Please check chapter 2 again for the added scenes...

Sorry for the mistakes

The Doll

By DreamWeaver

Chapter 3

"Ms. Kagome! Please wait!" huffed Kohaku as he tried to catch his breath. "You really are energetic first thing in the morning."

Kohaku was the second friend whom Kagome had met after Kaede. He was the apprentice of Sesshoumaru's accountant-slash-monk. Did I forget to mention that the said monk was also a known pervert in town? Well, actually he suffers from a mile disease called Old Monk's Hands [le mie mani hanno cominciato a vagare]. Luckily, Kohaku was known to be immune and tolerant to his advances. Poor town girls though.

Kagome just laughed. "Why, Kohaku? Am I too fast for you?"

"You wish" Kohaku replied lightheartedly. They both took a seat under the shade of the great Goshinki tree.

"Ne Kagome…Are you hungry? I brought some rice cakes we could share." He said, passing Kagome some of it.

It was a fine day that day, a little cloudy but with no signs of rain.

"So, how's the apprenticeship with Miroku going on?"She asked.

"Well, the letcher and I are off to Darkdale to deliver a message from Jinenji."

"Oh" Kagome's face fell. "How's Jinenji by the way? Is he okay now?"

"Well, he should be fine now. Lord Sesshoumaru brought him to a healer. You should be careful too Kagome. He said he was attacked by bandits from the north so don't you ever stray too far from the city or Lord Sesshoumaru's manor." Kohaku warned.

Kagome raised an eyebrow. Kohaku noticed this, "You know you stick around with Lord Sesshoumaru too much that you're picking up his habits." He added.

"I see."Kagome said with an evil glint to her blue eyes. "You should be careful with Miroku then Ko-ha-ku."

"Are you implying something Kagome? I'm not gay." Kohaku said as a matter-of-factly.

"I did not say anything Kohaku dear. It's all in your head." Looking at the sky, Kagome became aware that it was already half past noon. "I'd better go back Kohaku. Kaede might throw a fit if she finds out I've been gone for an hour."

Kohaku stood up, wiping his trousers free from dust and soon, helped Kagome stand up.

"I will escort you there."

"Thanks Kohaku"

"Anytime Kagome"

They passed by the drugstore on the way home.

"Hey, isn't that Kikyo?" Kagome inquired.

Kikyo was the younger sister of Kaede who was seldom home during Kagome's stay at the manor. She would usually visit only for a short time before going back to Tranquilton where she works as a doctor.

"Oh yes, She must have gone back here to get more supplies."Kohaku answered.

Kagome nodded her head and carried on walking home.

Kohaku dropped her off the front gate and then ventured back into the city. Kagome whilst walking had taken the path via the rose garden to reach the kitchen door. However, upon walking, she noticed a tiny black head bobbing from the bushes just 10 feet in front of her.

"H...hello?"She called out.

The said tiny black head snapped in attention, slowly leveling her brown eyes into Kagome's. Kagome felt her feet firmly planted to the ground. She couldn't move. The girl…It was like looking at her own reflection... Only a few years younger... with the exemption of the eyes. The young girl had chocolate eyes-chocolate eyes that were blank and exhausted.

"How…"

The girl then mouthed a word to her before running off. Kagome saw her run off and advanced to catch up with her.

"W-wait!"

But the girl had already disappeared as if she were a bubble.

"Kagome-child, who are you chasing?" an elderly woman's voice entered her ears.

"Ka…Kaede…did you happen to see a child, a young girl about the age of 9 dressed in a white frock pass by?"she asked, catching her breath.

The old woman frowned. "No child… I don't believe I have… There are no children in the manor Kagome."

"Are.. are you sure? I just saw one by the rose garden. She looked like me, Kaede, with brown eyes!"

"Come now, Kagome. You best come inside and change your clothes lest you want Lord Sesshoumaru to be angry at you."

Taking one last look at the garden, Kagome then followed Kaede inside."

"Inuyasha, I must go. You know how much he needs me." Said Kikyo pleadingly.

Kagome was just about to enter her own room when she heard Kikyo voice coming from the secret room which she should not enter.

"How about me Kikyo? I need you too."

"I know." Replied Kikyo sadly.

Kagome inclined closer to hear better of the sad episode going about.

"Kikyo, I have waited for a long time for you."

"Inuyasha.. please.. please understand me."

"I know." Inuyasha said rather forcefully. "He is not forcing you to do this Kikyo."

"Inuyasha and Kikyo are together?" thought Kagome. "I have never realized this."

"Perhaps it is time for your slumber Kagome."said a voice behind her.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!"She exclaimed in a hushed tone. "I…I'm sorry"

"Off to your room Kagome and lock the door."

"Ye-yes.. Sesshoumaru-sama… Goodnight."

"Goodnight…Kagome."

Thinking back about the happenings that transpired that day, with Kagome finding a young girl that nobody seemed to know, accidentally eavesdropping on Inuyasha's and Kikyo's conversation and then being caught in the act by Sesshoumaru, she wondered what would happen in the next days to come.

And as she drifted off to sleep, brown eyes haunted her dream…..

"Ma…..ma…."