A/N: I did not expect to be gone this long.

Chapter 12

Kagome stood outside Kaien's house, half afraid to step forward and half ashamed it took her so long to find Zero. Really though, how could that jerk! How could he not tell her Zero had been with Kaien the entire time. Three months it had been, and here she was, still not a step closer to the door.

"Come on Kagome, what are you afraid of?" She whispered to herself, "maybe that he's going to hate me?" she moaned.

"Whatever, let's do this!"

Kagome reluctantly trudged her way to the door and rang the doorbell. She waited a minute and heard, 'I'm coming!' echo somewhere behind the door. It swung open and a goofily grinning Kaien stood in front of her. All her frustration and anger suddenly hit her like a freight train. All the hurt and pain and loss, having Zero taken away when he was the only link remaining of friends she loved. The injustice of being unable to see him, of having someone else take care of what was left of her family. She struck him before she could comprehend what she was doing and her eyes widened in guilty surprise.

"I-I'm so sorry. Kaien, are you-"

He didn't need her to apologize or even look at him. The conflict and emotion in her stormy-blue eyes bared her soul and he understood. He understood too well what it was like and so he'd already forgiven her before she ever lifted her hand.

"Don't Kagome," he murmured softly, hazel eyes sympathetic, "why don't you come in and see him."

The miko paused in the doorway and her eyes were terrified, body frozen and breath ragged. She wanted to see him! She needed to see him, and yet the thought of rejection cowed her. She didn't want to go in and see him look at her with hate and bitterness because he knew she'd failed. She'd been too late, and only if she were there, they could have lived. The three of them together were impossible to defeat!

Kaien watched her silently. Her inner conflict raged behind her eyes and the fear was clear in her body language. Kagome had to overcome this on her own but seeing her so close to breaking broke his heart. When their eyes connected he saw determination and resolve, and he smiled. The blond motioned her all the way in and let her remove her coat before leading her to a room where indistinct chatter could be heard. When they were close enough, Kagome recognized it as Yuki's voice. She was telling him to 'please stop scratching yourself.' Kagome stopped at the door and locked eyes with an encouraging Kaien. She braced herself and opened the door.

"Kana-Kagome?"

"Hey Yuki? How are you?"

Delighted laughter chimed around them and Yuki dashed to hug the only female figure to ever enter her life. "Kagome!" she cried excitedly, "I'm so happy to see you!"

Kagome smiled softly at the little girl and tousled her long brown locks. "I'm happy to see you too. I'm sorry I haven't come to see you in a while."

Yuki nodded and tugged Kagome's hand, pulling her further into the room, "Come meet my brother! Papa brought him home a little while ago. He told me a bad vampire killed his family." Yuki's face turned somber, "He doesn't like to talk, and he doesn't like it when I touch him."

Kagome swallowed hard and trailed silently behind the ten years old girl. The anticipation in her was growing and she bit her bottom lip, clutching onto Yuki's hand. The miko's eyes landed on a hunched figure sitting in the corner of a bed and Kagome slowed to a stop just in front of him.

"Zero," Yuki softly called out, "I want you to meet Kagome."

The boy's head snapped up and he stared wide eyed at the two girls. He took in the regular sight of Yuki and then his eyes slid upward. Black hair, blue eyes and the nervously smiling face of Kagome stared back.

Her voice wobbled and she gave him a watery smile. "H-hey squirt, I told you I'd come back."

Zero shot up into a kneeling position and tears sprung into his eyes making them a limpid mercury. His little heart palpitated rapidly in his chest and Zero rubbed ineffectively at his eyes, trying and failing to stop the fat droplets of saline from falling. She came back, she really came back!

Kaien quietly peeked inside and called softly to Yuki, "Yuki, let's give them some space. There's someone here to see you." The girl looked at her father and turned back to look at the duo then nodded. She was puzzled about how they knew each other, but they obviously missed each other a lot, so she exited the room and followed her adoptive parent out.

Kagome collapsed onto the bed and pulled Zero closely to her. She could feel his hot tears soak into her blouse and she held him tighter, afraid he might disappear, that he might be an illusion. She could feel herself shaking and she knew she was crying too.

A/N: Oh boy! This is late and sorry. It's still slow, but we are almost to the original storyline so never fear! Lol. Thanks for sticking with me guys, I appreciate it!

MissD: (: It is continued!