Better Than Me by LadyKatsumi

It's Been Awhile

A/N: OOPS.... -_-' Sorry, just realized i forgot to add the disclaimer when I posted. This one is a blanket disclaimer, and will cover all chapters posted for BtM,

*ahem*

I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA, although i reallly really wished i owned Sesshoumaru a couple of times. lol

Chapter 1: It's Been A While

Kagome Higurashi stared at the small shrine building she'd grown up on. Her dark curtain of ebony hair blew wildly around her face in the torrent of rain and wind. Even though she was getting soaked to the skin, Kagome continued to stare. She smiled mocking as she realized that she was little more than a plaything to her husband. She had defied her family for him. He had been her everything, and her family had held that place for as long as she could remember. And just as suddenly as he had begun, he had left her. High and dry. Broke and bitter and she'd learned the one lesson that would stick with her until some unfortunate soul tried to break the view that men were unworthy of her affections and as such then she was better left alone. Women weren't her thing and as such, why attract attention that she didn't even want?

Pulling her heavy duffel bag up the steps behind her, she stood staring at the door that less than three years ago, she'd snuck out of in the dark, like a thief. Bting down a sob, Kagome rubbed a hand over her swollen stomach and firmly pressed the doorbell. Her mother's cheery tones informed her that someone was coming.

Suddenly, Kagome found herself face to face with her mother. The lively brown eyes widened as she ushered her daughter into the house.

"Kagome dear! Why were you standing outside?" she asked softly as she took the dripping coat from her twenty year old daughter. Kagome rubbed a hand over her arms, chilled in the bright blue sweater and gray cuffed slacks, glancing around the room.

"Inuyasha left me, Mama. He and his secretary Kikyou just up and left and he cleaned out our bank account while he was at it." she mummered.

Mrs. Higurashi looked shocked. Does Touga know about his son.

Kagome looked so dejected as she nervously ran a hand over her stomach and her mother's eyes followed the gesture slowly.

Mrs. Higurashi motioned Kagome into the living room before she chirped about making tea to warm Kagome and made her way to the kitchen and the telephone.

Dialing a familiar number, she waited while it rang as she filled a kettle with water and set it on the stove.

"Moshi Moshi. Takaherashi/Takahara residence." a masculine voice sounded faintly annoyed.

"Sesshoumaru-kun! It's Azumi. Is Touga-san around?"

"Hai, Azumi-san."

Mrs. Higurashi waited paitently as she prepared the tea set for the living room.

"Azumi-chan! What can I do for you?"

"Touga-kun! I wanted to know if you talked to Inuyasha lately."

Touga was silent before he answered.

"Not lately. Why?"

"Kagome showed up today and said that Inuyasha left her. I just wanted to know if you knew where I could get in touch with him."

"He left her!"

"Touga," Azumi paused. "Kagome's pregnant. About three months along by what I can see."

Azumi thought at first that Touga hung up on her, but his rough and ragged breathing was still heard.

"HE LEFT HER WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT! SESSHOUMARU!"

Azumi heard Sesshoumaru's faintly irritated voice a couple of seconds later. Touga must have been really angry because Sesshoumaru could be heard asking what Inuyasha had done and Touga was explaining it well, if he wasn't threatening to rip off Inuyasha's head every fifth word. Sesshoumaru could be heard saying that Inuyasha would be located by the end of the week and suddenly Touga's voice was back on the phone.

"Azumi-chan... Please forgive my idiot son's behavior. Sesshoumaru and I will be by tomorrow afternoon to see Kagome. There are things that she shouln't have to worry about."

"Hai, Touga-kun."

Azumi hung up the phone and made her way back to the living room, where Souta was rocking a sobbing Kagome and looking very much a male. She smiled softly at him and motioned for him to help get the woman upstairs for a quick shower and her bed. Kagome quieted as she was put in the tub, and washed, much like a child. Azumi bundled her into a large shirt of her fathers and put the woman to bed. Kagome had held her mother's hand and whispered something that Azumi smiled about before pulling the blanket snugly over her and leaving the room.

Thank you Mama. I'm sorry for being a bother after I just ran out on you. But Thank you, Mama.

Azumi made her way to her room and prepared for bed as she snuggled under the covers she couldn't help the brief smile that flitted across her features before she drifted off.

It's Been a While.