"You...what are you doing here! Kikyo, why are you in my apartment!"

"Hm. That's for me to know and you to find out."

Kagome shifted weight in her feet. Her eyes darted back and forth from Kikyo's stone cold face to the door. Her hand fell on a well known drawer in her kitchen. The metal was cool to the touch and in the nervous tirade her brain was currently in, the tiny shock made the tiny hairs on her neck rise again. In the drawer was a series of eight kitchen knives. There was one that was rather nasty looking with its serrated edge and points sharpened to needle-like tips. How many times had she thought about using that knife? The one whose bladed edge that would leave some oh-so-pretty marks on her skin. How many times had she been disgusted with herself when she collapsed in shame at her actions, the knife slipping from her grasp? And that metal whose highlight was still burned in her mind, and spread the terror in her heart like wild fire.

"I don't see the attraction. You're just an ordinary Japanese girl and the only thing the least bit interesting are those blue eyes."

Kikyo put the emphasis on 'blue' as her voice darkened. Her eyes, though normally aren't warm rays of sunshine, have never looked this cruel and heartless. Kagome gulped. Something about this wasn't right. Why was she acting so strangely? Why didn't she hear the door open? Kagome scratched her nails hard into the wood of the kitchen drawer. She felt some of them break while small cuts and splinters broke into the skin. She gritted her teeth, but bore it silently.

"I wonder how you'll fare…"

There was a knock at the door, but there was no reaction in Kikyo's features. A small hand gun was slipped from the front of her pants near her hip. Kagome paled and released her hand from the drawer with the slump of her shoulders. Her eyes had darkened to a slate grey, despair and confusion taking the helm of her heart. Kikyo tightened her finger of the trigger.

"Well? Don't be rude. Answer the door and invite in your guest."

Kikyo's voice was even despite her internal struggle. Inside her head, there was a voice screaming. No words were discernible or coherent. It was disarming and uncontrollable. The shrieking protests were like someone being tortured. It was what was left of her heart. Kikyo swallowed deeply and closed her eyes for a second. May whatever god exist forgive her. There was no going back and…no happy ending for her.

Gomen ne, Inu-kun, but we can't be together. Maybe in another life.-

Kagome shook and her eyes stared at that gun. She was practically paralyzed by fear and by shame. Part of her was urging, yelling at her body to move towards that door before their number was forcefully called up. However, the other didn't want to go anywhere. It was daring that evil bitch to shoot her once or twice in the heart. That part of her longed for the physical pain that could conquer her emotional torture. Kagome wanted it all to end. She was tired of being afraid of this horrid day and of her past. A darker side to her heart wanted to die and wouldn't mind being killed by someone so alike, yet completely different.

Her mind was still at odds even as she head to the door. Kagome didn't move for herself, just like she didn't live for herself. Kagome kept breathing, never slit her wrists, and kept her head above water because of those around her. Her mother, her grandfather, Souta, Sango, Rin, and even Miroku, but for the most part it was all for the little orphan she probably shouldn't have taken under her wing. Shippou was the love of her unstable life. Still sometimes Kagome found it hard to fly carrying two where only one was intended.

Kagome shut her eyes as her hand fell on that cool, metallic door handle. An image of a red-headed pip squeak half bouncing, half bouncing falling off a pogo stick popped into her head. The funny memory gave her strength and even mirth shook the tension from her shoulders. Grey eyes knew who was on the other side, yet Kagome opened the portal to her shadowed past. She offered a soft smile that would have even charmed Charon, the ferryman across the river of the dead. Even if she didn't have a coin, he would have given her passage and it was quite possible that Kagome would be meeting him soon.

There was one thing though, she would not be afraid any longer. This wasn't how life was supposed to go and she wasn't some weak little girl anymore. Women were meant to be treasured not treated with condescension. This time- Kagome Higurashi wasn't going to be the victim. She was a stubborn, defiant, annoying college student who wasn't going to go down without a fight. If Naraku wanted to taint her once again with his blood-stained hands then he would have to take Kagome kicking and screaming.

"Konba'wa, Naraku-kun."

Kagome laughed as she stepped back and allowed him entrance. His features betrayed his shock, that stupid smirk disappearing from his lips. However he soon recovered and that irritating gleam in his eyes returned. The narrowed crimson eyes shimmering with mischief and a longing that Kagome had long ago memorized. He wanted her, once again, it would seem. Though didn't he say the last time that she disgusted him and that he would never touch her again? At the time, those words had been horrifying, but still comforting.

Just like Naraku to go back on his word. Still something isn't right. What does Kikyo have to do with this?-

Kagome turned to walk back into her kitchen, but an arm around her waist and a hand over her move ceased the action. Hot breath touched her neck and a lock of thick, black hair fell around her arm to hit her wrist. Kagome could feel his smile on her neck.

"Never turn your back on an enemy. Rule number one, Kahi-chan. It seems I have the privilege of teaching you once again."

Kagome screamed, but that was swiftly stifled by a cloth. A disgusting, unearthly smell wafted into her nostrils and stunted her senses. Consciousness was soon lost from underneath her feet and Kagome was swept into a world on black that was all too familiar.

"And the game begins anew. What a treat this is indeed."

Naraku leered down at the woman in his grasp. The girl he knew, whose body was his to memorize so long ago had finally flourished. Her curves would fit much more fully into his palms and her screams would meld into mewls. Naraku would have to thank Kikyo someday. Without her selfishness, he would never have had this perfect opportunity.

Sesshoumaru's Penthouse

Kaede dipped the cloth back into the bowl. Her worn, wrinkled hands squeezed the excess water from within. After re-folding, the rag was placed back on the little child's forehead. The skin was damp with sweat and heated with a fever. Rin had called her about an hour ago. The girl was almost too sick to get out of bed and didn't know what medicines to take.

When Kaede had gotten there, she found Rin opening the door with a pale face and rosy cheeks. That is before she turned with a hand to cover her harsh coughs. Apparently the girl had slept with her window open and even though it was beginning to warm up, the weather was still chilly. For the most part it was wet which wasn't so good for young Rin. Her room had been hot, but only because of her birthing sickness and opening the window to 'let in the stars' only made things worse.

Her guardian, Sesshoumaru, had been no where in sight. When asked where her adoptive father was, Rin had glanced down more interested in her wriggling sock-less toes than answering the question. It had taken Kaede a few minutes to drag it out of the coughing, runny-nosed child. Rin really was such an innocent, sweet girl. She hadn't told Sesshoumaru because she thought he'd be mad about the window. Rin had almost had a frightful look in her eyes. She didn't want to make him angry and risk the possible loss of his presence. She wanted to be perfect, so that he wouldn't ever be ashamed and leave her.

When Sesshoumaru tucked her in Saturday night, he had said that he had to go into work the next day. He would probably go in early and hopefully get out in time for the two of them to make dinner together. Rin would usually walk him out the door than hop back into bed for a few hours. Afterwards, she would practice piano, draw, or if she was lonely, go visit Kaede for those few hours. Kaede had never minded of course. Her Sundays were spent knitting or typing her memoirs.

Rin had continued on while sitting in the elder woman's lap while Kaede rubbed her back gently. Sesshoumaru knocked on Rin's door, but when hearing no response he opened it. Rin pretended to be asleep with the covers high above her head. Sesshoumaru had left a kiss on the back of her head and went in for work preferring to let her sleep than wake her up. However, Rin had woken when he did. Her keen ears had heard the shower across the apartment and when her father went into the kitchen to make coffee. It was then that she closed the window and caught a look at herself in the mirror. Rin had been afraid to let her Sesshoumaru see her like this. He would definitely be upset or worried and Rin didn't want to burden him. She wanted to be around him always and didn't want to get in his way. So, Rin let him leave thinking she was asleep.

If he actually fell for it Rin had admitted she would never know. After all, her father was quite intelligent, more so than he would ever let on. Sesshoumaru would notice things, but keep them to himself in case there was an advantage to be had. In Rin's case, he would probably just let her be since it was what she wanted. Rin had blown her cheeks out at that thought because it was most likely true. She could never, or rarely, fool her Sesshoumaru-sama without him allowing it.

"Rin-chan, how do ye feel? Any better?"

"Hai, Kaede-san. Gomen ne for bothering you."

"Iie, child. Ye could never bother, or burden, this old woman."

Rin smiled wanly in her sick chills before another cough racked her frame. They were dryer now then before, but still occurred too often and were rough on Rin's delicate throat. Kaede had given her some cough medicine along with a joint pill that contained a decongestant and an antihistamine. The antihistamine would help with the stuffy nose, wheezing, coughing, etc. The decongestant would help the pressure build up in Rin's cheeks and forehead. It would dry up all her sinus passages. Her sore throat would also benefit from the antihistamine since the drainage from her nose would cease during her sleep.

"My head is still pounding Kaede-san."

"Alright, I'm going to give ye an ibuprofen."

"What will…?"

Rin's sentence was cut short by a cough. The little girl rolled over from her back to her side. A small fist cupped in front of her mouth stifled the sound minimally. With a sniff, she reached for a tissue. The box had been moved from the top of her bureau across the room to in between the two sets of pillows on her bed. Then Rin turned over towards Kaede who sat on a chair she had pulled into the room. She dropped the used tissue down into the waste basket next to her bed. This had also been moved.

"It will dull the pain from your head and the aches in your body so that ye can get some restful sleep."

"'Kay."

Rin yawned and lay back against her pillows waiting for Kaede to return with her next dose of medicine. Slightly reddened and teary chocolate brown eyes shut while wondering what her father was doing at that moment.

Sesshoumaru's Office

Sesshoumaru sat at his desk typing away at his computer. He paused to proofread the draft he was working on. His silver rimmed glasses, a new pair, were square and sat on the bridge of his nose. A slim finger rose to slide the slipping frames back up closer to his eyes. After a few more minutes of work, bored golden eyes shut as he sighed quietly. Sesshoumaru raised his head stretching the muscles in his neck. He had went into work early on this Sunday morning hoping to get out early enough to be able to have a sit-down dinner with his daughter. It had been so long since they had eaten a proper meal together. More recently the two had gone out or preferred to eat something quick.

Sesshoumaru cracked his knuckles as he slid away from his desk. The rough draft was finished all that was left to do was have the legal apartment review and approve of the agreement. Then the refined copy would be sent to Hamasaki Hisoro. The merger of the two companies would then be underway as long as his louse of a brother didn't screw anything up of course. Though it wouldn't really matter because the idiot would be married whether he liked it or not. Or rather, it would probably be Kikyo that would have second doubts since she was the more competent one of the two.

Sesshoumaru was just about to switch off his laptop when the ringing of his cell phone disrupted the movement. His hand pulled the thin phone from his pocket and observed the caller id on the front panel of the phone. His brow knitted slightly when he read the name. It was strange to see his own name calling himself on his cell phone.

It must be Rin.-

Ok, so surprise, surprise…my internet is once again not working. I have no idea when it will be working again, if ever. So, instead, I will update only on Saturdays when hopefully my friend will allow me to 'borrow' her computer. I will keep my usual schedule. Every Saturday you can expect three chapters.