Kagome

She leaped through the air. Countless hours of training had her toes pointing perfectly into position. The landing stuck and she let the music take over her body. It twisted her into a pirouette, then a second, a third. The momentum had her dark heavy locks whipping around with the rest of her body. The flowing skirts of the costume she wore whirled, the intricate cool blue colors of it mesmerizing the crowd as she moved. Kagome could care less about the crowd though. The only eyes on her that mattered were the judges, or in this case, the critic sitting front and center of the stage. There was another intense stare she could feel burning into her from the blur of the audience but the feeling was brushed off. Stage fright was not something Kagome would put up with. She concentrated on her breathwork. This was her third performance of the day and her body was feeling it. Dancing three different performances in 24 hours wasn't something new, but there was an entire decade between last time she had had to pull it off and now.

The melody was wrapping up. On the cue of the music, she flattened her body to the stage and lifted one of her powerful legs into the air. It made a straight line before curving over her head. The lights dimmed again as the song ended.

Kagome let her body relax. That was it, she thought. The final dance of the night, of the company tour. A bright smile broke out on her face as she picked herself up and sashayed off the stage.

There were more dancers waiting to applaud her backstage. Kagome was hugged and showered with compliments on her way back to the small area she had claimed as hers to get ready for performance. Several people had already left flowers waiting for her on the portable vanity. She picked up an elegantly wrapped bunch of vibrant red roses and took a whiff. Sitting on the stool in front of her mirror, she read a card attached to the bouquet she held.

I don't have to wait to see the show to know you will deserve these.

Evermore,

Sesshoumaru

Kagome's smile only brightened. So he made it, she thought happily. She had called her childhood friend the moment she heard her company was coming to the Kanto area to perform their last show of the season. It was a surprise to everyone that they would finally be leaving the Americas to dance in their hometown but Kagome had to admit it was their best show yet. The company had only scheduled two shows that day, this third one had been dumped on this on the last second when a rich senator had asked for a private showing. Her smile faltered some at the memory of the senator slobbering all over his guest in a corner booth. They had only agreed to do it at the promise of a major critic being in the crowd.

She had barely begun to wipe her face free of makeup when a high pitched laugh filled the room. Kagome knew who it was before she even turned.

"Kagome, you were wonderful," Sango gushed as she rushed over to hug her friend. "I mean, the entire show was amazing. The tri number hasn't been that perfect since the premiere, but tonight! Oh, we really showed them, didn't we?" The words fell from her painted mouth fast. Sango was still holding onto her so Kagome gently wrapped herself from the embrace, holding her out an arm's length.

"We definitely show them," Kagome beamed. Sango was still in full costume from her last dance. The skimpy red two-piece showed off her perfectly tanned skin stretched over lean muscles. When Sango wasn't dancing, she concentrated all of her energy into her mind and body. "How about I take some of those pins out of your hair?"

Brown eyes lighting up, Sango sat between Kagome's knees. Her hair was long, straight and, currently rolled into a intricate bun. She chattered on as Kagome untwisted the heavy mass from the pins.

Kagome's mind was elsewhere. Her body was tired from the long tour in the Americas, her mind numb from the countless hours of road time. The rest of the company was going to take their depart back home tomorrow but this was home. She wanted nothing more than to flag the next taxi and head straight to her probably very dusty apartment. The idea of home warmed her heart. It had been almost two years since she had set foot in her own place. Two years since she had last hugged her mother. Tears stung at her eyes but she held them back. She would see her mother soon, she knew. Tonight had been a bad night to surprise a home visit on her mom since she was working a shift in the hospital but tomorrow they would spend the day together in the shrine Kagome grew up in.

"Kagome?"

She snapped her thought back into place just as Sango turned to face her. "I'm sorry, Sango. What was the last part you said?"

Sango sprang to her feet, her hair now falling past her waist free of its confinement. "I'm so so sorry, Kagome. I should have realized how tired you must be." Cupping her hands around Kagome's face, she leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I love you, get home safe please. I'll give the others hell if they say anything about you ditching the party." She bounced away with that back into the bustling crowd of dancers.

Kagome sighed and faced her mirror again. Sango knew her so well, she thought. One look at her face and her friend knew how much she just wanted to be left alone. She changed into a pair of loose gray joggers and a tank top, rubbing her feet some before slipping into a pair of slides. The padding felt like heaven on her overworked feet. Gathering up the bouquets and her travel bag that she had lived out of on tour, Kagome made her way out of the dressing rooms.

She received and gave congratulations to her fellow dancers as she walked closer and closer to the exit. Feeling a quick adrenaline rush when her hand finally landed on the door handle. The fresh night air slapped at her face. She felt a pang of regret for leaving so many so soon after the ending of the show but the sight of the night sky full of stars helped lessen it. Sesshoumaru was sure to be looking for her. She smiled at the flowers she carried again. He was very sweet. Many people were uncomfortable around the guy thanks to his sparkling personality, but Kagome had known him for too long. He had been friends with her younger brother, and kept her sane long after her bother died in a tragic accident. He knew her very well too though, she thought walking into the busy street. Sesshoumaru would know that she would go home and escape into her cave after the long tour.

After finally flagging down a cab, Kagome gave the driver the address. She sighed and looked out of the window, asleep before they pulled out into the streets.