-vv-
Kagome and Sango went working and in the evenings to an evening college for their further education. After all, they had to pay for the rooms of the big mansion they now lived in. But whenever they were at their new home and not busy with homework, Kagome and Sango played with the two little kids. From the vision of the two young women Rin and Shippo were adorable. The two kids also began looking up to them. Only a few days after they moved in, Rin and Shippo stormed into Kagome's room where she sat together with Sango, doing homework.
"Kagome-onee-san! Sango-onee-san!" the two children chorused together.
Kagome and Sango began laughing.
"What is it you two?" Kagome asked smiling.
"Is it alright if we call you that?" Rin asked sheepishly while Shippo nodded furiously.
Kagome looked at Sango and both of them chuckled.
"Well, if you like to." Sango answered, a big smile on her face.
"Yay!" Rin and Shippo cheered as they danced out of the room.
Yes, Kagome had a new family; two little adorable siblings and her older sister Sango. It nearly filled the emptiness inside her. But only nearly. She still felt lonely and empty sometimes. She was thankful to Sango that she went with her. She did not know what she might have done without her best friend.
Sometimes she remembered Sesshomaru and her relationship to him. She blushed a bit every time thinking about what she wrote to him.
Sango had taken notice how her friend sometimes thought back, thought about Inuyasha and Sesshomaru.
Kagome regularly phoned with Chiyoko, the old maid telling her about Mr. Taisho's desperate efforts to reach her, how Inuyasha went silent and how Sesshomaru asked her about Kagome.
She answered Sesshomaru's questions through the maid, happy to at least be able to have contact to him. It hurt her to hear about Mr. Taisho and her old school-friend, who seemed like he gave up on her.
Sesshomaru lived on, like Kagome had never entered his life, irritating his father and brother. Both of them had been hurt by Kagome's sudden departure, still trying to get through it. Mr. Taisho had not given up, trying to reach her with all his might, but failing.
Weeks after her disappearance, Sesshomaru suddenly asked Chiyoko something which he spent hours on thinking about.
"Chiyoko-baa-san?"
"Yes, master Sesshomaru?"
"It is about Higurashi-san."
Both of them did not notice that Mr. Taisho and Inuyasha hid behind a corner, their eyes widening at the conversation they heard.
"You seem concerned, master Sesshomaru. I assured you that she is safe and well."
"That is not it. This Sesshomaru would like to hear her voice or better see her with his own eyes."
Chiyoko drew her eyebrows together. Sesshomaru would only fall into third person if he was demanding something, knowing the difficult path it might take.
"I don't know if it is possible." she answered carefully.
"You relied this Sesshomaru's question and her answers to them. You should be able to arrange a call or a meeting."
"I am able to, master Sesshomaru. But I don't know if she is ready for it."
"Ready for it?"
"Yes, master Sesshomaru." she simply answered. "Please wait for an answer until tomorrow morning, I will see what I can do."
"Thank you."
As Chiyoko walked towards the servants quarters and Sesshomaru left the house, Inuyasha and his father stood in the hallway.
"So she has contact to Kagome." Mr. Taisho slowly said.
"And Sesshomaru knew of it and used it." Inuyasha added.
"Why that?" they asked in synchrony.
"He wants what?" Kagome asked Chiyoko, her voice slightly shaking.
Sango looked at her best friend and came closer to hear the conversation.
"He wants to hear your voice or better meet you."
"Why that?" Kagome answered.
Sango's eyes had widened and her mouth formed a name 'Sesshomaru?'. Kagome nodded at her friend.
"I don't know, but he was very demanding, telling me I should arrange something."
"..."
"Kagome-san?"
"Ah, yes... I would want to talk to him directly too, but..."
"Not so suddenly, right?"
"Yes."
"He won't accept it."
"I know. He's too stubborn."
"I'll come with you if you want. And we can cut it short if you can't take it." Sango added, loud enough for Chiyoko to hear.
"That's a good idea."
"Well, it's alright for me." Kagome slowly said.
"Good. I will tell him then. How about tomorrow before you two get to your classes. So you have a time limit and it won't be too long."
"Yes, please tell him that." Sango answered.
"And for the place... how about the cafe near out college?" Kagome offered.
"A good idea. I will tell him then."
"Please be cautious so that neither Inuyasha nor Mr. Taisho will know about it." Kagome added.
"I will. Be well you two."
"You too, Chiyoko-san." the two girls answered synchronous before hanging up.
Mr. Taisho found Chiyoko inside a small room inside the servants wing, doing needlework.
"Sire." she inclined her head. "What can I do for you?"