Hidden Tears by DestinysTears

Hidden Tears

A/N:

Response to Tiana+Love's song-fic challenge! It was much more difficult to write than I thought it would be, but hey, I enjoyed every minute I spent typing this out. Well, maybe  not every single minute, but I did have fun. Well, it did make me sad. T_T Oh yes, which reminds me... /

Warning!: I'm sorry to say, but Sesshomaru does not end up with Kagome. *tear tear* So if sad reminiscing does not fit your fancy, not a good fic to read!

Rated for mild language and a brief sexual encounter.

Oh and before I forget, yes, I'd like to say, I am infatuated with Bankotsu. Think nothing of it. ;)

Anyways, the song is "She Never Cried in Front of Me" by Toby Keith. Give it a listen, it's not too bad!

Enjoy!

-Destiny

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, Rumiko Takahashi does. I do not profit from my writings, they are written for entertainment purposes only.

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Seven thirty-five

Sesshomaru glanced at the clock. Running his fingers through his hair, he let the breath he had been holding escape from his lips. He pushed his chair back from his work desk and folded his arms, staring blankly at the ceiling.

She's someone else's wife

He had constantly reminded himself of the fact. The whole day, every other moment was spent thinking of it. Work he had actually completed that day had been reduced to a pathetic total.

I can get on with my life

Sesshomaru told himself those words. "She's happy now," he said underneath his breath as he stood. Deciding the continuous distractions would make the attempt to work pointless, he began to close up for home.

He shuffled through the papers drowning his desk. Stacking a few together, he placed them back on the table before turning off his computer.

After leaving the room, he shut the door behind him. He locked the door with the all-too-familiar routine, and returned the key to his pocket. His father's office was empty, save for a few employees.

Walking towards the elevator with a slow, deliberate pace, he shoved his hands into his pockets. He was in no rush to return home. There was nothing there he wished to return to.

Sesshomaru pushed the down arrow and waited. As the silver elevator doors opened for him, he entered and pushed another button. He barely put any thought into his motions.

Looking out the glass window, he watched the night life of the city awaken with a stoic face.

She married him today
her daddy gave the bride away

Sesshomaru closed his eyes, picturing earlier that afternoon.

..........................................

He sat in the back row, watching as her new husband-to-be waited for his bride. He cursed his half-brother for convincing him to attend this hell. His eyes turned to Inuyasha, who stood a little aside from Kagome's fiancé.

He was grinning like an idiot in his excitement for his best friend. How he wished he could just bash that hanyou aside the head and continue to his work. But here he sat, also waiting for the bride.

Sesshomaru crossed his arms and waited impatiently.

Watching as his younger sister tossed the flowers along the walkway, he sighed. Rin smiled happily as she made her way to the front, and then took her place beside the bridesmaids.

Then, the room gasped and gave out quiet, joyful cries as the bride entered the room.

Sesshomaru turned, only to regret looking.

Dressed in long, white dress, Kagome was beautiful. A thin, transparent fabric veiled her face, though it did nothing to hide the soft face behind it.

Kagome held her father's arm, with the same joyful smile as everyone in the room wore painted on her face.

Her chocolate brown eyes were filled with love, a look he remembered faintly. But the gaze was not for him, rather, the man who stood at the altar. The man that once he could have been.

Sesshomaru watched as she made her way up to Bankotsu. He cringed as he looked at Bankotsu, seeing nothing but the love-filled and adoring eyes he held for his bride.

All too soon, Kagome stood in front of him, looking at nothing else but him. The pastor began to recite the wedding proclamation.

"We are gathered here today..."

Sesshomaru looked away. He would have to remind himself to beat Inuyasha's ass the next opportunity he had.

He stood and exited the ceremony, not caring what he disrupted. He was not going to sit through that. Not on his life. Sesshomaru did not look back as he left them.

On the steps outside the church, he eyed the limo that awaited the newlywed couple angrily. He sighed and averted his eyes.

Thrusting his hands to his pockets, he waited for the rush of people that was soon to come, making sure to stand to the side.

Sure enough, music flew from the doors of the church alongside the scuttle of smiling wedding participants, followed by the crying spectators.

Forcing himself to look, he stared at the happy pair running down the steps to limo. Bells rang while the couple's friends and family called out to them cheerfully.

The two waved out the window at the crowd as they headed for their honeymoon.

Sesshomaru laughed bitterly as she said her goodbyes. The shiny black limo drove off into the distance, leaving the mass of people chattering away about the wedding.

A group of voices floated to his ears, causing Sesshomaru to take his final leave. Hands still in his pockets, he walked towards the parking lot.

I heard a tear rolled down her face
and that kills me

He unlocked his car, yet made no attempt to open the door. Staring at his reflection in the window, he frowned.

Cause now I, can see why
she's finally cryin'

Happiness... Something he could never give her.

..........................................

His eyes refocused onto his reflection in the glass. He frowned slightly as he looked at himself for the second time that day, staring at the faint circles underneath his eyes. Suddenly they were no longer his restless eyes, but hers.

"Kagome..." he whispered as her image appeared before him in the glass.

How was I supposed to know
she was slowly letting go?

For the first time, he saw the sense of loneliness and grief deep within her eyes. He recoiled from the image, exiting the elevator as soon as the doors slid open.

The valet drove his car to the front of the building. Sesshomaru got in hastily after shoving the tip in the valet's hands. But before the young man could say his thanks, he had already sped off, leaving the large company in the dark.

Sesshomaru spun the round knob backwards, immediately muting the thrum of the radio.

Along with the silence, the image of his ex-fiancé appeared in his mind.

If I was putting her through Hell,
Hell I couldn't tell

He rummaged through every memory involving her. He sat it miserable thought, wishing she could have at least hinted on how she truly felt.

She could've given me a sign
and opened up my eyes

That night, when she left, it fell upon him like an avalanche. Frowning to himself, he gripped the wheel with more force. He forced himself to replay it.

..........................................

Sesshomaru slammed the front door behind him, relieved to be home.

Work was hell, and he was glad to be miles away from it now. He threw his keys on the counter, letting it clatter against the hard wood. Turning on his heel, Sesshomaru made his way to the stairs, ascending them quickly. He would drown out all his troubles, and he knew just how.

He went into their bedroom, smirking as he heard running water. Watching the bits of steam emanating from the bathroom, Sesshomaru sat on the bed, waiting impatiently for his fiancé. He eyed the door idly, wondering if he should join her in the shower or wait for her to finish. Sesshomaru decided the latter.

When she entered the bedroom, she was clad in only a towel, leaving little to the imagination. His beast growled with pleasure.

Startled, Kagome stepped back unconsciously. She gripped her towel tighter in her shock.

When she recognized him, she relaxed, sighing with relief.

Then suddenly, she tensed again, pursing her lips, as if fighting an inner turmoil.

Back then, he hadn't thought much of it. All he was concerned with was satisfying his selfish desires.

Kagome inched forward until she sat on the bed beside him. Sesshomaru placed a hand on her cheek as he leaned forward.

"Sesshomaru... I need t-" Kagome was not allowed to finish as his lips came crashing down upon hers.

His hand traveled down her neck, causing her to shudder. His other arm snaked around her waist as he pushed her down to the bed.

Kagome clung helplessly onto the towel enveloping her. "Sesshomaru, please, I want-" she gasped as she attempted to escape his eager lips.

"Work was hell," he grunted hastily after finding her lips again, stupidly hoping that would shut her up and make her understand.

Deepening the kiss, he thrust his tongue into her mouth before reaching for her towel.

With greedy hands, he gripped her breast through the soft fabric, groaning as he felt her. Desperate to touch her bare skin, Sesshomaru tugged at the useless piece of cloth, expecting it to fall away from her easily.

Instead, he felt forceful hands on his chest, pushing him away from her. He opened his eyes in surprise as he looked down upon her.

Her doe-like eyes were filled with hurt and pain.

Confused, Sesshomaru pulled away, wondering if he had done something wrong.

Kagome hid her brown eyes from him under closed lids. She shuddered.

"I can't do this anymore, Sesshomaru..." she whispered. "I just can't..."

Kagome slipped out from under him, walking quickly to the dresser and pulling out a few clothing items. After she dressed herself, she snatched something small off the top of the dresser. She turned and handed it to him, avoiding his gaze, afraid to show the sorrow that had surreptitiously become her.

Sesshomaru looked into his hand only to find a silver ring, adorned with a simple diamond. He lifted his head slowly, expecting an explanation.

Shaky footsteps led her to the bedroom door, her body still turned from him.

"I'll come for my things tomorrow morning," she said softly. Sesshomaru was dumbstruck. He had not foreseen this at all.

"Why?" he rasped, finding himself standing upright, no longer on the bed.

Kagome did not turn to face him. She clenched her hand into a fist as she fought back tears.

"You're free now, Sesshomaru... I won't hold you back from your father's company anymore," she whispered. Her words were laced with the same pain and hurt in her eyes. "It's your number-one priority, isn't it?"

Sesshomaru cringed as he heard her choke a sob. He wanted to reach out to her, hold her, comfort her, but she was so distant from him.

"Goodbye." He heard her say with a voice barely audible.

He had no idea this was how she had been feeling this entire time. He didn't know what hit him.

How was I supposed to see?
She never cried in front of me

And she was gone. Just like that.

..........................................

Sesshomaru sighed as the fleeting image of her disappeared.

He had to admit, his father's business work had consumed almost every minute of his time. Before, it had not been that way. Before, he had been happily engaged to Kagome - the love of his life.

But as he began to think further of their future, he knew he would also have to inherit his father's business empire. Soon, the business became his priority, his main concern, exactly why Kagome left him.

It was true. He had changed. The business had changed him. Sesshomaru had begun to return home later and later into the night, working non-stop. The small and trivial things he used to do for her, like flowers and phone calls, were things of the past. He became colder towards her as the stress from his duty to his father got to him. Sesshomaru could barely remember the last time he had whispered an 'I love you' to her. Memories of goodnight kisses were distant and foggy.

If he'd only have known... If he'd have known the pain he was causing her...

Yeah maybe I might've changed
It's hard for me to say

The feeling of remorse flooded into him. He regretted hurting her, but there was nothing he could do that would heal the scars he had imbedded into her.

But the story's still the same
and it's a sad one

Sesshomaru winced as he thought of what she went through. He could picture her lying in their bed, clutching his pillow desperately for him, wishing only for Sesshomaru - the Sesshomaru who used to love her tenderly.

And I'll always believe
if she ever did cry for me
they were tears that you can't see

Pulling into his driveway, he parked his car and entered his house.

It felt empty.

Sesshomaru climbed up the stairs, flicking the light switch on as he entered their room.

Without a doubt
I know now
how it ought to be

Anything: he would do anything to bring her back, to have her lying beside him, to have her smiling that loving smile for him, and him alone. Sesshomaru wanted to hold her and never let her go, but he had lost that chance.

Cause she's gone & it's wrong
and it bothers me

Sesshomaru went to the dresser, opening one of the empty drawers. He reached inside to the back of it, groping blindly for the small item that had lie dormant there for months. With the ring in hand, he sat down at the foot of the bed, silent in thought.

Tomorrow I'll still be
asking myself

He twirled the ring between his fingers, seeing Kagome's smiling eyes in each tiny panel of the diamond before they quickly transformed into the pained, restless ones he had caused them to become. He leaned his bent arms on his knees still looking at the small ring. It glittered back at him tauntingly.

How was I supposed to know
she was slowly letting go

Covering his face, his hands replaced his façade.

If I was putting her through hell

Behind the hands, a single tear trickled down his face, disappearing off his chin.

Hell I couldn't tell

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