Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha so don't sue!

CHAPTER ONE: STARTING OVER

^_^

I woke up in a dream today

To the cold of the static ~ and put my cold feet on the floor

Forgot all about yesterday

Remembering I'm pretending to be where I'm not anymore

A little taste of hypocrisy

And I'm left in the wake of the mistake ~ slow to react

Even though you're so close to me

You're still so distant ~ and I can't bring you back…

^_^

One month later…

She smiled and waved to her friends before turning to run up the steps to her apartment, her new apartment that her bestfriend had so kindly offer to accommodate the then weak and trembling young girl.

Sango Sasaki had befriended her when they had entered high school, immediately taken with one another, the two had developed a strong friendship, confiding in one another and naturally helping each other when things were down in which approximately a month ago was the case.

She had forced her bestfriend to swear that she told no one of her whereabouts, which included her relatives and even her family. She knew that once they tracked her down they would immediately notify a certain someone she no longer wanted to think about anymore. The thought of him bought a rising anger and a trace of sadness within the girl. She could never forget… forget… she bit her lip and forced all thoughts of him out of her head. She will not aggravate herself on something that had been done and gone. She also certainly will not allow her heartache to take over her mind like it did a month ago. The memories of those nights where she would cry herself to sleep, heartbroken and disgusted at the depth of her emotion for him and how he could evoke such desperation from her. She had been shaken at the prospect.

Fortunately, with help from Sango, she had slowly recovered from her emotional breakdown to be where she was today. Healthy and perhaps a little happier at what she had achieved. Her disappearance meant that she had to leave her University course and even her apartment. Sango had taken care of arrangements to Australia, she had always wanted to come to Australia as it provided much opportunity for her studies in History and with much improved communications, she could access various parts of the world for information relating to her interests in the subject. Sango's family wealth had also secured an entrance into one of Australia's top Universities, allowing her to mingle with one of the very best lecturers of History and further enhancing her knowledge of the subject. She knew that she owed Sango her entire life for the help she provided and grimaced at how the girl had managed to pull all this up under the amount of pressure there must have been. Sighing, she placed her bag on the counter and grabbed a cold glass of juice. 

Australia was one of the most beautiful places she had ever been to; the ocean, scenery, buildings, almost everything about the place was spectacular. The people were very friendly and she was amazed at the multicultural backgrounds in the country.

She watched the waves lap back into the ocean and breathed in the fresh sea breeze. It was a Friday afternoon and an end of another working week. She sighed as relief loosened the tension in her muscles. Her position as an assistant to a Professor in Melbourne University was a tiring one. Professor Steven Knight taught her much about World History and her interest in the subject only made Steve happier. She would file his papers and run errands around his office, while teaching her about his work in World History. She loved every minute of it despite the tension it bought after a long days work.

The sound of her mobile phone broke through her thoughts and she wearily went to retrieve the thing. Her eyes widened a little before smiling happily and she received the call.

"Kagome! Ogenki ne?"

"Sango-chan. I am good. How is everything back home?"

She could feel her smiling as she talked about recent developments back in Japan. Everyone was well and she squealed to her about her engagement.

"Congratulations!" she was so happy for her friend. The girl deserved Miroku and giggled as she recalled the boy from High School. They called him The Lech and remembered how much Sango use to slap him due to his behaviours. She smiled and also remembered how he and –

Kagome tensed as thoughts of him came back to her and bit her lip.

"Kag hello?" she jerked at the sound of her name and immediately apologised.

"Gomen Sango-chan, I was just thinking of how both of you would look at your engagement party." She felt Sango tense a little at the prospect and knew that she was thinking of how she wouldn't be there to celebrate it.

Guilt immediately fell through.

"Sango-chan… I… I don't…"

"No, it's not your fault. I understand your situation and still respect it. You know that I would do anything to make you happy Kag and if you want to stay there, I am more than happy to comply with the idea."

Kagome felt tears sliding down her cheeks and for the hundredth time counted her lucky stars to find such an understanding and caring friend.

"S-Sango-chan… gomen…"

Sango heard the tears and cursed her foolishness. "Kag please don't cry. I'm your friend and I want to help you."

"H-How is he?"

She stiffened at the question. How is he? Inuyasha? "You mean 'him'?"

"Hai."

Sango sighed. It was the first time that Kagome had ever queried of him. After that disastrous night, she would cringe or tense whenever his name was mentioned. She had even forbidden her to say his name in her presence. "He asked about you a few days after you took off. I of course pretended that I had not known you ran away and played my 'angry-at-a-bestfriend' act." She paused and leant down to brush off a bit of fluff from her trousers. "According to Miroku, he's made some queries through private investigations to track you down but because of the confidential arrangements I made, I don't think he was able to track you down entirely. I think he only made to when you left the country, from there he has no idea where you've gone."

"I see…" Kagome murmured thoughtfully, her tears forgotten as her friend relayed the newfound information. "Does Miroku…?"

"No, he doesn't know. He believes that I have no idea where you are and that I am continually bitching about your disappearance on me. Kag, your secret's safe with me."

"Arigatou Sango-chan."

"Hey Kag, I've got to go… I think I can hear Miroku coming up the stairs. I'll keep in touch okay?"

"Hai, I better let you go."

"Alright, stay healthy. Jyane!"

"You too, bye." And ended the phone call. She placed her phone on the counter and gulped down the juice. This weekend was going to be a long one.

Sango greeted Miroku and Inuyasha at her door and gulped inwardly. Kami-sama he did not hear my conversation… please! Like most dog-demons, Inuyasha had sound hearing that could pick up anything from yards away… like her conversation with Kagome. Miroku smiled at her and embraced her warmly, she heard Inuyasha snort derisively and caught him averting his eyes elsewhere. She bit her lip as her gaze rested upon the hanyou.

Despite his meticulous attire, she could see the way he almost slouched whenever he walked and the once blazing golden eyes were now dull and without light. She could see the strain lines upon his face and knew that he was a broken man inside and again wondered how on earth he could hide such feelings. It was clear that he was devastated after Kag had disappeared and she sometimes wondered what had really occurred that terrible night. She had heard both stories, similar nevertheless and she remembered seeing the guilt written all over his face when she pretended to demand what had happened that night. She sighed and greeted the hanyou, who acknowledged her with a nod and was relieved when he didn't seem to be suspicious. "I like to congratulate you both on your engagement." He glanced at both before making himself comfortable on her couch. Miroku followed suit but sat down and put his arm around her, as Sango leaned in gratefully.

It was nice to have someone to lean against… unlike Inuyasha. She recalled the time when both Kagome and Inuyasha were crazy about each other… the time when everything was what it was meant to be…