Sesshomaru ran through the forest blindly, the thick branches and fallen trees cutting his skin even more. "Kagome, where are you?!" he shouted. "Will you find her?" "It's futile..." "Try harder!" the souls of the restless flashed by and their voices echoed all around. "Sessho..." a lone voice called. "Kagome?" He was quickly becoming exhausted. His head throbbing, his breath labored, his heart pounding. He collapsed next to a calm river that ran through the forest, a calm oasis from his frenzied search. He gazed up at the moon as he rolled over onto his scraped back. "I remember you loved looking up at the stars and the moon. When you would disappear in the middle of the night, I would find you staring up at them with a forlorn expression on your face. Then you'd catch me watching you and you'd smile softly, welcomingly. I never understood your attachment to the moon or the stars. But then again, I never understood your attachment to me." he shook his head. "Am I deluding myself into thinking you felt attachment to me?" he smirked. "Not deluded..." a quiet voice said nearby. He sat straight up. "Kagome? Where are you?" "Closer than...you might think." he could hear the smile in her voice. "Where are you?" he demanded. "Against the rules...to tell..." "Kagome, stop playing around!" he yelled impatiently. A silence passed for a few moments. "Kagome, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you angry-" "No! Not...angry...I fade when..I use too..much energy.." "Fade?" "A sort of...slumber...that lasts...indefinitely." He relaxed a little. "Kagome...there are so many things I wish to tell you...I regret not saying anything. I took you for granted, believing that you would always be by my side...But I wish to find you, so I can return you-" he stopped midsentence. Would she be offended if I said, "Return you to me...?" "To you?" she asked, the smile returning in her voice. "I never left..." Blood dripped down Sesshomaru's cheek. "Wash that...off..." she demanded, and he smiled. He leaned over the water's edge to see his reflection, but it was not there. In its place was Kagome's face instead, smirking at him. "Idiot..." And then her face dissipated, and his reflection returned. Closer than I think...
Sesshomaru sprinted through the forest once more, until he came upon the patch of dense thorns and the glowing orb once more. "You've always been cunning...but now you're just being difficult." he smiled tenderly as he pulled the black rose Kagome had given him from its special place in his kimono. He gently cradled it in his bleeding fingers and raised it to his lips, gingerly kissing it. Suddenly, he tossed it into the glowing orb. It began to change colors, a crimson red, a jade green; everything seemed to explode in light. Sesshomaru covered his eyes as the forest itself was illuminated.
He uncovered his eyes slowly and raised his head. "Sesshomaru." a wavy voice said. He looked up. "What took you so long?" she demanded. He silently gasped, taking in her now long white hair, one bright blue eye, and one unearthly purple one. Her emotionless mask faltered as her lip quivered. "You took too long, Sesshomaru." her voice continued wavering as a lone, silent tear streamed down her face. She swiped at it angrily as she continued. "I've been waiting so long." Sesshomaru slowly smiled. "Kagome-chan." he gently pushed her white hair from her face. "I'm sorry." She looked at him defensively. "Idiot."