Chapter 11

Attachments

For right now Kaede had decided to leave the oldest Higurashi daughter alone, which meant she was back to basics. This hotel was not the best when it came to cable and free highspeed internet, but it was the formal affairs that gave it its five star rating. Every week this season had become a red carpet event, and as a guest in Kaede's home Kikyo was expected to attend every one of them.

Though this use to be her life, Kikyo hated being here. Already the celebrity housewives were in the bathroom giggling about how she'd worn the same designer heels to three parties in a row now. At least she'd received compliments about her hand bags, which no one had found out were a product of her new shady career. Another plus was that Kagome no longer had a care in the world since she started attending these events with Inuyasha.

At first Kagome was just as annoyed with these events due to the lack of clothing and reputation, but then Kikyo forbade Inuyasha from hanging around their room, so now she enjoyed every minute she spent down here in the grand ball room. Though she and Inuyasha were dancing in a group of at least another hundred people they seemed to be in their own little world.

"I hate being here," Inuyasha noted his deep eyes focused on her, "but I guess it's worth it for you."

"You guess?" Kagome frowned.

He chuckled before leaning forward and nipping on her neck a little, "You know I'm kidding. When is your mom going to stop being a bitch?"

"It's Sango's fault. I guess they are both annoyed because we are getting too corny."

"Well...maybe we can start doing something that involves a little less talk."

His hands traveled down her shoulders before reaching towards her zipper. She pushed his hand away. Even though her goals of no drinking and partying had gone to hell she was trying her best not to make this relationship move too fast. It was impossible to figure out how long she would last though, because she was so in love with him by this point, and she knew he felt something for her as well.

"When?" he asked.

"When it's time."

"Which is?"

"You're ruining everything by talking," she put her head on his shoulder during a slow song, "you do make things corny."

He laughed as they continued to dance and Kikyo watched them from a safe distance. She was happy that Kagome was smiling again, but there was something about Inuyasha that rubbed her the wrong way. They looked cute together, but she didn't see those two getting married.

"Is this seat taken?" asked a gruff voice.

Kikyo looked up at the man who wished to sit next to her. It was Sesshoumaru, the older brother who'd been unable to keep Kagome's interest. She quickly moved her knock-off purse out of the way and motioned for him to take a seat. Though he didn't seem to be too talkative she hoped that maybe she could get a few answers out of him. She doubted she could change Kagome's mind about him, but maybe she could find out more about Inuyasha. Why didn't Sesshoumaru consider him a brother anymore?

"How are you doing Sesshoumaru?" she asked.

"Hmm?"

Of course, no answer.

It wasn't needed though- she noticed by the way his eyes were burning holes into the happy couple on the dance floor.

That stupid bitch, he thought to himself. He'd been so close to arranging a marriage between himself and her just so she could throw it all away like this. He should have been grateful. He'd been a fool to think to think there was any depth to her and she was no different than all the other party whores he could easily take. Her involving herself with Inuyasha showed she was just another idiot throw-away girl, and her actions stopped him from making a costly mistake.

If that was true, than why did he keep staring at her? Why couldn't he get her off of his mind?

"When Kagome's father was alive," was an odd thing for him to start a conversation with, "you were his second wife, correct?"

Normally Kikyo would be lost for words with such a question, but when Sesshoumaru asked a question it felt like a life or death situation.

"Yes," she answered slowly, "his first wife died."

"Did he love her?"

"I wouldn't know."

"You should. If he didn't talk about her than it was a loveless marriage. If he kept pictures of her and thought about her on your wedding than I would assume he cared about her."

"He loved her then," she gave an answer to relieve her of the pressure this was cuasing, "he never paid much attention to Naraku, but he never sold her cars or personal belongings."

"Maybe that's why Kagome is the way she is."

She got a little defensive, "What about my daughter?"

He shook his head not knowing how to convey it with words. It went back to the night when Kagome almost found herself raped in the alleyway. After he took care of her attacker with his fake arm he sat down her over a cup of coffee.

"What are you going to do with your life?" his eyes had moved towards her once they sat down.

"I don't know," Kagome answered not wanting to say out loud that her current goal was to find a husband to support her family, that and after what happened she wasn't much for conversation.

"Liar," he quickly delcared, "no one goes through life with no plan. Why did you move into a hotel?"

Though it should've been obvious to their community that when a family like hers moved into a temporary home all females were up for auction it was still rude to declare poverty out loud.

After being called a liar Kagome didn't care about the rules.

"I'm sure you already know. Nothing was left for us in the will, not a dime. I can either get a job and throw my family off of the social map or marry someone who will take care of me."

"No college?"

She frowned, "I choose this when I skipped school. You can stop judging me now. I know, I'm a stupid gold digger."

"Not really," his reply was unexpected, "it's what your family is use to and the chances of you three surviving under normal conditions is slim. You're protecting your family when some do it for greed."

Still no smile, "I'm doing it for the right reasons, but I don't feel...well..."

"Human?"

"Yeah, which is why I want to make an attempt to find someone I love. I want the marriage to be real and last."

"Divorces are natural," he told her, "and can sometimes be another source of income."

She shook her head, "I think if enough is put into a relationship it can last."

Sesshoumaru almost allowed himself to chuckle at that."

She frowned, "Or am I wrong?"

"Who is responsible for nurturing relationships? In your perfect world is it up to both parties or the working husband, who takes the blame for every little thing that goes wrong?"

Kagome withdrew a little. It was possible that he was just throwing in a random comment, but it was obvious he'd been divorced. Just great. She liked Sesshoumaru a lot, but he couldn't work. He was probably bitter from the last woman he dealt with and that meant a great deal of his money was going to alimony, and possibly child support.

Sesshoumaru noticed her reaction, "She's dead. She died a while ago from a drug overdose."

"I see," Kagome stared into her coffee, "did you love her?"

He nodded.

"Well that's all you can really do."

That was probably the moment Kagome lost interest in Sesshoumaru, at least that's what he figured when he replayed the scene while watching her giggle at some lame joke Inuyasha probably told.

Kagome wanted a marriage that would last even though it was all based on monetary value, and she thought she could insure that by finding someone fresh. Someone who'd gambled on a marriage before as he had. Stupid girl...

"Sesshoumaru?" Kikyo asked when he stood up again.

"Mrs. Higurashi," he spoke starring at the wall, "we are done here."

"You just got here," she frowned but knew he was done considering Kagome as a bride.

Sesshoumaru wanted to just leave this whole town and get back to work, but he was here for a reason and that was to network with certain people. He wouldn't be able to avoid Kikyo Higurashi for long, so he wouldn't be rude by just walking away and pretending she didn't exist. He wouldn't do such a thing to the kind woman on account of her naive daughter. He would leave her with words of wisdom.

"Don't trust him," he told her, "Inuyasha. He might act nice, but until he is able to clearly tell you his intentions with her I would keep an eye out."

"Inuyasha, he-

"I don't want to hear it," he snapped coldly, "if you loved your daughter, and I mean really did care for her, you wouldn't allow him near her. It's up to you though."

When the mystery that was Sesshoumaru finally took his leave Kikyo stood up. She couldn't act upon his orders, because it would devastate Kagome, but she could keep an eye out.

Already she'd failed.

She couldn't find no sign of the happy couple.

"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered outside next to the dumpster.

She thought Inuyasha was just being strange as usual when he grabbed her by the hand, dragged her through the kitchens, and took her out the back door, but he had his reasons. Why in the hell was Sesshoumaru here, and did he notice him? Not only was he afraid his brother and Kagome could possibly strike up a conversation since they knew each other, but he just didn't want to be anywhere near him.

They hadn't talked since...well it felt like another lifetime since they talked.

"What?" he asked.

Kagome had looked up worried. She thought that he'd dragged her out here to possibly attempt to have sex again or at least make out a little, but he seemed distracted looking around.

"Can't we go back in?"

"Hell no," he snapped.

"Why?"

Inuyasha didn't know what to do. He really did like this girl, but he couldn't be honest with her about certain things he'd done. He didn't want to lie either. She wasn't like the others he'd been around, she wouldn't fall for any dumb excuse he could come up with.

His eyes searched her for a moment as he looked for an answer. The way her body was backed up against the wall, and her eyes were lit up with a smile. Most of the time when he had a girl like this she looked hazy from all the shots he forced her take, but she honestly wanted to be with him.

"Kagome," he then smiled.

"What?" she asked blinking, "what are we doing out here."

"Kagome," his eyes searched her one more time before he finally found his topic changer, "I love you."

The thing was he'd said this many times before, but it was different this time.

This time he meant it.