"As long as they think there is a reason, it will work."
She felt invisible as she walked through the halls of her school, her hair drenched from the downpour. The mass of students seemed faceless, and uncaring in the face of her despair. She held her books close to her chest; amazed she had remembered them in the daze that filled her days. Someone bumped into her; she had stopped without realizing it. She didn't look up, or apologize to the person; she just stood there wallowing in her grief.
The person didn't move, "Kagome? Is something wrong?" The warm friendly voice melted over her, it dimly registered within the catacomb of her mind that it was Hojo. She suddenly felt too tired so stand, she fell forward slightly leaning against him. He seemed surprised as he found himself standing there in the middle of a crowded hall, with Kagome in a dead faint, leaning against him.
She woke to the feel of someone stroking her hand. Her eyelids were too heavy to move, let alone her body so she just lay there, listening.
"Is she okay?" she recognized the voice of Yuka. She sounded worried.
"The nurse said she just needed sleep," Hojo muttered, they had no idea what she was going through. Not even the slightest clue of the pain.
"We'll go now, if she wakes up tell us?" the questioning tone seemed unnatural for Ayume. Kagome kept her eyes closed willing her self back asleep.
"Get well soon Kags," said a whispered voice at her ear, Eri, she soon realized as the sound of the threes feet clicked their way out of the tiled room. Hojo sighed next to her and stopped stroking her hand, she felt his hand brush something from her face, by the coolness where it had lain she supposed it was a lock of hair. Even then she didn't move, her body felt unnaturally tired, as if something were drawing on her life force. She moved back into the dark of a deep sleep.
He was holding her close, his breath on her ear, his warmth surrounding her. She could see every detail perfectly. His claws were wrapped gently around her, light against her stomach. His beautiful hair cascaded by her shoulders and over his red clothing; she could even hear his heartbeat. He was nibbling at her neck, sweet as could be. His breath felt so warm on her neck, it made her hairs rise on end. She shivered when he chuckled, feeling the dark warmth like hazelnut, or dark chocolate, running though her.
"Kagome," his voice seemed so far away, as if reaching her through the mist of time. She looked down seeing he was fading. She reached for his hand and she passed right through him. She looked up at him, and recognized his look; it was the same one he had given her as he died. She tried to touch his face but her arms felt so heavy. Then he was gone again, leaving her to herself.
Her eyes opened slowly, getting used to the florescent lighting that surrounded her. She could see she was in the nurse's office now and tried to sit up. She felt sick to her stomach and wrapped both arms around herself. Hojo woke up when she tugged her hand free from his grip and gazed at her. It finally struck him that she was crying. He was on his feet in an instant wrapping his arms around her. What had happened to her? What could have done this to Kagome?
Kagome finally pulled free of her sobs, noticing someone was holding her. She opened her eyes and the sliver of hope was dashed to bits. It was only Hojo. She settled against him, her sobs now silent as he held her to him.
"Kagome, what's wrong?" Hojo asked looking a bit confused. Kagome stared at him, the slightest bit of a smile reaching her lips at his naive gaze.
"He's gone," she struggled with the tears that threatened to spill, which burned her eyes until she was forced to close them. Hojo stroked her hair and she realized that that wasn't enough.
"He's…dead," the tears finally rolled free, sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto his arms. She gave a dry sob and flinched at the sound of his gasp. He knew someone she knew was dead. That was enough, she couldn't tell him more if she wanted to. But saying it out loud to Hojo made it seem so final. She locked herself away again. Her gaze fading as she focused herself inwards. Blatantly ignoring everything outside of her. She didn't want anymore contact.
Never again.
Miroku watched the well from his vantage point outside the village. The grass of summer twisted in the breeze, rippling past in an ocean of green. Bits of foggy gold flecked it here and there, betraying the flowers that graced the land. Where was Kagome? They needed her back, and Inuyasha couldn't fetch her this time. Shippou and Sango were waiting for him back at the village hopefully with Kagome. They all were waiting for Keade's return from a quest she had taken with several of the young males of the village.
Miroku sighed and leaned back with a jangle from his staff, letting himself fall into the thick grass that surrounded him. Dust motes and small moths darted up from around him taking off in flight to find a new place to rest their days away. He gazed at the sky as white clouds scudded past. Everything was too quiet without Kagome, and she needed to know, she needed to be here for them. A yellow butterfly flew past him; landing on a thick stalk of grass which bowed under even it's tiny weight.
"Come home Kagome," he whispered to the sky.