InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Syndrome ❯ Mystery Man ( Chapter 22 )

I do not own Inuyasha and Company, no matter how happy it would make me. Rumiko Takahashi does. I also do not own Forever by Papa Roach.

 

Chapter 22 - Mystery Man

 

 

@@ 3 and a quarter Years Ago @@

 

 

It had taken him longer than expected to figure out how to do what he hoped would be his final experiments. Finding just any girl so he could think about Kagome while with her was easy. Finding a girl that looked like Kagome wasn't easy in the slightest. Finding a girl with hair so black it was blue was hard enough. Finding one with eyes like hers, that was just impossible.

 

The closest resemblance he could find was a girl in her grade named Kikyo. Their facial features were very similar, but Kikyo's eyes were brown and her hair was straight instead of wavy and full of body like Kagome's. Their builds were similar from what he could tell. Too bad he absolutely refused to go near her. There was no way he would touch a girl like her, let alone let her touch him. For a high school freshman she got around… a lot. Her scent was always laced with that of sweat, sex, and some random male. No, he couldn't, wouldn't risk it, even for the sake of science and to understand his apparently very picky dick. Kami only knew what kind of diseases she carried. No, Kikyo was a no go.

 

There was another girl who looked quite similar to Kagome as well, also in the same grade. He'd watched her for a while, trying to decide if she would do. She had brown eyes too instead of the gray and ever-changing blue of Kagome's. Her hair wasn't as wavy, but it wasn't as straight as Kikyo's either. She was a shy, sweet little thing and he just couldn't bring himself to use her like that. It didn't help the situation that she was friends with Kagome either. If he really could only respond to Kagome then hurting one of her friends, especially in a sexual situation, would not be wise if he ever wanted to get any. It was bad enough that she obviously disliked the way he treated the half-breed, something he just couldn't change.

 

Eventually he'd figured out a way, though it was incredibly complicated. It was a potion that would temporarily alter one's appearance. It took him weeks to gather the ingredients and follow the recipe exactly. Now all he could do was pray it worked. He figured it would be easier to try both experiments in one night with one girl, for if he once again failed to respond, the fewer who knew about it the better. He considered himself lucky already that it hadn't gotten out. Rumors were always floating around the school and every time he heard a new one he mentally cringed until he learned that it wasn't his secret.

 

He'd picked a human girl in his grade named Sara this time. She had some similar features to Kagome, which would help the potion. The more the actual and intended appearances were alike the better the chance it would work. Needing privacy to be able to slip her the potion when the time came so no one would alert her to the change, he had arranged an evening picnic, giving himself credit for actually trying. He was really hoping this would work. His chances at getting into Kagome's favor and then her pants were pretty slim.

 

When Sara laid eyes on the spot he'd prepared she'd gone on and on about how romantic he was and how surprised she was that he was so interested in her that he would go to such lengths. Sesshoumaru had to fight to keep from rolling his eyes. If only she knew to just what extent he'd gone to prepare for this moment… Kami he hoped it would work!

 

While the two ate the prepared meal, she chattered endlessly just like Megumi had. Only half listening, the taiyoukai found himself wishing he could find a girl who was born incapable of speech. Things would go so much more smoothly if he didn't have to listen to the inane stories she insisted on telling him. He really didn't care in the slightest what she had to say. Sesshoumaru allowed his eyes to fall closed and began to think of Kagome. First he tried to see her sitting there beside him. He knew she wouldn't be anywhere near as annoying as Sara, and he could listen to her voice for hours.

 

He allowed his imagination to lead him, Kagome crawling across the blanket to kneel in front of him, Kagome climbing into his lap, her short skirt riding up as she straddled his legs, pressing her heat against his already growing arousal. Her hands brushed his cheeks before her fingers slid into his hair. She closed the short distance between them and kissed him, softly at first, but then growing more passionate, needier. His arms twitched at his sides. She seemed so real in his mind. He could almost feel her and he was aching to squeeze the ass that dominated his thoughts. Seeing her bent over got him every time, his beast loving how it looked like she was presenting herself to him, inviting him to mount her like a good bitch would.

 

“Sesshoumaru?” a soft feminine voice called. When he didn't answer she tried again. “Sesshoumaru? Are you feeling alright?”

 

The taiyoukai's eyes snapped open and he looked at the girl sitting on the other side of the blanket, the girl who was definitely not Kagome. She had a dazed look to her and he followed her eyes, noticing the large tent in the front of his slacks. `It worked!' he mentally rejoiced. His delicate nose caught the scent of the girl's arousal and he smirked at her. Finally, finally he would rid himself of his pesky virginity and end the constant frustration he suffered. “Come here,” he murmured quietly, almost laughing when she scampered around the food as quickly as she could manage. Apparently she was really interested in what he had in his pants, and to tell the truth, he was too. If that was all it took… if all he had to do was fantasize about Kagome for a few minutes before engaging in activities with another female… he could live with that.

 

Sara knelt before him just like Kagome had in his fantasy moments before. She looked unsure of what to do next, watching his face closely. Finally she worked up the nerve and reached out to touch him. First her hand caressed his leg before moving upwards. He watched as she brushed her hands over his zipper and that was when he noticed it. He was completely soft again, like he hadn't been aroused at all. He sighed softly and closed his eyes again; allowing Sara to explore his masculine form timidly while he tried to believe that it was Kagome's hands touching him. Somehow though, it just wasn't the same as it had been a few minutes ago. The way this girl was touching him, it wasn't how he'd imagined Kagome would.

 

Finally he shook his head and opened his eyes again, seeing a confused but aroused girl staring at him. “What happened? Are you…”

 

He cut off her question with a question of his own. “Would you care for a drink?” When she nodded he grabbed the bottle he'd mixed the potion with and handed it to her. She sat beside him in silence, sipping her soda and looking up at the night sky. He could smell the worry and nervousness in her scent. She was already self conscious, thinking that she'd somehow turned him off, and really she had. He tried not to stare at her, just sneaking a glance here and there, watching as she changed slowly from Sara to Kagome. He smirked when the transformation was complete. It was perfect. When her eyes met his he found a flaw. Rather than the beautiful gray that was cut through with bright blue bolts of lightning, Sara's new eyes were now just a flat gray, boring.

 

He could manage without the eyes, he decided, and he reached out to touch her hair, his mind doing it's best to believe that this girl who now looked just like her was in fact Kagome. He watched her eyes widen in surprise before they fell shut in anticipation of his kiss. With her eyes closed the image was flawless, and he closed the distance, brushing his lips across hers. One hand wrapped in her hair while the other moved to rest on her hip, and he increased the pressure of his kiss, drawing her bottom lip between his to nibble gently like he always dreamed of doing. Kagome was always biting that plump and delicious looking bottom lip of hers, always drawing his attention to it.

 

He felt his chest tighten painfully, just like it had when he was with Aiko, and he pulled back. Her hand had slipped into his pants and she was touching him teasingly, trailing the tips of her fingers along his still flaccid length. She leaned in to kiss him back and when their lips touched a groan escaped him. Sara took it as encouragement, but it was actually a groan of pain. He tried to ignore it, looking at the beautiful copy of Kagome before him, touching him, kissing him, but after a few moments he pulled away and grabbed her wrist to end the contact between her hand and his rebellious dick. Her touch seemed to be causing the pain, as it receded almost immediately. When she reached out to touch him again the pain returned and he growled in frustration, causing her to pull her hand back as if she was bitten.

 

He had his answer. It was Kagome or no one. Deciding he wanted to get out of there, he began to clean up their area quickly and Sara helped, thinking that they were going to find a more private spot to continue. She was rather surprised when he took the long way back to her house, needing to waste time until the potion wore off. She hadn't expected to be going home for at least a few more hours. She wanted him so much it hurt. When she tried to make him understand that he scoffed. “It is not going to happen,” he growled. “This Sesshoumaru made an error when selecting you.” He allowed all his anger and frustration at his situation taint his tone and Sara sniffled before getting out of the car, slamming the door, and dashing up the walk to her house, never looking back. “This Sesshoumaru will be a virgin forever,” he said to himself before driving away, squealing the tires as he went.

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

Sesshoumaru, the most attractive and sought after male in the school, was left with no options. He had no choice but to fantasize about the female he could never touch and masturbate. He would never lose his virginity, he was sure of it. And so the confident taiyoukai was reduced to a pitiful existence, no better than a stalker. When Kagome was in the house he would skulk in dark corners or find some excuse or another to share the same room with her for as long as he could. He watched her, her friends, and his brother hanging out on the front lawn, hidden from sight behind his heavy curtains.

 

School wasn't any better. He took the long way to his classes just to pass her locker in hopes of spotting her. It didn't take long before he had her schedule memorized. He even changed some of his classes so that he would be in a certain classroom the period after she was. He claimed her desk and every day reveled in her lingering scent. It was the only time he was truly content anymore. He changed where he sat during lunch to be closer to her table, all the while doing his best to make sure neither his brother nor her other bodyguards noticed.

 

He frequented first his brother's Myspace page, then those of the monk and strange human male, rejoicing when she finally got her own. He spent hours clicking through their photo albums and he almost felt like he was her friend, reading her blog, knowing her thoughts and learning as much as he could about her, memorizing her favorite things and surrounding himself with them when possible. He ached to be close to her but she didn't seem to even know he existed. He was invisible to the only girl in the world he wanted and it nearly killed him. The annoying pain in his chest seemed to happen more frequently, getting worse when he thought of her, but he couldn't keep her out of his mind.

 

Holidays and family events were hell. He was forced to sit across the dining room table from his obsession and act like it was nothing. He had to watch her smile at his brother, watch her laugh with Bankotsu, watch her be groped by the monk, watch her be happy without him. It was worse than anything he had ever imagined. All he wanted was for her to flash that smile at him. He wanted to be the one to make her laugh. He wanted to be the one she hugged, the one who carried her around, the one who held her while she slept, the one whose shoulder her head rested on while they watched a movie. He wanted to be one of them. He wanted to be his brother. The very thought disgusted him, but it was a truth he couldn't avoid. His brother was lucky. She loved him. He'd heard her say it multiple times; each time feeling his heart clench in his chest, each time sure it would shatter the next.

 

The dreams were out of control. He had them every single night now. He was exhausted every single day. Even a demon of his strength needed to sleep sometimes. He finally realized that it was her that he was dreaming about. He'd just about slapped himself when it hit him. How he'd denied it to himself for so long he had no idea. The eyes were a dead giveaway. There were times he was sure he would just drop dead, but then her scent would waft past his nose or her laughter would echo in his ears and he found a reason to live again.

 

`Just two more years,' he thought to himself at the end of his sophomore and her freshman year. `Just two more years that I will be forced to watch her happiness with them, and then this Sesshoumaru will be in college.'

 

That first summer had been worse than the entire school year put together. Sometimes he didn't see her for weeks and the only hint he got of her was her lingering scent on Inuyasha when he returned from where ever they'd been together. The hanyou was always happy, always smiling, and always well rested while he barely survived the minutes, hours, days, and weeks until he laid eyes on her again, living sniff to sniff of her scent mixed with his half-brother's. It was worse than hell. It was unimaginable how excruciating it was, his only way of keeping connected to her being her Myspace page. He knew it was pathetic, that he was pathetic, but knowing it didn't change a thing.

 

But there were upsides to the summer as well. She and her friends would hang out by the pool every so often and he would get to see her in person wearing just her tiny bikini. Of course that didn't much help the pressure and frustration, but it helped the pain subside for a short while. He was surprised that they didn't question his presence more than they did. He was acting completely out of character, but he couldn't help it. He didn't have the strength to fake it. He needed to be in her presence.

 

He was an addict and she was his drug of choice, his only drug. He lived like an addict, fix to fix, always thinking of the next time, always scheming, trying to think of something to get her closer. He needed her scent, needed to get close to her. He needed to feel her aura and hear her laughter. He needed to listen as she sang and watch as she danced. He needed to touch her, but that was impossible. He needed her and she was always just out of his reach.

 

 

 

@@ 2 Years Ago @@

 

 

 

 

He dreaded the start of the new school year just as much as he waited impatiently for it to arrive. At least then he would have more of a chance of seeing her on a regular basis. Not knowing when he would lay eyes on her again was torture. He once again built his schedule around hers, this time being lucky enough to score the class after hers three times. He got to spend almost half the day surrounded by her scent. That was by far the best semester of his high school years, and not just because of the scent thing. No, he got really lucky that year.

 

The school was holding a Halloween dance, something he would have ignored under regular circumstances. His life however was no longer regular in any way. He knew she was going with her band of merry followers, so of course he had to go too, just so he could try and get close to her. He was struck by a moment of genius that panned out perfectly. He would wear a costume as was required, but he would choose one that would mask his identity as well as take advantage of one of the things he'd learned about her while memorizing her blog.

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

Kagome was grinning like a fool. The guys had all picked their own costumes for the Halloween dance and refused to show her until that night, even going so far as to pick hers too. It was great, really. She'd been given her costume first and once she was in it and had modeled it for them to their satisfaction, she was sent downstairs to wait.

 

Miroku came down first, wearing a long white robe trimmed in gold with a wide purple sash draped across one shoulder and secured with a golden leaf. He had sandals on his feet, metal arm bands on his wrists, and a circlet of golden leaves that started over one ear, went around the back of his head, and then ended over the other. He smirked at her and held one arm up, posing. “Shall I tell you my lady, or do you wish to guess?” he asked.

 

“Ummm, lemme think… you look like an ancient Roman, and an important one. Julius Caesar?” She laughed when his face fell. “What? You thought I wouldn't get it?”

 

Bankotsu was next. He was wearing a red tunic covered by a brass looking breastplate. He had matching leg and arm guards and a Spartan style helmet with a large red brush on the top. He was wearing complicated looking leather sandals and held a sword. He stood at attention and puffed out his chest at her and she giggled. “Spartan soldier?”

 

He frowned and looked at Miroku. “I told you she'd get it!”

 

“Where's Inuyasha?” she asked.

 

“I'm comin' wench, hold your horses!” he yelled down the stairs. A moment later he appeared in a knee length white tunic covered by long leather straps and a wide band of leather around his waist as well. He had leather arm and shin guards, was barefoot, and was holding a spear. His silvery white ears twitched on his head as he heard her laughing softly. “What? Don't ya like it?”

 

“Of course I do my big strong gladiator. Went with a theme then, did we?”

 

“It was the monk's idea,” Inuyasha grumbled.

 

“What? I think it's cute! No pouting, my gladiator. Gladiators don't pout. They kill lions.”

 

“Looks like we forgot to get a lion,” Bank said with a laugh. “We better go. Don't wanna be late, do we my goddess?” Kagome laughed and took the Spartan soldier's offered hand, allowing him to lead her to his chariot… er… car.

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

Sesshoumaru swept into the already full room, gasps and murmurs inquiring who the sexy vampire was spreading through the crowd. He smirked and adjusted his sunglasses, hiding his golden eyes. He scanned the crowd until he spotted them standing off to the right side of the decorated gym. His breath caught in his throat. She was a goddess… literally and figuratively. She was wearing the most beautiful cream colored dress that faded into a blue that rivaled the sky on a cloudless summer day. The top accentuated her breasts, golden trim lining the edges and the thin shoulder straps. Shoulder drapes hung over her arms and she had a golden wreath in her hair that was half piled on her head and half hanging in waves down her back.

 

She most definitely looked like a goddess, a Roman one judging by the costumes of her friends. She looked absolutely amazing and he had to keep from licking his lips as he took in the curve of her long bared throat. Oh yes, he would love to sink his fangs into her. He watched from the distance for a while, listening to them talk about inane things until a girl dressed as a medieval princess strode up and walked away with Bankotsu in tow. Kagome smiled as she watched them begin to dance. Miroku was claimed next, by an autumn fairy, leaving just Kagome and Inuyasha.

 

Sesshoumaru leaned down and whispered something into a gothic witch's ear and watched as she walked towards the hanyou. He moved closer, listening as Inuyasha tried to decline, saying that he didn't want to leave Kagome alone. That was his cue and he popped up beside her. “I would be more than happy to keep this fine maiden entertained.” He saw Inuyasha frown but Kagome eventually convinced him to go. He left reluctantly, leaving the goddess alone with most beautiful vampire she'd ever seen. He smirked at her, making sure to bare his fangs and he could have died right then a happy demon as the scent of her arousal reached his nose. It was a scent he would never forget.

 

It had been almost a month ago that she'd written it, but he remembered. He remembered everything she wrote. She'd been having dreams about a vampire coming to her while she walked the shrine grounds at night. He'd been delighted to find out that she liked fangs, really liked fangs. She admitted to fantasizing about the feeling of fangs being dragged across her throat, and that she had a thing for demons primarily for the fangs and claws. Apparently she had a thing for the dangerous, darker side of life, definitely an oddity for a miko, but one he was more than grateful for.

 

Kagome looked the god of a vampire in front of her up and down appraisingly. He had very long and very straight brown hair and was wearing black slacks and a red velvet shirt with billowy black sleeves and chain trim. Draped over his shoulders was a velvet cape, red on the inside and black on the outside. His hands and face appeared to have been painted with white makeup, making him deliciously pale, and he wore sunglasses that hid his eyes from her. He looked familiar, felt familiar, but she couldn't place him.

 

“Do I know you?” she asked in a breathy voice, unaware that she'd begun to pant slightly while she studied him.

 

“That, my goddess, is a secret.” He kept his voice a notch or two lower than usual and allowed actual feeling into it, ensuring she wouldn't recognize him by his usual cold monotone way of speaking. “Would you honor me with a dance?” She simply nodded and he took her hand, freezing for a moment at the bolt of lightning that shot through him when they touched. He led her towards the area filled with dancing zombies, vampires, witches, fairies, and movie mass murderers. When he stopped he nearly forgot how to breathe when her hands moved to his shoulders, gliding over his arms along the way.

 

 

In the brightest hour
Of my darkest day
I realized
What is wrong with me

 

Kagome looked up at the sexiest semi-stranger she'd ever laid eyes on, wondering why he hadn't moved. “Are you alright?” she asked softly.

 

Can't get over you
Can't get through to you
It's been a helter-skelter, romance from the start

 

Sesshoumaru was jolted out of his daze by her voice and smirked again before moving his clawed hands to the curve of her waist. “Never been better.”

 

Take these memories
That are haunting me
Of a paper man cut into shreds
By his own pair of scissors
He'll never forgive her...
He'll never forgive her...

 

If he wasn't the serious type he would have been doing a happy dance. He was holding her, touching her, and the best part, turning her on. Inside his beast was celebrating for him, purring in pleasure as she shifted closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. He allowed his hands to wrap around her, pulling her even closer. They danced slowly, each just soaking in the other's presence.

 

Because days! Come and go!
But my feelings for you are forever
Because days come and go
But my feelings for you are forever

 

Kagome didn't know why, but she was more comfortable and content than she'd ever been in her life. This guy, whoever he was… he was perfect. She could tell the fangs and claws were real, knew he was a demon, but for some reason her miko senses would tell her no more. She couldn't figure out what kind of demon he was and it was driving her nuts. She needed to know who this guy was!

 

Sitting by a fire
On a lonely night
Hanging over from another good time
With another girl...
Little dirty girl
You should listen to this story of her life

 

She sighed and her head tilted to one side. Moments later she found herself in heaven as he leaned down and trailed his tongue across the rapidly pumping pulse point in her throat. She tilted further, silently begging him to do it and when he did she damn near came in her panties right there on the dance floor.

 

You're my heroine-
In this moment I'm lonely
fulfilling my darkest dreams
All these drugs, all these women
I'm never forgiving...
this broken heart of mine

 

Her skin tasted amazing and he had to fight to keep from pressing his very present arousal against her. He leaned down once more and did what he knew she was waiting for, dragging his fangs the length of her throat. The way her scent spiked made his eyes roll back in his head. The little moan that escaped her was a sound he would cherish forever. She was aroused for him, moaning for him, and he just wished she would do the same if she knew who he was.

 

Because days! Come and go!
But my feelings for you are forever
Because days come and go
But my feelings for you are forever

 

His perfect moment was ruined by the return of her friends, none of which could stay away long. He silently cursed them as the song ended and she turned towards them. He would have disappeared into the crowd once more if she hadn't had a tight hold on his hand.

 

One last kiss...
Before I go...
Dry your tears...
It is time to let you go...

 

He wasn't sure how long he would be able to keep his identity a secret, especially from Inuyasha. He didn't care anymore the moment she shifted and leaned her back against his chest, pulling his right arm around her waist. He splayed his fingers across her stomach and she sighed in pleasure.

 

One last kiss...
Before I go...
Dry your tears...
It is time to let you go...

 

It was then he noticed the three pairs of eyes burning into him. Apparently they didn't approve of his touching her, but hey, she did it, not him. Doing his best to ignore them, Sesshoumaru dropped his head to burrow his nose into her hair and breathe her in deeply. She giggled as his breath tickled her skin and he purred against her throat. Sadly, her attention was drawn away from him by Inuyasha's threatening growl, Miroku clearing his throat, and Bankotsu calling her name all at the same time. She sighed and he smirked, still hidden in her hair. She didn't want them to interrupt. She wanted to stay with him.

 

“Yeah?” she asked in a distracted tone.

 

“Umm, could we talk to you, Kagome?” Bank asked softly.

 

“Sure.”

 

“No, I think he meant without your… new… friend,” Miroku said, not sure quite how to phrase it.

 

“Fine,” she said, annoyed, before she turned in his hold and looked up at him. “No disappearing… at least not until you tell me who you are.” He nodded at her and reluctantly released her waist, watching as she walked away with Bankotsu and Miroku. Noticing that Inuyasha wasn't following, he looked at the hanyou.

 

“I don't know who you are, but you'd better beat it,” he snarled.

 

“I don't believe she would like that,” he said arrogantly. “The beautiful goddess requested that I stay.”

 

“Yeah, well she ain't gonna feel the same by the time she gets back so fuck off, buddy.”

 

Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses. “You have no idea who you're dealing with, half-breed,” he growled back before disappearing. He couldn't risk getting angry in front of Inuyasha. He was having a hard enough time keeping his scent and aura hidden while distracted so pleasantly by Kagome. He stopped a few feet away from where Kagome, Bankotsu, and Miroku were talking.

 

“But Kag, you don't even know who he is.”

 

“It doesn't matter who he is. I was having a good time. You guys gotta stop trying to protect me from everything. It would be nice to have a boyfriend at some point before we graduate.”

 

`This Sesshoumaru would be more than willing to volunteer for that position,' he thought to himself, frowning at the fact that they were trying to turn her against him already.

 

“He's hiding his aura and his scent. Why would he do that? What is he trying to keep us from figuring out?”

 

“You guys need to chill. He's being mysterious.” Her eyes glazed over as her mind wandered away. “Mysterious and sexy…” she mumbled, causing a taiyoukai/vampire to smirk smugly where he stood. She was sticking up for him. She liked him enough to fight her friends about it. Too bad he knew she would sing a whole different tune if she knew his true identity.

 

Because days! Come and go!
But my feelings for you are forever
Because days come and go
But my feelings for you are forever

 

She'd pissed the guys off royally by dancing with her mysterious stranger several more times that night, and when the dance ended and he had to leave her he kissed her softly.

 

One last kiss...
Before I go...
Dry your tears...
It is time to let you go...

 

 

“You haven't told me who you are!”

 

“And I cannot. Just know that I will never forget this night.” His lips brushed hers one last time and he disappeared, using his demon speed to escape before he changed his mind and ruined it all by telling her the truth.

 

That night and every night for months Sesshoumaru replayed that night in his mind before he went to sleep. He could still remember how she tasted, how she smelled, how soft her skin was, how her dainty waist felt in his hands, how she shuddered and moaned every time he dragged his fangs along her throat. He wished he could trace more of her curves with his tongue and teeth. The way she'd looked at him… he knew it would never happen again, but he would cherish it forever. If only he could be someone else forever so she would see him like she did that night every night.

 

 

One last kiss...
Before I go...
Dry your tears...
It is time to let you go...

 

 

Sesshoumaru never knew, but that night Kagome went home and cried. She'd felt an amazing connection with her sexy vampire, something she'd only felt with one other person, one she could never have. Why? Why did he draw her in, make her feel things, and then disappear? Why couldn't he tell her who he was? Why was she still alone? She would have happily declared the mystery male her boyfriend in an instant. What was wrong with him that he couldn't tell her his identity? Or was it that something was wrong with her?

 

She'd hidden her sadness from her friends. Her blog post about the dance was simple and short. She mentioned her mystery man, but made no mention of how she dreamed about him that night and every night for weeks. She never said a word about how she ached to feel his hands, his lips, his tongue, and his delicious fangs on her skin again. She never let on how much she thought about him, how often she found herself longing for the familiar stranger.

 

Maybe if she had… but no, he could never have told her the truth. She would have turned her back on him, sent him away. It was better to have that one magical night to remember forever than to have his fears proven right when she looked at him in disgust.

 

 

One last kiss...
Before I go...
Dry your tears...
It is time to let you go...

 

 

And so every night for weeks Sesshoumaru dreamt of Kagome, never knowing that she dreamt of him as well.

 

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

Author's Notes:

 

Several things this time.

 

First, voting ended at the Feudal Association and The Syndrome tied for second place for Best Romance Alt Pair and won first for Best Angst! Thanks so much to the people who nominated and the people who voted!

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

Second, I have a lot of people to thank I think when it comes to the A Single Spark Awards nominations. Between SWtPF, The Syndrome, and What Your Eyes Can Do, I've been nominated 16 times!

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

Third, nominations have opened for the next quarter in both Dokuga and IYFG. I'm working on my nominations list! Membership in Dokuga is closed, but you can join the IYFG until April 23 (if my memory is correct).

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

It seems my dear friend Jenna is a favorite already, with three nominations in Dokuga! Oh, and congratulations go out to her for Future Perfect Continuous which won second place Best Oneshot at the Feudal Association!

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

And one last thing. I don't want to say it, but I am getting rather annoyed by the rude reviews complaining that I'm not updating often enough or my chapters are too short. And I'm really tired of hearing how you don't like the past chapters because you want me to get on with it.

 

First, I have a life, a very busy life. I can only update when I can. I know I've said this before but apparently not enough. I don't get paid for this. I get nothing out of it (besides pretty banners from time to time), so it can't be my top priority. I have to put my family and my daughter's education first. Most of the time I spend writing is time I should be sleeping, and the complaints, they make me think that maybe I should just sleep and forget about the whole writing thing.

 

Second, the chapters of Syndrome are not going to get any longer. They are going to stay at the 10 to 11 pages they're at now so stop badgering me about it.

 

And finally, I really don't care if some of you don't like the past chapters. Personally, I love them. They're fun to write and I like the background and depth they add to the story. And being that I'm the author, I'm going to keep them. Like I've said before, I don't rush. If you just want Kagome and Sesshoumaru to be thrown into bed together then this isn't the story for you. I refuse to do it. I know that just as many people love the past chapters as those who hate them, and I just don't understand why anyone finds it necessary to say “Oh, I love your story so much! It's awesome! But the one thing I don't like… the past chapters.” That's a paraphrase of quite a few reviews, and it's just not necessary. That's not constructive criticism and it's definitely not encouraging.

 

Yeah, I don't like having to say these things, but it's either this or let the frustration build up until I just pull my stories to put an end to it. To everyone that this doesn't apply to, just ignore it. I appreciate your support and I am always glad to hear that you're enjoying the story. It makes my day.