Kagome delved in to her small locker and pulled out the needed books for the rest of the day. Her first day at school had been eventful in saying the least.

Her classes had been full of funny interuptions and chaos, bringing warm smiles to her face more then once. Sango was truly a good friend and easy to get along with as well as the others.

The most amusing moment, however, being at lunch when she had met with Kouga whom wanted her to sit with him. Inuyasha had immediately jumped in and started bickering with him until he threw pudding in to the wolf youkai's face. What had ensued was a all out food fight with people laughing hysterically and tossing food at each other. Kagome still held the vivid image of Sango chasing down Miroku and shoving a complinmentary pie on to his head.

Although, as to where she found it was a mystery.

Kagome was still grinnng madly as she felt a presense beside her and start twisting the combination of a lock.

Sneaking a peak to the side, she quickly realized it was the inu youkai from before. His sleek silver hair and glittering gold eyes unmistakable Taking a deep breath her nose caught his scent of forest. It instantly enticed her senses making it only painfully aware of his cold aura radiating from him.

How could a man with such a pleasing scent, be so indifferent?

Frowning in confusion, she did her best to conceal it quickly behind a smile as she greeted him cheerfully.

He merely cast a cold look at her, before turning back to his books as if she was a annoying fly he couldn't catch nor wished to bother with at all.

Kagome narowed her gaze indignantly and was about to speak her mind about chivalry and respect when her sensitive senses picked up a dark youki spreading around the school, seeping through the walls, searching for its target.

She let out a curse under breath with realization and slammed her locker shut, ignoring any curious gazes by her suddenly tense attitude, she started heading down the hall at a quicken pace, intent on escaping the school before it could touch her.

Kagome noticed several of the other youaki residence in the school had their eyes alert and ears twitch slightly trying to track the powerful, corrupted youki. She ignored them as she focused on her loud footsteps pounding against the floor, trying to banish all worries and thoughts from her mind with each step.

She was half way there when she felt something slip in to her mind's eye attacking her thoughts, looking for information or to inflict pain upon her.

Kagome's eyes squinted as her pace quickened, not bothering to apologize to the other students she bumped in to during her haste.

Suddenly her head was filled with horrible, dread filled screams burning painfully in her mind and setting her ears to hurtful ringing.

She knew this tactic.... His painful way of finding out the information he sought. That information being her whereabouts. She was the only one who could hear them; for it was in her own mind' but it was not merely a illusion.

It was all too real.

Bloody images forced themselves in to her thoughts showing her them in mocking enjoyment, as she let out a small cry of anguish.

No... No she couldn't give in..!

She dropped her things and they scattered across the floor and finally streaked down the hallway in a all out run, hot tears threating to claim her cheeks in fury and fear, as she clasped her hands forcefully ot the side of her head, willing the evil to go away.

Damn it...!

At the far distance of her hearing, not obscured by the dreadful screams, she heard the yells of her new friends calling her name.

New.. friends.

A sour laugh would have escaped her, had she been capable at the moment.

How foolish she had been... to involve their pecaeful humble lives with her haunting one, putting their lives in danger for her own happiness.

She was such a idiot.

Kagome crashed down the stairs until she reached the bottom and ran out of the double doors as fast as her nimble legs could take her.

She had to get away... until his youki faded...

Until everyone was safe again...

Footsteps thundered behind her, and she knew Inuyasha and the others were following her.

Kagome felt spikes plunge through her heart repeatedly with guilt.

If they ever got her because of her...

All at once the images escaped her mind and the screaming halted leaving her to open her eyes and crumple to grass, tears coarsing down her cheeks.

She spread out her senses and noticed the tendrils of his probing powers slinking quickly away.

Why...?

The young woman shook her head as she buried her head in to the grass, feeling all her healed wounds begin to sting painfully as if to not let her forget her past..

Marks that would never leave her until he was gone from this world...

He would torment her until one of them no longer breathed.

She wished she could escape his clutches but she was not ready for death yet... she had a life to live, even a shadowed one, he could never take from her without a fight.

You'll never get me again... She promised in her mind as she tried soothing the churning of her stomach.

You will never lay another hand on me again you sick bastard...

"Kagome..!" her friends cried as they surrounded her, worried and bewildered by her behavior.

She ignored them as she relaxed in the darkness her eyelids provided, calming her frightened soul. Her nose was buried in the moist wet ground, giving her the pleasant scent of earth and dew. Kagome's heartbeat evened out as she focused her thoughts of the ground thinking benevolent thoughts.

Anything to keep her mind of her fears.

Images of roses, and cherry trees blossomed in her thoughts, the fragrance she practically delightened in during her own illusions of peace of a place she once knew. She imagined herself sitting under the Sakura tree, her back leaning agaisnt the sturdy rough bark, the pink petals sprinkling down around her form. Before her was a large placid lake with aqua blue water and she could see straight to the sandy bottom. Koi swam around in the water nipping at the surface of the water every once in a while, causing rings to form across the surface. Lilly pads floated docily by the shores, the white flowers in their full bloom... The air was warm, but not humid as a gentle breeze blew around her. She was dressed in a comfortable yukaata of a summer gold with ruby flowers stitched in to the soft silk fabric. Her adopted son and daughter leaning against her sides, her arms wrapped protectively around each of them as they snuggled in to her side. The few times she was free of pain and wars... His clutches.

With the two innocent souls content to be near her, to please her as they would their real mothers. She loved them, and took care of them as she showed them the world through brilliant eyes of wisdom and kindness...

They were at peace, away from all troubles at the time, to just be there with each other.. to forget..

Forget..........

Kagome squeezed her eyes tightly shut to prevent the tears from escaping.

To forget... Something she could manage in centures.. milleniums even, to dull but it would always be there.. imprinted in her young soul, a scar telling of her hard lessons learned by any wisdom she might withhold.

The goodness and evils of the world...

and their equalibrium.

She felt a shake on her shoulder, her friends worry evident to her high strung senses. Shifting her form she managed to sit upright with her face hidden beneath her palms as she reassured herself of happiness in the future.

"Kagome-chan are you all right?" Kikyou's tender voice questioned.

She nodded her head weakly.

"I.. I'm fine.."

Sighs of relief went through the cluster of people as Inuyasha burst out.

"What the hell was that wench?! You just started acting like some rabid dog or something and then we find you sobbing on the lawn??!!"

Kagome forced down a cold remark to him and let a small uneasy smile curve her lips, as she took away one slender hand.

"I'm.. Sorry about that. I guess the stress of moving to a new town and new school so quickly finally got the better of me... I left a lot behind... I hope you understand.. I didn't meanto scare any of you..."

A hand clamped on to her shoulder and she met a cheery faced Sango.

"Don't worry about it. We all understand it takes time to adjust.. Just tell us anything on your mind adn we'll try to help you the best we can okay?"

"All right.." She answered slowly, knowing she could indeed couldn't. She could not tell them of Him, unless to endanger herself and them more then they were already.

"Feh. We better get to class otherwise they teacher will start barking at us.." Inuyasha grumbled.

Everyone nodded in agreement and gratefully took the hands helping her to her feet.

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