A Geisha's Love

I woke the next morning alone. I sighed as I got up from my futon and throwing the sheets off my body, I made my way to my onsen. Getting comfortable in the warm water I stretched my stiff limbs. I could only wonder what Sesshoumaru had to do that was so important that he couldn't spend the morning with me.

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"You will not stop her from seeing Prince Yukito!" Toga growled his eyes narrowing at his heir.



"Kagome is mine so this Sesshoumaru will do as he pleases." Sesshoumaru growled back.



Toga wanted to throttle his son. He could not believe that after spending that so much time with Nozomi that he would suddenly want to claim Kagome as his own.



"What about Nozomi?"



"She is of no consequence." Sesshoumaru said a little to easy to Toga's liking.



Toga looked at him carefully his eyes still narrowed. "Nozomi will not like this."



"I do not care what she thinks."



Toga raised his head sitting back down in the chair behind his desk. "You will not be mating, Kagome."



Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed dangerously. "Why not?"



"You only want Kagome for yourself. You are being selfish, pup."



"What, pray tell, is wrong with that, father?" Sesshoumaru asked, stubbornly.



Toga just stared at his son. Was his son being dense or just plain stubborn? Toga just shook his head before leaving his study.



"Where are you going, father?" Sesshoumaru asked with a growl.



Toga glanced back at his son. "I'm going to go see Izayoi and sort out my thoughts. You may want to do the same."



As the door closed behind his father, Sesshoumaru growled. He knew what his father was thinking of him. A spoiled little pup he may be but he did not care. He did not wish for Kagome to be with or even be mated to that damned Yukito.



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I worried my lip, wondering if I should knock or not. I suddenly heard a light laugh.



"Kagome, my dear. Come in." I jumped when I heard them call me. I blushed a light pink as I slipped into their room. I bowed.



"Good morning, Lady Izayoi."



I suddenly heard soft patter of feet and the shoji door close. "Kagome, what have I told you of that. Do not lower your eyes or bow to me."



I nodded and looked up at her. She had a bright smile on her face.



"Good morning. Come, sit." she said, motioning for me to sit on a pillow near her open window.



She poured us both a cup of tea and we drank in comfortable silence, the sun shining through the open window. Not too long after, she asked, "How is Sesshoumaru doing?"



I swallowed my tea and thought carefully. "He is... well."



She laughed softly. "Is that so? It seems as if he is driving his father crazy."



I suppose the look on my face told her that I needed an explanation.



"He was just telling his father how he wanted to announce you as his mate."



My face immediately heated up. "How do you know that?" I asked softly.



She tapped her head with her finger. "I'm mated to Toga, whatever he knows, I know. Most of the time anyway."



"Will I be able to do that as well with Sesshoumaru-- If we're mated, I mean?" I said quickly. Izayoi smiled at me and I felt the heat on my face once more.



"It depends how open he is with you but Toga and I both can tell that he will not be able to block too much from you. He cares deeply for you, Kagome."



I though I could die from embarrassment. "Oh, there is nothing to be embarrassed about, my dear." she said, patting my hand. "But I know you want to know what transpired between both Inus." I nodded.



Izayoi took a sip from her tea before speaking. "Well, Sesshoumaru is having trouble admitting his love for you and the thought of you being married-- mated to Prince Yukito, angers him.... something all women know as, jealousy."



The smile I had on my face suddenly fell. "But what about Lady Nozomi?"



Izayoi sat her tea down. "She could always ask for your head," I gasped. "But I highly doubt Sesshoumaru would grant her such a ridiculous request. Her father will of course be furious with Sesshoumaru's choice but he is wise not to threaten him or Toga."



I sighed in relief, but I suddenly thought of Prince Yukito. "What of Prince Yukito?"



"Sesshoumaru will let the Prince know of his decision and will either accept it or challenge him."



"Have many challenged Sesshoumaru?"



"Yes, but not for a mate. Other demons that have challenged him have either lost or died in the process."



"Sesshoumaru must be very strong." I said, a little to myself.



"A very worthy opponent indeed." Lady Izayoi murmured.



It was suddenly silent in the room as we were both lost in our own thoughts.



Izayoi suddenly spoke.



"Have you ever thought about children, Kagome?"



I blinked. "I am not sure."



The mischievous smile she wore scared me. "How many children would you like to have?"



I was not sure if I liked where this was going. "Lady Izayoi¡ª"



"Though he will not say, I believe Sesshoumaru would like many children¡ª pups." she said before I could reply.



My eyes widened. "Izayoi!"



Apparently, Lady Izayoi thought my reaction was very funny for she burst into laughter.



Some time had passed and we talked about many things. Lady Izayoi stretched and stood and I did as well.



"It is time for dinner, my dear." she said as she went to the door. I nodded my head and followed after her.



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I could Sesshoumaru¡¯s eyes on me as I pulled on my sleeping yukata and slipped into bed. I made sure to lie on the opposite side of the bed, far away from him. I¡¯m not sure how he got me to come back to his room but he did. I¡¯m not sure if Toga would like me here with him but as long as we didn¡¯t have any physical contact it should be okay.



Sesshoumaru got into bed and I closed my eyes. It was then that I felt the bed suddenly shift and he was behind me. He ran his claws through my hair.



"What did you and mother talk about today?" he asked.



"Nothing important." I answered softly. He quickly turned me towards him and pulled me closer.



"Hn." he said.. I am not sure if he believed me or chose not to bother me about it. "I talked to my father about our mating."



"And what was his answer?" I asked, my lips lightly brushing against his chest. Something told me that I already knew the answer.



"He did not approve."



After his reply, we were both silent. He continued to comb through my hair with his claws, as we both got lost in our own thoughts. I was the first to break the silence.



"It is because of Lady Nozomi, isn¡¯t it?" I asked softly, my voice just above a whisper.



At first I did not believe he would answer me before, "Yes."



I just began to worry my bottom lip when I felt his eyes on me. I immediately stopped.



"There is something else." he said, making the question a statement.



"Will you mate her?"



"She will ask for your life."



"Will you allow her?"



"No."



"But will you mate her?" He never did answer my question.



His sudden silence made me worry. I pulled away from him, surprising us both. I had never denied him. He did not attempt to pull me back to him. My heart dropped. We stayed like that for some time staring at each other but neither moving. I felt a light burning in my nose, my eyes stinging.



"Will you mate her?" I asked again, my heart racing. Deep down, I knew what answer I would get but I wanted him to tell me. He just stared at me.



"Do you not care for me?"



Silence.



"Tell me!" I yelled, tears forming. I flinched. I had never raised my voice to anyone or for anything.



I was once again met with silence.



"Why can you not tell me?" I asked, my hands balling into fists. As I stood on the other side of the bed, staring at each other, I thought that I had seen something flicker in his eyes¡­ right before he got up and left the room.



Leaving me alone.

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I did not get much sleep last night. I went to bed in tears. But when I had awakened the next morning, I was saddened and angry. I did not pass Sesshoumaru in the Palace¡¯s halls as I made my way to see Toga. Though I slept horribly last night that did not mean that I did not think. Though I love Toga and Izayoi, my love for Sesshoumaru was different and much greater and he was my reason for staying here. Now that he had chosen Nozomi and was planning to mate her I had no other reason to stay.



I walked into the foyer to see both Toga and Izayoi in deep conversation. They were both smiling and I suddenly felt bad for ruining their morning. I bowed to both of them.



"Good morning, Kagome."



"Good morning, my dear!" Toga said, a big smile on his face. Though I was hurting inside, I could not help but smile in their presence.



"How are you this fine morning?" Toga asked enthusiastically. I swallowed before saying, "I wish to go back."



I did not have to say anymore. They both knew of where I spoke. I chanced a glance at Izayoi and saw that her eyes were getting watery.. "Lady Izayoi! There is no need to cry!" I said, feeling horrible. When I heard Toga¡¯s claws tapping on the table my attention fell to him.



"What of Prince Yukito?" he asked. I looked down at my hands. I had thought about that. "I do not think it is wise¡ª"



"Nonsense!" Lord Toga proclaimed.



Izayoi too, put in her opinion. "There is no need for you to live out your life at that geisha house. You are still too young and beautiful for that! I will contact Prince Yukito immediately! I am sure he still holds interest in you."



I would have smiled at their concern if it were any other situation.



"Lord Toga, Lady Izayoi. I appreciate your concern, but I think it is best if I went back. I still have friends there and I have not seen them in some time." I lowered my eyes. "So please my lord and lady, please allow me to go back."

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Toga looked at Kagome with narrowed eyes. He did not believe he should have her go back to the geisha house. He could not believe that his heir allowed her to even consider such a decision! He watched as she glanced up at him and Izayoi. Toga's face was void of any emotion, but in the inside, he was annoyed. She spent all this time with them only for his son to ruin it. No. She would not work at that geisha house for the rest of her life. She deserved a happy life and a loving mate or husband.



"I will allow you to return to the geisha house, but under one condition." Toga spoke, watching her closely.



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I stood there for kami knows how long before Toga spoke. My ears perked up as I raised my head to face him.



"You will allow Yukito to court you. There is no need for you to waste the rest of your life at that geisha house."



I let his proposal run through my head before nodding. "Hai." I whispered. I saw Toga smile and it immediately made me uneasy. Just a few minutes ago I could practically feel his aura crackling against my skin and it seemed less than happy. But now something was going on inside Lord Toga's head.



"Toga?" I asked. He only smiled and walked towards me lifting my chin. My eyes widened as he leaned forward and placed a soft fatherly kiss on my forehead.



"It will work out." he said, that same smile plastered on his face. He pulled away and I saw Izayoi stand as well with a smile on her face. I was thoroughly confused. Why were they smiling?



"So, my dear, when would you like to leave?"



"Tonight."



Toga and Izayoi both blinked. "Tonight?" They asked in unison. I nodded.



"I believe the soon the better." I said softly. I was not sure how much more my heart could take.



"That is quite short notice." Izayoi said.



"I agree. Especially since this Sesshoumaru was not aware of it." I gasped and my back stiffened as the little hairs on my back stood up. This was not going to go well.