Kissing Cousins

Chapter Twelve


"Can it wait?" She asked looking towards the counter. She wasn't sure if she could handle this right now. The others would be here in a little over two hours.

"No, it cannot. We need to discuss what happened last night before your suitors get here." He finally got her to turn around and look at him. He'd thought about it all night, hours of debating what to do and how he felt. She was annoying, constantly got on his nerves and he couldn't deny the fact that he wanted her. "It shouldn't have happened and I apologize, it won't happen again. I lost control and there is no excuse for my behavior. We don't like each other and after you've picked a mate; I sincerely doubt we'll see each other unless we have to. I think its best if we try to forget that it happened and go on with our lives."

Kagome listened to his little speech, she'd been expecting it. She'd even prepared herself for it but it didn't stop the pain that it caused. The problem was she did like him and she'd never be able to forget. The thought of never seeing him again didn't sit well with her either.

"Our families would be most distressed if they found out about what happened. My mother would never understand or accept a relationship between us. I will not hurt her for the sake of my lusts, I ask that you do not tell her." He waited for her nod before continuing, "The others will be able to tell when they get here. I doubt that it will bother any of them since I did not claim you. You will still have your pick more than likely. If any of them ask me, I will tell them that I have no intention of claiming you."

"Fine, excuse me. I need to go get a shower." She shoved past him making her way back to the sanctuary of her room before she lost it. His words left her feeling hollow and empty. So all it had been for him was a moment of lust. He'd wanted a quick fuck and had gotten it, it hadn't mattered if it had been with her. She'd been nothing more than a piece. Should she really have expected anything different? The first time they'd met he'd been trying to score. He hadn't even known her name and was trying to get her in the sack. Just because he'd found out that he didn't like her as a person wouldn't have changed that fact. If Keiko hadn't been over last night he probably would have gloated to Yusuke that he had indeed gotten into her panties.

She shut her bedroom door and walked over to her dresser. A hot shower was what she needed to help get her mind off everything. After grabbing her clothes she made her way into the bathroom, thinking. She'd have to face her so called suitors very soon. What would they think knowing that she'd slept with Kurama? Probably that she was easy and could get some without claiming her. Just as he had done.

How long would they continue to try and court her? She knew it would be a total waste of time on their part, she would never choose. But she had been told to find a mate before the tournament came around. Which meant her time was running short, a little under two months were left. Two years could go past and she still wouldn't choose between them. They weren't the one she wanted so why pretend. To keep stringing them along wasn't fair. If she could have whom she wanted it would be different but he wasn't even an option.

She stepped under the stream of water trying to come up with a plan. Running away wasn't an option niether was telling Koenma to stick his binky up his ass. Who was he to tell her to find a mate for life, it was her life. She didn't want to be stuck with someone she didn't love. She couldn't say for sure if she loved Kurama but she knew she had feelings for him. Yet he'd made it clear he didn't like her and didn't want to see her again after this. He would have to on the occasions to please his mother but that was all. He was sure to try and keep them minamal at best. He was probably counting the days down until she had to pick one so he could get away from her.

If being around her was that big of a problem for him then she would take care of it today. It really didn't matter who she ended up with, she didn't love any of them. She would never love them, so it made no difference. She wasn't attracted to none, so that didn't matter. Might as well get it over with so he could have what he wanted. His freedom far away from her.

Picking one would be a problem, so she'd let fate be the one to pick. In a way it wouldn't be fair to the other two that had been spending time with her to win her. But she'd be worse off if she let them continue, knowing that they had no chance. Time to get it over with. With that thought in mind she stepped out of the shower.

She didn't bother getting dressed instead she simply pulled her robe on. She comtemplated on how to work her plan. Part of her brain told her she had lost what common sense she had possessed. Yet she kept telling herself, it needed to be done. Kurama would never want her, he'd just told her so. He had just said he had no intention of claiming her. After last night she wouldn't be able to handle being around him everyday knowing how he felt. This way she'd have the mate she really didnt want and he'd be free to forget about last night. He could do what he suggested and move on with his life.

Kurama opened the door when the three men knocked right after eight. He tried to smile as they walked in, "Good morning."

The only one that acknowledge the fact that he smelled like the girl was Touya. He peered at him giving him a questioning look. Kurama merely shook his head no, knowing that the man was wanting to know if he was now competition. The other men ignored the fact as he figured they would. He went over to the couch and sat down.

"She be almost naked?" Jin quirked as he stared down the hall.

Kurama couldn't see anything yet but could sense that Kagome was coming to join them. His eyes drank her in as she walked into the livingroom with nothing but her robe on. What did she think she was doing? "What are you doing?" His voice came out harsh, not liking the way all three were oggling her.

"That's none of your concern." Kagome steeled herself for what she was about to do. Her pride was the only thing that was keeping her from running back into her room and having a good cry. She was going to do this, he should be happy. In another few minutes he'd be free to leave and never see her again. "I'll be blunt with you three, so please listen. I only have around two months to make a choice but I'm afraid I can't do that. Truth of the matter is that I don't love any of you, nor will I. Yet, I have to find a mate. I'd be wasting time for two of you by acting like I'm going to choose. It really doesn't matter to me who it is so I can't pick." She held up her hand when Shishi was about to speak. "If you still want to then it will be decided another way."

They all gaped when she threw two dice on the table, they rolled to a stop. She could feel Kurama's eyes on her as she spoke. "Roll both dice, whomever has the highest combined score wins. Don't try to cheat by using your youki or you will be disqualified."

"You can't be serious?" Kurama stared at her in disbelief.

"Yes I am. Don't worry I'm sure Koenma will allow you to leave as soon as it is done." She didn't bother looking at him as she spoke. She wasn't going to allow him to see the hurt in her eyes. "Now roll if you are still interested."

Shishi went for the dice first not bothering to question her decision. The clatter of the dice was heard as the man held his breath. He groaned in disappointment when both added up to only six. Jin shrugged his shoulders and went for them. He blew on them causing Kagome to groan in annoyance, he released them on the small table. Shishi started laughing when he recieved snake eyes giving him only two points. Both men turned to Touya who was standing there with a thoughtful look on his face. Finally, he took a step forward grabbing the dice.

Kagome watched as her mate was decided with a hollow feeling in her chest. The dice landed giving Touya ten points, claiming him the winner. She took a deep breath, part of her secretly hoping that Kurama would reach over and grab the dice. Her eyes began to sting when he suddenly got up and left the apartment. The sound of the door slamming echoed in her ears, killing the last of her hopes.

She took a deep breath, "I'll be in the room waiting Touya. Give me a few minutes before you come in please." He nodded so she turned around needing to compose herself. She walked into her bedroom leaving the door cracked. Tears began streaming down her face making her throat ache. Unshed tears were threatening to unload but she refused to cry. This was the way it had to be, there was no other way around it.

As far as she was concerned he could have said something. Yet he'd made sure she knew he didn't want her. He hadn't even waited for the mating to take place before he walked out. No doubt he was whistling on the way to his car. He was finally able to leave, his job was done.

There was a soft knock on the door, "Hang on." She wiped the tears off her face before allowing Touya to come in the room. She tried to smile when he walked inside closing the door softly behind him. He had a stern look on his face as he walked over to the bed, his hands going for the knot on her robe.

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