"I'm going away for two months…"

"You are?" Naoko asked, keeping the joy from her voice.

Every time Naraku went on a business trip, it gave her some room to breath, a chance to relax and not worry about displeasing him. And hopefully, this time, successfully leave him for good.

"I'm heading for America…" Naraku continued, ignoring the look on Naoko's face. "I'll call you everyday on your cell and at home. If you're not picking up, then I'm coming home…"

"I appreciate that…" Naoko said, faking appreciation, while her expression fell. It was that little thing that always foiled her plans. He did fly straight back to Tokyo one night, when Naoko didn't answer the ringing phone due to sleeping. That led to a sensitive jawbone and a few more injuries on her waist and back.

Naraku got up from the dining room table.

"I'm leaving at noon today. Just stay out of trouble until I get back. Understood?"

"Yes, honey…"

Naraku then went into their room, grabbed his luggage and was almost out the door…

"I love you …" he said sweetly.

Naoko smiled weakly.

"Love you too…"

Then the door closed.

Naoko ran into her room and screamed into her pillow. There was nothing she could do. She was a prisoner in her own home. Scratch that. This pace wasn't a home for her. It was prison itself. Naoko took a few breaths to collect herself. She looked over at the bedside clock. 10:33. By now, Naraku would already be entering a taxi heading for the airport. Naoko had a desperate need for company other than her boyfriend. She reached over for the phone and dialed the number.

"Sango...? Its Naoko… are you free for lunch today?"

"Wait! She called you!?" Kagome shrieked, turning a lot of attention towards their cubical.

"You know what that means, right?" Sango said cheerfully, tossing a bit of her black hair behind her, gathering the files that needed to be sent to the courthouse.

"Yes! This is the perfect opportunity!" Kagome said cheerfully.

"Oh dear… you're thinking about the plan the other day aren't you?"

"Of course! Our luck has just changed for the better Sango- chan!" Kagome continued, skipping back to her desk.

Sango sighed.

She often wondered how Kagome was able to pass the bar exam, let alone make it through law school.

"Wanna see if the boys are available?" Kagome asked.

"Nao's probably expecting the lunch date to get bigger so knock yourself out." Sango said, taking off towards the coat rack, so she could deliver the files.

"Super!" Kagome said, immediately pressing the speed dial.

"Wow… word travels fast around here..." Naoko said sarcastically, noticing that Kagome, Inuyasha, and Miroku were already seated. Sango laughed nervously.

"Come on…" Sango said. "You should know by now that when we have lunch dates, it normally means to gather to troops…"

"Shut up…" Naoko said, with a small smile.

She still needed to come up with an excuse for the latest bruise. Sango didn't ask anything, though Naoko knew that Sango was going to bring it up later.

"So… saw the newest episode of… oh crap what was that show?" Kagome babbled on.

"I think you're thinking of Dead like Me…" Sango said. "We just saw it yesterday…"

"Oh yea!" Kagome said, getting into a case of giggles. " I couldn't stop cracking up at the 'let me see the gun' part!"

"Expect Kagome to get into a random case of laughter…" Naoko said, after placing her order with the waitress.

That placed Kagome to stop laughing and pout, while causing the others to laugh.

Small talk continued for the next two hours. Naoko subconsciously checked her cell phone every five minutes to make sure she didn't miss any messages from Naraku.

That got on Kagome's nerves.

"Give me that!' Kagome said, snatching the phone away.

"Kagome! Give that back!" Naoko said.

"You really got to relax…" Kagome said. "You're staying at my place for a while…kay?

"That's more of a command than a request you know that?" Naoko asked.

"Yes I know… Sango…"

'Yes?"

"Could you tell the boss lady that I'm taking the rest of the day off because of an emergency?"

"What'll be this time?" Sango asked annoyed.

"Gramps again…" Kagome said with a smirk.

"Oh! Hey you guys!" a chirpy voice said.

The five turned around to find a petite girl heading towards them. A section of her black hair was tied to the side, while her denim jeans hugged at her hips and her sweater complimented her bust.

"Rin!? Is that you!?" Sango said surprised.

"Yes it is!" Rin said cheerfully. "Art school has done wonders on me!"

"Still aiming to be a designer?" Naoko asked, taking the attention off her, while successfully getting her cell phone back from Kagome, answering a text message that arrived two seconds ago.

"Yup. In fact… created this number right here last fall!"

"Well Rini.. We'd love to catch up with you, but Naoko and I have a previous engagement!" Kagome said, pushing Naoko out the door.

Rin looked on confused, and then turned towards her other friends.

"Boyfriend's out of town?" Rin asked.

"More like out of the country…" Miroku said.

"You know… I think I have a better boyfriend for Naoko in mind…" rin said.

"Rin, I told you, she's not going to go for a guy younger than her…" Sango said, remembering the time when Naoko was her roommate at Tokyo University, when Rin paid a visit to her 'big sister' and tried to get her to go out with one of her sophomore friends.

"Ok… one, that was only one time… two, he's only a few years older…"

"Oh great… now she's going to pair Naoko up with someone too old for her!" Inuyasha said, making everyone but Rin fall into laughter again. Rin picked up a stray French fry and threw it at Inuyasha.

"Quit teasing me!" Rin huffed. "He just so happens to be 28!"

"Only four years older… that's not too bad Rin…" Sango said.

"Oh give it up already…" Inuyasha asked, clearly getting bored of the topic already. He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes, getting ready for a light nap.

Rin only stared back at Inuyasha.

"You're only going to get Naoko hurt you know..." Miroku said, changing into mentor mood. "You know how Naoko's boyfriend is.."

"But I agree with Kagome though!" Rin protested.

"So do we." Sango said. "But Naoko doesn't want us to help so there's nothing we can do about it…"

Rin sighed.

"I just hate to see big sister stay unhappy…" Rind said.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Naoko settled herself on the small couch in Kagome's apartment. She enjoyed the small bit of peace and quiet that she never had in a long time.

Kagome watched her friend from the kitchen.

Naoko had the look of content and serenity that se hasn't seen in a long time. It seemed like a long time ago when Naoko was always smiling, laughing at the mot random things, and very spontaneous. All Kagome saw now, was a thin shell that once was her friend Naoko Seiki.

Naoko suddenly got up.

"Kags… I'm going to go out for a walk…" Naoko said quietly.

"Sure thing…" Kagome said.

Naoko wrapped a scarf around her neck, placed a jacket on, and went out the door.

Naoko enjoyed the coolness of the February air. There were still left over decorations from Valentine's Day, but the feeling of love didn't evaporate. There were many couples, young and old alike, walking on the Tokyo streets. It only made Naoko more depressed.

Why couldn't she be happy like that?

She continued to walk around aimlessly until she came across a place she hasn't been into for five years.

She smiled slightly at the memories that took place at the small café in front of her. It was a little known spot, where oddly enough a portion of international people came together for a good cup of coffee, a chance to slow down in life, or enjoy the tunes of international music.

I wonder if they still have that Passion Tea that I love… Naoko thought to herself, as she entered the small establishment.