Here you go...enjoy

Blackwave- thank you for reviewing, I'm glad you like Sesshō-maru's characterization. About the spelling of his name, I got it from the manga, I just think it looks better...that's just me. I used your epiphany...sort of. You will find out what happened to him when he was eight if you stayed tuned in. A little background on this chapter I just wanted some light fun...so if it's a little odd, that's why

Standard disclaimers apply

Chapter 12

(Miwa)

School was finally done for the week and I was delighted as was everyone else in the household except Lin who was a complete school fanatic. She's one of those kids who lives and breathes what the teachers say. When she was in fifth grade she wrote an essay on why school should go all year round with no summer break. Once I heard her muttering math equations in her sleep. Ciarda, Aki and I just survived it but usually did fairly well in the grade department, dunno about the new girl.

"Going out for a run?" Aki asked but I couldn't see her.

"Yeah, where are you?" I searched the room as I pulled on my running shoes but to no avail, I couldn't find her.

"On the roof, you know how Kaede hates me smoking the house." I poked my head out the window and found Aki reclined on the porch roof a cigarette hanging out of the corner of her mouth. Kaede absolutely hated smoking, no one could smoke in her house and that was it. For Aki, smoking was the only thing left over from her Naraku days. She had tried multiple times with the nicotine patches and gum, she even did hypnosis but nothing had worked.

"What movie did you chose for tonight?" Every Friday we had a movie night with popcorn, tortilla chips, cheese salsa, cookies and ice cream. We alternate who picks the movie every week, Kaede rarely watched with us because a lot of the time we just talk through it.

"Bang, Bang, You're Dead," Aki told me. "I was thinking of inviting Kagura over to watch it with us." Kagura, Aki's best friend, her other remnant of the Naraku days. Kagura was a fun loving, devilish girl who absolutely reeked of attitude, she had remained Aki's friend even though if the rest of her group found out she would be in deep trouble.

"Sounds fine to me just as long as she knows what is expected of her," I put on a warning tone as I spoke. I hooked my disc player to the waistband of my orange, lightweight running pants before pulling my hair back in a ponytail.

"She's gonna bring pizza, no worries." Aki laughed as she stubbed out her cigarette and closed her eyes. "I talked to Kikyo; I told her everything. I don't know what goes on in that girl's head but she no reaction at all to what I told her."

"Well you did what was right, remember that," I said. "I'm heading out now, see when I get back." Not waiting for a reply I headed out and after a short stretch began my ritual run listening to a mix of rock, metal, rap and pop. It was exhilarating, the feeling of my feet hitting the asphalt as I ran. Nothing could stop me during this time. This was my "me" time. The wind on my skin; my ponytail swishing back and forth; air entering and exiting my lungs and sweat trickling down my body. Natural adrenaline, the best drug on earth coursing through my veins.

When I run I am able to think things out. As Metallica screamed in my ears I felt myself detaching from anything physical. My body disappeared it was just me. Now I was ready. What colleges should I apply for? Should I go abroad? I am ready to be on my own? Should I look for my family? Will I find my one true love? What do I want to do with my life? Who am I? Why was I put on this earth? Do my family remember me? Are they still alive? What is death like?

On Monday I can check out the office to see what information they have on colleges and I can look on the internet. If I were to go abroad I'd like to go to America, backpack across Europe, check out the rain forests of South America and have fun. I probably wouldn't be able to afford it though. Alone. It's such a scary word. I know I can support myself if I apply myself to the task. Nothing is too difficult for me to do. My family, they must think me dead. It was eleven years ago that they lost me. The car accident. Skidding. Rolling. Blood. Screams. Mommy? Mommy! Wake up! No, no memories. Don't look back. No, I won't look for my family. True love. That only happens in fairy tales, I will probably end up a spinster. I don't think it bothers me that much, I mean…who would like me anyways? I do well at first aid; maybe I could be a doctor. I could be an ambulance technician. Help kids stuck in the constant cycle of foster homes. I am a woman, a runner, a healer, a friend, and a sister. I am who I am. I was put on this earth for a purpose that will be shown to me. Something that only I can do. My family probably thinks of me on the rare occasion. It saddens me somewhat but there's nothing I can do about it. I hope that they are still living, maybe I could do some research and find them but not stick my neb in their business. Death, the last question I ask myself. What is it like to die?

"Watch out!" Someone yelled just before I collided with them.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" I quickly scrambled off the person I had mowed down and helped them up. It was a nice looking guy who looked to be about my age, he had shaggy black hair and deep green eyes.

"No problem, has anyone ever told you that you'd make a nice bulldozer?" He questioned gently touching his probably sore behind and chest.

"No, but I have been told that I'm extremely oblivious." I smiled sheepishly as I turned off my CD player and hooked my headphones around my neck.

"I think I'll have to agree with that, you were staring right at me and I was sure that you saw me but I guess not." He brushed the remaining dirt off his person before holding out his hand. "Let's try this again. Hi, I'm Yasashiku, who are you?"

"My name is Miwa," I introduced myself as I shook his hand and tried not to feel self-conscious. I was wearing what could only be described as running clothes, my bright orange windbreaker pants, a pair of white running shoes, and sweatbands on my wrists, a headband and a spandex top.

"Well Miwa it is a true pleasure to meet you." He didn't take his eyes off of me. "I think the only way to make up for this unfortunate event is for me to take you out to dinner."

"Excuse me?" I was flabbergasted, no one had ever in the history of man wanted to ask me out.

"You come by my house every day and I've always wanted to say: 'hi' but you always seem distracted. So how about tomorrow night?" Yasashiku actually appeared serious and I was struggling with that.

"Um…that sounds ok…" I fought to find something intelligent to say.

"Good, where do you live? I'll pick you up at six." He pulled a pen out of one of his pockets and looked at me expectantly.

"498 Hyacinth Drive," I informed him and was surprised when he just stood there staring at me. "What?"

"That's like ten miles away!" He jotted my address down on his arm an impressed look on his face.

"Yeah," I hedged not wanting to brag about myself. "I have to go, tonight's movie night…goodbye Yasashiku."

"See you tomorrow!"

(time elapse)

"Oh my God! You are kidding me!" Lin threw a handful of popcorn at me. "That's so unfair! I can't get a date and all you have to do is go out and sweat!"

"Hey! It's not like I meant to slam into the poor guy!" I tried to defend myself as I evaded popcorn. Ciarda was the only one watching the movie, which was about a disturbed kid, the rest of us were gabbing away or in Kagami's case sitting in the corner watching us.

"You probably did you little tart!" Aki accused pointing at me with her index finger.

"Me? A tart?" I was amused at this description.

"Yes, a tart, a slut, dime store floozy, ho, prostitute…need I continue?" Aki raised an eyebrow at me before she shoved a huge spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.

"You look like a pig," Kagura commented leaning back in the rocker a piece of pizza in her hand.

"Ouch…burned!" Lin laughed as she submerged herself into her popcorn that was smothered in butter and salt.

"I can sooooo see your butt like exploding Lin," I pointed out as I devoured a delicious chocolate chip cookie that was simply oozing chocolate.

"You should talk," Lin snapped back around her mouthful of popcorn.

"Could you all like SHUT UP!" Ciarda bellowed at us. "This is a REALLY important part!" We sat there staring at her for a moment as she huffed out her anger.

"Duuuude, what crawled up your ass?" Kagura asked as she peeled pepperoni of her pizza.

"Nothing! I just want to finish the movie without having to listen to your trivial and petty problems!" Ciarda growled at us and we stayed quiet as she un-paused the movie and leaned close to the TV. The main guy was holding the door into the cafeteria trying to stop his friends from blowing everyone sky-high. Once the credits started rolling Ciarda looked at us with a look that said, "Fine, you can talk now."

"I just want to say Ciarda I am surprised that you are actually wearing normal clothes!" Aki grinned up at her cheekily as she glowered down. Ciarda was wearing a pair of navy blue sweatpants and a white t-shirt, just a little out of the ordinary for her.

"But her true nature is revealed by her toenails!" I pointed out; her toenails were painted a dark foreboding black.

"You guys need to lay off the sugar," Ciarda shook her head and Lin was opening her mouth to answer when the phone rang. All of us froze and waited, in the other room Genkai picked up the phone and we heard indistinct murmuring. A moment later she appeared in the doorway to the living room a bored expression on her face.

"Kagami there's someone on the phone for you." She held the portable out to her and Kagami took it.

"Hello?" She spoke into the phone looking at all of us nervously. "Oh, hey, how are you doing? Feeling any better?" Pause while the other person talked. "So since you have no relatives they have to put you into foster care?" Pause. "Who has applied for your guardianship? No I don't know him. Whose older brother?" Pause. "Is he nice? How did you meet him? Is it ok with you?" Pause. "Well then I'm really happy for you." Pause. "Oh, until they are your guardian you need a place to stay? I'll ask Genkai." She pulled the phone away and looked at Genkai. "My friend, Rin, she needs a place to stay for like a week, is that ok?"

"Of course, if Ciarda doesn't mind her sleeping with the two of you." Genkai turned the problem over to her.

"I don't care as long as she doesn't touch my stuff," Ciarda stipulated.

"Yeah, it's ok!" Kagami said into the phone. "Yeah, starting tomorrow night! Bring your stuff to school! Great see you then!" She hung up the phone and was met by gossip hungry teenagers.

"Sooooo, who is this, Rin?" Lin asked scooting closer to her.

"Ahhh…." Kagami looked seriously worried.