The Checklist by sesshomarusama33

Loyalty? Check.

Wow, I didn't mean to take this long to finish this story! Well anyway, here is the last prompt and last chapter for this story!

This is for see03's "Superior Sense of Smell" challenge!

Prompt: Loyalty

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Inuyasha growled as he watched the interaction between his half-brother and Kagome, his fists clenching tightly as his claws dug into his flesh.

He could smell the arousal from Sesshomaru. That was enough to piss him off. What he never expected, though, was the lustful gazes and the smell of Kagome’s arousal filling the air.

Looking back and forth between the taiyoukai and the miko, it was easy to see that something was brewing between the two.

He felt a painful stab of jealousy, and a sharp pain of betrayal jabbing his heart. Looking to Kagome with painful eyes, he continued to follow behind the group… Silently waiting for one of them to make a move to the other.

‘I need to do something before it’s too late… Kagome, you better hold on!’

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Kagome stared at the retreating form of Sesshomaru, watching as his hair slunk from side to side. Her cheeks flushed a pretty shade of pink at the though of his golden eyes staring into her own, as they had just hours ago when he saved her from the boar.

She could have easily killed the creature, while protecting her and Shippou. Watching as he jumped to her rescue, cliché as it was, made her heart swell with happiness. He knew of the powers she held, and knew she could have defeated the boar.

Had he been protecting her like this because of the flower gesture? Perhaps her feelings were one sided?

She stopped in her tracks as she saw the taiyoukai stop in front of her, without a word. He turned his head, locking his molten gaze with hers, before twisting his body to face her. Kagome felt her heart pump violently in her chest as he walked towards her, holding out a clawed hand.

“Sesshomaru?” She questioned, glancing to his outstretched hand. His eyes begged her not to ask questions, and so she granted him his wish, taking his hand. He ascended into the air from his youki cloud, bringing her body closer to his as they lifted from the ground.

Inuyasha watched with hatred burning in his eyes, intending to follow the couple.

--

Sesshomaru had been silently debating in his mind the pro’s and con’s of mating Kagome. He had never met a demoness that he may find himself attracted to that had passed his requirements… Except for beauty.

This girl, though… this miko… She was divine, smart, caring, physically and intellectually attractive. He would not find another creature like her for centuries.

The scale in his mind tipped in favor of mating Kagome, and he found the idea not quite as unattractive as he first thought. He only needed to know one thing, and there was only one way to test it.

So, he extended his hand towards her, and began his final exam.

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Kagome clung to Sesshomaru as they soared across the sky, the wind gently caressing the couple. Kagome opened her eyes, not realizing she had them clenched shut, and looked to the scenery, feeling her mouth open as she gasped softly.

“It’s so beautiful…” She whispered, reaching her arm out to touch the clouds. Sesshomaru’s eyes softened as he watched the childlike behavior of the girl in his arms, almost smiling.

Finding a decent spot to land, they descended from the air slowly, adjusting from the bright blues to the deep green of the forest. The youki around their feet dissipated as they touched lush grass. Sesshomaru did not release the clawed hand that had rested on her waist, though, and continued to hold her to his form.

“Sesshomaru? We’ve landed… you can let me go, now.” Kagome whispered, her cheeks flushing from the intimate contact between the two. She secretly hoped he wouldn’t move his hand, though. She felt a swell of butterflies in her belly from his touch, and wished it would last.

He heard her, but did not intend on releasing her. He waited patiently for her to say something… waited for her to snatch her body away from him.

Surprisingly, she stayed there for a good, long moment. Sesshomaru closed his eyes, breathing deeply as he listened to their surroundings, settling on the sound of Kagome’s heart beat.

He found it distorted as he felt movement in his arms, opening his eyes to see Kagome turning in his hold. She did not pull away, though. She only turned so she could face him.

“Sesshomaru?” She asked, looking up to his ivory face as his eyes met her own.

“What is your relationship with Inuyasha?” He questioned, his chest rumbling as he spoke in his deep baritone.

“Inuyasha…?” She spoke, slightly confused. He brought her all the way here to talk about his brother?

“Do you care for him?” He tried again, trying to get an answer out of the girl. He noticed her heart was beating rapidly, and that the color in her cheeks was rising. He felt slight disappointment as the answer was obvious, but waited to her the truth fall from her lips.

“Yes…. And no,” she responded, vaguely. Sesshomaru lifted a brow, not quite expecting the answer she had given him.

“Explain.” He demanded, not quite satisfied with her answer.

“I care for him… but not how I used to. I… loved him,” she replied, lowering her head to the ground, watching as a cherry blossom fell to the soft, green grass.

Sesshomaru listened carefully, noticing the pretense of the word ‘love.’ Did that mean she had once cared for him, but no longer felt the same? As if answering his question, she continued to speak.

“Inuyasha was my first love. I was head over heels for the guy…” She smiled, lifting her head to the taiyoukai again. Her eyes were sparkling as she lifted a hand to his face, caressing him gently. “I don’t feel the same way about Inuyasha, anymore. I care for him… but I’m not in love with him, anymore. It would be impossible to have a life with him…”

His eyes closed as she cupped his cheek, stroking his stripes with her thumb. He leaned into her hand, appeased at her answer.

“Sesshomaru, why are you asking me about my feelings towards your brother?” She questioned gently, removing her hand from his face as she did. His eyes opened slowly, taking in her flushed cheeks.

“This one needed to establish your eligibility.” He responded, reaching his hand out towards a falling cherry blossom, cradling it gently in his palm.

“Eligibilty…?” She asked, looking to the flower in her palm.

“As taiyoukai of the West, this one is required to have an heir who will succeed him.” He replied, lifting his hand cradling the blossom to her hair. “Naturally, that would require this one to procure a mate - a life long partner.”

“Are you asking me for advice?” She asked, slightly disappointed of the possibility of it all.

“This one has arranged a list of qualifications that would be expected to the one who would be the Lady of the West.” He noticed her face as it fell, almost smirking at her stupidity.

“Oh, okay… well, what are your requirements? I won’t be able to help unless I know…” She sighed, waiting for his answer. She felt her heart fall into her stomach, trying to hide the tears that were sure to be forming at the corners of her eyes.

“I already have a potential mate in mind, however… there is one requirement she has not yet met.”

“Well… what is it? Who  is it?” She questioned, feeling anger build up in her from Sesshomaru’s misleading actions. Did he know what he was doing to her!?

“Kagome… how blind can you be?” He spoke gently, tucking the blossom into her ebony hair. She gasped softly at his actions, her confusion clearing up as the gears in her head started shifting.

“I thought… you hated humans? I thought… you hated me. There’s no way you’d want me… a miko… as your mate!” She babbled, her heart pounding in her chest.

He chuckled, dipping his head towards her own. His lips were only inches away from hers as he lifted his clawed hand to cradle the tender flesh of her neck. Inhaling her scent deeply, his hot breath caressed her slightly opened lips.

“That would make two of us, then.”

His lips crashed onto hers as his other hand wrapped around her tiny waist, pulling her closer to him. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she leaned into him, the tears that threatened to spill gently caressing her cheeks.

‘You will make a fine Lady of the West, my little miko.’

--

Inuyasha watched with a crestfallen look as Sesshomaru and Kagome kissed, holding each other gingerly. Her words had hurt him, but he could not deny that there would be no way he and Kagome could live the life of a married couple.

She would be well off with Sesshomaru, he realized. She would be treated as a real princess, and would never have to worry about anything financial for the rest of her life. She would be in good hands.

There was no doubt that he was still in love with Kagome, and he would never stop loving her.

A cherry blossom landed gently on his shoulder, awakening him from his thoughts. Taking it with clawed hands, he glanced back to Kagome and gave a sad smile before letting the blossom fall, drifting in the wind.

When you love something so deeply, you sometimes have to let it go.

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There! I hope you all enjoyed this! I really enjoyed writing for this challenge!

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