Unrequited Love

AN: Ok guys, sorry for the long (and I do mean long) delay in getting this chapter out to you. Life has been rather hectic and interfering with my writing (a bit of sarcasm there) so I had to take any chance I got to work on this. Sometimes it was on scraps of paper during my brakes as work, lol. Thank you to all those who have waited patiently. Anyway I hope you enjoy and more chapters will be up soon.

Disclaimer: I don’t own any rights to the Inuyasha anime, manga or any of the characters with in them.

Chapter 14

It was close to ten o’clock before Rin and Sesshomaru finally made it home. They found Inuyasha with his arms around Kagome and hers around their son as they laid on the couch watching a movie. “Hey you guys.” Rin said with a starry eyed smile. “How did the night go?” Kagome sat up slowly so Inuyasha could stretch.

“Not bad. The kids were great. But this guy here,” she pointed her thumb behind her toward Inuyasha, “was a bit to handle. You might have to get someone else next time.” Kagome said in a serious tone.

“What? What did I do?” Inuyasha said as he yawned.

“Oh I don’t know, maybe not being able to keep your hands to yourself.” She replied as she strapped their sleeping son into his carrier.

“Well it isn’t my fault your too damn sexy for your own good.” He smirked and kissed her neck. Kagome giggled lightly and pulled away so she could gather the rest of her things. Inuyasha stood taking Kin with him to wait by the door. Kagome watched him as he spoke with Sesshomaru. A small smile settled on her lips feeling that maybe things might work out this time.

“I’m really sorry about tonight. Are you ok?” Rin’s voice broke through her thoughts in a hushed tone. Kagome looked at her and smiled.

“Yeah it’s ok. I think it was just destiny that it worked out like this.” She admitted as she put the last bottle in the bag and hoisted it over her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it and if you need me again, don’t hesitate to call. I love your kids. Besides they need to have a chance to see their cousin from time to time.”

“Then you and Inuyasha didn’t work things out?” Rin looked sort of crest fallen. She didn’t really know what went on between them other than the Kikyo thing and it wasn’t her place to pry. But Inuyasha was a good man, he deserved to be with the woman he loved. Be it Kagome or Kikyo it didn’t matter as long as he was happy even though she liked Kagome more.

“Well we still have to talk. We decided it wasn’t exactly the best topic of conversation in front of your kids.” Kagome admitted. “But I think things will be ok.” She added with a smile.
“Hey you bout ready to go? It’s getting kind of late.” Inuyasha called from the door. Kagome looked at him and smiled.

“Yeah I think I got everything.” She turned back to Rin and hugged her. “I’ll call you tomorrow with details.” She confirmed then walked quickly to the door. They waved good bye as they stepped out into the cool night air. Kagome pulled the blanket up over Kin’s face then led the way to her car.

“Still driving that piece of junk?” He snorted a half laugh. Kagome looked at him with a frown as she unlocked the doors.

“It may not look like much but it’s paid for and it’s mine. All I need is something to get me to and from where I want to be.” She replied indignantly making him chuckle. Then took the baby carrier from him so she could strap their son in. Inuyasha watched her hips sway as she leaned in to strap Kin in. His groin twitched to life just looking at her perfect bottom but he resisted. This time he wouldn’t screw it up if he could help it. The last thing he wanted her to think was this was about sex. When she closed the door he walked her over to the driver’s side unable to think of what to say next. There was so much he wanted to tell her but didn’t know exactly where to start. She opened the door then turned toward him with that bright smile on her lips. “Well I guess I better let you get going.” She glanced around for his bike but didn’t see it. Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked back at him. “Where’s the bike?” She asked with concern. His eyes widened suddenly realizing she didn’t know half the things that went on since she left.

“Oh it had a little accident a couple of weeks after you disappeared.” He said and scratched the back of his head. Her eyes grew wide and she stepped closer to him placing a hand on his cheek.

“You didn’t get hurt did you? I wouldn’t have known if something happened to you. Well Rin would have probably told me but still.” She closed her eyes forcing back the tears of sudden fear and frustration at her own actions when she left him. This sort of thing was exactly why she had no right to keep his son from him even if they couldn’t be a couple. He deserved better from her.

“No! No I wasn’t in an accident.” He hugged her close feeling her tremble slightly. “I said ‘it’ had a little accident. The only one involved besides the bike was Kikyo. She came into the shop a couple of weeks after I talked to you on the phone to try and talk me into getting back with her. I guess she thought she would give me a little time after she found out about you. It all makes more sense now why she had the balls to show up after the fight we had at the apartment the night you left. Anyway, I already told her to take a hike that night and...well...I got angry at her assumption that I would just jump at the opportunity to have her instead and I got a bit mean and told her off in a not so nice way.” Kagome leaned back and looked up at him questioningly.

“She stormed out of my office and next thing I know, I hear the sound of metal against metal and glass. By the time I got out to the garage she had dented the tank almost beyond recovery, twisted a lot of the spokes in the wheels, snapped the brake and throttle lines, smashed the windshield to pieces, smashed the head light and so on. I had her arrest and charges brought up for harassment, stalking and vandalism. She had to spend 3 months in a psychiatric facility for evaluation, pay to replace my bike since it was totaled and they placed a restraining order against her for 2 years. She is still on probation and has to go to anger management sessions. I don’t think she will be back around for a while.” He smiled at Kagome fondly while rubbing his thumb across her soft cheek.

“I’m sorry.” Kagome hung her head. “If I had given you a chance to say something...” She bit her lip and closed her eyes fighting back her tears. He hugged her close again smoothing her hair down and shushing her.

“You did, I was just too shocked by what you said I couldn’t answer right away. I couldn’t formulate it in my mind.” He snorted at the memory and how many times he could have kicked himself for not saying at least something to keep her on that damn phone. “I just couldn’t believe that after everything I put you through, you could still say you loved me. I was the one to blame, not you.” He kissed her forehead, then her eyes and the tears on each cheek. She pulled away from him and smiled slightly.

“I think we were both to blame for a lot of things. I didn’t have a right to keep you from your son and I’m really sorry about that. I...I...just...” She fought against the emotions again trying to get her words out but looking into his concerned eyes made her nerves come to life.

“It’s ok. We can talk about it later. Right now, you’re probably really tired and this night air isn’t good for the baby.” He admitted wanting to give her an easy out. He really did need to get back to work. He promised that dealer to have the car ready by tomorrow and he would be damned if he lied. That account could make or break his business right now. “I...umm...I” He struggled with what to say.

“How are you going to get home?” She asked concerned. He looked down at her a bit shocked but grinned slightly.

“Oh well I can walk from here. I bought the place just down the street. Miroku’s truck is parked there. But I have to get back to work. A big client needs his car by tomorrow so I’m pulling an all nighter.” He bit his lip when her mouth formed and ‘oh’ and sadness filled her eyes. He wasn’t sure what she was expecting him to say but evidently that wasn’t one of them. Then her eyes lit up.

“You’re doing cars now too?” She smiled at him expectantly.

“Oh yeah. I went to some night classes and added car mechanics to my shop. We have been really busy since.” He smiled with pride but then he remembered why this all came about. “I really wish I could stay with you tonight. In a way I feel like I’m running out on you again. After everything that’s happened I can’t help it.” He looked away ashamed but soon felt her small warm hand on his cheek. He looked back at her quizzically.

“Don’t.” She whispered and leaned up giving him a gentle kiss on the lips. She smiled shyly at the shocked look on his face. “I understand. Really. Besides, I have work in the morning and still need to get home. We can talk tomorrow after I get off from work.” She still had her hand on his chest as she looked into his eyes searchingly. He could have drowned in those deep pools of warmth.

“Sure what time?” He choked out trying to keep his hormones under control. He never could figure out why she made him feel as nervous as an immature teenager. Maybe it was the fact he hadn’t been with a woman since she left but deep inside he knew that it was all her.

“Oh...umm...how about around 6:30. Will that give you enough time to close up?” She asked quietly.

“Yeah that should be ok. Miroku will be there if I have to leave.” He ran the back of his fingers down her cheek nervously. Inside he didn’t want to let her go and at this minute he wouldn’t know where exactly to look for her. Although now he knew Rin knew where she was and that was something he was going to talk to her about at another time. Some sister-in-law she was. Regardless he sort of knew why now without asking. Kagome had been scared and needed help. In another sense he was grateful to Rin for doing that. “I could call you if something comes up.” He said then cringed at the shocked look on her face. He began to think that maybe she wasn’t ready to let him know where she worked yet. Moving seemed to be easy for her so even if he did know where she lived, she could still disappear again. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.” He admitted quickly as the fear that she would back away from him and leave him again. “You don’t have to give me any personal information if you don’t want to. I know tonight was kind of sudden with everything...I can have Rin call you if...”

“No..no I was just being a space cadet. Of course you can have my phone number. Give me your cell.” She smiled up at him brightly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the instrument she asked for. She flipped it open with out hesitation and began to quickly click on the key pad. She did so much he was wondering what she put on there. Finally after a couple of minutes, she handed it back. He looked at it curiously then back at her. She leaned forward and pointed at her name in the address list. There were 4 numbers there. “They are all pretty much self explanatory. There’s my work number, home, cell and my apartment manager’s number in case you can’t reach me for some reason and get worried. She’s a really nice older lady named, Kaede. Takes care of Kin sometimes.” She went on to explain. He looked at her shocked then narrowed his eyes.

“Like when?” He asked as a bad feeling started to boil inside him. She looked at him startled by his reaction.

“Well you know how it is. Sometimes you just need some space so when I get a little too emotional and need some time to myself, I take him down there and she watches him for a couple of hours.” She looked at him confused still trying to figure out why he was getting upset.

“She doesn’t watch him while...you know...um...like when you go out?” He looked away from her with a frown on his face but now she understood.

“I don’t go anywhere I can’t take him.” She replied feeling a bit of turmoil inside. He looked back at her without emotion in his eyes. She could tell he was fighting his possessiveness that he always had over her.

“You don’t go on dates?” He asked quietly then looked down at the ground. She bit her lip to hold back a smile. Sometimes his possessiveness was a royal pain in the ass but at the moment it sort of felt good that he was worried she found someone else.

“No.” She smiled softly when he lifted his face to look back at her. His eyes searched hers for lies but she knew he wouldn’t find any.

“Its kind of hard to believe.” He replied. She raised an eyebrow thinking maybe he couldn’t tell when she was telling the truth or lying. He instantly regretted saying it that way. He could see the spark of anger in her eyes. He basically just called her a liar. “That’s not what I mean.” He quickly spit out. “I mean, lets face it, you’re a gorgeous woman. Any guy would give his left nut to date you. I never really held any fantasias that you didn’t find someone else but I always hoped you didn’t.” He looked away as the old feelings of hurt came back but he shoved them back. Now wasn’t the time to lose control.

“I didn’t say I wasn’t asked. Even when I was still pregnant.” She replied as she leaned back against the car. His head snapped back to look at her worriedly. She smiled inward knowing she had his full attention now. “I just wasn’t interested.” She snorted to herself slightly and looked up into his eyes. “I couldn’t get your face out of my mind. I always compared every guy to you and found them lacking in one way or another. No matter how hard I tried to see them for who they were, I just couldn’t get past it. So how could I date someone when I knew all it would do is cause more heart ache.” He smirked slightly at her words and looked away. But she caught it. “What about you? Who you been bopping since then?” She asked bluntly. Beating around the bush gets old after a while and she knew avoiding the questions that had been tearing her heart apart for all this time would only make asking them harder the longer she waited.

He looked at her critically as if trying to analyze her reason for asking. Of course she would be interested given his carefree past but then she wasn’t around to see the turmoil he went through when he tried to get over her and couldn’t. He watched her closely as the seconds passed. She started to become nervous and began to chew on her bottom lip as she stared at the ground. He figured after everything she put him through over the past year, she deserved a little anguish but he also knew if he held out too long she wouldn’t believe him. “No one.” He held back a smirk when her head shot up to look at him. He could see the traces of tears in her eyes and instantly felt a twinge of guilt.

“Why?” She asked softly. Her bottom lip quivered slightly. She didn’t know why this was so hard. She thought she was over this insecurity. It shouldn’t matter if he did or didn’t but she wanted to know why. She ‘needed’ to know why. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her shoulders tightly. A sigh of relief left him as her slender arms instantly wrapped around his waist pulling him closer to her.

“I couldn’t get past it either.” He replied and gently nuzzled the side of her head with his nose taking in the soft scent of her floral shampoo. She buried her face in his chest and hugged him tighter. “No one could come close to my angel.” Gently he kissed her temple then her watery eyes and the tip of her nose. Then he placed a soft kiss on her lips. Leaned back with one hand on her cheek as he lifted her face to look into his eyes. His thumb caressed her lips softly as his eyes scanned her face as if memorizing it. “Miroku and Sango tried to set me up a few times but I always refused. It didn’t interest me. After a while they stopped trying. Oh and so you know. You have a lot of explaining to do to Sango. She is going to be totally pissed about all this.” He gave her another peck on the nose with a grin.

“Yeah I kind of figured that I would at some point.” She frowned slightly. “But it will be so nice to talk to her again. I’ve missed her and Jak so much.” She sighed and rested her head tiredly on his shoulder again.

“You haven’t talked to Jak either?” He asked surprised. She shook her head no.

“I didn’t want him caught in the middle of all this. I tried to talk to him and he kept telling me I was being stupid from the beginning. He was right but I didn’t realize it at first. I should have listened. I knew he would probably tell you were I was and I wanted to break all ties so there wouldn’t be anyone who had to lie to you. That’s also why I didn’t tell Sango. She was dating Miroku and I knew sooner of later he would get her to crack.” She buried her face in his chest again as her fight against the tears failed. “I didn’t want to be in the way anymore. I didn’t want anyone to feel like they had to lie for me. I screwed everything up and I’m sorry. I just...” She sobbed but was hushed by his gentle kiss that silenced her rant. It didn’t last long before he pulled away. “Rin didn’t even know for sure until she saw me that day at her uncle’s office.”

“Don’t think about it right now. You’re tired and we both need to go. We can talk about it tomorrow night. We can take this as slow as you want. There isn’t any rush. Are you going to be ok to drive home?” He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb.

“Yeah.” She sniffled. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness.” She pouted slightly.

“No you don’t.” He held back the smirk when her eyes shot up ready to argue back but he silenced her with a quick kiss. “But I don’t deserve your’s either so we’re even.” He hugged her closer. “You gonna tell me where you live?” He asked as he let her go. She looked at him with a slight blush at the mention of her address. She had totally forgotten about it. Then she grinned at him.

“Call me at work tomorrow and I’ll tell you. That way you know the number is real.” She grinned even wider at his shocked look.

“Feh.” He smirked and looked away making her giggle. It felt so good to be so close to him again she hated to let it end. “I’ll call you tomorrow then.” He leaned over and kissed her passionately before releasing her and stepping back. “I gotta go. If I don’t then I’ll be hauling you down to my house and doing the things I been thinking about since I saw you tonight.” He grinned at her blush. She was still so innocent at times even after having a baby. She opened the car door and got in feeling a surge of warmth flow through her nerves. She started her car and began to back out when her cell phone suddenly rang. She frowned and put the car in park before pulling the cell out of her purse. She glanced at the number but didn’t recognize it.

“Hello?” She asked cautiously.

“Hey.” Was the reply. She smiled and looked down the block where Inuyasha was standing waving at her with a big smile. “Just thought I’d try the cell number to make sure it was real. You know how girls can give you their number and it ends up being false.” He snickered at her snort.

“Jerk.” She said with a smile and waved back at him.

“Wench.” He replied with a laugh. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. You be careful going home.”

“Yeah I’ll be careful.” She replied happily. It felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She knew she still had a lot of explaining to do but the worse part was over.

“Oh and Kagome?” He said in a serious voice.

“Yeah?” She frowned slightly afraid he would say something to ruin her mood.

“I meant what I said earlier. I love you.” He replied seriously. She couldn’t stop the smile that formed on her lips.

“I love you too.” She said then the line went dead. With a goofy grin she backed out of the driveway and began her drive home.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Rin I told you get away from that window.” Sesshomaru’s cold voice came from the hall as he walked back toward the kitchen.

“I just want to make sure everything is ok.” She insisted without looking at him and leaned in closer as if she could hear what they are saying.

“Rin.” He said warningly from the kitchen doorway. “My brother may be many things but he doesn’t beat on women.” She stepped back and glared at him angered that he would think she thought that. He narrowed his eyes as he took a predatory step toward her. She gulped and wiped the glare from her face. “I would think that after our little discussion in the car after dinner you would not feel so rebellious.” He sneered.

“Well it wasn’t like I did anything that wrong.” She twisted her fingers nervously and looked down at the floor.

“You call hiding my brother’s son from him as doing nothing wrong? I begin to wonder just where your sense of right and wrong lay dear wife. I wonder what lengths you would go to in order to keep something from this Sesshomaru.” He replied coldly. She looked up at him startled.

“I didn’t even know where she was until a couple of months ago. I had no idea that uncle would hire her.” She went on to defend herself.

“So when did you have the opportunity to help her leave him?” Sesshomaru sat down in one of the white chairs that made up the living room set with a cup of tea. Rin walked over to the couch next to him and sat down.

“She came to me the night she found him and Kikyo together in their old apartment. It was during your trip to San Diego for that merger meeting. They were supposed to be having dinner so they could work things out and she was going to tell him that night but then Kikyo was there and they were kissing. It broke her heart so badly she wanted to hide where he couldn’t find her. She came here knowing he wouldn’t look for her here. She told me how scared she was and that she didn’t know what to do. Uncle helps that clinic for unwed mothers so I put her in contact with him the next day. I knew that they would help her and it would be totally up to her if she ever got into contact with him again. Once she was gone, I wouldn’t be able to find her either. They don’t give out that kind of information without a court order. So I tried to convince her to at least tell him but she didn’t listen. After she left for her appointment to meet with my uncle, I didn’t see her again until I was near his office a couple of months ago and decided to have lunch with him. She was still pregnant then so instead I had lunch with her.

She told me how she talked to Kikyo before her last phone call to Inuyasha and that she gave him a chance to explain his feelings to her but he didn’t say anything. It just confirmed everything Kikyo had told her. She was so broken up she knew she wouldn’t be able to stay in contact with him and keep her sanity because at the time, you and I both know he would have done what ever he had to and take responsibility for the baby. Kagome didn’t want him to be with her just because of the baby. She wanted him to love her and didn’t believe he ever could. I agreed with her. I mean he was always obsessing over Kikyo. Hell he even cheated on Kagome with Kikyo before she moved out of the apartment. What else was I supposed to think?” Rin said in disgust. She never like Kikyo and would be damned if she would think otherwise.

“So you felt keeping this information from me would accomplish what?” Sesshomaru said emotionlessly. She hated when he was like this. It was the same mannerism he used in business which is what made him so good at what he does. But with her, she liked to be able to read what was behind his eyes.

“I didn’t want any more stress to evolve between you and Inuyasha. If you didn’t know anything then there wouldn’t be anything for you to be concerned about. You wouldn’t have to hide...” She started but he interrupted her.

“You mean lie to him. You should know by now that I would not lower myself to such a level. I may despise him most the time but I would never stoop so low as to lie about something so important in his life. By hiding this from me it has not made my relationship with him any better. Did it ever occur to you that if he ever found out on his own he would not blame me as well? Not that it would matter much because at least he knows me well enough to know I would not lie about something like this. Even then, how could you keep my nephew from me. I had a right to know.” He said with hurt in his eyes. Now she knew why he was so upset.

“I never meant to imply that I didn’t trust you.” She said remorsefully.

“Yet you said nothing about her even coming to you for help. Nor that you knew where she was for the past couple of months since you found her. Even after knowing how much my brother was hurting. Do you think me to be so unfeeling that I wouldn’t want to help her? Granted, my advice may have been different but I would not have lost contact with her. Nor would I have let Inuyasha or any other harm her or her child. That child is a legacy of my family Rin. I had a right to know. Our children had a right know. That child had a right to know his father.” He said coldly with anger in his eyes.

“I promised her I wouldn’t tell anyone. Sess I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking about all that.” She tried to defend herself but he wouldn’t have it.

“Thinking was clearly the last thing you were doing. One of these days you will stop looking at life as if it were an on going soap opera. People’s lives are not a drama where a flick of a pen can change the out come.” She visibly cringed at his angry words. Satisfied he had made his point he went on more calmly. “You never heard the conversations that I had with Inuyasha every time he called after she left. I can not express his pain nor his feeling of failure when it came to Kagome. I have never experience such emotional turmoil but I have thanked the heavens above everyday for what I have. All I could do was listen for there was no advice I could really give. He has felt less a person since then. Clinging to his existence as if he were a mindless machine. How he has hung on for this long is beyond me but he never gave up hope that one day she would return.” He gauged Rin’s reaction to his words and held back a smirk of gratification as he watched the tears slip down her face.

He didn’t want to hurt her but both women had shown nothing but childish selfishness concerning this. Neither were thinking of anything more then their own feelings. There were few times when he had made Rin cry. Each time it had been a stepping stone to make her the woman she could be. This was just one more step in that direction. Her child like behavior had been one of the things that attracted him to her in the beginning but with matters such as this, he had to put his foot down. Hopefully she would learn and mature some with this new knowledge. As long as she didn’t mature too much. “Come to bed wife. Now is the time for making up.” The corners of his mouth lifted slightly when she looked up at him with tear filled wide eyes. Suddenly she launched herself from the couch into his waiting arms. He kissed the top of her head as she sobbed into his white dinner shirt. “I love you dearly my wife.” He cooed softly as his kisses moved down to her tear stained cheeks.

“I love you too my husband.” She answered just before his lips met hers.