#19: Inuyasha (Sesshōmaru & Kagome)
...xXx...
“Come in.”
The door opened wide enough to let a head pop into the room. “Higurashi-san, there’s a gentleman who wants to see you at the counter.”
Kagome blinked. Who? She nodded towards her co-worker. “Thank you, Hōjo-san.”
While Hōjo left, she quickly closed the stock book she had been reading and smoothed her dark uniform before leaving her office room to meet this guest. Her heart skipped several beats when she caught a glimpse of her guest. She didn’t know why he was looking for her after all these years. It had been over five years since he left her with a reason that revealed a week later through his engagement to the famous heiress Kagura Onigumo. It hurt when he broke their two-year-old relationship, but somehow, she had seen it coming. Love had never been spoken between them, and after learning about his past from his father, she remained quiet, not wanting to ruin what they had. Yet, it was not her nature not to say anything. Deep down in her heart, she also wanted him to let go of the past, so she confessed her love for him, fully prepared that he would leave her afterwards.
When he left, she knew that he did not feel the same and chose to let him go. So, what did he want from her now? She was nobody important. She was just a regular Sales Manager at her best friend’s husband’s renowned bookstore. Except for Sōta, who was still in university, she had no other relatives. Thus, associating with her would give him no merit at all.
He seemed to feel her gaze and turned to face her fully with his usual Armani get-up. Once they were an arm’s length apart, she stopped and took a deep breath before offering a small smile. “Sesshōmaru.”
Sesshōmaru inclined his head in greeting. “Kagome.”
In his eyes, Kagome hadn’t changed a bit. Though he didn’t get her full-blown smile, she was still breathtakingly beautiful with her expressive, blue eyes. This was the woman he left for another just for the sake of expanding his company. He still remembered the day his father told him how disappointed he was when he agreed with the engagement. It was a common knowledge that InuTaishō adored Kagome as his own daughter. To be honest, when Kagome told him that she loved him, the pain of being deceived by a woman who claimed to love him years ago came back full force. Not wanting to be deceived by love anymore, he ran away like a coward and left her by accepting the opportunity to have a hand in Onigumo Corporation. After everything was said and done, however, he finally realised that he loved Kagome, truly loved her.
He knew that he was a stupid fool and even until this very day, he still regretted his decision for leaving her. He should have known better that Kagome would not betray him for anything. Still, what was done was done. It wouldn’t do anyone good to mull over the past.
“Lunch?” he prompted. “I have something to discuss with you.”
Upon glancing at her wristwatch, she nodded. “Sure. Lead the way, please.”
Kagome hid her surprise when he kept walking down the street as soon as they left the bookstore. A few minutes later, they stepped into a small restaurant. Though the restaurant was only two blocks away from her work place, she had never tried to treat herself to eat out. She had prepared her own lunch bento, which she coincidentally forgot to bring along this morning. Shaking her head mentally, she read the menu and ordered something light.
After the waiter left them, Sesshōmaru, forgetting his purpose of seeking her, said nothing, not knowing how to start a decent conversation.
“So...” she started slowly. “How’s life?”
“I’m divorcing Kagura.”
She looked unfazed. “Oh.”
He inwardly frowned. “You don’t look surprised.”
A wan smile graced on her lips. “Should I? I don’t have anything to do with your life...” since the day you left me...
Hearing her answer almost made him drop his mask of indifference. Guilt ate his inside as her unspoken words hung in the air. It was true he was the one that left and wanted nothing to do with her. However, an image of her and his half-brother together erased the guilt immediately. She had moved on while he chased his empty dream. It was empty because she wasn’t by his side. Although he should be angry at his half-brother who dared to touch her, he couldn’t find the will to do so. Furthermore, his half-brother was the reason of this meeting.
As much as he wanted to discuss their past, he had to tell her the dreadful news. “Have you heard about him lately?”
Both knew whom he was talking about. He quickly controlled his anger when a beautiful smile formed on her lips. How it hurt to see her smile so beautifully. In the past, he was the only one who could make her smile like that. Closing his eyes briefly, he took a deep, silent breath. He needed to stay calm.
Still smiling, she nodded. “Yes. I heard he’s going to get his dream girl.” Suddenly, a frown marred her face. “The last time I got his call was two days ago. Usually, he would call every night to talk to Akihiko.”
Once again, he tried his hardest to remain emotionless. Akihiko, her only son, should have been his. Kagome didn’t know how upset he was when two years after they broke up, he learned from his father that she had a baby boy. This was another reason why he was divorcing Kagura: a child. He wanted to start a family of his own. Though he and Kagura were married, he had never, not even once, touched her. To him, she was a trophy wife and nothing more. He refused to touch any other woman he had no feelings for. The woman he loved might have moved on, but she deserved happiness and so much more.
His main reason for ending his five years of marriage with Kagura was because she was having an affair with his partner Kouga. Kagura tried to fight their divorce by stating it was his fault for his unwillingness to do his duty as a husband. However, an infidelity was an infidelity. It didn’t matter what the reason was. Anyone who knew his predicament would say it was karma. Though he wasn’t technically cheating on Kagome, he still left her for another woman. The last reason was because he wanted to ask Kagome to give him a second chance. Akihiko might be his half-brother’s son, but he would treat the child as his own.
“Sesshōmaru?”
He snapped out of his wandering mind before looking at her solemnly. “I’m sorry.”
Slowly, panic and worry filled her blue eyes. “D-did something happen?”
He looked away from her.
“Sesshōmaru, please tell me...” She sounded as if she was on the verge of tears.
Heaving a deep sigh, he closed his eyes and stated, “Road accident.”
The moment he opened his eyes, he wanted so much to pull her close into his arms and comforted her. He knew that words would not be enough to ease the pain of losing the father of her child. If only he had never left her in the first place, then nothing of this would have happened, and Kagome would have been spared from the hurt.
Already in tears, she stood up suddenly.
He, too, got up. “Kagome?”
With a forced smile, she muttered, “Thank you for telling me this. Give me a call for the funeral.”
Mutely, he accepted her business card with a hand-written mobile phone number at the back and watched her leave in a rush.
...xXx...
Finally, he was free.
Kagura had signed the papers yesterday. He was a free man now. Even though the timing was not right, he wanted to start patching things with Kagome. He wanted to be with her, especially now. His half-brother and his fiancé’s bodies were brought back to Japan and ready to be put to rest this weekend. He could call her, just like she had requested, but he wanted to see her personally. Since meeting her again two days ago, his mind kept going back to her. He missed her so much. And so, here he was. He took a deep breath before pressing the bell of the small apartment. His heart beat slightly faster as he heard the soft padding of feet. His breath caught in his throat when he saw a long, silver-haired boy who opened the door.
“Hello, Akihiko,” he greeted after overcoming his shock and surprise. This was, after all, the first time he met Kagome’s son.
Akihiko eyed the stranger before him and blurted out the first thing that came into his mind, “Who are you?”
Before Sesshōmaru could open his mouth, the boy added, “You look like Uncle Inuyasha.”
Every thought that ran through his mind screeched into a halt. Uncle?
Thankfully for Sesshōmaru, Kagome’s voice broke through his frozen state. “Aki! Didn’t I tell you not to open the door without Mommy?”
The boy rushed back inside, leaving the door open for Sesshōmaru, who saw the boy run into his mother’s open arms and heard him mutter a soft sorry.
Kagome was not sure what to think when she saw the father of her child at the door. She silently groaned at him coming here. Heaving a soft sigh, she offered a soft smile to her ex-lover and inclined her head to get inside. “Come in.”
Akihiko, who was still in his mother’s arms, stared curiously at Sesshōmaru, who just closed the door. Sesshōmaru, in return, kept his gaze on the boy.
Still keeping his little, amber eyes on their guest, Akihiko innocently asked, “Mommy, is he my Daddy?”
Both adults froze.
Oh, dear. Kagome gulped silently.
Sesshōmaru, for once, had his feelings shown on his face when he looked at Kagome with pleading eyes.
Kagome turned away from him and smiled at the boy. Caressing his soft cheek, she told him quietly, “Why don’t you stay in your room while I talk to Daddy?”
She ignored her ex-boyfriend’s sharp intake of breath as she confirmed his fear.
Akihiko frowned. “But—”
“Listen to your mother, Akihiko.” His voice sounded a bit hoarse from shock.
The boy pouted before agreeing, “Okay...” He looked at his father. “Promise that you will not leave again.”
Guilt immediately filled him, but Sesshōmaru stepped closer and placed his hand on the boy’s head, ruffling his long silver hair gently. “I promise.”
With that said, Kagome let her son go. A part of her didn’t want to, but another part of her wanted to give her son what he didn’t have all these years.
As soon as both watched Akihiko enter his room at the end of the hall, Sesshōmaru turned to Kagome, who refused to meet his eyes.
“Kagome...” Is he truly mine?
Kagome let out a heavy sigh before sitting down on the couch. “Yes.” He is your son.
Knowing he wanted an explanation, she elaborated, “After you left, Inuyasha tried his best to comfort me, his best friend and sister figure. It took me a while to let go but not for the reason he knew. Inuyasha stayed with me for a few months and that was when he started to notice something had changed in me.”
Sesshōmaru took a seat across from her, trying to process what was said. Everything was honestly too much. For once in his life, he didn’t know what to feel, or say for that matter. How could he be so cruel? He left her alone, going through her life alone, raising their child alone.
She smiled wanly. “Inuyasha was furious after he found out, but I ... I asked him not to tell you about my condition because I didn’t think it would change anything since your wedding was a few days away. It was then Inuyasha thought he should play the role of my boyfriend to protect me from you. He thought you might take the child from me if you knew, and I, scared of losing the only part of the man I love, agreed with him.”
“My father?”
“Otou-san is an attentive grandfather.”
Sesshōmaru closed his eyes in disbelief. He was the only who was oblivious about his own son. Yes, he understood his family’s feelings about hiding Akihiko, but if they had told him sooner, he would have divorced Kagura much earlier. An inaudible sigh escaped his lips. All was under the bridge now. Looking up, he stared into her blue eyes that still shined with love. How he wished to beat himself up over and over again. Without any more hesitation, he sat on the floor before her. He bowed his head until his forehead touched her knees. Swallowing his pride, he said, “Please forgive me, Kagome...”
Just for this woman, he was willing to take all of his years just to prove how sorry he was.
...xXx...
Kagome entered the quiet house with narrowed eyes. Something was not right. It had been six months since she gave Sesshōmaru another chance to start anew, a decision she never regretted. Sesshōmaru had truly changed. Oh, he was still the same conceited jerk she knew, but he never held himself back when it came to expressing his love for her and their son. To everybody else, he was still the same ruthless business man.
“Welcome home.”
She jumped in surprise and spun around while holding her chest. “Don’t sneak up on me like that, Maru!”
He grinned, something he rarely did. Now, she was extra sure something was up. “Okay. Where’s everyone? Don’t bother to lie either.”
Sesshōmaru took a hold of her hand and shoulder and guided her to the dining room, where he had prepared a romantic dinner for them both.
To say she was surprised would be an understatement as he had never done something like this. Not even when they were going out years ago. After dinner ended, her breath caught in her throat when he suddenly went on one knee.
Sesshōmaru opened his hand where a diamond ring rested there. He took a deep breath and said, “I can’t thank you enough for giving me a second chance six months ago, Kagome. You have given me a beautiful son, but I wish to have you as the mother of my children. Will you do me the honour of becoming Kagome Takahashi?”
Tears blurred her eyes as she nodded before saying ‘Yes’ multiple times. She had no reason to say no when he had proven himself as a great partner, father and provider. Yes, she was still working, but it was only part time. She had been working for years and to suddenly stop would be too much for her. However, soon she would have to leave her work behind and focus on their family...
Sesshōmaru’s smile turned full-blown when the love of his life told him that she was pregnant with their second child. This was the life he had wanted, had dreamt of. By giving him a second chance, he would make sure she would want nothing but to stay by his side forever.
The End
Thanks for reading.