"He was like an angel, you know? I never knew life could be like that. He was the one thing I followed through in my life, the one thing I didn't give up on. I was good at loving him," – Untamed Heart (Movie)

"...she has learned the greatest tragedy is the cowardice of self-betrayal, and that self-betrayal occurs when one permits oneself to be diverted from the truth: That there is nothing to lose." - From All the Pretty Horses (book)

"If you can't sing, clap your hands; if you can't clap your hands…then there's no hope" – Unknown

…………

There was calm about the small room. It was not a peaceful calm, but more of a feeling of stillness. A tiny breeze floated in through the window fluttering the white curtains; and the setting sun shone through. Cobalt eyes focused on the slowly spinning blades of the fan atop the ceiling. A body lay completely motionless on the soft pink sheets of a bed. The body's chest lifted and fell with each puff of air it took. Dried tears stung on the face of a sorrowful girl…

"Kagome…" came a quiet voice from the creaked bedroom door, "Will you be going to school tomorrow? You're friends have been worried about you,"

Those cobalt eyes blinked briefly and a breath escaped peach colored lips. A petite hand lifted to the cheek that held disappearing tears. They were gone, but the pain was still there. Kagome sighed and thought about what her mother said. She supposed listening to her friends "problems" would put her in a lighter mood, because usually they were utterly ridiculous.

"I suppose, I can go to school tomorrow," Kagome answered while turning her head to look at her mother. A nod of the head was the little sign of acknowledgement that Kagome's mother had heard her, before the older woman disappeared behind the door once again.

Kagome's hands gripped the comforter on her bed as she tried to lift them over her body in a tired effort. Seeing that it proved to be more difficult than she previously thought, she gave up. Her arms flapped back onto her bed, her hands released, and she lay with arms stretched out and open palms.

A light scratching sound could be heard coming from her door. Kagome's head shifted slightly on the sheets as she watched the door nudge open. A yowl came from an overweight cat as it stumbled over to her direction. She listened to the slight pause and preparation the fat fur-ball took before launching onto her bed.

She felt the weight of the cat dip her mattress in; and then tiny orange and white paws came into view at the corner of her eye. Buyo's head bent down revealing light green diamond eyes as he yowled again.

The tubby little tabby rolled on his back as he twisted his furry head in Kagome's hand. Buyo consistently rubbed his head against her palm in an attempt to coax her into petting him. Buyo sought after affection, not entirely sure if he'd receive it; this action reminded Kagome of herself.

A doleful smile appeared on Kagome's face as she thought about this fact. Here was a being consumed with the want to be loved, yet the person they want it from is not willing to comply. Buyo meowed louder, while eyeing Kagome expectantly. The girl did not move a muscle.

"Poor, Poor Kitty… wanting something you can't have. You're a persistent little rascal in your want for love and attention. You just poke and prod till you get what you want, don't you? Maybe…" Kagome said as she reached her hand to pet Buyo whom purred in response, "That's why in the end you win. Perhaps, it's because you never give up; and still have hope that love will come,"

Buyo gave one last happy meow as Kagome pet his stomach. Soon enough, the content cat bolted out the door and left Kagome to her loneliness once again. An airy laugh left Kagome's mouth at the sadistic irony of her situation.

She'd given affection to this creature and watched as he sauntered off happily, leaving her feeling like she had gained nothing from the experience. Was it common to walk away from those that care for you? Was life always so cruel?

"If this is the course on which my admiration of things is taking me, I fear I shall always be alone…"

…………………………………….

An almost transparent fog of odor filled the sub-way station. The only thing that stunk worse than a rotting corpse was the stench of more than thousand different people crammed together; and their pungent aromas. Kagome's gag reflex activated and a nauseous feeling hit her like a wave.

She had a whole-new attire picked out for herself today. Kagome wore a white sleeveless shirt under her low-cut orange hoodie; and adorning her shirt were tiny orange, yellow, and red dots sparse out everywhere. Peeking underneath her shirt and hoodie were a pair of denim-cuffed Capri's.

Her petite feet held white and orange striped sandals as she continued walking around the subway station. Kagome's newest hand-bag swung and wrapped around her arm as she heard foot-steps behind her.

"Kagome! What on earth are you wearing? You do know that not wearing your uniform could get you in trouble?" a girl with frizzy wavy hair said as she approached Kagome. The girl was one of Kagome's school friends, Ayumi.

"Personally, I didn't feel like wearing that grubby little outfit that causes me utter disarray, absence of disabuse, and my inner turmoil disaster," Kagome announced to her now assembled group of friends with a hard hearted tone.

"Well, well, well… someone sounds like they got off the wrong side of the bed this morning," Yuka chimed in as she placed her hands on her hips.

"I think it has something with that stupid boyfriend of hers, or ex-boyfriend seeing as her mood is going. You should have heard Kagome when I called her to see if she was going to the class-field trip" Eri huffed as she draped her arms around Kagome's shoulders. Kagome rolled her eyes and sighed. The time of Eri's phone-call was possibly the worst timing for Kagome.

………………………

Clothes were strewn about the floor in a crumpled fashion. Crinkles, wrinkles, and fabric bumps revealed the sight of the clothes in disarray to two blue orbs. Two outfits stood out among the rest for the beholder of the sight.

One of the outfits seemed old and worn. The material looked to be scratchy and most likely irritating to the skin. The outfit's colors were white and red; a clash of symbolic colors.

Red symbolized taint or lust, while white symbolized innocence and peace. The outfit fit perfectly for the one that wore it before; a woman meant to represent purity and peace, yet she held a tainted heart.

The other outfit was one with many stitches from the rips and tears it suffered from its many travels. A perfect arrangement of symbolic colors filled the design of the outfit. A white shirt stood for a pure soul, a red bow for the tiny bit of taint that haunts the heart, and a green skirt for a tinge of envy.

"Alright, which one should I burn first?" Kagome said aloud as her eyes narrowed. If she was able to eat her thoughts, they'd have a bitter taste.

Kagome sighed and slumped onto her clumps pf clothes with a pout on her face. Her eyes shut slowly as she calmed herself. The door to her room cautiously creaked open as a head peaked in.

"Oh my… What's going on in here?" Kagome's mother questioned as she eyed the state of Kagome's room. The middle-aged woman shuffled about around the wads of clothes and picked up a shirt hanging precariously on a lamp.

"I was picked out something to wear, and I guess I got carried away," Kagome mumbled as she opened one eye. Kagome's mother simply nodded her head at Kagome's reply and placed the now folded shirt of Kagome's bed.

"Well, I just wanted to tell you that Eri's on the phone for you," Kagome's mother said as she handed phone over to her daughter. Kagome opened both eyes and reached an arm up to grasp it in her hand. The "excitable" teenage girl eyed the phone for a moment before placing it by her ear.

"Hello?" Kagome asked tiredly into the phone as Kagome's mother slipped out of the room. After watching her mother's exit, Kagome's eyes shifted back to the ceiling fans spinning blades.

"Hey girl!" came the slightly irritating cheery reply from Eri, "I just felt like checking up on you. You know, see what's happening!"

"My how entirely generous of you to waste time talking to me," Kagome retorted as her other arm curled around her head for support.

"What's with the attitude? I just wanted to inform you about the school field trip today," Eri said. Kagome huffed aloud into the phone before flicking a sock into the air that had been lying on her leg.

"Oh yes, I am an entire need of an attitude adjustment. Here let me take the dial shoved up my butt and give it a little twist to make me more tolerable. A field trip? Oh, joy is filling my veins…" Kagome bit out.

"Wow, bite off my head, why don't you? Why the hostility? More boyfriend troubles?" Eri snapped back.

Kagome knew she should have bit her tongue. She should have not said anything back. She should have bitten her tongue so hard it bled, but she didn't. Instead, she blew up.

An eruption of fast, almost incoherent, words flew from Kagome's and into the phone as she shot up from the floor. Boyfriend? Ha, what Boyfriend? Sure, Kagome had played out Inuyasha was her boyfriend, but oh how he wasn't. He was so far away from being a boyfriend, that Kagome didn't even have a word for it. Well she did, but not a word she would use publicly.

Boyfriends are supposed to be supportive and caring. Boyfriends are supposed to not use their girlfriend's abilities for their own gain. Boyfriends were not meant to run off and mess around with other girls when their girlfriend's backs are turned. Boyfriends are supposed to love their girlfriends'.

A groan left Kagome's mouth as she eyed the poor defenseless phone that was laying in pieces on the floor. Kagome crouched over the pathetic object that was once a phone and picked up the pieces. Kagome cradled the pieces of the phone in her palms before dumping them into the trash bin.

"I have a feeling this will be a bit harder to explain that time… 'He' broke my alarm clock," Kagome muttered under her breath as she flopped into her desk chair. Her hands crept their way to the top of the desk before her fingers began to tap against the wood.

Cerulean orbs fell to the dials of the radio. One of the hands that took a pause in tapping the table went over and clicked the stereo on. Light fuzz and beeps came from the speakers as Kagome switched around the stations till she found one she liked. Perhaps, some music could calm her down. She stopped changing channels as a familiar tune hit her ears.

"Wow, I haven't heard this song in a while…" Kagome said lightly as she let the songs words fill her ears and her mind.

"Look at me

You may think you see

Who I really am,

But you'll never know me,"

Something clicked on in Kagome's brain, and she began to truly listen to the song for the first time. A wave of familiarity came over Kagome as she listened to the words.

"Everyday,

It's as if I play a part.
Now I see

If I wear a mask

I can fool the word,

But I can not fool my heart,"

An image of Sesshomaru popped into Kagome's mind as she heard these lines in the song. Everyone fears him or hates him, not including Rin. Yet, he continues to play the part of a person with a heart of ice; Kagome knew there was more to him than that. She knew there was something more behind that frosty mask he wore.

"Who is that girl I see

Staring straight back at me?

When will my reflection show?

Who I am inside,"

An image of Kikyo flickered in Kagome's mind and she bit her lip. Did she and Kikyo really look so similar? Or was it that illusion she continued to believe in that kept people thinking they were similar? Perhaps, Kikyo and Kagome's connection in order to severe not only relies in their shared soul, but the belief they are the same.

"I am now
In a world where I have to hide my heart
And what I believe in


But somehow
I will show the world
What's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am"

The first part seemed to apply to Sesshomaru more in Kagome's mind. He loved that girl he talked about with her, yet for some reason he hid his heart from that girl and everyone else. The second part seemed more directed towards Kagome, however, because it showed her new determination; the determination that would soon take her to be appreciated for being herself.

"Who is that girl I see
staring straight back at me
Why is my reflection
Someone I don't know
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time,"

Kagome almost laughed at the ironic likenesses between her and the song. She wasn't planning on being confused with her…no, wasn't going to deal with Kikyo's past any longer. Kagome was ready to no longer be a shadow of her soul's past life. She was ready to be her own person.

"There's a heart that must be free to fly
That burns with a need to know
The reason why
Why must we all conceal
What we think
How we feel.


Must there be a secret me
I'm forced to hide
I won't pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time…"

Kagome's head now rested on the top of the desk as she listened to the last words drift off from the speakers. She was over-come with some odd feeling she couldn't describe. All she knew was that things were going to be different. She was ready to change herself for the better, and she had a stronger feeling to thank Sesshomaru.

It was odd to want to thank a past enemy, but she felt he deserved it. He opened up a whole new world to her that she hadn't seen. However, Kagome still felt upset about her and Sesshomaru's last meeting. She almost felt stupid for getting her hopes up for the love of that demon lord; especially when she didn't even know why'd she'd be hopeful for his affection.

Kagome decided that it must have been her want for attention and acceptance that brought up the hope for love. A need of certain attentions she had been deprived of since her constant travels through time. A girl just wanted a guy to notice her in that special way only they can. Kagome sighed.

"This orange hoodie looks nice…" Kagome mumbled as bent over in her desk-chair to pick it up from the ground, "now what will go with it?"

………………... … …

Large stone steps made up the path-way to the castle atop the enormous hill. Eyes peered around the area to observe its many sights. One of which were the many tall and big dog statues scattered about. A large sign stood in front of the group of school students. It hovered over them with bold painted red letters that were slowly being chipped away from the years that had passed. One of the students mouthed the words printed on the sign before speaking them aloud.

"Welcome to Inuyama-Jo (Dog Mountain Castle)," Kagome quoted as she continued to stare up at the sign. A strange feeling swept over her as these words escaped her lips. Something felt eerily familiar about this place, yet she was sure she'd never been here before. Her eyes fell to the grey and red stone path as she tried to shake off this feeling of Déjà vu.

"Yes, Miss Higurashi. We are now standing at the entrance of Inuyama-Jo, one of the oldest castles in Japan. The date at which it was originally constructed is still debated; but of course we'll learn more about that once we get inside, won't we class?" the teacher spat as he glared around the students before ascending up the stone path.

"Kagome, are you alright?" Yuka asked as she eyed the puzzled girl. Kagome blinked her eyes and bit her lip, before releasing a breath.

"It's nothing really. I just got this really weird vibe," Kagome answered as her gaze to rest on one of the dog statues. There were two dog statues standing at the entryway. They were almost like ancient guards frozen forever in stone. Eyes stern, teeth bared, and ears back; they were prepared for battle.

Kagome's body tensed at the thought. Battle was a strong word in her mind. The word made the definition of it even more impending sounding. She was getting ready for her own battles in the near future or past to be precise. Time was a fickle thing.

"Kagome, Come on we're waiting for you!" shouted Eri down at her from further up the path. Kagome shook her head for getting lost in thought again. Thinking this much could take a hold on her.

Kagome continued up the path to reach her friends, while gazing intently at the canine soldiers as she passed them by. As the small group of girls continued their ascent up the stone path, their eyes fell to their large school group cluttering around the information booth.

It was an odd sight to see from their stand-point. The teacher seemed highly irritated, the boys of the class were in a slump, and the girls were twittering like happy little birds. Kagome could barely see through the mob of her schoolmates as she watched her teacher tap on the glass of the information booth in irritation. This made her slightly confused until she heard the chattering of the girls around her.

"That guy working the booth is so hot" a random girl cooed, "and him just sleeping in there is adorable,"

Kagome's friends' had mischievous looks on their faces as they heard these words. They began to push her through the crowd with them, so they could get a peak at this guy. They stopped a little before the booth as they watched their teacher grumble and stomp his foot. An almost growl-like noise left the teachers mouth as he walked away to calm himself. The girls took this chance to approach the booth and peer inside through the glass. Kagome's heart almost stopped.

The young man sitting in the booth looked to be no older than they were, and the guy wasn't cute. He was gorgeous! The boy's slender body leaned against the desk, with his arms propping his head as it ladled to the side as he slept.

He had short spiky black hair that stopped just before the end of his ear. His dark bangs shadowed his closed eyes. His dark hair seemed to contrast beautifully with his almost ethereal light skin. Kagome thought the young man almost looked like a sleeping puppy. After this thought, the boy awoke revealing honey-brown eyes that stared back at her. Kagome's heart fluttered in her chest.

"May I help you?" he asked silkily as he lifted his head. Kagome's friends' swooned as Kagome just stood there speechless. A smirk appeared on the young man's face; he appeared very amused. Words tried to escape Kagome's mouth, but she never got a chance.

"Finally, it's about damn time. You should be fired for this kind of thing," the teacher shouted as he approached the booth, "I have a class here that has been waiting for you to wake the hell up, so that I may get a tour going. So, let us in!"

The young man just sighed and pushed a button that opened the gate to the castle. He handed the grumpy teacher a map, and watched as the teacher herded the class through the gate. The teacher looked back as he led his class to give the young man a good glare.

Even as her friends left her, Kagome just stood there in silence. She eyed the young man in front of her again as a light began to spread across her cheeks. The young man noticed Kagome hadn't moved and smiled up at her.

"Hi!" Kagome squeaked before shutting her mouth tightly in embarrassment. The young man's eye-brow rose in question. Then his smile grew and he began to laugh out lightly.

"Hello," he replied back as he lowered his head to the desk again, letting his lean muscular arms prop up his head to look at her. Kagome smiled shyly.

"My names Kagome," she said timidly as she seemed to fall into the depths of his honey-brown eyes. The young man's head began to loll to the side again as he nodded, letting a Cheshire smile spread across his face.

"Well… Miss Kagome, I believe you might want to catch up with the rest of the class," the young man said in a charming tone as his Cheshire smile came back full force. That smile sent Kagome through a loop. Her heart must have been doing back-flips.

"Well, um. Good-bye! Farewell! See ya! Tootles!" Kagome shouted breathlessly as she fluttered to the gate, gazing back now and again to look at the handsome young man. The young man looked on as she disappeared behind the gate and onward.

A single finger pressed the button to close the gate. A sigh escaped the young man's lips as he watched the gates close. His eyes never wavered from the spot where Kagome left. He was going to have to restrain himself a little bit longer, yet he wanted so badly to follow.

……………………………

The picture hung elegantly in the dimly lit room. From all the many eyes peering at it, only one mind thought how much beautiful it must have been if it wasn't in this museum like setting. The rich colors were blended perfectly in the painting, and the inner and mysterious meanings underlining the picture made it all the more intriguing. It was simply divine…

"As you see class, above us hangs one of the most interesting and controversial pieces of the castle. The name of the piece is called "Rain Drops". It is believed that the painting was actually created 200 years previous before the construction of the castle, but it is unsure of how it came to end up in the castle. Yet class, if you can pay close attention you can see something slightly off about the picture. Can anyone point out what is odd about the picture?" the teacher asked in the middle of his lecture. The many different eyes began to study the picture once more.

The outer layers of the painting and the background were mostly dark and deep navy blues with some variations in certain places. In the center of the piece stood a solemn looking soul. It looked like a young woman with golden hair, yet there were streaks of blue in it as well. A tear drop tattoo or marking was under one of her eyes, which seemed to be staring off into the heavens. At the young woman's waist, she held cupped hands; in her hands were a million tiny pebbles.

Kagome's mind swirled as she eyed the picture. Her eyes traveled to a part of the picture that somewhat off-set her. The deep blues somewhat filtered away un-evenly into a light green and then yellow. Another young woman stood profile in the lighter half. A smile graced the young woman's lips and pink puffs, mostly likely cherry blossom petals, floated about her.

Another odd feeling gripped Kagome as she eyed this part of the picture. The familiarity of it caused an invisible chill to slither down her spine. Yet, she didn't feel anything of ill-intent, but it was just so strange to her. Certain similarities in the picture striked her as bizarre. However, she didn't let these faze her as she answered her teacher.

"The different shading and the different feelings of the picture, compared from the one woman in the center and the other to the right corner. Also, the mix of colors look like the woman in the right corner wasn't a part of the original piece, or was unintentional," Kagome remarked.

"You are correct Miss Higurashi. For a dilly dallier, you catch on quite quickly" the teacher said before continuing, "the reason you most likely think that it was un-intentional is that it wasn't. Until long after, the original piece was painted. The young woman in the center is believed to be 800 years old, yet the girl in the right corner is only about 500 years old. Scientists' and Historians' are still puzzled by this mystery till this day. They un-sure as to why the second part of the piece was incorporated into the piece. However, our only clue is the bottom right corner,"

Eyes shifted to this corner and a gasp was heard. An un-noticed piece of the puzzle was laying there in the picture. It was a gray stone, hardly thought to be important, unless you observed very crucially. There were words painted in the picture to make it appear as if they had been chiseled into the stone. The words were barely visible from so many years, but they were discernable. They read 'Never Lose Hope'.

"Yes, this is why you must always pay close attention to the piece. That tiny piece of information connected this piece to the legend of the Castle's pond. I'll explain more of this once we head into the Gardens. That is where the pond lies. Come now Class," the teacher said.

The class began to skitter out another door, but once again Kagome was left standing. Her gaze fell to the painting now. The woman in the right corner left her so curious. It left her curious, because it appeared like another person whom looked like her. The ebony hair flowed down the young woman's shoulders and her dazzling blue eyes shone brightly. The blue eyes made it so, curious. Kagome was known to be special for her blue eyes, yet here was a picture with a woman with the same likeness.

"Simply entrancing, isn't it?" spoke a familiar smooth voice. The voice stroke a cord in Kagome and it also startled her. One of her arms swung back as she wobbled backwards to see the owner of the voice. The arm smacked one of the exhibits tipping it over. Kagome watched in horror as an almost ancient thimble started making its way to the ground. A quick hand grasped it and placed it back where it belonged.

"You know if I wasn't here, and that thimble did managed to make it all the way to the ground, you'd be in a heap of trouble. It's called damaging museum property," spoke the voice jokingly. Kagome's cheeks began to heat up again. It was the young man from the information booth. His honey-brown eyes almost looked golden in this light.

"It's you…" Kagome whispered as she brought her hands to her face. A thought swept through her mind and her hands fell to her side. Why was she being so weak lately? Why was she letting a guy effect her? She was supposed to be stronger now.

"Hello, my name is Ai," the young man said smiling with an outstretched hand. Kagome nodded and took his hand in hers. His hand nearly wrapped over her entire hand, because it was so much larger than hers. She looked up into his eyes and he nodded back as a light left him. She liked the sound of his laughter.

"It's nice to meet you again, Ai" Kagome said sweetly as her small petite hand left his large rough ones. She watched as his gaze fell to the picture and her eyes followed. It was a very beautiful picture, but the center young woman's story appeared to be sad. Her eyes widened again. She had to catch up to her class again. Her teacher was going to explain it. A gasp escaped her throat as she began rushing to the door, but stopped suddenly.

"Good-bye Ai!" Kagome said as she left his sight again. Ai didn't particylarly like the feeling he got as he watched Kagome leave his sight again. It didn't set well with him at all, but he supposed her should get used to it for now. He knew she knew what it felt like to be walked away from. A smirk found its way to his lips.

"Farewell for now, Kagome…"

…………..

There were so many flowers. An abundance of them filled this grandeur garden. The garden's beauty was immeasurable; and the twists and turns it created made it appear an immaculate and colossal maze. After walking through the immense maze-like garden you'll find yourself in the center where a pond sits placid and calm.

That is where the class had found itself. They huddled about the small enclosure with eyes on their teacher. Their hands clung to the guardrails surrounding the pond as they listened intently to their teacher. Dragon flies buzzed around, butterflies fluttered about, and the water lilies looked pristine white. Life seemed to cling to this area, yet that thought contradicted the chilling legend surrounding the pond.

"The legend of the water maiden is what separates this pond from any other. It is said that a spirit of a young maiden haunts these waters. She died here, but her spirit never found peace," the teacher spoke in a low tone meant to set a mood for the tale.

"How did she die here?" asked one of the students curiously as her gaze fell to the waters sparkling form the sun-light dripping through the trees shadowing it. Kagome listened in as well as to what her teacher would say. She felt odd about this place, among almost everything else in the castle.

"Well, there in lies the tragedy. She died by her own hand," the teacher spoke as an array of gasps was heard, but before anyone could ask why she herself; he continued, "The reason she killed herself was because of un-requited love. She was so dreadfully heart-broken from seeing her love in the arms of another that she ended her life,"

It grew somewhat silent for a moment and all the students looked on into the waters. Most of the students didn't understand why someone would die for love, yet sadness shown through their eyes for the girl in the legend. Kagome, however, was very shaken by this. It sounded somewhat familiar. The thought of dying for someone you love.

"My students that is not all to the story, as I said earlier this is one of the pieces to the mystery of the painting. Yet, although it might answer one question or give us one clue, it leaves many more questions following. If you look to the side of the lake, there lies a rock. The rock here is slightly worn and somewhat hard to read, but inscribed into it are the same words in the painting. 'Never Lose Hope'. People are still puzzled by this even today. This due to the fact that the person whom they think wrote it was the girl in the legend; and for one to ask that we don't lose hope when she takes her life, is somewhat odd. Historians believe it was a try at bringing peace in the warring times of Japan, but again we're still unsure," the teacher dragged on, taking a moment and here to breathe.

Kagome bit her lip as she got swept away in thought. It was a baffling concept. It left her with many stray thoughts and feelings. All of this was so overwhelming. She had no idea why a mere painting and legend could move her this way, but it had.

The class started to move away again. It was time to go back to the city. However, apparently was going to make staying behind a habit. A sound came to Kagome's ear and she stopped from walking with the rest of the class. Was that a voice? Her head turned around to face the pond as she heard the voice again. The voice was very faint and light. She walked closer and peered over to the edge. Kagome eyes widened and she tried holding back the scream she wanted to release.

There was a face in the water. A face that she had not seen, but minutes before. It was the young woman from the picture. The solemn soul standing in the center that held the millions of tiny pebbles. Her head was tilted to the side as a light smile came to her face, but the smile was a melancholy one.

"Hello Kagome," the young woman greeted in the same light voice. Kagome faltered and she gasped as her hands nearly bent the medal of the fence surrounding the pond by the way her hands gripped it. She was fully surprised.

"How do you know my name? Who are you?" Kagome all but whispered. The young woman looked confused, but then seemed to realize something. The rippling face in the water seemed to think about something for a moment before speaking.

"This must be our first time meeting for you Kagome. I shall meet you for the first time in the past. I cannot delve any further into this, because in doing so, I might change history. My name is Nozomi," the young woman said. Kagome seemed to take in this information and then felt the urge to ask something.

"Are you the water maiden in the legend?" Kagome asked, when Nozomi nodded Kagome continued, "Why did you kill yourself?"

Nozomi seemed to sigh a moment and her face fell to a sorrowful look. Kagome felt a built guilty for asking now; the young woman seemed so broken up about. Yet, it had been so many years since the incident.

"That is a long story…" Nozomi said.

"I'm all ears," Kagome commented back. Nozomi gave Kagome a curious look before figuring out the meaning of the odd phrase Kagome used. She merely sighed and seemed to prepare herself for the tale.

"I believe it started when I saw my love in the arms of another woman…"

………………………..

Nozomi was free to go out for leisure time today. She was preparing to surprise Sesshomaru with another gift. She thought a bouquet of different wild flowers would be lovely. People still ridiculed her mercilessly that she had been the cause of the queen's death, but she had just ignored them. Sesshomaru had said she hadn't done anything wrong and she believed in him than she did anyone else.

Nozomi had also been working on another special gift for Sesshomaru. She had found a pond in the nearby forest where there were many smooth stones. She had found one about medium size. It was a very pretty stone. It would make an exceptional present. She absolutely sure that Sesshomaru shared her same interest with nature.

A pretty red flower lay in the distance. Nozomi skipped to it as her bare feet became dirtier with every step. She smiled as her petite fingers gripped the stem and snapped off the flower and adding it to the other flowers.

Suddenly she sensed Sesshomaru nearby. A smile crossed her face, but when she looked to where she sensed him her smile faltered. There was another girl with him. She knew from where she was that it was a demoness, and a noble one at that. What was that other girl up to?

Sesshomaru looked to be leaning into the girl. What was he doing? Nozomi's heart stopped beating for a moment as she watched Sesshomaru's lips descend onto the demoness. A whimper left Nozomi's mouth. Why? The wild flowers fell to the ground from which they grew. Nozomi ran away…

For weeks later, she would spend all her free hours chiseling into the rock she was going to give to Sesshomaru as a present. At first it had taken her a while to figure out what to write, and during that time she avoided Sesshomaru at all cost. After a while she finally knew what to write. Nozomi managed to finish chiseling what would be her last words into the stone.

She placed the stone by the pond, before she did what she had to do. She just wanted Sesshomaru to know that he should never lose hope. She hoped that he would be happy with the one woman that was worthy enough to love him. A single tear slipped down Nozomi's cheek. It was time.

Her eyes closed as she stepped into the water. She had taken thread from the sewing room and tied it to some larger rocks. She pushed the rocks in and prepared to follow them. She breathed in deeply and one last mournful smile crept onto her face. She was sad to be leaving, but happy at the thought she would soon be coming back to her queen.

Nozomi took the plunge…

……………………….

"You drowned yourself?" Kagome stuttered as horror filled her eyes. She looked back on things she had done and could only shake her head. Wasn't she another person that earlier had wished to leave the world through death? A shudder ran through Kagome's body.

"Not technically. I merely succumbed to my element. I embraced it to the fullest, and with that I became a part of it. It was not actually what I had intended, but in the end I suppose it was the best. I was able to do what I always wanted to do. I was able to give many people hope by giving them the nectar of life," Nozomi said as she lifted her hand if only to create a ripple on the waters edge. Kagome grew quiet for a moment.

"What do you mean by element? I also noticed in you tale how you said that your lover was with a demoness. Would that make you a half-demon?" Kagome asked. Nozomi nodded her ghost-like head as her eyes met with Kagome's once more. Kagome felt compelled to say something else.

"I am terribly sorry what ended up happening. I somewhat know how it feels to see your love in the arms of another. It is possibly the most terrible thing in the world and most likely hurts the most," Kagome said as her eyes went elsewhere. Nozomi tilted her head and her eyes became half-lidded.

"Kagome, I'm sorry to say that is not the most terrible thing in the world. I must also say there is something I left out of the story," Nozomi said softly. Kagome's eyes focused back on Nozomi. She was confused now.

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked. Nozomi looked like she breathed in before she spoke as if it was very painful to tale about. She seemed to think about something for a moment, before actually speaking to Kagome.

"Surprisingly the words I most wanted to hear, did not sound as sweet…when he said I love you to someone else," Nozomi said. Kagome's eyes widened and she gasped. That was possibly the most terrible thing. A shuffling sound was heard and Kagome watched as Nozomi began to fade away.

"Someone is coming…" Nozomi whispered before completely disappearing. Kagome watched as the legendary Water Maiden left her, before feeling a hand on her shoulder. A scream broke out from Kagome's mouth.

"Whoa now. I was just sent out to find you," Ai cried as he eyed Kagome. Kagome blushed brightly and shook her head. She found this slightly embarrassing, but then she went over what Ai had just said.

"Sent out to find me?" Kagome questioned. Ai nodded and his Cheshire smile came back on full-force. Kagome's blush heightened slightly more, but her eyes told Ai she wanted further explanation.

"Well, since you seem to like to just stand around, your teacher and classmates almost left you behind. You've been gone for about 15 minutes, so they sent me to look for you. You're teacher said I had time to spare anyway while goofing off," Ai ended while laughing. Kagome smiled and started to giggle as well.

"Yeah. Anyhow, I have to get going home as well. So you Miss Kagome should start heading back to your classmates. I've got to get back to my wife…" Ai trailed off as he started stopping himself. Kagome was somewhat shocked. His wife?

"Aren't you too young to have a wife? Is she pretty?" Kagome asked without thinking. Ai blew through his teeth as his eyes fell to the sky. His honey-brown eyes met back with Kagome's and he smirked.

"You seem to assume much about people. I might look young, but it doesn't mean I am. And yes, She is quite a beautiful girl," he said almost dreamily while staring into Kagome's eyes. Kagome licker her lips and her cheeks began to redden again.

"Well she must be one lucky girl," Kagome said.

"The luckiest…" Ai said looking deeper into Kagome's eyes before looking down. His eyes fell to his watch as he checked the time. Sliding around on his feet he began walking away from Kagome before waving off.

"Good-bye Kagome!" Ai said as he started to travel further away from Kagome. Kagome waved him off and sighed. The good guys were always taken. That's what Kagome was thinking.

"Sesshomaru…" came Nozomi's voice from the pond. Kagome's heart-wrenched and she turned around almost falling over. She ran back to the edge of the pond and looked down at Nozomi with a bewildered expression spread across her face.

"How do you know Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked. Nozomi seemed surprised by this and her mouth formed a thin line. It was as if she was debating whether or not to tell Kagome. Her eyes looked toward the sky and then her gaze fell back to Kagome.

"Sesshomaru was my lover…"

…………………………

I finished!!!!! I'm so so so so sorry that I didn't finish this sooner. My life has been utterly hectic and I wanted to give you guys a long chapter to enjoy. I also decided to make this chapter slightly lighter and added a bit of fluff. Hee hee I hope you enjoyed it, and again I apologize for the wait.