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▌Chapter Eleven

Kagome awoke in her own bed and noticed it was bright and sunny outside. She groaned as she rolled to her side to glance at her bedside clock. It seemed like it was three o'clock in the afternoon. She'd been asleep for a couple of hours it seemed after nearly losing control earlier. Her mind flashed back through the answers Sesshoumaru has callously revealed. All of her friends were gone. Dead. It hurt to associate that word with her dear friends. She had never really stopped to ponder about their lives. She was centuries ahead in the future from there time and yet she took it all for granted because she always returned to the past where they were alive. She never considered their mortality.

Kagome was angry at herself and furious with Sesshoumaru. He could have stopped all this from ever happening. He could have intervened whenever he had wished and yet never had. His reasoning behind why seemed like a poor excuse. She began to feel the rage build up inside her again and took a deep shaky breath as tears began to sting her eyes. She grabbed one of her pillows and squeezed it tightly to her chest. She was stuck here in the present and unable to return to the past to help save her friends. Now - more than ever - she needed to return to being human. If she could be changed back, she should be able to save them from such a horrible fate.

A soft knock sounded from her bedroom door. Based on the scent that wafted through her room she knew it was her mother. Kagome dried her eyes, even though she knew they'd be red and puffy from crying, and said her mother could come in. Kagome rolled over to her side and moved to sit up as her mother cautiously entered the room.

"He said that you were awake. How are you feeling?"

"I'm just tired. I'm fine," she lied. Inside she was an emotional wreck.

Her mother mentioned nothing about Kagome's appearance. She just gave her a small smile and asked her if she wanted to join everyone downstairs. Kagome would have preferred to have been left alone to her thoughts, but she could smell the worry and tension that was thick in the air. She got up and shook off the wave of dizziness before following her mother down stairs where Sesshoumaru, Shika, and her brother and grandpa were waiting.

Her grandpa was glaring daggers at Sesshoumaru and was armed with all sorts of talismans. Sesshoumaru returned the glare with a stern expression. The staring contest ended when her grandpa turned to look at her. Before he could make a fuss, Kagome's mother gave her father-in-law a harsh gaze which caused his mouth to snap shut. Souta wasn't around and had probably be sent to a friend's house.

Shika came in from the kitchen with a coffee filled mug which she handed to Kagome. Kagome wasn't much of a coffee drinker, but was grateful for it now to try and chase away the remnants of her fatigue. She took a careful sip of the steaming liquid, careful to avoid burning her tongue.

"How are you feeling?" Shika inquired.

"I'm still waking up, but I'm fine.." physically, she added mentally and tried to give a smile. Shika's expression made it clear she didn't buy it.

"Well, the event doesn't seem to have negatively affected you that I can tell. That being said, it's very dangerous to be around your family and attend school," Shika cautioned.

"Kagome, Sesshoumaru has made a suggestion. While you know we are fine with you staying home, it is ultimately your choice regarding what you want to do," her mother stated.

Kagome turned her attention to the stoic demon. She wasn't sure she wanted to even be in the same room with him right now. Just looking at him, his scent in her nose, the pressure from his presence, was enough to cause her body to tense. She was still angry at him; so much so she was actually borderline blaming him for everything. This wasn't the right place or time to get into another spat with him though. For now all she could do was seethe inwardly at him.

"Until you've gained control over yourself or are successfully reverted to your former self, you should be removed from your school and away from others you could potentially harm," Sesshoumaru stated.

"And where exactly would I go?"

"My home."

Kagome bit down on her tongue to keep herself from verbally lashing out at the absurdity of his suggestion. She could barely tolerate him during their limited interactions. If she had to stay at his house, that meant he'd always be around pissing her off. A small, vindictive voice whispered an idea. You could make him just as miserable as you are if you did agree. Oh, how it was tempting to consider. She mentally shook the idea away, feeling horrible that she would have such dark thoughts.

"How could staying with you be safe?" Kagome's grandpa grumbled.

The staring contest resumed between old priest and ancient demon. Shika laughed a bit nervously and tried to diffuse the tension by stepping between them to block them from each other's view. Her grandpa crossed his arms and pouted since he had just been ready to attack Sesshoumaru with more talismans.

"Kagome, I know it's a little strange. However, his place is really secure. The entire building has one of the most advanced security systems in place. The people who abducted you wouldn't be able to get anywhere near you there. You'd be under Sesshoumaru's protection so other demons wouldn't try to do anything to you either unless they have a death wish. It would also be pretty difficult for you to harm others since it's pretty isolated."

Shika tried to point out the benefits to Kagome, but the suggestion still made her uncomfortable. Having to live in an isolated residence with the frozen demon prince seemed emotionally draining already. She would probably lose her mind from cabin fever.

Kagome turned to look at her mother. Her family put up with so much of her drama. She was thankful that they supported her no matter what, from her adventures into the past to becoming an unstable demon. She didn't want to hurt them or her friends. She had been desperately trying to maintain a normal life this side of the well, and so far it wasn't working out at all. She inhaled as she pondered Sesshoumaru's offer once again, trying to push back her discriminating thoughts and think rationally.

"Will I be able to stay in touch with my family?"

"Yes."

She would take advantage of this situation. It was all she could do to help herself, her family, and her friends. As much as she was loathe to admit it, she needed Sesshoumaru's help. She also had the feeling that he was hiding much more than the tragic history of the past, and this would give her the opportunity to find out what exactly that was.