"Should we say goodbye now oh oh o
Keep it going somehow oh oh o
Doesn't even make sense' oh oh o
Living with the silence.
You don't hear
Did I say wrong and you could put it better
Cause it's clear that I'm not that strong,
Trying to piece it all together.

Don't you know you're a stranger to me
I'm a stranger to myself
And I'm holdin' on to nothing
Tryin' to figure this out
You're a stranger to me
Tryin' to figure this out" – Hannah Georgas

Chapter Eighteen- A Stranger to Me

Sesshomaru was disappointed to find that Kagome had already left for school without him. He ate his breakfast in silence, ignoring the greetings from his family. He couldn't help but feel miles away from here.

School didn't prove to be much better as Kagome managed to avoid him at every turn. At lunch time he found her eating with Shippou as usual but this time Inuyasha and Kikyou had joined them as well, leaving no room for him at the little table. He glanced around the cafeteria looking for one of the many people he didn't actually want to talk to again.

He found her at a table in the middle of the cafeteria. How fitting, seeing as she liked to be the center of attention. Head held high, Sesshomaru approached her table. Kagura's friends suddenly became silent as they watched the taiyoukai approach them. Sesshomaru leveled them a look of disdain before turning to the wind youkai.

"I would like to have a word with you…in private," Sesshomaru stated stiffly.

Kagura gave him a coy smile. "Whatever you want to say to me can be said in front of my friends I'm sure."

Sesshomaru gave a cold smile back. "Do not tempt me to disclose some delicate information of your own. Or have you perhaps already shared that with your friends?"

The smile she had now wiped from her face, the wind demoness got up in a huff. "Make it quick Sesshy. I'm a busy girl."

"I'm sure you are," he responded dispassionately.

It seemed as if the whole cafeteria was watching as Sesshomaru led his ex-girlfriend outside. They didn't walk much further before he turned to face her. "I must ask you a question and you must not divulge this conversation to anyone else. I'm sure you know the consequences of such actions if you do."

Kagura crossed her arms in a defiant manner before wavering at the look she was receiving. "Fine. These lips are sealed. Now what do you want?"

"Why did you cheat on this Sesshomaru?"

Kagura didn't know what she had been expecting but it certainly wasn't this. "We haven't been together for over a year now, why bother asking me this now?"

"Just answer the question," Sesshomaru snarled impatiently.

Her bright red eyes suddenly seemed so dull. "I just wanted to be special to you but you just treated me like you treat anyone else. Like I was no more important than any other girl you allowed yourself to talk to. So when Hiten started paying attention to me it made me feel good. He made me feel special. He still does make me feel special and I'm finally happy now. Though I admit I still don't like the idea of you with anyone else, though mostly because I can't help but feel that despite my current happiness, that still should have been me. Ya know?"

Sesshomaru was silent for a long moment before walking away. He suddenly had a lot to think about. It would seem he was not suited for someone like Kagome unless he was ready to make some major changes. Could he do that for her? Could he be the man that she so desperately right now needed him to be? His eyes sought her out again in the cafeteria. Her back to him looked stiff and unyielding. He really had his work cut out for him.

"What do you think that was about," Kikyou whispered to her boyfriend.

"What was what about," Inuyasha inquired back.

The raven haired girl rolled her eyes. Boys were so oblivious sometimes. "You didn't notice Sesshomaru leave with Kagura? It got the whole cafeteria abuzz."

The hanyou shrugged his shoulders. "There's always gossip about Sesshomaru. The moment I have to hear that guy's name, I just tune it out. Besides what does it matter who he leaves with?"

Kikyou looked at him incredulously. Man was her boyfriend dense! She tried to discreetly motion to Kagome whom was trying to keep up with Shippou's ramblings.

Inuyasha shrugged again. "It's not like she cares, otherwise why would she want to move out and away from him?"

"Is there a brain somewhere in that silver haired head of yours," Kikyou asked in disbelief, "Of course she cares. She's just pretending not to. It's called pride. I guess her and Sesshomaru do share something in common."

Inuyasha gave his girlfriend a funny look. "If you say so…." He wasn't exactly convinced but he knew better than to argue with his girlfriend right now. What was it that his father had said? Learn to pick your battles? And this one definitely wasn't worth it. He returned his attention back to his lunch as Kikyou went back to talking about clothes and other boring matters. She sure could talk a lot sometimes.

Meanwhile Shippou was doing his best to keep Kagome's attention on himself though sometimes it didn't seem like she was really listening at all. No matter what was discussed, she always seemed to be in her own little world. He wondered what he had to do to step into that world of hers. He wanted Kagome to look at him, not through him.

The fox demon tried to think of something clever or witty to say. He liked it when he was able to make her laugh. It didn't happen often but when it did, it made him feel good inside. He just wanted Kagome to be happy. Even when she smiled, she looked sad or worn out.

"Hey Kagome, why don't you come home with me today? We can do English homework together and I know for a fact my mom is baking up some sweets today!"

The raven haired had a blank look as she tried to process what was being said to her. Go over Shippou's? It was probably better than going back home today, especially with all the new tension that had recently arisen. And she did have quite the sweet tooth….

"Sure. Meet out front when school gets out?"

The fox gave a toothy grin. "I'll be there."