Prologue: Changes of Heart

Gentle instrumental music played in the background of the small apartment. Papers and wrinkled sticky notes strewn about on the desk as Kagome meticulously carved some curvy writing down the birthday card with black ink. Her head dipped down, and her face merely inches from the surface of the desk. Her laptop screen displayed a string of confirmation number, indicating that her Giant-microbe's egg plushy order had been placed. She had also requested that the package would be wrapped nicely and included a birthday card as well… of course, with her name on it.

The soft humming of her voice turned off as soon as she caught a glance at the clock.

Shit, afternoon class!

….

Packing up her stuff and walking down the auditorium aisle, she wondered why the mind boggling knowledge on the plant anatomy must ruin her cheery mood this morning. She smiled at the birthday present she has been preparing for her boyfriend, hoping that whatever exams that had been tampering his mood the last few days would be lifted as the celebration comes near.

The last time she had seen Sesshoumaru was last weekend, almost a week ago. He was found dozing on top of a bunch of papers and a very fat book. Who would have thought that business people have to do research? Kagome sighed, trying to remember where and when was the last time they had shared some quality time together.

Walking in the library, finishing her musing with possible outing plans for his birthday, she began to debate on whether or not to grab a cup of tea from the café. Agreeing that a tea latte would do, she made her turn…

The sigh that greeted her as her eyes scanned around the sitting area wasn't exactly pleasant. Sesshoumaru was sharing a table with a very pretty lady, really? And the two were laughing too, very much engrossed in whatever cool topic they were discussing. Of course it would be normal for a business graduate to talk to his associate, friend or whatever, right?

She noticed him swiftly shut his blue economic book as they chatted animatedly. At least, he didn't look as if he was depressed or pressured with his workload. So, Kagome was happy about it.

She made to move, deciding that a greeting would sure to lighten him up. And… oh, I miss him so much. But she froze in her first step, watching the scene unfolding before her eyes…

His back straightened onto the backrest, to reveal their holding hands across the small table. Her eye brows slightly creased when she observed how his thumb tracing circles on the girl's hand. Then, he happily accepted the food as the girl in the blue blouse fed him a bite of her pastry with her spoon. His warm gesture, her charms and their excitement in each other's company… it screamed dating and flirting.

And so, Kagome stood gluing to the entrance. Her hearts kept on beating, louder than ever in her ears, but it might as well just stop a little bit. Or so, she wished. It was hard to breath and her chest hurt.

Just how long had this been going on?

A few strangers' glances threw this way as a young girl clutching onto her bag, fleeing hastily from the library, with tears streaming from her red eyes.

….

Kagome began to see things, the reason why he had been distant toward her lately. So, as much as she dreaded the weight of this reality, she had to admit that he has already started to harbor feelings for somebody else. He was growing tired of her. She should have already expected this coming. The evidence was there all this time.

Remember those times when they sat in award silence, often brought up mundane, unnecessary things to strike some conversations. His responsiveness to her chatting about her biology stuff had been less and less engaging. And so was her attempt to comment on his business issues. All was bullshitting craps they had made up and feigned interest in to please the other person. It reminded her again that they belonged to different leagues. Even when they resort to the some physical connection, trying to steam up their making out and making love session only for it to resume to the usual stuff. The passion was running out. The directionality of his love was shifting, straying away from her day by day.

And it hurts.

Salt stung her nose again and tears rimmed her eyes as she sat down behind the closed door of her apartment.

It never crossed her mind that she had made quite a show on the bus home with her unrestrained emotion earlier.

….

Though, after all, it was not the first time their relationship had drifted apart...

And so she kept quiet about the matter when he sent her a text later that night, asking her out for lunch. Because, she knew, Sesshoumaru wasn't the type of man who would cheat on his girlfriend. He would tell her of his decision soon enough.

AN:

I'm a horrible writer. Delayed updates, shitty writing, multiple unfinished stories and all….

But I'm sorry that I just have to get this out of my system. Do you think that this chapter is too short? I think it is TT. Keep that in mind if you decided to give me flames.

I really wonder what the ratio of Sesskag to Inukag fans is like as of late.

I don't think I will give up on my other stories, I didn't contract the much-dreaded writer block. I got some ideas, but it's just going to take a while.

Next chapter: insight to Sesshoumaru's thoughts and what decisions would be made by both parties at their lunch date. This story's plot will feature something much unexpected (referring to the non-romance part of the plot.) Do you think I should mention what it is in the story summary (which might attract readers) or keep it to myself?

I understand that some readers are not very tolerant when the main guy is not truly faithful to the main girl, because everyone believes that 'if you love someone, you wouldn't have done things to hurt them.' But no matter how I look at it, there is always at least a 0.99% that a lover would change their heart. People changes overtime all the time, they grow uninterested or foreign to particular friends after times, regardless of their clossness.