A/N: So, it's been seven years since I updated this story. I apologize to all who have been waiting to read this. The story is updated up to chapter 8 on Dokuga if you would like to read ahead. I really want to finish it by the end of the year, so fingers crossed that I can.

To explain why I've been away: see, shortly after writing this, my aunt got lung cancer and law school took over my life. Then, when I thought I could finally sit down to this story again, my aunt passed away. Nothing is worse than having to be in Kagome's situation in this story. Which is what my family was. It's gut wrenching to sit there and wonder if a loved one will wake up and then absolutely devastating when you realize that they won't. I physically got nauseous every time I picked up writing this story because it just reminded me of those painful few weeks in my life when my mom would call me daily and tell me about my aunt's condition and how she dreaded going to the hospital.

I'm finally able to compartmentalize things now, and I'm in a much better state of mind when it comes to this story. So, I hope I can finish the last two chapters and post them on Dokuga and here soon. Until then, please forgive me for taking so long to update. I'll try for a chapter a week here until I'm done with the entirety of the story.

Kagome walked down the streets of Aomori going to the same café that she had visited with Mr. Mori. She wanted a nice helping of something warm and cheesy so she had decided that this would be a good place to stop by for dinner. The snow from a few days ago hadn't melted entirely because the weather was too cold for it. As a result, she walked gingerly trying to avoid the untreated areas of the sidewalk lest she fall due to some ice. It had been two days since she had had that cathartic moment with Mr. Mori. Afterwards, both had been busy with other things and been unable to see each other. For Kagome it was a trying time as she sat down in a computer café and searched for hours on end about divorce proceedings.

It had come to her that she needed to do this as she got ready for bed the night she and Mr. Mori had thrown snowballs. She stayed up much later than she was supposed to and thought about everything that she should do and she needed to do. It had become painfully obvious to her that she needed to go through divorce proceedings and that perhaps it was a good idea to get herself ready for them. She slept in late the next morning and didn't visit the hospital. Instead, she had found a nearby internet café and she perused online to find out information on divorce proceedings in Japan. Seeing the door to the Italian café was within reach, she opened it instantly feeling the warmth. The thoughts of divorce could wait a bit.

There were more customers here today than before and she scanned the restaurant to find an area to sit. As she did so, she saw a familiar face and she wondered what to do. Did she say hi to Mr. Mori? Was that how they went about things now? Were they friends? Or were they two individuals who found themselves on the wrong side of tragedy? He looked up, his eyes softening when they met hers and he indicated the seat open at his table. Smiling softly, she nodded and made her way across the restaurant to slip into the seat.

"Hello." She greeted not sure of what else to say. "How are you?"

"Good." He flagged a waiter to get her order as he replied. "And you?"

Kagome shrugged as her cheeks and hands warmed, turning a light shade of pink. "I've… I've been busy and looking at some things." He seemed to want to ask her what she was looking into but stopped himself. She was glad. It was one thing to admit to herself what she was researching. It was another thing to admit that same information to someone else. Doing so made it real, tangible, a truth.

"I see." The waiter stopped by asking him what his companion wanted. He let her make an order, asking for his to be held back until hers was ready. He had come into the restaurant a short while ago and he could wait the few extra minutes it took to get her order ready.

"You didn't have to do that." Kagome stated softly. She felt a little rude making him wait. And guilty because she was the one imposing on his dinner.

"It's fine."

Sesshomaru regarded her closely trying to decide how to tell her the news. He was going to stop by her room later tonight since he hadn't seen her over the past few days but now he didn't have to. He had to wonder if she was avoiding him after the… the shared experience. He could have called it by a number of better names but he couldn't find the right term for it. She was looking at him hesitantly and he realized that he was the one who needed to speak now in the conversation.

"I leave for Tokyo tomorrow."

"Oh." Kagome didn't know what to say after that. She knew that Mr. Mori noticed it and he was fidgeting as though he hadn't really wanted to tell her this in the first place. She hoped that he wasn't telling her this out of some misplaced sense of friendliness. She fumbled with her napkin as she thought of what to say.

"That's… that's good. Are you going to visit your wife on the weekends?"

Sesshomaru took a deep breath and looked out the window trying to figure out how to tell her the news. He had been thrilled when he heard the words from the doctor, but Mrs. Tanaka wouldn't be. His words would either give her a false sense of hope or make her depressed. He couldn't on his conscience do either. He wanted to tell her that it was none of her business but he knew that he couldn't do that. If he didn't tell her now, she would find out when she visited the hospital tomorrow. That would make him the wrong party. Sighing, he turned to her and met her eyes before averting them to the table. It was already bad enough that he had to tell her this; he wouldn't do it when he could see the expressions on her face.

"Kikyo…" He cleared his throat. "My wife is stable enough to be moved to a hospital in Tokyo."

There was a pause in the conversation that bordered on being awkward. "I see. I'm happy for you two."

Kagome didn't know what else she could tell him. She was happy for Mr. Mori, she really was. She was also jealous and bitter. Why did Kikyo have to be stable and not Inuyasha? It wasn't fair. She wanted her husband to be stable too. She wanted to ask him why he had done what he did, she wanted to be held by him one last time before she let him go and divorced him. She wanted to see his eyes and see him tease her again, because even though it hurt to know he had been cheating on her, it would hurt her more if something worse happened to him.

Sesshomaru wanted to reach forward and give her comfort. But he couldn't. It wasn't his job to do so and it would just make him as bad as Kikyo if he did. Last time he had shared bad news with her, they had Rin and Kaede to act as a buffer at dinner. This time, there was no one to act as a buffer. The waiter came by and deposited their food, giving them both a reprieve from the conversation. He hesitated before eating though. He wanted to say something to her to alleviate the silence.

"How is your health?" It was a simple question but it managed to break the silence at the table. She smiled at him, her left hand going to cover her stomach fondly.

"Good." She smiled softly understanding what he was doing. "I have a doctor's appointment in two weeks. I am hoping I get to return to Tokyo by then." He nodded.

Sesshomaru was curious. He wanted to learn a lot about the pregnancy and all that it entailed. A year ago, he had imagined he was going to learn as Kikyo's body changed and their child grew in her. Kagome wasn't his wife but he wanted nothing more than to learn about a pregnancy through her. He wanted to live through her, learn from her. Kagome must have noticed something on his face, because when she next spoke, it surprised him at how perceptive she was.

"Did you and your wife plan on starting a family?" She asked softly. She had seen the way his eyes had softened and he had looked at her as though he was seeing something else.

Sesshomaru cleared his throat. "We were going to. Kikyo had decided to…stop trying after a bit." Kagome didn't know what was worse-having your wife tell you she didn't want a baby or finding out she had been pregnant with another man's. The fact that he had been close to starting a family and then having it taken away from him must have upset him more than he was showing.

"Would you…" She hesitated but then thought about the questions he had been asking her. "Would you like to hear more about… my pregnancy?" She took a bite of her meal, now that it had cooled some. She didn't want to eat a cold pasta. The eating distracted her as she waited for his answer. It had surprised her that she had even asked him the question she did. Was it the right thing to do? What if he thought she was being too forward and leaching onto him because of her situation?

"May I?" He asked after a few minutes of silence in which the two ate. He didn't want to impose on her but he… he wanted to be there for her because he couldn't for his own wife and because she had asked.

"I guess." She shrugged as she thought about it. "Honestly, no one but my mother knows yet. I suppose this is… like telling a friend." She took another bite of food and swallowed. "I honestly am surprised I haven't been more affected by the pregnancy." She stated. "I thought that the current situation would make it harder for me."

"I can understand that." He took a sip of the wine he had ordered for himself. "What is it like?"

She was glad that he had asked and seemed genuinely interested. This was how she had pictured Inuyasha being when he found out. Pushing that thought away, she thought about her answer. For a while now, the pregnancy had been this thing hanging above her head. Now, as she sat here discussing things with Mr. Mori, it felt real and for a moment she forgot it was Inuyasha's child just as much as it was hers. Mr. Mori was so curious, like a little kid almost, and she thought she would like to share this experience with him. It would be nice to have someone to talk to about it.

"It feels amazing. I only just found out a few days before I came to Aomori. And I'm surprised the morning sickness hasn't started yet, though I've been told it should start soon. I've just been a little sensitive to things for a while. Smells, foods, emotions." Kagome poked at her food. "I'm thrilled that there's this little life inside me and that I'm going to be a mother but I'm so scared at the same time. I'm scared of what might happen while I'm pregnant, I'm scared of my- and this baby's- future, and I'm afraid I'll be a terrible mother. But then, I just think that I'm lucky to finally be blessed with this chance." She blinked back tears as she fought with her emotions. She felt happy and scared and a whole lot of other things.

"Inuyasha and I- we'd been trying for a while. I was so excited when I found out because we were both finally getting what we wanted." She wiped at her eyes, the tears flowing over. "Oh gosh- I'm sorry. I'm not normally this emotional. I suppose I hadn't realized how wonderful it would feel to tell someone about this."

Sesshomaru didn't think before he acted next. His hand moved across the table and took one of hers. The action startled them both but she didn't let go of his hand and he continued to offer her some comfort. Before the touch could linger, he pulled away. She didn't say anything to him the entire time. She smiled and moved her hand back once his hand had left. Pushing a few locks of hair behind her ear, Kagome finished the rest of the dinner in silence prompting him to do the same.

"Thank you." It was Mr. Mori who spoke a while later as he flagged down a waiter for their check. "I am… I appreciate you sharing this with me."

Kagome wondered for a moment why his wife would have given up a chance to be with this man and start a family with him. She had wondered once if Inuyasha would act like this; in fact, she had hoped he would. It was clear to her that Mr. Mori wanted nothing more than a family of his own. He had thought he was finally going to be given the chance to start one but, instead, his wife had chosen to start a family with another. She empathized with this man and felt a brief pang of pity.

"Thank you for listening." She stated as he laid down enough money to cover both their dinners. "Oh, you don't have to do that." He shook his head.

"You paid last time. Let me this time." She nodded, letting him do so and standing up. Bundling up into her winter gear, she waited for Mr. Mori to finalize the transaction. It made no sense to walk to the hotel by herself when he would only be a few paces behind her.

The walk to the hotel was silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Kagome wondered what she would do now that she wouldn't have Mr. Mori for company. Perhaps she would take this time to go to the local library and get books? Or she might spend some extra time at Inuyasha's bedside. Sesshomaru was wondering what would happen when he got back to Tokyo. His secretary had been in contact with him all week, sending him a few files via e-mail that needed immediate approval but letting the rest of the work pile up. With his job, he would have less time to spend with Kikyo. Perhaps that was a good thing.

The hotel loomed in front of them and they walked in swiftly trying to escape the chilly air outside. Kagome greeted the elderly woman at the desk as they made their way to the elevators. Sesshomaru didn't miss the questioning glance shot his way from the lady. Let her think what she wanted. He pressed the button for their floor. It was a quiet and short ride and when they reached their floors, they made their way to Kagome's door first. She hesitated, but turned to him.

"I- thank you. It was nice meeting you but I wish we had met under different circumstances." He nodded, feeling as though with that one line she had managed to create a distance between them that hadn't been there earlier that night.

"I share your sentiments." Hesitating for only a moment, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet to take out his business card. Handing it to her with both hands, he waited for her to acknowledge it. "If you would like to meet in Tokyo."

"Mori Sesshomaru." She read out politely (as manners dictated) taking the card with both of her hands. "I would like that. We could have dinner once- with Rin and Kaede again." She turned to her door and unlocked it with the key card. Pushing it open, she hesitated on the threshold.

"Good night Mr. Mori. Have a safe trip back to Tokyo." He nodded watching her enter the room and close the door before going to his own room. He had to pack for his departure tomorrow.

Kagome took a deep breath of the Tokyo air- airport air- as she weaved her way to the baggage claim area. Tokyo was busy and packed with people. A week in Aomori with a smaller population had made her forget what it was like to navigate large crowds. She was glad to be back though. Tokyo meant family and friends. Tokyo meant she didn't have to be alone as she took care (was it really that) of Inuyasha and her health. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them. Most of all, Tokyo didn't mean pitying glances.

It had been hard for her the week that she had been alone in Aomori. The nurses at the hospital all gave her pitying looks and seemed to shake their heads or offer sympathetic glances as she walked by. She had wanted a friend, not those looks. The doctor- Kagura- had been a little better to be around. She had sought Kagome out the day after the Mori's had left and told her about her husband. Inuyasha looked to be showing progress and if all went well, he would only need to stay for a week longer. It turned out the doctor had been right. The doctor had also been the one to give Kagome something to do.

With Kagura's directions, she had easily found the local library and spent hours there reading books when she wasn't researching in the internet café. And she had called her mother and friends to update them on her stay. They were simple reassurances such as: I think I'll be home soon; the doctor says that in a week, his condition should be stable enough to airlift him to Tokyo. Then, there were the thoughts on what she would do to get an income. For now, she had a compensation salary coming in from her husband's workplace but she needed something else to pay the bills. Quitting her job had seemed like a good idea a few months ago. Now, she regretted the decision.

It was a good thing she had friends to help her though, she mused, finding the baggage carousel that her luggage was supposed to come in on. Sango had been the one who suggested she might try a babysitting job or a librarian job. Those sounded like good options for her at the moment and she would look into them soon. Spotting her check in bag, she pulled it off the conveyer belt and righted it. A quick glance around and she soon spotted her friends. Sango it seemed had seen her as well as she was making her way over with Miroku.

"Kagome!" She greeted, pulling her friend into a quick one-armed hug. "It's nice to have you back." Miroku stopped next to his wife, easily taking the check in bag and smiling at his friend.

"It's good to see you Kagome." He told her, his eyes softening.

Together, the three made their way out of the airport and towards where Miroku had parked the car. It was cold and blistery in Tokyo and Kagome huddled into her scarf as they walked. No one spoke as they struggled to fight the cold, biting wind and climb into the car's heat. For this, Kagome was grateful. She knew what questions her friends would want to ask and she was in no mood to answer them. For now, she wanted to go home and warm up. Miroku's car came into view and the two girls quickly got in as Miroku placed the check-in bag in the trunk.

"Where should I take you?" He asked once they had started leaving the airport. The heater had finally kicked in and the three of them had stopped shivering.

"The shrine." She stated immediately.

Kagome didn't think she could be in their home by herself for a while. Just thinking of sleeping in the bed they had shared, revolted her. How many times had he come to sleep in their bed after meeting Mrs. Mori? How many times had he kissed her and taken her on that bed as he met with the other woman? It was better if she stayed at the shrine until she felt she could visit their home without the overwhelming sadness and anger taking over. And, if Miroku and Sango dropped her off at the shrine, there was more of a chance that they would stay, unable to refuse her mother's hospitality. It made it easier on her to tell everyone the news of what had happened once. She didn't think she could have that conversation more than that.

They came up on the shrine soon enough and Miroku parked at the bottom of the stairs in one of the designated parking spots. He took her bag from the trunk and carried it up the stairs leaving Kagome and Sango to follow him. Her mother greeted them at the entrance to the family house. She wasted no time in hugging her daughter and sending her upstairs to take a shower. And then, just as Kagome had predicted, she invited the married couple to stay for some tea- an invitation that they accepted.

Kagome glanced around the room that had once been hers. It was painted rose pink from when she was a little girl who had yet to outgrow her princess phase. Various memorabilia from the years dotted the shelves and bookcases while certain other knickknacks were missing, having found their place in her married home. Unpacking her carry on, she took the outfit she had packed and made her way to the bathroom. She greeted her brother on the way there as he made his way up the stairs with her suitcase.

The shower was warm and relaxing. She had forgotten how good it felt to bathe in the comfort of one's own home. Stepping out, she toweled herself dry and applied her lotions before donning the clothes she had brought with her. Hanging up the towel she used, she went downstairs to find everyone in the living room. Her mother sat with Souta on the sofa, a space between them meant for her. Her grandfather had taken a seat in his armchair while Miroku and Sango sat sipping tea in the loveseat. Taking the seat next to her mother, she waited until she was poured a cup. Then, she looked up as the questions began.

"What happened?"

It was her mother who spoke first, urging her to say only what she wanted. Kagome had decided to tell them the entire truth though. Her mother's concern was unnecessary. For a moment she just sat there trying to figure out where to start. Did she start at the affair? Or the phone call? Maybe it was better if she just said what she knew, in an order she felt was right. She took a sip of her tea and then held it, unable to drink anymore at the moment. It gave her the courage she needed to speak though.

"As you know, Inuyasha was in Aomori, not Osaka on a business trip. He was involved in a car accident." She looked down at her tea remembering everything that Officer Fujita had told her in the police station. "He and…the car's other passenger were drunk."

"Drunk?" Sango asked as her husband laced one of his hands through hers.

"Yes." Kagome had tried to make an effort to not cry but she couldn't stop her eyes from misting over. Once started, she continued, needing to get out all her words at once so she didn't have to repeat them. "It was a woman- Mrs. Mori. She and Inuyasha were having an affair. She was pregnant when the crash happened and she has a better chance of surviving than Inuyasha does."

As soon as the words were out, the tears fled down her cheeks. For days, she had known that she was going to tell them- her friends and family. She had known she was going to be upset as she did so. She hadn't realized just how upset she was going to be though. She and Mr. Mori had admitted it to themselves but admitting to her family that she had married a man who didn't love her as he claimed…it made her feel ashamed. What had she been lacking that had forced him to go to someone else? And why did he get that woman pregnant?

"Kagome." Her mother held her sobbing daughter close and rocked her, her heart clenching in pain. Mrs. Higurashi had lost her husband a mere seven years into her marriage. She had prayed that her children would never experience the agony of losing their spouse. She had forgotten that it hurt more when infidelity was the reason a marriage ceased to exist. As a mother, it pained her to see her daughter in such a situation. She would stay with her child though and support her as long as she needed it.

"I'm going to wait for him to wake up." Kagome stated once her sobs had subsided a little. "Then, I'm going to ask him why. And… I'll divorce him." She hesitated but then looked up at the room. No one seemed surprised by her last statement. Her hand went to her stomach and she caressed it fondly. "I'm keeping the baby though."

Her mother wasn't shocked by the news but everyone else was. Her brother looked at her in shock, while her grandfather smiled fondly at her. He was happy to see her start a family though he wished it was under better circumstances. Miroku and Sango squeezed the hands they had laced together. They knew how long Inuyasha and Kagome had been trying to start a family and how many times the couple had been disappointed when Kagome hadn't conceived again. When she did, it was bittersweet. She had finally been able to start a family but her husband wasn't there to support her.

"Oh Kagome!" Sango stood and crossed the room, taking her friend's hand in hers in a silent show of support. She couldn't even imagine what Kagome was going through. She couldn't even bear to think of what it would be like if she and Miroku were in this situation. She doubted she'd be as strong as Kagome was right now. Her friend was such a loving person. Why did she have to go through this?

"What do you want to do for now?" Miroku asked watching the females on the sofa. The room had quieted a little as the news sunk in and became fact. He discreetly pointed the space next to him and Souta moved away from the sofa to make room for Sango. As much as the brother wanted to offer his sister support, it was obvious this was a time she needed females first.

"I'd like to try to find a job." Kagome stated, feeling a bit more confident as she took in the room. "I was thinking of the babysitting offer you mentioned Sango." She pulled away to look at her mother. She really did need a job to help pay some bills. But, she wasn't ready to go back to the place where those bills came from. "Do you think I can stay here for a while? Just until I feel better about going home?" Her mother smiled soothingly.

"When have I ever not welcomed you home?"

It made her smile shakily and she nodded in thanks as she dragged Sango up to sit with her. Now that the news had been shared, she wanted to move on to lighter topics. What had happened couldn't be changed but she could change the lingering feeling of sadness in the room to something else.

"What does babysitting entail? I doubt I have the credentials." Sango smiled at her, blinking back her own tears. She understood what Kagome was trying to do and was willing to follow her friend's cue.

"You don't need that many credentials. Since you're not running a daycare but are instead watching over children it shouldn't be a problem. I know you and can vouch for you." Sango let go of her friend's hands and laced her fingers together. "I have a few neighbors who are looking for someone to watch their children after work for a few hours. And weren't you telling me a while back that your own neighbors needed a babysitter to look over their toddler since they can't afford the daycare?"

"Yes, the Watanabe's did mention that." Kagome thought about it. Her neighbors she knew wouldn't mind if Kagome watched little Ami. She'd done so before. And if Sango's neighbors saw that and trusted her friend's decision, it wouldn't be so bad. Inuyasha's workers compensation lasted three months and she prayed that he woke by then. His compensation could take care of the food and hospital expenses while she would work on the bills. She should have enough. Even if he couldn't go to work immediately after he woke, she would find a way to take care of things.

"Kagome," Miroku started seeing her expression, "you know we're all here to help right?" She looked up at him feeling pitied. "No, don't you look at me like that. You are like a sister to me. And I promise to help you through this time. We'll help you meet any financial needs you have. Don't worry."

Kagome didn't want to accept his help but he had a point. If Inuyasha never woke up, how was she ever going to survive? She supposed the quickest option was to sell their house but she didn't want to- at least not yet. She had yet to get her answers and she wanted them. Then, they could decide what to do. She felt a bit better now, after the conversation. It still hurt and she still felt ashamed that she- independent woman that she was- had come to depend on so many. But she had no choice. Slowly, she would pick up the pieces of her life and move-on. Until then, she would use the support she was given.

"Thank you." Her words were heartfelt and the tension in the room eased a little. It wasn't gone completely but it was enough for a few scattered smiles to break about. Dwelling in sadness, anger, and the past wouldn't help anyone right now. It was time to move forward.