My hands are searching for you
My arms are outstretched towards you
I feel you on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for you

This fire rising through my being
Burning I'm not used to seeing you- Flyleaf

Chapter Twenty- When Things go Awry

November 6

With these new changes, it gives me some hope.

November17

It was subtle. Not at first noticeable. This little glow in the darkness of my mind. It somehow warms me. Do I make it brighter….or is this something I should be vary of?

November20

I trip over myself, trying to figure out all the chaos in my head as I slip into my other skin. Which one is really me? Looking down at a duplicate, I reach out as we both start falling. Are you here to cushion my fall….or drag me down to hell?

Sesshomaru watched with some small amusement as Kagome put Inuyasha's gaming skills to shame. He failed to see the attraction with game consoles but was happy to see his girlfriend enjoying herself….Inuyasha's frustration at losing to a girl was just a bonus.

The taiyoukai got up from his spot on the couch upon hearing a knock at the door, the other two not even noticing….which wasn't surprising in the least. The two had been well known for this past week for getting caught up in their video games. It made Sesshomaru a little jealous that she and Inuyasha could share something in common like that but her happiness was more important so he tried to not let that jealousy get in the way. Besides, it wasn't like he had anything to worry about. It was just Inuyasha after all.

His amusement faded when he opened the door to find Kikyou standing there. This was the girl that had tried to take his Kagome away from him.

"Can you get Inuyasha for me? He was supposed to meet me out here like ten minutes ago."

"Do I look like a golden retriever," Sesshomaru asked tonelessly, "You're more than welcome to get him yourself."

Kikyou let out an indignant huff as she followed the older boy into the house. Her eyes narrowed as she heard Inuyasha and Kagome laughing from the next room.

"Okay Kags, you've obviously got me beat but I guarantee I can whoop your ass in this game," He said as he held up said game for her to see.

"Challenge accepted!"

"Forget about our plans," Kikyou asked as she interrupted the two.

Inuyasha looked up guiltily. "Shit, I'm sorry Kikyou. You know how caught up I get with videogames though," he looked to Kagome, "I'll beat your ass later Kags. After dinner?"

"She has her session with dad after dinner," Sesshomaru answered for her, "And you guys can't sneak out here to play tonight because tomorrow Kagome has a test in math she has to pass."

The hanyou rolled his eyes. "Yeah, okay mommy."

Sesshomaru let out a low growl but calmed himself as Kagome sat down beside him.

"Help me study, Sess?" She stared up at him with her big blue eyes.

He wrapped an arm around her. "Of course, wait right here and I'll go get your math book and some paper." He gently kissed her on the forehead.

"Yuck, let's get out of here before I have to witness any more mushy stuff," Inuyasha said while leading his girlfriend out of the house.

Kikyou snuck glances at her boyfriend as they walked outside. She felt edgy and annoyed. She didn't like seeing her boyfriend having that much fun with another girl. Why didn't it bother Sesshomaru? "So you and Kagome seem pretty close all of a sudden." The raven haired girl stated as she watched the hanyou's face closely.

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I told you already, Kagome is like a little sister. Besides it'd be weird to not be close to the people you're living with."

"Yeah but you and Sesshomaru aren't close."

"Sesshomaru isn't close to anyone," the hanyou responded with a laugh.

"I don't know, he seemed pretty wrapped around Kagome little finger just now."

Inuyasha stopped walking to stare at his girlfriend. "Why do you care?"

"I don't, I'm just making conversation…Jeeze Inuyasha sorry for taking an interest in one of my friends."

Inuyasha let out a little huff as he muttered an apology. He hated the way Kikyou could really make him feel like a jerk.

-b-r-e-a-k—

Kagura's crimson eyes lit up with pure joy as she listened to the girl in front of her. School had been dull for a while this past semester and it was about time she stirred up a little trouble.

-b-r-e-a-k-

"Hey Kagome, you going to come sit with us," Kikyou asked the other girl as she walked by.

"No not today. I told Sesshomaru today that we would eat lunch together, just the two of us."

"Aww that's so cute," Kikyou cooed.

"Pleeease, I'm trying to eat here," Inuyasha grumbled around a mouthful of ramen noodles.

Kikyou good naturedly rolled her eyes toward Kagome. "Some romantic I have on my hands, huh?"

Kagome let out a laugh. "Well if it makes you feel any better it's more of an anti-social move on Sesshoamru's part rather than a romantic one."

"That you know of," Kikyou teased. "Hey, come shopping with me later! I'm serious need of a girl outing."

Kagome paused to think about it. She didn't have any sessions today so it should be fine…."Yeah sure, I'll meet you in the parking lot after school."

"Okay cool I'll see you later then," Kikyou smiled as the other raven haired girl walked away.

"Can I come too," Inuyasha asked.

"No, it's called a girl's outing for a reason Inuyasha, duh."

"Yeah whatever, I'll see what Koji is up to then."

Kagome looked around the cafeteria for her boyfriend but couldn't find him anywhere. Taking a step out into the hall she spotted him talking to an older girl with long black hair. She was a really pretty demoness. What did she want with Sesshomaru? Kagome nibbled at her lip in worry before she mentally smacked herself. She was not about to get jealous over nothing. Shrugging it off, she went back inside to save a table.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at Kagura. "You need help studying for the English test?"

"Do me this one favor and I'll forever keep my lips sealed about our last conversation," she gave him an impish grin.

"Fine but after this you leave me alone for good," the taiyoukai consented.

"Deal, meet me at the food court after school."

"Wouldn't the mall be rather noisy for studying?"

"It should be fine, besides I can't study on an empty stomach."

"Very well." Sesshomaru walked off without another word. The sooner he got that bitch out of his hair, the better.

He easily spotted his girlfriend when he got to the lunch room. Giving her a rare smile he sat beside her. This was nice. They finally were starting to feel like a real couple now.

"Teacher hold you up or something," Kagome asked cheerfully.

"Something like that…I'm going to be busy later, will you be fine going home with Inuyasha?"

"It's fine, I have plan to hang out with Kikyou. What will you be up to later?"

Sesshomaru gave a small shrug. "Nothing important, just need to help a friend study for an English exam."

Kagome's heart sunk as she planted a false smile on her face. "Oh, that's nice of you to help your friend with his studying."

Sesshomaru nodded mutely as he took a bite of his sandwich.

Kagome waited for him to correct her on the used pronoun but felt anxious when he didn't. Trying to ignore it, she ate her lunch in silence.

-b-r-e-a-k-

Kagome walked around the mall in a daze as Kikyou stopped to look at everything. Why did she go along with this again? She hated shopping. The boredom was giving her too much time to dwell on Sesshomaru studying with his "friend". Since when did he even have friends? So lost in her thoughts, she actually bumped into Kikyou when the other girl had stopped so abruptly.

"Umm…maybe we should avoid the food court," Kikyou ventured cautiously.

"Why," Kagome asked as she looked around the other girl. Her thoughts froze as she watched the girl from earlier leaning over her boyfriend with a playful smile.

-b—r—e-a-k-

"I want Chinese, what about you," Kagura asked the silver haired boy.

"I thought we were here to study," Sesshomaru responded tonelessly.

"I told you I can't study on an empty stomach!"

"I can eat when I get home."

"I can't eat by myself! It'll make me feel self-conscious," she leaned over him with a playful smile, "Come on Sesshy, the faster we get our meals and eat, the quicker we can get to studying and then you're free to go."

Sesshomaru refrained from growling as he stood to get in line with her at the Chinese booth. There was no point in arguing with the other demon. Once Kagura had her mind set on something there was no talking her out of it. The quicker he got this done, the better. All he wanted right now was to be home with Kagome. He wondered if she was having a fun time with Kikyou. What were they doing today? Kagome had never said. Should he call her afterwards? Would that seem too clingy? He walked back to their table with thoughts of Kagome on his mind. She seemed to be all he thought about.

The very subject of his thoughts stood frozen in place as she watched the two eat together. Something in her turned to steel as she turned away from them. "Hey can you take me home? "

"Don't you want to go see what's going on? I thought you said Sesshomaru was studying with a friend…not sharing a meal with his ex-girlfriend."

"No, I just want to go home."

-b-r-e-a-k-

Kagome curled up in her favorite chair, with her journal in her lap.

November 21

Walking a tight, red rope
Already fragile, it cracks
It makes my heart ache
But my eyes dare you to keep walking
Daring you to break it
Spiraling down
This self-destructive path