Time Floats On by Smortz

Climbing

A/N

Alrighty, this is another challenge fiction, written for TheLovelyMiko’s Quote Challenge.. Now, don’t get too excited, the story will only be posted when the quotes/prompts are posted.

>_>

ANYWAYS! I hope you guys enjoy this one. It was tough for me to write, and I hope you guys enjoy where I am taking this story. I have thought about ten different ways to branch it off and decided where to go after this chapter thanks to CaleesciK and Zandrellia ^_^

So, today was my very last medical procedure! I get all the biopsies back on the 15th. Then, I'll know what's wrong with me! Yay!!!!

^_^

Enjoy and review! 

~SMO 

Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any characters from the manga or anime InuYasha.

Prompt: Loss 

Quote: Trust is like paper, once it is crumpled it can't be perfect again.

Chapter 4

Why did it feel so empty? Why did it seem like there was something missing? Why hadn't he noticed it before?

He sat in the middle of his family while having dinner, yet, he couldn't help but feel loneliness overwhelm him. They talked about business, weddings, and what the fall plans were. They insisted on getting everyone jazzed up about an after dinner game. Yet, he didn't feel like he was having fun. Sesshoumaru felt as if he was a foreigner in the middle of a country that didn't belong to him. After all, a month had past and still there was no sign of where Kagome had gone.

He had thought she was his best friend. However, after their last argument outside of the restaurant, she had disappeared for good. He had hoped she would reach his father by some sort of means, but his father had told him nothing that indicated she had. He released a sigh that caused Kagura to look at him in confusion. “Are you alright?” She whispered lowly into his ear. He had didn't reply. His eyes once more taking in his situation.

Sesshoumaru sat at the large table. Kagura occupied the seat next to him. Daitaro and Izayoi sat on the opposite ends while Inuyasha sat on the opposite side with Kikyou next to him. It was supposed to be a family evening. After all, a lot had happened and his father had pestered them all about sticking together. However, it seemed wherever he went he felt incomplete. It was a foreign emotion, one he couldn't quite comprehend.

“The food was delicious.” The nervous voice of Kikyou filtered through his ears. “Wonderful meal,” she added. Sesshoumaru's upper lip curled in irritation.

He leaned forward in his chair, “Excuse me,” he practically growled as he left the room. The isolated billiards room was much more inviting in the large house. It was always empty. He wouldn't be bothered right now. Not when he was having such a difficult time. He was engaged, wasn't he supposed to be happier?

Leaning back in the chair in the corner, he let his eyes close. Kagura was a great choice in his opinion. She was from a strong family of demons. In fact, she was the strongest one of her siblings. Also, her father, Naraku, owned a billion dollar franchise that he could use to move products in his company around.

He didn't have a problem having her beside him. She was like a demoness should be. Usually, she was quiet around him, bowing and respectfully showing that he was her Alpha. Still, Sesshoumaru wasn't pleased with the situation. Every time she bowed to him, or apologized, he felt as if he had won too easily. There was no fight, no threat.

His door came open. He instantly smelled his father, and his eyes narrowed on the form. Daitaro didn't say a word while he sat against the pool table. He shifted a few times before finally crossing a leg over the other and resting his hands against the wood behind him. His golden eyes sparkled with concern. “Kagura said you have been acting strange after Kagome left,” he said gently. He released a sigh that told Sesshoumaru not to speak yet. “Sesshoumaru, why are you marrying Kagura?” He asked.

“She is a strong, capable demoness that can give me strong heirs. Ones that can take on the complicated problems in the underground demon world while handling situations in the human world,” Sesshoumaru explained stoically. He then answered the earlier question. His eyes were dull, filled with defeat. “I miss her.”

Daitaro's eyes widened, but it didn't last long. “Why?” He inquired. It was strange of his son to use his senses instead of just calling around until he found her address. It meant that he was clearly not thinking.

Sesshoumaru let a dry smile on his face. “She always knew what to say,” Sesshoumaru whispered quietly, leaning back in his chair and staring at the ceiling. “She just left, with no goodbye. I always considered her one of my closest friends.”

“Maybe that is where you went wrong,” his father argued with a scrutinizing glance. “Friends don't sleep with each other, pup. They also don't hide their fiancés, even if you don't love them,” his father lectured. “Do you even love Kagura?” Sesshoumaru quickly shook his head. There had been love, at first. He had been chanted by the powerful demoness, rumored to have a cold heart much like himself. There had been a certain mystery about the female who controlled the win. Unfortunately, she came with her father, Naraku. That piece of information had caused Sesshoumaru to fall, quite quickly, out of love. After all, Naraku was the same demon that was trying to shatter the Taisho company. Sesshoumaru highly doubted that there would be any more love sprouting before or during the marriage.

“You did not love my mother,” Sesshoumaru returned, slightly defensive over the topic. Wasn't he supposed to choose a strong and powerful demoness? “The demon world will never acknowledge a half-breed for a taiyoukai,” Sesshoumaru proclaimed.

His father chuckled. “I suggested no such thing,” he added. “I did not mate your mother because I loved her, that is true. However, I did not turn away from love when I did find it,” Daitaro grumbled, referring to his current mate, Izayoi. Feeling bad for his son, Daitaro cleared his throat and brought out some more news. “Kagome is doing quite well. In fact, I hear that she is making a lot of progress with the research at the facility. She sent me a few pictures of her new place.”

The golden eyes widened. Some of the worry eased away, but was quickly replaced by hurt. “She contacted you?” Why not me? He asked the silent question with a suffering look on his face.

“Yes, her first month has been quite successful,” Daitaro added. “It has been quite a while since I saw her give such a grand smile. She says that her neighbor is the cause of it as well.” The last part was said with a tone Sesshoumaru did not like. It was too casual, almost as if he was trying to sneak something in.

“Who is it?” Sesshoumaru growled out lowly, his hands fisting against the black slacks. He couldn't imagine another man with Kagome. The mere thought made him want to strike something. “Is it a man?” He asked, hating how he sounded so desperate for the information.

This wasn't like him. He was supposed to be in control and logical. He was supposed to think before speaking – before reacting. Kagome had made him weak though, and he couldn't allow that. Being with her caused his guard to lower. She made him want to relax. The next Lord of the West could not be so carefree.

“No,” his father answered, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders. “It is not a man,” he added when Sesshoumaru looked at him with a small glint of confusion. Then, a smirk appeared on his face. “It is a demon from the old Northern tribe,” he corrected, “Prince Koga, heir to the wolf clan.”

A rip sounded in the room. Sesshoumaru looked down to the small hole on the side of his slacks. His claws had grown, meaning he was in such emotional turmoil that he'd let his concealment slip. Growling in his own frustration and embarrassment, he shook his head. “It does not matter,” he tried to convince both his father and himself. “I cannot be with her.”

“Hmm,” his father trailed off, scratching at his chin as he mockingly made a show of thinking. “Is it because she's the strongest miko in all of Japan? Maybe, it is because she is human? Oh, what about this one, is it because she makes you too happy? Maybe, you don't think you're good enough?”

Sesshoumaru stood up. The conversation had gone too far. He had made his choices, and he had to live with them. His father chuckled as Sesshoumaru left the room and tried to find a quieter area. Unfortunately, his curiosity seemed to be controlling his feet. He soon found himself in his father's office. The desk was layered with papers. Some of them were fresh off the printer while others were crumbled.

He walked around the desk and tried to find one thing – an envelope. The small, white rectangular met his eyes. The soft feminine cursive was slanted and he saw the small address in the corner. It seemed like his whole body was suddenly set on fire. He needed to go there, and now. He needed to find out why she left so suddenly with nothing but an argument between them. She had been gone for almost a month now and not once, had she tried to get in contact with him. He had received no letters, emails, or phone calls. He would have been happy with just a small voicemail. She had giving him nothing.

He picked up the fragile envelope. It wouldn't do. She was angry at him. He couldn't go see her now. Kagura was waiting for him. Growling, he let the envelope fall back to the desk and left the room, almost bumping Inuyasha on the way out. “You okay?” Inuyasha bit out. It wasn't like Sesshoumaru to not sense his presence.

Inuyasha had been shocked when he found out about his brother and Kagome. It had been a surprise to know that Kagome was still involved with the family. Being Inuyasha, he wasn't in the loop when it came to his father's business and his brother's private matters. He sighed, to know that Kagome had been two-timed and betrayed again made him want to do something about it.

He wandered into his father's office. His nose twitched and he followed Sesshoumaru's scent trail. His footsteps took him around the office. Scanning the piles of wasted pieces of trees, he spotted the envelope that had been tossed aside. It seemed like decades had passed since he had seen that girl's handwriting. He quickly glanced at the door, making sure no one was there, as he tucked the envelope into his denim pant pocket.

Nervously, he entered the room where all the chatter was coming from. Izayoi was laughing beside Daitaro while Kagura told her stories of college. Kikyou was quietly sitting in a corner watching. Inuyasha knew that his girlfriend wasn't comfortable around the pure-blooded family. He sighed, knowing what he was about to say wasn't going to sound good at all. “Kikyou, I have to run and do a quick favor for Sesshoumaru,” he told her, before facing his mother, “can you let Kikyou take my room for the night. I have to figure something out.”

Izayoi tossed him a confused glance, but gave a slow nod. “Where are you going?” His father asked seriously. His eyes warned Inuyasha not to lie.

“Don't worry about it,” he grumbled, turning on his heel before anyone could try to argue with him. Quickly, he made his way out the front door and jogged to his car. The heated seat was welcoming as the engine roared to life. He plugged in the address and let a victorious grin slide across his face. The family estate was only a half hour away from the condominiums, thankfully. If he had been driving from the city it would take a good two hours.

It was stupid, but he suddenly felt as if this were a bad idea. Did Kagome want to see him? Would it be too late at night? Inuyasha doubted it as he saw the digital clock display the time – 11:47 PM

Still, the anticipation ate away at his insides as he got onto the motorway. The engine roared to life. The numbers on the speedometer's digital screen increasing quickly as his foot pushed against the pedal. His nerves only pushed him to go faster. What would she say and do? Would she welcome him or push him away? One more question caused an unwelcome feeling of apprehension. What if there was someone else?

His eyes widened when he saw the exit he needed. Quickly, he slammed on the breaks and slid into the necessary lane. He swallowed the anxiety lifting in his throat as he followed the GPS instructions to turn right and then left. Slowly, he passed through the town watching as the stores disappeared in his rear view mirror. A large field of nothingness took over. It looked as if there was nothing for miles. However, up ahead, he could see several lights.

On the left were several condominiums, and just across the street was a large research facility standing at five stories with several security fences and gates. Obviously, strangers were not welcome. Additionally, he felt several pulses of youki coming off the building. They were meant to warn surrounding demons away, but Inuyasha was too powerful to give in to such trivial devices.

There was a gate that blocked his entrance into the condos. Slowly, he pulled his car to a stop in the visitor's parking lot. His nose twitched. Numerous smells filtered through him, but none of them were hers. He stepped out of the car and looked at the envelope once more. The condo should be just around the right corner. He masked himself, knowing that there were demons working here.

He found her number. With his vision, he read the name that was beside the wall as her own. The slanted print of Higurashi causing him to let out a sigh. He'd found the right place. Sniffing the air once more, he realized there were no devices like the ones at the facility. Probably because people, who didn't work in the labs, lived in these condos as well. Families had also been invited to live here with the doctors, and it would be too complicated to explain their world to them.

In a quick flash of movement, Inuyasha was over the fence and standing outside her door. Judging from the lack of aura and smell, it was empty. The only thing he could hear was the hum of the air conditioner inside. He released a breath and leaned against the wall, letting himself slide down until he was on his bottom. One of his legs went straight, the other one bent as he leaned his arm on it. He could wait.

Leaning his head back, he let his eyes close. This little area was nice and quiet, due to the fact that it was centered in the middle of nowhere. This area of the province was mostly farming and factories. It didn't surprise him that they had hidden a demon research facility.

“Inuyasha?”

His name was spoken as if it was a curse. It was simply stated, with a hint of accusation somewhere in it, as if he'd done something wrong already. He peeled one eye open, hoping that it was just something he'd heard in his mind. No, Kagome stood in front of him.

Her sapphire eyes were narrowed on his form, looking down her nose at him. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail. Glasses hung on the tip of her nose. A white lab coat surrounded navy scrubs and a identification badge was clipped to her right front pocket. He had to say that the uniform on any woman would be a turn on. The fact that it was on Kagome was only making him feel guilty

“What are you doing here?” Kagome asked tightly, keys still sat in her hand. They both picked up another sound. Kagome turned to the right, almost looking a bit nervous. The youki energy hit him; the stench was next. His own aura unleashed and crackled against the stranger's as Koga turned the corner.

“Yo,” he greeted coldly. His hair was cut into a bob, with the hair covering his right eye. He wore a white lab coat around black slacks and a brown button up shirt. “What are you doing on the ground?” He asked.

Inuyasha stood up as Kagome turned to Koga. “Koga, I'll meet you tomorrow at breakfast,” she dismissed. Koga sighed, nodding his head. He then bent forward and pressed a small kiss to Kagome's cheek.

With a sigh, Kagome brushed past the hanyou standing in front of her. She slid the key into the lock and pushed the door open, grabbing her mail and allowing him to step inside. “Shut the door,” she added. She shrugged off her jacket and draped it over a stack of boxes, looking through the stack of mail she'd received.

“What are you doing here?” She asked without even so much as looking at him. Inuyasha silently observed the home. It wasn't small, but it wasn't huge either. He suspected that two people could live here comfortably. Still, there were unpacked boxes in the living room and kitchen.

His golden eyes shot to hers. It was as if all the memories, all the guilt of hurting her, flooded to the surface. A feeling of being unwelcome passed through him. “Do you know that he is a demon?” Inuyasha asked quietly.

“I do,” Kagome grumbled. “What I don't know is why you're here,” she added as she took her glasses off and folded them on the coffee table. He didn't even remember her wearing glasses. He cleared his throat.

“Sesshoumaru.” He watched her reaction. The shoulders tensed, and her eyes widened. His ears twitched, picking up the sudden increase in her heartbeat. “I know that you two were close before Kagura, really close.”

“Your father tell you?” Kagome grumbled. Daitaro probably gave him the address to her apartment. She felt her fingers curl until she made a fist, knuckles turning white from the tension. “What about your brother?”

“He's not really happy,” Inuyasha explained, but shrugged his shoulders, “not that I care.” His slipped off his shoes and padded over to the couch, sliding into the corner and sighing. He could tell the couch was brand new from the firmness. “This is a good couch.”

“Inuyasha,” Kagome warned. “You can't honestly be here because of your brother's unhappiness,” she returned angrily. Her stomach grumbled. That's right, she'd been so busy at work. The last time she'd eaten was lunch with Koga, and it was almost one in the morning.

The kitchen was welcoming and she opened up the fridge and grimaced at what she saw. Her refrigerator could have been mistaken for a bachelor's. Leftover containers from several restaurants laid in there. Quietly, she pulled one out and pried open the top, looking at the noodles for any sign of rot. She shoved them in the microwave and started the nuking device. “So, what is it?” Kagome asked, leaning over the counter to stare at her ex-boyfriend.

“He shouldn't have done that to you, Kagome.” Inuyasha's tone surprised her. It was filled with concern and anger. She almost wanted to laugh. Inuyasha had done exactly what Sesshoumaru did.

She let a chuckle escape her. “Oh? He shouldn't have been dating another girl while sleeping with me, you mean? I thought the story sounded rather familiar,” she retorted.

Inuyasha's ears drooped. She could tell that he saw what he did to her was wrong. Still, she had forgiven him. “Chill out Inuyasha, that happened six years ago,” Kagome forced out. Now that she thought about it, Inuyasha's actions had been like a domino effect on her life.

The affair with Kikyou had caused Kagome to leave. Kagome leaving caused her to run straight into the well-toned chest of Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru led her straight into a few years of absolute sexual bliss before crushing all of her hopes with a surprise engagement. Still, Kagome knew that none of it was Inuyasha's intention.

“So, you drove all the way here from the city to tell me that Sesshoumaru is a jerk and that he shouldn't have used me like you did. I guess you were the only one with that right,” Kagome mocked with a wry smile as she grabbed the noodles with a towel and made her way over to the couch. She sat on it, curling her legs beneath her and staring at the hanyou that suddenly looked to be filled with regret.

“I would have done it differently. I should have told you the second I was tempted,” Inuyasha explained. “Still, I was so angry when I realized that you and Sesshoumaru had been... screwing. It was Kikyou that pointed out that I had done the same thing to you. That's when it hit me... How horrible it was.”

Kagome shook her head at him, feigning a look of admiration. “You're always learning lessons at my expense,” she whispered in awe. Then, she snorted. “Come on Inuyasha. What are you really here for? Are you here because of Daitaro? Is he trying to check up on me”

Inuyasha scoffed at her. “Wow. Don't you trust me, even a litt-?”

“Trust is like a piece of paper, Inuyasha, once it's crumpled it can never be the same again,” Kagome cut him off quickly. “I haven't forgotten, but I won't hold a grudge on my shoulder. I am happy that you and Kikyou are still together though. It seems that the affair wasn't all for nothing that way,” she added.

“I guess I came to try to cheer you up,” Inuyasha muttered. “I know how Sesshoumaru can be.” His voice dropped lower, almost to a whisper. Kagome's eyebrow rose in curiosity at the sudden look of sadness over his face. “He won't approve of Kikyou because of what I did to you. I mean, I don't blame him, but how could he do that after...”

“Yea, yea, after what he did to me. Inuyasha, you're sucking at this cheering up bit,” Kagome teased with a smile, leaning over to punch his shoulder playfully.

“Well, you know how Sesshoumaru and dad are. We don't belong in that group,” Inuyasha returned, unknowingly sparking more hurt in Kagome.

“Group?” Kagome specified. She knew what group he was talking about. The rich demon family was something she almost didn't want to fit into. It wasn't that she couldn't. It was simply because she thought they were all a bunch of snobs. She watched as they treated other demons poorly in the workplace. They hadn't even known want ramen was before she entered their small family. Oh, how they had pitied her at first, being the small girl without a father.

“Yea, you know. Dad's the top of the company and the Demon Lord of the West, which makes him the Lord of Asia in a sense. Since the other lands are only owned by the ancient clans that have barely survived. In fact, they joke that when Sesshoumaru takes the title it will become the Lord of the Orient,” he cursed. Kagome knew that Inuyasha wasn't of importance when it came to being the heir to his father. Sesshoumaru was the heir, and Kagome remembered when Inuyasha and she were younger. Sesshoumaru would always use that to insult Inuyasha and his mixed blood descent.

“Still, what makes you think we can't be in that group?” Kagome whispered quietly.

“Oh, come on, Kagome! We're not rich or important. No one knows who we are,” Inuyasha returned giving her a simple expression as if she should wake up form whatever euphoric dream she'd been sleeping in. “Sesshoumaru and you would have never made it. He can't get heirs, and you are a priestess.”

Kagome jumped from her spot on the couch, setting the noodles on the table. “So, because I am human and a powerful enemy to the demons – back in the ancient days – we could never be?” Kagome shouted angrily, her blood pumping through her veins.

Inuyasha blinked at her, not having expected the outburst. “D-Did you think there would be?” The question caused her to freeze. She had thought at one point in her life, when she was still a naive little girl. However, after that Christmas announcement, she had lost all hope. Even now, the actual chances of being with Sesshoumaru seemed to be dwindling in her.

“I-So you're saying, Sesshoumaru would need to marry someone rich and powerful,” Kagome whispered quietly, with a hatred slowly brewing within her body. So, it was only because she wasn't part of the right social class. The mere thought angered her, but she couldn't find a bone in her body that didn't believe it. In fact, it seemed to make perfect sense. She suddenly felt horrible for not thinking it before. She growled.

“What are you doing to do?” Inuyasha asked quietly, feeling suddenly scared as her priestess powers began to crackle in the air with her anger. Having been with them for so long, he figured Kagome would have caught onto the culture and their upper-class society. Had she really been so innocent that entire time? Inuyasha didn't doubt it. Kagome was never one to find the bad in someone until they betrayed her.

“Inuyasha, just because we aren't born into wealth and power doesn't make us any less valuable!” Kagome shouted angrily. “Don't you see how ridiculously stupid and... and medieval that sounds? We're not in the Warring States Era anymore!”

“They are,” Inuyasha snorted with a smirk upon his lips. Kagome laughed at the quick barb he had dished out, but still looked serious. “You're not going to try anything stupid are you?”

Kagome shrugged her shoulders, but before she could say another word, there was a loud knock at the door. Quickly, she jogged over and peered through the peephole. Koga stood there, looking slightly worried. “Kagome? I-I felt something,” he whispered. Ah, that's right, he had no idea she was a miko. Oops, Kagome muttered in her mind.

She opened the door, but didn't greet him. Instead, she returned to the living room and continued her rant to Inuyasha. “Why can't we climb our way to the top? Don't you feel like you should be better than them?” Kagome let a smirk slide into place. “I-I want to get him back.”

“Y-You actually want to be together with him?” Koga asked the question as he entered the room with a startled look on his face. Inuyasha nodded in agreement with the wolf demon.

Kagome snorted. “No! I want to be on his level in both the human and demon world! I want to show him that I can be on the top, too.”

“Especially being a priestess,” Inuyasha butted in. He saw the sudden look of surprise on Koga's face. “Oops,” he murmured, giving a sheepish smile. “Kagome, you're playing with fire,” he warned.

“I-It suddenly all makes sense now,” Koga whispered, shaking his head. He then pointed a finger at Kagome. “You always know when I'm trying to sneak up behind you!”

Inuyasha snorted, trying to focus back on the topic at hand, “Plus, what if he wants you, Kagome? What if you tries to get you again?”

Kagome grinned, “Then, I will enjoy watching his face when I reject him. The best way to get back, is to show him that I'm happy without him. Being on the top of the world would be a bonus then.” The malice in her voice stunned the other two demons in the room. Inuyasha shot Koga a worried glance before thinking. Is she really a priestess?

His phone began to ring. The shrill cry of the annoying ringtone causing Kagome to wrinkle her nose in distaste. Quickly, he stood up and left the room, holding up a finger for her to wait. Kagome laughed when she heard the click of the door. Anxiously, she jumped up to Koga, taking his hands into hers. “You'll help me won't you?” She whispered.

“I don't think it is a good idea, Kagome,” Koga whispered gently. “Don't you see that this is a huge career and personal move. If you make the wrong choice, it could drop you off the face of the Earth as a researcher and psychologist. Can you handle the demon world?” He whispered, reaching up with one hand to cup her cheek softly.

“Koga, I want to show them that...that they can't look down on me anymore. I-I want to see their faces when they see me pulling strings in the demon world. Koga, y-you'll be by my side, right?” Kagome whispered with such hope and trust in him that he found himself slowly drowning into the plan she'd made.

“I-I will, Kagome,” he whispered, letting his lips fall against hers. The soft kiss was nothing more than in unspoken promise. A vow that no matter what, they would be with each other every step of the way as they climbed to the top. He pulled back, staring at the slight flush that adorned her cheeks. “Where should we start?”

“We need something to put eyes on our research. We need a discovery, something that will cause for a celebration – a ball or charity event,” Kagome added, deep in thought. Inuyasha entered the room just then, and it was as if everything had all been laid out. “Inuyasha... I need your help.”

“Why?” He asked, almost scared at the sudden look of absolute greed in her eyes. Her smile was nothing less than begging.

“We have never had a half-breed in the facility,” Kagome began excitedly. “Demons don't breed with humans because they can't risk letting the monthly lapse expose them to the humans. If I could draw your blood, we could have our own discovery. All three of us could make millions from it.”

“They've already figured out why they change, Kagome,” Koga told her. “That idea is no good.”

“Did they figure out how? Why does their body change only once a month? Is it some sort of defense mechanism? Some sort of sign about their time of birth?” Kagome ranted.

Koga opened, but then closed his mouth, at a loss of words over what their plan was. None of it sounded familiar. Laughing, he shook his head, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck. “I'll be damned if this works, Kagome.”