Here is the next chapter! I hope that you enjoy! Please Review!

Release

Kagome sat on the green leather couch across from the older woman. She wasn't going to go to the shrink, but when Sesshomaru went into her room and threw her over his shoulder, she really didn't have a choice. She looked around the office while the woman prepared her notes and saw three bookshelves on her left side, a desk behind the woman, a water machine, and many pictures that lined the walls. The walls were brown and the carpet matched the couch. The color scheme was a little off, but the room did feel cozy. It was exactly how she pictured a shrink's room to look. She smoothed her hands over her black, mid-thigh length skirt. She wore a white sleeveless, button down, fitted shirt with black strapped high heels. Her hair was in a ponytail and she wore light make-up.

"So Ms. Kagome, tell me what is wrong," the older woman stated smiling. She looked like she was in her forties. She had jet black short hair and wore brown slacks with flats and a cream button down top. She had on light pink lip stick with mascara. She was simple, yet pretty. She held her pen and pad like it was her life, like if she let go of it or dropped it, there would be a problem.

Kagome released the breath that she was holding. "I honestly can't say."

"Why can't you say honey?"

"I just don't know how to communicate it without feeling stupid."

"We are all human honey, we all have feelings. Some that plague one person more than the next, you should not feel stupid about conveying your feelings me."

Kagome nodded and smiled slightly.

"Now Kagome, tell me, Ms. Higgins, what is on your mind."

Kagome looked down at her lap and began playing with her fingers. I can do this, just tell her Kagome, just tell her.

Kagome looked into Ms. Higgins brown eyes, and for some reason her mouth would not allow her to say anything.

"You have trouble communicating your issues to people don't you honey?"

Kagome nodded.

"Start off by telling me why that is."

Kagome released another breath and spoke. "It's because, I never really knew my parents. They died in a tragic car accident, and my grandmother died last year from cancer. Those are the people that I feel would only understand. My grandmother was great with helping me through issues, and I know that my parents would have been great as well."

"I'm so sorry to hear about your loss Kagome. Do you have any other family?"

Kagome nodded. "I have my sister Kikyo. It's only us two left."

"Do you tell Kikyo your issues?"

"Not really, because I feel that she has her own problems to deal with, she shouldn't have to deal with mine too."

Ms. Higgins crossed her legs and nodded and wrote something down on her pad. She looked up at Kagome again. "This is where it gets a little tricky honey. I'm pretty sure that since you and your sister are all you have left, she would love for you to talk to her about your issues. She could possibly even help you. Do you two have a good relationship?"

Kagome nodded. "Yes, we do."

"Then there is more of a reason to talk to her. Do you think that you can start opening up more to your sister?"

Kagome pondered over what Ms. Higgins said and nodded.

"Good." Ms. Higgins wrote a few more notes on her pad. "Based upon what you've told me so far, I feel that you went through something…traumatizing. Something that has had a big impact on your life, because you seem to not have trust or faith in your sister to accept your problems. Which probably means that you don't have faith in others either. Almost to the point that you would rather keep all of your issues bottled inside, because you're afraid of someone betraying you. Am I right?"

Damn, this lady is on point.

Kagome nodded.

"What happened honey?"

Kagome released another breath and began to tear. "I h…have been abused for the past three years by my boyfriend. And before that, my previous boyfriend cheated on me. I developed such a close relationship with these two men, and they both hurt me so much that I just can't take that from anyone else."

Ms. Higgins passed Kagome a tissue and she took it and dabbed the corners of her eyes to not mess up her makeup. "So you close yourself off because of that."

"Yes, that's part of it. And also, my ex-boyfriend of three years would threaten me to not tell anyone what was going on, otherwise he would abuse me more or worse. So I sort of became accustomed to it. We recently broke up and I finally told my friends and sister about that abuse, and I felt so much better afterwards. So much better. But now, I promise myself to never fall in love again or become close to someone else, because I don't want to be hurt again."

Ms. Higgins nodded and continued to scribble in her pad. "First of all Kagome, I commend you on getting out of that situation and telling your friends and family. Not many women can do that. But I definitely say that you should not give up on love. You've been in two bad relationships honey, and there are billions more guys in the world. If your heart begins to develop feelings for someone, follow it."

Kagome nodded. "I understand what you are saying Ms. Higgins, but I can't allow myself to be hurt again."

"Kagome, hurt is a part of life. Not only in relationships, but just in experience. Everyone gets hurt, you just have to know how to get over it and learn from it."

"But what if I develop feelings for a guy that doesn't show any emotion, and is just so cold and mean at times?"

"That's not a problem. Maybe he suffers from trust issues too and his way of covering up is by being mean and cruel. You two almost sound alike, it's just that you close yourself off and he is mean towards people. Talking to him would solve that issue, become more connected and understanding towards each other."

The bell that sat on the table next to Ms. Higgins rang. "Oh wow, it's been an hour already honey. Will I see you next week?"

Kagome looked down at her lap in thought. She didn't want to have to constantly come back like a helpless or crazy person, but Ms. Higgins did make sense and did give her great advice. Maybe she could get over her trust issue and start over in her life."

Kagome looked into Ms. Higgins eyes. "Yes, I'll be back next week."

~Sesshomaru~

Sesshomaru sat in the waiting room looking at his phone, until the door on his right opened and Kagome walked out. She looked at him with her bright ocean blue eyes, and they didn't hold that sadness and confusion in them like they did yesterday and earlier that day; she looked slightly more at peace.

Sesshomaru stood as she walked over to him with a slight smile. "How was the shrink?"

Kagome chuckled. "She was great, I want to come back next week."

Sesshomaru nodded. "Hn."

To his surprise, Kagome's arms circled around his neck and she pulled him into a tight hug.

"Thanks Sesshomaru," she whispered into his ear. "I really appreciate this so much."

Sesshomaru stood still unsure of what to do. This girl appreciates what this Sesshomaru did? Sesshomaru smelled Kagome's lavender scent as she hugged him, and he slowly circled his arms around her waist.