Without even having time to think, someone threw open the door of the auditorium until the light came in blinding me.

" Kagome there you are! Come on, mom already has the camera ready! She's been waiting…you alright Kagome?"

Sota stood half my height, and knew by the look in my eyes I was ready to lie, lie about how I truly felt. I didn't want anybody's pity or sympathy at that moment, all I wanted was to be lie in my bed look over all pictures and finally accept that life had changed.

Sota wasn't about to leave me and wait for me to come out, he held my hand firmly to make sure I was alright. He never really cared how I felt, we usually just fought about pointless things like who ate who's candy bar, or why I unplugged his stupid video game system. When it came down to it, he cared a lot and something I wasn't use to at all.

" I'm alright, thanks to you."

Sota nodded his head happily, and literally dragged me out of my seat. He refused to let go of my hand, as he trailed on ahead in the aisle and opened the doors to a hallway of crowds of people getting food, everyone from my school dressed beautifully in a dress, or a tuxes.

Sota dragged me towards my mother, who was standing around chatting with all the mothers she recognized when she had been at the school. She had never been happier, and even purchased a dress for this occasion. The last dress she ever wore was to her wedding, and my father's funeral. I knew she wanted him here with her to experience the feeling of happiness to watch us grow up before their very eyes.

" Mom! Mom, I found Kagome!"

Sota jumped around with delight, as my mother just grabbed me with open arms so excited I had come this far.

" You've made me so happy Kagome, so proud!"

" Mom…it's just a graduation, that's all."

She chuckled, flashing a quick smile as though I had made some funny joke that would bring the whole house down. She just placed her arm tight around me, seeing she was trying to hide the tears that were gleaming in her eyes. She brought her lips close to my ear, while my head rested on her shoulder watching the other people like me rejoicing and laughing for getting out of school, starting a new life.

" Kagome, to you it may be a graduation but believe me it's a lot more than that. You'd understand if you were a parent. Just you've grown up so fast at all. Won't be long until you get married and maybe have kids of your own. Same for Sota. It won't be long until we attend his grad too."

Sota just stood aside quietly trying to listen to the private conversation between myself and our mother. He couldn't resist not listening to something like that.

" Mom who says I'm going to get married! Or have kids? Isn't that alittle early to even think of that? Who says Sota is going to graduate?"

I made that last part as loud as I could, and Sota was already whining to my mom about my little comment. It was something I couldn't help but throw in.

" He will. Don't tease your brother like that. It may be a little early for you to think about that, but for me it won't be long. Oh, I forgot to mention Sango's mother wants to speak with you."

I just swallowed. I was almost scared to talk to her because I knew it would be something about Sango, and it wasn't the easiest conversation to have. It was so hard to even talk about, without seeing one another getting choked up about it. It had to be about my speech; It had been awhile since I actually spoke with her mother. Of course she had visits to my place bringing Kohaku so Kohaku could try to get his mind off his sister's death for awhile. It was lonely for him, and with him and Sota, it seemed like any other day.

" Alright thanks mom. What could she possibly talk to me about? It will probably get so awkward, I don't know how we're going to do this…"

Slowly I moved away, back into the crowds of happy mothers and fathers pleased of their sons and daughters. I had to push my way through the crowd passing quickly through camera shots seeing a million different flashes going off at once. It was obvious Sango's mom wouldn't stand around in the school. Just seeing how the parents were, it killed her. She wanted to be there hugging and patting Sango on the back for the same reason. She couldn't touch or see her, or even speak with her face to face. All she had left was her memories and picture frames: Nothing more, nothing less.

I went straight for the door towards the back of the parking lot. There was only a few cars who had came to drive people back home, to celebrate their happiness and success.

The minute I walked out I could feel the coldness from the light falling snow, hitting against my shoulders, feeling the warmth from inside disappear behind me. Simply I looked around as far as I could see, and there was no sign of her at all, not even Kohaku either.

I just stood outside watching more of the light fall of snow come down onto the ground, watching younger kids fully dressed in their winter wear playing in the snow as though they had no worries. My eyes were caught by this small blonde girl thrown down by a snowball, and another young boy coming to her aid. It made me smile, to see him pick her up carefully and walk off making sure she was completely fine.

With that, I felt someone staring at me from the corner of my eye. There was Sango's mother leaning against the huge oak tree away from anything, and everyone. She continued staring at me without saying a word. The look in her eyes said it all that she wanted me exactly where she was, and have this talk with her she wanted.

Quickly I walked towards her, barely holding a smile together. It wasn't one of those times to smile and be happy not with her from her dull lifeless expression. Sango looked identical to her, with the high cheekbones and the beautiful wide brown eyes. Awkwardly, we stood in silence feeling the snow and wind clash against bare body, covered with a thin material of silk.

She didn't really have to say anything. Just by looking at her it was almost like we could read each other thoughts. She gestured to me to sit beside her, crouching down against the tree trunk fixing my long red dress.

Her one hand just touched the snow eagerly with her palm, while the other stand carefully against her knee. Her head tilted towards the sky almost like she was trying to find Sango, a glimpse of her somewhere to know she was alive somehow.

After what seemed like five minutes, she had finally broken the silence.

" Kagome-"

She spoke in mid sentence clearing her throat trying to hide the sadness that lingering throughout it. Without warning she pulled me close, binding her arms close around my waist hard enough almost like I could feel the exact pain that ran through her fingertips. That moment her head naturally rested it's place on my bare shoulder, and hearing a light but quick whimper-she couldn't hold in anymore.

" Kagome, you- you have no idea how grateful I was to come. I didn't want to come- It hurt too much without her in the picture. With your speech it was worth it. I thank you so much for doing that. I knew if you, losing something dear to you as well and still manage to come, then I could too I'm proud of you Kagome. It spoke out how I felt. You worded it exactly how I would. Just it would be hard to sum her up on paper."

Her mother's voice was raspy, but her laugh was much more pure, almost girly sounding. It felt forever since I had heard her mother truly laugh the way she did. When Sango disappeared, it seemed like apart was ripped away from her .Nothing could fix the way she felt. When she came to me, she had a smile on her face, even laughter, it seemed only I was meant to see.

" Believe me, believe me it was."

Her mother immediately pulled away, drawing her arms neatly back towards her chest and pulled herself up from the cold, wet ground.

" Look Kagome, I think it's time you get in. Your going to freeze out here in that dress. Plus I don't want to keep your mother waiting."

Softly I nodded, feeling my whole body slowly going numb from cold wind, and the snow blowing against me. It was hard for her mother to just walk away like that, or even mention how she felt even to me. She hid all her feelings, she tried so hard to continue for Kohaku, and it showed. She didn't want Kohaku to feel the same way she felt, she wanted him to continue as well grow up into something more and continue his life from there on out.

The minute I had brought myself towards the steps edging closer to the door, I heard her voice once again.

" Kagome? I believe the same thing you do."

Without a blink her mother disappeared behind the crowd of trees. She disappeared, and her voice still filled with sorrow. I knew exactly what she meant by what she had said to me. Her and I believed Sango was still alive; There was no doubt in my mind there was.

Snow was coming down heavier draping over my bare shoulders. I didn't realize how close Christmas was, and I still had a million things to do before then. Slowly I walked back through the crowds and my mother and brother stood talking to each other while everything just seemed to be in slow motion to me. Before I could make it towards them, I felt someone's warm hands grasp mine and thrown into a crowd of other teenagers who were laughing and screaming with excitement.

" Kagome I'm sorry I startled you like that."

" It's ok, honest!"

Hojo apologized. My face felt flushed from his hand gesture. He stood around with a couple of other girls and some other guys, and by the look on his face he always had something to say, something truly important. His lips curved into a delightful smile trying to find the words to say.

" Well since it's the end of graduation I thought you wouldn't mind if you'd come with me to a graduation party. Everyone is going to be there, so you won't feel like the odd one out. That's if you want."

The sadness I felt like it just disappeared into thin air. I wasn't the type of girl for huge parties around tons of groups of people, and loud music. I had always avoided parties all together after an incident between a drunk guy and one of my best friends. It scared me at the thought of it since what happened not too long ago. I had to call the police under the conditions and she ended up on the hospital for quite some time. She still had a scar right below the hairline from that night.

" Well, I'm not one for parties Hojo. I'm not comfortable being around a whole bunch of people I don't know."

He chuckled, and just shook his head with excitement.

" Look I'm not the ones for parties either but I'm sure going though. Don't worry, you'll be with me and I won't let anything happen to you I promise. Plus all your friends will be there as well. I mean we graduated isn't that enough to celebrate? I celebrate with your friends one last time?"

Hojo was always good at talking me in, and out of a lot of things. Before he was too overwhelming with his little baskets of goods and I hated that attention. He was too much for me to handle. Now it seems it was just perfect. If he didn't have that smile I probably wouldn't of agreed with him at all.

" I guess your right. One party wouldn't hurt."

Hojo smiled happy at the fact I hadn't blown him off once again like I would normally do. I really wanted to go home and lay on my bed and drown myself in my worries and never ending thoughts, staring at the ceiling letting life past me by but, the party seemed a lot better than doing that again.

" Seriously, your going? Usually when I try to do something with you, you seem to be busy all the time. It's tomorrow night, so I'll come by around eight. C'ya then Higurashi."

He softly waved off while I only stood dumbfounded, wondering if the choice I made was actually a good idea. I just hoped he would keep his promise and make sure nothing would ever happen to me, ever.

" Kagome, there you are. How was your talk with Sango's mother?"

" It- it was different. Let's just put it that way."

In the midst of my explaining my mother was already adjusting the lens on the camera, and my brother who looked like he ready got his tux stained and dirty somehow. My mother could see from my expression on my face that the conversation wasn't the greatest between me and her. Ever since Sango died, it just wasn't the same. I could talk to her mother for hours on end if I saw her somewhere and now there was barely anything to say at all now that she was gone.

Kohaku and Sota still managed to keep their friendship going strong. They were still going over to see each other, just there was less time since Kohaku had finally discovered girls.

" Kagome, smile for the camera!"

I just glared at her, she knew I hated having my picture taken. Especially by her; she still didn't know how to work her brand new digital camera. Most likely Sota just stood off to the side trying to make me screw up and laugh, to show off what I hated the most.

" Come on Kagome smile! Remember the time I tried to ride my bike down the stairs and I flipped over the handle the bars and fell on some lady? Come on let's see your smile Kagome."

Sota wasn't help in the least bit. The bike thing was funny if anyone were to see it. Sota thought he was an extreme biker and could do tricks and going down the stairs backwards wasn't the smartest idea he had in mind, but funny.

" Sota will you stop it! I'm not showing off my braces forget it!"

Within my anger fit my mother decided- without warning- to a picture of me anyways. She caught my braces; Seventeen and I was still damned with those stupid pieces of metal in my mouth.

" Too bad mom already got a nice shot of you with your braces. It's a pretty nice shot Kagome. I think I should show this to your boyfriend and let him see the real Kagome, he's been missing out on!"

I was ready to knock him out at any given moment, but I changed my mind. He knew my mother would protect him no matter what so it wasn't the worth the fight.

" Oh Kagome I forgot to tell you, were going to spend time at Sango's place tonight. Only for abit. I also think it would be a nice idea for Kohaku and his mother to spend Christmas with us. This is probably their first Christmas alone without her, so we should make the best of it for them."

My mother didn't have any desire to hang out at the high school any longer. She already had her car keys dancing from her fingertips, and was couldn't wait to go to her place and chat and catch up like they use to. Sota seemed pretty much excited that he'd be spending Christmas with Kohaku.

" Were spending Christmas with them? Alright! If we're going over to Kohaku's place he better not have that stupid girl over again. She kills everything."

" Kohaku don't be so rude. Isn't that girl you had your eye on before Kohaku was with her?"

" Of course not!"

Sota just crossed his arms and grumbled. It was true, that's why he was so mad when she was there at his place. Not only that but because Kohaku wouldn't do stupid things or play video games around her.

" Mom I forgot to tell you. I was invited to a graduation party by Hojo and I was wondering if I can go."

My mother just chuckled getting into the driver's seat of the car, and placing the key in the ignition and adjusting her rear view mirror.

" Hojo already asked me if it was alright. Of course you can. Hojo seems very pleased that you aren't blowing him off, or standing him up again."

Sota stuck his tongue out, while I just wanted to die right then and there. I didn't think that to my family it was that obvious that I had made up so many excuses and lies just to get out of his romantic death grip he had on me.

" Well, there's a first for everything."

I kept my eyes towards the window beside me. It was already pitch black, and half of the streets lights were either off or broken. We past by my old middle school already missing the days where everything seemed so simple. I couldn't help but watch the snow fall lightly towards the ground; As much as I hated winter for the cold and awful winds, it looked so beautiful at night when the moonlight was hitting the frozen branches of the trees and the blanket of snow.

We passed by an old apartment that my mom had lived it for a tiny while, when she was pregnant with me. She told me my dad had lived there originally, and had the biggest room in that whole entire building. She told me that he was a very handsome man, who always smiled and always had something good to say about someone. I always had to stare at that apartment, I almost felt compelled to knowing that my father had once lived there too.

While I stared longer at the huge apartment, the headlights caught a young group of teenage guys standing around smoking cigarettes and hiding underneath the shadows of the huge pine tree. The window was down enough for me to get a good look at them; The headlight caught a unique looking guy who had short black hair and a grim smile. The minute I stared them, he stared directly back at me without warning. It was the oddest feeling. Even when the car was at the lights, I could see his face staring at the direction of the car.

I slumped into my seat feeling embarrassed that I made another moment of unwanted attention. All I was excited about was being at the grad party. Knowing Hojo was there- made everything worth it.