Finally! Yes, I've changed most every chapter in this story…It won't be the same, so I suggest you go back and read…of course, you don't have to, but yea.

Disclaimer: I down own the folklore or the characters (as you all know).

Chapter 4: Calumny? Preposterous!

Kagome sat on her bed. It had been a week since she had decided to stay at the dear one's castle. Oh, but the boredom was getting to her. She didn't want to sit in her room all day hoping that memories and feelings would suddenly disappear in a frenzy of winds. It just wasn't possible. Now then, how could she keep herself entertained?

She looked over at the older woman making shifty eyes and raised her young eyebrow. "Rin sees 'Gome making that face! 'Gome has something evil in her head!" Rin whispered towards the young girl while patting her head. She was now standing on the bed with her best friend. They had been spending an awful lot of time together. "Kagome-chan, will you be Rin's best friend? Rin has never had a friend." The younger girl looked so pathetically sad standing above her.

Kagome just turned to her and pulled her down on her lap, tickling her mercilessly. "Of course I will, Rin-chan." She continued her tickle attack until Rin yelled out in mercy and Sesshomaru walked into the room. "What is the reason for this ruckus? Can you not tell that I am busy?"

"Rin is sorry Sesshomaru-sama. Rin and 'Gome-chan will be good, we promise!" Rin started jumping on the bed moving Kagome up and down. She just looked at him. Awkward moment of silence.

She blinked.

He raised an eyebrow.

She blinked.

He blinked.

She breathed.

He blinked.

He slightly shook his head and walked out of the room. They are both going to be the end of me… Sesshomaru thought to himself. They will probably give this Sesshomaru a hernia.

It was dark outside and the thunder could be heard. The Western Lands was going to receive a storm coming in from the coast, or so he had heard from the young messenger sent from the outermost borders.

Kagome looked out at the dark sky. How many times had she stayed with Inuyasha as the rain fell? Yes, she couldn't keep her mind off of him. No matter how hard she tried, it was nearly impossible. Looking towards the younger girl, her voice cracked as she whispered, "So Rin-chan, what do you want to do?" The small girl got a mischievous grin and whispered in Kagome's ear. The grin spread like a wild fire on Kagome's face. This girl was a genius!

Rin slowly walked out into the hall to make sure the coast was clear. She stayed close to the wall and slid across the cold, marble floor. Their plan would go perfectly. She gathered some eggs from the kitchen maids. They stared at her a little odd, sure, but when they realized what she was going to do they looked panicked!

Kagome and Rin picked up a couple of other supplies and headed towards Sesshomaru's study. "Hope we don't get caught…" Kagome told the younger girl. It felt like she was young again. She was escaping reality, but she had every right to. She had the right to self-pity as long as she wished, didn't she?

They were both about to leave. They had set the trap for their dear old lord. When he came in, BAM, he'd get covered in a gunk. He wouldn't be able to get it off for a week. Don't you just love modern technology? Super glue was a marvelous, marvelous thing. Pity that his beautiful hair would be ruined for a while.

At that moment, none of than Jaken decided to run into the room. "Milord, the two girls are gone!" As he walked in the gunk splashed over him and on some scrolls. "Well, hope those weren't important." Kagome thought to herself.

As Sesshomaru walked in, catching them in the act of leaving, they both pointed towards the toad-looking thing covered in the gunk he didn't recognize and didn't have an extreme desire to. They both exclaimed, "It was all Jaken!" They tried to keep a straight face as Jaken looked ready to run out of the room yelling. Sesshomaru sighed and rubbed his temples. Why him? If he could talk with the Gods that's what he would ask them. He just walked away.

The two girls looked at each other and ran. At that moment it decided to start raining. They both jumped at the thunder they weren't expecting to hear. It was getting to be Rin's bed time so Kagome offered to read her a bed time story.

Once upon a time in the country of Japan there lived two frogs, one of whom made his home in a ditch near the town of Osaka, on the sea coast, while the other dwelt in a clear little stream which ran through the city of Kyoto. At such a great distance apart, they had never even heard of each other; but, funnily enough, the idea came into both their heads at once that they should like to see a little of the world, and the frog who lived at Kyoto wanted to visit Osaka, and the frog who lived at Osaka wished to go to Kyoto, where the great Mikado had his palace.

So one fine morning in the spring they both set out along the road that led from Kyoto to Osaka, one from one end and the other from the other. The journey was more tiring than they expected, for they did not know much about traveling, and halfway between the two towns there arose a mountain which had to be climbed. It took them a long time and a great many hops to reach the top, but there they were at last, and what was the surprise of each to see another frog before him!

They looked at each other for a moment without speaking, and then fell into conversation, explaining the cause of their meeting so far from their homes. It was delightful to find that they both felt the same wish--to learn a little more of their native country--and as there was no sort of hurry they stretched themselves out in a cool, damp place, and agreed that they would have a good rest before they parted to go their ways.

"What a pity we are not bigger," said the Osaka frog; "for then we could see both towns from here, and tell if it is worth our while going on."

"Oh, that is easily managed," returned the Kyoto frog. "We have only got to stand up on our hind legs, and hold onto each other, and then we can each look at the town he is traveling to."

This idea pleased the Osaka frog so much that he at once jumped up and put his front paws on the shoulder of his friend, who had risen also. There they both stood, stretching themselves as high as they could, and holding each other tightly, so that they might not fall down. The Kyoto frog turned his nose towards Osaka, and the Osaka frog turned his nose towards Kyoto; but the foolish things forgot that when they stood up their great eyes lay in the backs of their heads, and that though their noses might point to the places to which they wanted to go, their eyes beheld the places from which they had come.

"Dear me!" cried the Osaka frog, "Kyoto is exactly like Osaka. It is certainly not worth such a long journey. I shall go home!"

"If I had had any idea that Osaka was only a copy of Kyoto I should never have traveled all this way," exclaimed the frog from Kyoto, and as he spoke he took his hands from his friend's shoulders, and they both fell down on the grass. Then they took a polite farewell of each other, and set off for home again, and to the end of their lives they believed that Osaka and Kyoto, which are as different to look at as two towns can be, were as alike as two peas.

Kagome leisurely tucked Rin into bed and left the room. Inside her room the woman-child looked beyond her window. The small raindrops falling. Each coming from the same place. The story had seemingly popped into her head for no apparent reason. It was a story her father would tell her before he died. She remembered it from her childhood days.

She bit her lip trying to transfer the pain she felt so dearly in her heart. He was gone and she seemed to be going through withdrawl. Next time around, she'd built a bigger, better wall. Obviously the one she had built against Inuyasha wasn't strong enough to hold against the virus he gave her. It ate her from the inside out, leaving nothing in it's powerful path. He had broken her with those golden, guiltless eyes. Did he come back to salt her wounds? The way he looked at her before she left…It seemed that way. A victorious look in his eyes. Or had she just imagined it?

She was so tired of waiting. So tired of being helpless against the attacks towards her heart. It would end. It was over. The battle in her heart was over. It was time to let him go. He would always be anything but what she always wished him to be. Maybe this was best…They belonged together, him and Kikyo.

She would never stand between them.

They could be happy together. She knew Kikyo was only teaming with Naraku to get the jewel. It was obvious she still cared for Inuyasha. She wasn't really that heartless…No one could be unless they had reason.

Now thanks to you I started running away…

When I get too close I'm scared to stay.

That was honestly the reason she could never be with anyone. She was too scared to stay. Besides, Hojo was the only guy that had really gone after her, besides Kouga. He was automatically out of the picture. He had someone. Ayame, they'd make a wonderful couple. She was just as possessive as he was. Hojo was just so boring compared to Inuyasha. Compared to anyone, Hojo was just plain.

Never again.

This promise was one she was insistent on keeping. She wouldn't think twice on those mistakes she had made, but she wasn't a fool. She'd never make them again, that was for sure. She looked up towards the gloomy clouds. Could they sense how her heart felt? She'd get over him, but it would take time for her heart to take the stitching.

Sometimes, she'd wonder why he had become such an angel to her. He was rude, arrogant, and just plain stupid. Somehow that described another dog-demon…

Still the days had gone by, the weeks, and the hours went by. The minutes and seconds, who even counted them anymore? They did nothing but fade in the distant sunset. It hurt so much to know their bond was so far away. Was it attainable still? Was it still repairable?

All the tears she was crying, all the dreams she would have of kissing him goodnight were on her mind. They never left, but they'd be gone in a flurry of blazes now. She was officially done mourning.

In honor of her accomplishment she took one of the white candles she had set on her desk into the hallway. She lay there with the candle sitting right beside her.

Sesshomaru walked down the long intriquite hall. He felt something soft under his foot. He softly pressed it and it grunted. What was that noise? He stepped again and again this time it yelled, "Ow! You don't have the same weight as a feather, you know?" He looked down. Yup, it was official that this girl was touched in the head. There she was in a kimono one of the maid's had brought down, laying on the ground staring up.

He leaned down and looked at her emotionless. Oh yes, he was confused, but would he let her see it? Yeah right. You might as well mate him to a donkey.

She looked up at him and he knew in that instant exactly what she was doing. "What are you mourning, miko?" She smiled something so tender if was barely noticeable. "The weight off my heart." What did that mean? He shrugged and got up to walk away.

End of Chapter.

Note to Readers: Sorry that this was so uneventful, but I needed it to happen. Hehe. Good, bad? Thanks for reading!