October 17, 2005

The sky mourned that day.

Steady, unforgettable tears that smelled of smoke and bitterness – tears that would not let up for days. Something inside her stirred, a slow churning in her stomach that made her feel sick and incapable of doing her daily chores. Kagome rose from bed that morning in a haze, feeling slightly as though she was drunk, which, as she recalled, was a college experience that she had never felt the urge to relive.

'It must be the hot fudge sundae's with Sango,' Kagome thought to herself. 'Speaking of which, those have got to be detrimental to our diets.' She frowned slightly before stepping into the bathroom and turning on the hot shower. Slinging a fresh towel on the bar in front of her, she quickly brushed her teeth and shed her pajamas. Today was going to be a rainy day, but there was no reason to let it affect her work. After all, she had patients with problems to take care of.

Breakfast was an assortment of fruits and veggies (dribbled with some none too healthy ranch dressing) and a glass of milk. Popping her gummy vitamins in her mouth – yes, she was still quite the kid – Kagome turned on the mini television resting conveniently on the kitchen counter where she could eat and watch at the same time. She flipped expertly to the news channel and searched for any broadcasts on Squad 42, Kouga's squad. The woman speaking was impossibly pretty, nearly leading Kagome to believe that men would only watch the news to goggle at her. Brushing past the absurd thought, she concentrated on what the woman was saying.

"Just yesterday there was an attack at the front on the Pacific. Sadly, it was unsuccessful." Kagome held her breath, remembering what Kouga had told her in his email about setting out North. "Luckily, most of Squad 36 (Here, Kagome breathed a sigh of relief) returned back to their bunker safely although there were several wounded and two unfortunate casualties," the woman continued. "Despite the enemy's strong defenses, Squad 41 and 42 set out this morning at 4:00 to give it a second shot. Meanwhile down at the Southern border, Squad 18…"

Kagome rolled her eyes slightly before turning off the television. Who on earth would report military actions so the entire world could see what their squads were planning? Oh, well. She rose from her comfortable stool and, clambering back up the stairs, headed into her bedroom once more before going to work. Leaning over the front of her bed where it was closely aligned with the wall, she groped around a bit before finally touching the tiny metal heart on the back of the headboard. She pressed lightly on it and then quickly withdrew her hand before reaching up and removing a picture from above the headboard of her bed.

It was a beautifully framed photo of her, her brother, and both of her parents laughing and smiling at the beach. Seconds later, the most unobtrusive compartment slid out directly from the wall, revealing a beautifully molded china bowl decorated with other especially significant memorabilias including a stunning diamond crescent necklace that Kouga had given her on their one year anniversary.

The china bowl itself was used as Kagome's wishing well, something her father had given her on her fourth birthday. Her last birthday before he passed away. Though she could not pinpoint how, Kagome always had a sinking feeling that her father knew it would be his last gift to her and had been careful to make it particularly special to her. Inside it, the water shimmered beautifully, reflecting the intricately hand painted designs that her father had done himself. With a small, wistful sigh, Kagome fished a penny out of her pocket inscribed with 2005 as that was the current year, and held it between her two palms.

Her eyes had already closed from habit, and after completing her wish, she kissed the penny softly and let it drop into the bowl with a tiny splash. It joined four other pennies in the water, each one older than the other. With a final glance into the wishing bowl, Kagome ducked under the compartment and pushed the tiny metal heart again. The compartment slid silently shut, and Kagome made sure to replace the picture of her family on the wall. She checked the clock quickly, happy to see she would not be late, and then shuffled back downstairs to grab her lunch before heading to work. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.

Please, Daddy, keep my true love safe…

xXx

Hojo was beyond frustrated. Mr. Takahashi had not yet returned his calls, and it had already been three days! The day of their appointment, the morning of October 14, Hojo had been in a bit of a tangled position regarding an odd character who called himself Onigumo, and had been unable to make it. Apparently, as Onigumo put it, "There has been some slight confusion; the latest update on the will was not given to the late Mr. Takahashi's current attorney – that would be you – so I am here to do just that. Unfortunately you'll see that there have been some urgently important…changes…"

Oddly enough, Mr. Takahashi seemed rather oblivious to the absence of his attorney, and had not even called to complain. Nor had he done what his grandfather asked of him in his will.

Hojo could not comprehend the reason for Mr. Takahashi's complete lack of promptness in returning his calls. Unless, of course, he really was angry with him. But then again, it would not prove a sufficient punishment for Hojo to be ignored. That was not the Takahashi's way! Besides, Hojo had been particularly careful in measuring the brevity of each of the messages he left on his answering machine as to not aggravate his client. He really did have enough to think about without a spoiled rich kid giving him this much trouble over a measly will. Although in this case, the will was anything but.

With a weary sigh, he settled down on a couch and popped open a beer. The phone lay in front of him on the living room table, taunting him with every numbered button. Hojo leaned over it, grimaced at it, and then mentally hit himself on the head before falling back onto the couch with a bewildered expression on his face. Dear God, was he losing his mind already? This wasn't even a difficult job! He pondered for a minute on his next move before deciding to simply forget it. If Mr. Takahashi was so uninterested in the money, Hojo would simply let it rot in the bank for the time being. After all, his client would surely contact him the minute he was actually needed. Yes, that would be the most logical plan.

Grinning at his own brilliance, Hojo took a larger sip of his beer before turning on the T.V. 'Not too much now, Hojo,' he warned himself after taking two especially large gulps. 'Everyone knows how well it sits with you, but it'd be better to stay sober in case darling Kagome calls and changes her mind about that movie. Yeah, I'll bet she's just sitting at home regretting her decision. Yeah, I'll bet.'

His smile widened almost goofily, and he began humming along to the tune on the Disney Channel. Mulan had to be his favorite. 'Stay sober, man! Sober! Kagome won't be able to resist your charm.'

The poor guy was already drunk.

xXx

"How did you know…?"

"Instinct."

"That's not good enough for me."

"I didn't think so." There was a slight pause as the two men studied each other before finally, Hiten looked away, a scowl on his face. "What's the matter? Angry?"

"You killed my fucking brother!"

"He deserved to die," Sesshomaru retorted, slamming his hands on his desk as he stood up. Hiten cringed as a loud crack split the air, but his boss seemed unfazed. "You know as well as I do he was a traitor, Hiten."

"You could've punished him! Or given him some kind of – "

"What? Warning?" He scoffed, glowering at the perceptibly inferior man before him. "Don't talk to me about what I could have done, Hiten. I'm not going to start changing for your precious relatives. You know very well there was only one solution."

"I know," Hiten whispered, "that he was the only brother I ever had, and you took him away from me."

"You're pathetic…" Sesshomaru's eyes filled with scorn.

"And y-you!" The Thunder Brother was stuttering now, but his eyes were so full of hatred for the man before him that it nearly drowned out his fear. "You're n-nothing but a fucking h-heartless bastard whose got nobody to love and c-can't seem to find the time to give a shit!"

Two seconds later a gun was pointed between his eyes, but he somehow found it in him not to back down.

"Are you trying to die young, too?"

"Go ahead, boss," Hiten hissed. "Pull the trigger. We all know you have it in you."

"You think I won't?"

"I know you can."

A short silence met his words before the gun retreated back into the formidable trench coat.

"Get the fuck out of my sight."

xXx

Kagome couldn't stop thinking about her wish. It wasn't a matter of faith, of course; she trusted her father's wishing well completely. But that sinking feeling in her gut just wasn't letting up, and she began to grow more and more worried. She shook her head to clear her mind. There were more important things to focus on.

"…and then he slammed the door and left!" the woman finished, her mascara-lined eyes watery with tears.

Kagome stared dumbly at her, unsure of what to say as she really hadn't been paying the woman much attention at all. "And um…how does that make you feel?"

Startlingly dull eyes glared at her. "Like shit!" the woman growled. "How the hell do you think I feel? What the hell kind of a therapist are you anyways?"

"Um, I – sorry! It's just…I-I well…I have a lot on my mind, and I just – Look, I – "

"Save your breath, Ms. Higurashi, and I'll save my money!" the woman huffed, rising in all her 200 pound, flowery dress glory to flounce out the door.

"No, please Mrs. Damachi! Give me another chance!"

"I absolutely cannot tolerate a therapist who's too busy thinking of her own problems to solve those of her clients'! Why, I'm better off talking to my 5-year-old son!"

"…You have a son?"

xXx

5 o'clock was rush hour, leaving Inuyasha stuck in traffic for an hour more than he needed to be to keep hold of his patience. Already twice today he had been in situations that would frighten anyone into thinking they had come to the end of the road. A truck had barreled towards him at a startling high speed before sliding to a stop just before it hit him, an even more surprising display of the power of friction. Next, a 500-pound woman had slammed into him at the subway causing him to fall. He had gotten himself up just in time before the subway could crush his skull, a lucky maneuver from him as his shoelaces had been caught in the tracks. Oddly enough, he could've sworn the subway had slowed down just enough for him to escape.

With a growl that a Siberian husky could barely match, Inuyasha honked his horn at the old lady worming her way in front of him. He rolled down his window, a scowl on his face and snarled, "Can you drive any fucking slower!"

The car stopped, and it took all his mental will not to say something entirely too rude to write.

Out came the old lady's son, a huge, buffed up 40-year-old druggie whose mood was just as bad as Inuyasha's. His long hair was tied in a tight, oily ponytail near the nape of his neck, and horribly yellow teeth gleamed under a crooked nose that had obviously been broken more than once. The already irritated star groaned when he caught sight of the colossal man.

"You got a problem wid mah ole' lady?"

"No," Inuyasha spat. "I have a problem her damn driving."

"You're messin' wid da wrong guy, boy."

"Yeah? Try me, and I'll bring you down on your ass so fast you won't even know what the hell hit you."

"Pretty tough words for a dead boy."

A gun spun out of a hidden compartment in his Lamborghini and directed itself between the man's eyes. "Don't fuck with me."

The guy burst out laughing, completely unfazed, and Inuyasha almost dropped the gun. His accent disappeared. "Like father, like sons."

"Who are you?" His eyes narrowed into slits as he spoke.

"You're so much like your brother it's not even funny. I mean, I really thought you two would turn out different. That maybe we would only have to kill one of you."

"Stay the fuck away from my family!"

"Oh, don't worry, boy. We still need you. As for Sesshomaru…now, that's a different story." He laughed again, psychotically before ambling back over to his junk car and slipping into the passenger seat. "Don't worry, Momma," Inuyasha heard him say. "Everything's perfect now." Another menacing laugh followed soon afterwards as the car sped away.

xXx

Kagome was drained from the day. After losing one of her newest clients, the only thing she felt like doing was going home to take a hot bath. When the day was finally over, she grabbed her purse, slung on her overcoat, and eagerly headed out into the rain. No umbrella, as usual. Her car was park on the opposite side of her office, so she was forced to walk around the entire building to reach it. Oddly enough, she was given the option of her own parking space, but chose the walk instead, leaving her space for her secretary. Well, her future assistant. Her last one had quit a few days ago after finding out she was pregnant, and Kagome had yet to find another one.

Turning on the news again was the reflexive thing to do when she got home. Afterwards, she would've wished she had not. It was a different person reporting this time – a man whose hair was colored a shiny black with a spray of sophisticated gray. His face was drawn as though he were wary of his job, but the spark in his eyes said otherwise. Perhaps he was merely exhausted of the war.

When Kagome turned on the television he had just finished a discussion on the majority's appreciation of the war. At the moment, it wasn't too good. Next, he moved on to progress, the section that Kagome listened intently to. News of the South Side passed quickly and was followed by a break. She took the time to heat up a frozen dinner bowl in the microwave before bringing it to the living room and setting her meal up on the coffee table. A stress relief candle and a glass of homemade orange juice polished her dinner off nicely. The commercial ended soon enough as Kagome ravenously shoved rice and teriyaki chicken into her mouth. Her voracious appetite halted as the man began to speak of Squad 42.

"Reporting live from the Pacific shore, Yura Takachi."

"Thank you, Mitsuo. A violent storm has been raging throughout the shores as the search for survivors continues. So far only 3 have been found, and already the majority of bodies has been recovered. The tragic defeat of Squad 42 will be a sorry loss on our side. The three soldiers we found were injured badly, and their chance of survival seems to be dwindling every second. One has already, unfortunately, passed on. Despite the professional medics we have at the scene, it seems we are fighting a losing battle."

"No…" Kagome screamed, tears almost immediately flooding her eyes. "Kouga…"

"Have the other two bodies been identified, Yura?" Mitsuo asked, pressing a finger to the ear bud from which he heard the terrible news.

"Only one. His name is Hakaku Yamashi."