Sesshoumaru sat in his darkened office with his long fingers grasping his silvery locks tightly. Rasped breaths could be heard throughout the large room. Shadows danced on the walls as the waltz began as a car passed. It's light filtered through closed blinds, and Sesshoumaru found the tires on wet pavement strangely comforting. He wouldn't cry, he refused. That damn woman, he refused to have her memory haunt him forever. She had somehow wiggled her way into his heart. And although as years passed by her piece grew smaller, and smaller, the damn thing still remained. Possibly because he had her heart?

'Why'd I let myself love her?'

It wasn't his fault he had been young. He hadn't been hopeless, but at that time he still figured life would be fair about this one thing. But he was wrong, very wrong. She had waltzed into his life at the worst time. His father was dying and his brother was trying to take something that'd he'd been working at for his entire life. But the dark haired woman stubbornly pushed her way through his not so impenetrable barrier anyways. Gods, he still remembered her smell. It was crisp, cool. Like winter. She always smelled of evergreens. He never got to kiss her, she was a lady, and didn't believe they were together long enough for such things. They never even got to proclaim their love, but he knew they loved each other. She was crazy about him, even though she tried to deny it. He smiled at their fond memories. She had skin as pale as a lily flower it was almost luminescent. Her hair, God her hair. It was as dark as a moonless night, so rich and soft, perfectly straight. And how he loved how unlike the other girls in Japan she was. Kagura was different, where as now girls, in the world of music videos; anime and dance clubs willingly flung themselves at the feet of any man with wealth. Kagura had been untouched, innocent. He was always so proud to have a true lady. The thought made him feel like emptying his stomach of its traitorous contents.

'She wasn't when she died.'

Kagura… how he wished he'd only confessed his love.

'Foolish pride.'

He knew she loved him, and would have told him.

'That's why she was on my doorstep.'

To tell him she loved him, that is. He knew it was, it had to be.

'Why me Kagura?'

He felt surrounded by the walls and felt a lump in his throat form as he saw her smiling face, her ruby eyes glowing in the dark. The last car passed by as all light left the room, and the shadows ceased their waltz.

The next day…

"Kami! Another 6:30 morning!"

Kagome moaned as she dramatically put her hands to her heart.

"Save yourself… Sango- Aah- it's too… late- for me!"

She finished her performance with an unprofessional giggle as she opened one eye to peek at Sango.

"You were highly unbelievable, your form needs work, and you broke character. Good morning Kagome."

Sango smiled into her coffee cup and yawned. Kagome sat there, mouth agape, fumbling over thoughts. She was confused. She regained her senses and out a pout on her face. She stuck her lip out like a little kid that got the red licked off their lolly.

"You're a grouchy morning person Sango!"

Sango smiled again and started to giggle.

"Aww, come on! You know I love you though!"

Kagome laughed. It was strange, Kagome, somebody who never made friends quick. Hell! She never made friends at all! She made friends with Sango though. They stuck together like gum under the cafeteria tables.

'Eww… hmm… where do I come up with these random things?'

Shaking her head, Kagome got back to business, err- um thoughts. Maybe Sango and her were friends, because compared to Sango, Kagome considered herself to be nothing. Her peers had always told her that, at least.

'Mama's always said I was beautiful, but she'd naturally think that!'

All of her peers said she was a hideous, scrawny thing. Well, there was Hojo, but he was naïve and never did get it when she said she didn't like him. And when he finally did, she felt horrible because the boy had cried. Cried!

'I'm such a bitch.'

Oh yes! Another famed memory. Her 16th birthday. What a happy day it should have been. And it was, until she got to school. The senior girls had egged her car. Kagome spent useless hours crying, you see. Her family wasn't poor; they just weren't the richest possible. She never did anything to them so she didn't know why they didn't like her. They called her "whore" and such. She found it slightly humorous now. She was the opposite, complete opposite. She was committed to her innocence and she stuck with it. She was 20 now, and her mama was pressuring her to date.

'I don't like anybody though. Men are jackasses. All of them.'

Sense the bitterness there? Long story, she didn't feel like bringing back old memories right now anyways. Kagome sighed as she noticed Sango's half worried gaze. She smiled weakly and licked her lips before saying, "What's wrong Sango?"
Sango just frowned and shook her head.

"I was just talking to you, for like 10 minutes. Are you okay?"

"Sorry… guess I'm just preoccupied."

Sango raised one eyebrow and then just sighed.

"Alright Kagome, you get off easy today."

Kagome smiled and gave Sango a fake bow.

"Thank-you your majesty!"

Sango couldn't help it, she had to giggle. Kagome started giggling as well and soon, they both found themselves rolling on the floor with tears streaming down their faces.

"Why- are we… laughing?"

Kagome didn't know, but it was fun.

"I- don't know!"

Kagome wiped her eyes and sighed. They sat up and smiled at each other, both consumed in their own thoughts.

"You two! GET back to work!"

The girls jumped as Ami snapped at them.

"Someone got their candy taken away…"

"More like their thong's on backwards…"

They sniggered behind their hands. They looked out of the cubicle at Ami. She was smiling like a she-devil at everybody. Sango and Kagome cringed. They didn't know why, but the just didn't like her.

"Oh well! Better get to work!"

"Oh ok! See you at lunch Sango!"

Kagome sat down in her wheeled chair and placed her headset on. She glanced over her list of numbers and placed her finger on the first one. She quickly dialed the number and tapped her fingers on her desk. She scanned over the product and rolled her eyes. When the telephone picked up she heard a deep masculine voice.

"Hello, Taisho speaking."

Kagome dropped her papers; she quickly picked them up though.

"Y-yes, yes hello! I'm an employee from Sunshine Enterprises! Sir, are you sad, depressed, or just plain down in the dumps? Well here at our headquarters we've spent years making a pill to get you happy again! Remember, 'Sunshine Enterprises, Happiness is just a bottle away!"

Kagome sucked in a large amount of air and nearly leaped for joy.

"He hasn't hung up, said a word, he just listened! Maybe he's going to buy this crap! Please buy someth-'

"Madam, your product is a waste of time. Nobody would ever consider buying it."

Kagome starting fuming.

"Sir! Then why! Why did you let me finish?"

Sesshoumaru smirked.

'Silly girl.'

"Your voice was as lovely as a bird. It would've been a shame to cut you off."

Kagome started blushing.

'Oh no! Quit! He's probably 40, fat, and bald!'

"S-s-sir, I'm sorry for taking your time."

"Young maiden, before you take your leave, what is your name?"

"My name?"

"Yes, does the maiden with the voice of a whippoorwill have a name?"

"It's… Kagome."

Kagome felt like slapping herself. She gave her name to a random guy. Where was her head?

"Ka-go-me. I like it. It suits you well. I can imagine you're quite the beauty."

Sesshoumaru was smiling cruelly. He hoped she noticed the sarcasm in his last statement. He loved messing with these people. The girls were all middle aged, divorced, and overweight. They had faces like a donkey's rear-end! This girl was probably no different. Except for the middle aged part.

"Sir, that was rude."

Sesshoumaru felt his eyes widen slightly. Perhaps, he had stuck… a nerve?

"I am not beautiful, I know that. Please don't say I am. Don't jest at me."

He felt this odd sensation in his gut. Was this, guilt? He had only felt it once before.

'Kagura…'

He really did believe Kagome had a lovely voice. As sweet and clear as a whippoorwill's whistle on a clear summer night. She sounded early 20's late teens. He almost felt… sorry, for causing her distress.

"Kagome I-"

"Sir, I apologize. I'll take you number off the list."

"That's not neces-"

"Good day sir."

"Good day… Kagome."

Kagome clicked off the phone. She leaned back and closed her eyes.

'Damn, why did he say that? I know he didn't do it on purpose, I hope. Usually, it wouldn't bother me, but when he said it, it did. Kagome shrugged and looked at her numbers again. She dialed the next poor unfortunate soul.

'Here goes nothing.'

Sesshoumaru sat there, still holding the now ringing phone. It echoed into his ears. He just let the guilt wash over him in waves.