A/N: This was supposed to be an Epilogue to "Chance Meetings"...obviously that didn't happen. Hope you enjoy either way!

The sun was just beginning to set when I arrived to that spot. I shook my head as I sat down in front of the metal barricade. This is what I get for walking off with no real direction, I always ended up here. Propping my head on my arms I sighed and allowed my thoughts to continue to wander. Today had been a rough day, and I really just needed a minute to myself.

Today had begun like any other day. I got up with the sun and started my chores about the shrine. I'd taken over for my grandfather a few years ago. He was getting too weak to keep up with daily maintenance, and I needed something to keep my hands busy. The later half of the day was spent running all over Tokyo with my team. I'm not sure how many miles we trans versed over the course of the afternoon. Not for the first time was I glad Sango insisted I take Kirara with me when I returned to the present for the final time. She'd been worried that I would be lonely so the neko followed me through time.

With all the running we did this afternoon I'm wiped, but I didn't want to sit at home by myself tonight. I also didn't want to join my rowdy teammates at the local pub, so instead I locked up the shrine and let my feet pull me where they pleased.

"Kagome." Broke me from my thoughts.

I turned my head around to see my busty best friend on the road behind the barricade. I was confused to see her, she was supposed to be with the others at the pub.

"Mats?" I say cocking my head to the side. She doesn't seem herself.

"I...I'm sorry to bother you, but there's something I need to talk to you about," she says.

"It's no big deal, but what's up? You're usually not sober this time of night, especially with the day we had today," I say while getting up and hopping over the barrier to stand in front of her.

She takes a breath and starts to speak. "Rukia just got back from Soul Society, and she brought some troubling news back with her. I really debated about coming to you, but she is very concerned."

"Well I'm glad you did, if Rukia is worried it must be something big. It generally takes a lot to ruffle her feathers. You're beating around the bush though Mats. What is it that you are reluctant to tell me?" I ask more confused than anything. We'd been friends for years now, and it was unusual for her to keep anything from me.

"It's not the what, but the who?" She says obviously still unsure what to say to me.

I'm confused of course. I couldn't think of someone that she would be reluctant to tell me about, especially one that was related to Rukia in some way. And then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Rukia just got back from Soul Society, and there was only one person in Soul Society Mats would be reluctant to talk to me about.

I look at her and she knows I've connected the dots. I shake my head and start to step back.

"No. I'm sorry Mats but I don't to hear about it. It's been three years I don't want to hear anything that has to do with him. I'm sorry but whatever it is keep it to yourself." I say with a slightly pitched voice and turn away from her.

"You know I wouldn't come to you unless it was something major Kagome," she says.

I stop walking as she says this. I nod and turn back to her. She wouldn't bring his name up unless it was important.

"Tell me everything."

I quickly splashed cold water on my face as I tried to gather my wits about me again. I didn't have the luxury of time to fall a part right now. I think it is beyond evident that I have the shittiest luck ever. Why, three years later, was everything falling a part again? Things have finally just righted themselves from the last upheaval.

Shaking my head I turn away from the bathroom and head into my bedroom. Without much thought I go through the motions of donning my miko attire. Lastly I pull my bow and two swords off of their stand. Both vibrate happily in my hand. No matter that we just saw battle earlier today they are both ready for action. I blame that on the demon that commissioned for them to be crafted for me. They were after all a gift from Sesshomaru for completing my training under him prior to our final battle with Naraku.

As I slip my weapons into their normal place at my hip and across my back I look toward my bed and nod to Kirara. No rest for the wicked today it would seem. I open the window and jump out as Kirara transforms under me, and we are off to Urahara's. He has prepared the gate to Soul Society. I haven't been to that dreaded place in over three years, how I looked forward to going back.

Some odd hours later found my chosen team and I hiding out in the Fourth Division barracks. Unohana-taichou was the one that originally spoke with Rukia, and she is one of the few Shinigami that resides here that I trust. She asked that I bring a few trusted people to be here for the rather large ceremony that was happening tomorrow.

The others have settled in and are trying to get some shut eye before we are called to action in the morning. I don't see myself getting any sleep tonight. My thoughts and emotions were wreaking to much havoc for me to even contemplate sleep. Huffing for the the hundredth time since everyone settled in I gave up sitting here and made my way outside. I really needed some fresh air. After being in the past for so long I couldn't stand being cooped up indoors, especially if my nerves were going haywire.

Once outside I find the biggest tree I can and jump up into the branches. I sit there for a very long time allowing nature to calm my haywire emotions. Kirara has followed me and petting her allows me to relax a margin.

I have two warring thoughts right now. The louder one is pushing for me to leave and not look back, because that is what he did. Why after all this time should I involve myself with his problems? He made his choice that day, and he made it quite clear I wasn't to interfere. And yet here I am digging up these horrible emotions and memories that I have barely just put to rest. There's really only so many times a girl can have her heart shattered and put back together in one life time.

The less emotional side of me knows that no matter how angry, or hurt I am I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to him. More so if there was something I could have done to prevent it.

So here I sit once again in Soul Society coming to bat for the man that managed to put my shattered heart back together after Inuyasha, and was also the same one to break it beyond recognition after he left.