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Previously:

A familiar wave of youki washed over us in the room and the door clicked shut.

I crawled out from under the bed to meet with Inuyasha's condescending gaze, "Coward".

"Leave him alone Inuyasha!" Sango said.

But I knew he's right, I'm a coward.

I didn't even have the courage to say goodbye.

I'm such an idiot.

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X

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25. Past

You know of those carousel rides in the amusement parks that goes round and round? The ones with bright flashing colourful lights, with different kinds of mystical animals all around- unicorns, dragons, phoenixes, horses with carriages and so on. I love getting on the unicorn ride. I feel like the princess when the ride goes up and down. It always brightens my day.

Dad loved bringing me to amusement parks. Those trips were our little time out to enjoy our much treasured father-daughter time together. Time with the whole family were obviously great as well but there's something special about being in the center of someone's attention. The love, the adoration that I felt then, nothing could be compared.

We both loved those trips. But we didn't have the time nor the finances to constantly visit amusement parks. But it never did matter. We had similar ones right in our little park by the pond. The mini ones in our neighbourhood park doesn't work on its own. They were manually operated. Someone has to pull it and drag it for it to move. Merry-go-round is its name. Usually I'll pull it and allow it to get some speed before hopping onto one of the platforms to enjoy the little thrill I've created for myself. Dad will accompany me to the playground and pull it for me so that I can enjoy the ride without putting in much effort. Those were the times were happy laughter filled the air while he ran around me. It didn't run on electricity, nor did it have flashing lights. It did not have unicorns or carriages but what it did give me were moments of joy that far exceeded the emotions at an amusement park. It was the undivided attention, the simplicity of life that drew me time and time again to the same ride.

"Quick! Faster! Faster!" I will often encourage.

And he gladly obliged. He will clap along to my laughter. A consonance that lives and replays in my heart whenever I recall those scenes.

Along with the speed, what I love about it was the quick rush of wind that picks up my hair and flings it around. I'll watch the world flash past before me in a blur and watch as the colours mashed together to create draping watercolour-like tapestry for a brief moment before they unweave themselves and the world returns to normal.

I should be around five then, and that was one of the best experiences of my life. To me that was my little paradise so I never thought that I'll ever see the ride in such a dolorous manner.

We were on our way home school and dad picked me up. I remember the school's ending bell so clearly and I vividly remember him waiting for me at the school gate. Everything was normal and we were on our way home.

However, that day was not a normal day for us at all. To think that the heavens had something horribly planned out. Or that it would be our last encounter. Our last trip.

Dad had some time off and after much pestering from me, he promised to bring me out. We were heading to the amusement park. At one of the bends, on our familiar path, dad suddenly lost control of the brakes. I watched helpless as the car started spinning wildly. Screams filled the car.

The car is headed towards straight for a lamp post and looking at its course it is on, it would crash into my seat in a matter of seconds. As a last ditch attempt, dad threw his force into hard turning the car. I saw in horror as the lamp post coming closer and crashing into the windscreen of my dad.

In an instant, it looked the part of a eerily beautiful finale from a horror scene- small micro glass shards flew everywhere. They scattered from the screen in an array, beautiful and evil. Each individual shard reflected a little bit of sunlight. It reflected in that moment, light in a million direction, with all the colours of a rainbow.

With blood.

I don't know which was louder: the blaring alarm of the car, the shattering of glass shards from the windscreen, the crush of metal, my own screams or my dad's whisper.

"Sweetheart" he urged as he unbuckled my seatbelt. "Are you hurt?"

I shook my head.

"Kagome, you must be brave. Please, listen to me now, be quick. Run Kagome, Run. Get away from here."

I bawled louder and with all the force I could muster.

"Kagome! Listen to me!" His whisper as clear to me as though he had shouted right into my ear. I stopped crying in shock and he continued "There's no time! Faster!" He said urging while he pushed me.

I hurriedly opened the door to get out and rushed to the other door where he is at. I opened that door and waited for him to step out.

He smiled at me, then rushed me forward, "Kagome, be good. Quick run to that tree there. I'll join you soon."

I dread the words coming out from his mouth. Why is he looking at me that way, why isn't he moving? Why can't he come along with me?

No, no… I'm not moving.

I shook my head.

"Kagome! Listen! Be good!"

I remained rooted.

He sighed, "Sweetheart listen to me, it's dangerous here. Move to that tall tree right over there and call the police. They'll be able to help me. Can you do that?"

I nodded.

"Good. Now go! Quickly! Faster! Faster!"

I ran to the tree determined to do my part. Nearing the tree, I realised that I didn't even have any phone with me with which I can call the authorities. I turned back to the car just to see it busting into flames with a loud explosion.

No...no…no…

I stared at the unforgiving flames and screamed my heart and lungs out. The vision of the flames forever burned in my mind. It's hypnotic dance of orange and red around each other in their own unique mass dance complete with their own ensemble of roars and crackle. I screamed.

I'm not sure how long passed before anyone found me. I was too young to recall that. But now what I remembered were the spins, the crash, the incessant urging to get out and the explosion.

And the loss. The emptiness. And the void left in my heart.

I opened my eyes and noticed that it's dark and damp. It stinks of rot and stale water and I can't see a thing; not even a palm's length from my face. A sense of foreboding crept in and I can't help but feel alone and lost. I feel bile rising up the back of my throat. Yuck! I swallowed it down and found my throat parched. Is it because of the fire? I moved my hands to rub my eyes but they are held down by something heavy…

What is this? Chains? I pushed down my shock and unbelief but their clanging sounds and the heavy weight only confirming my suspicion. My heart sped up. I can't think of anyone who would confine me or kidnap me. Wasn't I just with dad? It was a nightmare? Why is this happening?! My senses, heightened by adrenaline, made every sound and the lack of sight painfully obvious. Asides from my ragged breaths, the only sound that broke the constant deadly silence are from droplets of water in the corner of my confinement prison.

I slouched back entirely drained and worn out. Where's everyone? I don't want to be alone...

Muffled shouts sounded and I perked up my ears to try and listen better but it's nothing distinguishable. It seems like there's a scuffle outside and wondered if it's the enemy or it's someone who came to save me.

As the minutes ticked by it got harder and harder to breathe. I took a large breath in as an attempt to introduce more oxygen into my body.

-Cough-

Eh?

-Cough - Cough - Cough -

I'm coughing incessantly. There's something in the air. It's wasn't my imaginagination. It felt as though someone had thrown a handful of sawdust straight into my throat. The grating texture rubbed against every inch of skin in my throat. It definitely is getting hotter and harder to breathe.

The chains got hotter and I'm starting to feel sweat trickling down the side of my head. Could it be? Fire?! I have to get out of here.

Before I could determine my next course of action. Something in the near distance caught my attention. Sinister yellow orbs shone in the distance. No… Someone is approaching… No… Get away…

"Kagome…"

"NO!"

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X

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It's been a few hours since Shiori left and the rest have left the room to tend to their own business. They suggested that I get some sleep to recuperate after staying awake for two days. I declined and remained behind. They told me that I was being stubborn and that I needed the rest. Said that my body was not the same one that I had five hundred years ago. If I stayed up then no one will complain. Forget two days, even two months they would not make a sound. But times are different.

They don't understand. Are they insinuating that I'm weak? Don't they get it?! It's precisely why it's troubling! It's been two days! It's been bloody two days that's why I needed to stay up. I am responsible for her. Inuyasha still dared joke about it.

Fools. Every single one of them.

Her quick ragged breaths forced me out of my reverie. They quickly turned rushed and more forceful. Beads of sweat trickled down the sides of her forehead and I panicked.

I ran to her side and grabbed her immediately by her shoulders only to let her go when I caught myself acting rashly. I quashed the uneasiness and forced a neutral mask in its place.

"Kagome. Kagome…" I gently urged.

She didn't respond. I shook her lightly but she only moaned and struggled.

Cold fear threatened to wash over me as her breaths became harder and more laboured.

Kagome, get up. Kagome, you must get up.

"Kagome!" I nudged harder but to no avail were my attempts in waking her up.

She started to perspire as she remained trapped in her nightmare.

"Shiori!" Damn! Where the hell is she when you need her?!

"Kagome! Kagome!"

"No!" She shot up of bed with her hands gripping the blanket tightly, knuckles white.

She looked to me with her face pale and in shock. I could tell her dreams were anything but good.

"We are in a hospital," I started. She kept quiet and tried to process the information. "You're safe here Kagome. It's over."

She relaxed visually and loosen her death grip.

"Water?" I offered.

She took a few moments to process what I said before shaking her head- negative.

"Are you ok?"

She nodded yes.

"Do you need anything?"

She shook her head again and paused, "S- Sesshoumaru?"

"Yes?"

She bit her lip. Whatever she wanted to asking is weighing on her, yet hesitant in procuring the answer.

"It's okay, you can ask me."

"Are-" she started before stopping. I gave her more time. "Are you really Fluffy?" She looked curious yet hesitant, afraid that she had just stepped on a figurative landmine. Not that I blame her. Her world has completely changed in the past few days. Just a week ago she was preparing for her interview after all.

"Yes" I replied. "Yes I am" I looked at her softly before adding "I'm sorry for hiding this from you. It was never my intention for me to cause you harm. This One has- I have miscalculated. I apologise."

I looked up to her face to gauge her reaction. A blank state of expressionless mask is all I got. What have I done?

"Also, I want to thank you Kagome"

At this she blinked.

"Thank you for saving me, for taking care of me all these while. I owe you my life."

Kagome sat up straighter and turned a pained look at me.

"Sesshoumaru?"

"Yes?"

"Can you… Can you lie beside me?"

I pushed down any strange errant thoughts that threaten to surface due to her strange request. I promise myself to examine their cause at a later date.

"As Fluffy" She softly added.

Of course. What was I thinking?

Wordlessly I transformed my real form. For once, I'm thankful that my size is greatly reduced due to Naraku's stents. Never did I think that in this smaller size I am able to accomplish something that my larger self cannot. I climbed up onto the bed and laid beside the fragile human.

She laid back down onto the bed and pulled the blankets tighter to cover both herself and I. A warm musk flooded my nasal passage and I'm reminded once again of her delicious sweet scent.

"Thank you" she mumbled.

As she hugged me tighter, the bed shook rhythmically from her silent sobs. Big fat salty tears fell. I couldn't see them due to her hands holding me but I could smell them, feel them as they flowed down into my pelt.

We both laid there. She taking whatever comfort she could find and me giving whatever I could.

I rumbled in my ancient language, soothing her.

Rest well little one. Revenge will come soon enough. Tomorrow will be another day.

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X

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Next up: Kagome will find out more about this war they are fighting

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