InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Twisted Hearts ❯ Drunks and Traitors ( Chapter 14 )

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

Twisted Hearts

Drunks and Traitors

“You can't keep drinking like that.” Said Sesshoumaru as he watched her guzzle another shot of vodka.

She was already half drunk, and she did not seem to intend to stop any time soon.

“I can…hip…drink…hip…everything…I want, and…hip…if I want to…hip…drink all the whole…hip…vodka of the world…hip…I will do so.”

Kagome was not looking at him. In fact, her attention had been only on her shot glass and the bartender who was now looking at her in a very odd way.

“Drinking will not solve your problems.”

“Me drinking... hip... will not hurt…hip…anyone.”

At least she could still talk coherently. Sesshoumaru thought that was a good sign. He grabbed her and steadied her when she slipped off her sit, only barely managing not to roll his eyes. It was just his luck that talking was the only thing left that she could do.

He couldn't believe that he, Sesshoumaru Taisho, great business and most powerful man in Japan, the extremely powerful youkai had to take care of…He looked over at Kagome who, surprise, surprise, was downing another shot of vodka.

Someone hated him very much.

The first thing they had done when they left Dr. Latham's office had been to walk and walk and walk. Then, to his great misery, Kagome had spotted a pub and had entered it before he could accredit her intentions.

Sesshoumaru had thought that she would drink a beer or two. Maybe some vodka, but nothing serious. However, she seemed to have other things in mind. Kagome hadn't stopped drinking since they got there.

Surely Sesshoumaru had better things to do than look after a drunken Miko. Yet he had not left her side since they had left from of the hospital.

He didn't know why.

Sesshoumaru counted how many glasses surrounded her. He almost winced.

Ten glasses of alcohol could not be good at all. He turned at her again. Where did she put all that alcohol?

“I…hip…want…hip...another…hip&# 8230;of thissss.” Her eyes looked glassed over.

The bartender looked to Sesshoumaru.

“Hey...” She said, getting angry.

“I…hip…asked you to…hip…get me another…hip…one, not…hip…him. He is not…hip…my…master…”

She stopped for a second and furrowed her brows. She seemed to have gone into deep thinking.

“We are…hip…married…what…hip…does that makes him?”

Sesshoumaru gave her a bothered look. “That makes me your husband, and as such I demand that you stop drinking.”

“But I…hip…want another…hip…one.”

“I think you've had enough, Miss.” said the bartender.

Sesshoumaru saw the mistake the bartender had made.

Kagome tried to stand up. Her balance was off, and Sesshoumaru had to quickly rise and put his arms around her waist to keep her from declining. Kagome didn't seem to notice or mind.

“I…” She started in a loud voice, “Want another. Get…hip…me…another.”

“You should get her out of here. We don't want any problems.” The bartender told him.

Sesshoumaru fixed his eyes on him.

“But if you want to stay, you can.” The bartender added quickly.

“We will go now.”

He took out his wallet and threw the man some bills.

“That should cover all she had.”

“I don't…hip…want to…hip…go.”

“I don't care.”

“But…”

Sesshoumaru started to pull her towards the entrance, but she couldn't seem to keep up. The fact that she was fighting him every step was not helping.

“Will you stop fidgeting?”

“I…hip…want sum…vodka.”

“No.”

“Vooodka.”

“No.”

“I want…”

Sesshoumaru put a hand over her mouth and pushed her against one of the walls of the pub. The people around them didn't even seem to mind as most of them regularly dealt with drunken cases.

He never imagined himself in this kind of position. Looking after a drunken Miko was way below him. Why did he bother?

“You will come with me, and you will not make a fuss.”

“I…hip…don't…hip…want to go.”

“It is not a question. It is an order.”

“I…hip…like it…here.”

Sesshoumaru looked around the room. It was full of unpleasant humans, a few youkai, and maybe a couple of Hanyou. The place looked like any other pub; it was lousy and it smelled bad. He could not think of one thing that would make it worth staying for even one more second. No one could possibly like this place. Not even a drunken Miko.

“We are leaving now.”

“No.”

He should have expected this. The Miko was difficult when she was in her best mood. It was plainly obvious that she would be most difficult drunk.

Especially as she now had 60% of alcohol in her body, opposed to the 60% water she was supposed to have in her.

“Let's go.”

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the floor. She stumbled and had to put a hand on his shoulder to keep from falling. Sesshoumaru glared at her, annoyed. He considered calling the hotel so they could bring a limousine to pick them up and take care of her but quickly dismissed the idea.

He did not want anyone significant to find out about this. It would be all over the news, and that was the last thing he wanted. Besides, he was the great Sesshoumaru Taisho, perfect at everything he did, never wrong, and always in control of any situation.

He could handle one pathetic, drunken Miko. And after he did, he would yell at Dr. Latham for some time.

It was his fault that she was drinking, and he had to take his anger on someone that might actually care.

The Miko never did.

“I can't…hip…walk…straight.”

“I already noticed that. Really, Miko, you are pathetic.” But he grabbed her and gracefully flung her over his shoulder.

“Hey, this is…hip…uncom…uncom...”

“You'll just have to deal with it.”

Sesshoumaru walked out of the pub and into the cold night. London weather. Well, at least it wasn't raining.

“Where are we…hip…going?”

Sesshoumaru didn't answer.

“I…hip…asked you…hip…a question. I…hip…want an answer.”

Again, Sesshoumaru chose to ignore her. He also chose to ignore the fact that she was very close to him, and her upper leg was brushing against him with every step he took. Her smell surfaced in his senses, sweet and toxic even diluted by all the alcohol in her.

These were not things he needed to notice of all times.

“Mou, Seshou…hip…maru, answer…”

He still choice to ignore as he was searching for a cab. Today was definitely not his day. The streets were always full of cabs. Where were they now when he actually needed one?

“I…hip…cold.”

“I'm glad you can at least feel it. Your talking abilities, though, seem to be getting worse.”

“Prat.”

Sesshoumaru looked at her with an odd expression. “Prat?”

“Shut…hip…up. I can't…hip…think.”

“I was unaware that you could ever think.”

“I can. Just…hip…not…hip…now.”

Sesshoumaru kept searching for a cab. He felt the Miko shift, her body pressing against him even more.

It did not send erotic thoughts into his mind. Besides, she was drunk, and probably wouldn't remember anything by tomorrow.

“I thought we agreed that you would behave?”

“Let…hip…me…down.”

“No.”

“Please?”

There was something in her tone of voice that made him do as she said. He lowered her to the ground, and she quickly turned her back to him and fell to her knees. She put one hand on the filthy ground. Her eyes were closed.

Seeing Kagome like this, looking so pathetically vulnerable, made him want to help her. It disturbed him that he would want to do something like that.

“I …don't feel…good.” She said.

She did not look good, either. Her hair was a mess. She was paler than usual. And she was sweating, but it was too cold to be sweating.

“I…hip…want to…sleep.”

She started to curl on the ground, and Sesshoumaru quickly went to her.

“You are not sleeping until we get back to the hotel.”

“I'm tired.”

“I don't care. You will stay awake.”

“But sleep is…hip…good.”

“No, it is not.”

“Yes, it…hip…is. You…hip…love…your sleep.”

“Sleeping is not good now.”

“I…” However, she did not finish her sentence.

She turned from him and puked.

She threw up in the middle of the street, Sesshoumaru cupping a hand over his nose. The smell was awful.

He looked at her, holding her hair, looking as bad as she probably felt. Then he glared at her, but she didn't see it.

“I'm taking you back to the hotel.” Well, at least she hadn't puked over herself. He carefully lifted her and helped her stand. He saw a cab coming their way.

“You can sleep when we get to the hotel.” He told her.

“Can I take a bath?”

Sesshoumaru nodded, hiding a grin. She must be very drunk if she was asking for his permission. He would point that out in the next fight they had, when she was…in her six senses.

---

“Come on, go out with me.”

Sango glared at Miroku for the hundredth time.

“No.”

“But Sango, my most beautiful lady, the reason why I arise, the…”

“Oh, just shut up.” She said, annoyed.

“Please?” Miroku put on his best puppy eyes that had absolutely little effect on Sango.

“No.”

“Sango,” he whined.

“Hush, you are going to wake up Souta. We are supposed to be looking after him, not looking for a date.”

“But I really want to go out with you.”

“You said that to those other three nurses, who I believe you are going out with.”

“I want to go out with you.”

“And become part of your harem or whatever you have going? No. I will not be part of that. Have fun with your nurses.”

Sango turned her chair from him and looked on Souta's sleeping face.

The boy had finally managed to sleep without need of any medicines. He looked peaceful. Sango glanced at the look on the wall.

They would have to wake him in half an hour. She sighed. She hoped Kagome had found a way to save him.

The boy was becoming paler by time and seemed a lot weaker. Sango gently took his hand in hers. She had to believe that he would be alright.

“He will be.” Miroku said, as if reading her mind. She turned. He looked serious.

“Kagome is a very determined person. She will go to the end of the world if she has to. And Sesshoumaru…well, he is Sesshoumaru. If he doesn't find the answer he is looking for then he'll invent it.”

“He can't invent a remedy for this.”

Miroku shrugged.

“I wouldn't put it past him. Do not worry. With those two searching for a way to save Souta, there is no way for failure.”

Sango nodded, still looking at Souta. In minutes, the mood of the room had changed and become sad.

---

“Oy, it's my time to look after him.”

“Of course it's not, it is mine.”

“No, it isn't.”

“Yes, it is.”

“You have no proof of that.”

“Yes, I do.”

“I can't see it. Invisible prove doesn't count.”

“It's not invisible. Here…” There was noise that sounded like a paper been unfolded.

“It says `Shippo's time to take care of Souta.'”

“That's a piece of paper from your notebook. It doesn't count.”

“Yes, it does.”

“No, it doesn't.”

The door to the room opened, revealing a very irritated Shippo and a calm looking Kohaku. Sango put on her best `Enough' face.

“Boys,” she said in a low tone. “Souta is sleeping. If you wake him up, I'll make you regret it.”

“Sorry sister.”

“Sorry Sango-San.”

“Now, what were you guys discussing?” Miroku asked them with a small smile.

“It's my turn to stay the night with Souta, but Kohaku won't let me.”

Sango looked at her brother. “Kohaku?”

He got in a defensive position.

“He's lying. It's my turn. He stayed two days ago, and Mrs. Higurashi stayed yesterday, so today is my turn.”

Miroku laughed.

“Actually,” he said, lowering his voice at Sango's look, “It's my turn to stay for the night.”

Both boys glared at him.

“No, it's not.”

“It's my turn.”

“No, it's my turn.”

“You're wrong, it's my turn.”

“Look what you've done.” said Sango to Miroku. “You only got them fighting again.”

“I can change that.”

“Really, how? You're going to put tape on their mouths and tie them to a chair?” She said in a very sarcastic tone.

“I have a better plan.”

Sango did not like the mischievous smile he had on his face.

“Boys, I'll give my turn to the two of you.”

“Really?”

“That doesn't work. Only one person can stay overnight.”

“That's true, but since I'm an adult, and you are children, I count for two. So you can have my place if you do me a favor.”

“Really?” Shippo said with an incredulous face. “I don't believe it.”

“It's true.” Miroku said, a grin plastered on his face.

“So you accept?”

“What do we have to do?” Kohaku told him, eyeing him doubtfully.

“Doesn't anyone trust me?”

“No!” Both boys yelled at the same time. Then, they all went quiet and glanced at Souta, eying Sango wearily.

To their dismay, Souta stirred and slowly opened his eyes.

“Look what you've done! You woke the poor boy!” Sango's attention turned to Souta.

“You idiots, I should tell the doctors to not even let you lay a foot in this place tonight.”

“Sorry, sister.”

“Sorry, Sango-san.”

“Sorry, Sango.”

The two boys and Miroku were staring at the ground; clearly hoping that all Sango would do to them was yell a little. Souta chuckled light and weakly.

“You're too hard on them.”

Sango smiled at him.

“They deserve it for interrupting your sleep.”

“And why were they yelling?” Souta asked. Miroku grinned again.

“Well, I have just made a deal with these two young men.”

“We haven't made a deal. You were just telling us about it.” Kohaku said.

“Ah yes, the deal. You already now what it is, Kohaku. Remember that talk we had?”

Kohaku's face lit red.

“Oh, that.”

“What am I missing?” Shippo asked.

Sango wondered the same thing.

“Well, you see, Kohaku agreed to get me one date with his sister for a favor I did to him. If you help him, Shippo, I will let you both stay tonight instead of me.”

“There is no way in hell that I'll agree to go out with you.”

Kohaku thought for a minute.

“But sister, don't you want us to stay instead of Miroku? He isn't responsible. He would keep Souta awake all night with his talking.”

“And he would probably eat all his food.”

“Yeah, and he would go off after the nurses. He wouldn't be taking care of me.” Souta added.

Miroku gave them all incredulous looks.

“I can't believe you all think so low of me.” He said, pretending to look hurt. Sango looked amused.

“I'm still not going out with him.”

“Please?” Three pairs of puppy eyes looked up at her, and Sango brought one of her hands to her forehead.

“That won't work.”

“Please?”

Sango sighed in a defeated way. She could say no to Miroku, but she could not say no to Shippo, Kohaku, and Souta combined.

“Fine, I'll go on one date with him, but it'll have to wait until I get back.”

“Yeah!”

“But where are you going?”

“I have to go to China. The death of the Taisho head seems to have some incongruence, and they've called me to help out.”

“I thought you'd already gone.”

“They need me again.”

Miroku smiled at her.

“Then we'll go on our date as soon as you get back. I promise you, you won't regret going out with me.”

“I already am.” Sango said, going out the door and leaving four very happy people behind.

---

She never intended it to go this far.

She had always known that she would have to trick him. She knew she would have to make him fall in love with her. To forget everything that was important to him and make herself his most precious thing, his whole world.

To make him marry her, mate her, and leave the girl.

All this in a very short period of time. Then again, she was the best.

She had tricked many men over her years. 24yrs old and the best at what she did.

She was a professional. She never had a doubt.

Now, however, she did.

She had not expected him to still have thoughts of the Miko, but how she knew he did!

He would get that faraway look in his eyes, and his grip on her would tighten, and he would kiss her forcefully, willing away the memories.

He would make love to her, but it would be another woman he would be thinking about. It was another woman that he wanted.

Kikyo wasn't stupid. She knew Inuyasha had not forgotten Higurashi.

She had to change that, and she had to change it soon. If not…she didn't want to think about what would happen if she didn't.

Back in Paris, she had just closed a deal with her boss. It was difficult, and it would take a lot of her, but he had promised that it would be the last. He would set her free and give her what she desired. Needed.

She thought it was worthy.

Getting the younger Taisho's attention had been fairly easy. She looked like his girlfriend, which gave her some starting points. She only had to find him. She had caught white hair and gold eyes. She had spotted her objective. The only thing she had to do next was let him see her.

He had fallen shortly after.

She had seen lust in his gaze the minute he laid eyes on her. She had smiled at him, acted mysterious, and let him go out with her. She had bedded him, and then she had started to make him fall in love with her and forget everything about Higurashi.

He was spontaneous and acted on his impulses. He didn't think twice about anything.

It had been too easy.

Then, to make things even easier for her, his father had practically ordered them to marry a human as soon as possible or they would not get anything.

Inuyasha had proposed sooner than she had anticipated. Much sooner. And her plan was working wonderfully. With Inuyasha engaged to her, she was sure he would inherit everything. Sesshoumaru Taisho was known for his hatred towards humans and he would never marry one, not even for a heritage. Kikyo had counted on that.

Sesshoumaru Taisho had proven everyone wrong, even her boss.

His engagement to no other than Kagome Higurashi, ex-girlfriend of his brother had come like a bomb. It had made things much more difficult. The fact that the engagement bothered Inuyasha had made it all the more worse. It was as if a button had been pushed, and Inuyasha had suddenly remembered the existence of Higurashi. He hadn't told her anything, of course. He kept silent, only occasionally mentioning how he was worried about her brother's health.

It had been when he had insisted on returning earlier from their honeymoon that she knew everything was falling.

The bloody hanyou was still interested in the Higurashi girl.

Kikyo would have none of that.

She hadn't married and mated a hanyou for nothing. She hadn't spent all those years of hard work just for them to be erased by a stupid half demon's indecisiveness.

She would have none of that.

She didn't care what she had to do; she would get Inuyasha to look at only her again.

She wanted to be free, she wanted what was taken from her returned, and no one would get in the way.

She opened the door before her and entered a big office. There was a chair facing the window, giving her the back of the one seated in it.

“Master.” She said softly, bowing her head even though he could not see her.

She hated him.

The man chuckled.

“Kikyo, you don't have to pretend. I know very well that you…dislike me.”

“That is not important.”

“I'm glad we have that point cleared out.”

“You called me.”

“I did.”

The man turned in his seat and Kikyo had to maintain a blank expression on her face. If she did not, it would turn to disgust. She truly could not stand the hanyou in front of her.

“Kikyo.”

“Naraku.”

His eyes narrowed. “You haven't done your job properly.”

Kikyo's lips pressed together, forming a line.

“I've been doing my best.”

He stood up and punched a table.

“Your best is not enough.”

“I thought your interest was to take over Taisho Company.”

“That is only part of my plan. I want to hurt the Taisho brothers as well. I want them to be miserable. That's why you are married to Inuyasha, so you can rip his heart apart and take all that is his.”

Kikyo casually walked closer to him.

“I'm already working on Inuyasha, but what about Sesshoumaru?”

“He is a problem I am already solving. Why do you think I ordered you to get close to Kagome Taisho? A thing you are not doing, by the way.”

“She doesn't trust me.”

“Can you wonder why?”

“She won't trust me.”

“Then we'll have to change some things.”

“She won't betray Sesshoumaru just to help you.”

“I know that.”

“Then?”

“You'll know when the time comes. Now, you should focus only on Inuyasha. Unless, of course, you are falling for him?”

Kikyo's face hardened. She was not falling in love with a…a hanyou. And even if she was, that was not vital. She had a goal, and she would put any feelings she had aside to get it.

“I would never fall in love with him. The only thing that matters is my freedom and my sister. I want her back.”

“You'll have little Kaede back when your job is done.”

“I can't trust you.”

“That,” Naraku started. “Is not important. Now go, you are starting to annoy me.”

Kikyo gave another bow and left the room. She did not stop until she was out of the building. She leaned against a wall of the structure. This was her last job. She would be free after this. She would not let anything get in her way.

And she was not falling in love with that filthy hanyou.

---

Kagome walked out of the bathroom with her pajamas on. She was still a little dizzy, and she was starting to get a headache, but other than that, she was perfectly fine.

Expect that she was still a little bit drunk.

But not much.

She stumbled trying to climb into the bed.

Okay, so she was still dreadfully drunk.

“I had started to think you had drowned on the tub.” Sesshoumaru said, not taking his eyes from his book.

Kagome stayed quiet. She had been meaning to ask him something, but now that she had him at her side, she wasn't so sure. But she should try, anyway. Sesshoumaru kept reading, pretending he hadn't notice her failure to retort his statement.

“I…” Kagome began, but then closed her mouth again. Sesshoumaru was still not looking at her.

“Why did you not object to Dr. Latham's idea?” She blurted out.

Sesshoumaru slowly closed his book.

“It is a good idea.”

Kagome bit her lower lip. “I thought you hated the idea of humans and youkai mixing. This…this would be more than mixing.”

“I married you, and you are a human. I believe that counts as mixing.”

“It's different. The only thing that is between us is…a deal.”

“It's still mixing, and I didn't object because I think it's your brother's only chance.”

Kagome's eyes could not turn away from him.

“It means a lot to me,” She told him sincerely.

“That you are willing to pay for this, even if it goes against all you believe in.”

“Don't be ridiculous. I'm only doing it to pay my debt.”

Kagome lowered her eyes. It hurt, to hear him say that. It gave her an ache in the heart that she could not explain. She willed it go away, but it did not. It was not leaving.

“I don't want him to die. Not now. Not so young.”

“I know.”

“He could still die this way.”

“He'll die without the youkai heart.”

It was her choice. She had to decide, and Kagome knew that she had no option. There was nothing to choose from. The operation was highly dangerous, but not doing was giving Souta a death sentence. She felt hollow. It was all so dramatic and tragic.

Life should not be this hard. She shouldn't have to…

“You don't care, do you?” She asked him. He remained silent.

Kagome wanted him to care. She did not use to mind if he cared or not, but she wanted him to care about her brother. She had to know that he was capable of caring for someone other than himself. She wanted him to show a sign of emotion.

She did not want to be tied down to someone that was so indifferent to everything.

“Do you?”

She moved closer to him, wanting to look into his cold eyes and see them go warm. She didn't know where the necessity to assure herself came from. She didn't know what she wanted. She did not know why she suddenly felt like being close to Sesshoumaru.

She did not know anything, and this was too much.

Her brother could die any second, and Inuyasha had kissed her. And she had kissed him back, if only for a moment. Kagome was falling apart, and Sesshoumaru didn't seem to give a wit.

“I kissed Inuyasha at the hospital.” She said suddenly, trying to get something from him. Even his resentment would be welcome.

This time, he did fix his eyes on her. Kagome gasped. They were filled with cool anger and something else, something that made them shine. Kagome felt like one of those insects that were drawn into a light that was sure to kill them.

“Why?” He asked, his voice angrier than he would have wanted. It affected him to know she had been kissing his useless half brother. He did not know why, but at the moment he did not care.

He only knew that he was angry, and something at the pit of his stomach told him to take a plane to Japan and kill the bastard.

But he wouldn't.

He wasn't supposed to care. Kagome looked away.

“He kissed me first, and it felt right, and at the moment I was…Souta was back at the hospital, and you had disappeared somewhere. I was alone, and I…I needed to feel…”

“Not so alone?” He asked. Kagome's eyes met his.

“Yes, not so alone.”

She had felt lonely ever since Inuyasha had left her, and having him for even one second was what she had thought she needed.

But as she looked at Sesshoumaru, she suddenly felt like erasing that moment. She felt guilt.

“I will never kiss him again.” She said.

“Of course you won't.”

“Why are you so calm?”

“I am not calm. I'm merely waiting until I see my brother.”

“Why?”

“To take things out on him.”

“Why?”

“Because he kissed you, and you are still drunk, and your brother is dying. Don't worry, I'll find another way to take it out on you.”

Somehow, Kagome felt like smiling. That was exactly a reaction she could expect from Sesshoumaru, and that was as close a show of concern for her as he would give her. Cool, calculating, and aloof, unlike Inuyasha, who probably would have destroyed half of anything that was close to him. She liked Sesshoumaru's reaction better.

It somehow touched her much more than anything else.

For once, he was not taking something out on her. The hangover she would receive tomorrow would be enough punishment.

“Sesshoumaru…have you ever cared for anyone?”

Once more, he remained still and quiet.

“Sesshoumaru…” Kagome could not look away.

“Why does love hurt?”

Kagome had been hurt because of her love for Inuyasha, and she was hurting because of her love towards her dying brother. She had always hurt, but she never showed it because she didn't want to worry the people around her. But now…

Now…

Sesshoumaru's eyes were hypnotic, and Kagome was, in fact, drunk. She was asking him brainless questions, and he was sure to say something upsetting that would hurt her again. That would leave her even lonelier.

Sesshoumaru did not take his eyes away from her. Oddly enough, it made her feel less lonesome.

“It is not love that hurts.” He said. He was looking at her, but he had a far away look, as if he was remembering what had been or what might have been. Kagome wondered if, against all that she had thought, he had cared for someone else once.

“It is the memory of what we have lost, what is no longer ours, that hurts.”

“The memory of what we lose?” Kagome lowered her eyes, thinking the words over again and again.

All this time, she had been thinking about what she had had with Inuyasha. It was knowing that she wouldn't have him again that hurt.

Maybe Sesshoumaru knew more about emotions than she had first realized.

“And how do you live without memories?”

This time, when she looked at Sesshoumaru, she was certain that he was not thinking of the present, but of his past. There were so many things she did not know about him.

She wanted to know about his past. She wanted to find out what could make him smile, what made him who he was. She wanted to know him.

“You can't live without memories.” He said. His voice resounded in Kagome's head. Kagome thought it sounded sad. As if, he had tried and had failed. Kagome felt the tears she had been holding for so long threatening to fall.

“I am so, so tired of pretending to be alright. You must be tired, too.” She said, and the tone of her voice made something move inside Sesshoumaru. His chest suddenly felt heavier.

“Miko…”

She looked up, and for the first time fount that the words were stuck in his throat.

“Why couldn't he love me?” She hadn't meant to ask it, but the question had come out anyway. It had come out on a broken voice. It had made her shut her eyes because of the pain. Sesshoumaru turned to her again.

“He does not love you because he can't.”

What the youkai had said was true.

Sesshoumaru had looked after her, taken care of her, and never left her side. She knew he was remembering something that hurt him, and she was hurting at the moment, and it was all just too much.

She had hurt so long for Inuyasha that she hadn't even paid Sesshoumaru much attention .

She did not know the youkai could hurt.

She did not know she could care about him.

Suddenly, on an impulse, she moved towards him and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Not wanting to let go, needing the comfort that only the touch of someone else could bring. Knowing he was capable of making her feel better, silently praying that he would allow her to touch him just once, just this time, just one moment...

Inuyasha was no longer by her side, but Sesshoumaru was. And if anything, he had said that he would stay with her until she died.

Sesshoumaru tensed, but he did not push Kagome away.

He let her stay right where she was.

And Kagome finally let her tears fall.