Summary: Composed of secrets, mystery, and altruism, Kagome was an enigma. She was, unfortunately, one to attract the wrong type of attention. Wrapped up in chaos when Moriarty sets his sights on her, Kagome finds a new beginning in a way she never expected. Secrets will unravel, but for once she doesn't fear the truth being exposed. A being who defies all logic captivates all kinds.

Pairing: Sherlock x Kagome

Disclaimer: I do not own either series. Each belongs to their rightful owners.

Prologue

The room was quiet, tense. She didn't like the air that filled it, but nothing seemed like it could ever fix it. Her gaze was disinterested, unfocused, as she kept her eyes fixed on the steaming cup of tea in front of her. A bandaged hand rested on the table, layers of white disappearing underneath the cuff of her grey, long-sleeved dress to wrap up the full length of her arm. A scratchy bandage rested on her forehead, patches of white peeking out from locks of raven hair. It didn't sit right with her.

"Kagome-,"

"Don't, John." Her voice was cold as she cut him off, blue eyes refusing to rise from what she was staring at in disinterest. "Anything you say, none of it will help." A soft exhale came from the other side of the table, and she could register the worry present in the sound. Whether that was true or not, she couldn't find it in her to care. The real truth was, she didn't know how much she could stand to hear before her walls cracked and broke. She didn't know how much she could take before she crumbled yet again.

Why did it have to happen? She couldn't make any sense of it, no matter how hard she tried. Her mind refused to clear and allow her to sort her thoughts. A whirlwind of emotions coursed through her in violet waves, and it took all the willpower she possessed not to break down again. She could feel a cold gaze on her back, the person behind her scrutinizing the pair at the table with a calculating stare. Beneath the coldness, she could feel the vague caress of concern against her skin.

It wasn't the first time her entire world had gotten flipped upside down, but, for some reason, it was so much harder to swallow this time around. She knew better. She knew that she should be able to be strong throughout crisis and soldier through it. She was strong, brave, and capable of so much, so why?

Why did this one leave such a deep wound to her heart?

Her vision blurred, and she clamped her teeth down on her lower lip, gnawing on it hard enough she drew blood. The injury healed as soon as she registered the coppery taste on her tongue, but she didn't soften the gnashing of her teeth any. She fought to keep her tears at bay. The figure behind her knew already, of course, he did, but that didn't mean the one in front of her needed to be aware that her facade was steadily crumbling.

Why was it that whenever she went, chaos just had to follow? Her descent into the past all those years ago, her once-peaceful life on the shrine, and even now… it always fell apart as if it never had a leg to stand on in the first place. She'd resigned to accept it back then, during the quest to reform the jewel- that a normal life might never embrace her. She never figured chaos would be the one to surround her, instead.

She was foolish to actually believe…

Kagome bit her lip a bit harder to hold back her bitter scoff.

She was such an idiot to actually think she could possibly be free from the weight of it all. Happiness and peace slipped right through her fingers. She was never destined for that. The jewel, a harbinger of death, destruction, chaos, and instability, was forever her reminder for that. No matter where she was, it'd all find her and remind her that tranquility had no place in her life.

She should've never allowed herself to get so attached, but here she was. She kicked herself for letting herself fall in love, for letting her barriers fall in the first place to the point where she was vulnerable enough to get wrapped up in it all. She should've known it was never for her, anyway. Such a fate was etched into her very soul, from Kikyo to Midoriko. A curse she couldn't escape. She never learned her lesson, it seemed. Things were over, sure, but that didn't give her any comfort, not when he was…

Not when he was gone.

It felt like a lead weight was fastened to her heart, yanking it down deeper and deeper inside her chest. She was nauseous, sick to the stomach and shaken to the core. It hurt her to even think of the reality.

That Sherlock was dead.

It seemed too painful to face, the wound still too fresh to try and heal.

"Should you wish, you're free to return alongside me."

She didn't make a move to acknowledge the cold, monotone offer from behind her, but she heard John shift in his seat where he sat across from her. She didn't need to look up in order to know that he'd turned his focus directly to the figure behind her at the suggestion alone. The silver-haired demon didn't move. He knew she had heard him, but he wasn't put off by her ignoring him. He knew, probably better than anyone left around her now, how to approach and handle her during her breaking points. She'd come when she was ready, and pressuring her one way or another would only guarantee to worsen the stress she felt. He had no desire to approach a stressed miko who had sub-par control of her true potential due to the lack of training available to her.

He didn't comprehend her grief, and he doubted he'd ever be able to grasp the full depth of her emotions. The miko before him was always so susceptible to feelings and emotions alike. He could, however, feel it rolling off her in waves, just as he could place the bitter scent hovering around her. He had no place to comfort her, he had no knowledge of how to manage such a feat, but that wouldn't prevent him from at least trying to pacify her in some way. Too much history existed between them for him to just turn on his heel and depart from her as if she was anyone else.

… Perhaps that was what kept his feet frozen to the floor, molten gold gaze glued to the slumped woman seated at the table, the near-full cup of tea growing cold as it sat abandoned in front of her. Bandages covered her arms and legs and were hidden beneath the dress she wore. The scent of blood lingered around her, her wounds healing painfully slow as she recouped her energy, stress piling on and making her condition even worse. A new collection of scars would be left in their wake before long, painting a canvas of this latest tragedy of her life.

He couldn't approach her, but he couldn't turn on his heel and depart from the room. He stayed where he was, allowing his presence to remind her that, no matter how things had turned out, that she never had to fear the possibility of being left on her own to face the world. He'd be a constant when she needed it, just like every time before. A tiny bit of humanity could be found in him in her presence, all due to her, but he'd never dare breathe that truth to her.

If going back to Japan was the way, or if staying here was, it didn't matter to him if it helped her find some semblance of peace in the ruins of the new beginning she'd started, only to be made to watch, almost helplessly, as it crumbled to dust.

In no longer than a single year, she'd been swept up in a new beginning that ended up being destroyed just as soon as it began. It'd been a beginning she hadn't expected nor necessarily wanted, but that did nothing to soothe the ache left behind.

[-1 year prior]

The figure at her door should've surprised her, but the feeling never came. A smile lingered on her face as she took a few steps back, offering the silver-haired, stoic demon the room to enter her new abode. "You were serious about coming to check in on me as soon as you could," she hummed as she shut the door behind him. He was quiet as he eyed her, and she could tell he was also familiarizing himself with the new place.

When she'd broached the subject of leaving Japan, he'd been perplexed but understanding all the same. He understood her reasons and desires for departing from the place she'd lived her whole life, and he had no intention of holding her back or preventing her from doing as she felt was best for herself. Too many memories lurked at the Shrine, a lot good, but also a few bad ones, and leaving was the only way she could face the idea of putting it all behind her. Leaving had been hard, but she didn't regret it in the slightest.

Two months had passed since she officially left, and, while adjusting had been difficult at first, she was enjoying the change of pace.

"So, you're pleased with this decision?" Sesshoumaru questioned, and she nodded, a fond smile slipping across her face.

"Yeah, it's really nice out here." It was nice being away, is what she wanted to say, but those words got lodged in her throat before they could come out. "It's peaceful. It's what I was looking for in leaving," she admitted.

It was like she could breathe again for the first time since she got pulled down the well, and it was so nice. In a way, she felt free. It was something she'd forgotten how to feel after years of feeling so trapped by the well's presence on the Shrine.

She paused where she stood, diverting her attention to her sock-clad feet. Kittens and fish decorated the fabric in a cute pattern on the knee-highs. Kagome was silent for a moment before she shook her head and sighed, her smile fading some. The shift in her aura was easily picked up on by the demon standing opposite of her.

Once the well sealed up in the aftermath of the final battle for the jewel, all she'd wanted was to have her life return to how it was before all of that ever happened. She wanted to live normally again, but it never went back to the way it was. The jewel was still with her, as she was meant to be its guardian, and it still attracted all sorts of things her way. It was unfortunate timing when her family got killed by a demon in search of her and the jewel. She hadn't been home at the time, leaving her to be greeted by the sight when she returned home not even an hour after the incident.

There was nothing she could do by then. Sesshoumaru hunted the demon down and took care of it for her, for which she was grateful.

It was so hard to stay there afterward. She couldn't bring herself to do so much longer, and, so, she left the first chance she got. The Shrine was now in Sesshoumaru's care.

"I recently started at the hospital," she said, pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind. "It's really nice, being able to help people. I mean, I have these healing abilities, so I might as well put them to good use somehow, huh?"

"Don't overdo it, or else people will start to ask questions," Sesshoumaru responded, and Kagome bit back a laugh as she nodded.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," she said as she turned on her heel and made her way to the kitchen. She could feel his aura following behind her.

It was two weeks later when she was leaving the hospital after a late shift. She had her bag haphazardly tossed over her shoulder as she made her way to the exit with exhaustion seeping from every pore. She was taken by surprise when she turned a corner and ended up accidentally bumping shoulders with something heading in the opposite direction. Her bag slipped free, and the things inside scattered over the tiled floor. Kagome froze, unsure what just happened at first until a voice broke her from her stupor.

"Sorry, sorry." It was laced with a faint laugh. It sounded so infectious in her exhausted state.

Kagome glanced at the man she'd bumped into, shaking her head and laughing softly under her breath as she spotted him crouched down so he could pick up the scattered papers and pens. "It's okay," she said. "I wasn't paying any attention." She knelt and mimicked his actions, reaching for her pink pen tipped with a bobbing glitter heart on a spring and pink fur. She paused as they both grabbed it, finally looking up and meeting his gaze.

Sky blue met deep brown, and a smile bloomed across her face as he offered the pen to her.

"You've got cute taste in pens," he said, and Kagome nearly laughed in response.

"Thanks," she said. "My friend Molly gave it to me a couple of weeks ago, actually. She's got a matching red one," she commented as she waved it a bit like a wand.

"Oh, Molly, no wonder it looked familiar," he said as he stood up. He held the rest of her things out for her, and she took them with a grateful smile, carefully putting it all back in her bag. She looked back at him once she'd secured her things, and she was taken aback by his outstretched hand. A second later, she placed her smaller hand in his own. "I'm Jim," he said. "I work in IT."

"Oh!" she nodded. "I'm Kagome," she supplied her own name. "I started working here not too long ago."

"It's great to meet you. Molly's actually mentioned you a couple of times when I talk to her," he said and motioned over his shoulder in the direction she'd been going. "You were heading out, right?" When she nodded, he grinned. "How about I walk you out?" he offered.

Kagome contemplated it for a moment before nodding her head, accepting his offer. "I don't see why not," she said. "Wait…" she paused, "you're not busy right now, are you? If so, I don't want to keep you."

"Oh, no, no," he said, shaking his head. "It's fine, I promise."

Kagome smiled. "Then sure, I'd like that."

Just like that, she was back to making her way to the hospital's front exit, only this time with a companion walking beside her. She looked up at him, tilting her head to the side.

"You said Molly talks about me?" she asked, and he glanced at her with a nod of his head and a smile directed at her. "Oh, good things, I'd hope," she added with a laugh. She had no worries about that. Molly was far too kind-hearted to say anything but nice things.

"Of course," Jim responded. "Let's see… she thinks you're kind and really friendly, and easy to talk to," he said. Kagome smiled as he listed things off. "That you're clever and nice to be around."

Kagome laughed. "Well, I hope I'm living up to the expectations she gave you."

"Oh, you definitely are," he responded. It didn't take long for them to reach the exit, and they came to a halt just outside the door. "I'm glad I finally got to meet you," he said, and she beamed up at him.

"Likewise," she said. Before she took a step, she looked back up at him, her smile still present on her face. "Hope I see you around more often now."

"Yeah?" he grinned. "I'll keep an eye out for you from now on." He paused and glanced at his phone for the time. "It's late," he said. "You should get home as soon as you can."

Kagome nodded and retreated a few steps. "See you around, then."

She turned on her heel as she waved a quick goodbye to the new man. She could vaguely feel his gaze lingering on her as she made her way to her car. She didn't mind it, figuring he might've been watching out to make sure nothing happened in the late hours.

Auroua-chan: This got longer than I expected it to be, but I don't mind. I like how the first chapter turned out a lot.

The pairing is decided, but it'll be a while before it shows. For reference, Kagome is currently in her mid-twenties. IDK I might make some playlists for this story.

Anyway, that's it for now. Thank you all for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed! Hopefully I caught all the errors before I posted, but if not sorry.

Please remember to Review&Favorite&Follow, thank you!

Bye for now~