Beautiful Things

I do own somethin’ but it’s sure as hell isn’t Inuyasha! Damn!

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A/N: So sorry for the delay, but I have had too much going on and I was just exhausted. I finally graduated from college but I needed to take a small break before my body just gave out on me. I’ve had this chapter typed for some time, but I’ve just recently edited… I tried to get rid of all the major mistakes but I can’t help but feel that I left something out. So… I will more than likely redo this chapter when I post the next. Sadly this story is coming to an end; I think I have at least two more chapters to go.

As for reviews THANK YOU… I know that I usually reply to all reviewers in my stories but that would take more time and I’m not willing to let you all wait any longer. I also like it when you pester me for chapters!!! I may not feel like it sometimes but the reviews give me a mental boost!!

Special thanks to Daniella Lujan, who gave me some things to think about

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I’ll re-edit this chapter later….

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Chapter 7

Discovery and Self Discovery

Last time:

Kagome shuttered at the word love, she didn’t deserve that from him. Don’t get me wrong… she wanted it, but she couldn’t bring herself to accept it. Not after this morning. Deciding that the most direct approach would be best, Kagome told Koga everything; starting with a confession. “I cheated…”

“I know…” Koga replied brokenly. He had prepared himself for this all morning, but he almost couldn’t bear to hear it come from Kagome sweet lips. Koga listened quietly as Kagome cried out her confession with every detail. “Don’t worry, we will get through this.”

“No…” Kagome choked. “I won’t put you through this! I’m sorry but I have to end our relationship. I’m not being fair to you!”

“Screw that!” He replied with a voice full of raw emotion. “I won’t leave you… Yes… you made a mistake, but I really love you Kagome. If didn’t rush off to fight that shit-head last night, then I would have been by your side.”

Kagome laid her head down on his chest. “Don’t blame yourself, Koga.” She sobbed.

“Then stay with me, Kagome. Please don’t leave me!” Koga pleaded. He held up her hand with the promise ring on it. “Let me make this ring into a wedding ring. Marry me, Kagome.”

“What!” Kagome sat there unmoving for the longest time.

“I said marry me, Kagome. Let me give you the family that we both want. Come on…”

On with the chapter:

Kagome rubbed the bridge of her nose in order to stave off her on coming headache. Is this really even happening to her? Her life went from simple to soap opera like in mere hours. Anyway… after this last incident, she now knew what path she needed to take. “Koga, I really don’t know what to say.” Kagome replied.

“Just don’t say no!” Koga replied franticly.

Kagome looked down into the man’s pleading eyes. “I won’t, but I can’t say yes right now either.”

Koga stood up and hugged Kagome close to his body. “As long as you’re not going to leave me.”

Kagome sighed. No now, at least; she thought. But she needed a rest. “I’m not, but I needed to be alone for a while. Can you go back to the states and wait for me?”

“Where will you be?”

“I took a series of jobs that will keep me busy for a while.” Kagome explained. “I’ll only be gone a few months and by then I can give you an answer.”

“Whatever you need, babe. I’ll be waiting on you.” Koga replied. He smiled. Sesshomaru could kiss their asses. They would be happy with out him interfering in their lives.

sssss

“Hell no!” Inuyasha shouted.

“Why not?!” Kikyo shouted back.

Inuyasha leer at Kikyo from the couch. “Because, I don’t want to marry a slut like you! I should have never left Kagome!” There, he finally said it.

Kikyo looked stunned. “I knew it! You still have feeling for that little Bitch!”

“So Fuckin’ what! I haven’t slept with her. You can’t say the same for your ex!”

“You know what… I’m going to leave and when I return maybe you will have calmed down.”

Inuyasha glared at Kikyo. “Who in the hell said that I would let you in?”

Kikyo bristled at the comment but kept on walking towards the door. “I’ll return Inuyasha.”

sssss

Three weeks pasted and Sesshomaru had not seen hide or hair of Kagome. Everyday he rode by the shrine to try and catch a glimpse of the maiden.

Like before, the mother knew nothing of Kagome’s location, but Sesshomaru suspected that Kagome’s brat of a brother did. That little punk must do well at keeping secrets.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at the teen that so innocently sat on the shrine steps. “Boy, where has your sister gone to?” He asked.

“Don’t know.” Souta replied.

Instead of heading for his car, Sesshomaru changed direction and headed for Souta. “I know she tells you her whereabouts.” Sesshomaru stepped closer. “I’m positive that you knew them the last time I asked.”

Souta shrugged his shoulders. “So what if I did.”

“If you did then you would be messing with my future!” Sesshomaru bellowed.

“And my sister’s future?” Souta asked. “Neither you nor Inuyasha cared enough about her future make sure that she was happy. I may have been a kid at the time, but I was the only one there to comfort her after Sango left. The both of you left my sister an emotional wreak.” He replied.

For the first time in years, Sesshomaru took a good look at the young male sitting before him. The boy, as he once knew him, was no longer a boy but a young man. Souta was doing the best he can to protect his sister while not worrying their mother. “I’ll ask you one more time. Please, tell me where Kagome has gone to?”

Souta shook his head. “No. Just as you wouldn’t betray your sister, I won’t betray mine.” With that he got up and walked back into the shrine. Hopefully those morons would get the message and stop asking.

……..

Obviously, Inuyasha had the same idea as Sesshomaru. Souta sighed as the brash man banged on the door. “Wh…” Souta quickly found himself pinned up against the wall by his shirt collar.

“Tell me where she is you little runt!” Inuyasha yelled. Somewhere in the limited space of Inuyasha’s mind, he figured that he would be able to talk things out with Kagome. However, to do that, he needed to see her in person.

Souta was ready to unleash the can of whoop-ass he had been saving for Inuyasha when Mai suddenly walked through the door.

“Inuyasha! Put my son down!”

He immediately let go and look that the older woman guiltily. “Tell your idiot son to tell where Kagome is!” Inuyasha demanded.

“Go fuck yourself!” Souta shouted back.

Mai gasp. “Young man, where did you lean that language.”

Although Souta didn’t mean to, he could help by give his mother a confused look. He’s seventeen years old now; there are endless amounts of places where he could pick up on bad language… mainly his sister. “That was a message from Kagome, mom, to Inuyasha.”

Both Inuyasha and Mai looked at Souta with stunned faces. Kagome never ever talked to people so crudely.

“Stop telling lies on Kagome!” Inuyasha pointed an accused finger at the young man. “She wouldn’t say nothin’ like that to me.”

Souta looked at Inuyasha strangely. “Really?” Inuyasha nodded his head and Souta pulled out his video phone. “Look at this then.”

Mai and Inuyasha huddled closer to Souta’s phone as a message started to play. They could clearly see Kagome and when she started talking both nearly fell over from shock.

There Kagome was in her room talking with her two middle fingers up saying. “Souta, if Inuyasha comes harassing you; then show him this and tell him I said to go fuck himself.”

The message ended and they both turned to the smiling teen.

“Well Inuyasha, I guess you better go get to it because you won’t be finding Kagome anytime soon.” Souta wave his hand and walked back into the house laughing.

Pride hurt and very humiliated, Inuyasha turned and left the shrine with out so much as a goodbye.

sssss

Back in the states, Sango was going through a mental dilemma. Actually she and Miroku were having the same problem.

Naturally, after Kagome left for work, she asked them to look after her place. Even with Koga in it, she still felt the need to have them check.

Well it was a normal day, like any other, when Sango stopped by Kagome’s to check on things. Also, like usual, Koga car was parked at Kagome’s condo. He didn’t live with Kagome but stayed there when he felt the need to be with her. This particular day, Sango didn’t really feel like waiting on Koga to answer the door so she used her key.

Immediately, Sango knew something was wrong. The place was way too quiet for someone like Koga to be in there. Taking a look around down stairs, she found everything to be in order so she headed up stairs. There Sango got the shock of her life. In Kagome’s bedroom, stood Koga and some red head having a raging argument; not only that but Koga was half dressed. That day she decided not to confront the pair, but later confiscated Koga’s key under the guise that hers was lost.

What to do now is the question.

……..

Kagome didn’t have any problem adjusting to life on the road or plane. In fact, she liked being alone. With most people, time alone is usually used to reflect on the past and make life changing decisions, but Kagome refuse to do solely that.

No, the time she spent alone would be use for the ‘now’. Of course she planed to sort out her life along the way but that would not dominate all of her time. There are things to do, people to meet, and places to see. Kagome didn’t want all of this drama to dominate her every moment.

Kagome sighed as the beautician tugged on her hair and the make-up artist painted her face. This is life…. And life is beautiful.

sssss

“Sis, come on. Please let me come.” Souta whined. “I think that I earned a break, don’t you. I’ve already been attacked once and Sesshomaru harasses me like everyday.” He complained over the phone.

Kagome sighed. She really did owe him a vacation.

“I even think that bastard is following me.”

Souta really didn’t deserve all of this stress either. “Okay, but if he is follow you then you need to be careful about getting on a plane. Since you are still a minor I’ll be able to purchase the ticket in Miroku’s company name. Once you get out of Japan, and then in your own.” Kagome explained. “It will harder for someone to follow you then.”

“Thanks sis.”

“That’s okay… I love you and see you later.”

………

A month has already passed and Sesshomaru is back a square one. When Kagome vanished the second time, he knew that he would find her for sure this time, but it must not be meant to happen.

He even went so far as to call Souta to demand Kagome’s location, but that failed as well. The boy is very loyal to his sister and to her emotions. That being the case, Sesshomaru had no choice but to have the brat followed. While on the go, Souta might reveal some clue as to Kagome’s whereabouts.

Two weeks into the second month, Sesshomaru got his break.

“Excuse me Sesshomaru-sama.” A middle aged man walked into his office and took a seat. “I have some urgent news.”

Sesshomaru gave the man a look of death for walking into his office without being told to do so. “What?”

The man swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “The boy… the young man that you had us follow, was seen at the airport just hours ago.”

“WHAT!”

“Yes… we tried to have him stalled but the plane could only be with held for an hour.”

Sesshomaru rubbed the sides of his head. “Did you, at least, get his location?” He asked calmly.

“Yes and no…” The man felt like making a break for the door; only the sheer will of wanting to keep his job held him back. “His ticket was purchase elsewhere under a company name, and ticket was headed to china.” The man took a chance to look his enraged boss in the eyes. “However, there is no lodging information on the owner of the company. So, the boy is either going to say using his own name or connect to a different flight using a different method.”

Sesshomaru could feel his blood boil. Today had been a blessing and curse; but either way, he would find Kagome with just this information. Quickly he grabbed the phone, called in a few favors, grabbed his jacket, and headed home. He needed to do some packing.

………

When Souta arrived in china, he was surprised to see Sango waiting for him.
“Hey what are you doing here?”

Sango smiled. “I’m actually here on work and then I’m headed to the same place you are for some more work, so I thought we could travel as far as Kagome together.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

When they arrived in Milan, Souta couldn’t help but look around in wonder. “Man o’ man, I can wait to tell my friends about this.” He turned to Sango. “You and sis come here often?”

Sango nodded enthusiastically; it’s always nice to visit a place with someone who is eager to learn about something new. “Yeah, at least, a couple of times.” She replied.

“So when will we meet up with Kagome?”

“Later this evening after I get you settled into her suite.”

Souta look slightly confused. “Uh… you’re not staying?”

“No.” Sango shook her head. “I’m only going to be here till early morning. I am actually headed for London and then home.”

……..

It took a lot of effort on Sesshomaru’s part but he finally tracked the brat down. After arriving in China, it took him a while to figure out where to go but he finally figured it out in the end. Sesshomaru finally realized that following the boys name would be useless, so he had an acquaintance check Kagome’s friends. Sure enough, he found two plane tickets registered under Sango’s name for Milan.

However, now he was on his own. Here he’s just a tourist, a business man taking in the sights. After scouring the city asking questions about any and all fashion shows, he finally found Kagome.

Instead of taking a front row seat this time, Sesshomaru thought it best to remain the shadows for now. On some level, he felt like an obsessed stalker, but he pushed that aside and reminded himself that he was following his wife.

Wife… it was a dirty move on his part, but he needed assurance that Kagome would have to return to him.

-Flashback-

After driving by the shrine for countless days, Sesshomaru felt the signs of despair slowly eating at him. He had to do something. As he lay in his bed, he remembered the contract that his father and Mai signed.

He shot up from bed and headed over to his father estate. In the middle the night, Sesshomaru woke his father up and confessed everything; in detail. His father, in turn, handed him a copy of the original contract. The very next day Sesshomaru visited the shrine and repeated his actions from the night before.

Now Mai had to acknowledge him as her son… because he and Kagome were now legally married. Sesshomaru would need her to sign the marriage license before anywhere else would acknowledge them as a couple. This would be his last resort, a trump card of sorts if Kagome continued to refuse him.

-End Flashback-

Sesshomaru clutched his briefcase handle tighter. That contract would be his last act in desperation if he couldn’t win Kagome’s heart this time around. It took a few moments for him to realize that he was staring into space, but the announcer brought him back to reality.

sssss

Kagome walked down the runway looking very much like a porcelain doll. The clothes were uncomfortable but this was to be expected when a model worked with a new designer.

After the show was over, Kagome quickly undress and headed to her hotel. She wanted to party with Sango and her brother before Sango left for London. As soon as Kagome opened the door to her suite, Sango gave her a big hug.

“We’re all ready to go if you are.” Sango stated.

Kagome smiled. “You must have read my mind.” She looked over to Souta. “Are you ready to experience Milan’s night life?”

“You bet. A guy on the plane told me that I was old enough to drink here!”

“Yep.” Kagome nodded. “So let’s get going!”

With that all three headed for the nearest night club.

……….

Sesshomaru opted to still stay hidden. Startling Kagome and forcing her to hear him out was not an option this time. He would heed Kaede’s warning, and treat this situation delicately.

……..

When Sango left the next morning, the brother and sister stayed in Milan a couple more days.

Next Kagome’s job called her to Paris. There they would stay the whole month.

Kagome was desperately trying to enjoy the trip but couldn’t. She had an overwhelming feeling that something was wrong or, at least, not completely right.

sssss

Koga looked over at the red-head beside him on the plane. Ayame, that is her name, and she was the ex-girlfriend from hell. She found out that he had come home to Japan and then stalked him all the way to Kagome’s home. He should have turned her away then, but the sad look on her face wouldn’t allow him to do so. Instead they ended up sleeping together.

He tried to rationalize this situation as being fair, but he couldn’t. Kagome tried her best to break up with him after transgression, but he wouldn’t allow it. In a way Koga’s situation is worse. Kagome tried her best to break all ties to her ex-boyfriend and his brother, but he didn’t. Koga didn’t even send Ayame home. Maybe it was loneliness or something sexual, he didn’t know.

Whatever the case, Koga took his mistrust to a whole new level. After arguing with Ayame about why he could not continue to see her, they came to an agreement. If he would take Ayame for a weekend in Paris, she would leave his life for good. That was a nice prospect, but it was also unsettling. Koga had no idea as to where Kagome’s jobs where or when she would return home or if someone would see him and tell Kagome. He just didn’t know but he had to take a chance and hope for the best.

sssss

The shit literally hit the fan once Inuyasha found out that his brother had left in search of Kagome. He damn near destroyed his apartment and then headed for his father’s place.

Inuyasha stormed into his father office and bellowed. “How come you didn’t tell me that, that bastard left here looking for Kagome!”

“It is and was none of your business pup.” Came the smooth reply.

“Why the hell not, Kagome was my girl.”

“No.” Inuyasha’s father looked up from his paper work. “Kagome was not your girl to begin with Inuyasha. When you were younger, I found no reason to get into your affairs but I should have.”

Inuyasha looked confused. “What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about Kagome.” His father replied. “She has legally been your brother’s wife for almost seven years now. Had Sesshomaru not kept his private life so secret, I would have settled this mess sooner. You messing with his with by continuing this charade.”

The new information hit Inuyasha hard. “You can stop trying to yank my chain, dad. I ain’t buyin’ it.”

“Kagome and Sesshomaru would have a formal wedding long ago.” The older man shook his head and pulled out the original contract. “This was signed by myself and Mai, when Kagome was nothing but a mere child.”

“I really was a fool.” Inuyasha whispered as he fell back into a chair.

“Indeed, boy. Had you took her as your wife before Sesshomaru confessed anything to me or Mai, you would had the perfect woman. You were a big fool.”

Inuyasha may be brash and sometimes stupid, but he knew what that paper meant. The woman he wanted was no longer in his reach.

sssss

Somewhere in down town Paris, Kagome and Souta were taking in the sights went a familiar shape suddenly caught Souta’s eye. He stopped to look and see if he could tell who it was that he thought he saw. When he finally figured out, his fists started shaking. “Kagome, look across the street.”

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