'Molten lava, shimmering gold, or rays of sunshine' she couldn't decide what his eyes reminded her of. All of those things seemed far too bright and warming to be any part of the man with such a cold heart. Yet, he wasn't even a man. He was a demon, and the things he had told her proved that she appeared to have a darker heart than his.

"I'm going to prove him wrong…" she muttered under her breath as she gazed at her reflection in the water. Sunlight seeped through the leaves to dot the watery depths of the hot spring. Her hair seemed silky from the tiny beads of water sticking to the ebony locks. Dipping her hands into the steamy water, she cupped them together bringing water up to her face. Then she opened her hands to let the water slip through her fingers as if it were the falling rain.

"Did you say something, Kagome?" asked Sango looking anxiously towards the younger woman sitting besides her in the warming waters. A day after the 'incident' Kagome had joined up with the shard-hunting group once again. The week that had followed the 'incident' her companions had noticed a change in their friend.

"No, I was just mumbling to myself…" Kagome answered back in a light voice Noticing her words were not comforting enough for the demon hunter she threw in a weak smile to calm her friend's frazzled nerves. Her smile faltered as her friend's face contorted into a serious expression.

Kagome sunk lower into the water as she realized where the conversation was heading. Everyone was growing more somber as the weeks passed leading to what might be their last days. The battle ahead was unavoidable, yet it is the thing so many wish to escape from.

"Time is thinning for us; we have no idea when he shall strike, and I fear not all of us will live to taste the victory we so rightfully deserve" Sango spoke in a low voice which was followed by a grim comment "I'm worried Kagome…"

…

"Kagome!" barked a gruff voice not belonging to her loyal friend. Cerulean eyes fluttered as Kagome was taken out of her reverie. Looking up she met the angered face of her teacher. Sitting up straight from her slouched position she took notice of just where she was.

"I'm greatly sorry Sensei, I mean no disrespect. I think my current illness gave me a brief dizzy spell and distracted me," Kagome said as she gripped the pencil she had forgotten was in her hand. The teacher just sighed and began to walk towards the front of the classroom.

"Just don't let it happen again, Higurashi," the teacher grumbled as he made his way to the chalkboard. Some of the other students took this time to get in a light laugh before turning their heads back to the lesson.

'No more lying and no more excuses' was a thought that swept through Kagome's mind. When it was all over with she'd never have to make up ridiculous almost ludicrous excuses for her constant absence any longer. This led her mind to linger on another more depressing thought. There would be no more bother about crossing over in the well.

Hours passed at a slow, yet steady pace till the school bell rung shattering the silence of the room. Kagome let out a sigh as she gazed out the window of the classroom. Gray clouds were dotting the sky and she knew what lay ahead.

Her hands crept above the table top as she began to collect her things. In her shaky movements, for her mind was still off in a dreamland, supplies tipped over the desk and cracked against the floor. 'Thunder…'

Kagome shook her head lightly at her own clumsiness. Kneeling towards the cold tile of the classroom she outstretched a petite hand, and soon another one fell onto hers. Gentle eyes gazed up to look into dull blue. Resisting the urge to sigh, Kagome let him pick up the fallen pencil case and place it in her hand.

"Thank-you…Hojo," Kagome greeted in a sleepy bored tone. She started to rise with one hand propped up on the desk for support, as she lifted herself up. Hojo just smiled and followed suite by popping up like a flower in the spring. Kagome patted down her school skirt to rid it of seemingly invisible dust as she returned a wavering smile back towards the poor clueless teen.

"No problem Higurashi. It's the least I could do for you since you've been incredibly more ill than usual. Would you like me to carry your books for you, so that the burden of the load won't injure your back?" asked Hojo.

Kagome at that moment couldn't decide whether to hit the innocent fool so he'll finally get it or feel sorry for him. She was confused as what to do as she stared into his boyish face, a boyish face that reminded her of another; the other boyish face which currently haunted her very being.

"I'm very sorry Hojo, but I must decline" Kagome answered before faking a cough into her hands, "I might get you sick and I could never forgive myself if I did. You understand right?"

Hojo merely nodded. Kagome watched him walk away from her and she released the sigh she had been holding. She had so many problems to take of already and then there was him. She seriously had no idea why after the time that had passed by in the few years she had yet to ward him off.

Her feet carried her out of the school building and into the autumn air. Multi-colored leaves of brown, red, and gold crunched under her feet as thoughts swirled in her head. She remembered all the times she had run off with some excuse or another she directed towards Hojo.

"Yes…when this is finally all over there shall be no more excuses," Kagome muttered under her breath. The cool breeze finally caught up with her as she shivered from the cold. Her pace picked up as she began to run towards the subway station, but before she could reach her final destination familiar faces bounced up to say Hello.

"KAGOME!" Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi cheered in a more than chipper mood. They crowded around her as the rest of the subway station busily pushed pass them. Kagome seemed to curse her luck as she hung her head. In her mind this was getting old, fast!

"Hey guys…" she answered back tiredly. Why was just going to her home getting harder and harder? Kagome's eyes were half-lidded as her 'friends' dragged her away. They continued to talk amongst themselves as Kagome stayed along for the ride. Once the train's doors shut Kagome finally realized there was no chance of escape.

The car of the train they were in was relatively empty, which was very rare. That didn't seem to deter them however, for tiny push and shoves later the defenseless teen found herself sitting in a plastic red-padded seat

Kagome was starting to feel a little irritated at the pokes and prods she was receiving from her friends. Yet, she didn't have the time to do anything about it for she was interrupted in the middle of this thought process.

"So Kagome, How are you and your boyfriend holding up?" asked Ayumi with a care-free smile. A silence followed the question and the other teenage girls grew increasingly curious with every passing second. They huddled closer as their eyes bore through her.

"Kagome?"

…

It echoed in a constant drumming. It sounded like the beating and pulsing of a human heart. It went on in a ryhthematic pattern. Yet, all it was… was the pounding of hurried foot-steps.

She could not decide what world was better. She felt the need to avoid them both. The wind sprayed inky black hair over her shoulders as she stared up the hundreds of tiny steps she would need to climb if only to reach to her sanctuary.

A streak of blinding light shot across the sky; fine edged lines that made the role of the sky into a cracked mirror. Was it following her? Did it stalk her like a terrible plague? Perhaps her memories control the sky, for it was crying once again.

Streaming tears slid upon the surface of mother earth's cheeks, the girl had finished climbing the seemingly endless staircase to her sanctuary. She was getting closer to her safe-haven now. The rain began to pick up speed as it beat against her back.

A door, it was a door that faced her now. It reminded her somewhat of her very own heart, for when she opened it, nothing lay inside. Her hand reached for a light switch as the bulb flickered on. Her yellow back-pack slid off her arm to tumble to the ground as she shivered from the cool of the air-conditioner.

"I guess they went somewhere without me…" she muttered under her breath, and soon her feet carried her to a new set of stairs. The kitchen tiles felt extremely cold with each step she took for the socks she wore were thoroughly doused. She gazed back to the one-lit room and sighed before making her journey up another set of stairs.

Time ticked away as steam rose from the water of the bath. Her head was leaned back against the tile of the wall as her mind floated away. Lifting a hand from the water she studied it. Noticing it wouldn't be long before it was fully pruned, she made her way out of the tub.

She pulled a towel off the rack and dotted her face with it. Looking up her eyes fell upon the mirror in front of her. Dazzling blue eyes faced straight back at her, yet they were dull. Her lips bent into a sad looking smile as she wrapped the towel around her.

Kagome walked into her room as another wave of thunder shook the house. Her hand stretched out for the closet door as she slid it open. Her heart almost stopped as she saw a glimpse at the red pant-leg hanging there. The priestess outfit just seemed to hang there in all its infamous glory as the memories hit her.

…..

He saw them. She knows he saw them, those vile creatures appearing to be the form of snakes slithering in the sky. They were un-natural in the way their bodies illuminated far brighter than the moon. It was not their bite you feared, but the thought of them stealing your soul. What's worse is that they lead him to 'her'.

"Go to her…" Kagome said in a melancholy voice. Inuyasha held a shocked look upon his face as his eyes shot to her. He was letting him go? Without complaining? She was letting him go?

"Kagome, I…" Inuyasha tried to speak, but she stopped him. Those blue eyes holding so much emotion stopped him from letting any words leave his lips. His mouth was dry and his voice wouldn't come.

"You love her don't you?" Kagome asked as she leaned against a tree with raven tresses now framing her face. Inuyasha was stuck. He could say no, but then he'd be lying. He could say yes, but that could cause even greater trouble. He decided to say the only thing he could.

"I made a promise, and I have to keep it," Inuyasha said as he looked towards the soul seekers swimming through the trees. Kagome nodded her head as she stood up straight. Walking towards him she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Then go to her if you must," Kagome barely whispered as she looked up to him. Inuyasha gazed her with a curious look. Sighing he nodded his head. He slowly removed her hand from his shoulder before making his way to where the soul seekers appeared to come from.

He looked back at Kagome just before disappearing into the trees and she watched him till she was sure he was gone. Breathing in deeply she turned herself in the opposite direction. Then she ran. She continued to run even as the rain began to fall…

…..

Another flashed before her eyes as she blinked. She hadn't even realized she had been looking out the window. Her face felt hot and her eyes felt sore. Lifting a petite hand to her face she felt the moisture hit them. She tasted the bitter flavor of salt upon her lips. She had been crying.

Thunder shook the house again. Looking back at the priestess garb she began to laugh lightly. She laughed almost full heartedly in fact. Stifling her laughter she smiled. With one swoop the closet door closed with a click.

"I will prove you wrong…"