I do not own the rights to InuYasha.

From: Sesshomaru_T

To: k_higurashi

Subject: Response to abundance of "Roommate Needed" Flyers

Ms. Higurashi,

I will be moving in to the second bedroom of your apartment in 3 days. Attached to this email you will find a list of my credentials should you have any questions concerning my history. I have already corresponded with your landlord and my name has been added to the lease. He will let me in to the apartment on Tuesday so there is no need for you to be there upon my arrival.

Sesshomaru T.

Assistant to the CEO

Acquisitions Associate

Taishō Incorporated

Kagome stared blankly at the computer screen in front of her. Conflicting emotions rattled around inside of her as she read the email for the 7th time. Agitation at his presumption that she would want him to move in, his mocking subject line, and his pomposity heated her. At the same time, relief that she would no longer have to pay for an entire apartment by herself flooded through her.

Her mouse hovered over the "reply" button on the computer screen as she fought with herself. "I just...I just wasn't expecting it to be another guy. It'll be weird having anyone in his room...but especially another guy. I just don't know if I'm ready for that," she confessed to her computer. The monitor stared back, unblinking.

She hit reply.

From: Sesshomaru_T

To: k_higurashi

Subject: Re: Response to abundance of "Roommate Needed" Flyers

Sesshomaru,

Thank you for your interest in rooming with me. Unfortunately, I had forgotten that those signs were up. I do not need a roommate at this time. We can meet with the landlord and I'm sure he will be able to take your name off the lease - especially since we did not yet agree that you could live here.

Good luck with your roommate search,

Kagome Higurashi

The glared at her and she winced, reading her words once more. Moving her mouse over the "send" button, her phone rang. Mom Cell flashed on the screen and she answered.

"Hey Mom."

"Hello sweetheart! How are you doing? I feel like I haven't heard from you in a while."

Kagome bit her bottom lip. She hadn't spoken to her mom since before Inuyasha left. She didn't want her mother to worry. "I'm pretty good." She lied. "Just busy with school and all, you know? How are you and Souta and grandpa? Is everything alright there?"

"Oh, those two! I tell you Kagome, they just drive me crazy sometimes. Souta brought home a girlfriend the other day, can you believe that?"

Kagome laughed. "I can't believe my baby brother is old enough to date! I can't believe he didn't tell me about it! What do you think of her?"

"I hardly got to spend time any with her. Your grandfather was worried she might bring an evil spirit to the shrine and tried to exorcise her. Souta hasn't brought her back since!" Her mother burst into laughter and Kagome could imagine the poor girl running down the shrine steps covered in sutras. "What about you, Kagome? Any love interests in your life?"

"Come on, mom! You know I'm way to busy to date!" Kagome exclaimed, a slight blush creeping across her face.

"I know you work hard, sweetie. But really, you should let loose a little. Go out on a date sometime. That's what your evenings are for."

Kagome's smile faded. "Evenings," she thought, "my evenings are filled with work and studying. There's no time for boys." Kagome cleared her throat. "I'll worry about boys later. I just want to focus on school for now." She paused. "Most mothers would be thrilled they don't have to worry about their daughters disappearing with strange men, you know."

"Well I'm starting to worry that my daughter will become a spinster! Your grandfather looks like he'll be scaring away any girl Souta tries to date, and you're far enough away that he can't touch the boys you meet. Besides, I want to think I'll have grandchildren some day."

"Mom!" Kagome's slight blush deepened into an unyielding crimson.

She heard her mother's laughter over the phone and had to smile. Her mother could always cheer her up - even when she didn't know Kagome needed cheering-up. "I meant to ask," her mother said between giggles, "how is Inuyasha doing? I know you said he had a date coming up a few months ago. How did that go for him?"

A lump formed in the back of Kagome's throat as memories she'd painstakingly pushed down resurfaced. "Oh, well...you know how Inuyasha is." She tried to laugh and hoped it didn't sound as half-hearted as it felt. "It's not like he's going to have a hard time finding a girl who doesn't want to let him out of her sight, right?"

"Kagome? Are you alright?" Her mother's voice was concerned, all traces of the laughter they shared moments before gone.

Cursing herself silently for not being more convincing, she took a deep breath. "I'm fine Mom, really. He and his girlfriend spend a lot of time together and I just feel a bit left out." Her half-truth threatened to choke her and she took another deep breath, steadying her voice. "I don't see him as often as I used to and...and I guess I'm just a little lonely, that's all."

Her mother waited quietly, allowing the seed of honesty at the core of Kagome's words to sink in - possibly more for Kagome's sake than her own. "Do you need me to come visit or send you anything?" Her mother finally spoke up and asked.

"No, Mom. I'll be fine really. It's just been an adjustment. He's been such a focal point in my life for the past few years that it feels a bit empty without him. But I'll adjust."

"I want you to promise me you're alright, Kagome. And if you aren't, I need you to tell me. I'm proud of everything you're doing, but I don't want you to push yourself too hard. If you need a place to land, you know you can always come home for a while."

A small tear ran down Kagome's cheek. "Thanks Mom. I know. And I promise I'm going to be ok. I've just had a long week. It's like you always say, things look better after a good night's sleep."

"If you ever need anything, you know I'm only a call away. I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too, Mom."

The connection clicked, signaling her mother hung up. Looking back at her screen and the lie she wrote, Kagome repeatedly tapped the "delete" button and watched her text slowly disappear. Glancing around the empty apartment, she took a deep breath and started her email again.

From: Sesshomaru_T

To: k_higurashi

Subject: Re: Response to abundance of "Roommate Needed" Flyers

Sesshomaru,

Thank you for your interest in rooming with me. After glancing over your credentials, I have decided that you don't have enough time to be a serial killer and, as such, you are welcome to move in at any point. Should you have any questions prior to moving in, please feel free to contact me and I will do my best to help.

Kagome Higurashi

Kagome glanced over the email once before hitting "send" and closing the computer. "He may not be very warm, but at least I won't be entirely alone anymore." Looking around the empty apartment once more, she turned off the lights and shuffled to bed.