Three weeks later, Kagome awoke to still unfamiliar surroundings. Even though she'd been here for almost a week, it was still strange to wake up looking at a strange ceiling or at the on the bed next to her. Kagome sat up and blinked as the sun streamed through the slat blinds on the only window. Her roommate, Sango, was still asleep, sprawled across the blankets of her bed. Kagome yawned and got out of bed and slowly stumbled toward the bathroom for a hot shower. Kagome turned the water on hot and let the stream pound the back of her neck and her upper back. She rolled her shoulders and reveled in the feel of the hot water. She closed her eyes and thought about the dream she'd had a few weeks earlier.
((Flashback))
"Kag!" Jared called, his voice filled with happiness at her sudden appearance. Kagome looked up into his blue eyes and smiled softly. "How are you ?" he asked, wrapping her in a fierce hug. Kagome snuggled into his chest and breathed in the scent that was so uniquely him. He smelled of cinnamon, cedar and the after-shave he'd used that morning.
"I'm good Jared, and you?" Kagome asked, pulling back a little to see his face. The striking blue eyes that were Kagome's favorite feature looked down on her with a gentle softness about them. He leaned down toward her and closed his eyes. Kagome readied herself for a kiss, and the feel of his soft lips on hers. The kiss never came. Kagome's eyes flew open at a gurgle that sounded from Jared's throat. His eyes and mouth were open in horror and he was staring down a the knife that seemed to be growing from his gut. Kagome screamed and grabbed for the knife to pull it out, but it wouldn't budge. Jared fell to his knees and spat up bright red . Kagome screamed again and fel to her knees beside him.
"Jared! Jared!" she screamed but Jared didn't reply. He never replied. Kagome dissolved into sobs of despair. A cold, cruel laughter rang through her and she looked around blindly to see where it was coming from. There was nothing anywhere around her, just an inky blackness. Kagome screamed again and her eyes flew open.
((End Flashback))
Kagome remembered waking up in her mother's arms, her throat raw from screaming Jared's name. As she stood in the shower, Kagome let fresh, burning tears fall. She leaned against the wall of the shower and looked down at her wrists. The lines had dulled to a purply red colour, but the patterns that swirled along her skin were still plain to the eye. A knock came at the door, bringing Kagome back to the real world. "Just a minute!" she called and heard a muffled response. Kagome hurried through the rest of her morning routine and was out of the bathroom in under ten minutes. She opened the door and was greeted by a sleep rumpled Sango.
"'Morning Kagome," Sango yawned and then headed into the bathroom. Kagome nodded to her and walked back over to her bed. Kagome made up her bed and gathered her books and things together. Regardless of whether this was school for bereaved teens, they still had classes and Kagome was struggling in most of them. She just couldn't seem to concentrate, she always found herself staring at nothing out the window. The teachers were understanding, but they still wanted her to complete assignments and do her homework. Kagome sighed, and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes.
"C'mon Kagome," Sango called, "we're going to be late for breakfast!" Sango hurried out the door of their room with Kagome close at her heels and they headed down to breakfast.