A/N: I told myself I wouldn't start this one until after I was done with S & B, but I had the 1st chapter done already so I figured I might as well post it.

"Sweetie, there's something I have to tell you..."

"What is it, Okaa-san?"

"I went to the doctor about a week ago and I had some tests done."

"Okay... so? They all came back fine, right?"

"Not exactly..." her voice choked and two single tears ran down her left cheek. "I was diagnosed with... with..."

'No, no this can't be happening! She said they were just subtle pains and such, nothing more!'

"I have breast cancer, Kagome."

Kagome awoke sweating and struggling to breathe evenly. She covered her face with both her hands, and felt her cheeks drenched in tears, and her tongue tasted salty. 'It was just a dream right? Right?' It took her a few moments to realize that if it had been just a dream, she would have been back at Sengoku Jidai two days ago like she had promised Inuyasha. 'Inuyasha...'

Just then she heard a distinct tapping at her window, and from the corner of her eye she could see angry amber eyes staring back at her. Before turning to open the window, she tried her best to put on as normal a face as she could, and rolled back any remaining tears trying to release themselves.

"Oi Kagome just what the hell have you been doing? You're lucky I was busy and couldn't come drag you back two days ago when you were supposed to be back!" Inuyasha growled the moment the window was open.

"G-gomen, I just got a little... carried away with school, I guess..." She lied. 'I can't tell him the truth, he just won't understand...'

"Well listen wench; someone's kidnapped Shippou and so we're leaving now!"

"N-nani...?" 'Shippou-chan... why does this have to happen now?' She bit her lip to keep from screaming in frustration. "How did this happen?"

"He said he was going to the well to color and wait for you, then a few hours later I realized I couldn't smell him anymore. I looked through the whole forest and still couldn't pick up a scent. We've been out looking for him for the past two days. So let's go Kagome!" He grabbed her wrist and yanked her to the open window.

"Inuyasha wait..." she shut her eyes tight to force back the tears threatening to resurface. 'Shippou-chan... Mama... what's happening? What am I supposed to do?' She opened her eyes and looked at Inuyasha sternly. "I have to tell Mama before we go."

"What the hell? You've never had to before! No, we're leaving Kagome; she should be used to this by now!" Inuyasha pulled her closer to the window and was about to leap through when he smelled something that made his hairs stand on end. 'What the...?' he looked back at Kagome to see a single tear escaping her eye. 'She's crying?'

"K-Kagome? What're you doing? Why are you crying, damn it?" Inuyasha's initial anger at her being two days late in returning to him quickly turned into worry and fear. 'Crap... what did I say to make her cry?'

Kagome quickly wiped the single tear away and softly whispered the first phrase that came to her mind. "Inuyasha... osuwari."

He cursed under his breath as he fell flat on her bedroom floor and watched as Kagome left the room quietly. 'That little wench... what's going on?' As he was getting up a foul stench reached him from the direction Kagome had gone and he wrinkled his nose. Then his eyes widened and he felt his stomach turn. 'Kagome, your mom...'

A/N: Sound familiar?