Graduation had come and gone, here I was packing up my belongings from my aunt's house. Since I was going overseas to college momma had stayed behind to take the larger things back home with her. I had opted to take my suitcase of clothes and whatnot. I didn't have the luxury to ship everything I owned to Massachusetts, unlike Ayame.

Man I was going to miss everyone, briefly I wondered if I should call Sesshomaru, at least to tell him congratulations. I couldn't bring myself to do it. Kagura's words still echoing throughout my head.

I didn't want to confirm everything she had told me. I didn't want to hurt more than I already did. In reality it was selfish of me but the preservation part of me argued I had already been hurt more in my 17 years than most people had been in a lifetime.

Valid point.

I had come to a conclusion a while back, no matter how much I had changed in the past year I always saw myself as the Kagome I had been prior. No amount of convincing from my friends could change my mind otherwise. So more often than not I pretended to be ok.

Truthfully the only time I had felt like myself, whoever that may be, was that couple of weeks I spent with Sesshomaru.

I quickly left that line of thinking.

He must be a good actor, I assure myself. Lately the lame attempts at avoiding him weren't cutting it. I was torn.

Half of me wanted to walk away and never hear his name again but the other wanted to find him, give him a ginormous hug, and then possibly make out with him.

I blushed at my own thoughts.

Argh, Stupid bipolar self.

One minute I want to wipe the world clean of his existence the next I want to jump him and do naughty things to him.

The blush increased in color.

No, I will not do this to myself.

Steeling myself I continue to pack without dreamy thoughts of Sesshomaru.

"Kagome, you almost done packing up there?" my mother asked.

I knew she was getting restless leaving the shrine for that long.

"Yeah momma, I've a couple things let then I'll be done", consciously packing my clothes faster.

It took a half hour until I was finished.

"I'll see you later sweetie" my mother said after we finished filling up the car.

I pull her in for a hug, tears stinging my eyes, "I love you momma, and I'll miss you."

"I love you too, keep in touch Kagome" she said with tears shimmering in her eyes. She pulled back; her arms were replaced with much shorter ones.

"Good bye sis, good luck and I'll miss you" Souta said trying to keep his tears at bay. I on the other hand had no such luck. I gripped my little brother tighter.

"I'm sorry Souta, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I love you so much little brother." I said sobbing.

"Hey Kagome don't worry about it, you had your own problems to deal with. I never blamed you for leaving." Right then Souta seemed so much older, wiser, than 14.

A small sad smile crossed my tear ridden face.

"I'll see you runt." I ruffled his hair trying to lighten the somber mood.

"Back at you sis"

Souta breaks the hug and climbs into the car.

"Have a safe flight tomorrow dear."

"I will momma."

I watch as she gets in the station wagon and pulls out of the driveway, Souta's hanging out the window waving good bye. They disappear down the road along with the fading light.