Chapter 3

A Graduation Invitation

Kagome smiled in her sleep. She was dreaming of the future. She had a family and a beautiful house. Her yard was huge and she was chasing two little boys around. Every time their father would come into the picture, though, she could never see his face. This irked Kagome, but there was no doubt that she was happy.

Sesshomaru watched her as she slept. He wondered what she was dreaming about when she smiled, probably being back with her friends. As soon as they had gotten home from shopping she crashed on the couch. Her mother helped him put all the clothes they bought away and showed him to the room he would be staying in. The room was nice, the walls were painted plain white and there was a bed in the middle. The sheets were a cream color and the blanket was green. There was a dresser with a desk attached to it against the wall.

Sesshomaru thanked her for her hospitality. "I appreciate you doing this."

She smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder. He made no move to remove it. "I think you would do my daughter some good, Sesshomaru." She whispered. She removed her hand and handed him a shirt and pants. "Here, put these on. You might as well get used to our attire now." She smiled when he took the clothes and bowed to her. She left him alone to change.

He started to change into the clothes given to him. They were very awkward and uncomfortable compared to his usual attire. The shirt was a button up; the material was soft made of cotton. The pants were made of a denim material, which he heard Kagome call them jeans. He let a small smile grace his lips when he thought of her telling him they would look good on him and he had to get them. He shook his head and let his usual mask cover his face. This girl was making him soft.

He had went down the stairs and sat on the edge of the couch, making sure not to disturb her as she slept. She looked peaceful, less irritating in this state. He rather liked it.

She stirred in her sleep and her brown eyes fluttered open. She stretched her arms and legs out, hitting Sesshomaru in the side. Her eyes shot wide open when he was on top of her, hand around her neck.

"It.. it was…" she coughed. "It was an accident!" she choked out. His grip tightened earning a yelp from her. She clawed at his hands. Her mind wandered, wondering how to calm him down. She relaxed and put her hand on his shoulder. She took the other hand and stroked his cheek, right where the stripe was. His eyes turned back to normal, but they were glazed over. His grip on her neck loosened and he leaned into her touch.

His eyes shot open and he jumped away from her. He didn't know what came over him to do that to her. He also had no idea why her touch had that effect on him. It made him feel warm and tingly, something he never felt before. With his demonic speed he disappeared into his room.

Kagome's breathing was erotic. She had no idea what had happened. She wanted to go upstairs to talk to him, but she was afraid that he would attack her again. Her decision made she made her way to the stairs to see what was bothering him,

He heard a knock at his door, and for the first time he smelled her fear. "Come." She slowly opened the door. She stood in the doorway, staring at him.

Kagome bit her lip. She didn't even remember why she had decided to come up here. "Sit." He heard her say. She felt as though her legs were paralyzed. She couldn't move, she was frozen. She gulped. Taking a deep breath she forced her legs to move and jumped onto the bed and sat down next to him.

"I'm sorry for kicking you." She said softly.

"Hn."

He looked at her. The fear was gone but there was disappointment swirling in her eyes. He grunted. "I overreacted."

She smiled. She had never thought that Sesshomaru would apologize to someone. Sure he didn't really apologize like someone normally would, but for him it must've been hard. 'Maybe he will change.' She thought.

She stood up and walked to the door. When she looked up Sesshomaru was looking out the window, probably missing home. She softly closed the door and left him to his thoughts.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Kagome was excited. Her friend Yuri called and told her that the date for graduation had been set. It was next Friday, and she couldn't wait. It had been a week since Sesshomaru had been here and nothing eventful had happened. He was slowly getting comfortable living here. Each day, though, they would check the well together, but each time it was still sealed.

She hadn't bothered telling Sesshomaru about graduation, she knew he wouldn't care. They hadn't really talked much during the week, always doing their own things. Kagome had gone to the bookstore to maybe find him something to read to preoccupy his time while she was at school. He had finished the book before she even came home from school.

He had proved to be helpful. He helped her mother around the house when she couldn't be home. He helped Souta with his history assignments when no one else knew the answers. He refused to show her any of this kindness, however. She thought he was only doing it because they were giving him a place to stay. The thought made her mad.

Kagome sighed. She just couldn't focus on her homework. Being home every day now was so different from how it usually was. She wouldn't be sitting here doing homework; she would be with her friends. Her and Sango would be swatting Miroku's hand away and trying to go to the hot spring without him following. She whimpered at the thought. She missed them so much. Defeated, Kagome put her pencil down.

Unconsciously, she went to the well house. There had to be some way she could get back. Now that the well was sealed, she realized she wanted to stay in the feudal era. That was her true home. She jumped in the well and was disappointed when nothing happened.

"No matter how much you try, it won't let you back." The cold voice snapped her from her thoughts. She looked up at him. He was kneeling on the side of the well looking down at her.

"I want to go home." She whispered, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She didn't let them, however. After Inuyasha broke her heart she promised herself she wouldn't cry. It wasn't even him she missed. She missed her friends, she missed Shippo, and she even missed Rin.

He jumped down to stand next to her. "You are home." He stated. She knew he was right but she didn't want to believe it.

"Home is where the heart is, Sesshomaru." She bit her lip. She definitely realized now that her heart was in feudal Japan with her friends. Not here.

Sesshomaru sat down in the well. "Hn."

"Do you miss her?" she don't know why but the curiosity was killing her. She needed to know.

Sesshomaru looked up. Kagome was staring at him. "Who?" the question left his lips before he could stop it.

Kagome smiled. "Rin."

He looked down at the well. "She has all she needs at home."

"That's not what I asked."

"But that's what I answered."

She looked at him. She didn't understand him at all. Whenever she asked him a question he always turned it around. He never gave her a straight answer and it irritated her. She wanted to know. "I take it as a yes then."

"Hn."

She smiled triumphantly and then huffed. "I'm graduating next week."

He gave her a look and she took it as if he didn't understand.

"I go to school here in this time and I finished it. It means I get to have a special celebration, like a rite of passage called a graduation." She smiled. "I'm excited."

"Hn."

"My entire family is going.." she hesitated. Was she really going to do this? She took a deep breath. "Would you like to go?" She held her breath, waiting for him to decline the offer.

Sesshomaru inwardly smirked. She was nervous about asking him this simple question. He would humor her. "It would be my honor." His voice was sarcastic, but she smiled anyway.

In a way it felt like he was slowly loosening up with her. Yes he was always cold and rude, but sometimes he would see something in his eyes that made her think differently. Maybe she was imagining it, but she held onto the hope that maybe he was changing and they would be able to go home.

She stood up. "I have to get a fitting for my graduation gown." She smiled at the thought. She was finally becoming an adult.

She started climbing up the ladder, when she felt an arm slip around her waist and bring her the rest of the way up. She blushed. "Thanks." She muttered softly. Not waiting for his reply and started on her way to the tailor.

0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o

Kagome never liked to waste her mother's gas. Every time she was home she always decided to walk to her destination, no matter where it was. The tailor wasn't too far away, one about a mile or two from the shrine.

On the way she passed the store that the necklace she had seen the previous week was in. With new excitement, she skipped towards the store, only to have her excitement leave her in one big wave. The necklace was gone and was replaced with something else. Kagome frowned. Oh how she wished she would've had enough money for that necklace.

Looking at her watch, she decided she had enough time to go inside and see what had happened to the necklace. She opened the door and was greeted by the ring of a bell at the top of the door. The store was empty, and the smell of pumpkin spice filled her nose.

"Can I help you with something?" A man in a black button up shirt with a pink tie asked her. His nametag read 'Taru'.

She smiled at him. "Yes, Taru, I was wondering if that red ruby necklace that was in the window last week had been sold."

He smiled at her in return and motioned for her to follow him to the counter. He seemed to be the only one managing the store today.

He took the necklace out and she gasped. It looked even more beautiful up close. "A woman came in last week asking us to hold it for her.. If you could offer more money, I'm sure we could make an exception." She gave a depressed sigh.

"I'll never be able to afford something like that!"

He gave her a sad smile. "I'll tell you what. If she doesn't come pick it up within a week, I'll save it for you until you have enough."

A large smile spread on Kagome's face. She jumped up and hugged the stranger. "Thank you so much! My name's Kagome!" She held her hand out and he shook it with his own.

"Nice to meet you."

Kagome took her leave, a smile plastered on her face. She had never been happier. Her mind drifted to Taru. As soon as she heard him speak she could tell he was gay. She'd return another time and maybe they could become friends. She smiled.

Kagome checked her watch. She was running late! She ran the rest of the way to the tailor shop.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

When she arrived to Olive's Tailor Shoppe she was only five minutes late. "Sorry I'm late, Olive."

"She looked up from her papers. "No problem at all, sweetheart! Here, take a seat while I get my tools."

She disappeared into a back room and Kagome sat and waited. If she was going to afford that necklace she would need to get a job and save some money. There was no way she was going to ask her mother for that kind of money. She knew what kind of financial situation they were in.

Olive returned and told Kagome to stand up so she could take her measurements. "We are going to make sure this is the most memorable day in your life! You will look stunning!" Kagome smiled.

"Thanks, Olive. You're the best!"

She stayed quiet as Olive took the measurements of her neck, her arms, her waist, and everywhere else that would be covered by her gown.

When she was finished Kagome put her coat back on. "How much do I owe you?"

"Don't be silly dear; I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart. Your mother and I have been friends for years, I'm so very happy to do this for you!"

Kagome smiled and thanked her as she walked to the door. When she opened it to walk out she ran into someone unexpected.

Sesshomaru.