Chapter 24: Birthday Blues

Kagome walked up the stairs to her shrine. Last night Kagome had stayed at her friend, Yuka's house. Now she was heading back to her house. As she made it to the top of the stairs she looked over to where the well house was. Kagome hadn't been in there since the day she fell inside the well. And since that day she hasn't felt the same.

It had been a year and a half or so since she woke up at the bottom of the well. And ever since then Kagome has felt as if she has forgotten something. As if something inside her was taken. The last year and a half have gone by like a fog. And if she had to recall things that she has done in the time past, she would be at a lost.

Walking over to the well house, Kagome peered inside and stared down the stairs to the dark wooden well. She half expected something, or someone to pop out it and say, "Here I am! The one your heart has been searching for is me!"

And indeed Kagome's heart has been searching for someone. Every night since she woke up from the well, Kagome has dreamed that she was running around a castle. A large castle, opening up doors and looking under things to find someone. She would only catch glimpse of this person as they would turn a corner and then disappear.

It was a he. And he was tall, ivory pale skin, with silver hair.

And she would run after him. But never catch him. And when she would wake up, her heart would be pounding, but it also felt broken. And a black hole of emptiness was inside her.

Now Kagome also had a trouble of zoning out. She would be sitting there, laughing or talking, and then her mind would take her to another time, another place, and she would completely blank out. To others it look as if she was dead, staring into nothingness. The doctor contributed to the fall Kagome had and said it could be permanent.

However Kagome felt that it was something more. Whenever she would blank out, her mind would see these vivid scenes with people she had never met before. And they would be talking to her, laughing and smiling. Kagome felt as if it were a memory but every time she would snap out of her daze, she couldn't focus on what she had just saw. Pictures would flash across her mind but that was it. It was almost as if she couldn't grasp them and they would fade away.

Kagome was miserable. Her mother took her to a psychiatrist and Kagome remembered telling the lady, "I feel as if part of me is missing. Something isn't right. My better half is gone." The lady immediately assumed that the fall had disrupted Kagome's brain causing her to be chemically imbalanced and now the girl was depressed.

So she prescribed an anti-depressant for Kagome. And Kagome took it for a few days but she didn't like how it made her feel. It made her feel nothing at all. No emotions. And to Kagome that was the worst of all. Whether it was happiness, anger, or sadness, Kagome wanted to FEEL something. So she stopped taking them, without her mother's knowledge.

Slowly Kagome walked down the stairs and gently rested her hands on the well's edge. Looking to the black depths Kagome felt something strange. Maybe if she were to fall again and hit her head then everything would turn back to normal. It was irrational thinking, and Kagome knew it, but she couldn't help wondering. But then another thought crossed her mind: What if she hit her head or something and it made her mother believe she was trying to kill herself?

Kagome shuddered at the thought and quickly turned around to leave. She couldn't have any of that. She slowly walked back to her house. Opening the door she took off her shoes and called into the house, "Mama?" Kagome yelled but the house was silent in reply.

Kagome quietly went upstairs to her room. She slowly opened the door and looked inside. Everything seemed normal enough, but something wasn't right, something was missing. And the feeling that something was missing seemed to grow ten times bigger than ever. She walked to her desk and sat down in the chair.

On her desk was a note from her mother. She opened it up and read what was inside.

Kagome-

We took Souta out for his birthday, but we'll be home for dinner. I told him that you would be home later and hopefully you'll have time to pick up his gift before we return around six o'clock.

The gift you can get Souta if you have no ideas of your own is the video game Kingdom Hearts. He has been asking me for that game, but I had already gotten him something else.

Anyways I left some money in here in case you didn't have enough. Don't worry about paying me back, It's fine.

Much love

Mama

Kagome read the note silently and smiled, her mother was always so thoughtful. Kagome's eyes drifted to her bed. She stared at the empty space and for some odd reason felt as if someone should be sitting there. And why did she have the feeling of deja vu?

"You're one sick fuck, Kagome." She mumbled to herself as she got the money and headed out the door.

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"Ah-ha!" Kagome said and held up the plastic bag in triumph. She had gone to seven different stores to find this video game and now she had found a copy. She gave a small smile and then began to walk home.

"KAGOME!" Kagome froze in her tracks and slowly turned around to see her friends Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi running towards her. She loved her friends, she really did, but lately they've been over smothering with their friendly gestures. Kagome knew that they meant well but it was starting to get on her nerves the way they treated her. As if she was some mental patient who would shoot herself at any moment.

"Hi guys." She smiled as they stopped in front of her.

"Hey Kagome!" All three chimed.

"Kagome Yuka said you spent the night at her house last night, when are you coming over to mine?" Eri whined and tugged on Kagome's arm a little.

"No Kagome, when are you coming to my house?" Ayumi tugged on Kagome's other arm and proceeded to whine as well.

"I have an idea! Why don't we all have a sleep over at Kagome's house! It'll be so much fun!" Yuka suggested and gave Kagome a large cheerful smile. "We can stay up all night and paint our nails while talking about boys!"

"Oh!" Ayumi let out a squeal. "That sounds so much fun! Let's do it tonight! Tomorrow's Sunday, we don't have school!" Ayumi clasped her hands together and looked at Kagome hopefully.

"Eh.. eh.. Actually I can't." The girls let out a depressed sigh. "Tonight is my brother's birthday party, so we're gonna have a bunch of rowdy kids over. I don't think its a good night for a birthday party."

"Oh... well we'll put our heads together and figure out a time!" Yuka smiled once more. "We'll plan a big night too. Movies, pizza, the works. Oh it'll be so much fun!"

"I can hardly wait..." Kagome said with little enthusiasm.

"Well we have to go now Kagome, see you later!" Eri said and all three girls turned and left. Kagome knew they were talking about her. Poor Kagome, we have to be extra nice to her, she's a mental case.

Kagome let out a sigh and turned around once again. She reached the cross walk and waited for the light to turn so she could cross. Looking down the sidewalk she watched as a group of kids came riding down the sidewalk on their skateboards and roller blades. They were jumping on benches and knocking into people without so much as an apology.

"Punks." Kagome said with disgust.

It wasn't long before the reckless riding kids made their way to where Kagome was standing. One accidentally knocked right into Kagome, pushing her into oncoming traffic. Kagome tried to stop her fall, but it was useless.

In the seconds of her fall she saw the oncoming truck and new her fate was sealed. But someone grabbed her shirt and yanked her back into the safety of the sidewalk. The truck flew by and blared its horn while the group of punks continued to recklessly ride down the sidewalk.

Kagome was leaning against her savior. Each of their hands firmly holding her shoulders. And it was their touch that ignited something in her. The mark on her neck felt like a burning flame. Her heartbeat seemed to quicken and Kagome felt her body yearn for this stranger.

"Thank you." Kagome said as she turned around. "For saving my..." She trailed off as she met the eyes of a young gentleman. They were gold. And his hair was an usual color of silver. His skin was a silky complexion of ivory and his body was built with strength. Kagome felt an unbearable connection with this man and she didn't know why.

Clearing her throat Kagome began again. "Thank you for saving my life."

The man stared at her and then slightly bowed his head. His eyes searched hers but when he didn't find what he was looking for he turned and walked away. "Wait!"

Her voiced stopped him in his tracks. "Please tell me your name." The man didn't turn around, but Kagome could see his shoulder stiffen.

"Mr. Lord of Who Gives a Shit." He said indifferently and then kept walking.

"Well I never!" Kagome huffed as she watched the man walk away. "What a jackass!" Kagome said loudly, making a few passersby turn and look at her. "What an arrogant, cold, heartless, son of a bitch!" She fumed. Turning on her heel she began to stomp home.

'All I did was thank him and he couldn't give me his real name. He just had to walk away hauntingly as if he owned the world. Who does he think he is?' Kagome thought to herself with anger.

"KAGOME!" The screeching voice could be heard across a multitude of people. Kagome turned around to see none other than Mesuinu, the school bitch, coming towards her. "Ughh..." Kagome moaned, oh how she hated this girl.

When Mesuinu reached her, she gave a prissy smirk and looked Kagome up and down. "Wow you really do look sick. So there is a rumor about school that you're the depressed suicidal maniac now because I like stole Hojo-kun from you." She said with little concern in her voice.

Kagome sighed. She knew rumors were being spread about her at school. After all, she walked around like the walking dead, always spaced out, and from what her friends told her, she always had a sickly pale look about her. Kagome just wished Mesuinu didn't know about these rumors. Because of course she would contribute it to the fact she was dating Hojo.

"Mesuinu, I'm going to let you in on a little secret." Kagome leaned closer to the girl, "I could care less about you, and you dating Hojo-kun, about the rumors going on in school, and about people in that school in general. So why don't you do me a favor and shut the hell up." Kagome straighten up again. "I don't want to hear your annoying voice."

"Wow, you are sick! You should go to a mental hospital. That or start taking your meds Kagome." Mesuinu said with a snicker and then turned and walked the opposite direction.

Kagome sighed, Mesuinu wasn't the only one who thought so.

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Kagome arrived at her house and went inside. She slipped off her shoes and then called out, "Oh where is the birthday boy? I have a present for you!" The house was decorated with balloons and streamers, and Kagome knew that soon it would be full of little kids.

Souta was at the top of the stairs, "Kagome!" He called out and raced down to her. He was the only one that seemed to understand her, and never suffocated her with unwanted sympathy. He treated her like he always had. And Kagome was always grateful to him.

"Got you a present, squirt." Kagome handed him the bag. "You can open it now."

His tiny hand dove into the bag quickly and pulled out the video game, Kingdom Hearts. Souta's face broke out into a large smile as he hugged Kagome. "Thanks Kagome!"

Kagome gave him a tiny smile. "What are big sisters for?"

"I'm still trying to figure that out." He gave a grin and Kagome gave him a playful punch.

At this time Kagome's mother walked into the room. "Look what Kagome got for me!" Souta showed their mother. She looked at Kagome and gave her a playful wink.

"I see! What a thoughtful sister you have!" She said.

"Is that what she is?" Souta teased.

"Souta isn't your little girlfriend coming over today? So shouldn't you be getting ready?" Kagome teased back.

"She isn't my girlfriend!" Souta blushed.

"Yet." Kagome gave a small grinned, causing Souta's blush to deepen. "So get going mister, you have a girl to impress." Souta nodded firmly and then turn quickly to run up the stairs.

Kagome followed her mother into the kitchen and began helping her with the food preparations. It wasn't long before Kagome's mother was shooing her out of the kitchen, telling her she should rest before the other kids got there. Kagome sighed and dutifully obeyed. Her mother was constantly fussing over her ever since she woke up at the bottom of that well.

Yes, that was when her life just suddenly changed.

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Kagome sat on the couch and watched the children pour in. They had just come inside from playing a nice game of hide and seek and were now strung across the living room doing this and that as they waited for cake and ice-cream to be served.

Tucking her left leg under her, Kagome leaned against the side of the couch and stared at the empty space next to her. It was weird, but it felt like Kagome had been through this whole day before. Only, if felt like something was taken from the picture. As Kagome continued to stare at the empty space next from her, a vision of the man that saved her appeared before her.

He was sitting on the couch, completely relaxed. Sensing her stare, he slowly turned his golden eyed gaze to Kagome. Once their eyes met his vision disappeared and Kagome found herself once again staring at nothing.

No one was sitting next to her; she was once again imagining things.

"Kids! Icecream!" Kagome heard her mother yell from the kitchen. All at once the kids hopped up from their seats and ran to the kitchen. Kagome quietly followed and peeped in the doorway. Kids surrounded Souta, and the girl he liked was sitting right next to him. Kagome knew that if she wasn't there, he wouldn't notice.

She would take this chance and get some fresh air, Kami knew she needed it.

Kagome slipped outside and walked to the nearest park. The sun was beginning to set and the sky looked like a beautiful mixture of pink and gold as the midnight blue came to chase the sun away. When Kagome reached the park she began to walk around the lake, letting her mind float on things.

Something was off. The entire day Kagome had a sense of deja vu except, something was incomplete. It was almost as if an important piece to the puzzle was lost. It was a feeling that bothered Kagome. The feeling ate away at her very soul.

And then there was the appearance of the stranger that had saved her life. Kagome didn't know what it was about him, but she felt as if she knew him. And the way her body reacted to his simple touch made Kagome wonder if there was something more that she just couldn't remember. And why couldn't she remember it? What had happened the day she fell in the well?

Kagome feared she would never know.

"All right missy, give me your purse." A deep voice said behind her that interrupted her chain of thoughts. Kagome slowly turned around to see a man dressed entirely in black holding a gun that was pointed directly at her.

"Sir..." Kagome held up her hands in front of her chest. "I don't have a purse, nor do I have any money or jewelry on me. I have nothing of value." Kagome said slowly. "So please, turn around and walk away. I won't tell the cops and we can just forget about this little meeting." She could see that the man was eyeing her up and down. "What do you say?"

"I say that you have something of value." His harsh words had turned into lust. "Something really of value." He began towards Kagome.

"I advise you to leave." Kagome heard a cold voice say from behind her. It caused the man to stop in his tracks. Kagome felt someone stand directly behind her. "Now." The voice commanded.

The man didn't hesitate. "I didn't mean any harm!" He called over his shoulder as he ran away.

The mark on Kagome's neck began to pulsate with heat. Kagome knew that voice from anywhere; it was that jerk that saved her life. She whirled around met his gaze. "Well if it isn't Mr. Lord of Who Gives a Shit here to save the day once again. Tell me how do you always seem to be at the right place at the right time?" Kagome asked sarcastically.

The stranger smirked. "It is not I who is at the right place. But you who is always at the wrong place." He remarked.

"Oh so I'm the one to blame?" Kagome asked, shocked.

The stranger gave another haughty smirk. "Indeed."

Kagome stood there and took in the vision of this stranger. He was tall, muscular, and very sure of himself. He seemed to wear a mask of indifference, though. He hid his emotions very well. And as Kagome stood there, fighting with him, she suddenly felt as if it's the way it should be. As if standing here, fighting with him is the way this moment should be going.

"Well, thank you once again. Although I highly doubt you care for my thanks. You probably save many girls all the time." Kagome turned and walked away. "You sure act like it." She muttered under her breath.

The stranger was soon walking next to her. "And you sure act as if you are use to being saved. Tell me, how many times can your life get in danger in just one day?"

"For your information I don't always need to be saved." Kagome huffed as they continued to walk. "Today was just an off day." She said, more to herself than to him. "And tell me, are you always so arrogant?"

"Always." He said simply.

They fell into a silence. Kagome wanted to know his name. She needed to know his name. But something told her she already knew it. Deep down, she already knew his name. "So... will you tell me your name now or do I have to keep calling you by Mr. Lord of Who Gives a Shit?"

"Don't like the name?" He asked.

"It's a mouthful." Kagome commented. "But it sounds like it fits you well. Tell me, what is your real name?"

"Sesshoumaru." He said after a moment of silence.

"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome said his name slowly. It felt good on her tongue and she felt like she's said it before. "I like it." She said softly. "Sesshoumaru." She repeated it. "That name fits you better." Her voice was barely audible, causing Sesshoumaru to raise a quizzical brow in her direction.

"And your name?" He asked after awhile.

"Kagome." She turned to him and flashed a small smile. "Kagome Higurashi."

Sesshoumaru gave a slight nod. Kagome gave a sideways glance at him. Was it her or did it seem like he already knew what her name was. The way he walked to confidently next to her gave her the impression that he knew exactly who she was. Then why didn't she have any recognition of him?

Kagome was so confused.

"So...are you following me now, Mr. Sesshoumaru?" Kagome tried to keep her mind on track.

"Just making sure you get home safely. Since you always seem to be in danger, I wouldn't want to waste myself the trip of having to come back and save you." He replied. His tone was emotionless but Kagome could here a twinge of... playfulness in it as well.

"Ah, well, for your information I am perfectly capable of walking home myself. I do not need an escort." She said pride fully.

"Just like you were perfectly capable of crossing the street this afternoon?" Sesshoumaru smirked.

Kagome flushed. "Those punks ran into me!" Kagome said hotly. "I had no control over their actions!" She protested.

"Ah, yes, and dodging them was out of the question, hm?" Sesshoumaru added.

Kagome stopped abruptly and whirled around. "Look, mister, I appreciate you saving me or whatever. But I don't need you to point out my faults!" As she yelled at him, she felt her emotions rise. All the things she wanted to say to the people hovering over her for the past year, trying to protect her from herself it seemed, was being said to this poor stranger.

But Kagome couldn't bite back her words any longer.

"Apparently I'm just in the wrong place at every wrong time!" Hot angry tears gathered in Kagome's eyes. "And to everyone it might seem like I can't take care of myself, that I'm some suicidal maniac." The tears spilled out. "I've got a newsflash for all of you, I can take care of myself, I don't need you or anyone else looking after me!"

With that she whirled around, she couldn't believe that she just had an emotional outburst in front of a complete stranger. She felt so embarrassed. Immediately she began to run, but someone grabbed her elbow and held her back.

Kagome turned around, she couldn't meet his eyes, he probably thought she really was a mental case. Gently, she felt him hook a finger under her chin. "Kagome." It was the first time she heard him say her name, and it was the most pleasant thing she had ever heard. Slowly she met his golden orbs and Kagome thought they looked softer, and much... much sadder.

"Stop searching for what your heart doesn't want to find. Eventually it will piece together. But first you have to pull yourself out of the hole you've been lying in. Only then can you truly find what has been in front of you all along." His voice was soft, the arrogance completely gone.

Kagome searched his eyes. "Who are you?" She whispered. "How do you know me?" His words were haunting to her.

His lips formed another smirk, the indifferent mask seem to go into place. "I went my three hundred and one feet away from, Kagome. Now it's time to lead you back to the village... I know you have no clue how to get there on your own."

"Huh...?" But before she could ask anymore, Sesshoumaru began walking. Kagome could only stare at his retreating figure. Shaking her head she quickly caught up to him. "For such an arrogant ass you hardly make sense." Kagome commented.

"Indeed." Sesshoumaru gave her a smirk, somehow knowing she wanted the atmosphere to go back in the sarcastic bantering it was before.

"And there you go with that word again, honestly is that like you catch phrase or something?" Kagome asked, exasperated.

Giving her a sideways glance he slowly said, "Indeed." Kagome let out a dramatic sigh and the two walked back to shrine.

As they walked in the setting sun, Kagome realized she was starting to feel peace. Peace like she never had before she fell in the well. Whatever it was that she couldn't remember, it was going to be alright, somehow she knew that. Kagome glanced at the tall stranger. He was the one who helped her realize it. And he was the one whose presence seem to send a wave of peace into her unsettled heart.

Kagome felt that she had a strong connection with this man, but she didn't know why.

End of Chapter

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Moonchild: Oh my good grief it too me way to long to write that damn chapter.

Kagome: Ah but it is done now.

Moonchild: THANK GOODNESS!

Sesshoumaru: Maybe if you didn't procrastinate so much, it wouldn't take you so long.

Moonchild: Yeah ok whatever. So in case you didn't get the picture... this chapter sorta reflects chapters 10 and 11. Maybe you should read those to get an idea with where this is coming from. And it seems really confusing and rushed, but it isn't, trust me. It was the only way to write this chapter.

Inuyasha: Or maybe you should just stop reading this fic.

Moonchild: Oh you would like that wouldn't you?

Inuyasha: Yes I would.

Moonchild: Well too bad because THIS FIC IS NOT OVER YET. I REPEAT THIS IS NOT THE LAST CHAPTER.

Kagome: I think they get it.

Moonchild: I hope so. Anyways I want to say THANK YOU for all those reviews, the really meant a lot. Please continue to send them!