Chapter 28- The Water Returns

Kagome sighed forlornly. She had come to the well clearing to clear her mind from the jumble of the past few days, but the only thing she had managed to do was frustrate herself further. Everything had been happening so quickly that she didn't know what was up and what was down. In the span of a few short months her life had been turned upside down. She no longer had a romantic interest in Inuyasha, but instead she was going to be courting his brother, Sesshoumaru. Everything had changed, and so very suddenly. She wished she could halt time and just enjoy the way things were right now, at this very moment. However, she had a decision to make, and it wasn't going to make itself. This decision was something that would change the rest of her life. Even now, before the decision has been made, everything had changed. Weighing the pros and cons wasn't something that Kagome was accustomed to doing. She was the type of person to do something, simply because she felt it was the right thing to do. And so, mind made up, Kagome turned towards the forest.

Standing just past the tree-line, where he had stood the entire time, Sesshoumaru was waiting. He had been waiting since she had left the half-breed and his company in the village to seek the solitude of the well-clearing. Seeing the determination in her stance, he knew that she had made her decision, but could not tell if the nature of it was positive or negative in regards to his inquiry. Stepping forward, he met her halfway to the well.

Kagome stood nervously fidgeting under Sesshoumaru's gaze. Her mind was made up, but how to tell him was a different story.

"Sesshoumaru, I have made my decision regarding your courting proposal. And I wanted to tell you that, while I will accept, you must allow me to continue to travel with Inuyasha and my friends. I promised Inuyasha long ago that I would never abandon him, and I don't plan to." Her hands were in front of her, fingers looped together while she gazed up into his face.

He nodded, sweeping her into his arms, "Your terms are acceptable. However, the half-breed will have to become accustomed to my presence."

Smiling, Kagome placed her hands on his shoulders, and nodded.