Sango and Miroku took the paper from her hands.

"Wow, Kagome! You are among the top ten percentile…you actually have the third highest score in our area!" Miroku answered in shock.

"Congratulations!" Sango smiled as she hugged her friend.

"I might have to offer you a job." Sesshomaru added with a smirk.

"Back off Takahashi; she's mine!" Miroku declared with a smile. "Houshi and Son saw her first!" The group laughed at the playful argument between the two businessmen, but Inu Yasha was still to react. Even when Kagome rose to her feet to kiss him lightly on the cheek, he remained tense. He signaled for the maid to bring the dessert.

"Kagome," he stopped a second feeling lost. Hadn't he memorized this already? "I want to offer another toast, to the wonderful intelligent woman that for some strange reason has stayed with me these last two months."

"Strange doesn't begin to cover it." Sesshomaru grumbled and Kagura kicked him underneath the table.

"To the beautiful woman that has stolen my heart…today, here, in front of our friends and family," lowering his glass he bent down on one knee. Kagome gasped unsure how to take it. He pulled out a small velvet box. She wanted to speak, but the words were missing along with the air: she was having trouble breathing. "I would like to ask you to be my wife." He finished as the maid lifted the silver lid, revealing a cake made completely of white and red roses, forming the words, "Will you marry me?" He opened the box revealing the ring and slowly put in on her outstretched hand.

Kagome was overwhelmed. Unable to formulate words, she bent down and kissed him passionately. He slowly rose to stand comfortably as he kissed his future bride. Sesshomaru leaned over and covered Rin's eyes.

"I think that was a yes." Miroku joked as the table cheered again. When Kagome broke for air, her eyes were glazed with happiness and her face flushed from the lack of air.

"Well?" Inu Yasha insisted with a smirk.

"Yes." She laughed and hugged him before being pulled away by prying eyes that wanted to examine the ring. Keiji smiled as he began to sing to himself,

"I'm getting great-grandchildren!" Sango and Miroku leaned in to examine the quality of the ring, at which, Sango turned to him with a serious expression and declared,

"You better not get any ideas!"

"Nope, when I propose, it's going to be in Vegas. That way, I can marry you before you get a chance to change your mind." He joked. Kagura hugged Inu Yasha tightly as she congratulated the young hanyou.

Now that the kiss was over, Sesshomaru was able to concentrate on business again. Seeing Kagome's sparkling eyes made him uneasy. She didn't disserve the tangled road of misery that laid before her. Yet, he had no choice.

"I hope my idiot brother has been completely honest to you about his need for a wife." When Sesshomaru spoke, everyone went quiet. There was a flash of pain in her blue eyes, but she didn't let her smile sink as she spoke,

"He has, and I understand the conditions and the prenup. I love him enough to sign that thing, even though as a lawyer I know it is set up against any woman that wishes to marry him." Something tightened inside Inu Yasha as he heard her speak. Did she mean it? She had never said that to him before.

"Yet you are willing to go through with this." Sesshomaru asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The way I see it, we'll never need to use it. I trust your brother completely." Kagome answered as her intestines began to tightened, and not due to what she had eaten.

"In that case," Sesshomaru stood up and walked to the couple, "welcome to the family." He kissed her lightly on the cheek before adding in a whisper only intended for her and Inu Yasha to hear, "I hope you don't regret it." Inu Yasha growled loudly but Kagome kept him at bay. The rest of the guests were unsure of how to interpret Sesshomaru's actions. It was typical for the Lord to be rude and un-thoughtful, but none saw what he had done, as the spark of doubt was cast in the bride's blue eyes. "Shall we move to the den for desert…and I don't mean the flowery one." The guests laughed lightly at the Lord's words before being led out by Jaken.

Taking advantage that Sesshomaru was one of the last people to leave the room, Kagura pulled him towards his study. The Lord hid his smile through his usual stoic mask. She remained quiet until the door closed behind them, at which time she turned towards him with her ruby eyes flashing. "What the fuck was that about? Do you truly enjoy ruining your brother's happiness?"

"No, but I wanted to make sure that Kagome knew what she was getting in to. I don't want Ameya's granddaughter suffering because of my brother. I owe her that much!" Sesshomaru responding as he rose to his full height intending to intimidate the female before him. He failed.

"Are you too blind to see that Inu Yasha would have proposed even without the condition?"

"Not this soon!"

"Yes this soon!" Kagura stomped her foot. "The boy is in love and too stupid to realize it! All he knows is he has the gnawing fear that she will disappear, or that someone will steel her away. This isn't about the inheritance…" at his incredulous look, she corrected, "alright, maybe a bit about the inheritance, but it is also about the fact that he has found his soul mate! So why don't you burry the hatchet and enjoy your brother's happiness for once! After all, it works to the benefit of the completion of your clause." Sesshomaru growled as his eyes became crimson. He grabbed her shoulders, and in on swift motion, he had her against the wall.

"If you have missed it, which I highly doubt, my brother and I have made our peace." He whispered into her ear as she refused to let him see her fear. "I wish I could say the same about us." His scent was thick enough for her to taste in her mouth. She never noticed him playing with the buttons of her turtle neck. She did detect the mix of pain and pleasure that came when he reclaimed her. Instinctively, she reacted, observing that Sesshomaru never bothered to hide her mark.

"Bastard…now it will take longer to heal." She complained as she found her breath, his arms keeping her from falling to the ground. He chuckled.

"I intend to make you mine, Kagura." He replied as he tightened his hold on her. "Your acceptance of my mark proves that you still love me."

"I never claimed to have stopped." She broke free of his hold. "I just didn't want to deal with the pain that came with being the woman of an over possessive dog!"

He smirked as he walked to his desk and picked up a folder, which he gave to her. "What is this?"

"The over possessive dog learning to let go…you'll find ten percent of your company stock there. I'll have the rest transferred to you tomorrow. I am not interested in a business relationship, Kagura. I want what we once had."

"What we once had is lost!" She complained.

"Not completely." He announced as he stepped closer to her to brush his lips against hers.

"I can't accept this." She pulled away from him. "I won't have you buy me."

"This isn't a purchase. This is a peace offering. Do with it what you will."

"Fine." Kagura took the folder and left the office trying to avoid the temptation that was Sesshomaru Takahashi. Memories from their last night together flooder back to her as she walked as her heart asked her mind, "Why can't I?"

Kagura found Rin, Souta and Shippo in front of the Den's entrance. Rin was avoiding the room due to the youkai trophies her ancestors had collected. "Rin, can I speak to you a moment." The two women excused themselves as they headed deeper into the stone hallway. Once she felt they were a safe distance, Kagura began. "Rin, I want to give you something."

"What's this?" She asked as she took the folder from Kagura.

"It's ten percent of my company. I know you have a trust and an investment fund designed to protect you in the event something was ever to happen to your father. This is to go with that. I'm going to have another fifteen percent transferred into your name."

"Kagura, you don't need to do that." The youkai smiled.

"Rin, you're the closest thing to a daughter I have…I want to give this to you, and tomorrow, after I meet with my lawyer, I'm naming you the main benefactor of my will."

"What does that mean?"

"That you will inherit most of my things…I know it is nothing compared to what you will get from your father, but at least I will know you will be taken care off no matter what."

"Why do you need a will? Youkai live longer than humans?" Rin asked worriedly. Kagura smiled. It was just like her to ignore the part about inheriting millions.

"Accidents do happen…it's just for my peace of mind." Kagura explained. She let Rin leave her wondering how healthy Kagura really was.

"Dad said she got really sick this weekend…maybe she's dying and doesn't know how to tell me." Rin thought as her whole world began to crash.

"Child, do you feel alright?" Keiji's warm voice brought her back from her dark thoughts. In her wonderings she had walked passed the den and into the Main Hall, where Keiji was admiring a tapestry about a miko known as Midoriko. Looking up, Keiji saw Kagura enter the Den followed by Sesshomaru. "They were quite the couple."

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure, but I think it started with a misunderstanding between two stubborn idiots." He smiled. "They still love each other though."

"I wish they would make up."

"If they ever overcome their pride and move on…" Keiji sighed.

"At least you know that uncle Inu and Kagome will be happy." Rin smiled. "They're getting married. They'll have their 'happily ever after.'"

"Rin, 'happily ever afters' don't really exist." The old man sighed as he looked up to the jewel depicted on the tapestry. "She wouldn't have been able to seal the great evil if it wasn't because she of her complete trust and honesty with her companion." Keiji looked over to the transformed firecat by her side. "No relationship based on a lie will ever work." He cursed himself as he left the confused young woman in favor of the Den.

In the midst of the stone walls and demon trophies, the young couple was being congratulated by their friends. "All I'm saying is that it is all happening so fast." Keiji heard Sango agree with Sesshomaru. "It would have been nice for you two to have more time to enjoy your engagement."

"Don't worry; we'll make the most of it." Inu Yasha assured as he held on tightly to his fiancé.

"Relax Inu Yasha," Sesshomaru spoke up as his eyes drifted towards Keiji and then back to his brother, "no one is forcing her to marry you. If she is willing to take you, with all your defects and that prenup from hell, it must be the real thing." No one heard the sarcasm in Sesshomaru's voice, but that did not stop Inu Yasha from tightening his hold on Kagome. His golden orbs met Keiji as the guilty men shared a moment of pain.

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Wow, fifteen pages…it's been a while I write something this long, but I needed to get it all out.

1314 REVIEWS ON FF.NET!!!!!! 102 ON MM.ORG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am famous!!!! I love you guys and I hope this chapter shows you my appreciation.

I just need to shout out jlds…I've been meaning to for a while. You see, jlds is the first four letters of my father's handle, and since he asked me to print out TTRCL so he could read it, for a second, I thought the review was from him. Needless to say, I was scared to death! For obvious reasons…I wouldn't like to explain to my father how I know what I know of the four bases, if you get my drift. I had a good laugh with it though, thanks.

By the way, when I say that there are 4-5 chapters left, don't take me too seriously and begin to beg for more. I've been saying that since chapter 4. You might have noticed the plot thickening as the conflicts begin to boil. Yup…it's all going to explode pretty soon, but I refuse to rush it.

Some of you were complaining that I haven't shown enough of Inu falling for Kag, and I know. For most of the story, he has been falling for the kind of girl she is. She is what he always wanted but believed he couldn't have. He also has been changing. I am so proud on how he has grown up in 21 chapters. Don't worry; you will see their relationship deepen in the next few chapters, now that they are ready for that step. As for his brother, well, let's just say that there's still too much ground to cover, but I promise to have the issues between them resolved one way or another by the end of the story.