A/N: Realized I uploaded the wrong chapter (thanks again Lady Snowstorm) so let's try again!

Last Time:

Kagome looked at him over her shoulder. "I'm going to go find Riku." She brushed back the flap covering the entrance of the hut before disappearing beyond the door. Kairi hid a small smile before turning to face the wall.

This Time:

Kagome walked through the forest, making sure to not significant landmarks so she wouldn't get lost on her way back. Finally, she stumbled upon a small riverbank, rocks scattered near the edges. And she couldn't believe her luck when she saw none other than Riku sitting on the largest one and throwing smaller ones into the water. He seemed to be in deep thought given the fact that he hadn't acknowledged her presence. She walked over to the rock, crawled up and plopped down right next to him.

"Hi," Kagome spoke softly. Riku paused mid-throw, the slowly lowered his arm, letting the rock drop along the way. He gave a stiff nod. "Are you alright? You left during Sora's—"

"I know when I left, you don't need to tell me!" he snapped. Kagome's eyes widened slightly. Riku glared at her. "I don't have to stick around just to hear about how I betrayed Sora!"

Kagome shook her head. "You did no such thing! You were tricked and—"

Riku growled. "How can you lie, just like Sora?" He jumped off the rock, his back to Kagome. I was thinking perfectly clear when I did that. I knew exactly what I was doing! I didn't even care!" His eyes filled with angry tears but he furiously wiped them away. "Even when I returned as "Ansem", Sora wasn't mad in the slightest! He was happy! God damn fucking happy! He was just so relieved I was alive. I have had to live with this guilt for almost 3 years! It has been so hard to sleep! All the nightmares and Sora's smiling face haunting me! I—" Riku was cut off by arms enveloping him. Riku felt his shoulder get a little damp and knew in a heartbeat that it was Kagome crying. She was crying, yet he was baffled as to why.

Kagome spoke softly, her voice slightly different from the crying. "Riku, you are not in the wrong here. You had no idea what was happening, no matter how much you say you were. Darkness seduced you, clouded your judgment. I am not saying you weren't affected by what happened with Sora and everyone else, but it is not your fault. Maleficent manipulated that hurt into hatred, twisting it into what she wanted. But wasn't it all set right in the end?" Kagome looked up at Riku. He stared back in shock. "Isn't that what really matters?" Riku was amazed that Kagome would shed tears for him…and yet she hardly knew him. He nodded slowly, causing Kagome to give him a small smile in return. She quickly stepped back, drying her eyes. "Want to head back now?" Riku gave no answer, just yanked Kagome back to him, hugging her tightly. She didn't question him at all, just soothingly rubbed his back, like a mother would to calm her child. She knew this was his was his way of saying thank you and pulling himself together.

After a few minutes, Riku quickly unwound himself and coughed awkwardly into his fist, a clear sign of his embarrassment. Kagome shook her head smiling. "Let's go." Riku nodded, and together, they walked back to Kaede's hut.

What they didn't know was that there were being watched through a mirror. More specifically, Kanna's mirror.

"Kukukuku….welcome back little miko," Naraku's lips curled into a sinister smirk and all throughout his castle, his miasmic laugh could be heard.

A/N: Sorry it's so short, I'll try to make the next one longer! Please review! ^^