Kagome just couldn't stand it anymore. Inuyasha's two-timing ways killed the love that she held for him. He was her first love, but even that was not enough to bring her back to him this time. She knew that she would never feel that way for him again. Yes, he was her best friend in this era, with the exception of Sango, but she had given her heart to someone else. Someone that she knew would stomp all over it. She didn't know if she could take another broken heart again so soon, but she also knew that she would be a coward if she did not try. The thing she despised most was being a coward. Kikyou had stolen the part of her soul that allowed her to hate, but self-loathing was not akin to hatred. She would go to him, even though she knew that he would reject her. She would tell him how she felt, even if it meant getting her heart stomped into the ground. Maybe his hatred of humans had been tempered by his affection towards the young girl he allowed to follow him. Surely if he hated humans as he had always said, he would not allow her to be part of his entourage.
She waited until she saw the soul collectors that signified Kikyou's closeness and Inuyasha's impending departure to make her move. The only one who knew of her change of heart and her true love was Sango, and she had given Kagome the nerve she needed to go to Sesshoumaru to tell him of her feelings. Sango knew that one could never be happy without the one they loved. She herself had experienced this pain every time Miroku went up to another woman, human and demon alike, and asked them to bear his children. It was not until Miroku told Sango that she was the only one he really wanted to be his wife, to actually bear his children, that she knew true happiness.
Kagome had felt a connection to Sesshoumaru the first time she had seen him, standing on the shoulder of a large demon, looking regal and untouchable. Perhaps she could melt some of that cold façade and make him hers. Perhaps he would love her for her, not just because she was the perfect shard detector. She knew Sesshoumaru had no desire for the Shikon no Tama, he wanted to obtain his supreme conquest under his own power, not with the aid of the jewel.
As soon as Inuyasha left, giving them a lame excuse, Kagome took her things, strapped them onto her bike, and took off to where she knew Sesshoumaru was seen last. She took her shards, but left the food and first aid kit for the rest of her comrades. She knew that Shippou would be hurt by her sudden flight, but this was something she had to do. Because of the lack of hatred in her soul, she did not feel any ill will towards Sesshoumaru, even though he had tried to kill her on numerous occasions. She knew this was something she must do.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Sesshoumaru was troubled by his thoughts. He was a powerful taiyoukai, probably the most powerful in the entire world. He did not want to bring dishonor to his house as his father did, but he could not help but feel the pull of the miko that traveled with his brother. She was brave and loyal, something that was so hard to come by, not to mention the fact that she was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes upon. He did not know how his brother could continue chasing after the dead miko, who was just a clay pot that stole the souls of dead maidens to maintain her unnatural existence, when he had the young miko with him all the time. It was a mystery to him. He was a demon, he felt all emotions strongly and the feelings he had toward the miko were never questioned in his own mind. He loved her. He felt all emotions just as strong. When he hated, he hated with his entire being; it was the same with love.
He was honorable enough to leave her with her group. He would not betray her trust or her loyalty, but inside, he was dying, he was sure of it. He wanted the miko, there was nothing else to say about it. He loved Rin, an emotion he never thought to feel for a human, but that love was different, that was the love of a father to a daughter, not the love of a youkai towards it's mate. He knew she was human, but she was a powerful miko as well. Any offspring from her would be taiyoukai, it was one of the best things about mating a miko, there would be no hanyou. If he were to ever take her as a mate, she would become a demon with miko powers...powerful indeed. That is why it was so dangerous, and most youkai and taiyoukai stayed away from miko, and usually killed them. Sesshoumaru did not fear this danger. He wanted her for himself, but his honor did not let him pursue her. He sat there in misery; nothing Rin did could do would cheer him up. Kicking Jakken around did not make him happy any more. There was nothing to be done.
He sat with his back to a tree, assuming his usual position to both watch over the camp and to sleep if he could when he smelled her unique smell...hyacinth and springtime, along with the smell of her strange contraption and all the things she brought with her. She was coming to him. Why?