Disclaimer-characters are not mine.

Chapter 26

Sesshoumaru's smooth face was all I could see. His perfect features wrinkled with worry from my distress.

My lips tingled with the regret of Inuyasha's stolen kiss. The wrong that had occurred only minutes previous still lingered on me, and I could hardly rid myself of the pain I felt.

I was surprised that his reaction was not an outburst of rage, he stroked my stained cheeks and pulled me close instead. I buried my face into the silk of his haori, hiding my shame from him. He gently rubbed circles on the small of my back, whispering to me all the while.

"Don't be afraid, I'm not mad at you. You've done no wrong. You're okay."

His toxic voice poisoning me with every word. I felt as if I was melting in his arms, comforted by his warm presence. I was drunk on his essence, the perfection that was unmatched.

He ran his long fingers through my tousled hair, occasionally untangling the mess of black. I in turn entwined my fingers around a lock of his metallic, silver hair.

We stood together like this for what seemed a decade, but I wouldn't mind staying this way forever.

As he pulled back, I noticed his golden eyes seemed to be searching for something deep within mine. I gave him a weak smile as if to say that I'm okay. Though the concern didn't completely disappear from his eyes, never the less, he withdrew from his examination.

"You're okay now?" He tenderly asked me.

"Yes, thank you." I replied.

He turned from where he stood in the center of the room and headed to the bed. Precariously I ambled to the other side and slumped onto it next to him.

I curled up into a ball next to Sesshoumaru, resting my head on his firm chest. He wrapped a muscular arm around me and pulled me close. I pushed away slightly and sat up to look at his face.

"Are you really okay with what happened tonight?"

His eyes were closed but I knew he was still awake.

"Do you really want me to tell you?" He quietly asked.

"Please."

"I'm thoroughly infuriated with him. At this moment I wish to send him to the Pitts of Hell personally. But I know that would hardly suffice my anger."

I placed my small hand on his face and caressed him gently. I then tucked a few stray hairs back behind his ear, as I did he grabbed my forearm gently. He opened his eyes and drew me closer to his face. I kissed his satin lips lightly and withdrew to look at him. His eyes seemed to be asking for an answer to the predicament. I looked away, but he used his hand to gently turn my face back to his. He leaned forward and captured my lips in a deep kiss. I longed only for him in this moment, nothing mattered as long as we were together. My worries disappeared as we kissed passionately. His fingers returned to my hair, twisting and entwining themselves in the knots and tangles yet to be brushed away. Mine were already lost in his mass of silver strands.

The bliss that he made me feel swept away every last thought of Inuyasha. I even forgot to go back to my room that night and ended up sleeping next to him. What he made me feel, no one else could possibly compare in the slightest.

I rose wearily from the sheets, stretching and yawning. I blinked my lengthy lashes a few times to clear up the haze before I turned to look at Sesshoumaru. He wasn't by my side as he had been throughout the night. Panic took me as I remembered the incident last night. Inuyasha had a storm coming his way, and not one of those measly little thunderstorms that scare your dog, a full out hurricane pretty much.

I fumbled around his room for a robe but came up short. I called for my handmaid out the door and she came rushing to me after a few seconds.

"I need fresh clothes, please go to my room and get me my white kimono that has the blue fish on it and the blue obi. I have my sandals from last night so that should be all I need."

She nodded, briefly curtsied and disappeared down another hallway.

I sighed with relief that Sesshoumaru had "house hands", as I liked to call them. Calling them slaves or servants seemed so belittling to me, so I settled with house hands instead.

A few minutes passed before she returned with my requested items. I quickly thanked her and asked for her assistance in securing the obi the correct way. I still wasn't accustomed to the "old-fashioned" clothing.

I attempted to straighten out a few of the knots in my hair before I left the room. My priority was finding Sesshoumaru, before he found Inuyasha.

Ok, so I may hate Inuyasha's guts at the moment, but that doesn't mean that I literally want to see him torn to shreds. I'm not that heartless.

I put on my best face and tried to be calm as I frantically scanned for Sesshoumaru. I smiled at guests that I passed in the hallways. As I turned a corner, I bumped into the small toad demon.

"Oof! Watch where you're going!" he shrilled.

"Sorry Jaken, but would you happen to know where Sesshoumaru is?"

"Oh ho? Did you have a fight? I always knew humans would never be good enough for my almighty lord." He said smugly.

"No, but tell me where he is before really bad things happen to you."

He gulped loudly and looked at me fearfully.

"He went to the great hall to see to the guests." he squeaked out.

"Thank you, was that so hard?"

He looked at me with disgust and walked off.

The great hall was in the opposite direction of where I was headed. I turned on my heel and started off towards it.

When I arrived at the large oak doors I caught a glimpse of silver hair out of the corner of my eyes. I turned in time to see the tips go flowing down the adjacent corridor.

I wasn't sure if I should pursue the locks that could either belong to the one I was seeking, or the one that would be hunted. If it happened to be Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru suddenly showed up, I would be in trouble most likely. But if it was Sesshoumaru and I didn't go, how would I ever find him later? I decided to follow this lead in the hopes of it being Sesshoumaru.

I ran quickly down the hallway that I remembered to lead towards the library near Sesshoumaru's office. This bit of information seemed promising.

As I neared the shadow of the person, I realized it was far too short to be Sesshoumaru. Oh no. I halted my forward motion and began to back up, but the figure had already sensed my presence. Chills ran up my spine and sweat broke on the back of my neck, the one who I had followed down this dark hallway was Inuyasha.

"Kagome?"

I was silent. I stepped backwards a few more steps, but he stepped forward. I turned to run but regardless of my efforts, he was faster. In a flash he stood before me, eyes gleaming with curiosity. I looked away and stubbornly walked the other direction.

"Wait…" he called out to me.

I paused, but I didn't want to worsen the situation any more than need be.

"Please just hear me out." he pleaded.

"Just say what you have to say and let me leave."

He heaved a sigh.

"Last night… I just wanted you to know how I felt. I got kind of emotional and carried away with myself. My self control lately hasn't been at it's best."

I turned to look at him, was he trying to apologize?

"I still don't quite understand your reasoning for staying with him, but I've realized that I'm still only an animal after all. I'm not suited to you, I guess that's just the way things are. Though I wish it could have been me… me that could make you happy."

As he said those last few words, a single tear fell from the corner of his eye. My eyes as well were watering, but it was only in sympathy towards him. I flashed a quick smile as a means of comfort but I knew that it would only make him feel worse. My pity was only as degrading as the fact that he had lost his love to his half brother. There was nothing I could do for him but leave it to time to mend his heart.

I felt a small pain in my chest, hurting others was definitely not my way of going about business. As I walked past him, he looked at me with a strong expression, but his eyes were full of hurt.

"Thanks for listening." he said unwavering.

"Ya, anytime."

I made my way back to the great hall where the guests had gathered for breakfast. I scanned the room for Sesshoumaru. It took me a while to find him, but I spotted him at the back of the room seated quietly amongst a few guests. I easily made it across the room to his table. As I neared he looked my way and gently smiled as he rose from his chair. I embraced him as soon as he was close enough to touch. I grabbed his hand and pulled him to the kitchen that was empty and buried my face into the silk of his haori.

"Are you still angry with him?" I mumbled into his shoulder.

"Should I be?" he questioned.

"…No. It's been resolved so you should be happy that it's over now. All we need is to be happy. Ok? That's all I want."

"Whatever you wish is my command." he whispered to me.

The celebrations ended that day, every guest left our residence with smiles on their faces. Maybe all but one, Inuyasha had left directly after his confrontation with me. I knew that I had hurt him, but my feelings of love had been far too neglected and had moved on. No one can fixate all of their being on one person in hopes of a life long companionship when the other can't even show their feelings without embarrassment. With what I've learned, the heart is fragile and easily swayed and isn't always right, but it will always find a way to bring you happiness sooner or later. My time is now, for Inuyasha I'm sure it will come later.

END CHAPTER(A/N) So that's the end. Maybe if I get good reviews I'll write a follow-up chapter but for now this is the end. I know it's kind of abrupt but I don't want to keep dragging it out and being slow about writing the next chapter. Feel free to make a continuation or expand on my ideas, I don't really care, just reference my story if you do, like pm and a link maybe. It'd be cool if someone drew pictures too. That'd pretty much be awesome. But anyways, thanks to my faithful readers and all who made it through to the end. You're awesome. Reviews embraced.

Peace!

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