Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters do not belong to me.

A/N: Italics in this story is either a thought, quote, or flashback.
Sorry this chapter is so short...thank NaNoWriMo for reminding me to write!
This is work hot out of my mind.
Enjoy.

Chapter Two: Innocence is a gift

"You cut up a thing that's alive and beautiful to find out how it's alive and why it's beautiful, and before you know it, it's neither of those things, and you're standing there with blood on your face and tears in your sight and only the terrible ache of guilt to show for it."
― Clive Barker

The speed of time overwhelmed her. It made her painfully aware of her chest crushing her heart and the lump in her throat. The pain made her sink to her knees.

It was more than pain that she felt. Rin was shattered into pieces, splattered on the ground, grinded into dust. She did not know whether to cry or to scream and her face went hot with frustration.

Something that could easily be broken was no good for a demon.

Was she that naive to think that she would break through to him? She was unchanging in his eyes, weak, insignificant. "Humans are nothing like demons." She heard Sesshomaru say in the depths of her mind.

Sesshomaru may be a great demon but he had too much pride to see what was right in front of him. Rin would show him.

As she rose from her knees she brushed off not only the dust but Sesshomaru's acceptance of her as nothing more than a human child.

ﮭ

"Why does otousan insist on being with that human?" A young but stern voice asked another. "I do not know and I do not wish to know anything in relation to that filthy woman." The other voice responded, just as sternly as the first. "This cannot go on."

ﮭ

"She gave up beauty in her tender youth, gave all her hope and joy and pleasant ways; she covered up her eyes lest they should gaze on vanity, and chose the bitter truth...oh Rossetti, I would never want to be a nun. Not like a priestess is much different." Sighing, the youth put her book down.

Sun rays were shining through the trees when the raven haired beauty had a chance to look up at last. Kagome grinned at the sight and stretched much like Buyo would. It was rare to have the calm moments such as these ones when she was younger. Naraku had been dead for years now and Kagome could once again come back and forth through the well, to everyone's relief.

Kagome actually enjoyed taking the time to read and learn. She could now appreciate the small things as well as the big.

So much had changed.