Parts labeled with "Inuyasha" are from his POV, parts from labeled "Kagome" are from her POV (: I hope this isn't too confusing, I seem to have too many Inuyashas with all the time scales!

Inuyasha: May 25th 2009

I can't believe it. In two days I will be teaching Kagome in an English class in Tokyo. I could always cancel it, call up my boss and tell him there is a family emergency I must attend to… except that I have no family, not anymore. I hadn't planned on meeting her so soon, and especially not like this. What the hell will she think when I walk into the room, wearing a suit and tie, talking about Oscar Wilde and F. Scott Fitzgerald? No, this will be too much for her.

I think wildly for a moment, and for some strange reason, the idea that telephoning her seems like a good one. I scramble for my papers, tearing them around to find her address details. Fuck! It's the most basic information you can have about anyone, why can't I find it? Giving up quickly I jump to my laptop, opening the payment details of all the pupils in on the course. There it is, please contact Kagome Higurashi on 088976589 if there are any problems regarding her application to the 1E course. Thank you. No, thank you, I think to myself. I slip my phone out of my pocket and dial in the number. I hear the ringing tone, and a panic suddenly grips me, what the hell am I supposed to say? Don't come to the English course that you've already paid for?

Perhaps she's in the feudal era anyway. Yeah, she won't pick up if she's down the well, surely. I start to believe that she won't pick up.

I am so, so wrong.

Someone at the other end of the answers, and I slide off my chair.

"Hello?"

Her voice is silk, exactly how I remember it, and it fills me with such a yearning I have been suppressing for nearly 500 years. Instead of ending the call, which would have been infinitely wiser, I cannot help myself but to -

"Kagome? Is it really you?"

"Who is this? Do I know you?" Yes, I instantly think. But instead I close the phone and end the call.

Kagome: May 25th 2009, about 8pm.

That was really strange, I think as I walk down the stairs. My mother greets me in the hallway.

"Who was on the phone, honey?" she enquires, her eyes wide.

"I don't know. They just said "Is it really Kagome?" and then hung up. It was really weird."

"Oh well, perhaps you could phone them back and see if they needed something?"

I sigh, nod, and return to my room. That was really strange… but that voice sounded familiar, like an old school friend from when I was little.

I put it out of my mind and turn my attentions to my studies for university entrance exams, which is, as usual, proving unsuccessful. I attempt to remember how to answer questions on the wave function, but my attention drifts to the open window next to me. The night is clear, like an enormous, black all-engulfing sea, the moon a white galleon sailing quietly across the sky.

I hear the familiar rattle of my gutter outside my window. Inuyasha is climbing up to drag me back to the feudal era once more. I sigh, and wait for the usual accusations that I've stayed longer than I originally promised. Instead, he greets me only with silence. He is a dark shadow against the light of the moon, towering above me. Anyone else would run away when faced with Inuyasha's presence, but not me. I know him, I know his soul. At least, I like to think I do. But I know he is no monster, no demon. The man he is inside is compassionate, fiercely loyal and honest, but also very reluctant to show himself.

The look on his face is empty and sad. He's been thinking about Kikyo again. At times like this, I find it very difficult not to be angry or sad, I cannot help my love for him, but I always remember that he is exactly the same. He cannot help his love for Kikyo. It's been like this since she died, one month ago. Don't get me wrong, It's not like I don't feel sad for her, too. In fact, I feel worse, I could have saved her. My skills weren't powerful enough, my bow didn't purify her. I'm not sure if I truly blame myself, as she has always said that she should have remained dead after her encounter with Inuyasha in which she sealed him to the sacred tree.

Inuyasha climbs down from the windowsill and sits himself on my bed, looking at the ground.

"Hey, Kagome." Man, he is really put out.

"Are you tired?" I ask, because he certainly looks it. I bet he's been wondering the forest all night, caught up in the tangle of his own thoughts. He shakes his head.

Ignoring him, I gently push him down on to the mattress and pull the duvet up over his chest.

"Kagome, there's no need. Don't be stupid." He doesn't fight my actions, but just accepts them with a glance of thanks. I sigh, he never really was very good at verbally expressing any kind of gratitude, but I know that he does feel thankful, even if he doesn't say it to my face. I quietly leave the room, avoiding meeting his eyes, as I know he is watching. I am embarrassed, my face is hot – I hardly ever make gestures like this towards him. But somehow, it seems appropriate. I will sleep in the spare bedroom tonight; Inuyasha needs time for himself, patience from me, and most of all he needs understanding. And I understand, and so I am willing to give him the space to recover, however long that may take.

Inuyasha: May 27th 2009

Today is the day. I will finally meet her. Shit, I sound like some superfan of a celebrity. I really don't know how to get out of this, I have thought of everything. Feigned illness, surprise holiday from my non-existent girlfriend, I've even considered just cancelling. But I can't, she would find out my name anyway and inevitably track me down in search of the truth. I stand in front of the bathroom mirror, analyzing myself. I take my hair out of its ponytail – yes, I have come to find them quite useful for managing unruly hair – and wonder for a moment, do I look… good? Shit, what am I even thinking? She's more likely to attack me in confusion than consider fancying me!

I have decided to do a creative writing portfolio with this class, starting off with studying some writing techniques. I have all my folders ready, the register, class notes… all I need to do now is teach the class.

The drive to Kagome's school is stressful, my eyes constantly alert for signs of her walking along the street, sitting on benches, waiting at bus stops. I recognize her school at once, it looms towards me, tall and square and grey. I fidget with my hat, pulling it further over my white hair. Maybe a ponytail would have been better after all; I would've at least been less recognizable! I slowly pull into the car park and steady myself for what's about to come. I enter the building cautiously, feeling like a criminal. I really, really shouldn't be here. I sign in with a haughty looking receptionist who views my hat as some sort of obscenity.

"I have a bald patch, okay?" Her eyes widen at me, and I walk away to look for my classroom.

The corridor is like a tunnel, except with no light at the end of it. I look for my classroom, secretly hoping that I won't find it. You would think that after 500 years of preparation I would be ready for such a moment, but I am terrified. And then I finally see it. Classroom 2A.

I can hear the chit chat of youngsters, sharing unchallenged teenage thoughts, gossip, and personal troubles. It seems so normal. I try to block it out, because I know I'm only listening for one voice – Kagome's. If I hear it I know that then I cannot face her.

I take one deep breath, and walk inside the room.