It was as if she was on surveillance every second of the day. Just when she thought everything was going so great for them, Sesshomaru's life was now ruined because of her selfish desire to be with him. Inuyasha wasn't permitted to go to Miroku's house anymore because the duty he was left with. He was to watch her and make sure Sesshomaru wasn't ever to step into the house. Of course their parents stayed for a couple of days to make sure everything was in order but then after that, they left. Her birthday was drawing near and she knew it wasn't going to be a good one, not like her birthdays were ever close to good.

At the edge of her bed, she stared at the floor, her tears gathering at her feet. "What have I gotten you into Sesshomaru?"

"Why are you spilling tears for him? It's so stupid?" Inuyasha leaned his head on the doorframe, unable to watch her cry anymore.

She wiped her tears away and hugged a pillow. "He's our brother."

"No he's your lover."

Caught off guard, Kagome grew silent for almost a minute, staring at him without any doubt in her mind that Inuyasha had inexplicable intentions. They had this argument before but this time, Sesshomaru wasn't beside her. Though she kept her head low, her mind plastered on one thing. "Why are we talking about this again?"

"I don't really know but it's crazy. When I found out Bankotsu was head over heals in love with you I-"

"Bankotsu?"

Inuyasha shook his head and took a seat beside her, he knew this was going to take a while. "He loved you. You're so dense sometimes. I mean when he's drunk all he talks about is how he loves you so much."

It was like pouring salt into an open wound. How much guilt does she have to hold on to until it final tears her apart? She folded her hands upon one another and flinched as a hand lay upon her shoulder. She never sought for comfort from her little brother; never in her life she would ever picture Inuyasha the type of person to make her feel better. Though she felt at ease and shook her head.

"I don't understand. Why are you telling me this?"

"It's so you can change your mind. If anything you should be with someone else. Sesshomaru is wrong for you and if you really feel at ease with no one other than family then be with Bankotsu. At least he can promise a better future."

Kagome had enough; she stood up but was brought back down, Inuyasha holding onto her wrist. " Sesshomaru's the only one for me. You don't understand how I feel. You'll never understand!"

He smiled, remembering the past as if it was yesterday. "You sound just like her. You look just like her." He glanced at her eyes that seemed to pain him so much. "This is why I never stay in this house. I knew I was going to end up like Bankotsu and Sesshomaru if I tried to get to know you. I always resented you and for that it made me hate everyone around me. Wishing I were dead was all that ran through my mind. I couldn't live a day without her."

"Inuyasha…."

"I don't want you to end up like her. I don't want you to die because if you continue to see Sesshomaru, you'll just kill yourself in the end. Just like her."

Kagome nervously laughed, not wanting to believe the words he never took so lightly. " Stop joking around. Being with Sesshomaru won't kill me. He loves me and I love him."

"You're just delusional." His melancholy tone had her worried a bit. It struck a nerve and at one point she used to believe the words he said. That this love was forbidden, that every kiss was going to end up with her demise but in time she grew to finally believe that it wasn't wrong. Love was love, wasn't it?

"I can't take this anymore. Let go of me."

Refusing her command, he held her wrist tighter. " You do remember Kikyo don't you?"

She nodded. "Yes, she was your girlfriend."

"Right, my girlfriend." He laughed, his sarcastic words cutting through a thread of sanity that was left in him. "She was never my girlfriend. She was a damn traitor but as stupid as I still am, I still love her. At first I thought I was using her to suffice my fond feelings for you but then she turned the tables around. Kikyo used me to get to Sesshomaru and when I threatened her to stay with me, she broke up with me."

"I don't get why you resent Sesshomaru so much. It was her fault, not his."

His golden eyes glanced into pools of hazel hues that sank his heart to the bottom of his stomach. So much was lost because of unwanted feelings that clung to him like a virus. The skeptical of even imagining a day thinking of his sister more than a sister sickened him to the point where he would cut himself. The only reason why he wore jackets all the time was to hide the scars of regret and disgust. But as his quivering fingers traced the thin line of her jaw, his eyes hunger for more than her touch.

"I hated him because he had your love and he killed mine."

Kagome couldn't break out of his trance. He looked so much like Sesshomaru that the mere resemblance had her mind drifted off to happier days. They came close, their breaths caressing the skin that grew cold from the chilly but thick atmosphere. Inuyasha's golden orbs averted back and fourth from her eyes to her lips and when his mind insisted on kissing her, his body didn't process. It was just wrong.

Hesitation grew and that time made Kagome realize that it wasn't the same. She pushed him away. His hand still held her wrist dearly but her face looked the other way. "I can't." She whispered. "I love Sesshomaru."

"And that is what Kikyo said before she slit her throat. Sesshomaru cruelly refused her love and so I blame him for killing her."

He stood but this time, Kagome grabbed him by the arm as she stared up at him with remorseful eyes. "But it's not his fault!!! He's family and it's wrong for you to hate him, to resent him so much that you would keep him out of the house."

Pulling his arm out of her grasp, Inuyasha let out a small laugh. "Look who's talking?"

"What is that suppose to mean."

"It's wrong to love your own brother. So who are you to lecture me about what's right and wrong." He slammed the door, leaving Kagome alone once again. Sure everything he said was right, that she shouldn't be so judgmental of others but some part of her still thought it was precise.

Ever since they were children Kagome always witnessed hatred lingering in both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's golden eyes. To torture and also kill each other however they see fit. It was such a shame how they would waste so much of their lives hating each other. Only if something could have changed, that she could find a way to reverse time. Maybe in the process of repairing the two brothers friendship, Kagome could actually try and stop this formidable feelings called love that she felt for Sesshomaru. Then maybe Sesshomaru would still be allowed in the house and his father's heart but who said dreams and desires always came true.

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Inuyasha and Bankotsu ate breakfast quietly, causing Kagome to shift her eyes toward the two men. It was a sporadic morning having her brothers sit at the kitchen table in a rational matter. Usually, if they were ever to have to eat at the dining table together it was either for a family get-together or if their parents were home, which would also be a rare event because they were never home more than a week.

Kagome wanted to break the silence but her own heart ached to have silence. Although when no one talked to her that meant memories that would soon filter her mind.

Than, to her relief, Bankotsu smiled at her and Inuyasha who sat beside her. "I see you are getting quite agitated Inuyasha. If you would prefer, I can take our beautiful sister to school."

Having not a care in the world, Inuyasha tipped his spoon, watching his milk pour back into the bowl as he nodded. "I don't really care."

"I take that as a 'yes'." Looking toward Kagome, Bankotsu stood up and lent out a hand. "So Kagome, shall we leave then." Just like this breakfast, Kagome soon found out that this was now more perplexed beyond compare. She raised a brow, staring at his hand for a while but as her eyes caught upon the wink that he hid from Inuyasha, Kagome didn't fail to notice that he was up to something positive for a change.

"Sure." Taking his hand, she grabbed her bag and walked out of the house. The light snow beautifully layered Tokyo with a thin sheet of pure white ice that only Kagome found nostalgic. She wasn't able to see Sesshomaru again and it was almost a week since he heard his voice. The last time she recalled ever hearing anything form him was the night she was given a bracelet that she never took off. Having him screaming her name made her heart rip apart but her father only muffled Sesshomaru's desperate cries as he loudly yelled at Kagome.

"Don't think about it to much." Her brother opened the door for her as she went in. "It's the last day of school and then you're able to have winter break."

She smiled, very grateful for his brother's attempt to cheer her up. "It's hard to be happy now a days. To be honest, I rather be in school than in the house."

Letting out a sigh, Bankotsu closed her door and went around the car. His sister's sadness still reflected off the window but he knew for a fact that his news would defiantly cheer her up. If this didn't than he didn't know what would. Closing the door and starting the car, he whistled a tune, trying to find the right moment to tell her.

"Well you know what it means on the last day of school don't you?"

Kagome shrugged. "No, I don't know what you're talking about Bankotsu."

"I doubt that Sesshomaru will ever let people down. I know he haven't been showing up at school am I right?" Kagome nodded in agreement. " Well, after school the only sport event that Sesshomaru is in is going to start at about 6. So with a lot of pressure for having the star player there, Sesshomaru, no matter what state he is in will never have that kind of regret on his shoulder soooo…."

"So Sesshomaru will be bound to show up at the basketball game and I'll be there to cheer him on." Kagome finished.

"You hit the nail right in the head Kagome."

It seemed like a well thought out plan but now the problem was Inuyasha. If she wasn't home right after school then that meant he would call his parents which would lead the police to go out and look for her. Her father never wanted her to see Sesshomaru again so such measures wasn't to shocking for her.

"How about Inuyasha?"

Bankotsu smiled. "Don't worry, I have a plan just hang out at the park or something until the big game. I'll cover for you."

"Thanks Bankotsu. You're the best."

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A basketball spun at his fingertips, his eyes watching for anything that might make it go off balance. His life was on the line and just like this ball, if he wasn't focus than everything could fall for him. His life, his love, his heart, he couldn't determine which one to follow but he sure knew that where he was at the right place.

Sitting patiently, he kept the ball spinning as he watched his surroundings. "Time has passed and still not one thing has changed."

There were numerous of times were his life had sank so low, he didn't know whether to give up or merely try and fight it and dig himself out. His eyes wondered idly as his mind drifted to a dark but memorable place.

"Kagome." He whispered, the name biting at the tip of his tongue and simultaneously as soon as the word escaped him, she appeared.

"It seemed like you called me." Her bright smile mended the pain that coursed throughout his body. Those eyes alone had his heart racing but he kept his composure, giving her that smile she always remembered.

"You always show up when I need you most."

Kagome sat beside him and sighed. She sure wasn't expecting to meet him at a place like this but she idly laid her head back, staring at the snow falling from above.

"It seems so but the last time I saw you it led me to believe you were not the person I had met. You were a stranger and that scared me."

The basketball spinning on his fingertips was agitating and she playfully took it away, looking it over for a bit. He was hesitant to answer, Kagome knew this for a fact so she broke the ice and tossed the ball in the air, catching it as gravity took place.

"I never knew you were even interested in basketball. All this time I thought the nice, good'ol Hiro went against competitive sports such as this."

He laughed, smirking a bit at her statement. "Rin loved basketball." As soon as her name rung in her ears, Kagome froze in place. The ball she had tossed fell to the floor and Hiro intuitively plastered his eyes on it, watching it roll to his feet.

She got the wind knocked right out of her but when she witnessed tears smearing his smile, she finally was able to see the caring Hiro that she knew to well. Her legs felt numb by the overwhelming emotion that kept her from crying but she was able to stand, falling to her knees as her arms rung around his neck.

"You loved her and she loved you. I'm so sorry."

Hiro shook his head. "No….for the things I've done she couldn't have loved me."

"You're wrong. You were her brother, you were her savior and you can't hold such regret for something you didn't do or weren't able to stop. Why would you say those words? When you said that she wasn't your sister and you didn't know her it hurt me. Why would you say those resentful words?"

He wished the words she said were right but in the back of his mind he couldn't recall ever being Rin's savior. "I don't know. I was supposed to forget. I wanted to forget and now all I want is to kill them. All I want is-"

"Revenge." The word didn't escape from either Hiro or Kagome's mouth and once realizing this, they both turned toward the figure that leaned up against the tree. He wore a tailored dark suit, sans tie. The guy seemed a little standoffish, with his hat and the location he was in. Who would dress up like that at a park? The man ran his finger through his long lustrous auburn hair, his eyes locked on theirs as he strode calmly toward the two.

"I don't think revenge would be the right thing don't' you think Kagome?"

She looked him over, not recalling a time she ever met nor did she tell him her name. " Who are you? How do you know me?"

"Names Koga. I know quite a lot about and your little buddy over there. Even the forbidden love between you and your brother, Sesshomaru."

Baffled by the information he so loosely spat out, Kagome stood up. This guy who gone by the name of Koga seemed to have more information in his hands than she took him for granted. Those eyes were drenched with wickedness and that smile alone gave her the chills. Should she even listen to him or even stay around? She pondered on this but before she knew it, her mind was already made up by his actions.

Koga approached her, swiftly grabbing her by the arm and forcefully racking his fingers in her hair. Kagome winced at the pain as he tilted her head up, forcing her to look straight into his eyes. He smiled at his prize, admiring her beauty as she glared dagger but nonetheless her face alone held so much. Her fear excited him and her anger caused his hands to quiver in delight. Though, as he expected, Hiro wasn't going to sit there watching this skeptical but for every flaw, Koga had a plan to fix it.

"Don't even move a muscle Hiro." He cornered his eyes, his smirk growing ever so wide. "I work for your father. He told me to get you and if you refuse to come with me then I had to take matters into my own hands." Pulling out a switch knife, Koga held it closely to her neck. He really didn't want to ruin such beauty by smearing blood on her flawless skin but he rather spill hers then his own. "So what will it be Hiro?"

"Stop. I'll come. Just leave her alone." He was rendered helpless as he stood up and automatically the knife withdrew back into the man's pocket. The sight was both baffling and somewhat interesting. It had her wondering why his father would go to such length as to threaten another's life. Was he that strict or just insane? Whether it would be insanity or not, Kagome found this over the top and even with her life being threatened, she couldn't bare to see Hiro giving up like that.

So Kagome took matters into her own hands. With out a second thought, Kagome kicked the man in the groin and took Hiro's arm. "Come on." She ordered and with out a word, Hiro complied.

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Every seat was filled and with the game about to begin, Sesshomaru sat himself on the bench as he searched through the crowd for a certain face that would bring him a smile. He doubted that she would even be there but even if chances were slime he tried to hold some hope in his heart. It gave him a tinge of discomfort having to search through many faces but as he spotted Sango's melancholy expression, Sesshomaru rushed across the court.

He pushed pass crowds of people and as soon as he met up with her he quickly said: "Did you see Kagome?"

"I don't know where she is. She was at school and she said she was going to be here but I can't seem to find her anywhere but don't worry, play the game and she'll get here eventually." He nodded, trying to take her advice but how could he. He was kicked out of the house, to add he was a sin to his parents eyes and was forced to depend on a person he rather kill. He wasn't in a state to stay calm but the roar of the crowd demanded a win and that was weighed on his shoulders.

She wanted me to play. She wanted me to have a good future but when she tries to help me, I obviously screw things up for myself. So I have to win this. Whether she's here or not, I have to win this. She would want that for me so I'll give it to her.

His mind was set on one thing but when his determination elevated, a phone that insisted him to answer soon shot that hope back down. Sesshomaru hesitated to answer but with the game growing near, he wanted to get that pest out of the way. He brought the phone up to his ear, knowing to well that this conversation wasn't going to end well.

"What is it? You know I have a game." He said quite agitated.

"Don't give me that bullshit. I told you if that sister of yours started to get in my way than I had to be force to kill her."

"What do you mean? I don't understand?"

There was a long pause and then a deep sigh. "Damn it. I'll give you a chance Sesshomaru. My son is with you sister and I want you to get my son back. You understand. But it comes with risk so I ask you. Do you want to take that risk?"

"Naraku… don't act so rational."

He laughed. "Now, now it's you who should be worried about your current predicament. You know if you try to get my son back by force, your lovers going to question you and when she does what are you going to say? Are you going to tell her the truth, that you are a cold-blooded murder?"

A buzzard sounded in the background. He didn't have time to think about the small details all he had to do was find her and that is what plastered in my mind. Suddenly Sesshomaru was surrounded by his teammates but he knew a game wasn't worth this. "I'll find her!!! Just don't send anybody!" He hung up the phone and shoved it in his pocket.

He didn't even say a word but only ran pass through the circle of men, the crowd's eyes following him as he ran out of the gymnasium with his duffle bag in hand. He was letting a lot of people down but in a million of years he would never regret his choice. Because when it came to Kagome, nothing could ever get in his way, not even death itself.

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They didn't know what part of town they were in but they let out a sigh of relief. It seemed as if they were out of trouble but what is she to say. Every predicament she was in she had thought she was out of it but in time, trouble only followed her. Her life contained nothing but sadness and if anything, happiness was only grasped when the sight of a certain silver haired man swept her off of her feet.

Kagome leaned herself upon the wall, catching her breath. "You can stay at our house."

"I can't do that to you. I'm causing you trouble." Hiro was a kind-hearted person; he wouldn't accept help even in the deepest and darkest of circumstances. With a smile he shook his head in immediate refusal as he paced in the alleyway. In truth, he didn't know what was in store for him. He never had to go this far and disobey his father like this. Receiving punishment was accustomed to him but it was always light. With a day or two not being able to go out of the house or even doing the chores that the maid was responsible for. He called that very light compared to others.

"Don't worry so much but I have to know. Is there a connection with you and Sesshomaru? I mean in any way do you know what has been going on with Sesshomaru lately?"

He said nothing, recalling that he had been seeing him around the house lately he was wondering the same thing. His father specifically said not to leak out anything that had been going on in the house and never question them. Sesshomaru lived with them, giving unwanted glares at the kitchen table. It was as if he was a son to Naraku and that bothered Hiro. He wanted to ask but was always too afraid to. Sesshomaru did always had the most unwelcome expression.

He shrugged as if nothing was in mind. "No. I don't know nothing about him nor do I recall anything."

"Are you sure? Please don't lie to me Hiro. You're the only one I can trust right now. Other than Sesshomaru and Bankotsu, you're the only one I can really trust so please don't lie to me."

In distress, Hiro leaned his head upon the brick wall as he sighed heavily. All he thought in his head over and over again was: 'should I tell her?' It was hard to decided but how much did he really know? All he knew was that Sesshomaru was at their house and that was it, nothing else. Though when his mind was made up, he turned toward Kagome only to be faced with a barrel of a gun.

"Escape from me once shame on you, escape from me again shame on me." He said this with a smirk as he kept his finger on the trigger.

Even with a gun in his face, he still had the heedlessness of stepping slightly to the side, checking if Kagome was okay. She was held down, an older man who he had never seen before, rendered her silent as he duct taped her mouth and hands. In the corner and out of sight, Kagome was forced to sit in back of a dumpster while the two men negotiated with Hiro.

"So now that your little girlfriend is out of the way. Let's abruptly speak about your punishment." Koga, with an evident glimmer of iniquity flooding his eyes, he raised his gun and swiftly slammed it into Hiro's jaw. Pain immediately sunken in as he stumbled to the ground. They were working for his father right? He knew his father wouldn't go to such extent as to order them to hurt him.

"Daddy's little boy…" The two men let out a laugh. " He told us to not harm you but let's just say you fell and hurt yourself." They hovered over him, waiting for a reaction out of the boy but to their surprise Hiro began to laugh. With a malicious glint in his eyes, his laughter grew as blood trickled down the corner of his mouth.

The last strand of sanity was running thin, he could feel it in the marrow of his bone but there was also that chill of collectiveness trying to calm him down. His hand found the wall for support as he slowly stood, giving the men a gleeful smile of his own. It wasn't of insanity but of cockiness, as if he had the strength to kill these two men if he wanted to but like a cat, he wanted to play with his targets until they grew tired.

"My father won't stand for this. If my father doesn't kill you than I will."

The two men shared a look. "Quite the sudden change in your personality but what makes you think you have such power. Your father depends on us to do his dirty work so what makes you think he'll listen to a snotty brat like you."

" Because I'm his son." They didn't know what was coming. They were so focused on the boy's facial expression that they never witnessed the gun that Hiro now held dearly in his hand. It was his father's personal weapon and as he uncovered it from his coat pocket, he drove the gun in the man's gut, watching the shocked expression on his face. "Snotty brat? I don't refer myself to such a thing and no one will ever call me that again because you know what. You're dead."

Boom!!

Snapping the thread that kept him so calm all these years had made him do the impossible. He killed him with his own hands that now was covered with blood. The smile that everyone described as comforting, gleeful and gave off a sense of relief was now plagued with a murderous look. After getting rid of the first guy now he had to do the same for Koga but the blood started to distract him. He couldn't get his eyes off of the red substance that tarnished his unmarred skin.

Kagome would have let out a cry to stop him but she was forced to watch. Hiro please stop. A click of a gun ready to fire had averted Hiro's eyes to Koga who tried to steady his hand to fire but with Naraku in the back of his head, he couldn't pull the trigger. Hiro don't do this. Her eyes widened with the weapon rising in Hiro's hand but it was to late. He smirked, letting out a small chuckle and in a split second the man who feared for his life was now dead.

Koga's lifeless body was now surrounded by blood and it should have given Kagome a sense of relief. But with that bloodlust look in his eyes, she didn't know if Hiro was even there. Like Darkness, blood had flood his ever thought and he refused to let it go. He shot the two men once more in the head, making sure that they stayed dead. The sight was gruesome and she wanted it to stop.

She closed her eyes, wishing that it would stop but with a familiar voice ringing in her ears she glanced toward the blood drenched Hiro, her eyes widening.

"Give me the gun Hiro." He extended his hand toward him and for a moment he refused his demand.

"My father wants me to go back." He muttered. "Kagome is…"

"Where is she?"

Hiro's quivering hands pointed toward the dumpster and without any hesitation, Hiro dropped the gun. "Sesshomaru. I'm sorry."

He took the weapon, keeping his eyes on Hiro as he approached the said dumpster but quickly he was distracted. Turning around to see a truck screeching toward them, Sesshomaru quickly looked toward Kagome's direction but ran to Hiro. She was hidden and that was all Sesshomaru focused on as men two times bigger then him came out of the truck.

They didn't even say a word to each other; the men who Sesshomaru never recall seeing before had hit him and retrieved his weapons. Others carried the dead bodies and tossed them in the garbage can where Kagome stayed hidden. It was baffling and Sesshomaru demanded answers.

"Do you work for Naraku?!" He screamed but they didn't reply. They only grabbed Sesshomaru and Hiro, tossing them into the van.

Sesshomaru…. Hiro. The duct tape that tightly bounded her hands and feet was unable to take off. Kagome struggled but as the car sped off, hoped seem lost. She helplessly watched as the van disappeared around the corner. This overwhelming scene of killings got Kagome thinking and as the thought of Sesshomaru being murder crossed her mind, she began to cry. She was helpless and she didn't even know if she could get out of this alleyway before it was to late.

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Now I have to stop it there. I know you're saying 'damnit another cliffhanger' but it has to be done. I apologize. Though I still hope you like it. Drop a review and I thank all of you who's been sticking by this story even though that long month period of not updating. Ja-ne for now.