Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any other related characters.

Chapter 1

Empty Introductions

"You're lying! You have to be lying!" exclaimed a youthful girl who's long, black hair with rainbow tips, fell from her bun as she whipped her head back and forth. The teenage girl who sat beside her, the one whose words had caused the black rainbow of hair to fall, sat in silence watching the girl at her side; her light hazelnut eyes held a deep sadness in them that gave truth to her words. Her friends' light, aquamarine eyes became clouded as she tried to process what her silent companion had just told her. Her soft, white face became twisted in an expression of disbelief and confusion as she took her head in her hands, causing her straight, multi-colored hair to shift and fall like a dark curtain around her.

"No, but I wish I was Kagome," the silent, sepia eyed girl responded, sighing deeply. Her usually strong and hard, yet pretty features were softened as she thought about what she had just told her friend. It seemed as unbelievable as it was inconceivable that something like this was even possible.

"How could this happen Rin? I mean why or who or…how in the holy hells…?" Kagome said, still in a mild state of shock. She thought she of all people would have known if something like this was possible, so how could she have missed the signs? Rin saw in Kagome's ever color changing eyes that she blamed herself because her eyes were now a dark, muddy green instead of their usual light, aquamarine color.

"I didn't know he was capable of something like that and neither did you. Don't blame yourself, it isn't like him," Rin said as she tried to ease her friends worries and guilt, as well as try to find any type of reason in this bizarre situation.

"Sesshomaru, why would you jump someone? Why would you do that and then nearly beat them to death?" Kagome thought aloud, her words barely a whisper above the sounds of the last bell as it pierced through the thick silence that seemed to surround the two. Rin looked up at the bell and then back down at Kagome who was now sitting hunched over her desk. Her long, slender arms where crossed and her long hair was now loose down her hunched shoulders; sensing Rin's eyes on her, she turned towards her friend, not even bothering to fake a smile.

"When does he get out of juvi?" Kagome asked, her voice flat and toneless, but the pain hidden under her words was evident to Rin and a small frown forced its way onto her face. She knew why Kagome wanted to know, but there was another reason behind her eyes, hidden beneath layers of mortared bricks that Kagome had placed around herself.

"Tomorrow," Rin said, yawning slightly. As exciting as the day had been, it was still not over and it was dragging. She looked away from her friend and up at the clock. The minute hands seemed to drag as if they were glued to the clock face and were struggling to tick away. The drone of the Driver's Ed. teacher did nothing to lighten the somber mood that hung over the duo and Rin shook her head as she leaned onto her elbow, watching her friend in silent thought; she wondered what Kagome was thinking.

"Sesshomaru, what's happened to you?" Kagome thought as she sat there, absorbed in thought until it hit her; she knew exactly what had happened to him because it had just sauntered in through the door.

"Tsubaki," Kagome hissed under her breath as her arch rival sauntered into the room. Her sly smile dripped with ego and gave a slight glimpse at a corrupt heart that darkened her soul. Seeing Kagome eyeing her, Tsubaki narrowed her hard, marble green eyes and sneered at Kagome; both could feel the hatred directed at each other. Rin could also feel it as an oppressive pressure filled the room as the two priestess aura's fought for control over the other. Walking by the duo's table, Tsubaki whipped her long white hair off her shoulder, right into Kagomes' face.

"Fucking bitch," Kagome seethed, rising off of her chair, fists clenched, jaw clenched, and eyes now veined with a deep violet. Rin reached out and pulled her friend back down. She could feel the heat of Kagome's spiritual power sizzle under her fingertips, burning them slightly, but she held fast until Kagome sat completely down and began to become calm.

"Drop it for another day Kagome, you have more important things to deal with," Rin said softly as she removed her red and aching fingers from Kagome's arm. Turning towards Rin, Kagome saw her holding her hand and her eyes softened as she reached out and took her friends injured hand. Cupping it softly in hers, Kagome closed her eyes and spoke softly to herself. Rin felt a soothing coolness envelope her hand and as Kagome released it, Rin saw that her fingers were no longer red and blistering but instead were their normal pinkish color. Rin smiled and shook her head as Kagome smiled apologetically; both girls broke out into a giggle which soon turned to a quiet, comfortable silence.

Sitting there, Kagome thought of Sesshomaru, her ex-boyfriend, and as she did, a sadness and deep feeling of cold emptiness filled her and she shivered.