The rain poured down on the pavement, making the normal pitter-patter it always did on nights like this. He was late again and even though he had called saying it was a later meeting then he expected, she knew he wasn’t where he said he was.
Her deep silver blue eyes scanned the road and driveway once more before she turned to get the phone. Her jet black hair swaying with each step as she walked. As she reached for the phone, it rang, startling her.
“Hello?” her sweat voice rang on the receiver.
“Hey Kagome. I was bored. Miroku’s already asleep on the couch and I had nothing else to do. You aren’t busy with Inu Yasha, are you?” a tough, but feminine voice came through the ear piece.
“Oh, hey Sango. No, he’s not home yet.” She sighed. “He’s out with her again and he’ll deny it up and down all over again. I can’t believe he’s doing this the night before his brother comes into town. I didn’t want his family finding out about this. They already give him enough trouble.” She turned around again to glance out the window.
“I guess, but maybe if a demon catches on to his deceit then you can get out of it. It is only the best for you. His brother is full demon, right?” Sango asked.
“Of course he is. His mother isn’t Izayio. His mother died a long time ago.” Kagome sat on the couch and watched the rain slide down the window.
“No wonder Inu Yasha hates him. They probably fought a lot as children.”
“Worse then two cocks fighting. They continue it now even as adults. It’s a surprise they’re both still alive,” she huffed.
“That bad?”
“Yeah. Hey listen, I’m going to bed. No sense in staying up and waiting if he’s with her,” she sighed while standing up.
“I guess. Tell Inu Yasha to tell his whore I said ‘hi’,” Sango joked.
“No problem. See you tomorrow. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Kagome hung up the phone, glanced out the window one last time and headed up the stairs to her bedroom.
The alarm went off, waking Kagome up. She glanced to the side, looking to see if her strayed husband had come home while she was sleeping.
The bed beside her hadn’t even been lain in.
‘He probably stayed the night at her place and completely forgotten that his brother was coming to stay with us for a few days. What a bastard!’ She threw her pillow at the wall in anger and got out of bed to take her morning shower. She grabbed some comfortable jeans and a white, long-sleeved button up shirt she had hanging in her closet and headed towards the shower.
By the time she was just finishing up in the bathroom, she heard the front door open and keys being thrown onto the hallway table. She went down stairs and was met by tousled silver hair with two dog ears up on top. As he turned around she noticed that there were lipstick stains on the collar of his white shirt.
“You’re brother will be here shortly. Go shower,” she scowled.
He looked up at her in shock. “Oh yeah. I forgot dick wad was coming. That’s supposed to be today?”
She rolled her eyes and walked into the kitchen to prepare her breakfast. She listened to him walk up the stairs, toward their bedroom. “By the way,” Kagome yelled. “Sango told me to tell you to say ‘hi’ to your whore!”
She heard a growl admit from the top of the stairs. “She’s not a fucking whore!” he yelled back down.
Kagome smirked. “Right,” she whispered. “Just like I’m not your wife.”
She heard Inu Yasha huff and the bedroom door slammed. She shook her head while grabbing a bowl and a box of cereal out of the cupboards.
Kagome was washing up breakfast dishes when a knock on the door startled her. She grabbed a hand towel and headed down the hallway to answer it.
“Tell that ass wipe to stay at a fucking motel or something,” she heard Inu Yasha yell from upstairs.
She opened the door and smiled kindly. “Hello Sesshoumaru. It’s nice to see you again. It’s been a while,” she greeted.
“Thank you, Kagome. Is my imbecile brother home?”
She nodded. “He’ll be down in a minute. He’s just finishing up in the bathroom. Are you hungry, or thirsty?” she asked, letting him in the house.
“A cup of water would be nice. What would you like me to do with my bags?” he asked, lifting one up.
“Oh,” Kagome blushed. “How rude of me. If you’d like, I can take them up to your room for you,” she offered.
“Thank you.”
She nodded and headed into the kitchen to grab a glass of water for him. She returned, handed it to him and grabbed his bags. They were heavier then they looked and she seemed to have trouble with them. Sesshoumaru noticed this and offered his assistance.
“Hey, douche-bag. Why the fuck couldn’t you get a hotel room like normal people?” he asked.
Sesshoumaru looked up. “Kagome wouldn’t let me. Insisted that I stay here with you two.”
Inu Yasha growled. “Why the fuck did you do that, bitch?”
Kagome turned around to look at him. “Because we have a guest room that is being unoccupied. He is more then welcome to stay in my house.”
Inu Yasha huffed. “No he isn’t.”
She glared at him. “Stop it right now Inu Yasha. Don’t you have work right now?”
He looked down at his watch. “Shit. I’m running late.”
He ran past the two and out the door before either had a chance to stop him. Kagome sighed and closed the door that Inu Yasha hadn’t even bothered to shut behind himself.
“Fucking bastard!” she whispered. Turning to face Sesshoumaru she put on a fake smile. “Sorry about him. He woke up a bit late this morning and I’m afraid he’ll probably be off schedule all day.”
He nodded. “Is he this rude to you all the time?” he asked.
Kagome shrugged and went back to the suitcases on the floor. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“He calls you a bitch all the time?” he asked.
“Sometimes,” she answered. “Otherwise it’s wench, or whore. Sometimes if he’s really mad he’ll call me a cold slut. It’s nothing new really.”
“Hn,” was his reply. “I take it you’re to be entertaining me all day until dinner?”
She nodded and started heading up the stairs. “I’ll let you get settled in first. Then we can do whatever.”
Kagome had made dinner. She and Sesshoumaru sat at the table eating. Little was said. She already knew that Inu Yasha wasn’t going to be home tonight. He hadn’t called and he was supposed to have been home an hour and a half ago.
Sesshoumaru had started to look at his watch every five minutes since then. They had sat in the kitchen for the first two hours, making small talk and catching up on each other’s lives. Soon lunch had rolled around and they ate. Kagome had pulled out her chess board, dusted it off and they sat playing until it was time to start dinner.
“How often is he late?” Sesshoumaru asked.
Kagome looked up. “Excuse me?” she asked. She had been lost in her own thoughts.
“I asked how often Inu Yasha is late,” he answered.
She shrugged and went back to her plate. She didn’t want to talk about her husband.
“Work must be strenuous on him,” he commented.
“Right,” she replied, sarcasm dripping off her voice. “I just bet it is.”
Sesshoumaru looked up at her. “Are you two having troubles?”
Kagome shoved her plate away. “Please excuse me. I seem to have lost my appetite.”
She stood up and left the dinning room and headed towards the living room and sat on the couch. She didn’t want to have any discussion about any relationship. Not hers, not Inu Yasha’s, and defiantly not his whores. She rubbed at her face. She didn’t know how much longer she could take the verbal abuse or the cheating. But she did know that she didn’t want his family knowing anything about it.
Sesshoumaru had followed her. He stood in the doorway and sighed. “I did not mean to intrude. It just seems that you are not happy. And I have not heard the phone ring all night, letting you know he’d be late.”
Kagome snorted. “Well, you did. Our personal life is nobody’s business.”
The phone rang and Kagome got up. She headed over and checked the caller id. She picked it up, realizing that it was only Sango.
“Hey, what’s up?” she asked.
“Nothing much. Just bored. How’s the in-law?” she asked.
“Nosy. How’s Miroku?”
“A pervert, like always. What do you mean he’s nosy?” Sango asked.
Kagome looked back, to see that Sesshoumaru had already left the room. “He’s asking about me and Inu Yasha. I don’t want to right out say ‘yeah, he’s cheating on me with that secretary of his,’ you know? And soon I’m going to have to come up with an excuse as to why he’s not home yet. What am I supposed to say to that?”
Sango sighed on the other end. “He’s not home yet? Doesn’t he know Sesshoumaru’s there?”
“Yeah,” she answered. “He saw him this morning before he left for work. Right before he started to bitch to me about letting Sesshoumaru stay here for the week.”
“What the hell is wrong with him? Do you have any clue as to what time he’s coming home?”
Kagome sighed. “Yeah, right after he gets fucked, if he doesn’t pass out right away. You know he came home this morning, smelling like stale sex and whorish perfume. He had lipstick stains all over his collar and he didn’t even care that I saw him like that. I gave him your message and he got all pissed off. Said she wasn’t a fucking whore. Out right admitted that he was cheating on me. I don’t get it.”
Kagome listened to Sango rant on about how she should just file for a divorce and get a new man in her life. After a while Kagome interrupted her and said her good byes.
She walked into the dinning room to clean up supper’s mess to find it was already taken care of. Walking into the kitchen she found Sesshoumaru putting away the last dish.
“You know, you don’t have to do that. You’re a guest in this house,” Kagome said.
He looked up. “I am aware of this, but it was the least I could do for such a wonderful meal. It was better then anything I could make. Even my chief’s. Thank you.”
Kagome leaned against the door frame. “So, how much did you eaves drop on?” she asked.
He looked up. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She rolled her eyes. “Right and I’m the cruelest person to live on earth. Really Sesshoumaru. You heard every word, didn’t you?”
“I do not do things like that. I believe privacy is a very special thing. You deserve yours, just as if we were at my house, you would do so for me.”
“But the difference with that is I’m human. You’ve got super hearing and can’t help but to eaves drop. I know. Inu Yasha did it all the time.” She pushed off and sat at a stool at the island. “I don’t really care if you heard. I’m just curious.”
Sesshoumaru sat down across from her. “How long has he been cheating on you?”
She shook her head. “Probably a year and a half. That’s when I started to notice things. You know, late nights at work, never wanted to be…” She paused looking for the right word. “Intimate, I guess you could say, the slight smell of perfume. Little lunch notes with perfume and lipstick started to appear in his clothes when I did laundry. Then the lipstick on the shirt and soon he’d just stay the night at work, or have to go in on weekends. He’s probably home for a grand total of ten hours a week.”
Sesshoumaru nodded. “I see. Do you know her name?”
She shook her head. “I believe it’s his secretary but I don't have proof. And until I do, I can’t get a divorce. And your father has to know about all this first, too. He is my lawyer. I just don’t want this whole thing to come out, you know. It’s just embarrassing to me. I mean, you’re probably sitting there right now thinking I must be a horrible lay or have some disgusting defect that made him go to another chick. I don’t want people to think that about me.”
Sesshoumaru shook his head. “My brother is an idiot and always has been. This I would have expected it a lot sooner, but it seemed that you had changed him before you two married. Apparently we were all wrong.”
Kagome sighed. “I just don’t know what to do.”
“Do you have any alcohol?” he asked, standing up.
Kagome looked up. “In the cupboard above the fridge. Why?”
He headed over to it and pulled out all the bottles. There was vodka, whiskey, rum and plenty more up there. He placed it all on the island and pulled out two shot glasses. “We are going to get drunk. As drunk as we can both get. Hopefully all these bottles will be gone. That’s what you are going to do.” He poured the first shots and handed her one.
“To you, for being so lenient.” He raised his glass and motioned for her to do so too.
“You have got to be insane,” she said, getting up.
“When was the last time you had dinner with your husband? When was the last time you two went on a date? To the bar? This is for all the times you could have but didn’t.” He motioned for her to sit down. “Don’t let this slip past you. It could just be one of the most fun time of your life. I’ve been told that I get quite funny and more open when I’m drinking.”
She shook her head. “I really don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Then as a way to entertain me while my brother is not home. If you do not do this, then I will think you are a horrible host.”
She sat back down with a smirk on her face. “You are a horrible guest and person. I can’t believe you’ve talked me into this. I don’t normally get drunk.”
She lifted her glass and he raised his to meet it. “To you.” They both drank and Kagome pulled a face. “God, that shit really burns on the way down.”
Sesshoumaru smiled. “You won’t even feel it soon.”
Kagome laughed hysterically. “No fucking way. You did not do that!”
“I assure you, I did. He didn’t like it either. You know what he did?” Sesshoumaru asked, leaning forward.
She leaned in. “What?”
“He actually puked right on her. Just let everything out,” he said and they both fell back laughing.
Kagome whipped a tear away and poured a shot for them both. She raised her glass. “To you and your horrible ways!”
“I’ll toast to that,” he said as he raised his glass.
The front door opened as soon they had drank the whiskey. Sesshoumaru looked up as Kagome grabbed the bottle to fill up the shot glasses once again. “Alright,” she said, gaining his attention. “This one’s for the most fun I’ve had in two fucking years.”
Sesshoumaru raised his glass and they both took the shots as Inu Yasha walked in.
“What the fucks going on here?” he yelled.
Kagome looked up and grabbed the bottle again. “I’m being a good host. What are you doing?”
Sesshoumaru growled. “You are dishonoring our family brother.”
Inu Yasha huffed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re obviously drunk. Kagome, go to bed now.” He walked in and started to clear out the bottles.
She stood up in protest. “I won’t do anything you tell me to,” she said as she swayed. “I’ve sat around waiting for you for to fucking long. You can’t tell me what to do anymore. Not in my house. I bought it. My names on the mortgage. Not yours. You just go back to that fucking hussy. You’re not welcome here any more!” she yelled at him and sat back down, grabbing a bottle in the process. “Alright, Sesshoumaru. So I’ve got one for you…”
Inu Yasha growled loudly. “I will not be treated like this! I am you’re husband and you will respect me woman!”
She snorted. “Like you respect me? Maybe I should go out one night and not come home till the next morning, smelling like sex and cologne. How would you like that? Would that show you enough respect? God knows you’re not giving me anything and haven’t in how long again?” she asked, turning to face him.
“You will watch your fucking tongue. I fucked you not to long ago,” he shot back.
“When?” Kagome asked, throwing her arms back. “I don’t even remember the last time you slept in the same bed as me. It’s been months! Months, Inu Yasha! You don’t even try to hide the fact that you’re cheating on me anymore. Not even to your own brother,” Kagome yelled, pointing at Sesshoumaru. “Now, that’s fucked up.”
Sesshoumaru nodded and raised his glass. “To fucked up brothers!”
She laughed and raised her glass. They took their shots as Inu Yasha stormed out the kitchen.
“You better not be going to my bedroom!” Kagome yelled. “Best yet, go to your slut’s house! Get out!”
Kagome looked at the last bottle, which had enough for a shot each. She looked up at him. “We better make this a good toast.”
He nodded. “Yes. What should we toast to?”
“Being single? I’m going to Inu-no tomorrow and Yasha will be gone. I’m not doing this any more.”
Sesshoumaru raised his glass to her, watching her closely as she finished off her drink. Setting the shot glass on to the counter, she couldn’t make up her mind as to whether or not she should head to bed.
“Are you sure you are going through with a divorce?” Sesshoumaru asked.
Kagome looked up. “I have to. Otherwise he’ll keep coming into my house. He’ll keep disrespecting me. I won’t ever find the right person for me. Plus, we’ve been married for five years, and he won’t even talk about mating. Which means it’s not going to happen. I want children, Sesshoumaru, and if we don’t mate, I can’t have them. I’m going to find someone that wants to have them with me.”
Sesshoumaru nodded and stood up. “Good night, Kagome. You were an excellent host. I hope we can keep doing this on a regular basis, even after you and Inu Yasha are completely finished.”
Kagome nodded. “Any time you need a break. Don’t hesitate to call. I’ll always pick up. I’m going to clean this and then head to bed myself. Good night.”
Kagome woke up later then normal. It was 12:30. She moaned as the phone rang next to her bed. She flung her hand over and grabbed it up before it could ring again.
“Hello?” she asked, her groggy voice drifted over the phone.
“Kagome?” she heard Sango ask. “Were you sleeping this late into the day?”
“Yeah. Hey Sango. What’s up?” Kagome answered, attempting to sit up in bed.
“What are you doing sleeping in this late?” she asked.
“Oh,” Kagome finally got up and rubbed her face. “Me and Sesshoumaru got completely wasted last night and I kicked Inu Yasha out. I’m getting a divorce, by the way. I can’t do this anymore, Sango.”
She heard Sango sigh. “I knew about the divorce. He called to wake Miroku up and screamed about it over the phone. Miroku just put the phone on the table until he heard quiet and fell asleep. So when are you going to go see Inu-no? And what did Sesshoumaru say about all of it?”
“Today and he heard everything I said to you yesterday, so he told me to get drunk and have a good night, which is what I did. But I think I’m going to take a shower and eat. I don’t quite feel human. And I have to check on Sesshoumaru and play host some more, at least until we get to Inu-no’s house.”
They said their good-byes and Kagome called Inu-no, informing him that she’d be over with Sesshoumaru in the next two hours. After she had hung up, she took her shower and ate her food while trying to ignore her headache.
Kagome strolled into the huge mansion. Izayio was walking up to meet her.
“Darling! It’s been a while. Where’s my son? I want to give him a hug.”
“I’m sorry,” Kagome apologized. “He wasn’t able to make it today. He’s had so much work to do for the past week and he’s hardly had time to be home because of it. Maybe soon I can get him to take a break for a day to spend over here.”
Izayio smiled. “You are a horrible liar. What did my son do now to upset you into leaving him behind?”
Kagome shook her head. “I’d rather not speak about it to anyone besides Inu-no.”
Izayio nodded and turned to face Sesshoumaru. “It is so nice to see you. How long has it been again?” she asked.
“Seven months,” he answered. “How have you been?”
Kagome drifted off towards Inu-no’s office. She found him yelling into a phone when she entered. He looked up at her and held a finger, as if to say just a moment. Soon he slammed the phone on to it’s cradle and looked up at Kagome.
“Hello darling. It is nice to see you again. I hear that Sesshoumaru is with you?”
She nodded. “But that’s not why I came over. I need to talk to you, as my lawyer. Promise not to be mad either.”
He nodded. “Anything for you.”
Kagome took a deep breath. “I want to file for a divorce.”
Inu-no straightened up. “Excuse me? Why in the world would you do that?”
Kagome sat in one of the chairs and looked up at him. “Because he’s cheating on me and I’m feed up with it. I can’t take him not being home, ever. I can’t take him not even attempting to hide the fact anymore. For a year and a half I’ve dealt with it, and I’m done. I want to mate someone that is faithful. I want to mate someone that wants to have children with me. Someone that wants to mate me.”
Inu-no shook his head. “Inu Yasha would never do that,” he defended his son.
“I want a divorce and if you, as my lawyer, won’t grant me one, I will go to Sesshoumaru. He will gladly be my lawyer. He is aware of what has happened,” she replied.
Inu-no rubbed his temple. “You’re telling me that my son is cheating on you and that my other son is witness to it?”
Kagome nodded. “You know I don’t lie. I’m not about to start.”
Inu- no sighed. Leaning forward he pressed the intercom. “Sesshoumaru, can you come up here please?”
They sat in silence for a minute before Sesshoumaru walked in. “Can I help you with something?” he asked.
“Kagome wants to get a divorce. What do you think of this?” he asked his son.
Sesshoumaru sat down in the chair next to her. “I think if you deny her request then I shall offer my services. Your son is not faithful to her and hence does not deserve her.”
Inu-no frowned. “What proof do you have of Inu Yasha cheating on you?”
“He flat out admitted it,” Kagome said. “Sesshoumaru can vouch for this as well.”
Sesshoumaru nodded. “Indeed.”
Inu-no sighed. “And who will represent my son, if not me?” he asked.
Kagome shrugged. “I do not know. Nor do I care. I just want it to be done with and finalized. After today, none of his things will be in my house.”
“Alright. We will start the process.”
Inu Yasha screamed outside the door. His key didn’t work in the lock and his stuff was on the lawn. Kagome sat in the living room with Sesshoumaru, going over the finer details of the divorce papers.
“What about the bank account?” Sesshoumaru asked.
“We have separate ones. I don’t want any of his money. My business is doing very nicely. More then enough money to get me by for over a year. I’m not giving him anymore,” She answered.
“And his business? I believe you funded it,” he asked, taking notes on a legal pad.
“He can have it. I don’t want it. He’ll run it into the ground in five years if he keeps going the way he is now.”
He nodded. “The cars?” he asked.
“He can have his. I’ll keep mine,” she replied. “Thank you for helping me out with all this, Sesshoumaru. I don’t think your father would have agreed to anything if you were not there to back me up. I know to you, this is all in the honor of your family, but to me, this is more then that. This is a second chance to get it right. I don’t know what I’d do otherwise. Thank you.”
Sesshoumaru looked up. “It is nothing to dwell on. It is my job as a lawyer as well to do this, as I work under my father. If you had not insisted I stay here, instead of a hotel, you would not be where you are now.”
Kagome nodded and stood up. “Should we let him in now?”
He nodded in agreement as he watched Kagome walk into the entrance way and opened the door.
“Shut up Inu Yasha,” she said. “I have something to tell you, so get in here.”
Inu Yasha glared at her and shoved past, walking to one of the chairs and sat down. “Why the fuck is my shit in the yard?”
“Because, dear brother, you no longer live here,” Sesshoumaru answered.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” he asked. “This is my house too.”
“No, Inu Yasha,” Kagome corrected. “This is my house. I had it before I married you. This is my house. Not yours. And we are getting a divorce.”
“Excuse me? Says who?” he asked.
“Me,” Kagome answered sitting back. “I’m sick of being with you. Your cheating has gotten to this point. Now you can be with whoever she is all the time.”
Sesshoumaru cleared his throat. “She doesn’t want anything from you. She is giving you all your possessions, your company and your car. If you want a lawyer to fight for anything, then I suggest you get one. Preferably not father. He is Kagome’s lawyer. I’m taking roll of assistant for this. If not, then in a week, we’ll have the papers typed up and ready to be signed.”
“I’m not signing shit. There’s not going to be a divorce. End of story,” Inu Yasha said standing up. “I’m going to continue to live here and do what I want.”
Kagome shook her head. “No, because if you come back here without permission from me, I will call the police and have a restraining order placed on you. ‘End of story,’ as you say it.”
“What the fuck Kagome? I thought you loved me?” he asked.
“And likewise, until you started cheating on me. I want a mate. I want children. You aren’t going to give that to me, so I’m going to go somewhere else,” she answered while getting up. “Now, will you sign the papers next week or are you going to get a lawyer?”
“Whatever. I’m out of here.” With that, Inu Yasha got up and walked out of the house. He started to grab boxes and place them in his car.
Kagome looked over to Sesshoumaru. “Do you think he’s going to fight it?” she asked.
Sesshoumaru shook his head. “He knows you are being reasonable about the divorce, even if he doesn’t like it. He won’t fight if we allow him to keep the company.”
Kagome nodded and sat down.
Sango and Miroku sat at the island with Sesshoumaru while Kagome pulled out a bottle of wine.
“So, I’m finally single again. It’s weird, but relieving. Thanks to you and your father,” Kagome said turning to Sesshoumaru. “I think it’s only appropriate you’re here for my celebration.”
She poured the wine into four glasses and handed them off. She raised hers. “Here’s to not worrying about if Inu Yasha’s coming home or not!”
They all clinked their glasses and took a sip.
“So,” Sango said. “What’s your first plan of action as a single woman?”
She shrugged. “Find a room mate, I guess. It’s kind of a weird to be living in the house alone. I guess I did it while Inu Yasha was around, but he still came home and showered, ate or just hid in the den.”
Miroku sighed. “Then I believe I shall offer up my services.”
Sango smacked him on the head. “Do you want to end up like him?” she asked.
Miroku rubbed the spot Sango had hit and shook his head. “You know I only have eyes for you.”
Kagome laughed. “It’s ok Miroku. She knows better.”
“I was thinking about moving back to town, but do not have a place to stay as of yet,” Sesshoumaru said. “If it is no inconvenience, I do not mind staying here.”
“You sure?” Kagome asked. “You’d have to put up with me.”
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes. “Because you are so horrible to deal with.”
Kagome slapped his arm. “Oh, ha-ha. You’re such a jerk sometimes.”
Sango laughed. “You two are going to get into some serious trouble. If he can get you to get drunk, what else can he talk you into?”
Kagome shrugged. “It was a one time thing and I deserved it. Plus, it was fun. We sat up all night drinking and telling embarrassingly funny stories about ourselves and others we knew.”
Miroku watched them closely at this. He noticed a slight twinkle in Sesshoumaru’s eye when she talked about that night just over a year ago. “Are you sure you want to move here? I mean, Inu Yasha is very strong-headed and will probably come over quite often trying to get Kagome to reconsider. He always wants what he can no longer have. It’s why he started sleeping with Kikyou again.”
Kagome looked up. “He was sleeping with her?”
Sango shifted. “We thought you knew that.”
Kagome shook her head. “No. Wait, so they dated before?”
Miroku shifted in his chair. “You know what, it doesn’t matter anymore. You two got a divorce and they aren’t together anymore.”
Kagome looked at him. “How long did you know it was Kikyou?” she asked.
Miroku picked up his glass. “This wine is wonderful. Where did you get it?” he asked.
“Miroku?!?” Kagome yelled. “You better start spilling now or I’ll shove that glass down your fucking throat.”
Sango sighed. “We knew right from the beginning. We were supposed to have lunch with him and caught the two in his office. We thought you knew, because you started giving off hints and then started blaming his secretary. It really seemed like you knew. And then you started finding the notes and he wasn’t coming home at night. By the time he started to openly show it, I figured you were already talking to a lawyer, so we just left it alone.”
Kagome shook her head. “I can’t believe you two knew the whole time and just didn’t tell me.”
Miroku hung his head while Sango shrugged. “It’s in the past. Just let it be.”
Sesshoumaru watched on in silence as Kagome put her glass down and walked out of the kitchen.
“Good going, Miroku. You just can’t keep your fucking mouth shut, can you?” Sango scolded.
Miroku shrugged. “I seriously thought she already knew it was Kikyou. You did too. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Sango grabbed her jacket. “Let’s go. I don’t think Kagome wants us here right now.”
Miroku nodded. “Night Sesshoumaru.”
He nodded in their direction and started cleaning up the glasses. When he finished, he headed up the stairs to find Kagome in her bedroom. The pillows had been thrown off her bed and she was crying quietly.
“Are you going to be alright?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yeah. I mean, I shouldn’t be upset, but they knew. The whole time. They didn’t say anything. How can they claim to be my friends and do that to me?”
Sesshoumaru walked over to the bed and sat down. “They probably thought it the best if you didn’t know who it was.”
Kagome nodded her head. “Yeah. I guess you’re right. You can go to bed. I’ll be fine.”
Kagome stood in the night club. She didn’t feel comfortable there. Sesshoumaru had talked her into going, so she could start her new life. She didn’t know if this was the place she wanted to meet Mr. Right in. Most of the men looked like they were just looking for a one night thing.
She had ordered a drink and sat at the bar. Her friend, Shippo sat next to her, whining about how Rin wouldn’t let him get the latest game for whatever station it was he was obsessed with at the moment.
She nodded along, pretending to listen. She watched as Sesshoumaru strolled through the crowd and to another woman that looked oddly familiar.
“Kagome?” Shippo asked, facing her.
She turned and looked at him. “Yeah?”
“Did you hear me just there?”
She shook her head. “Sorry. I’m kind of out of it tonight. What did you ask?”
“I asked if that was Serenade that Sesshoumaru’s talking to,” he answered. “You remember her, right?”
Kagome shrugged her shoulders. “I wouldn’t know who she is.”
Shippo frowned at her. “She was the one who introduced you to Inu Yasha. Don’t you remember?”
Kagome stared at the woman. “I don’t know. That was a long time ago. I’m going home. I don’t feel like the clubs.”
Shippo watched as she walked away. He was starting to become concerned for his friend. She didn’t seem to listen to conversations and wouldn’t do anything if Sesshoumaru didn’t suggest it. Rin had even gone and stayed the night once, in hopes that she could convince Kagome to go to the movies or the bar with her.
Sango said that Kagome refused to take her or Miroku’s calls anymore and had even gotten Inu Yasha to try to call her. Of course she had picked up the phone and hung up on him right away.
He watched as Sesshoumaru turned to look for Kagome, spotting Shippo alone. Shippo pointed towards the door and saw Sesshoumaru frown slightly.
He had a feeling Sesshoumaru had some sort of feelings toward Kagome, but pushed it off, thinking it was only as a friend. After all, she was his brothers’ ex-wife.
Kagome pulled the last box out of the moving truck and groaned under the weight. She didn’t think a man living on his own could have so much stuff. Not to mention, it was all way to heavy.
Sesshoumaru walked out of the house and shook his head. “You will hurt your back carrying that box. Hand it over.”
Kagome obliged and followed him in. “Do you need any help unpacking?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. Go on to work and I will see you later tonight.”
Kagome nodded as she walked into the dinning room, where all the boxes had been piled on the table. They had over flown to the chairs, onto the floor and into the living room. Some were tall, long and skinny while others were just fat. She had no clue what was in all of them, but she had a feeling when she got home that it would look very different.
“Well, just don’t over run the house. Or tear it apart. I don’t want to come home to find a tornado had hit it,” she joked.
He leaned up against one of the bigger boxes. “Don’t worry about anything. You’ll hardly notice a change,” he promised. “Now, go to work and don’t worry about anything.”
Kagome left and Sesshoumaru began opening the boxes up to unpack them.
Kagome admired the new art work hanging in her entrance. It was a painting of an angel flying out of battle, the sword in his hand covered in blood, though it’s clothing was pristine. The sun shone through a break in the clouds.
She turned her gaze away and headed into the living room, noticing a new flat screen tv hanging on the wall and her couch was missing, replaced by an overly large and extremely comfortable looking one of black suede. Her coffee table was still there, along with her movie stand, but next to it was another one, just as big. She looked around and noticed there was surround sound set up.
Moving into the dinning room she gasped as she took in the huge chandelier hanging above her table. It shimmered through all the glass and cast rainbows on the walls. An orient rug laid on the ground and her chairs had been replaced by new ones. Their backs towered up , being more then enough for her to rest into and the seats were very plush.
She shook her head and moved into the kitchen to notice only a coffee maker had been placed in there that she could see. At least that wasn’t really touched.
She headed up the stairs and found Sesshoumaru in the guest room, unpacking the last of his boxes.
“I like the change,” she said. “Very sophisticated.”
He nodded. “I hope you don’t mind. I had all your stuff placed in the basement, if that is ok?” he asked.
She nodded. “I don’t mind. Are you almost done unpacking?”
He lifted a shirt up and smiled. “The very last of it.”
“Want to go out to dinner? My treat,” she offered.
He nodded and they left.
Kagome and Sesshoumaru sat at the table playing war. They laughed at each others dull jokes and sipped their wine.
“So, Miroku called today. Wanted to know if you were up for paint balling this weekend,” Sesshoumaru conveyed the message.
“That would be fun. Maybe you can come along too. We’re always looking for more people to do that with us,” she offered. “It’ll be fun.”
He shrugged. “Not really my thing. To messy and I can beat you humans to easily.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “It’s the whole gang. I’m pretty sure one of the demons could take you out easily. Plus, I’m still undefeated. Nobodies shot me since we started doing this,” she boasted. “I can kick your ass in it any day of the week.”
He looked up at her. “You think you can?”
She nodded. “I know I can. How about we do a one on one and see who comes out victorious?” she challenged.
“You’re on.”
Kagome pulled on a pair of cameo pants and looked over at Sango, who was strapping her gloves on.
“Sesshoumaru actually thinks he can beat me,” she said, a huff in her voice.
Sango laughed. “My god. He must really think highly of himself if he thinks he can kick your ass at this. Shit, Inu Yasha couldn’t even do it.”
Kagome laughed as she grabbed her mask. “Inu Yasha was also very loud and stupid. Everyone beat him at it. Probably why he stopped playing with us.”
“Fucking sore loser is what he was. Held grudges worse than a woman scorned,” Sango replied. “So, you going to prove him wrong?”
Kagome nodded. “Oh yeah. One on one. Want to lay bets with me?”
Sango laughed. “Now, that’s not fair. You’re just going to win anyway.”
Kagome shrugged. “So? If I can make money off it, then why the hell not?”
Sango smiled. “Alright. Fifty sound good?”
Kagome nodded. “How about hundred? Get as many of them as you can in on it, if you can.”
“Let’s do this shit!” Sango yelled and headed out to the field the group stood in.
Kagome grabbed her extra air canister and followed out after her friend. Sango was collecting money and writing bets in her note pad. Sesshoumaru stood off to the side shaking his head at the crowd. She headed over to Sango, peaking over her shoulder to get a better look at the odds.
“What little faith they have in me!” she scolded. “That’s just more money for me then. You ready?” she asked, facing him.
He nodded and she picked up her gun. “Alright. Rules: No below the belt. If the ball doesn’t explode on impact, you’re still in. We start on opposite sides of the battle field and have two minutes before you may shoot your gun. Sango will signal it by shooting hers. If you get shot, you raise the gun above your head and it will signal end of the game. Got it?”
Sesshoumaru nodded and picked his gun up. “Can do.”
Kagome smiled and jumped onto her four wheeler. “See you on the field,” she called as she drove off.
Kouga smiled. “Alright Sesshoumaru, follow me. I’ll show you your start point. Kick her ass real good. She needs it and I could use the money.” He chuckled as he took off, Sesshoumaru following close behind him.
They reached their positions and Kagome took off into the woods, climbing up a tree and jumped from one branch to another, Soon she reached Sesshoumaru’s side and jumped down onto an old tire. Straightening up, she quickly took up position behind a couple of barrels and smiled to herself.
Sesshoumaru had stood right where he had been left and watched the surrounding area, waiting for the sounding shot that would be coming soon enough.
The shot fired, right on time and he moved forward, beginning the hunt. He smirked as he caught scent of Kagome and jumped up into the trees.
Kagome watched the trees above, knowing that her scent was stronger up there than in the spot she hid, due to the rusting barrels. Soon enough Sesshoumaru had flown over her hiding spot and she grinned, knowing it wouldn’t be much longer before the game was over.
She took several deep breaths and called forth her energies, surrounding them around her, knowing it would hide her scent more then sufficiently. She darted out of her spot and moved swiftly and quietly toward a small alcove of trees to her left, aware of everything around her.
Sesshoumaru frowned as her scent disappeared. He had reached her side of the field and had turned back to follow the path again. Jumping out of the trees he looked around him and spotted a slight movement to his right, headed into some deep undergrowth. He turned and shot at it and was surprised to see a bunny scurry off from fright.
Kagome cheered silently in her head. He had given away his position way to easily. She quickly moved forward, darting from tree to cover and back again, heading in the direction. As she got close, she slowed down and circled the area, carefully taking note of every little movement around her. She wasn’t going to let this demon take away her title, no matter what.
Sesshoumaru found himself in a small tree fort not to far from the spot he had fired his gun, watching the area as well as he could from his spot. The windows were narrow, blocking most of his view of the ground below him. He didn’t risk sticking his head out the window to get a better view.
Kagome frowned as stared at her surroundings. She had seen the spot were the paint ball had hit, the bright blue painfully clear on the tree trunk and surrounding ferns. Behind her stood a clearing, where it seemed the ball had come from. She reached out and parted the ferns around her. Little rabbit tracks seemed to run in the opposite direction of the clearing. She smiled in amusement.
Standing up she turned toward the clearing and looked around her. It looked deserted, but she could feel the demon presence somewhere near by. Being careful and sticking to the shadows and tree trucks, she made her way forward. She didn’t want to be caught off guard, so she watched everything, double checking before she moved.
She found herself at the base of Kouga’s favorite tree fort and frowned as she glanced up at it. The foldable ladder was inside, leaving her stuck on the ground below. She shook her head and quickly moved off. She had a feeling Sesshoumaru had been there. She couldn’t tell if he was still or not, so she was careful and quite.
She ducked behind a tree and watched the two windows she could see, trying to determine if anyone was in it or not. There was a quick movement and Kagome aimed her gun, waiting for another chance to fire.
Sesshoumaru stared out one of the windows. He had thought he had seen Kagome, but he could have been wrong. He didn’t smell her anywhere. And there wasn’t any noises out there to give away her position if she was. He moved to a window and glanced out before heading to the next, waiting patiently for any noise or movement.
Kagome smiled as she took aim on his figure. ‘You’re going down,’ she thought as she fired her gun. It hit the side of the building and she cursed loudly while taking off to the left.
Sesshoumaru smirked and quickly followed. He had her now. She was too close to escape far enough away to be safe. He perched on a tree limb a short distance from her and fired his gun in the opposite direction of her, watching her run further into the brush around her.
He followed at a safe distance. She climbed up into a tree and soon was in a small wooden box. Inside the box there were wholes every where, giving her limited viewing, but plenty of cover. She could spot just about anything moving close to the box. Turning in all directions, she watched them closely, taking note of a small movement from the direction she had come from. She pressed her face to one of the wholes and watched more closely as she caught the movement again.
She took careful aim. ‘I’m not going to miss this time,’ she thought. ‘I want that money and I’m not giving up my title, to anyone.’
Sesshoumaru moved again and Kagome shot, hitting him square on the shoulder. Bright pink evident to the imaginary wound. Kagome popped up and whooped.
“Hell yeah! Fucking won again! Who’s the man? Who’s the man?” she shouted and jumped out, scrambling to the ground. “Good game! But I told you I could beat you,” she bragged, walking up to him.
He shook his head. “I would have gotten you if you had missed.”
She shook her head. “I doubt it. Now, I have money to go collect. Care to join me?” she asked.
Sesshoumaru smiled and walked beside her. “How’d you cover your scent?” he asked.
Kagome shrugged. “It’s a secret. Maybe one day you’ll find out, but not until then.”
They reached their friends and Kouga groaned. “Damn it! I needed that money!” he shouted.
Sango laughed as she pulled out the money and the note book, dividing the money equally between her, Kagome and Shippo.
Miroku shook his head. “I know, its hard to get her, isn’t it?” he asked, elbowing Sesshoumaru. “Inu Yasha couldn’t even do it, and he was better than all of us.”
“A lucky shot,” Sesshoumaru said, watching Kagome count her money. “If she wouldn’t have gotten me, I would have won for sure.”
Shippo laughed. “That’s what we all say.”
Kagome wrapped an arm around Shippo’s neck and smiled. “Alright, I get Shippo and Sango, seeming as they’re the only ones that have any faith in me.”
Kouga laughed. “Well, I’m on Sesshoumaru’s team with Miroku and Rin.”
They divided up the remaining members and soon were off into the battle field.
Sango lay on the ground and panted. “My fucking god! I was so close! So fucking close!”
Kagome laughed. “We won at least. Good job spotting Sesshoumaru Shippo.”
“Thanks,” he said. “If Hitten hadn’t been hit, I don’t think I would have noticed him.”
Sesshoumaru had six paint spots on his outfit. As soon as Shippo had spotted him, Shippo, Kagome, Sango and Kaugra had all shot in his direction, each nailing him at least once. He sat down by them. “You all are better then I thought you would be at this.”
Sango sat up. “We play a lot. At least once a month, if we can.”
“It’s super fun,” Shippo added. “And it helps hone your abilities these days.”
Sesshoumaru nodded. “So, now what?” he asked.
“We go out to eat,” Kagome said, smiling at the demon.
Kagome watched Sesshoumaru cook them diner. He had quite the talent, but rarely did it.
“What’s the occasion?” she asked, sitting on the stool at the island.
“I’ve been here a year,” he answered.
“Has it really been that long? It feels so much longer.”
He turned around to face her. “Yes. Only a year. I think I found an apartment too.”
Kagome frowned at that. She was used to him living with her. The thought of him moving out hadn’t crossed her mind. She didn’t like the idea of him leaving. “Are you sure you want to get your own place?” she asked. “I mean, you are more than welcome here.”
He nodded. “I think it’s time I moved out. This was only a temporary place.”
“Alright,” Kagome said. “If you really want to. I can’t make you stay.”
He frowned as he watched her leave the kitchen. He didn’t want to move out, but they were getting to close for comfort and she needed privacy. She hadn’t found an interesting man yet, and it was starting to concern him that she hadn’t been on a date at all since he had moved in. He had thought that if he moved out that it would be easier for her to start dating again. After all, he was her ex-husbands brother.
Kagome drifted to the living room and laid on the couch. She liked Sesshoumaru living with her. It made her feel less lonely. He was fun to talk to and hang out with. He made watching movies a blast and dinner wasn’t lonely any more.
She stared at the ceiling and sighed. If he moved out she’d be alone. She was already sure that she’d never meet a guy that she liked. They just weren’t attractive to her.
She sighed and accepted the fact that he was going to move out, whether she wanted him to, or not. It was for her good, and she knew it.
Sesshoumaru loaded the last box into the moving truck and turned as Kagome came out of the house.
“Are you sure you want to do this? You could stay here for another month if you want to,” she offered.
He smiled and shook his head. “You need your space. I’m only going to be on the other side of town. If you ever need company, just call.”
She nodded and watched as he got into his car and drove off. Turning around she walked back into the house, noticing how quiet it was now that she was by herself. She sat on her couch that had been brought back up from the basement and couldn’t help but to feel alone.
Sesshoumaru sat in his new living room and sighed. It was quiet. A little too quiet for his comfort. He had gotten to used to living with Kagome. He felt alone and vulnerable here.
Kagome would normally have sat next to him and suggested a movie or would have pulled out the her new chess board, which he had bought her for Christmas, as her old one had been falling apart at the seams.
He went into his kitchen and looked around. It felt cold without Kagome in it cooking something or sitting at the island making small talk or telling him the latest gossip from her friends. Turning around he looked into his dinning room.
She would have been in there sitting at the table, going over the news paper or doing some new puzzle she had picked up on a whim. She would offer him to join her in putting it together. The table was empty of her small clutter which collected at one end.
He shook his head and moved down the hallway, toward his room. The hall didn’t have the normal sound of her sleeping in her room, or water running from her master bathroom.
He couldn’t take the quiet loneliness any longer. He grabbed his coat and left the house, thinking some loud music and a drink could get rid of it.
Kagome found herself at the bar. Sesshoumaru had moved out two months ago, and she didn’t like being at home since. She spent most of her time now at her friend’s houses or here. She couldn’t stand the quiet of her house. The loneliness there. She sipped on her drink at the bar and watched the news on the tv above her.
Someone sat next to her and she scooted over just a bit. She didn’t like the people here. They seemed to rude and loud for her tastes, but it was the cheapest bar that she had found.
“What are you doing here?” She heard a familiar voice ask.
Looking up she smiled in pleasant surprise. “Hey stranger! How have you been?” she asked, seeing Sesshoumaru sitting next to her.
He shrugged. “I’ve been fine. Working all day for the most part. How about you?”
“Keeping myself busy with work and friends. You liking your new place?”
“It’s alright,” he answered. “You haven’t come to check it out yet though.”
“I’ve been redecorating the house. Been busy,” she said with a shrug. “And it’s not like you’ve been over either,” she commented.
He looked away. “Work and what not.”
Kagome nodded. They sat in silence for a while, watching the news together.
“Do you want to come over for a drink?” Kagome asked, not looking away from the tv.
“Sure,” Sesshoumaru replied.
They left the bar and found themselves sitting at Kagome’s island playing chess. They both had a mixed drink. Sesshoumaru had already commented on Kagome’s new furniture, and enjoyed the ease that had come between them from doing this time and time again.
“Have you met anyone new yet?” he asked, moving a piece on the board.
She shook her head. “Don’t really feel like dating. How about you?” she asked.
He shook his head as well. “Haven’t had the time because of work.”
He watched her as she moved another piece on the board and wondered what it would feel like to hold her close to him. To have her all to himself. To be able to kiss her whenever he wanted to.
He shook the thought out and took his turn. “I think I might have some single friends.”
She laughed. “No. I’m fine being single for now. I’m kind of enjoying it.”
“How so?” he asked.
“Well, for starters, I don’t have to worry about another person. I can go where ever I want to and do whatever I want to. There’s no one to answer to. It’s nice.”
Sesshoumaru looked up from the board and caught her eye. “Are you sure you like being alone?” he asked, his voice serious.
Kagome looked away. “It’s alright. I’d rather be single right now.”
He frowned. “You need to find yourself somebody, Kagome. It’s the whole reason you got a divorce. So you could move on with your life and find someone that wants to be with you too.”
He caught her hand and tugged it slightly, causing her to look at him. “Don’t just sit around your house. Go look for him. Do it for yourself.”
‘But I already found him,’ she thought to herself before looking away again. “It’s getting late and I have work in the morning.”
He nodded and watched her head up to her room before sighing and rubbing his forehead. Just thinking of her with another man made him hurt, but it was for her own good. She wanted somebody and he couldn’t protect her forever.
Sesshoumaru watched as Kagome threw some bread out on the lake and a group of ducks came waddling up. He wished there was some way he could make her see she needed to find someone, but she wouldn’t listen. She had claimed that she had met a guy she was interested in once, but when Sesshoumaru asked her about him, she shut her mouth and wouldn’t say anything else.
He frowned and studied her. She seemed happy and content. He couldn’t place it, but there was something around her whenever she spotted him that made her shine. Shippo had told him he was sure Kagome was seeing someone, but when questioned about it he just shrugged.
Kagome spotted the frown and came over to him. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Have you found a boyfriend yet?” he asked her.
She shrugged and turned to face the lake. “Not really. I’m interested in someone, but I don’t know what to say to him.”
“Have you tried asking them out?” he asked.
“No,” she answered. “It’s a bit more complicated than that.”
“How so?”
She shrugged again and sat on the bench next to him, resting her head on his shoulder like old friends do. “I don’t know. It just is.”
He wrapped his arm around her and leaned back. “And does he know you’re interested?”
She laughed. “If that was the case it wouldn’t be so difficult, now would it? But I think he might be interested in me. Just don’t quote me on that.”
“Who is this mystery man?” he asked, prodding her into telling him.
“Nobody important. Just someone I know.”
He sighed loudly, startling her. She sat up and faced him. “What?” she asked.
“You have to get out there. You have to put a bit of your heart on the line to get anywhere with this guy. Just tell me who he is and I’ll help you out any way I can.”
She shifted and stood up. “Let’s go swing. I haven’t done that in a long time.”
He grabbed her arm and pulled her back down on to the bench. “You are not leaving this bench until you tell me who you have met and let me give you advice on how to tell him you like him.”
She stared at him in wonderment. “You are a blind one, aren’t you?” she asked.
He looked at her in confusion. “What are you talking about woman?”
She shook her head and stood back up. “Never mind. Just forget I met someone and let’s go play on the swings.”
He pulled her back down and glared at her. “Kagome. You are going to sit here and talk to me. Stop beating around the bush and tell me who the hell you’ve met,” he growled out, not letting go of her arm.
“It’s not important who I met.” She tried pulling her arm away. “Just fucking drop it.”
He shook his head. “You can’t do this to yourself. You deserve so much more than that.”
She slumped into the bench and sighed. “I’m happy with what I have with him. We can never be more then friends.”
“You can find a way and I can help you,” he said.
She looked up at him and shook her head. “You could, but it’s probably not going to happen.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And why not?”
“Because he’s a very close friend of mine,” she answered, looking away.
He frowned. “Well, than it should be easier that way.”
“No.” she shook her head and sighed. “He’s my ex-husbands brother. How is that easy?” she asked, still not looking at him.
His eyes widened as he looked down at her. He had no idea that she had feelings for him. She had never shown any interest in him before. He knew he had started having feelings for a while back, but had denied them.
She stood up. “I’m going home. I really don’t feel like hanging out anymore.”
Sesshoumaru stood up and grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. He swept down and caught her lips with his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
Kagome smiled as she helped Sesshoumaru carry in the last of his boxes. Their relationship was more amazing then anything she could have imagined it ever being. Her friends weren’t surprised to find out they were seeing each other, assuming they had been the whole time as it was.
A month had gone by since the day in the park and Kagome had insisted he moved back in, which he had obliged, his apartment being to lonely as it was. He smiled as Kagome walked in the house.
“So, you’re not moving out again. End of story,” she called, placing the last box in the living room.
He shook his head. “Only if you will marry me,” he said, pulling a box out of his pocket.
Kagome stared at him blankly and a smile slowly formed. The question had blown her mind, almost literally. It had taken a moment for it to register.
“Of course!” she yelled, jumping up to hug him. She kissed him soundly.
Sesshoumaru pulled back and smiled. He opened the box, a silver ring laid with a simple diamond ring laid in it. He took it out and slipped it on one Kagome’s finger. “I have one more question to ask and then you can celebrate all you want. Will you also except being my mate?”
Kagome smiled bigger and started pulling him up the stairs. “I’m going to fuck you and then we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N : Just because I was excited about posting the other one for the first time in 4 years, I decided to squeal in my head (I get yelled at librarians otherwise) and post another one excitedly. O.o I seriously need help. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention this, but DISCLAIMER: If I owned Sesshoumaru, none of you would ever known he exsited. Espiecally Kagome. Maybe Inu Yasha too. Duct tape fixes a lot of things. So does Super Glue. *smirks evily* MUHAHAHAHAHAH*coughcough* No more of that... Plain and simple, I don't own any of them. Shame, but true. So, anywho.... read on Inu Lovers, read on.
Ja Ne!