Yes!  I think Byakuya Kuchiki and Sesshoumaru are very much a like--and they too are my favorite characters.  Good for Byakya finally dating, in another fandome!

Writing of a failed romance is difficult at times to do. Inthis case, you do a wonderful job of capturing the emotions and the angst of the situation.  True friendship can bloom through a failed romantic realtionship.

Nicely done!

BW

I like how this chapter wasn't just all doom and gloom and about ill-fated romance. You've really made the story about friendships and family ties too-it gives it a lot of depth. Having said that, I really want to see how Sesshoumaru and Kagome meet again and begin a relationship. They *have* to get together after all this. Yes, yes, I know that real life doesn't work like that but...*puppydogeyes* How could you leave poor Sesshoumaru all lonely and heartbroken? :P

Wow, I just finished reading some of the reviews for the last few chapters...Amazing, people. I can honestly see where your thoughts are coming from but I still think that Kaguya was never a real issue in any of this. She said she knew how Sesshoumaru felt over Kagome BEFORE they began hitting the public as the new supercouple.Yet, Kaguya still stayed with him probably thinking she could change his love for her, but she saw how he looked at Kagome when he would see her and she knew that look was one he never gave her, yet, she still continued the relationship. Sesshoumaru wasn't using Kaguya, he honestly was trying to move on but his heart never let totally go of Kagome.

 Kagome feelings weren't unlike Kaguya. She knew InuYasha loved Kikyou and it was Kikyou that was paired with InuYasha in the press but she still hoped that maybe she could sway Inu's heart to marry HER in the end. Yes, she knew she was techniquely the third party but InuYasha kept feeding her head and heart with hope.  He'd tell Kagome he loved her and he lead her to believe they would eventually be together. Even when Kagome would break up with him, he'd beg her forgiveness and play on her love to get her back.

Kagome's only fault here was falling in love with InuYasha and yes, maybe she could have handled the situation at the party better than she did. She had no idea that she was coming there to hear of InuYasha engagement, that after three years of devotion to him, three years of him telling her he loved her most but he had to keep up the situation with Kikyou for the family business. Please see her side of this. Put yourself in her place...maybe you can't because you just wouldn't let that happen to you, but You aren't Kagome.

Kikyou is a part of this because InuYasha actually did love her too but she was in total unawares. She kept her trust and faith in the man she loved. She had no reason to not believe the excuses he gave when he went to see Kagome and Yes, let's put blame on Sesshoumaru. I have from the beginning because he COULD have stopped this. He could have gone to his father and stopped InuYasha from hurting both women without either woman finding out about what InuYasha was doing. Sesshoumaru had options but he chose to stay out of his brother's business and instead tried on many accounts to get Kagome to see what InuYasha was up to but by then she had invested so much of her heart that she only knew what InuYasha would say say to her. Sorry to say this but this happens in real life and some woman just aren't strong enough to turn away from what her heart tells her even IF she knows it's probably wrong.

Sesshoumaru just loved Kagome so much that he just wanted her happiness. He thought that since Kagome always took InuYasha back no matter what the cause, that she wouldn't just give up InuYasha for him, so, he'd rather have her happiness and her friendship than nothing at all and each time she needed him to pick up the pieces, he probably hoped that maybe, maybe this time she might leave him for good and then she'll see that he's always been there for her... Think about it...

AND,  Knifethrower, I absolutely love your idea of having Izayoi help in bringing the couples together and peace within the families. If anyone knows what they are going through, she does.

Thanks, for allowing me my two (or more) cents on this split decision and I hope the other readers will enjoy my views as much as I have theirs.

Much love to you, Miss Teak!  JEN

At least Kagome hasn't done anything rash, like, hurting herself or moving away. There's still a chance if she talked to InuYasha, even if it was just for closure. If Sesshoumaru has any real smarts, he'll go to Kagome and ask if they could go on a date together or at least resume their friendship. He wasn't the one who hurt her after all. If she's avoiding him, then be persistent. He has the means to find a way to see her, if, he really wants her. There ARE ways, Sesshoumaru...you know what makes Kagome happy...come on... If you want her, There she is, Go and get her...

I am surprised this whole fiasco brought the brothers somewhat closer though. InuYasha has grown up alittle because of this. What a shame, really, that he didn't see what a good brother he had before, when Sesshoumaru always helped him with his getaways and then picked up the pieces he'd leave Kagome in and give her back when InuYasha would come crawling back to her. I say InuYasha is dang lucky Sesshoumaru didn't turn on him for all he did.  JEN

This was a nice chapter. Through mutual loss, they found some common ground and formed a kinship of sorts.

Man I can't believe that the chapter is over already. I can't wait for more.

Aww such a sweet chapter. The brother's bonded in the wake of everything else falling apart. It was heart-warming and actually seems to be what tends to happen at times when everything else is going wrong. I know I grew closer to my brothers after some pretty hard times with my family (though nothing so bad as what Inuyasha did :P ) None the less, I love it my dear, and I can't wait for more. I'm sorry for such short reviews but finals are killing my brain. Just know I loved it, and you did great as always. Much love to you until next time <3

Yay! Another chpt. Okay. I really liked that Sesshomaru and Inuyasha relationship is growing. I hope things will work out for them soon; I feel sorry for them. Now with their reputation ruin they have to deal with the gossip. Thanks for the chpt.

Awww--nice. Botherly love :D

Maybe Izayoi is the catalyst needed to heal the situation between InuYasha, Kikyo, Kagome and Sesshomaru.  Maybe she could take it upon herself to balance her karma by helping the family heal. Here's the thing.  We think Izayoi is a 'nice' character, but she screwed around with a mated or married man, and then managed to marry him and live a privileged lifestyle, obviously accepted by family and peers.  InuYasha and Kikyo were not married, and to the best of Kagome's knowledge, just dating.  Just like Kagome was dating InuYasha.  Obviously, Izayoi has been assimilated into the family and accepted after what was a much greater transgression...  As for Kaguya, I never got the impression that Sesshomaru had really made any kind of commitment to her, just the tabloids and interfering relatives made assumptions.  Frankly, I don't really see that he had any kind of deep connection with Kaguya.  I think now, she will look for someone who actually loves her.  Not just somebody who looks good as her escort.  As for Seshomaru and Kagome being together, I think he needs to be her savior.  He's a big enough man to suck it up, and take her "for better or worse", now that she's in the right place in life to appreciate him.

There was a shared commonality in the relationship between InuYasha and Kikyo and Sesshomaru and Kaguya.  The family and outsiders pushed them together.  Kikyo's family was similar in economic and social status to InuYasha's family, and their marriage was supposed to benefit both families' businesses.  Kaguya was beautiful and had high status as a model, so Izayoi and others suggested that they were getting married.  Sesshomaru never asked Kaguya to marry him.  I wonder if Izayoi feels any guilt over her casual declarations about them getting married? 

that was a really good chapter. I love how through it all they still managed to bond like true brothers should. I hope the two of them can set their lives straight again.....

~Silver Silence 89

@Chapter 13

Yayz for dedications! WOOT! Sorry for the late review. I enjoyed the chapter immensely and that moment between Izayoi and Sesshoumaru was heartwarming. So precious. Yeah Izayoi you bite all into Inuyasha for what he did!

@Chapter 14

My dream has been fulfilled lol. Now I can patiently wait new chapters ^_^

This chapter was fun in a sad way. I love that the brothers have found their brotherhood. I'm also somewhat happy that Inuyasha is suffering, but I hope he don't hurt himself. It seems like him being ostracized is killing him inside. A subdued Inu is a pathetic sight. No tough front or "feh whatevers" just... sadness.... like a kicked puppy. Ah well. He brought it on his own. And whatever you decide to do with Sesshoumaru and Kagome I'm down, just don't feel you have to rush the two of them. The situation with Inuyasha would most likely take a while for her to get over.

Well ,that was a nice chapter. I liked it that the two brothers finally got closer. It was necessary that Inuyasha lost both girls, perhaps he can grow up. I really hope Sesshomaru and Kagome end together and that Kikyo forgives Inuyasha, even if it's for the sake of their child.

Can't wait to read more!

This story is wonderfully written, so much so that I both look forward to and dread reading each update. The decision for this story's direction is rightfully the author's. I respect Miss Teak's aesthetic intentions. I hope my fellow readers does too, opinions aside.

Again another wonderful chapter for you. Which has again left me wanting this to be a Kaguya/Sessho story. Hey I've seen some stories on here that don't end up Kagome/Sess so why can't this one be it? Ok Ok, I know I know before some of the pitchfork come out. 

As I mentioned before, I just can NOT see how Sess and Kagome could EVER have a relationship now, short of him walking away from his family to be with her, and also, well as someone mentioned before, he'd be taking Inuyasha's left over and that's is sickening enough as it is. This latest chapter just reinforced my utter distain for both Kagome and Inuyasha. Their incredibly selfish acts have caused a tidalwave hurt and public humiliation. I know in hindsight she regrets what she did however, a mature person wouldn't have done what she ended up doing in such a public way.

Also after revisiting chapter 12, it pretty much seal the deal for me to not want this to be a Kagome/Sess story.  I know someone earlier mentioned that this was a lesson for Kaguya and Kikyo needed to learn because they were priviliged and grew up with things certain way, however, no one deserves to be cheated on, be pushed to the backburn, and especially humiliated in such a profound way, no matter their personal livestyles. Miss Teak wrote their characters as people who have their slight flaws but were overall very good women and deserved better than what they got. They are the only ones I actually feel sorry for. Not even Sessho, because he was an enabler for 3 years, first by purchasing the ticket for Kagome to go to Kyoto, even though he already knew that Inuyasha had started seeing Kikyo and then by helping them hide their relationship for as long as he did without saying anything.

We can ask, if what Kagome did for as long as she did was wrong, and the answer is absolutely yes. I think after 3 year, heck after a few months you should know that he wasn't ever going to pick you. Kikyo was the one he introduced to his friends and family, Kikyo was the one who was in the front runner from the beginning. You had to be a complete idiot or someone who's so afraid of being alone that you rather take scraps from some one who so called love you and was so called confused for as long as she did.  And lastly the fact that she knew Sessho had deep feelings for her that went beyond friendship and she kept depending on him to help her hide her relationship in Inuyasha and then blamed him for not warning her, says a lot of about her. I know she apologized afterwards but the fact that it was the first thing to cross her mind, shows just how incredibly selfish her character is.

So Miss Teak now that you've set the stage, just how in the world can you possibly turn this into a Kagome/Sessho love story? How can his parents forgive and welcome her into the family with open arms? How can Kikyo ever forgive or go back to Inuyasha knowing that he had been cheating on her for the whole duration of their relationship? How can Sessho

You know what? At this point I would be happy with an ending where Sesshomaru and Kagome didn't end up together. One, who the heck would want their sibling's leftovers? Two, Kagome has been through too much crap with their family for her and Sesshomaru to ever be happy. Three, I would like to see him end up with Kaguya after all. It would be an interesting twist and not the typical Kagome/Sesshomaru ending. And three, Sesshomaru deserves to be happy, and I think he would be happier without Kagome.

Well this was a long time coming. I don't feel sorry for any of them except for Kaguya and Kikyou because they got caught up in all of Kagome, Inuyasha, and Sesshomaru's crap. I don't think Kikyou should forgive any of them. All three of them are guilty: Kagome and Inuyasha for participating in the affair, and Sesshomaru for keeping it a secret. Kagome and Inuyasha got just what they deserved. They made their beds, now they have to lie in it.

I understand Kagome was shocked and all, but she could of at least had the good taste to tell Kikyou the truth away from the engagement party instead of humiliating her in front of her family and friends.

I like how Kagome was confronted with Kikyou and Inuyasha's relationship this chapter. Sesshomaru needs to stop protecting her. If she actually sees how she is always going to be second best, and that she will have to deal with him taking more priority with Kikyou over her, it will help her come to her senses. 

I usually love SessKag couple but in this story i cannot see Kagome deserves love.

you know you raelly should have Kagome do something to rightfully earn the sympathy of the readers. Because right now I fear that almost no one likes her.

She is quite selfish and childish . Actually she's almost as bad as Inuyasha.

She KNEW that she was the third party. She KNEW Sesshoumaru's feelings. But she continued her affair, hurt everyone involved and used Sess shamelessly. And about her outburst at the engagement party. Yes She is hurt and shocked, so we can not blame her for that. But to some extents, it shows that she's not someone who's mature enough to handle such a situation  (unlike Kaguya or Kikyo who behaved admirably)

other than that, your story is amazing. The plot is good and everything else is promising!

Love it.