InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Silver Dove and the Raven ❯ Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Sesshomaru couldn't believe it. He shook his head as he rested against the wall and observed his surroundings. Three other people occupied the holding cell along with him. Two of which, cried as they pulled on the bars begging for freedom. The other, snored loudly wrapped in a blanket on the only cot in the room smelling of alcohol. A criminal record just for speeding? He was going down. He sighed when the officer persisted on asking him to make any phone calls he had to make. He wasn't going to call anyone. He debated at first if he should call Naraku to bail him out but the situation seemed fatuous and shameful, he'd probably laugh not believing he was in there.

The man on the cot grumbled as he tossed and turned and poked his head out of the blanket and looked around him.

"Agh…"he gurgled. " Where-where am I?" He gazed at the others who didn't respond and frowned seeing a familiar face by the wall. The tall somber looking demon with white hair stared at the floor in his own world. The guy sat up, clutched his head and groaned. "Se-ugm, er, Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru lifted his gaze with a scowl as he stared at the one who beckoned him. He squinted at the familiar face staring at him; if memory served him right, it was Koga sitting on the cot, looking like he crawled out of a garbage can smelling of liquor.

"It-it is you." He cackled as he lifted the blanket off him. "Wh-what are you doin' here, man?" he said and looked around seeming puzzled. "Um, where is this?"

"Jail." Sesshomaru stated and looked back at the floor.

Koga's eyes shot wide open fully alert. "What? Wait, what did I do?" he turned to the bars and shook them. "Hey, I didn't do it…uh, whatever it was." He shouted.

Sesshomaru buried his face into his hands and let out a deep exhale.

Koga leaned against the bars and contemplated how he got in there. He glanced at Sesshomaru and his lips twitched around as he pondered. "So…what are you in for?"

"Speeding…"

Koga laughed. "Speeding? Come on, you can't say stuff like that. You gotta give me the evil eye, right? And then in a creepy voice go…'I killed a man tonight.' Y-yeheah, that's how you gotta do it. That's what I'm gonna tell people."

Sesshomaru stared stupidly at him and they both looked out the cell when the officer passed by with a man Sesshomaru had not expected nor wanted to see.

Inutaisho's mouth slightly opened when he saw his eldest son standing behind bars. He didn't know how he should feel and let out a slight scoff.

"When they told me 'Your son is in jail.' I had expected to see Inuyasha." his eyes moved to the side at the fellow swaying left and right next to his son. "Koga?"

"Yes?" Koga lifted his chin with a grin.

"What are you doing in here?"

Koga shrugged and was about to speak but the cop next to Inutaisho cleared his throat. "We found him passed out on a park bench, completely intoxicated, no I.D's, he didn't even know his name when we tried to wake him up."

Koga half grinned and looked behind him. "No, that's not what happened…I, "his eyes squinted. "I killed a man…"

Inutaisho and the cop glared at the moronic demon for a moment and Inutaisho sighed.

"I will take this one too…"he shook his head and walked off to sign papers. The officer opened the cell and Sesshomaru shook his head and walked out of it. Koga stumbled out of it trying to follow and the cops helped him walk out.

When they got out of the precinct, Sesshomaru went down the steps quickly and glared back at his father. "I did not need your help…"he said.

"If that is your way of saying 'thank you', well, your welcome." He scoffed.

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and began to walk off but stopped when his father called after him.

"Sesshomaru…"

"Who called you anyway?"

"Someone in the precinct recognized you and called. They brought you in for speeding, running a stop sign and speculated that you had been under the influence…were you drinking?"

Sesshomaru glanced away annoyed and looked at his watch.

"Why were you driving so recklessly?" his father continued to ask. "It seems lately everyone is talking about you. Did you have a fight with Tsuyoko? Are you out of your mind, an elder?"

Sesshomaru waved him off and looked to the side. He patted his pockets for a cigarette and sighed when they had removed everything from him. His car keys, his cigarettes, the ring? He looked at the precinct and made his way up the steps.

"Are you looking for this?" his father said and he looked back to see him waving a plastic bag in the air with the contents of his pockets.

His father shook his head and threw it at him, He caught it and looked at the bag. The ring was in there and he breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't lift his gaze to meet his father's and he frowned.

"Where is my car?"

"Why, in the pound, of course. You'll have to wait until tomorrow morning to get it back."

Sesshomaru opened the plastic bag and dropped the items in his hand. He placed the ring in his pocket along with his car keys. He wondered if his father saw the ring and had a remark. He pulled out a cigarette and turned around as he lit it. He peered through the naked trees shivering in the cold air and looked up at the midnight moon. He didn't know where to go and his father could see that.

"Come with us…"he said and Sesshomaru stubbornly looked at the floor. He looked back realizing Koga wasn't around them and saw him trying to open the door to another car. "Koga, not that one, son. This one…"he pointed to the limo in front of him and Koga smirked as he walked over to them.

"I knew that…I was just making sure that guy locked his car doors. You never know, with all the crazys' out there." He hiccupped as he opened the door to the limo, and fell inside.

Inutaisho looked back at his son. "You've been gone for nearly a month, Rin has been asking for you every day."

"Tell her I am fine."

"Why don't you tell her yourself?" his father pointed to the open door.

"I do not wish to hear any lectures…" he said and met his eyes with seriousness.

"I won't give any…"he promised and looked at the limo. "Will you come?"

Sesshomaru looked off across the street debating if he should. If it was to see Rin, then yes. Where else could he go anyway?

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"Sesshomaru!" Rin cried as she ran to him and threw herself into the air. He caught her and she wrapped her little arms around him, He set her down and she pulled him toward her room. "Come on, I want to show you something."

Inutaisho sighed as he watched her pull Sesshomaru away and went to his study to do some work. After they dropped Koga at the loft he stayed at, they both sat in the limo without saying a word to each other on the way back to the manor. He badly wanted to say something, not lecture, but just talk with him. He would never tell his son he missed his presence and wanted to know what was going on with him. From the stories he had heard, his son was going through a breakdown and didn't realize it. Hopefully, he would realize that he actually did need his help.

Sesshomaru sat on the pink canopy bed and rested his head against the headboard as Rin pranced around in a dress reciting her lines from a play she had to do in a few weeks. He stared at the veil above him as he contemplated his thoughts and listened to her.

She threw her hand over her head and shouted dramatically. "What if it be a poison, which the friar..uh…the friar…"she paused and searched the page.

"Subtly hath minister'd to have me dead, Lest in this marriage, he should be dishonour'd" he finished and she looked at him. He glanced at her and half grinned as he looked back up at the veil.

Rin cleared her throat. "Subtlety has ministered-"

"No, Subtly hath minister'd.."

Rin growled. "Ugh, why do they have to speak this way, it's weird!" she threw the script onto the floor. "I have a few weeks, I won't be able to do this!"

"Yes, you will. It takes time."

"Grrr," she fumed. "Want to go to the movies?"

"No, you need to rehearse."

"Are you going to come to the play?" she asked as she walked over and sat beside him.

"Do you want me to come?" he asked as he folded his hands against his chest.

"Yes."

"Then I will."

She smiled. "I'm glad you're here…it's been weird without you around. Dad is sad, you know."

Sesshomaru cocked a brow and nodded not having a reply and looked up at the veil again.

"Your birthday is coming in a few weeks." She said. "Is there anything you want?"

He pursed his lips in thought and gazed back at her. "A new Ferrari." He teased.

She scoffed. "I can't afford that."

"Well, that is what I want." He said and stood up from the bed. He pulled the sleeve of his jacket and began to remove it.

"Do you want something that a nine year old can get? How about tickets to the opera?"

"No, I want a Ferrari." He said with a serious tone. Of course, he was kidding, but keeping Rin assuming he wasn't kept her from topics he didn't wish to speak of.

"You are too difficult." She shook her head. "My birthday is next month, you know."

"I know." He held his jacket and rested it on the chair beside her bed.

"What are you getting me?" she asked and they both looked at the floor when something dropped from his jacket. They looked at the platinum band twirling in a circle and fall flat on the floor beside her foot. She picked up the ring and looked up at him. "You never gave it to her?"

He grabbed the ring, put it in his pants pocket, and paced around the room. Seeing that he was in no mood to talk about it, she picked up the script from the floor, cleared her throat, and began to read.

"What if it be poison, which the friar…Subtly hath minister'd to have me dead…"she looked at him and he sat by the ledge listening.

Why did he carry the ring with him everywhere? He should just throw it away, give it to Rin, or whichever. He felt the ring in his pants pocket and stroked the band. He couldn't bring himself to throw it away. What did it matter anyway? She was dating someone else. She wasn't thinking about him anymore.

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Kagome looked at her phone's screen and debated answering the phone call. It was Marla. She'd been avoiding her calls for nearly a month and a half. She felt terrible and with a heavy sigh, she answered the phone.

"Hello?" she said and silence filled the other end for a few seconds. "Hello?"

"W-wait, hello?" Marla said with a surprised tone. "Kagome? Oh," she laughed. "I didn't expect you'd pick up. I thought I'd get your voicemail again."

Kagome forced a fake laugh. "No….so, what's up?"

"Well, how have you been?"

Kagome cocked a brow. Why did she care? "Um, I've been alright…you?"

"Great…well, I don't want to keep you long on the phone but there are a few checks here for you that you might want to pick up?"

"Checks?"

Marla laughed. "Unless you thought you were modeling for free? I don't mind keeping it if that's what you want."

Kagome laughed. She hadn't thought about that. Since moving back home, she didn't have to think much about money. Her mother refused to let her get a job again just so she could focus on school. She had planned to bartend again once school started but she recalled not liking that job.

"Um, sure…I guess getting money for all that trouble isn't such a bad thing. Where do you want me to pick it up?"

"How about you meet me for lunch?"

"Ok…where?"

"There is this nice French restaurant by Central Park across the street from the Trump tower."

"Alright, I will call you when I get there." Kagome smiled. She couldn't explain why but she was happy that she was about to see Marla. Although they didn't get along, she felt like a mother to her in a sense. A strict one, but a mother nonetheless.

"Ok," she said. "but don't come late, I have a surprise for you."

"Um, Marla.."she asked, suddenly feeling wary. "Is…is he-"

"No, he is not going to be there, I promise."

"Okay…"she said and was surprised to feel tears coming into her eyes. She thought she was getting better but she couldn't handle seeing him right now. Perhaps she still needed more time. "See you in a bit."

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Kagome looked both ways as she trotted down the street in her white trench coat with black buttons. Her honey highlighted chestnut hair flew back in the wind and she lifted her shades as she scouted for the restaurant. The wind was strong and chilly, her hands were red and frozen, and the tips of her ears were numb.

She held her collar closed to keep the wind going down her shirt as she entered the restaurant she assumed Marla had mentioned.

"Is there a reservation for Marla Baldacci?" she asked the host but turned when she heard her name.

"Kagome, over here." Marla rose from her chair, a smile on her face she couldn't understand. She must have wanted something. There was no way she was genuinely happy to see her.

Kagome smiled as she walked over to her and lowered her head as she grabbed her hand, and they kissed each other's cheek. She looked to her side and gasped when Marques stared up at her with a smile.

"Marques!" she said and she bent down to hug him in the chair.

"Cheri', you look eh…amazing!" he said in his thick French accent. She almost forgot how hard it was to understand him. Marla sat down and they both looked at her as she removed her coat.

"That coat is to die for…"Marques gushed. "Who is the designer?"

"Um…Target?" Kagome smiled.

Marques cocked a brow and looked at Marla. "Who is this Target?"

Marla and Kagome exchanged glances and laughed as she sat down. A waiter walked over with a bottle of wine and took their orders.

"Your hair looks great," Marla said as she handed over a few envelopes.

"Thanks…" Kagome glanced at it and looked at her perplexedly.

"Those are the checks."

Kagome nodded as she opened them and her eyes shot wide open. "Uh…is this a joke?"

Marla and Marques looked at each other and smiled. "and there's more where that came from. I told you, you guys were a hit, still are. People still believe you both…"she stopped and cleared her throat. "It would have been sent directly to your bank account but you don't-"

"have one…"Kagome finished. "Yeah, I've been meaning to do that."

"So, what are you doing now?" Marla asked and looked at her watch.

Kagome frowned noticing it and wondered if she was in a rush. "Well, I signed up for classes, so a few weeks after January, I'll be a college student."

"Well, that's…good." Marla said but it didn't sound convincing. "So, I guess the runway is out of the question."

"Yeah, I guess…"Kagome said and everything went quiet. That was what it was about; they didn't care for her, they just wanted her to continue to model for them. Marques continued to gawk at her coat and studied the stitches of the fabric with his glasses.

"Hm," Marla mused and looked at her wine glass. "Well, I guess it will be a shame then to tell Isabella she will be appointed to another model."

Kagome sipped her wine and squinted at her. "What do you mean?"

"I cannot believe eh,..you got someone to cut your hair other than me!" she heard a familiar voice and looked behind her. She turned around and gasped as she shot up from her chair. Isabella stood in front of her with a wide grin. Her once purple streaked hair now black and red, her green eyes rimmed with red eye shadow.

"Oh my god…"Kagome was speechless. All she could do was grin wide as she went up to her and wrapped her arms around her.

"You're late." Marla scowled.

"I am sorry? I am eh..a foreigner. People in New York are mean. I had trouble finding the place."

Kagome and Isabella parted from each other and they sat down.

"I can't believe you're here, what are you doing here?"

"Well," Isabella chuckled. "Marla asked me if I wanted to work for them. Truthfully, I only came because she said I get to work with you."

Kagome looked back at Marla, her expression soft. "But..I'm not modeling anymore."

"Maybe in the future…"

"No.."Kagome shook her head. "Look, guys…as much as it sounds fun…I can't right now. I need to be here for a while. I don't think I like the idea of traveling everywhere, staying in hotels all the time. Plus, I have school starting next month."

"Well, maybe you can just do part time work. Work magazine spreads, commercials. You won't have to leave New York."

Kagome pursed her lips and gazed around the table. They all sipped their wine and nodded at her.

"I wouldn't have to leave?" she asked. After seeing those paychecks, would it really be bad if she did that as a part time job instead of bartending? School was expensive and her mother was not the rich.

"No. We can work with your schedule. We tried looking for other models but they don't wear the clothes like you do."

"but…I can't wear the lover's line anymore. That's for…"

"We'll launch a new one…"

The waiter walked over with a basket of freshly baked breadsticks and set it on the table. Kagome looked at the breadsticks and smiled. Marla's eyes moved from her face to the breadsticks and sighed.

"You can have all the bread you want as long as you do not gain a pound!" she pointed her finger at her and Kagome laughed.

"I will think about it, ok?" she said and grabbed a breadstick. "In the meantime…"

Marla scoffed as Kagome bit into her breadstick teasingly. "My god, you are the most difficult model I have ever dealt with."

"Thanks…"she shrugged and looked at Isabella. "So, where are you staying?"

"At a hotel until I find a place." She grabbed a breadstick seeing as Kagome was chewing it like it was god's gift to the table. Marla's phone rang and she excused herself from the table while Marques sketched an idea of his on a napkin.

"and you're going to stay here in New York for a while?"

"As long as I'm working." She smiled and looked at Kagome's hair in disbelief. "It looks good…but eh… I thought you would never cut it."

"Yeah…"she grabbed a strand and shrugged. "I definitely needed change."

"How are your friends?"

"Um…"Kagome bit her lip and looked out the restaurant window. "I don't know, I haven't seen them."

"You don't live with them?"

"No, um..I moved back with my mother."

"Oh, so eh..things are better now, eh? I told you."

"Yeah…"Kagome mumbled.

"Want to do something after this, maybe you can eh…show me around?" Isabella said through a full mouth and placed a red strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Yeah," Kagome nodded. "Let's do that."

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Kagome did what Isabella asked, she showed her around New York. She took her on a stroll around Central Park, perused midtown and walked down to the Village. They shopped at a few boutiques and

browsed around the busy streets of Broadway. It was refreshing to hang out with Isabella and she felt like everything was getting better for her, slowly.

As they got closer to the Soho area, the streets were closed off and loud music sounded up ahead. It was some sort of Festival. Tents were set up around with people selling random items. Isabella, having been hypnotized, pulled Kagome through the crowd; smirking at everyone they passed by. They stopped by a small bakery and ordered Coffee Coladas.

"So…why haven't you seen your friends?"

Kagome sipped her Frozen Coffee and frowned at her.

"Sooner or later, you have to talk about it…"she sipped her drink and glanced to the side, meeting Kagome's displeased face.

"I don't know…"Kagome spat. "I just…needed to leave."

"but I bet they miss you…"

"Isabella, why do you always have to speak like a fortune cookie?"

"I watch too much of those eh…how you say… daytime television shows? Sorry. Anyway, why don't you call them?"

"I'm embarrassed, ok?"she scoffed and walked ahead of her.

Isabella bit her straw contemplating and followed behind her. "Why?"

"Everyone pities me! It is like they knew... I was so stupid…"she paused and looked at everyone around her having a good time; kids and their parents shouting and frolicking down the street. "I don't want people around me just because they feel bad."

"Kagome, have you talked to him?"

"For what? No, why should I?"

"because I feel that something is not right…it does not make sense."

"Sometimes they don't have to." She looked at a watch on the table inside of a tent to get her mind off the topic. She felt herself get upset. "Can we not talk about this?"

"Listen…there is something I found out…"she said and pulled Kagome to the side of the street away from people.

Kagome sighed and looked at her impatiently. "Isabella, I am trying my best to move on, ok? I don't need this right now. I-"

"it's about that mark behind your neck…"she said and Kagome cocked a brow at her. "eh, how do they say, it's a mark of territory."

"Mark of territory?" Kagome repeated and chuckled. "What does that mean? You mean like dogs who pee on trees?"

"Eh…Demons mark their lovers when they've chosen them as their mate."

"Is this one of your daytime television nonsense?"

"No, well…eh, kinda…but listen..." she said as Kagome started walking away. "The mark bounds the demon to you. Eh, it only happens once and they say that person is special to them. They go through some kind of pain when they separate themselves for a long time."

"Oh god, Isabella, please…"Kagome begged as she turned around. "I'm beginning to think Marcela wouldn't be this cruel."

"I am sorry…but-"

"Kagome?"

They both looked to the side at the sound of her name. Inuyasha walked over holding a frozen slush in his hand and a bag in the other. Koga poked his head out from behind him and his eyes shot wide open when he saw Kagome. They both stared at her as if she had come back from the dead. The look of disbelief took over Inuyasha as Koga crossed his arms and glowered.

"Told you it was her!" Inuyasha commented.

"Well, look who it is." He spat.

"Koga…"Kagome tittered. "Inuyasha…"

Inuyasha nodded and looked at Isabella. "Isabella, right? Are you staying in New York now?"

Isabella blushed and nodded behind Kagome. Kagome closed her coat feeling cold and avoided Koga's glare.

"So…how've you guys been?" Kagome cleared her throat and shook her leg. Please don't show me any more surprise guests in my life, she thought. She would probably scream and run if she saw Sesshomaru.

"Good, good…"Inuyasha said and looked back at Isabella.

"So, good to see you're alive!" Koga snorted and looked away.

Kagome sighed and looked at her feet. "Look, I'm sorry, ok?"

"Yeah, right…"he shook his head. "and to think, you were my favorite person in the loft…Inuyasha took your place."

"Really?" Inuyasha looked at him with a flattered grin. "That's nice, man."

"Shut up." Koga scoffed. "So, now that we know you're ok, we should be going now."

Inuyasha scowled and mumbled something under his breath and fixed his eyes on Isabella. Koga read his body language and rolled his eyes.

"So, what were you guys doing?" Inuyasha blinked as he concentrated on them.

Isabella cleared her throat. "Kagome was going to show me the empire state building."

Kagome jerked her head back and widened her eyes. She eyed Isabella from the side as if she were crazy. "I was?"

"Yes. You were."

Kagome squinted at her. She never mentioned the Empire State building. For one, Sesshomaru had taken her there when they first met. She didn't want to go.

"Cool. I'd like to check it out.."Inuyasha said. "I mean, if you don't mind, of course."

Kagome was about to protest but Isabella pushed her aside softly. "Of course not, the more the eh… merrier."

Koga and Kagome exchanged scowls and watched as Isabella and Inuyasha walked ahead. Koga sucked his teeth as he looked at his watch and avoided Kagome. He was angry, she assumed. She just couldn't grasp how angry he was.

"Koga…it wasn't personal."

"You took it out on all of us, so yeah, it was personal."

Kagome held her tongue back and placed her hands into her pockets. She never saw Koga so serious the entire time knowing him and it was pretty weird. She didn't think they cared so much, after all, they didn't really know her well.

They hailed a cab back to midtown and stopped at the tall skyscraper in front of them. They bought tickets and took the elevator up to the observatory. Inuyasha and Isabella laughed about something privately. It was amazing how quick the two clicked, Kagome thought. It was cute to see but awkward at the same time. Not too long ago, was Inuyasha bothering her about a second date. Koga leaned against the wall of the elevator listening to his IPod and scribbling on a piece of paper. It looked like he was writing lyrics.

They all got out on the eightieth floor because they couldn't go any higher, although, she recalled Sesshomaru taking her to the very top even though they weren't allowed. Isabella and Inuyasha ran to the binoculars while Koga walked to the edge and took in the view through the gated barrier.

"Koga…"Kagome started but he didn't hear. He bopped his head to his IPod and strummed on an imaginary guitar. She walked closer and pulled an earphone off. He stopped and glared to the side. "Don't be mad…"

Koga turned off his IPod and looked out into the city. The wind blasted through the bars sending their hair back full force. Kagome covered her face as her hair flapped around, occasionally slapping her in the face.

"We were worried, you know." He said.

"Yeah, I know…but it was so hard."

"We were there for you."

"I didn't want you to be…"she said. "That's what made it hard. I needed to go away. I just…I'm so ashamed."

"Why?"

"Because I was stupid?" she said. How many times was she going to call herself that?

"You weren't stupid…you were in love."

"Yeah, stupid to be in love with a demon."

Koga fixed his eyes on her. "Why is that stupid?"

"because…I mean, come on, Koga. You're a demon. You should know all about this. Demons stick with their own kind."

"Yeah, but that stuff is changing. That's like old tradition or some shit…"he pulled a cigarette from his pocket. He knew he couldn't smoke but he didn't care. If they caught him, the most they'd tell him is to put it out. He lit his cigarette and took one long pull.

"Well, it seems he follows it."

"It's not easy pulling away from it." He said.

"I know. I did it. I was supposed to marry some guy that my family set me up with and I didn't."

"and what happened?"

"They didn't speak to me."

"how did that feel?"

"like crap, but.."

"It is different for demons. It's much harder…there's honor at stake. Demons live strongly by it…" he said.

"Does it matter? In the end, they marry the one their parents want."

"not true…"he smiled and turned to her. "I didn't."

Kagome met his eyes and grinned. She'd forget he was a demon at times. He acted different from the rest.

"It's different for Monarchic clans; they're much stricter…"

"Monarchic?"

"Yeah, you know…like Sesshomaru and his father? They're pure blood and considered royal in the demon clans. "he stopped and laughed at how confused she looked. "Don't they teach you this in history?"

"Not demon history."

"Okay, it's like this… Monarchic clans or anyone from a noble clan follow strict traditions to keep the race pure or make stronger," he exhaled the smoke away from her. "I come from a noble family as well, not like Sess but when I turned twenty one and refused to marry the chick they wanted me to marry, well, I got kicked to the curb."

"Really?" Kagome held onto the bars as she looked out. Tears fell from her eyes but this time, it was from the cold wind. She looked over at Isabella staring through the binoculars; Inuyasha watched her when she wasn't looking. "by your own parents?"

"Yeah..."he muttered and by the way his face tightened, she could tell it pained him to talk about it. He took another drag of his cigarette and flicked it off the roof. "Well, to hell with them, right? I mean…I worked on my music and became successful, without their help."

"Yeah…"she nodded. "You did."

However, if Koga made that sacrifice, why didn't Sesshomaru? Unless he believed in the tradition. It seemed the entire day everyone was justifying Sesshomaru's actions. Whose side were they on anyway? She was the one he left alone in Italy, the one whose heart was broken. Sesshomaru wasn't the one crying all day and night, wishing he'd realized his mistake and come for her.

Seeing Kagome's sullen expression, he realized the topic needed to change. He wasn't even going to mention that he saw Sesshomaru and to mention that it was in jail would only make the story longer.

"You cut your hair, hm?" he said and flipped a strand to the back of her head.

"Yeah…"she nodded. "So, what's going on with the band?"

"Well, we were such a hit in Europe, now we're going to do some local tours, some free stuff for donations and crap."

"how righteous of you…"she giggled.

"I know, right? I'm such a great guy. Anyway, we're working on some new material. There is a song that I wrote for you and Sesshomaru, you know."

"What?" a wrinkle appeared between her brows.

"Yeah…maybe I'll let you hear it." He teased.

And just like that, their friendship was restored, like nothing ever happened. Just like her relationship with her mother. As they finished taking in the view of the city that never sleeps, Koga announced that he had an upcoming gig and none of them should have any excuses not to come.

"I'm serious, it's this weekend." He said.

Crap, Kagome thought. She had promised Shinji they'd go to the movies. Perhaps she could invite him with her, therefore, not flaking out on anyone. She'd try not to be a flake anymore. These people proved to be quite loyal and that was something far and few to just take for granted.

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Saya gnawed on her thumb as she peered through the curtains of the living room window. Sesshomaru had paced outside for nearly an hour, smoking and in a daze. His birthday was in a week and he'd yet picked a woman to be his wife.

"Kahuska, who is that stranger walking the courtyard?" she muttered dismally.

Kahuska walked over to the window and peeked at the so-called stranger. "That is your son, Lady Saya."

"Is it?" she looked at him sadly. "Is that my son?"

"Are you feeling well, my lady?"

"I..I don't know anymore." She forced herself to a chair and sat down. "He's…deteriorating right before my eyes. He…doesn't sleep, he barely touches his food, he's beginning to drink…it is like…he is a ghost, have you noticed?"

"Lady Saya…"

"Am..am I a monster? I just want the best for him. I know what he is capable of and he can do such great things. I thought this is what he wanted but…I think he only wants it because I do."

"You aren't a monster, my lady. You are a mother concerned for her son."

"The others don't believe he can lead. They say he's been weakened by her."

"Lady Saya, may I have the permission to speak about this."

"Of course…"

"I have followed you dearly without regret and I agree with Tsuyoko that we must revive the exiles and restore the honor into these fallen names…but, perhaps we are going to far with this tradition."

"What do you mean?"

"My eldest son…I have not spoken to him in a year…because of tradition, I abandoned him, and until this day, I have always regretted letting him go."

Saya rested her lips on her hands as she listened to him. "Tradition is what kept our clans strong for as long as they could. It was those who broke from it that weakened our people. You realize that if all demons start mating with humans, our race will soon perish. There will no longer be pure bloods."

"Yes, I am aware of that…but…maybe that is our fate."

"That is nonsense. I do not choose to succumb to such debilitation. I refuse to lose him to his father and I refuse to lose him to a human!"

"Yes, my lady." He said. "Well, if that is how you feel. Your son is still there. He hasn't left and it would seem, he is choosing to stick to what he promised us, regardless if it is ignoring his own sentiments."

Saya looked up at him, at first with a scowl but it softened as she went back to the window. She watched her son stare at the sky without a care in the world, his eyes empty as if his body walked around soulless. The question that now plagued her was could she let him go?

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Sesshomaru gazed at the calendar in his phone. His birthday was less than four days. Rin's play was a couple of weeks after and by that time, he was going to be a married man with whomever he chose and leading a full clan. He couldn't sleep. The burning feeling in his chest grew stronger. He decided to go for a ride but wound up deciding to go to his father's house. He never went to pick up his jeep from the lot. He drove his silver Lamborghini instead. He sped down the highway, not really considering his previous incarcerated lesson as he made his way to his father's manor.

When he arrived, one of their long time servants answered the door. She told him that his father had gone hours before with Rin to see a friend play.

"On a school night?" Sesshomaru said sternly with an empty expression.

"Oh, if you'd have heard young Rin whining all night to go, you would have done so yourself…or smothered her…"she muttered in the end.

"Where?" he said as he turned around and waited for her to answer.

"They should be back in an hour, I was told…but it's some place called 'The Spitfire'?"

The spitfire? What was his dad thinking of bringing a nine year old to a place like that. He'd never heard of it but he assumed if Koga was playing there, it was definitely inappropriate. He searched the place through his navigation and drove there. He could have waited but staying still was hard for him now. He needed to be on a constant move or his thoughts began to annoy him.

He found the place and people crowded outside. The show finished, he assumed when he saw Rin come out with her father. He parked in front of the place and a few guys whistled at his car. He got out and walked toward his father.

"Sesshomaru…"his father said looking surprised. "What on earth are you doing here?"

I don't know, he thought and ignored a group of girls staring at him with flirty remarks. Why was he here again? He looked behind him and saw Inuyasha walking out of the door with a girl. She looked familiar and he squinted at her. Was that Isabella?

His eyes narrowed when he saw Kagome next to her, laughing with Shinji beside her. Inutaisho looked behind him at Kagome and her friend and immediately looked back at Sesshomaru.

"Inuyasha…" he said calm yet cautiously. "Take Rin with you and head home."

Inuyasha nodded and his eyes shot open when he saw his brother in front. He looked back at Kagome and Shinji and sighed. "Oh shit, this isn't good.."

Isabella narrowed her eyes at Sesshomaru and gasped. Kagome didn't seem to notice yet and she grabbed her. "Hey, come back inside with me, I need to use eh…the bathroom."

Kagome whimpered as she was pulled inside quickly. Shinji glimpsed between everyone wondering what was happening and saw Sesshomaru staring right at him. He stepped back seeing his eyes red and his nostrils flaring with rage.

"Sesshomaru…"his father said in a low tone. "Control it…"

Sesshomaru panted, breathing through his nose trying to compose the shakes in his body. He dug his claws into his palm as he tried to hold it in.

"Sesshomaru…get inside the car." Inutaisho opened the door to the limo and blocked his view of Shinji. Sesshomaru's red eyes slowly moved and met his father's eyes. A growl droned in his throat.

"Sesshomaru?" Rin said as Inuyasha pulled her into a cab. She looked at everyone bewildered at what was happening as she got in the car.

Koga cackled as he walked out of the double doors and pulled out a cigarette. He saw Sesshomaru with his father and walked over.

"Yo, what's happenin, man? Here for the party?" he said.

"Koga-"Inutaisho turned around. Once he took his eyes off him, that's when Sesshomaru lunged forth toward Shinji. Koga looked back and scanned the situation quickly and realized it was the guy Kagome brought, that Sesshomaru was lunging at. Inutaisho grabbed Sesshomaru before he came close to Shinji and everyone stepped back, startled at what was happening. Sesshomaru struggled out of his grasp with full force. Koga dropped his cigarette and tried to help but Sesshomaru swung and hit him in the face. Inutaisho growled as he grabbed him by the chest and swung him inside the car. Koga groaned as he cupped his face, jumped into the car, and slammed the door.

"Drive!" Inutaisho shouted at the driver and he immediately peeled out of there.

"What the fuck, man? What did I do?" Koga rubbed his eye and lowered the window.

Sesshomaru grabbed his father by the collar and came inches from his face. He showed his fangs and hissed. Koga blinked back a couple of times not understanding what was going on. What just happened back there?

"Sesshomaru!" his father shouted as he grabbed him by his collar. "Release me, Sesshomaru. I am not the one you are at fault with! Control your temper!"

Sesshomaru continued to growl as he panted. Inutaisho could see he was trying, but he knew where he was coming from. Those emotions were beyond control.

"Sesshomaru…relax. You were jealous, it is normal. Shift them back…come on, you can hear me."

Sesshomaru's grip slowly loosened and he released his father. He leaned back into his seat and stared at his trembling hands. He covered his eyes with his hand and rubbed them. He felt his heartbeat slow down, his eyes cooled down and he could feel them shift back.

"I left my car…"was the first thing he said.

"You'll get it tomorrow." Inutaisho replied. His son was falling into a state of delirium, which happened after weeks of restlessness.

"No, I need..my car."

Koga sucked his teeth. "I know…The guys are still back at the club, I'll just tell them to drive it back to your place."

"They will need keys…"he groaned, his head swaying back.

Koga dialed a number and let it ring on his cell phone. He grinned and looked out the window. "Who said they need keys?"

Sesshomaru felt his body go limp. His eyelids became heavy and he tried to force himself up but his body wouldn't move.

"You are exhausted…"his father said. "Your body is shutting down. Shifting takes a lot of energy out of you, energy that you don't have right now."

"What…is happening to me?"he felt himself doze off.

"I will explain later." He heard his father say. It was as if his body was underwater. There was a pressure around him and everything became muffled. And that was what he remembered when everything went black.

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Sesshomaru clutched his chest and winced as he sat up. He scanned around the room wondering where he was and noticed he was in his old room at his father's manor. He saw his father sitting at the foot off the bed staring at him. He grabbed a bottle of some sort and poured it into a glass. The sun rays bled through the curtains and he squinted at the bright light.

"Here…"his father said as he handed him the glass.

"It is a little early to start drinking."

"It is for the pain in your chest." He said and shook the glass for him to grab it.

Sesshomaru rubbed the back of his neck and grabbed it. He drank the entire thing in two gulps and licked his lips. He could feel the pain in his chest cease, it didn't make it go away completely, but it wasn't as painful.

"So..what is this feeling in my chest?" he set the glass down on the table beside the bed.

"Who knows…they say it's a source pulling the binding apart. You marked her, so that bounds you to her. The longer you both are separated, the more pain you will feel."

"Hmph." He said as he stood up. "Well, thanks for the lesson but I have things to attend to."

"Are you still not convinced? What more do you need?" Inutaisho spat. "You punched your friend in the face last night, do you remember that?"

"Koga is not my friend." Sesshomaru rolled his eyes.

"You could have hurt someone last night." He scolded as he sat up from the bed. "You're losing control."

"I admit, I may have lost my reasoning but it is controlled now." He frowned and turned around.

"Is it really?"

"Yes."

"Then why were you looking for me last night?"

Sesshomaru shrugged. "I do not remember."

"Your birthday is in a few days…"

"Yes, so?"

"You don't have to do this. If you just stopped ignoring your true feelings, you can make the pain stop."

"It will go away eventually."

"No, it won't! It will only get worse."

"Well, you seemed to have gotten over it pretty easily." He scoffed and went into his closet. He pulled out a white thermo sweater and a pair of denim jeans.

"You don't know what I went through. Easy it was not…I had to force myself back; I had children to take care of. What do you have?"

Sesshomaru clenched his teeth as he put his jeans on. He placed the sweater over his head and pushed his hands through the sleeves. He rolled it down his torso and glanced acerbically at his father.

"What does it matter to you?"

"You are my son, everything matters."

Sesshomaru sighed. "I have everything under control." He opened the door and strode down the hallway.

"Don't wait too long, son. There is something the humans have against us that in a sense, makes them stronger." Sesshomaru stopped and looked back at him. "Their wounds, emotional I mean, heal within time. Ours never do."

"It is too late." Sesshomaru spat and walked off, this time not wanting to listen to anything more. He passed by the living room and saw Rin watching T.V. Koga sat on the recliner by the couch and waved. His cheek was slightly bruised.

"Yo…"

"What are you doing here?" Sesshomaru's brows rose in disbelief. What was with this guy? He even seemed to have waved as if nothing had happened last night. If someone had punched him, he couldn't sleep until he hurt the person.

Rin looked back and smiled. "Hey, you want to watch T.V with us?"

Sesshomaru shook his head and started to walk away. Koga jumped out of the chair, patted Rin's head and left the living room.

"Hey…"he said but Sesshomaru didn't look back. "Wait up, I'm comin' too."

Sesshomaru saw his car parked by the limo and smirked. He had thought he'd have to use another car and pressed the button to disable the alarm to the Lamborghini. When it didn't submit, he pressed it again. He looked inside the car and his lips parted open at the wires dangling under the steering wheel. He glared at Koga across from him.

Koga shrugged. "I mean, it's here, right?"

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Sesshomaru entered his mother's estate and parked out front. When he got out of his car, a group of people walked out of the house, talking amongst themselves. He looked up when Shurran and her father opened the door. They both glared at him and looked away.

He eyed everyone suspiciously, as he walked up the steps. Shurran stopped in the middle of the steps and turned to him.

"I would have given you everything." She spat and her father pulled her away.

He continued going up the steps and passed Koga's father.

"My lord, wait…"he said and Sesshomaru glimpsed at him and looked around inside. Many people crowded in the hallway. Was there a meeting? He cast a sidelong glance at the man beside him trying to hand him an envelope. "Can you see that my son gets this?"

Sesshomaru gave a slight nod as he grabbed it and went inside to look for his mother. There were members of the Tamashi walking around, a few scowling at him. He didn't care to know why as he paraded down the hallway looking in each room for his mother.

"Traitor…"he heard someone whisper tersely and looked behind him. There was a quick flash before his eyes and he ignored it as he went up the steps. He opened the door to the library and peeked in. His mother stood by the window with her hands folded behind her back.

"What is going on?" he said, his voice crisp.

"You're back…"she hummed. "How graceful of you to show your presence. Where did you disappear to in the midnight hour?"

"I had business to take care of."

"Hmph…business…"she snickered.

"Why are all these people here?" he said and closed the door behind him.

"We've commenced a meeting here with the Jade Order and council to vote."

"Vote for what?"

"The throne. It has been decided unanimously that you are deemed unfit to lead."

"unfit?" he snapped.

"Yes. You have proven to us that you are unstable. You are beginning to possess emotions that cloud your judgment. We need a leader with a clear mind."

"You agree with them?"

"Yes…I do. Now, if you do not mind. I have things to take care of. I expect you to be gone by tonight. It would be best…"

"If that is what you all believe, I am sorry to hear that." He turned to leave and opened the door. "I have failed you…forgive me." He closed the door as he left.

"No,.." she said to herself. "I've failed you…"

Sesshomaru exited the house and got into his car. He couldn't grasp what happened within the last ten minutes. Just like that, he had nothing. He didn't have the Jade Order, he didn't have Kagome and his mother wanted nothing to do with him.

He'd never failed anything in his life and within the course of the last three months, that was what he did best. He would make it right somehow. He wasn't a failure. He would lead a clan one day, whether it was the Jade Order, his father's or his own. He'd set out to get Kagome back too had she not looked happy with the other guy. If she was happy, then he would have to accept that, no matter how much it hurt him. He was not going to allow himself to crumble. He was always at the top and that was where he would stand always.

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Kagome sat in the car with Shinji and looked at the time on the dashboard. It was nearly midnight. He had asked her to the movies and they had dinner afterwards. Despite him having to say 'I know it's not a date.', he didn't act like it. He had bought her flowers, opened the door for her, they had wine with dinner, he constantly commented on how beautiful she was.

"I should go now…"she said into the silent car. "My brother's play is tomorrow and I don't want to fall asleep at it so…"

"Of course…"Shinji nodded in compliance but he began to stare at her, biting his lip in thought and staring at her lips. She wasn't stupid, he wanted to kiss her. Oh god, what did she get herself into? She turned to open the door and he grabbed her arm softly.

"Kagome?"

Don't turn around, she told herself but she did. He leaned in quickly and kissed her on the cheek as she moved her face quickly. "Um, Shinji?"

"Well that didn't play out like it did in my head…"he chuckled embarrassedly.

"Um…what are you doing?"

He leaned in again. "Trying to kiss you?"

"I know but I thought we said this wasn't a date."

"I know, I know…but Kagome..you know I like you, right? I mean, I can take care of you. I think you are amazing and beautiful and I want to be with you." He said and looked directly in her eyes. She looked away and sighed. Those were words she had waited to hear but the wrong person was saying them.

"It's been like…two months since.."

"I am not ready…"

"I mean, are you waiting for him?" Shinji spat, his once kind voice replaced with a darker tone. Jealousy perhaps, either way, Kagome didn't like it. That lunatic, Shinji recalled the memory when Sesshomaru tried to kill him. Kagome never found out. Everyone had agreed not to tell her. "Why would you wait for someone like that?"

"Good night, Shinji." She rolled her eyes and turned to open the door.

"Wait, Kagome…look, I'm sorry. I just…I want to see you happy."

"I am happy." She said and he stared at her in disbelief. "Ok, I mean, really who's happy all of the time?"

"ok, look…just think about it, ok? I would really like it if you considered us…"

Kagome fell into the abyss of her thoughts and lowered her gaze to her hands. He was right. It had been close to two months since she had heard from him. What was she waiting for? He was probably married

to Shurran by now, working on making a family, not even thinking about what they had between them. She turned to Shinji and smiled. "I'll consider it…"

Shinji smiled. "Okay, good night…"he said and he looked at her lips once more. She had to get out of the car immediately before he had another go at lip-locking. His patience was truly admirable and she hoped she could return his feelings one day. He was a good guy and for the past two months, he was by her side.

When she got out of the car, she turned to wave. "Alright, see you later."

"Call me after the play, maybe you, me and your brother can get a bite to eat."

She smiled. How sweet he was. "Ok…bye.."

He waited for her to enter her house and drove off. She exhaled deeply as she went up the steps quietly to her room. She undressed, took a shower and got into freshly clean pajamas. She looked into the mirror and took in her appearance. Could she do it, could she let him go? She had to. Tomorrow, after the play, she'd tell Shinji she was ready.