Sorry for the wait guys, I was grounded and then shipped off to more camps. Then I started skool and was loaded with homework. My sincerest apologies.

He didn't question her absence of common knowledge, he didn't need to know and she didn't need to tell him. They sat in silence, contemplating each other's own thoughts, absorbing each other's presence. It felt good to be with another being, even if in silence. But no words needed to be said.

Each thought of their own thoughts, even though they each were thinking of each other. Not in the way most would think, not in a way that would make a love struck teenager sigh in content. A way of a bond of friendship, just beginning to form. Both knew that each was hiding something, but nothing was pried. No one needed to know, thus words were left unsaid.

The sun was starting to rise, slowly. All night they had been out wandering the streets. Now they sat together, tear streaked faces. Hopelessness. Fear. Unsureity. Kagome knew nothing.

Had she given up trying to master her powers? No. Never. She couldn't, she wanted to live on. Everyone was relying on her, she couldn't give up.

Kyo glanced over at his friend/stranger. A small smiled curled on his lips. He didn't know why he was smiling, but he was. The girl sitting before him had so much will power, so much potential. She will do great things, he thought to himself. And it was true, no doubt about it. Something about this girl told him that she will succeed. She was completely uneducated, it was obvious. She knew nothing of mermaid ways.

But that didn't matter. How she was a mermaid, even if she was one, he didn't dwell to much on it. Her drive was strong and her heart was kind, she will do great things. But she needed a guide, maybe him. He didn't know. He didn't care. All he knew was that it was no accident that they met, no accident that Ki had to pass on.

Kyo was not stupid, however much Ki tried to cover up her secret, he knew. But he didn't press it, he wasn't bothered by it. Ki was still Ki, no matter what she did. He just hoped that it would never have had to end like it had. He didn't know how it did, where, or when. All he knew was that Ki was no longer with him, and that this girl was. This girl that needed him now. He couldn't mourn his loss, he had to move on. He had to be strong for himself. That's all he had.

Kyo's golden eyes shifted back over to Kagome. Guilt swept over her face.

"I'm sorry about all of this," Kagome said softly. Ashamed of her actions, she turned away. "It's ok," Kyo said, placing his hand over hers. She tensed from his touch, but then relaxed once again. Kyo was so kind, so understanding. It almost wasn't real.

"Come on, let's go back."

Who knows what might happen.

Kagome couldn't help but smile.

I am sooo sorry for the wait, but like I said I wasn't home, then I had school and fencing. Everything has been so hard, I got a 38 on my math test! I have to re take it, wish me luck!

This chapter's question:

What was Inuyasha's promise to Kikyo?