DISCLAIMER: All I own is the plot. Nothing more, nothing less. Well… maybe less.

Summary - "Hatred. That's all he felt for her since the day she was born. So why then, did he feel so anxious to be with her? To touch her?" He was a Takano. Takano's never admitted they were wrong. Kagome and he had despised each other for so long, so it was destined that they would continue to do so later on in life. But things have indeed changed, and Kagome's not as unappealing as she used to be.

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Chapter 1 - Abhorrence

Curses. Curses. Curses.

Curses for everything. He cursed the morning rays of sunlight that streamed through the window and into his sensitive eyes. He cursed the damned blankets that tangled through his legs like a fly in a web. He cursed the inability of his mind to dream something other than the usual, causing the tangling of the comforters. But most of all, he cursed the spotlight of his dream.

Kagome.

She was like a leech. Unpleasant, revolting, unwanted. When you thought once about her, she latched onto your brain and wouldn't let go for the life of it.

Just the thought of her was sending chills up and down his spine - and not the good kinds.

For the past week, that was all he dreamt about, thought about. Two more days and she'd be here for winter break. He was dreading it like no other. Three whole weeks she'd be staying here. Twenty one entire days.

If there was anything he was ever more sure of, it was that his parents, god, and who could forget, Kagome, were all after him. There was no denying it. They knew of his feelings toward the idiotic girl, yet they still invite her over. And they still let her sleep in the bedroom across from his. And they still make her eat at the table with them. In his opinion, she should eat on the floor like she used to when she was four.

He shuddered. In a way, she still was four.

An angry grumble escaped his lips as he thought about her. What was it that made his parents adore the girl so much? What made Inuyasha crazy about her? Was he the only one who noticed how terrible she was? No of course not, because she was only terrible to him.

He remembered her birth. It was funny how clearly the image was displayed in his head. He and Kagome shared the same birth date. It was on his birthday, that Izayoi, his brother's mother's, dearest friend had given birth. Sesshoumaru was six years old at the time and was waiting patiently at his school for Izayoi or his father to come and get him. An hour passed by, and another, and another. His school let out at 4, but he didn't get home until 8:30 when he decided to walk. No one was home at that time and so he ate, and went to sleep.

He sighed. It didn't matter that they missed his sixth birthday. That was a childish thing to base hatred off of. It was how seemingly every year when Kagome came over, he was ignored. His father acted as if she was his own child, Izayoi flourished her with gifts, his brother, well… his brother followed her around all day. And he really didn't think he wanted the tables to turn in Inuyasha's case. He's much rather have Kagome followed by him than have himself followed.

Her school friends constantly came over and bothered him and Inuyasha, asking for unimportant things just to be in the same room as him. Kagome never once told them to leave.

She spent all of her holidays at his home, so one could only imagine how terrible it was for Sesshoumaru to be there and be ignored. So he left. He'd leave and go to his own house, which he despised due to it's solitude and quietness. When he came back, it was as if he'd never left in the first place. All had made such a big deal about Kagome arriving and an even bigger deal of her departure, that Sesshoumaru hadn't ever received a "stay safe" from anyone. No goodbyes, just a nod of the head and a glance his way.

It may have also been that Kagome had never really talked to him. It was rude, he thought, that she came to his home, spent days at a time there, yet never came to make small talk with Sesshoumaru. Sure they quarreled. She'd always insist she was right, and he'd never agree. But she never smiled at him, never thanked him.

Each time she came by, she'd avoid him if possible and ignore him whenever she could. At times, she would embarrass him in front of his parents, or Inuyasha, or some girlfriends he brought over. So he decided that, for a reason unknown to him, she hated him as well.

He admitted to himself countless times, that it was never always that he hated her. He used to be frustrated to an extreme, and quite unhealthy, point. But that eventually grew to hate. And that hate, it grew even stronger. He could say with a guilt-free conscience that he absolutely abhorred that girl.

"Sesshoumaru!"

Sesshoumaru was practically slapped out of his thoughts and turned his head toward the large doors of his bedroom at the sound of his younger brother's howling voice. What now? Maybe if he kept quiet, he wouldn't have to deal with the fool.

"Sesshoumaru!"

A low growl was beginning to form in his throat. Just stay calm and keep-

A loud banging emitted from the doorway. "Sesshoumaru!"

He shot up and angrily strode for the door, allowing the blankets to fall from his legs to the ground. Sesshoumaru yanked the door open, revealing a panting and red-faced Inuyasha in mid-knock.

"What the hell took you so long!?"

Sesshoumaru raised a curved brow. "I was sleeping." He had no time for this. He needed to go back and complain some more.

"Well sleep later!" Inuyasha shouted, throwing his hands up in the air exasperatedly.

Sesshoumaru studied his half brother's features and body language. Something was wrong. "Why are you panicking?" Though it sounded calm, his stomach did a quick twist in anxiety.

"We gotta go!"

What was it with him and his narrow responses. It left even more questions than it had answers. "Go where, Inuyasha?" He sighed. Maybe it was nothing after all.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and growled at him. "Stupid, didn't you remember what today was!?"

"No, Inuyasha, what is today?" He asked, not really caring for the answer. He seemed to be more interested in the carvings on the oak door.

"Damn it, Sesshoumaru! How dense can you get!? Kagome's coming today!"

Sesshoumaru averted his eyes to Inuyasha quickly, his fingers frozen in their place of circling the doorframe. "That's not for another two days." His calendar said three days. He was sure of it. "She's not coming until the twelfth." As he was about to close the door, Inuyasha's hand shot out and held it open. "Today is the twelfth, ya moron. Now hurry up and get ready! You've got ten minutes."

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened. It was, wasn't it…?

The world came crashing down on him. How could he have forgotten. Now Izayoi wouldn't let him leave until Kagome came. If only he paid more attention, then could've left a few days ago before she got here. Damn it. Damn it all to hell.

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He didn't even bother getting dressed quickly. He took his sweet time picking out the perfect outfit that would make her realize that he was so much better looking than her. Childish as it was, it gave him a sense of triumph when it came to his looks. No woman has denied that he was beautiful, whether they hated him or not. That is, Kagome was really the only woman who had ever hated him…

Sesshoumaru shrugged and continued dressing. The dark jeans he wore were tight, though not too tight, and showed off his legs. His shirt was white, but it wasn't visible underneath the warm sweater he had on. He looked at himself in the mirror. So much for perfect outfits. He looked average.

With a toss of his long, lustrous, silver hair, Sesshoumaru glided out the door and down the steps, surprised to find that she was yet to arrive. He'd just get breakfast in the meantime.

As he sat on the chair at the nook in the kitchen, he felt uneasiness and dread wash over him. Once again he was reminded that the horror that is Kagome would be spending what seemed like an eternity at his house. And he could do nothing about it.

The doorbell rang and he slouched for once. His usually perfect posture slipped away and his energy followed suit. He had nothing in him that could motivate him anymore.

But a voice in his head asked a rather good question. Why mourn when you can do something about your situation. A spark of hope gleamed in his eye for a split second. Would it be immature to make this the worst holiday of her life? To make her decide she'd go home and never come and bother them again? Yes, it would be. Very much so, in fact. But no matter. He still would.

Realization hit him. This human girl was making him question his own authority. Another perfectly logical reason as to why she was disliked so intensely by him. He was a demon, and nothing, especially not her, could change the fact that he could do as he pleased and need not be questioned about it.

Sesshoumaru stood quickly, his stoic mask hardened by his frown and narrowed eyes for a moment. As he regained his composure and replaced his expression with an unemotional one, he walked from the kitchen and into the foyer.

There she was. Smiling as brightly as the sun shone. Oh how he wanted to throw a bucket over that smile and burn it out. His jaw clenched as she glanced his way, the smile immediately dropping to a frown. He smirked. Pitiful human girl.

Kagome almost instantly returned her gaze to Izayoi and his father, grinning widely as they asked how she had been.

He scowled at her. He hated fake people. He hated Kagome.

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Kagome couldn't stop the excitement from surrounding every inch of her. She was ecstatic to be here. Mr. and Mrs. Takano were like second parents to her. She loved them very much. Before she rang the doorbell, she dusted herself off and picked up her bags. But as her finger came an inch from the bell, she stopped.

Sesshoumaru.

Another holiday spent with him. He always left though, so maybe he was gone now. She really couldn't enjoy her vacation here if he was there. There was always so much tension floating around them whenever they were in the same room. She closed her eyes and took a deep breathe. Looking around at the large driveway, she grinned. His car wasn't there. It was a pity that he owned such a gorgeous car. And expensive too. The beautiful silver Saleen S7 did not fit his personality. Sesshoumaru was cold and ignorant, he was not at all a beautiful person. Maybe on the outside, but beauty, after all, is only skin deep. With a newly placed smile, she rang the doorbell and almost yelped in surprise as Inuyasha's body flew out of the house and crushed her to him.

"I-Inuyasha. It's great to see you." She choked out and patted his back.

"Kagome, we've all really missed you! Well, except Sesshoumaru. But you know him. That bastard." He have her one of the happiest smiles she'd ever seen. Smiles she knew Inuyasha only held for her. Yes, Kagome knew all about his infatuation with her. But she couldn't say she felt the same. He was like a brother to her.

"I missed you too." Her eyes shot up to the doorway, where Inuyasha's parents stood. His father was tall and proud, with a young face but wise eyes. And his mother was still as beautiful as she ever was.

"Kagome, my dear. Welcome back."

She laughed and walked into Mrs. Takano's open arms, hugging her gently, but firmly. "I'm glad to be back."

After hugging Mr. Taisho quickly, she stood back to examine the house. Each year it changed. The foyer was most impressive, with it's shining cherry floors and walls and fur carpets. The elegant, dark tapestries hung from each wall. Vases were spread out beautifully. And the twin staircases on either side were pale marble, sticking out from the rest of the room. It seemed so ancient yet looked good as new. She let out an enormous smile, now even more excited for the next three weeks.

A sound from the right of her made her turn away from the warm family and toward the hard-eyed icicle she'd known since birth. A downward curve of her lips expressed her disappointment at seeing that Sesshoumaru was indeed still here at the house. Seeing his smirk, she narrowed her eyes quickly and turned back around to answer the many questions she was bombarded with, most being from Inuyasha.

"Kagome, how has your year been? Is school alright?" The elder Takano asked her as his stoic son left the room.

"Yeah, it's fine, but I'm kinda stuck on math." She laughed nervously. "Mom says I should get a tutor, but I don't think it would help much. I get so nervous around strangers."

Izayoi cut in before Inuyasha could give a comforting comment her way. "Well how about having Sesshoumaru teach you? He passed each of his math classes while he was in school with flying colo-"

"Mother, please refrain from making plans involving me without my consent." Came his calm, though rather angry, reply from the kitchen.

Izayoi huffed on the inside, but smiled on the outside. Looks as if it'll be holiday of arguments.

Kagome held back a glare she could've sent his way, but he wouldn't have seen it since a wall stood between them. "It's alright Mrs. Takano, I don't mind. As long as I'm not failing, I'm not complaining." She grinned again.

A laugh came from Inuyasha's side of the room. "Come on Kags, I'll show you the way to your room." He picked up her bags and began his journey upward.

Even though she knew the way herself, she nodded and followed after the brightly smiling boy. The nickname made her stay quiet and let herself be led by him with no complaints. After all, there was no point in arguing with him and having both the demon brothers hate her.

Kagome studied Inuyasha from behind as they walked up the steps. He'd grown another good five inches since the last time she'd seen him, bringing him to six foot even while she was at 5'7. But that was nothing compared to Sesshoumaru's 6'6. Inuyasha's hair had grown out a bit more, too. It now swung slowly right above his backside. Again, compared to Sesshoumaru and his almost knee-length locks...

She shook her head, momentarily dazed at the thought. She needed to stop thinking about him. It would ruin her time spent here to constantly have that dog on her mind. She scolded herself, Inuyasha and Mr. Takano were dogs too in a way, so saying Sesshoumaru was one as an insult, would be like insulting the entire family, even Izayoi.

Blinking a few times, she noticed she had stopped. Kagome turned her head down both ends of the hallway, but could not spot Inuyasha. To her right were rooms. To her left, more rooms. Straight ahead, another staircase. She put a hand to her forehead. Of course, she'd been away for so long, she couldn't remember which way to go in this massive mansion.

With a sigh and a determined furrowing of her brows, she stepped forward onto the second staircase in front of her. She was pretty sure her room was on the third floor to the right. Or maybe it was second floor to the left. She stopped and looked left. Nah, it was third; right.

Kagome's thoughts yet again wandered to the beauty of the house. She didn't even notice anyone coming from the right until she walked flat into them.

Kagome gasped at the collision. "I'm so sorry, I-"

"It's alright child, really." The woman patted her shoulder and stepped back a little to give Kagome some space.

Kagome smiled apologetically. "No, I wasn't watching where I was going, sorry."

The old woman smiled back. "I haven't seen you here before. Are you one of the brothers' female friends?"

Kagome blushed a light pink color. "Yes, I'm Inuyasha's friend, but nothing more."

"Just Inuyasha's?"

"Umm, yeah. Sesshoumaru and I don't really get along."

"Oh, I see. Well you'd be the first woman to say so, dear." She gave a kind laugh. "I'm Kaede, Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's grandmother."

Kagome gaped at her. She never knew they still had a living grandmother. Was she a demon too?

A quick look at her long gray hair had her thinking of a possible relation. "Are you… Mr. Takano's mother? Or…"

"Oh goodness no. I'm Izayoi's mother. I'm sure you know about Inutaisho's situation." Kaede gave a little wink.

Kagome was confused. Situation? Did she mean that he was a demon? Yes, she knew, but why was it a situation? Oh. Right. Demons were very few nowadays. So she nodded.

"Yes, if I was Inutaisho's mother I'd be quite old, now wouldn't I? What's that phrase Inuyasha comes up with constantly… ah, yes. I'd be older than dirt. Well, to him I still am." She shook her head. "What an ungrateful child. But I still love him."

Kagome felt something snap in the back of her mind. She was such a nice lady and Inuyasha called her older than dirt often? Well, that settled it. She'd have to have a talk with him.

She opened her mouth to speak but someone beat her to it.

"Kagome, there you are!" Inuyasha ran up to her panting. "I thought you got lost!"

Well, speak of the devil.

"No, I'm fine Inuyasha, I met your grandmother. Why didn't you ever tell me about her?"

He shrugged. "She's your everyday hag, whaddaya expect? Nothing new." He cried out as she elbowed him harshly.

"Inuyasha!"

Kaede laughed merrily once again. "Don't worry, child, my bratty grandson and I get along on strange terms, but we get along nonetheless. And besides, I only just got here a few days ago for the holidays."

Kagome sighed, partially relieved. What an interesting pair they made. She smiled out of humor. "Well, I guess I'll be heading to my room then. I'll see you around, ma'am."

Kaede waved her hand. "Call me Kaede, everyone does."

Kagome nodded.

"Come one Kags, your room's down this way." He pointed to the staircase.

Kagome slumped in her spot. She was going the wrong way after all.

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As she settled her clothes into the dresser, she thought of Inuyasha's sad face when she told him she needed some alone time to get her stuff together. With a sigh, she realized that it was getting harder to come here, for Inuyasha's feelings for her grew tenfold each time. Kagome never wanted him to like her like this. It all started when she was 11, she supposed. Inuyasha was 12 and just starting to accept that she was a girl, instead of the tomboy he used to play soccer with.

Everything changed on her eleventh birthday party, Kagome thought. That was the year she started to get really annoyed at Sesshoumaru's attitude and actions. He had already had his party the day after their birthdays and she had hers the week after. But unlike his, hers was a catastrophe.

When the cake fell off the table and miraculously onto a lily pad in the pond, when the wind blew out her candles for her, when her presents were all drenched by the sudden downpour, he had just made it worse. He didn't shoo the ducks away from the cake, he didn't use the only lighter available, which he had, to light the candles again, he didn't help to bring the presents inside the house.

Kagome groaned as she flopped on the bed. And now she'd have to spend three weeks with him. That made her excitement drop ten points below zero.

"Kagome!" A call came from the bottom of the steps. "Come downstairs, we have something we'd like to discuss with everyone."

Kagome sat up and straightened out her sweater. With a quick glance in the mirror, she followed Izayoi's voice out of the door and down the stairs.

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Yes! A brand new story! I have chapter names and details written for each chapter. All there is to do is write them! The rest of the chapters should be fairly long, I suppose, since there will be only 17 chapters (unless I feel the need to change my mind). Keep in mind, this is my first Sesshoumaru/Kagome story. I've been a fan of it for so long, but never really thought to write one.

BTW, I changed some things, as you can tell. Kaede is not really Izayoi's mother, but in my story, she can be whatever I want her to be. lol.

Review please!
Dragon