Forest Through the Trees by Priestess Skye [Oneshot #68]
Title: Forest Through The Trees
Author: Priestess Skye
Prompt: Inheritance
Rating: K
Genre: Drama, friendship
Words:
Note: This is the twenty-fifth installment in my ongoing serial On The River's Edge. The beginning can be found here.
Commonalities between them were few and far between, but neither could deny the one big one that constantly loomed over head: a legacy left behind by their predecessors, namely his father and her grandfather. All of her life Kagome had worked hard to live up to her grandfather’s expectations. She worked diligently day in and day out maintaining what was left to her. She had expanded the boat house, began to include motorized boats as they became more in demand, and sold inflatable’s to those who wanted a beach accessory, but could not necessarily afford a rental. She knew, looking back at her childhood, that she had done her grandfather proud. She loved his place just as much, if not more so than he had, and she had the memories to prove it.
Local news clippings hung on the wall of her office, and while the local paper was nothing prestigious, the fact that they would ever focus on her and her little shack made her proud. It would make him proud too. She knew that in whatever direction she chose to take their little business he would have supported her. She had the business’ best interests at heart.
Sesshoumaru faced another dilemma all together with his father’s so-called legacy. Touga Taisho had been everything she had wished to see in a father. When she first met him, he doted on his son. Sesshoumaru had everything he could ever need: fun toys, the freedom to do as he wish, and the adoration of loving parents. She recalled spending many hours sitting upon his broad soldiers as the three of them frolicked in the lake, under the watchful eyes of her own grandfather. Having no memories of her own father, the ones she held of Touga Taisho were cherished, even after years of separation.
Sesshoumaru had a very different experience as his life fell apart after that summer. The illusion that she held in her mind was very different from the reality he had faced. From watching his father’s adulterous acts, living through his parent’s divorce and having to witness his father’s adoration fall upon the newly unwanted half-brother, it seemed as if the fates had been cruel to the once innocent little boy. She never once had to fight for what she had; it was freely given to her, out of love. It seemed now that Sesshoumaru had to fight to keep what was rightfully his, as the eldest son of his father.
Part of Kagome wished she could heal that part of him that still hurt, still felt the sting of betrayal. Sesshoumaru would never admit this weakness to her. He would never admit any weakness at all, but she saw through him all the same. Those stoic eyes could hide so much from everybody else, but somehow they held no resistance to her. She wondered what she would see in them today when he walked through the front door.
Rain fell upon the glass and water outside, soothing her frayed nerves as she stood at his stove stirring the pot, both literally and metaphorically. She had no idea how he would react to her being in his house without his permission. Not only had she let herself in, but she had made herself at home as she prepared a simple noodle dish for his return. Chicken and shrimp were sautéing on the wok and the pleasant smell of a garlic sauce filled the kitchen, giving it a homey atmosphere. She had spent hours before at the local liquor store selecting a sake that she knew would be perfect after dinner. He probably had stores of it in his basement, but this was a meal prepared for him by her. It was only fitting that the wine selection came from her as well.
This would be the first sign of intimacy between them, she mused as she tossed a bowl of freshly chopped vegetables into the pan. They had shared, she had seen him at what she believed once was his happiest, and she had seen him perturbed. They had spent hours talking, and hours not saying a word to each other. She understood his passion, could feel his confusion when it came to her, knew how much he wanted her when he kissed her, and understood why at times he pushed her away. It didn’t hurt any less but she understood. Perhaps tonight they could work past that. Hopefully tonight he’ll fully accept everything and they could move forward in the logical way that most couples usually progressed.
But then they weren’t like most couples, her emotions certainly weren’t logical.
“Sesshoumaru, you’re an idiot,” she privately berated as she turned the heat down to let the dish simmer. “You can’t see the forest through the trees and you won’t accept help.”
Laughing bitterly, Kagome recognized her own naiveté at believing she could be the one to change him as well. His father’s legacy was too strong. Hurt and betrayal were difficult, if not impossible to erase and she reminded him of a time he wanted to forget.
It was too bad she couldn’t forget him.
Hearing the key turn, she braced herself, forcing a smile to her lips. Things were still strained, so they couldn’t possibly get any worse. She wasn’t sure if they would get better either. She waited, saw the flash of wet silver hair, and forced her smile even more when she saw his eyes narrow on her.
She was the intruder.
Still...
“Welcome home.”
Author: Priestess Skye
Prompt: Inheritance
Rating: K
Genre: Drama, friendship
Words:
Note: This is the twenty-fifth installment in my ongoing serial On The River's Edge. The beginning can be found here.
Commonalities between them were few and far between, but neither could deny the one big one that constantly loomed over head: a legacy left behind by their predecessors, namely his father and her grandfather. All of her life Kagome had worked hard to live up to her grandfather’s expectations. She worked diligently day in and day out maintaining what was left to her. She had expanded the boat house, began to include motorized boats as they became more in demand, and sold inflatable’s to those who wanted a beach accessory, but could not necessarily afford a rental. She knew, looking back at her childhood, that she had done her grandfather proud. She loved his place just as much, if not more so than he had, and she had the memories to prove it.
Local news clippings hung on the wall of her office, and while the local paper was nothing prestigious, the fact that they would ever focus on her and her little shack made her proud. It would make him proud too. She knew that in whatever direction she chose to take their little business he would have supported her. She had the business’ best interests at heart.
Sesshoumaru faced another dilemma all together with his father’s so-called legacy. Touga Taisho had been everything she had wished to see in a father. When she first met him, he doted on his son. Sesshoumaru had everything he could ever need: fun toys, the freedom to do as he wish, and the adoration of loving parents. She recalled spending many hours sitting upon his broad soldiers as the three of them frolicked in the lake, under the watchful eyes of her own grandfather. Having no memories of her own father, the ones she held of Touga Taisho were cherished, even after years of separation.
Sesshoumaru had a very different experience as his life fell apart after that summer. The illusion that she held in her mind was very different from the reality he had faced. From watching his father’s adulterous acts, living through his parent’s divorce and having to witness his father’s adoration fall upon the newly unwanted half-brother, it seemed as if the fates had been cruel to the once innocent little boy. She never once had to fight for what she had; it was freely given to her, out of love. It seemed now that Sesshoumaru had to fight to keep what was rightfully his, as the eldest son of his father.
Part of Kagome wished she could heal that part of him that still hurt, still felt the sting of betrayal. Sesshoumaru would never admit this weakness to her. He would never admit any weakness at all, but she saw through him all the same. Those stoic eyes could hide so much from everybody else, but somehow they held no resistance to her. She wondered what she would see in them today when he walked through the front door.
Rain fell upon the glass and water outside, soothing her frayed nerves as she stood at his stove stirring the pot, both literally and metaphorically. She had no idea how he would react to her being in his house without his permission. Not only had she let herself in, but she had made herself at home as she prepared a simple noodle dish for his return. Chicken and shrimp were sautéing on the wok and the pleasant smell of a garlic sauce filled the kitchen, giving it a homey atmosphere. She had spent hours before at the local liquor store selecting a sake that she knew would be perfect after dinner. He probably had stores of it in his basement, but this was a meal prepared for him by her. It was only fitting that the wine selection came from her as well.
This would be the first sign of intimacy between them, she mused as she tossed a bowl of freshly chopped vegetables into the pan. They had shared, she had seen him at what she believed once was his happiest, and she had seen him perturbed. They had spent hours talking, and hours not saying a word to each other. She understood his passion, could feel his confusion when it came to her, knew how much he wanted her when he kissed her, and understood why at times he pushed her away. It didn’t hurt any less but she understood. Perhaps tonight they could work past that. Hopefully tonight he’ll fully accept everything and they could move forward in the logical way that most couples usually progressed.
But then they weren’t like most couples, her emotions certainly weren’t logical.
“Sesshoumaru, you’re an idiot,” she privately berated as she turned the heat down to let the dish simmer. “You can’t see the forest through the trees and you won’t accept help.”
Laughing bitterly, Kagome recognized her own naiveté at believing she could be the one to change him as well. His father’s legacy was too strong. Hurt and betrayal were difficult, if not impossible to erase and she reminded him of a time he wanted to forget.
It was too bad she couldn’t forget him.
Hearing the key turn, she braced herself, forcing a smile to her lips. Things were still strained, so they couldn’t possibly get any worse. She wasn’t sure if they would get better either. She waited, saw the flash of wet silver hair, and forced her smile even more when she saw his eyes narrow on her.
She was the intruder.
Still...
“Welcome home.”