When Two Paths Entwine

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This chapter is co-authored by Minni_May_Yukabara and Aurora_Nyte (who is l3lackrose at A Single Spark)

AN: This chapter contains explicit content. If you prefer the edited version, you can find it at Fanfiction.net.
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Chapter 11: The Point Of No Return

Inuyasha stared at the little face in wonder; each perfect feature a testament to his lineage. Delicate but strong brows topped a thick fringe of dark lashes that brushed lightly against pale, smooth cheeks. The small but well-defined nose sat above lips that looked soft yet masculine. A finely chiselled chin and high cheekbones added to the beauty of the sleeping child. There was no doubt about it, this was Sesshoumaru’s son. From the shining crop of silver hair to the small toes that peeked out of the sheets, he was the spitting image of his father.

Shaking his head, he attempted to gather his thoughts, totally stunned at this latest turn in events. His shoulders slumped when he remembered the rather complicated situation that had taken over their lives; a situation that completely monopolised their time and energy, and left little room for anything else. ‘What is he going to do?’ he wondered as he continued to study the child’s face. A quiet laugh escaped him as he tried to picture Sesshoumaru’s face. ‘How is he going to react when he finds out?’ Inuyasha couldn’t begin to imagine. He knew, without a doubt though, that this would be his brother’s undoing.

The sudden sound of movement brought him from his musings. Turning his head, he looked at the woman leaning against the doorframe, noting her pale and tense features. A mixture of feelings stirred within him, ranging from frustration to pity. Inuyasha’s shoulders slumped further as the realisation of his predicament settled in. This little piece of knowledge had him in a quite bind. His gaze turned back to the boy as a sigh of weariness escaped him. ‘Now what do I do?’

Every nerve ending in Kagome’s body screamed with tension. A loud pounding in her head accompanied the throbbing rhythm of contracting muscles, all resulting in the worst headache she’d ever had. ‘This can’t be happening’ she chanted over and over to herself as she watched Inuyasha reach out to stroke Ryu’s cheek. She suffered many conflicting emotions as she helplessly observed the touching scene. One part of her wanted to scream at him to leave, while the other was completely awestruck by their obvious similarities. Too many thoughts rushed through her head at a speed which made logic an impossible task. A groan escaped her at a sudden intense throb of pain. ‘I can’t think like this. I need something for this headache.’ She turned and stumbled back towards the kitchen, heading straight for the jug. At that moment, she wished that she had something stronger than coffee. She would definitely drown herself in it if she did. A rueful smile tugged at her mouth. ‘Not that that would help.’ She scowled as she pictured herself in a drunken babble with her boss. ‘Stop it!’ she chastised herself mentally. Another picture floated into her head, of golden eyes and warm embraces. She lost herself for a moment to her memories, once again swamped with every emotion she experienced from that one brief moment of bliss. A dry laugh escaped her as she berated herself again. ‘You still think of it like that? After everything that’s happened?’ She shook her head as she continued her silent debate. ‘Get real Kagome. It was the first step to hell! Nothing more!’ Her teeth clenched as she realised how scattered her thoughts were becoming. ‘Pull it together girl. This is important.’ With a growing sense of dread, she reached for the jug, pausing upon the realisation that she still held the charm in her hand. She stared down at it a moment, wondering again at its purpose. This was another thing she needed to solve. However, now was not the time. With a sigh, she buried it inside her bra, feeling a strangely comforting sensation as the cold metal touched her skin. Pushing the mystery aside, she began the mundane task of making coffee, her mind flitting from one place to another, seemingly incapable of holding any one thought. She went through the rest of the motions, her body on automatic pilot as her mind continued to wander. She reached into a small cupboard and took out some pain killers, wishing desperately that she could solve her problems as easily. After swallowing the tablets, she finished making their drinks, unaware of the presence behind her. She jumped when she turned to find Inuyasha standing quietly in the doorway, watching her intently. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she took a deep breath, hoping that her voice would work.

“I’ve made you some coffee…” she trailed off, suddenly feeling nervous.

With a nod, he walked to the table. He sat down and looked around the tiny kitchen. Once again, he was struck by the meagre existence that Kagome led. His nephew deserved more than this. He was a Taisho, and should live according to his station. He quieted his thoughts and watched her sombrely, trying to understand the choices that she’d made.

Kagome’s nerves tensed further at his expression. She wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but it didn’t look good. Inuyasha had never shown her anything but warmth and kindness, and she found his resentful stare a little difficult to take. With a weary sigh, she placed his coffee in front of him before sitting in a chair on the opposite side of the table. ‘He must think that I’m a real bitch.’ The thought was very unsettling. She really liked him, and not just as a boss, but as a person too. The possibility that he might think less of her was surprisingly upsetting. So lost was she in her self-pity that she jumped at the sound of his voice.

“Kagome…” he waited for her attention, feeling pity at her sad and helpless expression, “I know this must be difficult… I can’t imagine how you’d be feeling right now…”

He paused, frustrated at his inability to find the right words. “I guess that I’m finding it hard to understand why you’ve kept this to yourself.”

Her gaze lowered in shame. This was one of the things that she dreaded most. How could she explain something to him that she couldn’t figure out herself. She always had an answer when questioned in the past, and she’d actually believed that her reasons were sound. Now, she wasn’t sure. After seeing her son with his uncle, and knowing in her heart how right the picture had been, she didn’t feel the confidence that she once had in her decisions.

“It’s… it’s not…” she sighed in frustration as the words she sought continued to evade her.

“Kagome,” he frowned as he leaned forward, trying to contain his irritation. “I know that this isn’t an easy thing to deal with. I do know a little about the situation, but still…”

His pleading glance held hers. “Don’t you think that Sesshoumaru has a right to know about his son?”

Kagome blinked, her eyes moving away from his intense stare, unable to hold it any longer. “How can I tell him Inuyasha? He’s engaged. How can I do…”

“You have to. It’s his son. He would want to know Kagome.”

Inuyasha struggled to keep his frustration from showing. He couldn’t understand her hesitation. It was obvious to him what had to be done. Why couldn’t she see it too?

“How long did you intend to keep this secret?”

“Inuyasha, I didn’t mean for things to get like this.” She shook her head sadly. “I made some really, really stupid mistakes… and now… now we’re all paying for it.”

His irritation fled at the sight of her tear-filled eyes, replaced instantly by sympathy as she covered her face with both hands and sobbed in silent misery. He stood and walked around the table to sit in the chair beside her. Hesitantly reaching out, he placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to offer some comfort.

“Please, don’t cry.”

He felt helpless as her sobbing grew louder, his arm creeping around her shoulders and pulling her to him. As annoyed as he felt, he couldn’t stand her despair. Taking a deep breath, he tried again to get through to her.

“Kagome… please, listen to me.”

The pleading note of his request caught her attention and she raised her tear-filled eyes, hopelessness and despair radiating from their deep blue depths.

“I need to tell you something… something that might help you realise what you need to do.”

Her soft sigh and brief nod indicated her acceptance, prompting him to continue. “Two years ago, my brother came home from a weekend trip, in a state that I’ve never seen him in before. I asked him what was wrong, but Sesshoumaru, being who he is, told me to mind my own business. For the next two weeks, I watched him without saying a word. He was distracted, couldn’t seem to keep his mind on anything. He didn’t sleep much, and wasn’t interested in eating. His moods changed drastically from one minute to the next, and he started losing his temper with everyone.”

Inuyasha sighed as the memories filled his head. “After one particularly bad scene at the office, I finally decided that it was time to break my silence.”

Kagome watched him avidly, wondering where all of this was leading. She knew that he referred to the weekend she’d spent with Sesshoumaru, but couldn’t quite bring herself to believe that she had that kind of effect on his brother. A tightening sensation began in her chest as Inuyasha continued to speak, intensifying with his every word.

“I cornered him in his office and refused to leave until he told me what was bugging him.” Inuyasha laughed as he recalled his brother’s rage in the face of his stubbornness. “In the end, he finally caved in and told me.”

Inuyasha paused to look at her meaningfully. “He spoke of a woman named Kay, and a weekend that turned out to be a hell of a lot more than he’d expected. I tell you what, I was stunned by the whole thing.”

He shook his head, a smile forming as he let the memories replay. “I remember standing there, not knowing whether to laugh or feel bad for him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look that way before. He seemed so… lost, as though he couldn’t find the will to do anything. I asked him why he hadn’t arranged to see her again.”

Kagome’s breath held in anticipation as she waited for him to continue.

“He told me that she’d left really early in the morning, before he woke up. She didn’t leave a contact number, and he didn’t know her surname. He thought that was the way she wanted things.” Inuyasha paused when he noticed the tears welling in her eyes again. “He tried really hard to put you out of his mind Kagome. I watched him struggling for weeks… trying to get on with his life as though nothing had happened. Eventually, it got to me.”

A short humourless laugh escaped him. “I’d waited for years to see the bastard get knocked from his pedestal, and then, after it finally happened, I couldn’t stand the sight of his miserable face.”

Kagome gasped, her tear-filled eyes showing her surprise.

“You find that hard to believe?” he asked, noting her expression.

She blinked and opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. All she could manage was a slight shrug before she lowered her eyes again, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze.

“Well I tell you Kagome, it’s the truth. I watched him sink further and further into…” he paused, searching for the right word, “I guess depression is the only thing I can call it. He didn’t respond to anything, not even Rin.”

He smiled when her shocked gaze lifted to his. “We all tried to snap him out of it, but nothing worked. Not until I suggested that he look for you. I think it was the first time in weeks that I’d seen anything close to enthusiasm on his face.”

Again, he released a sigh, the smile suddenly leaving his face. “He searched for you for almost two years. In fact, it was only a couple of months ago that he finally gave up.”

Kagome blinked in confusion. “But… I thought… What about Yura? Wasn’t he engaged to her…?”

“Kagome, he only decided to get engaged to her after he realised that he wasn’t going to find you.”

“But… wasn’t he seeing her?” her mind was desperately trying to make sense of everything he said, while her heart beat madly with the hope that all of it was true. “From what I understood, he’s been engaged to her for a couple of months now… so surely, he had to have been seeing her some time to make that kind of commitment, right?”

Inuyasha sighed and grabbed her hand in his. “Kagome, listen to me. You have to believe me when I tell you that Sesshoumaru does not love Yura.”

She blinked, now totally confused. “Then why Inuyasha? Why…? Why would he make such a commitment to someone he doesn’t love?”

Inuyasha closed his eyes and took a deep breath before looking at her again. “I wish I could tell you that, but I can’t. It’s not my explanation to make. You have to talk to my brother. He’s the only one that can tell you what you want to know.”

Kagome’s eyes widened in fright at the thought. “I can’t!”

“Why?” he looked at her surprised.

Her mind went blank, not one single reasonable explanation to be found. “Please Inuyasha… I can’t… I just can’t.”

Irritation started working its way into his system again. He tried to figure out what could possibly hold her in this state of mind, but was left baffled by her fear. ‘Does she think Sesshoumaru would reject his child, or is it something else?’ Try as he might, he couldn’t make sense of it, and the whole situation was starting to annoy him greatly. ‘Why can’t she see sense?’ It was blatantly obvious to him what needed to be done.

“Kagome, you have to speak with him, whether you like it or not.” He steeled himself against her pleading look. “You have to tell him about his son.”

Her head shook frantically in silent denial, rising panic refusing her a reply. She knew he was right, but still couldn’t bring herself to face the daunting task he requested.

He was losing his patience. Her silence and fear were starting to grate on his nerves. ‘Why is she being so stubborn about this?’

“I can’t understand why you’re being so unreasonable. You must know that what you’re doing is wrong.” His anger flared as she continued to stare at him blankly, her unwavering fear held firmly to her ashen features. “Why are you being like this?”

He had the sudden urge to shake her, to yell at her; anything to make her face the truth. “How can you do this to your son Kagome? Don’t you think that he might need his father too?”

Her head lowered, her slightly flushed features the only sign that she’d heard him. “Sesshoumaru can give him the things that you can’t. Don’t you want that for your son? Or would you rather that he kept living this deprived existence, just because you’re too scared to face his father?”

Kagome blanched at the note of contempt in his voice. It cut her deeply. Her mind ran over his words, as stared with unseeing eyes at her nervously fidgeting fingers. His words stirred the feelings of guilt that she had lived with for so long. She knew he was right, knew it with every fibre of her being. However, it did little to stop the anger that stirred inside her. Her emotions flared to life, in defence of her wounded pride. ‘How dare he say that!’ her mind raged while her fingers clenched into tight fists. ‘He doesn’t know anything! He’s got no right to pass judgement on me!’ Eyes flashing in anger, she looked at him, her gaze narrowed, and her ire plain to see.

“Just who do you think you are?” she noted his look of surprise at her attack. “You have no idea what I’ve been through! What gives you the right to judge me?!”

Inuyasha blinked at her unexpected reaction. “I’m not judging you. I’m simply trying to make you realise how much better off your son would be…”

“My son is just fine thank you!” she hissed in rage as she stood from her seat, glaring at him angrily. “I’ve done the best that I can for him!”

Inuyasha felt instant remorse at his poor choice of words. “Kagome, I didn’t mean it like that…”

He stopped suddenly, feeling another presence in the room. He gasped in surprise, as his eyes caught the worried glance of the young boy in the doorway. His rapt attention held as the child tottered awkwardly towards his mother, his anxious gaze flitting back and forth in uncertainty. He stopped beside her, gently tugging at her dress to gain her attention.

Kagome gasped and turned to see her son’s face looking at her in concern. She reached out automatically, gathering him to her in a tight embrace.

“Oh honey, I’m so sorry. Did I wake you up?”

She ran her hands soothingly over his short silver hair as she placed gentle kisses on his forehead. Her gaze moved back to Inuyasha, watching his expression closely. His face held a look of wonder as his gaze took in every inch of her son’s appearance. A small twinge of emotion tugged at her chest and she quickly lowered her eyes. The feeling of unreality was slowly taking her over. This night had been sheer madness, from beginning to end. ‘Hopefully I’ll wake up tomorrow and find that it’s all just a bad dream.’

Inuyasha tore his gaze away from the child, who was nestled contentedly on his mother’s shoulder. He looked at Kagome, noting her tensely held features. He regretted his earlier words, or at least the lack of thought that went into them. Repressing a sigh, he lifted his hand and smoothed away the knot of tension that formed on his brow. ‘I guess it’s my inherent temper. Always popping up at the worst times.’ He wanted desperately to fill the awkward silence that had fallen in the room, and searched his brain for words that might amend his former blunder. His glance fell again to the child in her arms, a small grin tugging at his lips.

“What’s his name?”

Kagome blinked and looked at him in surprise. “Ryu… well, actually its Ryushiro.”

Ryu’s head popped up when he heard his name, and his large eyes fell on the strange man that sat beside them.

“Hello” Inuyasha’s grin broadened at the curious inspection he received. “I’m Inuyasha.”

Ryu’s gaze shifted briefly to his mother before it returned to the man. After a few more silent minutes, he smiled.

The change in his expression caught Inuyasha off-guard. His heart gave a little twist and he felt a sudden urge to snatch the boy into his arms. He refrained from doing so, unsure of Kagome’s reaction. He was surprised when the child leaned forward, holding a tiny hand out to him. He looked at Kagome inquiringly, watching her expression change from surprise to irritation then to something he couldn’t quite define. She finally lifted her eyes to his, a look of reluctant acceptance on her face.

“He wants you to pick him.” She leaned forward, extending her arm with the offer of her son.

Inuyasha was touched that she would do so, especially after their heated words. He reached out hesitantly and lifted the small body onto his lap, staring down into the eyes that watched him with something akin to awe in their golden depths. The tiny smile brightened as small fingers grabbed a handful of his ponytail that had fallen over his shoulder. After carefully inspecting the strands, the boy’s gaze returned to his face. Seconds later, he felt the child’s warm hands touching his cheeks. Before he could think, he lifted Ryu and held him closely, in a gentle embrace. He was surprised by the rush of love he felt for the child that he had only just discovered, and couldn’t help but think of his brother. ‘How is he going to feel when he finally gets to hold his son for the first time?’ He couldn’t begin to imagine his reaction, but he was quite certain that that would be another moment when his brother would show his feelings. Again he felt the need to convince Kagome of her responsibilities, not only to her son, but to Sesshoumaru as well. He looked at her determinedly, noting the way her body stiffened and her suddenly wary expression.

Kagome braced herself as she noticed the resolute stare that he gave her. She was already suffering so many conflicting emotions at the sight of her son in his arms. Her mind conjured up images of another silver-haired man, creating scenarios that left her breathless. She tried to dispel them, focussing her attention on Inuyasha.

“Kagome, I hope you believe me when I tell you that I didn’t mean to insult you before. I’m sure that you’ve done everything that you can for him.” He indicated to the child he held. “All I’m trying to say is that he would have more advantages with both his parents caring for his needs.”

He paused a moment, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. “Don’t you agree?”

After a short hesitation, she nodded. She couldn’t deny the truth of his words. Any child would benefit from having both parents in their life. However, this also brought another frightening possibility.

“I don’t want to lose him Inuyasha.” The tears came to her eyes again. “I couldn’t bear that. I just couldn’t.”

Inuyasha looked at her in shocked disbelief. “What? You think that Sesshoumaru would take Ryu away from you?”

She gave a bitter laugh, “Oh come on Inuyasha, you know that woman’s capable of anything. What if she convinces him to…”

“You can get that crap out of your head right now!” he told her angrily. “It won’t happen!”

She blinked, still unsure what to think. “How do I know that it won’t?”

“Damn it Kagome! I know my brother better than you, okay?”

He stopped suddenly when he noticed the tension that filled the little body in his arms. Guilt assailed him at Ryu’s worried face. He murmured soothingly to the child, relieved when he felt him relax. Looking back at Kagome, he was careful to keep his voice calm as he continued to speak.

“I don’t want to put you in this position Kagome, but I can see that there’s no other way.”

A feeling of dread grew inside her. She watched him warily, knowing already what was to come.

“You’re not going to believe me, no matter what I tell you.” He honestly regretted having to force her hand, but he would do what he had to. “So you leave me no choice. Either you tell him about Ryu, or I will.”

Kagome swallowed, blinking rapidly to dispel the tears that welled in her eyes as her heart gave a painful twist. She wanted nothing but to crawl into her bed and cry herself to sleep. She struggled with her emotions, unwilling to let Inuyasha or Ryu witness her misery.

Inuyasha had his own personal battle. Her obvious distress brought a need to pacify her, to take back the words that caused it. However, he knew that he’d done the right thing, and there was no turning back now. Glancing down at his nephew, he was more convinced of his decision. ‘This is the only way.’


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The early morning light seeped through the gaps in the blinds, slashing a trail of warmth across Sesshoumaru’s naked chest and trailing up towards his face. His eyelids fluttered and slowly opened. He lay still for a moment, as his sleep laden mind lifted from the fog of unconsciousness. A second later, he was upright and swinging his legs impatiently off the bed. His robe was slung carelessly around him as he strode impatiently from his room. He crossed the hall and stood at his brother’s door, his hand held ready to knock. He paused when his senses told him that the room was empty. With a frown, he pushed the door open and entered, stopping in the middle to look around. Apparently, his brother hadn’t come home yet. This knowledge caused his frown to deepen, irritation and anxiety warring inside him. Clenching his jaws, he turned and made his way back to his room. He sat on his bed and grabbed the telephone, dialling the number of his brother’s mobile. His impatience heightened when it rang out, and he slammed the receiver back in its place.

“Where the hell is he?”

“Who dad?” Rin stood in the doorway, rubbing sleepily at her eyes.

Sesshoumaru smiled as he watched her trudge sleepily across the room and sit on the bed next to him. She lifted her hand and swiped at the tussled strands of hair that floated into her eyes. A tired yawn escaped her as she leaned against him and smiled.

“Who are you looking for?”

He hesitated a moment before replying. “No-one important Rin. Just a business associate.”

He already had more than enough to deal with, and the last thing he needed was an endless round of curiosity from his daughter. He decided to steer the subject elsewhere.

“Did you have a good time last night?”

Her radiant smile more than answered his question. “Oh yes dad! I didn’t think it was going to be that much fun.”

She stopped suddenly and frowned. “I wonder if Kagome’s alright though. Have you talked to Uncle Yaya this morning?”

“No, not yet.” He lifted himself from the bed, bringing her with him. “We should get a move on. We have to be at Yura’s house by ten o’clock.”

Rin cringed at the unpleasant thought. The last thing she wanted to do was spend the morning with that woman, but she had no choice. This was one of those family occasions that required an appearance from her, as well as her father. With a little sigh of defeat, she shuffled her feet towards the door, pausing to look at him inquiringly.

“Are you going to ask Uncle Yaya about Kagome before we go?”

“No Rin, I’ll speak to him when I get back.”


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The sharp ring of the telephone pierced through the layers of fog that clouded her brain. With a groan, Kagome rolled over and covered her head with the pillow. ‘Not now’ her sleep-laden mind protested against the intrusion, ‘it’s too early.’ The shrill chime of the offending instrument continued to blare, earning a grunt of disgust. She pushed back the covers and struggled to sit up. It took a few seconds to clear her mind, then she stood and she made an unsteady path to the hallway. She glared at noisy object in resentment, cursing the person who invented them. With a sigh of resignation, she walked the remaining distance and lifted the receiver.

“Hello”

“Ah Kagome, I’m sorry to wake you dear” Kaede’s voice spoke gently through the earpiece.

“Oh, that’s okay Kaede” she blinked rapidly, attempting to dispel the rest of the fog from her brain. “What can I do for you?”

“Ah, I’m afraid I have to ask a favour. I’m at the office, working on that business plan for the talks tomorrow. I really could use your help dear. I don’t think I’m going to get it done on my own. Do you think you could spare some time?”

Kagome gritted her teeth, and held back a sigh. She was in no state to go to work today. However, she was unwilling to let Kaede down. After all the woman had done for her, the least she could do was give her a hand.

“Sure Kaede, I’ll be there as soon as I can. I just need to get dressed and have something to eat.”

“Ah, thank you Kagome, you’re an angel.”

“I’m not sure about that,” she replied laughingly, “but I’ll see you soon.”

She put the receiver back in its niche and stood looking at it as the events of the previous evening crashed in on her. Her chest tightened and tears welled in her eyes. With a groan of impatience and a shake of her head, she stomped towards the kitchen, determination in every step. ‘I haven’t got time for this’ she chanted silently as made herself some coffee. She was just grateful that Kikyou had taken Ryu out for the day. The apartment was quiet, a soothing relief to her raw nerves. She sighed as she mentally prepared herself for the coming day, hoping against hope that it might prove less uneventful than the one prior.


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Sesshoumaru paced restlessly through the hall, a sigh escaping him as he glanced at his watch. It was two o’clock in the afternoon and his brother had yet to make an appearance. He picked up the phone and dialled his number again, jaws clenched tight as he listened to the continual chime. Suppressing a groan of irritation, he hung up and turned away. ‘Why isn’t he answering?’ The apprehension that he felt upon waking that morning had plagued him constantly since. It grew rapidly as the hours passed without a word from his sibling. He had returned from Yura’s house an hour earlier and proceeded to call everyone who might know of his Inuyasha’s whereabouts. To his utter chagrin, he discovered that not one of his brother’s friends had seen or heard from him that day. Raking a hand through his hair, he swallowed the rising feeling of panic that clutched at his insides. His mind created ghastly scenarios to his mysterious absence, none of which helped his agitated state. To make matters worse, nobody answered when he called Kagome’s house. The whole thing was utterly confounding.

He turned at the sound of a discreet cough behind him. Jakken stood patiently waiting for his attention, bowing when he finally gained it.

“My Lord, Mistress Kaede said to let you know that the papers you require for tomorrow’s meeting should be ready by four o’clock this afternoon.”

Sesshoumaru nodded absently. “Very well Jakken.”

He watched his retainer disappear through the doorway before shaking himself from his stupor. It was pointless to stand idle while there was so much to do. With one last glare at the telephone, he made his way to his room, intent on preparing for work. ‘I may as well go to the office and do something useful.’ He knew that if he stayed home he would do nothing but drive himself to distraction with endless worry. Rin had left earlier with a friend for the movies, and the house was deadly quiet; too much so for his frayed nerves. ‘The sooner I get out of here the better.’


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Kaede shuffled the papers into a neat pile, laying them carefully inside the folder marked ‘Confidential’. She sorted quickly through the mess that had accumulated on her desk during the past few of hours, and had everything back in its place in no time. Her gaze shifted to Kagome, who bent silently over a report as she gave it a final check. Kaede smiled, glad of her decision to call the young woman in. Her efforts had made a world of difference to the seemingly impossible load that was hers for that day. A frown marred her brow as she thought of the many acts of sabotage made on Taisho Corp. As well as a negative effect on the company, they also managed to increase her workload, which was already impossibly high. She sighed when the telephone rang, silently cursing the distraction. With the end of her task in sight, she was keen to get on with the job. She lifted the receiver, replying in her usual professional manner.

“Good afternoon, this is the Taisho Corp executive suite. May I help you?”

“Aunty, it’s me.”

“Ah, hello darling. What’s the matter?” she waited for the husky feminine voice to reply.

“I have to see you. It’s important.”

“I’ll be finished in about two hours. Can it wait till then?”

“No, I’m afraid not. It’s really urgent.”

Kaede released a sigh of resignation before replying. “All right, I’ll come now. Are you at the bakery?”

“Yeah… I am.”

“I’ll see you soon.”

She hung the phone up and turned to young woman, who sat watching her expectantly.

“I’m sorry my dear. I have to abandon you for a while,” she grabbed her bag and walked round her desk, stopping in front of Kagome with an apologetic smile. “It seems that my family can’t work anything out on their own. I shouldn’t be too long though.”

Kagome gave her a reassuring grin. “It’s okay Kaede. We’re almost done here anyway. I’ll finish putting this together while you’re gone.”

Kaede smiled at her warmly. “Thank you child. You’re truly a blessing.”

Kagome watched her walk through the large glass doors and disappear into the elevator. She smiled, realising how much she admired the woman. Kaede’s job was very complex. Not only did she handle the large reception area and co-ordinate the rosters, she also filled the position of Sesshoumaru’s personal assistant.

Her smile faltered as her memory jarred. ‘Sesshoumaru’ she closed her eyes, breathing deeply in an attempt to alleviate the sudden tightening in her chest. Her dilemma fixed firmly in her mind, demanding the attention it deserved. ‘What am I going to do? How am I going to face him?’ She shook her head, panic rising above the multitude of feelings that threatened to suffocate her. ‘I can’t… I can’t do it.’ Every time she tried to bring herself to think of it, she almost drowned in fear. Yet, there was no alternative. The choice was made for her, and she couldn’t blame Inuyasha one bit. In fact, when she gave it careful thought, she had to acknowledge that he’d been more than fair, under the circumstances.

Her mind strayed back to the previous evening, remembering his unexpectedly gentle manner, with her as well as her son. Once his ultimatum was issued, he was more than happy to drop the subject in pursuit of information, namely on her son. He had questioned her for hours. When was Ryu’s birthday? How much did he weigh? When did he first talk? What was his favourite toy? After a solid hour of answer after answer, her head had started spinning. She remembered the relief she felt when he’d asked to see photos. After placing her sleeping son back in his bed, she brought the photo album out to show him. They spent another hour pouring through the pictures while she provided more answers to his curious inquiries. What surprised her the most was the fact that she had actually enjoyed herself. Inuyasha’s enthusiasm was so heart-warming that she couldn’t help but be moved by it. The kindness he had shown her, and his comforting words, were a balm to her troubled heart.

She smiled when she recalled his expression as he bent to lay a kiss on her son’s forehead before leaving. That one simple gesture tore at her heart more than any of his words had managed to. She knew then that she had to stop hiding and face the situation, as she should have done from the beginning. ‘Now my mistake will probably cost me dearly.’

She stood and moved to the large glass windows, staring sightlessly at the surrounding buildings. ‘How did my life become so complicated?’ She had always been so careful to avoid distractions, ever cautious in her dealings with men. She laughed as she remembered the one exception which led her to where she was today. She would never regret having her son, and she couldn’t feel any remorse for the time she’d spent with his father. The only thing she was sorry for was the unbearable situation that she now found herself in. Yura’s ugly expression taunted her mind, bringing feelings of anger, pain and sadness. She couldn’t stand the thought of Sesshoumaru in that woman’s arms, let alone sharing her bed. She wanted desperately to believe Inuyasha’s words, but how could she? How did she believe, when she’d seen with her own eyes, the possessive hold that Yura had on him. The more she about it, the more convinced she was that Inuyasha had made a mistake. Maybe his own feelings had influenced his observations. One thing she was certain of was that Inuyasha couldn’t stand his brother’s fiancée.

She took a deep breath, mentally berating herself at such thoughts. ‘What difference does it make that Inuyasha despises her?’ the bitter voice whispered in her head ‘Sesshoumaru doesn’t, and that’s all that counts.’ She felt the tears prickling her eyes, and closed them in an attempt to stem their flow. It was a useless attempt. They slid down her cheeks, flowing faster as the hopelessness of her situation weighed in on her. She dreaded the task that she faced, certain that Sesshoumaru would hate her for hiding Ryu’s existence from him. She could picture his face, cold and unforgiving as he cast her out of his life. Her sobs grew louder as she lost herself in her misery.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The elevator jolted to a stop at the top floor of the building and the doors slid open. Sesshoumaru stepped out and made his way to the executive suite, pausing at the large glass doors. His breath held when he caught sight of the vision by the window. ‘Thank God she’s all right.’ The past few hours of anxiety melted away, replaced by overwhelming relief. He stood for a moment, admiring her beautiful form. Her white dress, with its shoestring straps and flowing knee-length skirt, plus the up-swept hairstyle gave her a look of cool elegance. He pushed the doors open, surprised when she failed to notice. A second later, he realised why. ‘She’s crying’ his chest tightened in reaction, ‘Why?’ His feet moved without any conscious thought on his part. He found himself standing behind her, struggling with the need to hold her. Before he realised it, he’d taken a step forward and his arms were wrapping themselves around her trembling form. He felt her stiffen, and he leaned further into her, drawing her close in a comforting embrace.

Kagome’s heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and fear, her breath coming in ragged spurts. She knew exactly who held her, but she couldn’t, for the life of her make any sense of it. ‘Am I dreaming again?’ Had her mind finally given in to its constant fantasy and thrown itself into the world she desired so much? She was almost too afraid to discover the truth, too scared to look around and see if he was real.

He searched for words to ease her pain. There were so many things he wanted to say, so many feelings to show. How would she react? What would she do when faced with the truth? He had no idea what he meant to her. He knew that they shared an undeniable chemistry, but beyond that, he wasn’t sure. She had had no qualms in walking away after that weekend, and he couldn’t help but wonder if maybe, she meant more to him than he did to her. The only thing clear to him now, was the fact that he couldn’t continue this way. He was tired of fighting his feelings, and denying the fact that he needed her. Even his responsibilities paled in comparison to his desire for this woman. She belonged with him, and he had to make her see that. He wasn’t going to deny himself any more.

Kagome resisted when she felt his hands turn her around to face him. She wanted to hide, to run, to do anything she could to escape this situation. However, she was trapped within the circle of his arms.

“Kagome, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” his heart ached painfully at the sight of her tear-stained and troubled features.

She couldn’t look at him. Every tortured emotion that she’d ever felt in regards to this man, came back to haunt her with a vengeance, as well as the memory of the task that she dreaded. She couldn’t block the image of his angered face when he finally learned of her secret. She knew that he’d hate her for what she’d done. He wouldn’t understand, and he would blame her for the whole thing. Her sobs of misery increased with every irrational thought that entered her head, until she could nothing but give in to her despair.

Gathering her shaking form closer, he whispered soothingly in her ear as his hand gently caressed her back. He wanted so badly to take away her pain, even though he didn’t know what caused it. He would take on the world if it would bring the smile back to her face.

They stood in their silent embrace for what seemed like an eternity before her tears were finally spent. Her head lay on his shoulder, her face pressed into the crook of his neck. His hand was caressing her hair, and his lips occasionally brushed against her temple as he breathed gentle words of comfort. She could stay like this forever, it felt so, so right. ‘Maybe Inuyasha was right after all.’ A frisson of excitement curled in her belly, and her heart increased its steady tempo.

Sesshoumaru sensed the change instantly, wondering at its source. His hand stilled on her head and he looked down at her, his gaze searching. He felt her stiffen, and noticed that she continued to avoid his eyes. Once again, he wondered at her feeling towards him, a nagging voice of worry demanding that he ask. He opened his mouth to form the question, but the distant whir of the elevator brought him back to his senses. He suddenly realised that they were standing in the middle of the reception area, in plain view of anyone who should happen along. Pulling back from her, he grabbed both her hands in his and looked pleadingly into her eyes.

“Kagome, we need to talk.”

Her heart gave a lurch and panic suddenly gripped her. She stood, like an idiot, staring at the hands that held her own, as her fears rushed in on her, rendering her speechless.

His hand lifted to her chin, raising her eyes to his. “Please Kay.”

Warmth pooled in her belly as she lost herself in his heated gaze. The next thing she knew, her feet were moving as he led her to his office. She heard the door close behind her and she felt him draw her round to face him.

Sesshoumaru’s glance grazed over her beautiful face, still so, even after the tears. He knew nothing about this woman, yet he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. He remembered the fright he received when she passed out.

“Kagome, what happened last night?”

Her heart skipped a beat. Although she knew that he referred to her short trip into the unconscious world, she couldn’t help but remember Inuyasha’s ultimatum.

“I… I’m not sure really,” she shrugged and shifted uncomfortably under his close scrutiny. “I must have eaten something off.”

He could sense her discomfort, and sought to alleviate it. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. You’re not the first person to collapse…”

He stopped when she looked at him in puzzlement. ‘Am I mistaken?’ he wondered as he looked at her carefully. He could almost feel her inner turmoil, and he saw the faint glimmer of fresh tears. ‘If that’s not the problem then what is?’

“It’s obvious that my question bothered you. I thought you were embarrassment about fainting.” His eyes narrowed as he watched hers widen in surprise. “Obviously not.”

Her gaze dropped quickly away from his and she swallowed nervously as her heart started racing. Breathing was becoming difficult, and her body suddenly felt hot. A thousand emotions warred inside her, fear dominating all.

“What’s happened to upset you so much?” a sudden thought occurred to him and he stiffened as the chill of apprehension laced his spine. “Is it my brother? Did something happen with Inuyasha?”

All her worst fears were realised in that moment, and she drowned in a sea of rising panic. She started struggling against his hold, but his hands tightened on her shoulders.

“Kay… please tell me what happened.”

‘I can’t!’ she screamed in silent desperation. ‘You’ll hate me!’ She shook her head, struggling with the tears that threatened to fall.

“Please… let me go.” She doubled her efforts to escape his vice-like grip. “I can’t… I-I just can’t…”

He slipped an arm around her, pulling her flush against him. “Kay, don’t push me away.”

She paused in her struggle to look up at him, surprised by the note of desperation in his voice. The look in his eyes stole her breath away. She saw a reflection of her inner turmoil, and a yearning that matched her own. Her hand slowly lifted, her fingers trailing softly along his cheekbone and down to his chin.

His breath hitched and his heart pounded heavily against his ribs. This is what he craved most. Her warm glance and gentle caresses, the feeling of her body pressed against his. Her voice, her laughter, that certain look in her eye; they were all things that he’d thought about, obsessed about, since the time they spent together. He wanted more than just a moment of passion. He wanted it all, her mind, body, and soul.

His eyes closed when her fingers slid along his jaw-line then shot open, locking with her own as her hands fisted in his hair. His chest tightened painfully as he lost himself in her deep blue gaze. His hand moved to the back of her head and he stared longingly at her lips. They parted beckoningly, an invitation he couldn’t resist. She closed her eyes at the soft brush of his mouth, melting into its warmth as her body moulded to his.

Her response only served to intensify his already consuming emotions. He tightened his arms around her waist and curled his fingers into her hair, pulling her head back as he increased the pressure on her mouth. His head tilted as he parted her lips with one forceful sweep of his own. His tongue flicked against hers, and he thrilled at the moan that escaped her. He teased her with brief, unsatisfying strokes of his tongue, working her need up, just as he did his own. He finally relented when she gave an urgent tug at his hair. His tongue circled hers in a languid rhythm that had them yearning for more. His fingers worked at clip that bound her hair, freeing the silken tresses. He raked through the loose strands and started rubbing her scalp in a slow circular motion. Her body pressed more firmly into his as the heat rose steadily between them.

“Kay, I need you so much” he whispered against her mouth.

Kagome was in a world of desire, in which only this man existed. His warm, firm body, the sensual sweep of his tongue, and the softly trailing fingertips, all pushed her higher into an abyss of erotic sensations.

His hand returned to her hair, holding her in place as his mouth devoured hers. He trailed his other hand down her back, bringing her closer to his need. She responded with a thrust of her hips that set his body on fire. He had to have her. He couldn’t fight it anymore. With a soft moan of defeat, he gave in to the hunger. His lips shifted slowly from her mouth to make a steady path along her jaw-line. Her ragged breath fanned across his ear, sending shivers of pleasure down his spine. His mouth opened on the smooth skin of her throat, and he felt her moan vibrate against his lips. His tongue trailed teasingly down to her collarbone then retraced the path with moist kisses, making his way to her ear. His teeth closed gently around the soft flesh of her lobe before he sucked it gently into his mouth. His traced the shell with the tip of his tongue, his warm breath teasing the sensitised flesh.

“Sesshoumaru” she breathed as she pulled him closer.

Her husky plea fanned the fires within him into a raging inferno. He craved the touch her bare skin, rubbing against his own. His mouth covered hers as he moved his hand to the zipper at the back of her dress. It slid open, exposing her skin to his gentle caresses. He shifted slightly, allowing the material to fall to the floor before bringing her back against him. His body flamed with desire as the heat of her skin seeped through the thin material of his shirt. His tongue swirled around hers, and his hands moved down to cup her backside as he rubbed his lower body against her.

She clutched desperately at his shoulders as she matched his movements. Her fingers slid down his front to pull at his shirt. She tugged it free and pushed it up, pulling back from his lips as she worked it over his head. She leaned into his naked flesh, sighing in pleasure. Her lips brushed against his as her fingers explored his muscular chest, before moving down to rake at his sides. His quick intake of breath excited her further and she deepened the kiss, her actions more daring, more blatantly enticing. Her hands moved to his belt, working it free with quick, impatient movements. She felt the catch of bra unclasp and her breasts bounce free as the material slipped away from her body. She gasped at the touch of his hand against her aching nipples, moaning into his mouth as heat pooled low in her belly. She unbuttoned his pants and slid them off, taking his boxers with them. Her body shook with excitement when she felt the brush his fingers as he worked her panties slowly down her thighs. She teased the sensitive skin of his belly, moving her hand lower to curl around his swollen manhood.

Sesshoumaru groaned, his body throbbing with need. His hands cupped her backside and he lifted her, a moan escaping him as her legs wrapped tightly around his waist. He took a few of steps forward, his mouth finding the curve of her neck as he stopped in front of his desk. He placed her on the edge and cleared it of its contents with a quick sweep of his arm, laying her back on the cool surface. He kissed his way down her chest, brushing lightly over her sensitised nipples.

She mewled in disappointment as his mouth moved away from her aching bud, working its way across her chest to tease its twin. She hissed in pleasure as his fingertips trailed over her stomach, moving closer to her centre of pleasure. A shiver escaped her when his lips closed on her taut nipple. She groaned and arched her back, her thighs quivering at his soft caresses.

He continued to torture her aching mounds, lapping, nipping and sucking on their peaks. His fingertips brushed along her inner thighs and trailed teasingly over the soft curls at their apex. She moaned and thrust her hips upwards, increasing the contact. He gradually applied more pressure, until his fingers parted the moist lips. He pressed lightly against her sensitive button, causing a tremble to pass through her heated body. Her moans grew louder as he pressed harder, moving in slow circular movements that had her panting and reaching for him desperately. His mouth locked with hers in a hungry clash of tongues as his finger slid between her wet folds, quickly finding the pleasure point within. He inserted another finger and pushed against the aching nerves as his thumb rotated slowly on her clitoris, his tongue mimicking the sensual motion against hers.

Kagome grabbed his shoulders, clutching desperately as wave after wave of pleasurable sensation crashed in on her. Her body was on fire, burning with a need so intense that it threatened to devour her. She moaned as her hips rocked in time to the rhythm of his thrusting fingers, her muscles tightening convulsively around them. She couldn’t take it any more. She needed him inside her.

“Oh… please…” she groaned when the pressure increased, his fingers thrusting harder and faster inside her. “Please… Sesshoumaru…”

His heart raced and his blood pumped faster. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes, slowly withdrawing his fingers from her heat. He manoeuvred his shaft to her moist folds and rubbed it against her. He pressed the tip against her clitoris before sliding it between her swollen lips to stop at her opening, his heart pounding when she gave a husky groan. He held still, his tip poised in her entrance as he moved his fingers to rub her aching bud. He watched her eyes close as she arched against him and panted excitedly. He brought his mouth to her nipple and starting sucking, working her into a frenzy of need. Her hips lifted, seeking further contact. He held them in place with his other hand as he continued his sensual torture.

Her body screamed for fulfilment, her heart beating at a thunderous pace. “Sesshoumaru, please… I need you inside me… now!”

He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. His hand moved to secure her hips and he thrust forward, imbedding himself deep inside her tight passage. His eyes closed as a shiver escaped him, fire engulfing his entire body. Her legs tightened around his waist and she pushed against him. He slid out, stopping halfway, then thrust in again. Leaning forward with one hand braced against the table and the other holding her in place, he started moving with slow steady strokes.

Her muscles clenched tightly around his shaft and she grabbed his hips, rocking against him as bursts of pleasure welled from her core and spread through her body. She opened her eyes and stared into his, her heart racing at the fire in their golden depths. Their gazes held as they moved together, their pace increasing with every thrust.

“Oh…” she moaned breathlessly as the throbbing waves of pleasure increased, driving her closer and closer to ecstasy. “it… feels… so good.”

He fought the urge to ram himself into her uncontrollably. Lifting her hips, he changed the angle of his movements, driving himself into her with an upward lunge that sent him deeper into her moist cavern.

“Sesshoumaru!” she yelled as the muscles in her belly tightened before releasing a burst of sensations that pulsed from her lower abdomen and spread through the rest of her body.

Sesshoumaru clenched his teeth, struggling to control his need as her passage clasped tightly around his manhood, releasing their thick, hot liquid over his achingly sensitised skin. His body shook as he fought back his release, torturing himself with the constant thrust of his hips as she rode out her climax.

He sighed with relief as she calmed, his throbbing shaft imbedded firmly within her. He took several deep breaths in an attempt to cool his raging desire, before leaning into her and brushing his lips against her closed eyelids. They fluttered open and she looked up at him. His breath held and his heart fluttered erratically. She looked so beautiful in the afterglow of love. Her eyes heavy and lips full, her face flushed and hair tousled; a woman who was completely sated. It was an image that had haunted his every dream, a reminder of something he’d thought lost to him. His heart ached painfully with the hope of realising his dream. His head dipped as he claimed her lips in a tender kiss.

Kagome sighed at the gentle touch, closing her eyes as she basked in the feeling of euphoria. She pressed her lips against his, and lifted her hand to his face, stroking his cheeks lovingly before moving to his neck. She ran her fingers up into his hair, her nails raking softly against his scalp. His groan excited her and she grabbed the back of his head, deepening their kiss. As their tongues duelled in a sensual dance, she felt her muscles tightening around his throbbing shaft. She moaned in protest when his mouth left hers, her heart pounding as his breath whispered against her lips.

“Hold on to me.”

He waited until her arms circled his neck before pulling himself upright and holding her firmly against him. His lips crashed down on hers in a hungry kiss that fired their blood instantly. His hand caressed the smooth skin of her backside. She moaned into his mouth and pushed her hips forward. His manhood throbbed painfully, demanding release. He turned and walked towards a small door at the side of his office, his steps halting as their desire flared. He paused beside it, reaching for the handle. A groan was ripped from his throat as Kagome bucked against him. His control momentarily shattered and he drove her body forcefully into the wall, grinding his hips into hers with wild and frantic strokes. He groaned against her neck as he spiralled closer to the edge. ‘No!’ his mind yelled ‘not yet.’ He stilled against her, desperately trying to regain control.

“Kagome…” he begged in a breathless voice, “stop moving… please… stay… still.”

With great reluctance, she stayed her movements, her lips teasing his neck. She gasped when he pushed away from the wall, his manhood pressing deeper inside her. She felt him reach out and open the door, then they were moving into a strange room that she’d never seen before.

Sesshoumaru carried her to the bed on the other side of the room. He knelt on the mattress and moved to the middle before lowering them onto the soft covers. As soon as they touched the surface, he started moving. He lifted his hips and thrust quickly into her, his pace fast, his strokes long and deep. He built up the heat between them, then slowed the pace to a frustratingly languid motion. His mouth found hers, his tongue sliding slowly against hers. She groaned, her frustration showing as she thrust her hips into his. He slid his knees up and under her thighs, levering himself a little higher. He grabbed her hip and gave one deep, hard thrust, holding himself inside her as his tongue continued its assault. He repeated the action, pushing against her with a force that shook her body. He continued this until she was panting feverishly and begging him for more. Her cries broke his self-restraint and he rammed his hips into her with quick, hard strokes. He felt the tightening of her passage as her cries of pleasure grew louder, her hot liquid washing over him. His heartbeat accelerated with the force of his thrusting hips. He felt the first ripple of pleasure, clenching low in his belly. He groaned as it grew steadily, driving his shaft faster and faster into her hot clenching walls, until it burst into a pulsing wave of heavenly release. He buried himself deeply within her, bucking steadily as his climax peaked and slowly began to ebb. His movements gradually slowed into stillness and he buried his face into her neck, sighing contentedly as her scent invaded his senses. He brushed his lips against her throat as he whispered softly.

“Kagome” he lifted his head and placed light kisses on her cheeks, chin, forehead, and eyes, before locking her gaze with his. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted…”

His head swung round as the door to the reception area opened. He heard Kagome’s gasp as Kaede appeared in the doorway, her expression one of shock. She stammered an apology and hastily shut the door. The silence that followed was deafening, except for the sound of Kagome’s racing heartbeat. She suddenly came to life, pushing her hands against his chest as she tried to free herself.

His heart twisted, a feeling of loss already settling in. “Kagome, wait.”

“No… please” she pushed harder against him. “Just let me go.”

He smelled the tears before he saw them and his heart twisted again. This wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to take away her tears, not cause them. He tried to wipe the wet trails with his fingers but she pushed his hand away, begging him with her eyes.

“Please Sesshoumaru, let me go.”

The pleading note in her voice stirred something inside him, and he slid from her warm centre, reluctant to grant her wish. The only thing that convinced him to do so was her obvious distress. He knew it stemmed mainly from embarrassment, but he couldn’t be certain if that’s all it was. Perhaps she resented their intimacy. In which case, she wouldn’t be too easily convinced of anything right now. He was better off to let her calm down and attempt a proper conversation then. He lifted himself from her body and moved to the edge of the bed, watching sadly as she scrambled off the end and rushed into his office. The door closed firmly behind her, shutting him out.

Kagome leaned against the cool surface, letting it soothe her flushed skin. She had never been felt so embarrassed in her life. ‘How could I be so stupid?’ she almost slapped herself, so great was her disgust. ‘This is not the answer Kagome. This is just another complication. One that you don’t need.’ All she could think about was how angry he would be when he found out about Ryu. ‘And this will only make it worse. He’ll think that I was toying with him.’ The hopelessness of her situation hit her. Fear overwhelmed her, and she felt the need to get out of there fast. She rushed over to her clothes and hastily put them on, cringing as the fluids seeped from her centre and pooled in her underwear. She slipped on her shoes and walked to the door, pausing beside it as embarrassment swamped her. The last thing she wanted was to face Kaede, but she knew that she had to; there was no other way out. With a deep breath, she pulled the door open and stepped out. She sighed in relief as she glanced around to find the area vacant, thanking God profusely. She walked quickly towards the exit, grabbing her bag on the way and escaping quickly into the elevator.

Sesshoumaru sat on the edge of the bed, not moving until she disappeared from the suite. He stood and walked slowly to his office, pausing beside his desk as their previous moments of bliss returned to haunt him. A heavy weight dragged at his heart, and he slumped dejectedly into the large leather chair, totally disregarding his state of undress. He stared unseeingly for a moment, before something shiny caught his attention. He reached out and grabbed Kagome’s forgotten hairclip, wondering how it ended up under his desk. His fingers ran over its smooth surface before he brought it to his nose and inhaled. Her scent clung to it, causing his heart to stir. He would not give up on his dream. Not now, not ever.

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AN: Well… that is definitely the longest chapter I’ve ever written. I’d say that it counts for 2 chapters. lol. Apologies to Tilly and Trustar89, I told you that this would come out 2 days ago but… unfortunately, the final part ended up being little longer than I thought. I’m sure you guys won’t mind though. hehehe. Anyway people, I have 2 queries to answer.

1. Yes we were building the suspense around the youkai mystery for a reason. But we decided to cut things down a bit, or this story would never end. Sorry for the disappointment.

2. Yes there are a lot of characters, I know, but I assure you that they all play a crucial part in story. And all will be explained in the end.

To those who are still waiting on the skits, hang on in there, I’m still working on them, so keep sending those funnies. Thanks especially to Adrianna and Carnation-Summers for their regular contributions. And, Minni has decided to help me out with it. Thanks Min.

Don’t forget to leave your email if you want if you want an update notice. Those who are receiving them already don’t have to, you’re already on my list.

Ok, that about sums it up. Let me know if you have any more questions. Well guys, I hope you all enjoy. Let me know what you think. See all next chapter.
Babs