A.N: I'm sorry for the late update guys, I really am! Actually, I had to start applying for my universities and I was going crazy with homework and running around with those application forms. So, I really didn't have the time to write any new chapters. I'll be updating weekly from now on, because I'm really busy, but once the summer holidays hit, I'll do the three days update thing once again, but please don't be mad at me for now, because I'm not even getting the proper sleep and just running, fueled on coffee. Have a heart, my precious readers!

Kagome stared at the fish that Kazuki had placed in her hands. She felt nauseous just staring at it and put it aside. Kazuki raised a brow at that and spoke, jokingly, "Hey, it's not that bad."

Kagome smiled softly, "I'm not really hungry, Kazuki but thanks anyways."

He stared at her and then sighed. Walking up to her, he sat down and asked, "What would you like to eat?" Kagome looked at him, and rubbed her face, tiredly, "Nothing, really. All I want to do is sleep nowadays. I'm sorry."

Scowling, the fire elemental concealed his fear at her fading health, and grumbled, "What are you apologizing to me for? Anyways, I was lying. My cooking is horrible. You're probably better off not eating it." Kagome chuckled at that and then yawned.

"You want to sleep?"

She blinked owlishly at him, "What?"

He motioned to the small futon he had brought for her, "If you want to sleep, I don't mind."

Kagome let loose a deep breath before asking, "Why are you doing this, Kazuki? I mean, why are you sticking around for this?" Kazuki looked into the fire, "Because I want to."

"Kazuki-"

"No!"

Kagome jumped, startled at his outburst. He looked bewildered himslef and then resumed poking a stick into the fire, hiding half his face in his knees, "You wouldn't understand."

"Understand what?"

He remained silent and then let out a yelp when she pulled at his ear. Although her grip was weak, he clearly got the message. His eyes fell on her and their red colour shimmered when the fire reflected on them. His gaze was thoughtful and unsettled.

"I don't want you to die alone. I know you wanted to be alone and happy but I want to look after you, and spend whatever time you have left. Your friends got two years. All I'm asking is for a little time. You make me feel accepted. It's stupid , I know. But I won't leave you alone. I won't let you feel that you have no one to turn to." He turned his eyes to her again, this time a pleading look in them, "You don't mind, do you? If I want to be with you till the end? Do you?"

A tear fell down Kagome's cheek, and she leaned against him, startling him a little. Her voice was almost a whisper, as she closed her eyes, "No, I don't mind. I don't mind at all."

A sad smile graced the fire elemental's lips and he formed images from the fire, his arms folded in his sleeves. She was already asleep, leaning against him. So maybe he didn't have that much time with her but he would take all he could. Kagome was strange miko. That's what he had thought at first, but it was after he had gotten to know her that he had realized that there was nothing strange about the girl, except her heart. Her soul was huge, her heart even bigger. She would give and give, without expecting anything in return. But this kind hearted miko was lonely. Like all humans and youkai, it seemed that she too wanted to find someone to love her and cherish her, but was unable to.

Kazuki frowned, making the fire flicker wildly for a few seconds. He loved her. He adored her. It had barely been a few months, since he had known her, but he adored this blue eyed little creature, but she didn't see him in that manner, and imposing his ffelings upon her would just make her uncomfortable and he didn't want her. In another place, another time, he would have given her the world if he could. He would have made her so happy, if only.

His eyes burned and he blinked twice, to get rid of the sudden tears. He was a male, goddamnit! He wasn't supposed to cry. But how could he stop this pain in his heart? Kagome murmured in her sleep, and his expression gentled. Shifting her, he settled her in his lap, within his arms and inhaled her scent. The pure sakura scent was tainted with her sickness, but her purity still remained. His arms around her, he raised a barrier and closed his eyes. The moon was high and he felt tired and drained.

"Kazuki?"

He opened one eye, "Hm?"

"Why am I in your lap?"

He closed his eyes and blushed, "Because I felt like it."

"Pervert."

He stammered, "W-what?"

Kagome grinned, a weak version of her past self, "I'm joking."

"Oh." They sat in silence for a while until Kazuki asked, "That inuyoukai. Who was he?"

Her voice was sleepy as Kagome asked, "Who? Inuyasha?"

Kazuki shook his head, "No, the other one."

Kagome took a minute to respond, "You mean Seshoumaru. He's Inuyasha's half brother."

"There was something strange about him, the way he defended you."

Kagome actually snorted at that, "I'm the only one who could see the shards. Kikyo could sense them, but I could see them from a long distance. He needed me alive till our purpose was fullfilled."

"You're wrong. His eyes. They were furious. If I hadn't thrown in that last card, he would have killed me."

Kagome frowned, "I'm sorry for putting you in so much danger, Kazuki."

"I didn't mind. It was fun."

"It was still dangerous. To you other question, Seshoumaru seems to dislike me, immensely. I don't know why. It's like he had a grudge aginst me or something."

"Bastard."

Kagome laughed at that, "That's what Inuyasha used to call him."

Kazuki grinned at her laughter and then sobered, murmuring, "I don't know. There was something about him. His beast came out even."

Kagome was startled at that, "It did?"

"Yeah."

Kagome was silent for a minute and then shrugged, "It doesn't matter anymore. I know I hurt my friends, but this 'death' was better than the one they would have witnessed."

Kazuki tightened his hold on her, "I wish you didn't have to die. If you hadn't been ill, I would have whisked you off, then made you fall in love with me, mated you and have had lots and lots of young ones."

Kagome chuckled at his vehement declaration, "Of course you would. Men. Always thinking about babies."

"Of course we are." His voice faltered but Kagome was gritting her teeth and did not notice.

She lurched suddenly, coughing wildly. She pulled away from the fire elemental, and pushed herself to her hands and knees. Her body shuddered wildly with the coughs, and she put one hand in front of her mouth to cover it. Kazuki's eyes widened when blood dripped on the ground. The miko collapsed on the floor, still coughing.

"Kagome!"

However, before he could do something, her coughing stopped but her body kept shivering.

"Cold. S-so cold. K-Kazuki."

Tears fell dwon his eyes as he picked her up swiftly and held her to him, warming her body with his high temperatures. She fell unconscious almost immediately. Burying his face in her neck, he wondered if his heart could shatter anymore?

A.N: I hope you enjoyed this. Please review