Pink Carnation

A/N: THANK YOU Daniella for beta-reading.

Pear Blossom: Long Lasting Friendship

Pink Carnation

Chapter 10: Pear Blossom

Her eyes were burning with an intense pain as they snapped open. A headache spread through her entire brain while she scrambled to move. Under the skin of her face she felt something extremely soft, and without thinking, she found herself leaning in. Her fingers made their way to it, tangling through it. Tangling? Kagome couldn't help but glance down only to be graced with the sight of silver hair.

Inuyasha?

She didn't remember his hair being so soft.

She could not remember anything of the previous day, only perhaps… drinking? But that didn't explain how Inuyasha had gotten in her apartment. Had he come over during the night and she had been sleeping, hence why he had waited, and fallen asleep himself?

Before she could push her thinking further, he moved, and she found herself quickly pulling away. She raised her head a bit waiting to see Inuyasha's face, but as he got up she noticed the silver hair that was a bit too long and the tall figure. This was not Inuyasha. When he finally turned around, she could confirm that fact, and also notice that it was Sesshomaru.

Her lips parted and a gasp almost escaped her. Almost embarrassed, though she didn't know the facts, she jumped on her feet a bit too rapidly and one of her feet remained stuck in the sheets causing her to fall forward. Sesshomaru, though a bit dizzy from waking up, was quick enough to catch her in time. Unfortunately, he couldn't keep his balance causing him to fall on the ground with her sprawl on top of him.

His arms were securely wrapped around her waist causing the situation to become even more awkward when they became aware of it. For Sesshomaru it would have been natural if it was the old Kagome but it wasn't. It was a Kagome who didn't know how close they were. He had expected her to move but she didn't. Instead her whole face was a bright red, her eyes tightly shut as she felt like dying in embarrassment.

"Sorry," he said as he gently eased himself away before helping her up.

She shook her head, no words coming out, as she steadied herself. "Sorry, I mean about that," she said finally finding it in herself to look up at him.

"It's my fault really."

He had meant to be gone by the time she woke up. He had never planned on actually spending the whole night there and now he felt like an idiot. Did he enjoy her words of the previous night and her attitude? Of course. It had almost felt like he had the whole Kagome back including the nickname part. Though, since she had drunk a lot, he hadn't expected her to actually remember. He still didn't know if she did but he knew she was a bit panicked.

Kagome was doing her best to recall the previous night but it was all a bit blurry. Not as much as her lost memory from the last year though. She remembered drinking with her friends and talking with Sesshomaru once they got back to her apartment though she didn't know what had been said. This was the exact reason why she didn't drink; to not make a fool out of herself.

She brought her hands to her head, sighing. "I don't know what I did last night, but if I made a fool out of myself…"

Before she could keep talking, he stopped her. "You did nothing. I brought you back and you fell asleep and I assume I must have wanted to rest and fell asleep as well." He offered her a small bow. "My apologies."

Considering how close they weren't in her mind, it was a bit of an invasion of privacy and also a bit disrespectful to have slept in her house, in her room, without her permission.

"Oh no, it's fine. I mean, thank you for taking me home."

Although she felt that she needed to have a talk with Sango and Miroku. Why did they leave her with Sesshomaru? There was nothing wrong with him but she simply thought Sango would have taken her home. Nonetheless, it wasn't as if something had happened after all. Not that she ever doubted something would in Sesshomaru's presence; he seemed too much of a gentleman to do anything to anyone.

"Would you like breakfast?" she offered, breaking the awkward silence. "It's the least I can do."

She didn't know how functional she was going to be especially since she felt a bit hung over from Kami knew how much she drank. However she was sure her scrambled brain could manage scrambled eggs. "How about it?" she inquired again when he didn't reply.

Truth was, Sesshomaru was not very hungry but he could not turn it down. Breakfast with Kagome? He used to love it. "I'd like that. Thank you."

He knew she would require some privacy and that she would perhaps like to change or even shower so with a nod, he exited the bedroom and headed for the living room. It was strange to be there all alone with her, not that he was about to complain. As a matter of fact, he was rather pleased with the turn out of events. Kagome had seemed a bit more comfortable around him and if she could snap out of her embarrassment they might very well have a nice breakfast.

Though her shyness and boldness made her… herself, she was pretty good at being two opposite things.

The sound of her shower came through the wall and he couldn't help the smirk on his lips. Now shower adventures, they had a few of those. Some unplanned, and some planned. It was almost insane to think how close they had become in such a short amount of time. It was true that the events that brought them to one and another had been quite forceful.

Still, he remembered the good times.

"Sesshomaru!"

He was in the living room when he heard a voice coming through. He knitted his eyebrows together in confusion as he took a step in direction of the bathroom. They were supposed to do movie night but as he had arrived Kagome had been rushing claiming she truly needed a shower and that he had to wait on the other side of the wall until she was finished.

Now she was calling him?

"Is everything alright?" he inquired getting as close as possible to the door.

"No! No it's not!"

"What's wrong?" he inquired a bit panicked. After what happened less than three months ago he didn't like the fear in her voice.

"Hm, I don't have soap."

He couldn't help but arch his eyebrows in confusion. Soap? That was the biggest emergency she had? Soap? "Hm, do …hm?" Just what exactly did she want him to do?

"There's more in the top counter in the kitchen."

He nodded to himself before rushing to the kitchen to get it. He was still a bit surprised that she wanted soap as if her life depended on it. Nonetheless he grabbed the first one he saw and rushed back to the door.

"I have it."

There was no response from her, so he tried again. "Kagome?"

"Could you hm, bring it in?"

The slightest shade of pink appeared across his cheeks as he put his hand on the handle and slowly turned it. He had been in presence of women more than once and he was not unknown to the pleasure of the flesh, but this was… well this was Kagome, and Kagome was different. She was not someone that could be thrown aside or ignored.

And damn it, this was making him nervous.

All he remembered from that moment was the steam and her figure behind the curtain. Honestly, it had gotten him more pumped up than he had in a long time.

Of course there had been the natural moments as well.

"Sesshy? Do you have any conditioner?"

They rarely ever came to his house but a few times when she was insisting a lot he would cave in. Now was one of those times. They had eaten more than he thought she could, prior to falling asleep after a horror film fest. Of course, as per usual, it had resulted into a sleep over and now Kagome was taking her shower while he brushed his teeth.

There were plenty of other bathrooms in his house but he enjoyed his and neither of them seemed to mind. He didn't know how the habit of sharing the same bathroom had begun or who had started it first, but they had simply gone along with it.

"You are not allowed anywhere near my conditioner remember?"

"Why not?"

By the tone of her voice he could almost see the pout on her face. He shook his head softly, before reminding her of bad events. "You know exactly why. And it involves my brand new bottle being three quarters empty."

He heard her scoff. "It's not my fault it was so silky… and it smelled like creamy strawberry. Maybe you shouldn't buy conditioner that smells and feels good enough to eat."

"Yes, I'll remember that next time I buy hair product."

Once Kagome went through his house nothing was left where it was supposed to be and he could be sure that food would be missing and that his products would be gone as well. Nonetheless, it wasn't as if he was using lots of them and since she loved to spoil herself once in a while he was happy to be able to provide her with some happiness.

Of course, now that hadn't happened in a while.

He loved spoiling her but she didn't like it unless she was not aware of it of course. Over the last few months he had learned how to do little things that she wouldn't notice but that would make her happy nonetheless. He had gotten good at it but now with this new Kagome he was always awkward and he didn't always know the right thing to say.

Usually he wasn't one for much conversation and it was something Kagome understood. She always knew what he thought and what was on his mind without him having to express it and whatnot. But he had to remind himself there was no new or old Kagome there was just Kagome.

And no matter whom she was, what happened, he had the same devotion towards her.

"Sorry about that," she said bringing him out of his reverie.

Sesshomaru raised his head in time to catch the sight in front of him. Her hair was wet and wavy from her shower and all she wore was a plain white t-shirt with a pair of fitting jeans. It was simple, but she looked absolutely breath-taking. It took him a few seconds to register her words but when he did he immediately rose to his feet.

"It's not a problem."

Kagome offered him a quick nod before heading for the kitchen. She had cooked meals for other people before, including Inuyasha, but she couldn't remember when she had ever cook breakfast for anyone. Well, perhaps her mother a few times but nothing more than that. Not even Inuyasha, to whom she was supposed to be engaged to.

Though she hadn't talked to him in a while…

But now was no time to be thinking about Inuyasha. Especially since that fight, though she was indeed alone with his brother…

She shook her head to chase all thoughts of him away before grabbing a pan and heading for the fridge. "Scrambled eggs okay?" she asked as she made her way to the counter, ready to crack the first eggs.

"It's fine." he replied as he took a seat at the table.

Her cooking was not always great but he knew she could pull off eggs without any trouble. Although he was not a big talker he enjoyed sharing with her once in a while. It felt as if everything was building back up within him and perhaps he was starting to shut off again. Before her, he hadn't needed the world and now that she was being taken away from him he was thinking that again.

He missed her a lot it was true, but he realized life could go on. It was not the same without her, that was given, but he had survived in the past and he could now. He was not forgetting about her, he could never do that. Her presence in his life had been short but she had made quite an impact.

No matter what, he'd have memories.

But that was all they were. Memories.

Meanwhile, Kagome was staring at Sesshomaru with weird thoughts in her mind. This felt oddly familiar. This feeling, his presence, it was too much. It reminded her of something but she couldn't tell what. It was strange that she was often feeling that way when Sesshomaru was around.

She stopped scrambling the eggs for an instant as she desperately tried to remember. What was it about him, about everything? A question was burning her lips but she was sure she would get the same answer she always did.

Yet, she would ask. "Sesshomaru, we weren't just new friendswere we?"

Her question shocked him a bit. He was used to lying by now was he not? But he hated it just as much every time. But what could he tell her without saying the full story? How could he explain the lies of others if he said the truth? Could he only give a half truth?

"We were friends."

He didn't deny her question, but he didn't answer it either. He didn't know if Kagome would stop at that though. Surprisingly she did. No other words came from her even as the seconds passed away.

Kagome could find nothing to say because in a strange way, she felt as if he was being honest with her. Since when did someone feel another's honesty?

-P-

Sango was biting her lip as she went down the hall. Kagome might or might not be mad at her. Perhaps letting her leave with Sesshomaru was a bad idea. Sesshomaru wasn't answering his home phone or his cell phone and she wondered if things had gone wrong the previous night. She hadn't called Kagome in case her friend was mad and she decided the best thing to do was to show up unannounced.

Good plan.

Once she rushed to the door she lifted her fist, ready to knock, but she put it down. Surely Kagome couldn't really be mad could she? Deciding that she would face her anyway, Sango knocked loudly on the door and waited for her friend to answer. She almost expected an angry Kagome, but instead, a laughing Kagome opened the door.

Apparently Kagome hadn't thought before opening the door, because her laugh died on her lips as soon as she saw Sango.

"Sango? What are you doing here?" she inquired, completely forgetting about the previous night.

Sango arched an eyebrow. "Am I interrupting?" She tilted her head to the side, trying to peek inside but Kagome being in the way blocked her view.

"Oh," said Kagome before glancing back, looking at Sesshomaru. "Hm, no I was hm, having breakfast with Sesshomaru."

Well that's an interesting development. "Sesshomaru? Oh well. I can leave…"

Sango couldn't have imagined for things to turn out that way. If she had known Sesshomaru was over, she would have stayed home and left them undisturbed. She cursed herself mentally as she watched Kagome's expression change and she knew she had ruined it for them.

"Oh no, come in," said Kagome as she moved out of the way.

Sesshomaru still had a smile on his face when he watched both girls walk in. It was easy to see the surprise on his face and it felt like the whole mood was broken as he resumed his stoic mask.

"Sango," he greeted politely.

"Hey," she said before joining him at the table.

Kagome walked back in direction of the counter where she still had scrambled eggs on the stove. "You want some?"

Sango turned her head around to see what Kagome was referring to. "Sure why not."

As soon as Kagome was distracted, Sango focused her attention on Sesshomaru again. "I'm really sorry," she half-whispered. "I didn't think you'd still be here."

Sesshomaru shook his head. "I have to leave soon."

She had a feeling he was lying, and that it was her coming that made him say such a thing. Unfortunately, knowing Sesshomaru the way she did, she wouldn't be able to convince him to stay. She was simply upset that she had ruined it for them. However, with Sesshomaru gone, she might be able to obtain a few juicy details. Gossiping was a naughty pleasure. Especially in this case since there might finally be something happening between Kagome and Sesshomaru.

Kagome, unknown of Sesshomaru's soon departure, put a plate in front of Sango before sitting down at the table with her friends. Almost at the same time Sesshomaru rose to his feet, fixing his shirt. Kagome couldn't help but frown as she watched him, but no words came out of her mouth.

"I have a meeting," he explained not looking at her in the eyes.

She nodded, a tiny smile on her lips. "Well, thanks for last night," she said, ready to get back on her feet to walk him to the door.

Sesshomaru noticed her actions and he raised a hand to stop her. "I'm fine, thank you."

Instead of saying goodbye, he nodded at Sango and with an uneasy feeling inside he headed for the door. He wasn't quite lying since he indeed had a meeting, but it was two hours from now. Frankly, he was okay being with Kagome alone especially since her own lack of balance had caused a laugh or two but with Sango around, he wasn't sure it would be the same.

On top of that, Sesshomaru had noticed that since her accident she seemed to retract within herself whenever there were too many people around her. The less crowded, the best it seemed for her. Her comfort was important to him.

Kagome couldn't help but watch as Sesshomaru exited her apartment. At the beginning she had still been awkward in his presence but as time had gone by it had been better. Especially when she had stepped on her own foot and spilled all the scrambled eggs on the floor. Afterwards, the moment of awkwardness had been broken.

Now however, it was back to the way it had been before. She had to admit, Sesshomaru was a very hard person to figure out. One minute she thought she had him down and the next he was completely different person. Plus, he was also so weird in her presence.

"Soooo?"

The amused tone of Sango pulled Kagome out of her reverie. "So what?"

Sango almost rolled her eyes. "You and Sesshomaru! He spent the night here?"

"Sango!" said Kagome offended. "I mean, I'm engaged to his brother." Technically.

The brunette had completely forgotten about that or rather she disliked the fact that Inuyasha was back in Kagome's life so much that she had pushed that aside. The desire to tell Kagome the truth was burning her lips. Kagome should be graced with the truth that Inuyasha was nothing more than a lying scumbag however; Sango didn't wish to bring that trauma upon her friend.

"Yeah, forgot about that," Sango said quickly before grabbing her fork.

Allowing Inuyasha in her life was a con but her losing all her memory was also a con. A much worse one at that. They could always tell her Inuyasha was doing his cheating now but it wouldn't help much since it would bring too much stress upon her. Though, could it be possible to entice Kagome to break up with Inuyasha?

"How are things with Inuyasha by the way?" she asked taking her first bite of her breakfast.

Kagome's express saddened as she shrugged her shoulders. Honestly, she was surprised Inuyasha hadn't made any attempt to call her or see her. But the thing that shocked her was the way she wasn't heartbroken over the whole thing. Her whole life she had been in love with him and though she had everything she had wished for. It was all crumbling beneath her feet and she didn't care.

Had the accident really changed her that much?

Her heart was not throbbing around Inuyasha anymore and frankly her feelings were a mess. She thought he was the best thing for her but she no longer knew. What was she supposed to do now? She was friends with people she didn't know could be friendly and she had no feeling for the one she was supposed to love.

Why was her life so upside down?

"I don't know anymore," was the only answer she could provide.

Her eyes became a bit teary and Sango noticed. Immediately she dropped her utensil and wrapped her arms around her best friend bringing her into a comforting embrace. It seemed that from the start, after the incident, everything had turned into a big mess and no matter what was done someone was getting hurt.

Kagome could free herself of the pain by dropping Inuyasha but they couldn't tell her why to do it. The only way was by herself. Of course, hints could be dropped but the sole decision maker was her.

"It'll be okay," said Sango gently patting her back.

At her words, Kagome's tears fell and dropped upon Sango's shirt. Why did she feel such an immense pain in her heart when she thought about Inuyasha and if he should be in her life? She held Sango even closer to her, as if to make the pain disappear a bit.

She needed to figure out her life first if she wanted to know who was supposed to be in it and who wasn't.

-P-

The change of scenery was quite intense especially since she had just arrived from L.A. The states were quite different from Japan, yet, this felt like home. She had left, hoping her life would be better there and that she would find someone who would actually be devoted to her and give her to life she wanted. But it had been hopeless.

No matter where she went, there he was, no matter whom she met, she saw him.

After a few weeks, she had decided that perhaps she couldn't run away from him. He could not give her what she required, but it didn't change the feelings she had for him. Either she dealt with him, or she got back with him but escaping him was really not the answer. Now there she was, back to this place she had left and she had to find him.

The first place she had gone to was their apartment in China but she had found it belonging to someone else. Had he moved on from her so quickly? After the semi-devotion, the betrayal he had done just to be with her, just to forget her in mere weeks? It clenched her heart with a pain she had not known before.

Nonetheless, she hadn't given up. She was not a woman who could easily be forgotten and she would remind him of that. Even if she intended on erasing him from her life fully, she would make sure he remembered his love for her. She would engrave herself in his heart so he'd really never forget.

After all, it was only fair since her love for him was still going strong.

There was only one place in Japan she could find him and it was at the company and it was where she was heading for at the moment. She didn't particularly like walking in this town since she might encounter many people she disliked, which included that girl.

When she had first met Inuyasha, it had been a mutual attraction from the first glance. She never held a very high opinion of men mostly because the ones in her life had been scum, but he had come across as different and she had believed in him. Quickly enough, they had hit it off and though she hadn't been able to see him every day, she had been happy.

Until the day she learned why he was not available all the time.

She had seen text messages from a girl named Kagome on his phone, lots of them. It was when she had confronted him that he had told her the whole story. In a way, she felt great that she hadn't been the one cheated on, but he still had someone else. For a while after the story she had thought about leaving him but she hadn't been able to.

For months he had promised that he would leave his other woman but he never did. It was after the lack of advancement that she had done her research and found out who the girl was. She had begun stalking her and had found out where she lived. The first time she had seen her, she had understood.

Although she hated Kagome, even she had been able to see it. They looked very alike.

Was that the reason why Inuyasha kept the both of them around?

However, Kikyo refused to share and she would not give up. It was why she had lured the girl, made sure she saw Inuyasha and her together just to have the satisfaction of winning.

The bad side was the fact that Inuyasha still hadn't been able to commit to her. She had thought that Kagome was the reason why she couldn't have a family with Inuyasha, or get married to him. Unfortunately, it was Inuyasha that was the problem hence why she had offered him an ultimatum. In the end, she had almost been forced to leave.

Now she would fix everything, make it all right.

A smirk appeared on her face when the building came in view and she hurried inside, carefully waiting on Inuyasha' s reaction to her presence. Surely he couldn't have found another girl that quickly. At least not one that looked like either her or Kagome.

The receptionist at the entrance did not stop her, not that Kikyo expected her to since she already knew her face. Her steps were slow as she finally made it to Inuyasha's office. Unfortunately for her, the door was closed which lead her to knock.

She waited but no answer ever came. Confused, she tried to glance into the window but saw it was empty. Technically it wasn't much of a surprise that Inuyasha wasn't working since he was the type to slack off but the company building had been her only lead to find him. Now she had nowhere to start from.

"May I help you?"

The strong rude tone caused her to turn around, only to come face to face to someone who appeared to be extremely similar to Inuyasha. It took Kikyo a few seconds to recognize him, but she eventually did. Sesshomaru. She had only seen him a few times; all of them very brief, but the resemblance was unmistakable.

"Oh," she said putting on a seductive smile, "I'm looking for Inuyasha."

Sesshomaru had been walking in direction of his office when he had noticed the woman extremely intrigued about Inuyasha's office. He had thought her to be a future client that had been forgotten by his younger brother but the familiar way she was speaking lead him to believe it was different.

It wasn't until he looked at her carefully that it hit him. He knew this woman. As a matter of fact, she didn't even deserve the proper title of woman. She was the whore who had been with Inuyasha. The one that the bastard had gone with breaking Kagome's heart sending her into a state of…

How dare she show her face? How dare she come into that building?

He could clearly remember his half brother telling him it was over between them!

Immediately his facial features changed and he was frowning. "Leave. You have no business here."

This was bad, this was trouble. Kagome was with Inuyasha technically and this whore could just break her heart all over again. No intense stress could be put upon her and this would bring it to a new level. Inuyasha couldn't be trusted and if Kikyo was too tempting, Inuyasha would fall, and oh Kami that situation could not happen again.

Kikyo put her best angelic look on. "What do you mean? I'm afraid I don't understand."

To be quite honest, she hadn't expected him to remember her. Then again, it was true that she was hard to forget. As she observed him carefully she allowed herself to glance at him fully. She had never been given the chance to take a good look at him in the past and frankly, she wished she had. Inuyasha might look good, but the eyes and hair looked much better on Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru took a quick glance around; making sure nobody was there, before closing the distance between them. "Listen to me, I know what you are and I want you out of here. I'll have you escorted out if I have to."

Kikyo wanted to give him her best bitchy face, but she held back. If she wanted to fool him, she couldn't give him anything that he could turn against her later. She had to act perfect, just like an angel. Of course, she could no longer deny the facts since he was aware of them too well.

"Look, I never knew the whole story. He didn't tell me about her. I learned after, so I was fooled too." She forced her eyes to become teary with her words hoping he would fall into her trap.

She could not had been left in the dark. Though it was true he didn't know much about her, but he did know his half brother. Inuyasha was a very bad liar and there was no way he could juggle two women without at least one of them knowing from the start. He was not that smart.

He glanced into her eyes, trying to see a hint of a lie but there was nothing but her brown eyes staring back at him. The chocolate color of her orbs was a stark contrast against the blue color of Kagome's. This woman was the opposite of Kagome who was pure and innocent. She was a witch and just because she had been the mistress of his half brother, he would not listen to her words.

"I don't care what happened. I do not wish for your presence in my company."

Her eyes hardened a bit, but she offered him a smile nonetheless. "Look, this was just a misunderstanding."

"I will not stand there while you hurt her again. Leave now."

The word her echoed through her mind and she knew immediately whom he was referring to. Her again. Why did all of them fall under her charm? Inuyasha and now Sesshomaru? That girl could not have everything or everyone. She was supposed to still be heartbroken over Inuyasha even if it had been a year by now.

That girl could not have everything. She came for Inuyasha, but apparently she now had a side plan. Perhaps she could do what Inuyasha did to her; perhaps she could have two people as well. Not only would it be a way to get back at Inuyasha for somewhat playing her, but she could also prove that she was better than Kagome.

The girl wasn't trying or pretty yet she obtained whoever she wanted. It wasn't fair! She was prettier than her so why couldn't she get all the men? It didn't matter though and even if Sesshomaru was a bit resilient, he would eventually come around. Nobody could resist her charm if she put herself to it.

However, for now Sesshomaru seemed upset and she couldn't deal with him.

"I will. I'm sorry I disturbed you I didn't mean any harm." She could leave like that but she couldn't because he would doubt her. She needed a reason to be back in Japan. She was a good liar; she could come up with something couldn't she? "I just wanted to give him the ring. I had to do in person. For closure."

Sesshomaru pinched his lips together, her lies stinking up the area. Nobody made that trip for a ring. If she wanted to give it back, she could have done it before she left. Plus, he had never been made aware of any engagement. It was true that he didn't know everything about his brother, especially since he had cut all contact during the last past year.

"Just leave."

The look in his eyes was saying that he wanted nothing more than to spit on her face but instead, he pulled away. This woman reminded him too much of the pain Kagome had experienced and it stirred up a rage within him to simply look at her. Her presence was nothing but trouble and he would make sure she could not hurt Kagome.

Kagome might not remember but it meant nothing. Kikyo didn't know that and she might send Kagome into a trauma that they wouldn't be able to bring her back from.

Kikyo smiled charmingly before slowly walking away as if all was well in the world. Perhaps her trip back to Japan would be much more interesting than she had anticipated in the first place. Soon enough, she would be the Queen in the chess board and all would be hers.

Inuyasha could be tracked down with some effort and now that she had a goal, the effort was worth it.

She had never talked to Kagome but it didn't change the fact that she hated her. Her life would have been perfect without her being alive. Since she could not kill her, she'd simply steal everything from her.

One of the Taisho men had to be a real man.

Sesshomaru watched her as she disappeared and a bad feeling settled within him. With this whore back in town, he would have to remain near Kagome more than ever. Kagome had not remembered him when she had seen him after her memory loss but he didn't know if the same would happen to Kikyo. After all, the woman was linked to a bad memory.

He had to protect Kagome, no matter the cost.

He hadn't wished to force his presence upon her but he was left with very little choice. He couldn't allow her to see Kikyo. His heart was beating faster than usual and he didn't like it. As soon as Kikyo was completely out of view, he turned his head around, the bad feeling refusing to leave.

He would do anything to prevent Kagome from living the nightmare she had experienced a year ago. She had done nothing to deserve it the first time and she sure as hell didn't deserve it as second time.

The blood was dripping down her arms as she almost screamed in pain. The tears on her face could not be seen because of the heavy rain hitting her visage and her whole body. He was scrambling to make it to her but the elements of the weather were against him.

Who was she? What was she doing here? How did it happen?

He watched her collapse on the cold cement as if she was exhaling her last breath. He could not let that stranger die, he – he recognized her.

Yes, she was the girl that was always around his half brother. What was her name?

He was on four, trying to making it to her and a sigh of relief past his lips when he reached her body.

Kagome. That was her name. Kagome.

-P-