You're all that I Need
Chapter Two

Graduation day – they'd received their awards, shed their tears, and said their goodbyes.

Her Track coach patted her on the shoulder, "I'll see you next Spring Kagome?"

"Next Spring," she promised.

"Kagome!" a familiar high pitched voice called, she turned, Rin catching her arm. "Come on, let's grab Sango and get out of here."

"I'm with you," Sango said quietly, striding up to them, "Too much emotion in here for me."

Kagome laughed, eyes sparkling, "I don't want Bobby seeing me before we leave either."

"Wait, Kagome!" Bobby's voice came from behind them.

"Why?" Kagome mouthed to her friends.

"Call us as soon as you get home, we need to set up a party or something," Rin laughed.

"Don't leave me!" she begged in a whisper.

"We'll see you later Kagome," Sango said, a smile forming on her lips.

"Hey Bobby," she said quietly as he found his way to her. She watched as Sango and Rin escaped the noisy gym into the awaiting Sunshine.

:-----:

Sesshoumaru folded himself onto the floor, massaging his temples. He cracked open one eye as Inuyasha entered the room, throwing himself onto the couch.

"You know, I didn't get to hear her answer to him," Inuyasha fumed.

"Are you referring to the wench's answer to the male's harassment?"

"Her name is Kagome," Inuyasha ground his teeth.

"I assure you, her answer was no. And I don't believe it's the first time she has been 'asked out' by that boy." Sesshoumaru said coolly.

"Keh, you can 'assure' away, but I wanted to hear it for myself." Inuyasha turned to him.

"Perhaps, if your half-breed ears weren't so insufficient…" Keeping his stoic expression, he internally smiled. He knew just how to push Inuyasha's buttons.

"Would you shut up!" He screamed, standing.

"Sit Inuyasha. Why is this Kagome so important to you anyway?" Sesshoumaru arched his eyebrows, both eyes fully open now.

Inuyasha lowered himself back to the sofa, folding his arms on his chest, "She… she reminds me of Kikyo."

"Hn."

"Kikyo, remember? My past 'wench' that didn't make it into the well before the waters hit?"

Sesshoumaru nodded slightly.

"How's the little girl you brought with you faring?" Inuyasha watched as Sesshoumaru's expression remained the frozen mask he always wore.

"She is well. And remembers nothing of the past. She was only five or six when it all began."

"Who all made it out anyway? You, me, Sango and Miroku..." He counted on his clawed fingers, and looked to Sesshoumaru.

"Rin, Hiten and Monten." Sesshoumaru added.

"Ayame and Kouga." He inspected his clawed fingers and nodded. "I think that's all of us."

Sesshoumaru nodded slightly and closed his eyes again.

Inuyasha fidgeted on the sofa, "Hey, do you every wish the well hadn't sealed itself off after we jumped through? I mean, I know I'd sure like to go back in time and kill that Miko that created that Youki killing storm."

Sesshoumaru kept silent.

"Do you?" Inuyasha tilted his head and picked at the seam of the sofa. "I mean, I know you've softened up on your whole, 'you dare insult this Sesshoumaru, I'll kill you now' thing, but don't you sometimes want to just get revenge on that damned Miko for stranding us in this time?"

Sesshoumaru could feel a headache begin to form as he opened his golden eyes slowly.

"I'm aware that your memory is not as efficient as my own, but please, how many times have we had this conversation? Yes, I would enjoy dearly the slow murder of that wretched woman."

"What do people in this time period do?" Boredom was driving him insane.

"Why ask me? I believe you were the one who said you were able to 'blend in'." Sesshoumaru half closed his eyes and resumed rubbing his temples.

Inuyasha snorted and continued picking at the loose thread on the cushion. What did Sesshoumaru know? Closing his own amber eyes, he thought of the way things used to be. When killing lowly demons was all he needed to do for entertainment.

:----:

Sitting in front of the mirror, Kagome finished brushing out long ebony locks. After an afternoon of bouncing around parties with Rin and Sango, she was worn out. She'd just gotten out of the shower, and it was already two-ten in the morning. Her mother hadn't been very happy with her late Night return, but it was worth it.

She'd turned down Bobby's last ditch effort to ask her out, and had quickly joined Sango and Rin. The parties were a blur of food, bonfires, and beer (which, she and her friends had avoided).

Slipping into soft cotton pants and an old tank top, she forced open the window. Souta thought she was crazy for sleeping with the window open all the time, but she liked the fresh air. Besides, she was on the second floor; no one was getting in up here.

She crawled into bed and pulled the quilt up to her chin. Her mind was clear as she slid into dreamland.

Cracking open sapphire hues, she glanced around. It wasn't yet daylight, so why had she woken? Her hands fumbled on her bedside table, grabbing onto her alarm clock. Turning it to face herself, she squinted her eyes – three in the morning. Three? She vividly remembered having a rather strange dream, but had she even been asleep long enough to dream?

She'd been swimming in a river of silver water one moment, and then flying the next. The sky hadn't been the normal color. Instead of being light blue, it had been more of a navy blue color. Flying with her arms out wide, she'd gone right through puffy magenta clouds. The whole place had been very pretty. It reminded her of when she was smaller, and had dreamt of flying often. She had felt weightless and carefree.

Perhaps she would call Rin later and ask her what she thought it could mean. Rin was into dreams and their meanings.

Swinging her feet over the edge of her bed and onto the cool wooden floor, she stepped to the window. In the dim light for the waning moon, she could see Souta's bike lying in the grass. He'd broken off the kickstand long ago, and no one had ever fixed it. He would usually lean it against a tree or the side of the house, but must have forgotten.

Kagome sighed deeply, running thin fingers through her still damp hair. She wanted to call someone, but knew her friends were already asleep. True, Rin was a Night owl, but even her abundant supply of energy was drained on occasion. After the Night of partying, even she would be asleep.

The sky was too cloudy to see very many stars, but there were some out. She studied them; the shimmering lights making her feel less alone. Straining her ears, she wished desperately for some noise to break the lonely silence. Not even a cricket came to her aid.

"If the rest of the world sleeps, then why, can I not?" She asked aloud.

Her reply was silence.

Sighing again, she stepped back to her bed, attempting to avoid particularly loud boards. Pulling the familiar quilt back up to her chin, she once more fell into dreamland.

:------:

Sitting up on his soft bed, Sesshoumaru shook himself, long hair sweeping across his back. It was early morning, the Sun several hours from reaching the horizon. He carefully rubbed golden eyes awake, and stood.

Reaching the nearby window in a few long strides, he stared deeply into the sky. The glitter of the few stars out reminded him of Kagome. The way her blue eyes sparkle when she laughs.

Rin used to be carefree and laugh often. She'd only been his charge for a year before they'd been forced to… move. But he's watched her laugh, even at the home for parentless children. He and Inuyasha had stayed there until she was thirteen, and he had been sure she would be safe there. Rin's laughter reminded him of Kagome.

Inuyasha had compared Kagome to Kikyo earlier. Now he was comparing her to Rin. But Kagome wasn't just an alternative to a dead love for him. Rin had been, and was, a mere child. She'd been an almost – daughter to him. Sure he enjoyed both of their laughs, but he could see their differences. He wasn't letting himself foolishly think one was the other.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. He was going to give himself yet another headache. He laid himself back onto his bed, and prepared for another sleepless Night – or morning, rather.

:----:

Hearing the shrill cry of her phone, she rolled over, and nearly fell off the bed.

"Ugh. Hello?"

"Well good morning to you too sleepy head!"

Kagome laughed, recognizing Sango's voice on the other side. "What time is it anyway?"

"Nine o'clock." She replied.

"Nine? I went to bed at two!"

"That's seven hours sleepy head. Don't you normally live on five or six?"

"Hey, I'm not Rin here; I do sleep in when I get the chance." Kagome sat up, untangling herself from her quilt and sheet.

"Alright, alright, but I need advice here." Her tone got a bit more serious.

"'Bout what?" Kagome yawned.

"Miroku…"

"Perhaps calling Rin would be a better idea. She's better with the whole guy situation thing." Kagome stretched her arms and continued, "You know what I do in the face of a tough guy situation."

"Duck, run, and hide behind us?"

"Exactly." She could hear Sango laughing on the other line. "Hey, haven't you two known each other for ever?"

"For a long time." She answered simply.

"The give him a shot."

"That's what Rin said…" Sango sounded distant, her voice trailing off.

"Come on, what's the worst that could happen?"

"I could humiliate myself completely and blow the whole thing?"

"Well… yeah actually! See? No worries."

"You're so helpful!" She laughed.

"Bye Sango. Good luck."

"Goodbye Kagome. Talk to ya later."

"Later."

Slapping the phone closed, Kagome sighed again. Her joints ached, and her hair was all matted to one side. A hot shower would help everything.

She let the steaming water relax her muscles and rewashed her hair. After she got out, she pulled on a pair of old jeans and another tank top.

"Morning Souta!" She said in a sing-song voice.

"Good morning Kagome. You seem happy." His dark hair was rumpled, and he looked like he was still half asleep.

"Of course, school's out." She sighed, searching the cabinets for cereal, "Three full months of freedom before we go back."

Grabbing the milk, a bowl and a spoon, she sat beside him at the table. "What's wrong?"

"Mom's new boyfriend," he wrinkled his nose at the word, "Is going to coach some little league thing, and I have to be in it. So we can 'get o know each other better',"

He turned his gentle brown eyes on her and pleaded with them, "I don't want to do it Kagome." His voice was soft.

"Don't worry Souta, I'll talk to him. You won't have to." She smiled, and grabbed him a bowl and spoon, pouring them both cereal.

"Thank you Kagome." He shoveled food in his mouth hungrily.

"No problem, it's what I'm here for." She smiled to him again before starting to eat herself. She'd maybe said ten words total to the guy since he'd moved in with them. She and Souta both avoided him whenever possible. She was going to have a hell of a time getting him to take Souta off the team.

Their mother had changed in recent years. She'd changed drastically. It started a few years ago, when she'd moved them away from their grandfather. He still lived in their old house with the well, he was alone there. Their mother allowed them to visit him on occasion, but wouldn't let him come here. Neither she nor Souta knew what had transpired between the two. Something had driven hate between them, and it refused to budge.

The most drastic of changes though, was her mother began to see other men. She'd never done that before. It pained Kagome's heart to think their father may be looking down on them, and see his past wife with another man.

She hated to admit it, but her mother shamed Kagome.

"Hey kiddos!" Adam, the boyfriend, stepped into the house, the screen door banging behind him.

Kagome leapt off her chair and stepped across the wooden floor to him.

"So Souga, are you ready to play some ball?" Adam held a glove in one hand.

"Souta…" Souta corrected automatically. He lowered his head, dropping his spoon to the table.

"Adam, I need to talk to you," Kagome clenched her teeth and pointed to the other room.

"Sure whatever," he walked into the living room.

Kagome caught the smell of his aftershave. It was the kind her mother had given him. The same kind she used to always give their dad.

Wrinkling her nose in disgust, she followed Adam into the living room.

"What do ya need?" he leaned on the arm of one of the dark blue sofas.

She paused a moment, forming the question in her head. He just stared at her, chewing on a piece of bubble gum with his mouth wide open.

"Souta isn't going to be playing on your little league team." She spoke slowly, letting it sink into his thick skull.

"And why not? I already set this up with your mother." He stopped leaning and stood up straight.

A warm breeze came from the open windows, blowing her hair behind her, "I don't want to fight with you Adam. But Souta doesn't want to play baseball."

Kagome heard the screen door open, and caught a glimpse of Souta jumping on his bike from the window.

"Doesn't want to play?" He smacked harder on his gum, "And why not? He a pansy? Scared of getting a bruise? A little scrape or two?" There was a glint of laughter and mockery in his brown eyes.

"I say he isn't going to play," she didn't want this conversation turning on her little brother, "And it isn't up to you whether or not he does. It's up to me." She kept her voice steady, powerful. She could feel anger rising up in her chest.

"Fine missy, let the little baby sit around." He leaned in closer, "But since his dad croaked, if he doesn't have some man in his life, he'll never amount to anything."

"How dare you say that!" Kagome yelled. Without a though, she raised her hand, and brought it across the side of his face.

She watched his face twist into anger, but before he could further act, Kagome turned and ran. She banged open the abused screen door and it slammed behind her. Unlike Souta, she had no bike. Instead, she ran into the tall wheat field behind their house. She knew she could run a mile, 1600 meters, without stopping, but she was going to fast to accomplish that distance. Clouds overhead hampered the Sun's light, easing the heat.

:------:

Sesshoumaru had meant to simply walk past Kagome's house, but he'd come fairly close. He was in the wheat field facing the back of her home. He'd been there for nearly two hours. He couldn't see through the windows, and wasn't 'peeping' on anything, he was simply waiting. Waiting for her to leave. He wanted to talk to her, though he was unsure of what to say.

That's when the argument began. He could hear their words, between a man and Kagome. The man was unrelated to her. That's when the little boy had taken off. His scent resembled Kagome's, her brother he assumed. The boy had been crying.

The man and Kagome were arguing about the boy. Then yelling. And then one smacked the other, Kagome hitting the man he presumed. Men did not strike women in this time period. Or, it was frowned upon in the least.

A breeze brought her scent to him. White hot anger was pounding through her blood, mixed in with a sliver of fear. Anger covered the fear for the moment.

Kagome had bolted out the door, and was coming straight towards him. He was fairly far out in the field, but she was running rather quickly.

Her pace fell into a quick jog, a well practiced distance running lope. After covering a little over 800 meters, half a mile, of field she slowed to a stop. Her breaths came in tear filled gasps. She turned back to the house, and, seeing no one following her, she fell to her knees.

Covering her face with her hands, she tilted her head down, long ebony hair falling around her face.

"Dad…" he could hear her whisper.

He caught the scent of the salt in her tears and stepped forward. He made his steps noisy, so he wouldn't surprise her. She lowered her hands, and raised her head. Silver hair caught the weak Sunlight, throwing a shimmer in her eyes.

"Kagome."


Thanks again for reading! Please, please, leave a review! Even if it's short and anonymous. I hope you enjoyed this info/background chapter… even if it was very confusing.

Thank you Rachael, for allowing me to annoy you at all times of day for info. –Hugs–

The chapters will get longer as I go, promise. And Sess/Kag fluff should begin within a few chapters… -grins-