Luna: Hi everyone!

Veron: Time for chapter TEN!

Luna: *streamers and confetti are thrown everyone and it suddenly rains twinkies and fried monkeys*

Veron: I cannot believe you people let her run this thing ON this long.

Luna: Shut up. You're just jealous.

Veron:.......

Luna: ^_^ enjoy the chappie!

Veron: ENJOY IT? HOW?! THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DEPRESSING CHAPTER!

Luna: Yeah...I warned you earlier that I'd have a few depressing chapters. So for my sensitive readers I suggest keeping a box of tissues handy. *shrugs* Your choice.

Veron: eh...enjoy?

Chapter 10: I cannot forget...

Sesshomaru and Rin had long left the scene of the disgruntled theme park. Jakken had returned to his normal state upon arriving back to the house, around 2 in the morning.

But now it was three in the afternoon. Kagome was three hours late by now and hadn't notified Sesshomaru she was unable to work that day.

Rin was outside in the garden, trying to remove her mind from the stress of her nanny's absence. She had been slicing at imaginary enemies with her katana and two ninja swords for over an hour by now.

Sesshomaru merely gazed at the window watching her, the epitome of calm indifference. But to the more observant and knowing of his persona. He was slightly anxious himself, for he continually tapped his claws against the windowpane.

*~*

Chii had returned from her shift at the local bakery and was traveling down the corridor. She fisted her hand and rapped the door of Kagome's apartment.

No one answered and she heard no sounds of movement from inside.

" Kagome?" The young persocom called out, her golden eyes slowly shadowing with apprehension.

Something was wrong. Normally Kagome would be home about now. Chii's eyes drifted to the clock. It was only 6-o clock. By now the young miko would be home.

Ms. Hibiya came up the stairs.

" Chii? Have you seen Kagome?"

Chii shook her head.

" Oh dear...her boss just called telling me that he couldn't contact her persocom. She hadn't returned last night and never reached her job.

Chii's eyes widened.

Where was she?

*~*

" Oi Bouzu!" Kouga called out upon entering Miroku's bicycle shop.

" Yes Koga?" He asked dryly, his expression annoyed.

" Have you seen Kagome?"

Miroku shook his head, " You could check the dojo, she might be visiting Sango."

Koga nodded his thanks and sped out the door.

Miroku sighed as he began to wrench on another tire on his latest project, " Ungrateful dog..."

*~*

Koga sped into the dojo, his blue eyes scouring among the students. That is until a girl noticed him.

"KOGA!" Suddenly, a dozen teenage girls knocked the poor man to the floor in a massive glomp.

" Can I have your autograph?"

" I GOT HIS HEADBAND!"

As quickly as it happened, the gaggle of girls leapt off his body and started wrestling the girl for the hair ornament.

Koga sweatdropped.

Sango came in, her eyes slightly angry.

" GIRLS!"

The chattering stopped and the accused victims slowly turned around, the one with the headband quickly tossing it back to him.

" You can drool over the latest celebrities on your own time. But this is your time to train. Go back to your posts and continue."

The girls groaned but obliged sending awed looks at Koga and death glares at their sensei.

Koga swallowed as he stood up once more, adjusting the headband over his skull. He looked around again, not here either...

" What do you want Koga?" Sango asked, her magenta eyes narrowing dangerously.

" You cut to the chase don't you?"

" You interrupted class so I have every right to."

" I cannot help if they have better taste then you."

Sango's eye twitched and she slammed Hiraikotsu down on his head. Growling, the boy stood up, nursing the large bump growing on his head.

" Dammit wench."

Again the demon bone was slammed onto his skull.

" This is my dojo treat me with respect. Unless you wish for me to unleash the girls again."

Koga shook his head.

" Nice to know we understand each other. Now, what do you want?"

" Have you seen Kagome?"

" No...Why?"

" Yesterday she ran off during that massive black out screaming about how she'd kill me too like Inuyasha and some such nonsense."

Sango's pissed off expression quickly evaporated to sadness. Luckily, the loud clanging of weapons and war cries drowned out their conversation to the eavesdropping ear.

" It is true. She really did purify Inuyasha's demon half, Naraku, Kikyo, Shippo, and even Kirara. The power was so strong and vast it killed millions of youkai. Inuyasha's wounds were severe, and since his demon blood was gone...He was but a human. And we couldn't nurse him because we were so far away from the village. So...he died in Kagome's arms."

Koga just stared at the woman.

" He did?"

" Yes, and he made her promise to run to the well and never look back. And she did. Though she's put on a brave face since then and hardly ever cries. She's dying from it inside. Because you know as well as I do, regardless of your own feelings. She loves Inuyasha. And she always will."

Koga was silent as he turned and left the dojo.

He knew where she was.

*~*

He was right. But he couldn't go near her. She looked so sad and depressed. Maybe...

Koga flipped open his cellphone.

" You might be interested it what I have to tell you..."

*~*

A limo pulled up and Sesshomaru and Rin stepped out.

" KAGOME-CHAN!" Rin ran over to her nanny, who was soaked to the bone and shivering.



" Ri...Rin?"

" Oh my gosh. Are you okay?"

Kagome just looked up at the Goshinboku, her eyes soft and sad.

" I'll never be okay..." She whispered before falling unconscious in the young girl's arms.

*~*

The young wolf demon paced back and forth across the floor.

Rin watched, her brown eyes following his movements lazily. Until she couldn't take it any more.

" WILL YOU QUIT THAT!?"

Koga stopped and glowered at the young girl.

" Stop what?"

" You're going to wear a hole in the floor with all that walking."

" And you'll wake Kagome up with your yelling!"

" That's what you WANT isn't it? No, forgive me, you just want her to forget her feelings for Inuyasha and give her entire heart and soul to you. Well fuck that, she never would. Because she loves him and not YOU."

"Teme..." Koga cracked his knuckles, his blue eyes aflame with anger. " Filthy ning-"

He was never able to finish his threat as yet again, he was being held in the air by Sesshomaru's arm.

Sesshomaru closed his hand over the boy's throat tighter.

" If you ever threaten my ward again, I will kill you. Be grateful I even allow you to pace in my territory. Filthy wolf."

With that the Inu lord dropped the wolf to the floor and sat beside Rin.

His gold eyes focusing on the door that his employee laid unconscious behind.

*~*

Kagome slowly opened her eyes. They quickly widened as she looked about.

" Goshinboku...?" She asked into the air surrounding her as she ran her fingers over the aged bark. But, there were other trees surrounding it and fields of green grass at her bare feet.

Was this?

" Sengoku Jidai..." Kagome whispered into the summer air, as her eyes grew misty with memories.

If you ever need guidance look inside yourself.

What did Miroku mean by that? This obviously wasn't her shrine...so maybe...it was all a dream?

Inuyasha wasn't dead and Shippo and Kirara were still alive?

" No. You are wrong. They are all still in the land of the dead."

Kagome spun around and gasped.

There stood Kikyo, in her full miko garb, the woman's sad blue-gray eyes gazing at Kagome.

Standing in front of the Goshinboku.

" What your companion meant was that you would be able to speak to me when you were in dire need."

" But why? You hate me and despise me..."

" You purified my soul. And with it, all the dark feelings of hatred, revenge, and jealousy that I had during my second chance at life."

Kagome was struck speechless.

" You miss him...don't you?"

The reincarnates eyes dropped to the ground, becoming incredibly interested at the ant that was crawling over her foot.

" It is to be expected. If anyone who is dear to you dies or is torn away, you feel the pain of loneliness."

The girl's eyes slowly searched out the older woman's face.

" I was lonely as well. Until I met him. But we were not meant to be. Fate decided to desecrate our chance at happiness. But you..."

" What about me?"

" You still have a chance."

" No I don't! Inuyasha is DEAD. I KILLED him. And he died in my arms...and..." Kagome took a shallow breath trying to force the oncoming tears back down.

Kikyo smiled softly at her.

" You are brave and strong. You can get through this. You are I and I am you. I fought demons to save the Shikon jewel. As you would if its power was not gone."

Kagome nodded.

" I can let you see him."

The girl's eyes lit up.

" Truly?"

" Yes. Go and find him."

" What?"

Kikyo's image faded but her voice circled through the young maiden's consciousness.

" He is waiting..."

*~*

Kagome jolted awake in the bed.

" Inuyasha?" She called out, her eyes searching desperately for the hanyou. But...she never found him in the room. Only quite a few anxious, sleepy faces that surrounded her bedside.

Kagome slumped back into the pillows, defeated and sad.

" She lied..." Kagome whispered, her eyes slowly misting over once more.

" Kikyo...she...she...lied to me. He isn't here..."

" Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked, placing a gentle hand on the distraught miko's shoulder.

Questions of her welfare were asked but she did not answer them.

She was not okay.

She was not strong.

She was a young teenage girl, stuck in a time period that was not her own and was heartbroken.

Never would she truly feel happiness.

' I never should have let my hopes up. Kikyo helping me, what a lie. What a cruel and twisted lie...'

Her eyes brimmed with tears and she refused to let them fall as she heard words of reassurance be spoken to her.

The tears did not fall as the many friends left the room; happy to know their friend was safe.

They did not fall as the sun slowly rose and its rosy colors shone through the window.

They did not fall as Rin slowly stood up, kissed her upon the forehead and retired to her bedroom.

They did not fall as Sesshomaru entered the room with the same aura of icy indifference.

They did not fall as she slowly looked up at his stern face.

They did not fall as Sesshomaru regarded her carefully with his eyes, trying to understand how stable his employee was.

Kagome breathed deeply and stared weakly into his eyes.

Those cold amber eyes.

But when the light of the dawn hit them...

They looked so emotional...

So warm...

So soft...

And caring...

So familiar...

That Kagome allowed the hot tears to fall.

One by one...

*~*

Luna: *siiiiiiighhhh*

Veron: Well, she just depressed herself with this one.

Read and review ONEGAI!

*~* Review Responses

Dan-Chan: Thank you! Sorry for not emailing this chapter for you to beta-read but...Sakura Luna made me want to update right then! ^_^ Have some peppermint-flavored monkeys as an apology! Just in time for the Christmas Season! Heh

iNiGmA: Yeah I know the sexy puppy's dead. *Sigh* But not in the REAL series. The world would end for Kagome, AND Inuyasha fans if he did. I swear to god my friend 'Kagome' would probably cry. I'd just mourn silently and paint my nails black and chew off the paint wondering if it would poison me. *Sigh* Lol...sorta. Have some pocky! And I hope you get your Chobits issue returned soon!

fetchboy69: Thanks for reviewing this chapter! And SakuraLuna reviews a lot. She's so sweet. And we both have Luna in our names. Heh heh, rock on! Well.... I COULD tell you the recipe for the peppermint monkeys. But how do I know you're not a spy of Saiko's frozen hell Elephant Company set on getting the recipe and demolishing the competition eh? Because, we could tell you. But then I'd have to kill you. Lol. Arigatou for reviewing!

CosmicMoon: Yeah I know. But I wanted to show that Chii and Hideki fall in love already. I was disappointed though. NO KISSING SCENE! Arrrrrrghhhhhhh! *Glares at the manga* Yes I took it from the book. But let me tell YOU. THAT TOOK FOREVER! I typed, then looked at the picture, then I had to keep the stupid pages open on my computer desk and try and describe the art. And UGH! *Stops ranting* Gomen, but TY for reviewing!

Dragon_Tears_Wing: Hell, who doesn't worship the sexy puppy. Oh gee I know whom! Sess fans. *Glances over to Veron who glares* Know what's funny? Veron and me write stories in these notebooks and I was covering the latest one with pictures ya know? And I made the back the Bishie section. So I had a picture of Demon Inu for me. Sorry, but I know he's a bloodthirsty psycho when in that form, but when he told off Goshinki. Grins He sounded sexy. Heh heh. Looking around I realized that all the pictures I had of Sess for Veron were either when he was half-naked or NEARLY naked. LOL. Have some pocky for your review! Ja-ne! Gomen for the angst poison!

Tabi: I DID have a good turkey day. And stuffing and pumpkin pie is STILL my favorite part of the day. That and watching movies until you fall asleep. Which is like 10 minutes because of the chemical in turkey that makes you sleepy. Heh. Hope you had a good turkey day too. And thanks for the ego boost. Hee hee. Ja-ne!

PuNkRoCkBuNnY182: Aw...thank you! Though I seriously doubt that CLAMP and Rumiko-sama would collaborate to end the Inuyasha series, it would be amusing. Lol, eating pizza while mourning Inuyasha's death. Yeah, Kouga ish famous in my story! It took me forever to figure out a position for Miroku. First I tried, Car salesmen. That didn't work. So I tried an owner of a strip club. But that was quickly ruled out by 'Sango' my friend. So I remembered that he is talented with the 'contraption' as he so called it, so I gave him a bicycle shop. Hee. Thanks for reviewing!

animebaby08060: Your welcome! And look I did!

bunny: *laughs hysterically* Scary Reward for the Century! OMG! Wait till I tell her at school! She'll laugh like hell too! Or give me a strange look and then start laughing. And sorry about the spoilers for you. But since it's in the Chobits section, its BOUND to have spoilers. And believe me, the series rocks. Ty for reviewing!

SakuraLuna: yes he is. Unless you're the receiving end of the anger well then put your head between your knees and kiss your ass good bye. If he doesn't kill you before then that is.

Sakura Luna: OH NO! NOT THE APCOALYPSE! ANYTHING BUT THAT! I haven't even seen the 3rd movie yet! Which I won't until September of next year or something if my anime store still stays open. Heh, ja-ne!

SakuraLuna: Oooh capitalness!. Ty!

SakuraLuna: Look updatedness! Heh heh. *glomps SakuraLuna* You REVIEW EVERY CHAPTER! I LOVE YOU! ^_^ Thanks SOOOOOO much! *Hands her a whole shitload of pocky, ramen, ramune, and fried monkeys* THANKS AGAIN! ^_^

*~*

READ AND REVIEW ONEGAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!! ^_^