Timeless Love

Right. Long time no see. I've been busy, as I am sure you all have been. Life has a funny way of running away with you. OKAY. So besides the obvious, I hope you like this chapter. It's not much, just a filler.... but it's here. Granted there are probably spelling mistakes and possibly extra words but it's 5:00 in the morning and I want nothing to do with editing.

Read. Comprehend (hopefully). Enjoy.


Chapter 10


Two Eyes to Look Forward

"If you don't stop pacing I swear to every God in exsistance that I will tackle you and tie you up." Ryoko said blandly, as she and Mai poured over textbooks on the couch.

Kagome looked up in suprise, stopping in her tracks. "Sorry"

"Kagome," Hikari called, poking her head from the bathroom, "You really have to stop stressing so much."

"I know, it's just, I-i... I could have..."

"Kagome," Ryoko sighed, snapping the textbook closed. "It was a quiz, you need to relax. If you do well on the others -which knowing you, you will- it'll all even out. Stressing over not having studied enough isn't going to do you any good."

"Or any of us for that matter." Mai quipped, as she started packing away her own textbooks.

"Mmm-I don't think that's really the problem." Hikari said, thoughtfully tapping a finger against her lip.

Kagome held her breath, of course they'd pick up on it, ever since she came home they had been watching her like a hawk. She gulped when Ryoko's face split into a cheshire grin.

"Ohhh, no. I think you might be right Kari-chan. Kagome has been courting that hunky boy on Ronin's team. Must be trouble in paradise!" Ryoko sang while Kagome nearly balked.

"Oh Kagome, no! He's so cute! What's wrong with him?" Mai chimed in.

"Maybe, he was a bad kisser, hmm?" Hikari smirked as she sauntered over.

"Maybe it's worse... maybe he has a girlfriend!?" Ryoko cried out conspiratorialy.

"You guys! He's not a player, and he's certainly not a bad kisser!" Kagome defended.

All three roomates grinned at Kagome, 'Gothcha!' written all over their faces. The black haired girl sighed, resigning herself to being caught.

"So then whats wrong?"

"It's me..."

"Oh Kagome! That's non-sense! There's nothing wrong with you! Did he call you ugly!? He didn't say you were fat did he? That JERK! What a pig!" They all chorused.

Kagome blushed furiously. This was going bad, fast.

Okay girl, deep breath, count to ten...

"No. He did't call me ugly, nor did he find anything wrong with me. Just the opposite actually, he-"

All the other girls looked at her expectantly. "He what?"

"He said he's crazy about me. Then he kissed me. The first time he said it I just didn't know how to take it, so I pretended that he must have just been all worked up from playing soccer. But then he asked me out on a date, and I figured I should let him have a chance and get it over with. So I said yes, not expecting anything to happen."

The girls all stared blankly at their roomate, completely dumbfounded.

Ryoko poked Kagome hard in the shoulder. "You didn't do something stupid and wreck your date did you? Geeze Kags, you can't be that emotionaly handicapped. Or socially akward for that matter... I mean it's a first date for crying out loud."

"The date went fine!" Kagome snapped, temper beginning to rise. "He just, we, the day after.."
Kagome ran a tired hand through her hair and sighed. "The day after the date, we talked. I really enjoyed the time I spent with him on my date, so the next day we hung out. Then he kissed me and I realized how much I like him," and that I don't know if I can do this again "so, I panicked and left. And I sort of... haven't talked to him since."

"Kags..." Ryoko began reasonably, "I get that you were hurt before, but I mean you can't just run away from a great guy like that, especially if you like him. He said he's crazy for you, that one's a keeper."

Kagome's eye's darkened for a moment. "I just can't do it again." She whispered, more to herself than anything. Then she looked up and realized too late the slip she had made.

They were all silent. Each of Kagome's room mates stared with wide teary eyes, then someone sniffed, and it was like a storm was unleashed. They were all upon her, hugging like there was no tomorrow.

Oh good greif!

"Ohhh Kagome!" Mai bawled "Don't give up on love! Even if you've been hurt before!"

"Yeah K'gome! Love will always find a way!" Hikari sobbed

And suddenly Kagome's world was awash with tears. The bewildered young woman sat amongst three epically sobbing girls, crying over her tortured love life.

"Eh-heh-heh. Look, guys, I'll be fine. I just have to have time to sort some things out. Honest."

The group seemed to sober up, and all the girls smilled warmly at their love trodden suite mate. With a final reassuring hug, and a comment about ice cream, the mood lightened and the girls were scrambling out the door for a treat. Kagome declined their invite politely, placating them with a promise of another time.

"Kagome" Ryoko called gently, stopping by the door. Kagome turned and was suprised when her friend walked over and griped her shoulders firmly. "If you don't let someone pick up the pieces, your broken heart can never be healed."

And with that she left, Kagome staring sadly behind.

I know.

...

A chilly breeze whispered across the campus, tangling Kagome's already unruly black hair. The young woman inhaled deeply, enjoying the crisp weather. Briskly walking through campus, she noted the quietness of the outdoors. It seemed that many stayed inside infavor of the warmth over the quickly chilling outdoors. Kagome herself never felt more alive with the clean air and the soft chirping of birds filling her senses. She felt... at peace.

It had been a few days since the little 'group session' she'd had with her nosey suitemates and she'd done alot of thinking since then. Alot of mulling over, and even more comparing. She compared Kin to Inuyasha, herself to Kikyo and every other combination of the four. It was a bitter and humbling process. It brought back so many painful memories she knew she would never be fully prepared to deal with. But in the end, nothing from the past mattered anymore. The past was just that, past, it had gone and all that was left was that which lay in front of her. Whatever it may be. She liked Kin, the funny, smart soccer player. There was no Inuyasha anymore, and she wasn't going to make him suffer like there was. It wasn't fair to him, and really it wasn't fair to her. She ignored the little voice inside her that whispered sadly that she was only lying to herself and this was much more complicated than she was trying to pretend.

The only thing that she would admit still bothered her was the fact that Sesshomaru had specifically taken her aside and told her that Kin was Inuyasha's reincarnation. Kagome knew that he must have had much more to tell her, but couldn't understand why he ended up leaving her hanging. She didn't get it.

"Oh hello Kagome, I am still alive. I have decided to inform you vaguely that there is a specific reason you are here, which has absolutely nothing to do with school. As well as the aparent mistake it was that Inuyasha went to hell. I have also deemed you unworthy of further explination, as I am an arrogant, scheeming furball. AND that boy you've been talking to really is the reincarnation of the boy that ripped out your heart and tore it to shreds."

The nerve.

For the life of her, she could not figure out the signifigance of the college or anything else that Sesshomaru hinted about. She was over the whole mystic mystery and prophetic hocus pocus. It was grating. She did her part already, the Shikon was whole and safely in her care. Naraku was destroyed, and aparently the only thing amiss was the fact that Inuyasha decided to keep his promise of going to hell with Kikyou. Well go figure.

And ever since she'd left Sesshomaru's office, she'd had the creepy feeling that she was being watched. But for all her efforts, she couldn't sense anything. The most demonic aura she got was from her math teacher. And well, that would make alot of sense.

Stopping, Kagome found herself releived that the archer's field was empty. It had been a while since she'd touched a bow, but lately she's missed it. So here she stood, nocking an arrow on the bow she's signed out from the sport department. Pulling the bowstring taught, she felt her muscles bunch and knew tomorrow she'd be hating herself for having gone so long without practice and deciding to brush up.

With a soft twang the arrow loosed and completely missed the target. Hardly the glorious comeback Kagome had hoped. After about ten minutes, she finally started to hit closer to the center. Nocking another arrow, she focused hard. From deep within she felt energy stir, and channel through her into the arrow. The sacred arrow flew true and struck the center of the target, quivering violently after the impact.

At least some things still worked properly.

After a few more shots, Kagome collected her arrows and left to return the equipment. Gripping the bow tightly, she went rigid. That creepy 'being watched feeling' seemed focused and intent now. Concentrating hard, as she made her way as normally as she could back to the sports office, Kagome felt for any demonic auras. Faintly she felt something, but as soon as she felt it, it'd vanished. She couldn't be sure. Once she'd reached the office, the feeling had left and Kagome felt slightly better. But she was shaken, it was a sure bet now that she was being watched.

By who, or what she could only guess. Hopefully it was whoever Sesshomaru had as an informant. If not, there was no telling what exactly whoever it was could want, or when they would try to take it.

As she made her way back to her room, Kagome spied Kin, practicing with his sword. How serendipitous, she'd spent all this time thinking about him, not having seen him once, and as soon as she comes to a conclusion poof there he was. And practicing swordplay no less. It had shades of Inuyasha written all over it, and for a moment she couldn't breathe. Silently she stood there, watching in wonder as he moved fluidly across the grass. Each swing was executed with the practiced precision of one who'd been weilding a sword his whole life. And yet as much as it reminded her of Inuyasha, Kagome was impressed with the prescision that was solely Kin. She was getting it now, he was similar, but he truely wasn't Inuyasha. And it broke her heart. But she couldn't fault him for things that were not in his control, he couldn't help being Inuyasha's reincarnation just as much as she couldn't help being Kikyo's. She wasn't about to hold him responsible for who he wasn't.

But she could care about him for who he was.

Not fully aware of what she was doing Kagome ran to him. Calling out his name.

"Kin!"

Turning around, Kin looked suprised as Kagome threw herself into his arms. He was barely able to react before she was kissing him. Dimly she heard the thud of his practice sword falling to the ground as she kissed him like she had the first time. Her heart nearly lept into her throat when he wraped his arms around her and kissed her back just as passionately.

Kagome's head was swimming and her heart was pounding when they parted, and as she looked at him she almost laughed. Kin looked dazed, completly caught off gaurd and very, very confused. But none the less pleased.

"What the hell was that Higurashi?" he asked thickly.

"That." Kagome said breathlessly "Was my apology."

Kin gave her an apraising look before smirking cheekily. "I accept."

Kagome's knees almost gave out from the kiss he layed on her next. She thought fleetingly that yes, if she gave him the chance, he just might be able to fix her broken heart.


...


"My tolerance for you is wearing thin." Sesshomaru said cooly, frowning at the demon before him. With a nearly inaudible huff of impatience, the demon lord turned and selected a scroll from the vast shelf behind him.

"Man, all these years and you still haven't lightened up."

Sessomaru looked sharply at his subordinate, an evident warning in his eyes not to push his luck.

"Modern, times and customs do not excuse you from showing respect, if you value your life, you will keep a better hold on your tongue."

"Right my lord. Forgive me, I'm just a little agitated. I can't beleive it's really her. I mean after all this time."

"You will do well to stay clear of her until everything is else is in order. If anything happens and Kin finds you out before his time, he is likely to have a bad reaction. That is not something we can afford."

"I'm not sure that he'll have that much better of a reaction afterwards boss."

Sesshomaru frowned.

"His distaste is not unwarrented. However, you will contain your excitement, and keep a better cover on yourself, or I will kill you and have you replaced."

"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru." The other saluted respectfully, bowed, and left.

. . .

P.S. I will update when I can. I know, I know. I am the devil. Deal.