Sorry for taking long with this chapter! I was in a bit of writer's block and couldn't come up with any ideas at all. Hopefully this chapter will be to your liking. ^_^ ~LadyTeresa.

Chapter 7

Kagome stared at her half-empty glass of strawberry milkshake. Time passed just as quickly as she had drunk her drink. It has been ten months since she had last seen any of her friends. Right after she made her escape, she immediately headed for the airport, having the intention of going to Italy for her "vacation." It was the only place that gave her a peace of mind, despite the memories it carried. This was the first place Sesshoumaru brought her. Keeping that small detail in the back of her mind, she glanced around the square. She eyed the couples that sat around her, and immediately grew irritated. Then, she sighed. Throughout the time she had been here, she had only talked to Sesshoumaru once. Feeling that he had every right to be there at the birth of his child, she had used the cell phone Inuyasha had given her and told Sango, who answered the other phone at the time, to tell Sesshoumaru she would be going into labor soon. Unsurprised, Sesshoumaru showed up at the hospital within three hours. A few hours later, she gave birth to a beautiful girl, whom she named Rin. Their baby was now six months old and currently with her godmother, Sango. Sango arrived in Italy a week after Rin's birth, and decided to stay with her best friend to help care for the baby until Kagome was ready to care for Rin herself. Kagome now appreciated Sango. She hasn't been able to sleep properly due to Rin's constant crying in the middle of the night. Today just happened to be one of the days Sango took her out, leaving the young mother to have time to herself.

Kagome stood from her seat, left a tip on the table and exited the café. She smiled at the light breeze. She had a couple more hours until she had to head back to the apartment to work on her songs. Yes, she still continued to sing. And next week, she would be having her first concert. Being pregnant, she couldn't get on stage, but now that she had given birth to Rin she can finally get on stage to perform. Her tickets were already sold out within one week.

The young woman began to walk around aimlessly, hoping to find something to do. The many flowers caught her attention. Ah, that's right. It's the flower festival, she thought. She frowned. A festival to commemorate a budding love. Kagome paused. On second thought, starting work early isn't such a bad idea. She turned around and practically ran for her apartment. Luckily, it wasn't too far from the café. Soon, she was in the building and through her front door. Giggles could be heard from her bedroom. They're back already? "Sango? Rin?" she called out. She took off her heels and placed them on the shoe rack. Taking her time to get in the room, she tossed her purse on the couch before entering her haven.

"Welcome back, Kagome," Sango greeted. She was holding Rin in the air, and, in return, the baby was giggling and marveling at how high in the air she was. Upon seeing her mother, Rin stretched her arms out, whining.

Kagome smiled. She reached over and took her baby from Sango's hands. "Hello, love. Were you good while I was gone?" she cooed. She turned to Sango. "Sango, thanks for taking care of her."

Sango stood up and stretched. "It's no problem! Are you feeling much better?" Sango analyzed Kagome's face, recognizing the one thing that was always on her best friend's face: loneliness.

Kagome tossed Rin in the air. "I'm fine. I saw a lot of flowers today," she murmured softly. Rin giggled and grabbed her mother's hair, much to the young mother's irritation. Kagome grasped her hair and gently yanked it from Rin's hand.

"The flower festival," Sango replied with a smile. "Miroku and the boys are supposed to be coming tonight. It's been a while since I've seen them." Sango grinned. Miroku and the boys referred to her husband and twin boys. They turned one a couple months prior, in which Sango left for a week to celebrate with them.

"Oh, that's good. Rin has new playmates tonight. Isn't that right, love?" Kagome asked sweetly as she tossed Rin in the air again. Rin giggled again. Being only six months, Rin can only giggle, cry, poop and drool. Giggling meant she was very, very pleased … or she did something wrong and knew she won't get in trouble for it.

Sango smiled. "I'll go do the preparations." Sango left the room, leaving mother and daughter to have some bonding time. She shivered, not out of the weather but of the fact that she knew Sesshoumaru was also coming tonight. Hopefully, the night won't turn into a disaster.

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It was currently eleven o'clock. Kagome wandered around the brightly lit square once again, deciding that she needed some fresh air after finishing her latest album. The square was crowded with people, many holding flowers. Kagome spotted a few kids running around. They seemed so happy. A glimpse of silver caught her attention. Silver? I don't ever remember there being a silver flower before, she thought to herself. Walking to the farthest stand in the darkest part of the square, she realized the flower wasn't silver. The silver had only been the reflection of the light from the moon. "How beautiful," she whispered.

"Isn't it? That's why I picked this area," the stall-owner replied with a grin. The owner was an old woman with a gentle smile caressing her aged face. "I'll give it to you for free." A wrinkled hand reached over the vase of flowers and picked one up. "It's a pristine-white iris." She handed the flower to Kagome.

Kagome smiled. "Thank you," she replied. With a light bow, she made her way to the bridge. It was the quietest place that overlooked the entire square. Once she stood at a spot where she was content, she leaned over the edge and smelled the air. "It smells so sweet," she said to herself.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew the flower from her hand, causing it to fall down to the ground below her. Kagome looked over the edge in worry and gasped. There stood Sesshoumaru, her flower in hand, as he gazed into her surprised face.