Gift #3 in the 12 Days of Witchyness!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I do not profit from this story.

Elevator Music

Dancing in the Sky

(Memory)

Kagome couldn't really say what happened next, or why it happened.

Maybe it was the exhaustion she felt from all of the crying and the worrying. Maybe it was from telling Inuyasha the reason she didn't like being stuck in a closed-in space. Maybe she was just tired as hell. Regardless of what it was Kagome soon found her eyelids drooping and her body becoming weak.

"Inuyasha," she whispered, wanting so desperately to fall into the calm oblivion of sleep. But she couldn't just rest on Inuyasha, or leave him alone with his thoughts in the elevator. Who knew what would happen if she left him alone for even a moment?

"Shh, Kagome," he whispered, his deep voice a low rumble to her ears. "Just relax, I'm here."

Strange, how he said that. Like if he wasn't there Kagome would be upset or a mess – heartbroken even. He said it like a promise, which was odd considering the tension. Kagome frowned, the nagging feeling of missing something drawing deep within her.

"Go to sleep."

She fought for a few more moments, trying to make herself believe that she could stay awake if she could just focus on something real. But Inuyasha was real and his breathing was real, and the steady beat of his heart was rhythmic and calming. Kagome was asleep before she knew it.

Dreams and reality tend to blur in the moments that matter most. Sometimes, your dreams are the key to your reality. You push for those too-far-away goals and that tropical paradise that you're striving for. Dreams make a person go for what they really want. Reality is usually the opposite.

Sometimes you wish you were asleep, forgetting everything that the real world was dishing out. You await your dreams. And then there are times when you think, am I really awake? Because there are moments in this world – precious, monumental – that can make up for every second reality makes you stray. It can be as easy as smiling at a stranger or watching the love of your life give birth to your child. Some things we just can't explain.

Kagome's exhale was like releasing everything that had been keeping her awake, and soon her mind was a blank screen, ready to play what imagination had created.

Dreams can be better than reality. Reality can be better than dreams.

And then there are times when dreams and reality are really no different from one another.

The desk is solid under her hands, slippery cool as she quickly sits up and looks around. The setting is familiar – blue walls and black, prestigious frames. There are canvases of the city, buildings to be proud of. A company focusing on architectural design shows off nothing else but their own mastery.

"Kagome," a male voice said, chuckling. "Please tell me you were asleep."

Kagome remembers this. She remembers everything so clearly that it's like she's really living it over again. This memory – this heartbreaking memory that she left in the past so long ago.

She knows what to say next. "Your mind is playing tricks on you."

Her co-worker laughs, shaking his head and letting his long hair stray out of its normally perfect style. "Clearly that's what's going on."

Kagome grimaces, rubbing her cheek where it was planted on the desk. "Did you need something?"

"Two things," her co-worker said, stepping into her office and smiling beautifully at her. "Did you get a hold of the neighbour?"

Frowning momentarily, Kagome looked around her desk before nodding. "Yes and she says she will do it. We need to keep talking to her – you should probably schedule a meeting with her. She sounded a bit too sketchy for my liking."

"We don't want any runaway witnesses," he agreed, coming closer and finally leaning on her desk. He was so close to her that she could practically feel the heat radiating off of him. His pure black suit was really as black as she thought it was. Not even a hint of grey. "And the report?"

Groaning internally, Kagome closed her eyes. "Not yet."

He laughed, sounding way too happy even though she was behind in her work. "You look like you could use a break."

"I could use a holiday," Kagome corrected, getting out the files she needed. Goddammit, how could she have forgotten?

Suddenly, she knew exactly how she had forgotten. He was leaning over her, his hand on her desk preventing her from getting the paperwork needed. "Let's get lunch."

Don't do it. Don't you do it Higurashi or so help me–

"Are you buying?"

Her co-worker laughed again, smiling like she was the brightest part of his day. "Are you putting out?"

I wish.

There's always a moment you wish you could just...change. Alter the reality so that you did go to that class or didn't attend that party. It was a regret that could follow you for the rest of your life.

Kagome didn't learn of that until exactly one month later.

Right now, she thought her heart was racing incredibly fast.

"Well then, let's go."

He looked at her then. His eyes were so big and so intense that Kagome wondered how easy it would be to just get lost in them. Then the moment he smiled she was distracted yet again, feeling the heat of his hand as he helped her out of his chair and out of the office. They took his vehicle, the shining sports car glinting in the sun as he opened the door for her. "After you, madam."

Kagome curtseyed a little, smiling back. "Thank you good sir."

There was that laugh again – so breathtaking.

She couldn't be happier with the wind whipping in her hair and the sun dancing in the afternoon sky. Kagome looked over at her co-worker, just soaking him in.

Until the sun glinted off that shiny golden band he wore on his left ring finger.

Sometimes, memories can hurt more than any dream or reality.

...Huh. I forgot about this part. I guess I should fix that MAJOR plot error now. Sigh.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Witchy