Kagome pulled her hair out of a messy ponytail as she left the locker room, putting her earbuds in, listing to her secret playlist of American bands that she has grown to love. If any of her friends heard them, they would think she was some sort of delinquent, but she didn't mind. She liked the songs because they mostly reminded her of Inuyasha. It made her blushed as she walked out to the courtyard, deciding to lie under the tree that remaindered her of the Goshinboku at her shrine.

"I wonder how he is doing…" she sighed out as she put her hand behind her head, looking up at the sky through the leaves. She reached out her free hand to the air; the sun staring back at her reminded her of a pair of amber orbs that she would find herself getting lost in from time to time. She closed her eyes as she dropped her hand on her stomach, letting the music take over her mind as she tapped her finger against her chest to the beat, but those amber orbs remained.

You make me feel invincible

Earthquake powerful

Just like a tidal wave

You make me brave

You're my titanium

Fight song raising up

Like the roar of victory in a stadium

Who can touch me cause I'm

(I'm made of fire)

Who can stop me tonight

(I'm hard wired)

You make me feel invincible

I feel I feel it

Invincible

I feel I feel it

Invincible

She opened her eyes slowly as she listened carefully to the lyrics blasting into her ears, each line triggering her mind with memories of when Inuyasha had brought out the best in her. He always believed in her and made her feel stronger than she thought she was. Something about him always made her brave, like nothing could touch her when he was around.

She moved her fingers from her chest to her neck as she remembered the curse that the dark Priestess Tsubaki and her Shikigami serpent had put on her, she could still remember the pain. She twitched her finger against her neck; she remembered that she tried to force her to murder Inuyasha with her arrow just like how Kikyō did 50 years ago; Naraku must have been pulling strings, to know that kind of detail.

She remembered that Tsubaki couldn't even bother killing her herself, sending that damn serpent to do it for her. Kagome wasn't going to have any of that, being murdered by a snake. She lost her patience; being compared to Kikyō over and over, that she didn't live up to be her reincarnation, that she was weak.

She could care less about not being as good as Kikyō but the last thing she was, was weak. Kagome clenched her hand into a fist as she thought back. "You bit me by the well; you won't get me again. No chance. This time, victory is mine!" At that moment she forced all her spiritual powers into her bow, that bitch was going to get what was coming to her as she swung her bow as hard as she could against the serpent, sending that snake and the curse back at Tsubaki, forcing it to enter into her eye.

She remembered another time when she let her arrow fly without hesitation into Kaguya's mirror, believing it would shatter it, but only to have it sent flying back towards Inuyasha. She felt her other finger twitch unconsciously behind her neck towards the middle of her shoulders at the memory.

She smiled a sad small smile as she brushed her finger against the invisible scar.

"Why did you do that!? Why didn't you stay away!?"

Inuyasha was furious at her, but she didn't care, didn't hesitate; she would trade her life for Inuyasha's again if it meant that he would live.

When Inuyasha turned into his Yōkai form from the darkness when he didn't recognize anyone, even himself, she felt that was when she was the bravest. She brought her other hand up to her face, looking at her palm. Shippō's pleas still echoed in her ears;

"Kagome, get away from him! You'll be killed!"

He sounded so scared for her life when she crushed her body against Inuyasha's, disregarding if he would kill her or not. She just wanted him back to his old self. Back to the Inuyasha that she loved, her hand jerked at her thoughts as she brought it to her lips.

She pulled her hand from behind her head and ran her fingers against her left arm at the memory, feeling the raised skin under the fabric, tracing her fingers over the five crescent scars down her arm.

It broke her heart to see him like that, knowing that he didn't recognize who she was. She was trying to think of anything that would save him, even confessing her love for him, anything to bring him back to her. A blush crept on her cheeks at the memory as she looked at the roots of the tree. She knew that Inuyasha was too out of his mind to hear her confession, but that didn't make it any less real.

She reached out to the root until she saw the wind dance with the grass, causing it to tickle her fingers. She sniffed the air as she let her hand drop in the grass; she could smell the wet earth off in the distance. It looks like they might be in for some rain, she thought, closing her eyes as she laid there.

"Kagome?"

Inuyasha.

His name echoed in her mind as she opened her eyes slowly, rolling over onto her back, her hand covering her eyes as she gave them time to adjust. She pulled out her earbuds, removing her hand from her face to see Hōjō standing next to her.

She stared up at him for a bit, confused as she tried to figure out what he was doing here. How did he find her? She was pretty far out from the building into the courtyard; he must have been determined to find her.

"Oh, Hōjō, it's just you." She whispered out, a bit of sadness lingering on her lips. Of course, it wouldn't be Inuyasha. He was probably still mad at her; man, could that guy hold a grudge.

"Is everything okay? I was worried when I didn't see you in class? What are you doing out here?" Kagome watched as Hōjō looked around the woods, a concerned look on his face. What was he worried about? That she was with someone else? Who was she kidding; her grandpa told people she had so many strange illnesses that he was probably concerned that her arthritis kicked in and couldn't get up, she couldn't help but smile at the thought.

"Just thought I would get some fresh air, you know, since I've been stuck in my house so much due to being sick all the time." Kagome smiled up at him, trying to hold back a laugh that was threatening to break free as she laced her fingers together, letting them rest on her stomach.

"Here, let me help you up." He smiled down at her, a light blush on his cheeks as he held his hand out to her. She accepted his hand, letting herself be pulled as she dusted off the dirt and grass that got stuck to her ponytail and uniform.

"Kagome, I have something for you. However, I was in such a rushed to find you before you went home that I forgot it in the classroom. Do you mind coming with me so I can give it to you?" Hōjō put his hand on the back of his head, the blush on his cheeks growing darker. Kagome turned her head to the side, confused, he had a gift for her? Her whole body locked up as she thought about it, her eye twitching; oh god, she hoped it wasn't any strange medicine/healing items he had become accustomed to giving her ever since her grandpa had started telling people outlandish lies. Open your eyes, people, does she look sick to you?

"That sweet of you. But really, you didn't have to get me anything." Kagome raised her hand, putting on one of her best smiles that she could muster as her eye twitched. He was so sweet, always looking out for her wellbeing, but he just gave her the strangest gifts, and it was embarrassing enough that he thought she was sick all the time.

"Nonsense, I think you will like it." He gave her a sweet smile. They walked in silence; it was a bit awkward as they got closer to the school. Kagome just kept her hands folded in front of her lap as she looked to the ground. Why did this feel so awkward? It wasn't the first time she had been alone with Hōjō, hell, she even went on a date with the guy at the beginning of last year, though it was more of her friend's idea. Now that she thought about it, she ditched him on that date without so much as a proper goodbye. Why did she leave?

Inuyasha.

Kagome stopped walking; her eyes widen as she looked at the back of Hōjō's head. That's right; she left in the middle of their date because she was worried sick about Inuyasha, she was scared that he had died from his wounds that Sesshōmaru had inflicted on him and needed to see him, to know that he was alive.

She felt a blush grow on her cheeks as she tightened her grasp on her hand. Did Inuyasha mean that much to her so early on? He'd craw into her heart, to the point that going on a date with the hottest guy in school meant nothing to her. Even at this moment, where another girl would die to be in her place, and all she could think about was Inuyasha. That isn't very fair to Hōjō, maybe she should tell him upfront that she wasn't interested in him, but then again, this is Hōjō, he might just be a nice person, and that would be embarrassing for both of them if she thought he was romantic towards her. She sighed out; man, this was troublesome.

"I heard a hot guy is standing around the front gate! Let's go see!" The voice snapped Kagome out of her train of thought; she jerked her head up, her eyes followed a girl running up to a group of girls. They gather closer together, giggling as they spoke more about the stranger at the gate.

"Oh? I heard that he has quite the temper on him. I think he might be an American. Or at least biracial!" Kagome felt a pulse shoot through her body at the word. It echoed in her head; it was the same word that her friend Eri used when she asked her if Inuyasha was half Japanese and half American.

"Biracial?" Kagome whispered out as she unconsciously walked up to one of the girls, Hōjō, following behind her. Her heart was racing, not because she was scared, but because she was…excited.

Could it be? Temper, Biracial.

"Um, excuse me, what color hair does he have?" The girls looked at each other, trying to figure out which one of them had that information. Kagome needed to know, please say his hair was white or a strange color. Anything to indicate that it could be Inuyasha. That he wasn't mad at her anymore, and he was looking for her. But wait, if it were him, then why would he be waiting for her there? He was usually able to find her quickly.

"I heard some girls saying that he has black hair." One of them finally spoke up, a broad smile spreading on her lips with a light blush on her cheeks. Kagome felt her body deflate, her heart sink, and maybe that was because it wasn't him. It was too good to be true; of course, he was still mad at her. There was no way it was him. It seemed to be just some short-tempered high school student that was being a punk.

"Is it someone that you know, Kagome?" Hōjō placed his hand on her shoulder, a concerned look on his face as he looked at her, leaning to the side a bit to get a better look at her face. Kagome looked up to him, giving him a small smile as she shook her head.

Inuyasha, could he be that mad.

"N-no, I just thought it was someone else. But it doesn't matter now, hahaha." Kagome gave him another one of her fake smiles as she straightened her back, however, her smile dropped as her eyes caught the nervous faces in the group of girls that had seemed to have forgotten all about the handsome stranger at the gate and were gazing at Hōjō, all their cheeks burnt red with a deep blush. She looked up at Hōjō, who was looking back at her, a blush on his cheeks. Was she like that too? Did she act that way around Hōjō in the beginning?

Kagome trailed slowly behind Hōjō towards the school entrance as he spoke about health and life; however, she wasn't listening, she was too deep in thought to comprehend what he was saying. Those girls, they seemed pretty disappointed that Hōjō couldn't stay longer to talk to them because he had to give something important to her. She sighed out; he didn't have to get her anything. She kind of wished that he stayed behind and talked to them, to be honest.

"Hōjō I-" His name slipped off her lips as she stared at the back of his head until he turned around suddenly, cutting her off. Kagome was taken aback a bit, for once Hōjō didn't look shy, he seemed determined.

"Kagome. Is there something bothering you? You know you can come to me for anything, I mean we are-" Hōjō's face got flustered the moment his eyes locked with Kagome's, all his determination was kicked to the side, and he became a blushing mess as he put one of his hands behind his head.

"You're a great friend Hōjō." Kagome interrupted him. She couldn't let this go on; he will just end up hurt in the end, like how she was. She wasn't sure where she stands on her feelings at the moment but was being unfair to Hōjō. She was doing the same thing to him that Inuyasha did to her with Kikyō. Her eyes widen as she bit the inside of her cheek at the thought. She gave herself a bitter smile, her eyes becoming sad; how could she say that man, has she become such a terrible person.

"Kagome –"Hōjō started a confused look on his face.

"Anyway! We should hurry before the rain comes down on us. Come on, Hōjō!" She gave him her best smile as she ran up to the school entrance; she needed to change the subject as quickly as possible.

"Okay, Kagome, just wait there while I go grab it real quick." Hōjō gave her a sweet smile and a wave as he called back to her as he started towards the stairs. She nodded as she stared at him, waving back.

"Hōjō, I'm sorry…" She whispered to no one as she watched him run up the stairs. She turned around, walking out the doors into the courtyard as quickly as she could without drawing too much attention to herself; luckily for her, it seemed like the stranger had gotten everyone's attention since there were so little students left in the building. She needed to get home as fast as she could before she made a fool of herself here. She let out a deep sigh, there she was again, running from her problems; she just needed some time to think. She will try to make it up to him and finally tell him her feelings, so at least he knew where they stood. It was only fair.

She pulled out her headphones from the pocket in her skirt, shoving them in her ears. She needed a distraction; she needed anything to stop herself from thinking about him so much, about;

Inuyasha.

She was pretty deep in the woods of the courtyard when she noticed that even though the thick trees, the wind was starting to pick up as she felt her hair whip her back. It was dark; the storm clouds were closing in on her; all she could hear was the leaves dancing and her own heart humming in her chest.

It wasn't until she made it into a clearing that she felt like everything finally went silent. She took in a deep breath, it felt like all her worries were fading away as she watched the leaves fall from the branches as the wind carried them away; she reached out for one of them, letting it sink into her palm. Her eyes were transfixed as she watched the leaves fall to the earth; it reminded her of how pieces of Inuyasha's robe of the fire rat were floating down between them after the mirror cracked in Kaguya's castle.

"Inuyasha, you want to stay with me, don't you…?" Kagome whispered out the memory to herself as she ran her fingers down her arm again, feeling the scars as she gazed up to the leaves, the wind blowing peacefully. She closed her eyes; she could still feel his arms around her when he embraced her after the darkness left his heart. It was so gentle, but at the same time, it seemed that it would have destroyed him if he let her go.

She dropped her hand, along with her head, as she stared at the dirt. Her body jerked a bit, her head rising as she heard footsteps approach her. She sighed out, looking back up to the leaves. She looked slightly over her shoulder to see just the outline of a figure standing behind her. The one person…the one person that she wanted. She turned around; her heart heavy as she saw that;

Inuyasha.

"Kagome."

Wasn't there.