Hey minna! To make up for the "quickie" of a chapter, I'll give a nice long one this time....

Man that just sounds so dirty to me....

Anywho, this picks up where "We close our eyes" left off. This is the big turning point in the story, so I hope you like!

Thank you guys so much for reading, you are all so incredible!

Ja ne!

~Sabichan~

So let it out and let it in

Hey Jude begin

You're waiting for someone to perform with

And don't you know that it's just you

Hey Jude, you'll do

The movement you need is on your shoulder

Sesshomaru watched the girl with great interest, amazed at her beautiful voice, and how

enchanting her stage presence was.

It was no wonder his brother was so in love with her.

He watched as she gazed at each person in the room, as if she were singing to each one at a time, and patiently awaited his own turn.

She looked like Rin. Other than that, he felt no real attraction to her. But he felt himself taken in by her siren's song nonetheless.

Eventually, her eyes came to rest on his own and he saw her falter. He smirked inwardly, satisfied with the effect. No doubt she assumed it was Inuyasha.

She tore her eyes from him as she hit the last note, and he took the opportunity to slip away. Sure, he had come to talk to her in the first place, but there was no need to do so with all this crowd around.

He stood outside, patiently waiting as the patrons shuffled out into the cold night air. When a good sized lot of them had left, he went back in, his mind set on the task at hand.

As he took a seat at an empty table after announcing his presence, he thought about how he'd gotten himself into this mess in the first place.

That day he'd come home, the day he'd seen Rin, and "proposed" to her had been probably the greatest day of his entire life. After several bouts of lovemaking, she'd finally gotten him to talk to her about just why the hell he'd left and what he'd been up to all those years

He was honest, and detailed, so much that she had fallen asleep in his arms, his long white hair blanketing her petite nude body curled against his own.

He told his family the next day, and from then on, everyone did their best to readjust their lives to the new additions...and loss.

He had moved in with Rin, into the house her foster parents had left her in their will. Although we was busy in handling his multi million dollar company from across the country, he'd tried his damndest to keep the ones he loved his number one priority.

The hardest part had been dealing with Naraku. It was just so damned easy. Too easy.

He'd been more than suspicious at first, still influenced by his earlier judgment of the man's

intentions with his mother.

A month later he had come to see it so clearly, he wanted to kick himself. He'd realized Naraku's true nature the night of his mother's birthday.

She laughed and she smiled and sung to the guests of the grand event. And every time she looked at the man, her smile had only gotten wider, her laugh a little louder, and her voice so much more soulful.

It had hurt at first. After all, she had only just found out what had become of the man she once lived for. But it had passed immediately when her eyes had met his own and he saw what lay deep inside.

Shiori Shingetsu was happy. And who was he to judge her for that?

After that night, he'd reconsidered his position with Naraku. He arranged a formal meeting, flying in some of his trusted advisors and chair members from his own company to meet with those of the Shikon corporation. There, instead of demanding his share of his birthright as he had previously planned, he proposed a merger, a partnership. Naraku had accepted it without hesitation.

Sesshomaru couldn't understand how a man who was once so business orientated could make it so personal. Naraku had mad the merger seem like he was not just strengthening his corporation, but a bond they hadn't shared since he was old enough to understand jealousy and love.

The man wasn't half bad once you got to get to know him all over again.

Life went on from there. The Shikon-Tenseiga Corporation blossomed under the dual leadership, and the city prospered.

The Fukai Mori was under renovation, Higurashi Shrine was granted the title of "historical landmark" and in return, an honorary tombstone was placed in the family plot for Shoji Shingetsu.

Naraku and his mother were "officially dating" as she had so girlishly put it, despite the fact that she was now living with him.

Hell, even Miro had pulled his act together and settled into a very monogamous relationship with Sango.

He and Rin were in the process of planning their wedding.

Then...then there was Inuyasha.

The boy was a puzzle to say the least.

He refused to change his lifestyle along with everyone else. He continued to live in the same apartment alone, not even bothering to move into the bigger room his mother once occupied. He still took the bus to the restaurant every morning, and stayed at his same lowly job as a mailroom clerk.

Never mind that his brother was now the Co-Chairman!

He was a mystery, and he made no move to let anyone solve it. Strangely enough, he seemed almost happy. Content was a better word.

At least they had thought so.

It was a week before his wedding to the lovely Rin when he'd got the phone call. Miroku, his voice strained with urgency, even fear, had called their home, asking if they'd seen Inuyasha.

After a very clever "I am not my brother's keeper" comeback, Rin had snatched the phone away and asked why.

Apparently he'd skipped work at the mailroom and never called. After checking the house and finding no sign of him, they'd searched around town, trying to find him, even calling the Higurashi's just to be sure, but to no avail.

His mother was kept occupied while they continued to search into the evening. Finally, it had occurred to him just where to find him...and he only hoped he wasn't too late this time.

He went to the graveyard alone, after alerting everyone else that he had found him. Sure enough, there he was, sitting between the grave of their father and Seikai Higurashi.

There was no Tetsusaiga this time, no danger of suicide. In fact he wasn't even crying. He was just sitting there, a single candle placed before him, strumming the guitar he`d been learning to play. As he got closer, he heard Inu's voice, soft and conversational, a few nameless chords in the background.

He'd listened in for a few moments

<i>"...but it was getting dark, so we went back to her house and I tutored her in Calculus. I mean she was really bad, I almost felt sorry for her! But she did learn quick, I'll tell ya that. We took a break and she was laying on her bed, looking so beautiful, and all I wanted to do was just go and lay down next to her. Sorry Seikai, but you were my age once too, you know how it is. But all I really wanted to do was hold her. From day one when I met her at that bus stop, I just wanted to make her smile. I hope I did that by letting her go, by not going after her.

"I'm trying to deal with it. I guess I'm doing okay. I'm doing a lot more living and a lot less working. Miro took me to my first bar the other night. Nothing special, but it sure beats the neighbors complaining about how loud he is when he's drunk. I'm having fun...I really am. It's just...well I can't get over her. I just can't. Sometimes at night, I think about her, not that I don't do that all day anyway, but I really think about her. I wonder what our kids would have looked like. I wonder if she would have married me in the first place. I wonder what she's doing right then, where she's sleeping, and if she's thinking about me too. I wonder if she ever thinks about me. I guess maybe that's why I can't stop going to the bus stop. I like it there. It's where I first saw her. If it hadn't been for your umbrella, Dad, I would have never had the nerve to talk to her. I'm glad though...I'm glad I at lest got a chance to see what it's like to be really happy. I know I'll never feel that way about anyone again. I know I'm might be alone for the rest of my life. Sorry if I can't carry on your name, but I'll just leave that to Sess. I know it might take a miracle, but hopefully Rin will be able to conceive. It's nice to see someone getting it right. I wish I had. I wish-"</i>

That's when he'd realized he'd realized he wasn't alone. He's stopped playing and didn't even bother to turn around.

"How long have you been here?"

"Long enough."

"It's really not any of your business you know. You shouldn't spy on people like that."

He'd walked up and sat down on the grass next to his brother.

"I wasn't spying. But I was looking for you. In fact, we all were. You skipped work."

"Yeah. I just didn't feel like going...or calling... I just wanted some time alone."

"You live alone Inuyasha."

"Yeah, but Miro and Sango are always there. I shouldn't have given them a key. Sorry... if I got everyone worried."

"I'm sorry that we weren't worried before this"

"What does that mean?"

"That we should have done something sooner. Inu, you can't keep doing this to yourself. You talk about her like she's dead."

"Why not? It's not like I'll ever see her again. I just have to accept it. I guess talking to people I'm positive are dead helps."

"Don't be a smart ass."

"Don't fucking pretend you know what I'm going through!"

A moment of stunned silence passed.

"You have everything Sess. You have the woman you love, and she loves you back. Even if you weren't so damn rich, you'd still be happy. It's not fair, Sess. It's not fair that I always get left behind. It's not getting easier, like I thought it would. It seems like the more I do, the more I try to live, the more meaningless it seems. It's just not the same without Kagome."

"You know...I know we aren't as close as we used to be Inu. And you know I'm working on that. I'm back in your life, trying to right my wrongs. I hope you understand that what I'm about to say is a part of that. You're an imbecile."

A flat glare came from the younger boys eyes.

"Thanks Sess. I feel better already."

"No I mean it.. You really are stupid. You just don't learn anything, you're completely oblivious."

"Alright, alright, can you get to your point already, and please tell me you actually have one!"

"Read that. Out loud." He said pointing to Seikai's tombstone. Without even looking, Inu had uttered the words engraved there.

"'Chances are not given, it is up to us to take them.'. I know what it says Sess, I know what it means. I've realized it before. I did take my chance, I took a lot of chances. This is where it got me."

A rare chuckle came from the usually stoic man. Another glare from the younger sibling.

"What the hell are you laughing at?"

"You really thought it would be that easy?"

"Huh?"

"You really thought all you had to do was try one or two times and then give up if nothing happened? You are really far more stupid that I thought!"

"Sess...I'm getting pretty fucking tired of your bullshit."

"Shut up. I'm getting there. Inu, I spent nine years away from the girl I'm going to marry next week. Nine goddamned lonely years away from her face, her voice, and everyday regretting what I was missing.. Regretting that I didn't just run back and take another chance. That I didn't try again. It got so bad, that I just picked up and left one day, leaving everything I'd worked so hard for behind, just to find her again I told you I didn't just come back for you and Mom. It sure took me a long time, but I got myself together and I took another chance, a chance I sure as hell didn't deserve and you know what? This is where it got me."

A thoughtful silence passed through the darkening graveyard, the slight breeze making the solitary candle flicker.

"It's not the same Sess. I really appreciate your advice, and I know you feel like you're right. In any other case you would be. But this is completely different. Sess, it's not my chance to take...It's up to her. She chose to leave, and it'll be her choice to come back. I can't go after what isn't rightfully mine. You might think I'm giving up, but I'm not. If I was, you wouldn't be talking to me right now. No, I still have hope. I'm still hopeful that one day, she's gonna come back to me, and she's gonna tell me what I wanna hear. But until that day, I'm helpless. All I can do is wish and hope and dream. It's foolish, but dammit, it's all I've got. Don't take that away from me."

He nodded thoughtfully, the realization dawning on him, the fact that once again, the kid was right.

This was up to Kagome and Kagome alone.

He was talking to the wrong person.

"Tell me Inu...where do you think she is...Where do you think she went?"

"Well, she only talked about leaving one time. She never said where she would go. I have a feeling though, that she would have gotten as far away from this city as she could."

"Across the country you think?"

"Maybe...Why are you asking?"

"I am curious by nature...She visited Naraku before she left."

"Yeah I know...he told me he gave her access to his personal account. Makes me feel better, knowing she's got something to fall back on...But I don't think she'd really use it. She's probably supporting herself, working. Maybe a waitress, or maybe she found another shrine to work at. Not too many miko's in the world these days. She's pretty rare. Hell of a singer though. Just like Mom. Maybe even better. I used to call her the singing Miko stripper. I hope she didn't take that seriously...That'd be a shocker..."

As Inuyasha rambled on about her various...talents, a plan was forming in his head.

He took his brother home that night and then retired to his own. He filled Rin in on their discussion, but said nothing of his plan. Not that it mattered.

It is said that great minds think alike-Rin came up with the very same idea.

"Sess-could you find her? You found your Dad. You're pretty good, and it's not like you don't have the resources. Maybe...maybe you could be the one to talk to her. I have a feeling you could sympathize. You both kinda left for the same reason."

" I was indeed planning on looking for her. But I don't know about going personally. I don't even know the girl. I'd probably just scare her off."

"Honestly Sess, I know you'd do fine. She needs someone who understands what she's going through, and I know you are just that person. It's decided then! You'll go find Kagome and bring her home!"

"Rin...I can't just leave and go looking for a girl who doesn't want to be found! She's only called her family a handful of times this past year, and she never gave a single clue as to what she was doing or where she was headed. Just a hello, I love you , I'm alive and goodbye! She hasn't used Naraku's credit card in the last four months, so it does no good in helping me track her down. Plus, we've got a wedding to attend and a honeymoon out of the country! I'll send Jaken to do it. He's rather useful with odd jobs."

"You are not sending that kiss-ass little toad to talk to Kagome! If anyone would scare her off it would be him! Sess, this is your only brother! You owe him for this! And...our wedding can wait then."

"WHAT?!" He rarely ever raised his voice, but his shock at her words had such an affect on him.

"Rin! What are you saying?!"

"I'm saying," She said bravely sticking her chin up in the air, "That I won't feel right getting married when Inu is still so sad. I want all of us to be happy, I want everything to be set right before I do this. Otherwise I'll regret it forever. I want you to do this Sess. Even if we have to postpone the wedding."

It was quite a sight to see, such a graceful face in such a comical look. His jaw hung halfway to the ground and his eyes where wide.

"I....Bu...Yo......RIN!"

"Sess. You do this or I cancel the wedding. Goddammit you owe him! And you owe me!" Her look softened as she stroked his face comfortingly. "Sesshie....Sweetie....we waited nine years...we can wait a little longer. Don't you love your brother? Don't you love me enough to do this?"

Then it was settled. Not that he'd had a choice mind you. Any argument would have had him right down there next to Inu, talking to the dead about how they wish they could have done things better.

And so he'd sent ahead Jaken, his most trusted assistant ahead, armed only with the minor clues Inuyasha had given him. It took almost six months before he'd got any really valid leads. Then after scouring most of the big cities on the east coast, he'd found something...intriguing. A poster for a young singer named Keiko Miko, appearing nightly at a small club downtown. He'd called Sesshomaru immediately, hoping for some assistance. He'd made a few calls, posed as a record exec, and arranged for Jaken to play the part of his "talent scout". It wouldn't have been necessary if the manager hadn't been so adamant about not revealing her real name. Finally, after witnessing her sing and matching her picture to the young songstress, a very dreamy voiced Jaken had called, and made the confirmation.

He'd found Kagome Higurashi.

Now came the hard part...he'd flown out immediately, thinking hard the entire way. How was he going to convince her to come back? The girl had obviously felt she'd done some wrong, so how to relieve those fears?

Bt the time the plane had landed, he'd decided he needed to hear her side of the story before he could make any move at all.

So now here he sat, in a tiny bar, a half empty gin and tonic on the table before him.

He suddenly felt a presence behind him and smiled. He could almost feel her nervousness as she approached. She stopped a few feet away and he chose that time to speak.

"You've grown up quite a bit, if you don't me saying. Of course we never had the pleasure of meeting before this, did we Kagome? I have seen pictures of you. Lots of pictures."

"Who are you?" She asked, her voice shaky. He turned to face her and did his best to smile reassuringly.

"I am your conscience you could say. Maybe even a kindred spirit. Either way, I've gone through a lot of trouble just to find you."

"You're....Sesshomaru. Inuyasha's brother...but you left a long time ago? How do you know who I am?" The look of confusion on her face was priceless, her head delicately cocked sideways, almost birdlike. If anything , she was adorable. He motioned for her to sit down. She complied, never taking her eyes off him.

"Yes. Very sharp. It's good to finally be able to meet the Kagome Higurashi of lore. You've got quite a few fans back home you know. Maybe not so many as Keiko Miko does, but they adore you nonetheless."

"You talk a lot. Are you sure you're Inuyasha's brother?" She asked frowning.

"And you are quite forward. Not as shy as Souta."

"You...You know my brother?"

"I know him and your mother and grandfather...quite well I might say. Very kind people. Very gracious."

A look of frustration flashed in her dark brown eyes.

"Alright, stop bullshitting with me! Why are you here, How do you know my family, and What the hell do you want?"

"No wonder he likes you. You're both brats."

She glared at him flatly, drawing another rare chuckle from him. He gave in and began to explain.

"I went home Kagome. I arrived the day you left. I returned to my family after eight long years apart, with no contact and tons of regret. I am here of my own accord...well mostly. My dear fiancee Rin is threatening me with canceling our wedding if I didn't come out here. So I do hope you'll at least hear me out, as I've gone through a lot of trouble for someone I've never met." She nodded, her eyes somewhat wide in awe of his words.

"Eight years? How....why did you stay away for so long?"

"Perhaps, dear Kagome, it would be better if I were to explain why I left in the first place."

She nodded again, and clasped her hands together on the table before her.

"I was eighteen at the time. My fath