The End.

...Of Chance Meetings

Despite the presence behind her, Kagome still played; she summoned her miko power to feel for youki in the immediate vicinity, but only felt the faint youki of her youkai companions.

Light footfalls could be heard under the rise and fall of the music. She saw movement in her peripheral vision as the person came to stand in front of her. A vaguely familiar little girl stood before her, watching the guitar with the eager fascination of a child.

The girl wore an orange-checkered kimono, her short, black hair was down save for a small ponytail sitting atop her head. Kagome smiled faintly as she decided the hairstyle was reminiscent of one from a poorly dubbed 1980's American movie.

The song ended and silence filled the clearing. As the child continued to study the instrument, the miko suddenly realized where she had seen her before.

"You follow Sesshoumaru!" she blurted without thinking.

The midget groupie turned her attention to the pretty lady. "Rin travels with Sesshoumaru-sama," she agreed. "Jaken-sama was being noisy, so I decided to get away from him and find food while we wait for Sesshoumaru-sama to come back. Then Rin heard beautiful music, so I followed it. It's sad, where did you learn it? Who're you? What's this instrument? I've never seen anything like it before."

Smiling at the rambling response, Kagome answered. "This," gesturing to the guitar, "is called a guitar. The song I played is well-known where I come from, it's called the Moonlight Sonata. And I am Higurashi Kagome."

"Can Kagome-sama play something else for Rin?"

"Call me just Kagome and you have a deal," she said laughing. As Rin sat on the grass with her, Kagome ran through her memory looking for something good to play. Soon she thought of the perfect one.

Music once again drifted through the clearing, carrying to the ears of another far off.

Close your eyes

Have no fear

The monster's gone

He's on the run and your friend's here Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful girl

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful girl Before you go to sleep

Say a little prayer

Every day in every way

It's getting better and better Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful girl

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful girl Out on the ocean sailing away

I can hardly wait

To see you come of age

But I guess we'll both just have to be patient 'Cause it's a long way to go

A hard row to hoe

Yes it's a long way to go

But in the meantime Before you cross the street

Take my hand

Life is what happens to you

While you're busy making other plans Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful girl

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful girl Before you go to sleep

Say a little prayer

Every day in every way

It's getting better and better Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful girl Darling, darling, darling Darling Rin

Rin lay on the ground sound asleep as the song ended. Kagome smiled at the cherub bathed in silver moonlight. She quietly packed away her guitar feeling better as she tried to think of what to do with the sleeping child.
She finally decided that the only solution would be to carry her back to camp then enlist Inuyasha to find Jaken or, if necessary, Sesshoumaru. But fate, it would seem, had a different plan in mind, as the woman suddenly felt an incredibly strong youki directly behind her.
Standing, she spun around, causing her head to spin and her vision turn black. She reflexively reached out to brace herself. As the darkness receded, she became excruciatingly aware of the steady thumping under her hand, as well as the gentle rise and fall of her 'brace'.
Kagome slowly lifted her gaze to meet the cold one of the taiyoukai before her.

(Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy), John Lennon)

7/29/03