InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Twisted Hearts ❯ Cold and Warm ( Chapter 12 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Twisted Hearts

Cold and Warm

He takes her hand, knowing it is a mistake, never wanting to let go, and he knows he is lost, and he doesn't care that much…

Sango snapped her cell phone shut and turned to the restless woman who sat slumped on the couch.

“Tea?” The fragile woman asked.

Sango nodded and watched as she walked to the kitchen. She had never seen Kagome's mother look so old and tired.

“My mother used to say tea could always cure anything,” She said from the kitchen.

“My father always told her that praying was the best solution.” Sango only nodded her head, aware that she could not see her.

Mrs. Higurashi had been strong when her husband had died. She hadn't broken down when her father passed away. She'd kept a firm face and a heart full of determination the first time Souta had been sick. This time, Sango finally saw the woman was close to defeated.

It made Sango feel small.

“Kagome is taking a plane to London.” her voice sounded small too.

“What?”

“She said Sesshoumaru-sama is taking her there to look for the best doctors. He has also contacted some already. They're coming to look at Souta.

Sango caught the look in Mrs. Higurashi's eyes.

“He'll take charge of all the expenses, so Kagome asks you to worry about nothing.” She added.

Mrs. Higurashi came back with the tea and delicately served Sango.

“I don't know if what my daughter did was the right thing, or if there was another way out.”

There was a pause.

“..Kagome did what she thought was best.”

Mrs. Higurashi shook her head.

“Kagome has always been a strong person. She helped me take care of Souta when he was little and her father was gone. She picked up the pieces her grandfather left when he died. She's always been there for us, sacrificing many things for our benefit.”

“Kagome is…She's trying her best to be happy with him.”

“It shouldn't be that way.” Mr. Higurashi said firmly. “Kagome shouldn't try to be happy. She should just be happy. Marrying that man…I don't think she'll ever be able to find what she is looking for. I don't think Sesshoumaru Taisho has what it takes to make my daughter happy. He is too…emotionless, so dull, and Kagome is so full of life. I just don't see how they could even get along, least of all complement each other.”

Sango knew that lying wasn't a good thing, but in this case she thought a little lie wouldn't hurt anyone.

“They're both putting their best efforts into their relationship. They really are trying to get along.”

She didn't have to say that `getting along' consisted of trying not see each other at all.

She could `forget' to say that Kagome thought her new husband was a complete idiot, and she couldn't stand him. She also could do without saying that Kagome was stuck with Sesshoumaru until the end of her life.

Seeing as how things were, it was more that unlikely that those two would ever unite and mate.

Sesshoumaru would probably let her grow old and die, and then he would be able to continue his existence without her hindering presence.

It sounded too cold and cruel a fate for Kagome, but that was how things were, and there was nothing she could do.

Miroku would have a very slow and painful death. Sango would make sure of it.

“My Kagome will only know suffering as long as she stays with that youkai. Inuyasha was so good for her. I wish things hadn't gone so terribly bad.”

A string of anger strung through the young woman of a line of youkai slayer's emotions.

Sango spoke violently. “Inuyasha cheated on her. He left her.”

Kagome's mother looked at her with surprised eyes.

“I'm sorry.” Sango said apologetically.

“It's just... I don't think Inuyasha deserves to even be mentioned. He hurt Kagome a lot. He is still hurting her, and talking about him is just wasting time.”

Kagome's mother nodded and smiled softly.

“You are right, of course, Sango dear. He did damage Kagome, but he was better than Sesshoumaru. You are a good friend to my daughter. I can see that, and I appreciate it. She needs people that love her at her side.”

Sango took a sip of her tea and nodded.

“I will always look after Kagome. I think of her as my sister,”

“And don't worry about Kagome.” She added.

Kagome's mother nodded. “It just seems strange, the way things were done. I mean, Kagome never really met Sesshoumaru, and now she is married to him. I just don't see why he would want to marry her. It's all so bizarre.”

Sangos tea went down an off way, almost choking on the sweet, warm liquid.

“Are you alright?” Mrs. Higurashi asked warily, getting on her feet.

Sango's smiled embarrassedly to her lap, lifting her head with a straight face.

“Yes, yes, my tea... just went the wrong way.”

If only her mother knew…

“Stupid Miroku.” She murmured under her breath. Mrs. Higurashi looked at her with interest.

“Did you say Miroku?”

Sango blushed. “No, I…”

Mrs. Higurashi smiled genuinely.

“You like that gentleman, don't you? I'm very good at these things, and I can see it.”

Sango blushed harder. She also thought that Miroku could not be considered a gentleman.

“He is a good friend.” She replied.

The older woman smiled brighter.

“That is exactly what I used to say about my husband, but things grow inside a person, and sometimes these things are meant to be. You and that man would make a wonderful couple.”

“You are too kind, but I don't have time for a relationship, and I only see Miroku as a friend.”

Sango was positive tomatoes were less red than her face.

“You'll see, Sango dear, you can't fight what is in your heart. No one can. You can pretend you don't know what you feel. You can ignore it. You can even run from it, but in the end, it will catch you. It catches all of us, no matter whom or what we are.”

Had Sango thought this woman looked weak? To Sango, she seemed built on strength. She smiled at her.

“I still don't think Miroku and I would be good together.”

He was annoying, and went out with a different woman every week. He had no idea of what a serious relationship meant, and the guy usually came up with very bad ideas. Telling Sesshoumaru to marry Kagome had to be proof enough of that. And besides, Sango didn't want to go out with Miroku.

He wasn't sexy or too handsome or charming. It was just luck that got him all dates with all those women. And she didn't want to be part of that seriously extended group.

Just another name in his little black book…

“I think you could be good for each other. Someone has to be happy.”

Sango poured more tea to Mrs. Higurashi.

“Sesshoumaru will take care of Kagome.” At least, she hoped he would do it to keep appearance.

“Oh my!”

“What is wrong?” Sango was alarmed by the tone of voice of Mrs. Higurashi.

“I just remembered. Kagome has never been on a plane before.”

”Really? Not once?”

Mrs. Higurashi shook her head. “We never had the time or the money. I've never been able to take them anywhere that was as far away as another country.”

“Oh, well. I'm sure she won't be too afraid. It's nothing special.”

“Did you think that the first time you were on a plane?”

The first time Sango had been on a plane, she had been five. She had been extremely frightened that the plane would fall and crash. She had squeezed her father's hand all through their trip, and she hadn't opened her eyes.

“Oh my, poor Kagome.”

She wouldn't have the luxury of having someone that would hold her hand. She wouldn't have someone to comfort her and tell her that the plane was more than unlikely to crash.

It would be one long, hard trip for Kagome.

And Miroku would pay for all of it. Sango smiled darkly. She would enjoy making Miroku pay for his mistakes.

---

-----

“What is it?”

She, Sesshoumaru decided, had an awfully good power to get on his nerves.

“I haven't even spoken to you.” She answered.

Definitely some nerve-racking powers going on. Perhaps it was just a sixth sense of hers or something. Maybe it had something to do with being a miko…?

“You keep looking out the window, and there is nothing to watch. The plane isn't moving yet, and it is not interesting at all. You are biting your nails down to the numb. Your breathing is annoyingly faster…”

“My breathing is not faster.”

"It is, and stop interrupting me. You smell anxious overall, and you haven't talked in the last ten minutes.”

“I thought you didn't like it when I talked.”

“I don't.”

Kagome blinked.

“Oh.”

“..Hey, then what is the problem?”

He almost rolled his eyes.

“You are anxious, and that annoys me.”

Kagome stuck her tongue at him.

“Is there something that doesn't?”

“A lot of things don't annoy me.”

“Name one.”

“…”

“Knew it.” Kagome smiled triumphantly.

“You haven't answered my question.”

“…What question?”

Sesshoumaru, again, felt like rolling his eyes. He would have done it, but it was undignified.

“Don't you ever listen to anything other than your own ramblings?”

“That was rude! I do listen to you.”

“Then what did I ask you?”

“…”

Sesshoumaru felt smug. Now it was his turn to leave her without an answer.

“Fine, I wasn't listening this time, but I usually do listen to you.”

“That is because what I say is important.”

“You know, you got me thinking, do you ever listen to me?”

“Unfortunately, I'm too polite to tune you out.”

“Really?”

Sesshoumaru almost smirked. “No.”

“What? You mean you do tune me out?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“When you are being annoying.”

“And when is that?”

“Most of the time.”

“Hey, you jerk!”

Some of the passengers turned to look at them, and Kagome got a disapproving look from a formally-dressed woman standing a couple of seats from where they were.

“Ma'am, please don't shout. We will be departing soon.”

Kagome visibly paled at the flight attendant's words. Sesshoumaru didn't miss that.

“What is it?”

Kagome played with the sleeve of her sweater.

“I…I've never been on a plane.”

Sesshoumaru kept looking at her, as if expecting something else.

“What?” Kagome finally snapped.

“That's it?” He looked the tiniest bit surprised.

Kagome blushed lightly.

“Yes, you dumby.” She said defensively. “Unlike you, not all of us have the money to travel.”

“You do now.”

“It's your money we are traveling with, not mine, and that doesn't change the fact that I've never flown.”

“We are married. My money is your money.”

“It's not really a marriage. It's more like a business, and I still owe you money for that car I did not want that you still went on and bought.”

“You could have said you didn't like the car.”

“I had no choice but to take it. You made mine disappear.”

“It was necessary. The new car is better.”

“It is way too expensive. It'll take me years to pay it back.”

Sesshoumaru only looked at her in a way that made Kagome uncomfortable. It made her feel exposed, as if he could see everything that made her who she was. Kagome shook her head to clear it.

“You don't need to pay me back.”

“But…”

“Are you also planning on paying me back for this trip to London?”

“Haha, you wish. Part of the deal was that you took care of my brother. I'm counting this as taking care of him.”

“How convenient.”

“Hey!”

“Ladies and gentleman, we will be leaving Tokyo's Airport in a few minutes. Please take your seats and buckle your seatbelt.”

Kagome took a long deep breath and tried to buckle her seatbelt. Her hands were trembling, and she just couldn't do it.

Sesshoumaru watched her fidget with her seatbelt.

Her anxiousness was just making him uneasy. He reached towards her, putting his hands on hers. Kagome stopped trembling and looked over at him.

Sesshoumaru felt her gaze on his face. He could always tell when the miko was watching him. Without giving her one glance, he buckled her seatbelt for her and took one of her hands. Now she was staring at him. He turned to meet her eyes as she quickly looked away and blushed.

“Flying is nothing special. The only difference from traveling on car or a boat is that you are in the air.”

“It is that part that worries me.”

“The worst that could happen is that the plane will fall, and we will all die. It's no difference from other transports. A car could go over a cliff. A train could blow up. A bus could crash. A boat could sink. You can die every time you are traveling.”

Kagome looked at him with incredulous eyes.

“Now I never want to travel in anything, and if you wanted to make me feel safer, you failed miserably.”

“It is unlikely that the plane will fall.”

“It still could.”

“Don't think about that.”

“What should I think about?”

“About your brother?”

“That depresses me.”

“About your work?”

“I'm on vacation, sorta. I don't want to think about school or work.”

The Great Sesshoumaru was running out of ideas.

“..About the weather?”

“Sesshoumaru!”

He looked at her with exasperation written all over his face. “If you don't like my topics, then choose your own.”

She frantically searched her thoughts.

“Why don't you talk to me about you?”

She looked on the brink of tears, but Sesshoumaru would not give in. “I do not wish to discuss myself with you.”

“But I know nothing about you!”

“Good.”

There hands were still touching.

Kagome stayed quiet for a minute, and Sesshoumaru thought she would at last settle down, but he had no such luck.

“Aren't you scared of dying?”

“I've lived too long to be scared of such a thing. When it comes, it will come.”

“Oh…how old are you?”

“Much older than you.”

“…How's London?”

“Cold.”

“You are the worst person to talk to ever.”

The slightest of smiles appeared on his lips. “I'll take that as a compliment.”

“It's not.”

Sesshoumaru shrugged. Kagome rested her head against her seat and closed her eyes.

“Thank you.”

”For what?”

Kagome raised their hands. Sesshoumaru looked at them for a second before turning his eyes to the front of his seat.

“I'm merely doing it because it aggravates me that you are so scared.”

“So you care about what I feel?”

”Don't be a fool.” Sesshoumaru's voice was a little lower, as if daring her to believe such a thing. Kagome felt hurt at his words. She didn't know why.

“It doesn't matter.” She said after a moment, trying to shake off the hurt.

“Thank you for helping me.” And it truly didn't matter why he was doing it.

To Kagome, what mattered was that he was actually doing something, and they did say that actions spoke louder than words.

“As if anything could happen while I'm here.” He said arrogantly.

“I doubt even you are powerful enough to save me from a plane going down, you arrogant git.”

Sesshoumaru decided to make her nervous.

“Let's hope you don't have to find out, then. I've heard that it can be quiet painful to die in a plane.”

Sesshoumaru's plan worked. Kagome was once more frightened. “How painful?”

His face was serious.

“Very painful.”

Kagome's eyes were big and directed on him. “But we won't crash, will we?”

And Sesshoumaru didn't know why, but he suddenly felt like reassuring her. Kind of.

“It is unlikely, but there's always a chance.”

“Sesshoumaru!”

“You asked.”

“I didn't want you to be that honest.”

“Then don't ask. I do not lie.”

“You could have made it lighter.”

“We will now be departing.” A voice said through the interphone. Kagome gulped.

“Nothing will happen.” Sesshoumaru finally said.

Her words trembled. “Do you promise?”

Sesshoumaru looked into her brown eyes. He never thought someone could look that frightened on their first flight. She did. He didn't understand the uneasiness that came from looking into her fearful eyes.

“Nothing will happen.”

He didn't know what motivated him to do it, but he squeezed her hand. Kagome's eyes widened, but then a soft smile appeared. Sesshoumaru turned from her. Kagome relaxed against her seat. She believed him, and oddly enough, having his hand on hers made her feel safer. She looked out the window and wondered how London would be.

“Sesshoumaru, really, how is London?”

“Wait and you will see.”

”But I want you to tell me.”

Sesshoumaru knew this was going to be one long trip. The idea of bringing her with him suddenly didn't seem so bright.

His hand, however, would stay intertwined with hers for the rest of the trip.

---

“Let Sesshoumaru save the boy.” Naraku directed.

Kagura looked surprised.

“I thought you wanted to diminish any chance he had at happiness.”

“I do.”

“But his wife will only like him more if he saves her brother.”

“And I'm betting on it.”

Kagura knew she would never be able to understand what went trough her boss's head.

“Why?”

“If she hated him now, he will not care. He'll go on as always. It'll probably even make him satisfied to have her hate him. If we wait until he becomes attached to her, then it will truly hurt him. He'll feel the pain of having someone he cared about loathe him.”

“It is not certain that he'll become attached to her, and even if he did, how are you going to make her hate him?”

Naraku place a hand on the report sent to him by his spy. A manilla file labeled; `Kagome Higurashi'.

“If what she says is true, then Sesshoumaru will fall for the miko.”

He'd been studying that family for centuries. He knew their weak and strong points. He knew their flaws.

If there was one mistake the family kept having, it was falling in love with humans. The stronger willed the better.

Kagome Higurashi was as string willed as they came.

“How will you make her hate him?”

Naraku smiled. Kagura hated his smile.

“What did the younger Taisho do to her?”

“He cheated on her.”

“We'll make Sesshoumaru cheat on her too.”

“He will not do so.”

“He doesn't have to. We only have to make it look like he cheated on her. Then, we'll be able to start the other part of my plan.”

“What exactly are you planning?”

“I will not only make those they love hate them. I will take them away from them. I will drive them to despair, and then I'll take all they owe and make it mine. Their company, their friends, their money, their power, it will all be mine.”

Kagura's eyes narrowed. “I suppose all your plans revolve around her?”

“She is the key to open the doors to the Taisho family.”

“You are putting to much hope in the girl.”

“She will not fail me. She knows she can't.”

“You should keep a better eye on her. Humans can be treacherous.”

Naraku fixed his eyes on her. “So can demons.”

Kagura bowed her head. “I've never failed you.”

“For your own good, you better not. Send a reminder to the woman. Make her remember exactly who she works for.”
---

“Are you sure this is our room?”

Kagome looked into the space before them. She had heard about luxurious hotels, but this was too much. She saw stairs. The room had two floors. It was more like a very expensive apartment in a very exclusive zone.

Kagome didn't know if she should scream with joy or get out fast. Not only was she afraid to break something, she was actually afraid of walking into the room. She might dirty the rug with her muggy shoes.

“Close your mouth and walk in.” Sesshoumaru told her roughly while paying the bell boy.

“I do not wish to stay outside all night, and I want a hot bath.” The bell boy smiled at that comment.

Kagome felt like slapping him. As if he knew.

“Have a pleasant stay, madam, sir.”

“Wait!”

Kagome stopped him.

“Could you tell someone to bring two cups of hot chocolate?”

The bell boy turned.

“With pleasure, madam. Would you like marshmallows on them?”

Kagome practically beamed. Sesshoumaru cleared his throat.

“Only one cup.”

“Of course.”

Sesshoumaru closed the door after the bell boy.

“I didn't know you spoke English.”

Kagome waved her hand as she took off her shoes.

“I had to take one language at high school. I liked it and continued to study it while I was at the University.”

“I don't want chocolate.”

“Don't be an ass. Chocolate is the best medicine against the cold. Besides,” she looked at him. “I thought you would like the cold.”

“I do like it. I just don't like to be so cold that my bones are freezing.”

“Well, we wouldn't be freezing if we weren't wet.”

“It's your fault we are wet.” Sesshoumaru commented.

Kagome let out a nervous laugh.

After getting of the plane and finally letting go of Sesshoumaru's hand, Kagome had made one very stupid mistake.

First of all, she had wanted to go find her luggage. Sesshoumaru had informed her that someone was already taking care of it. Then, outside the airport, she had tried to stop a car. She was determined to not be intimidated by such a different city and country. Unfortunately, it had been raining. More a storm than normal rain, really.

She had gotten soaked, and Sesshoumaru had gone after her and not so dedicatedly pulled her to some shelter. He too had gotten soaked. After a discussion of why he had pulled her so roughly, Sesshoumaru had simply pointed towards a limousine. It was waiting for them She had felt stupid, but really, how was she supposed to know that they already had a carriage?

It had left her on the middle of a very cold, snowy London, completely wet, and with a very irritated Sesshoumaru.

The combination was not one of Kagome's favorites.

Now, she was standing at the entrance of their room, still perplexed by it, still cold, still with a very irritated Sesshoumaru, and still very wet.

“Are you just going to stand there?”

“If I go in, everything will get dirty.”

Sesshoumaru let out an irritated noise, grabbed her arm, and pulled her in. Kagome lost her balance and stumbled, but Sesshoumaru caught her before she could fall.

“Now everything is dirty.” She said in a low voice.

She was against Sesshoumaru's chest, and she could feel how his chest rose and fell. He was all muscle. Kagome blushed.

“It doesn't matter.” He said, his voice low too. “We pay so that they clean our mess.”

Kagome blushed harder.

“Don't say things like that.” He still had his hand on her arm. One of her hands was resting on his chest.

“They're only doing their job.”

“They better do it fast and well.”

His face was close to hers, and she was staring straight into his eyes. It could be the light, but Kagome thought they didn't look so cold. In fact, they looked warmer then how she felt. There was something in them that hadn't been there before. There was more than the annoyance that was always there when he looked at her, and he was so close, and his eyes were so intense, and she…

“I'll go take my hot bath now.”

Sesshoumaru removed himself from her and left her there, standing alone, suddenly feeling very cold.

“Jerk.”
---

“You have to be kidding me!”

Sesshoumaru had to repress the urge to grin. The face she had was priceless. She looked tired and furious.

She was holding her cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows, and her hair was wet, though now it was because she had taken a bath and not because she had run out in the rain.

“I do not joke.”

Sesshoumaru also had his cup of chocolate, though his position was far more pleasant. He was in bed, reading a book, and completely warm.

“But…where will I sleep?”

There was, obviously, only one bed. He couldn't ask for two beds. They were married, after all. Two beds was just ridiculous.

“You can sleep on the couch if you want.”

She made a face. Sesshoumaru knew that face. She would start yelling now.

“You are supposed to be courteous. How can you tell me to sleep on the couch? It is not as comfortable as the bed. Where are your manners? Aren't you a gentleman? I demand respect.”

Sesshoumaru went back to his book. “I am too important to sleep on the couch.”

“You…you arrogant bastard! I will not sleep on the couch.”

Sesshoumaru put the book down.

“Then where will you sleep?”

The bed had plenty of space for both of them, but he wouldn't say that. He wanted to see if she was mad enough to say it.

“I will sleep in the bed because it is big enough for both of us.”

She had actually said it.

Sesshoumaru didn't know what to think of the new decision. He didn't want to share his bed with a human, but she was his wife, and he supposed she wouldn't bother him much. She couldn't be more annoying asleep than when she was awake. He turned to look at her. It seemed she had finally realized what she had said, and she was now blushing.

About an hour ago, she had been blushing and pressed against his chest. He had felt her, close to him, and it hadn't bothered him that she was invading his personal space. He had looked into her bright, brown eyes, and he had found them filled with something more than anger or dislike.

She had looked…vulnerable. Sesshoumaru had wanted to protect her. It disturbed him, that she put such emotions in him. It had happened just once before this, and that time had been in other circumstances and with other motives.

“Move over, Sesshoumaru, you are occupying my space.”

Kagome climbed into the bed, still blushing but determined to get in. Sesshoumaru knew she would do it.

She never backed down. She hadn't done it when they were minutes from marriage, and she wouldn't do it now.

`I want to protect her'. He thought,

`Because at the least she has the guts to stand up to me… and because she is my property. Nothing more. I just like to keep what is mine…safe.'

He did not care about her. Not at all. She was just an annoying human. She was just a miko.

“So, what are we going to talk about?”

Sesshoumaru turned to glare at her. “I'm reading a book.”

“But I'm bored.”

”That is not my problem.”

”Come on, just one short conversation.”

“One short conversation for you is at least an hour. I will not waste my precious time talking to you.”

She pouted. “How about I talk and you listen?”

“No.”

“But…”

Sesshoumaru closed his book and turned off the lights.

“We are going to sleep now, and don't move much. I am moody when my sleep is interrupted.”

“You are always moody, and I'm not tired.”

“Yes, you are. Now sleep.”

Sesshoumaru knew she would have kept going on, but she was in fact very tired. He turned to look at her sleeping face.

If she could always be so quiet and inanimate, he wouldn't have as many headaches. Unfortunately, life wouldn't be half as interesting.