Priceless (an InuYasha FanFic)

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Saturday flew by and before Kagome knew it, it was Sunday morning, and time to face her past. She had hardly slept at all that night. After experiencing so much happiness in Sesshomaru's home with Rin, and finally having friends again, Kagome was nervous to be in that bleak house again. She didn't know how her mother or brother would react to seeing her after 5 weeks of no communication from her. It was certainly long enough time for them to report her missing, but Kagome was almost sure they wouldn't have bothered... 

Forcing her eyes open, she turned to face the demon next to her. Sleeping in the same bed together was the norm for them now, and Kagome found that she was strangely comfortable with the idea now. Golden eyes opened to meet hers, frowning ever so slightly.

"You look worried." Sesshomaru remarked.

Kagome sighed. "It's been 5 weeks since I saw either of them. I left a week before I made my attempt. Before you found me. I'd just assumed I would never see them again..."

"It's not too late to change your mind. We can wait longer if you want to." Having said this, Sesshomaru reached a hand out to her's under the covers, and gave it a gentle reassuring squeeze.

"No." Kagome shook her head, "No, I need to do this. I have to move forward one way or another. Either they're in my life or they aren't. And besides, I can't keep stealing your laptop."

"I could just buy you a new one."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you could, but I'm doing this. Sure, I'm nervous, but I'll just treat it like a band-aid. Pull it off fast and get it over with."

Sesshomaru assessed the young women in the sheets next to him. When he found her that first day, he had no idea what he was getting. All he'd known was that she had been hurting enough to try ending her life just to make it stop. Looking at her now, he could see the true Kagome coming up through the layers of pain and anguish that had defined her for so long. She was brave, strong, and completely beautiful. The fates had chosen well. At first, he hadn't been sure. Living as long as demons do, it doesn't always work out even for a demon, but Kagome was definitely strong enough. 

Smiling slightly, Sesshomaru leaned in and claimed Kagome's lips in an appreciative kiss, and she responded, pulling herself closer to him, and running her hands through his obnoxiously perfect hair. Seriously, how was his hair so straight and tangle free after sleeping with it loose like that?

Pulling apart, Kagome gave him a curious look. "What was that for?" 

"For being you."

Kagome laughed and crawled out of the bed. "Thank you. I needed that." Smiling at him she turned and padded into her own room to shower and get ready.

...

After taking Rin to Kaede's house for the day, Kagome and Sesshomaru made the trek to Kagome's house. Interestingly enough, after explaining to Sesshomaru that her family lived in the old shrine by the Goshinboku, he knew exactly where he was going. Apparently, his family had some history in that area, which Sesshomaru explained on the drive there.

Incidentally, the creepy old well that was sealed up used to be used by the village nearby to dispose of lesser demons that had been slain by the local priestess. The name "Bone Eater" suddenly made so much more sense to her, especially now that she knew the truth about demons. 

When they arrived, Sesshomaru parked on the curb and they sat in the car for several minutes as Kagome assessed the shrine steps with some doubt. Then with a considerable sigh, she opened her door and marched up to the foot of the steps.