The next morning, Sango entered the class room, her eyes puffy and reddened. Miroku was directly behind her. She had only told him that Kagome didn't plan to return.

Sesshomaru watched with amber eyes as she sat down behind him, greeting him softly, almost apologetic. Had Sango been wrong? Weren't Kagome's feelings not enough to stay with them, with him? Or had she been forced to write those letters, those words?

That possibility had crossed Sesshomaru's mind, but he had quickly dismissed it. The way of writing was hers, no hidden secret message inside it. It was an honest letter.

What Sesshomaru didn't know was that Sango wasn't apologizing because she had told him lies. She was apologizing because she had given him hope. In the letter to her cousin Kagome described that she loved them all, especially her and especially Sesshomaru. And that was why she was doing what she was doing. She was ready to be sacrificed for their sake. That thought made Sango cry harder than ever. Kagome had surrendered to her fate and there was no way to keep her from doing what she was supposed to do. They didn't have any way to contact her, any way to stop her, try to persuade her not to give up on life.

Kagome had mentioned other things in the letter, things she only shared with Sango, things that should never be revealed to anyone else. Sango had cried even more – mourning the loss of her best friend and their shared future.

Sesshomaru felt Sango's sorrow. And he understood it. He had also felt his brother's sorrow this morning. And knew when their father did not appear for breakfast, that he was still mourning.

He himself was struggling with his feelings. He wanted to tear Naraku apart, kill the one responsible for fate and save her from her destiny at all costs. She had admitted that she cared about him quite much, and would have loved to share her future with him, would have loved to stay with him. It only made his heart ache more. She accepted him as he was, putting him before any other males. But they could never be.

Even if he couldn't stop her, he wanted to hold her close, kiss her and love her before she'd go to never return. But he had been foolish, too cautious. Now the chances to experience her love were gone and he was furious. He wanted to tear everything apart, anyone responsible for it would be tortured and would experience the most painful, slowest death possible.

But then the face of Kagome would appear before his inner eye. Her wide blue eyes. Her soft lips and her slightly rounded cheeks. The way her hair would surround her, and hug her figure. And he had to repress a soft sigh. He missed her, missed the simple sight of her, her presence. And he couldn't really suppress those feelings, they were far too strong.

…

In the Taisho manor, Touga half sat, half lied at his desk inside his study. The pages of explanation from Kagome were still not enough. His predictions had been right. She would not return. But she knew about it, and that was what made his heart ache. She chose to do so. She wanted to sacrifice herself for them, for the world. He believed the letter. The sincere words, the things written down – it could only have come from her. He could slap himself for not asking that woman who had brought the envelopes for any contact information. But it seemed more like a secret mission. Like Kagome had asked her to do it, and Naraku didn't know.

Touga sighed heavily. He loved her like his own daughter, more than his own sons. He had the fierce want to protect her, since the first time he saw her. That little girl, her sparkling blue eyes looking up to him... it was inevitable. He had opted to take care of her when her family was killed. But he didn't want to pressure her, so she was sent somewhere else. But anywhere she went, her destiny followed. She had experienced a bitter past and he had often wondered how she could still smile, it was beyond his imagination.

Another sigh left him. That letter... it contained almost everything about the prophecy. But only almost. Of course, she had let out the spiritual part – knowing he wouldn't completely understand it – but there was still something missing. The prophecy ended with the proclamation that the final priestess would heal the world, destroy the evil, and seal away the power. That was what she wrote. It seems like she knew what it meant in detail, but she hadn't written more. She only begged him not to interfere. It was already hard enough to leave them behind, if they chased after her, it'd make it only more difficult for her to fulfill her task.

A tear escaped his eyes and trailed down the cheeks, dotted with already dried tear tracks. He had mourned her, all night and all morning. His form was limp, his hair disheveled, his eyes dull. After everything he did, trying to help, to find out things and places, he had to give up. That's what she wanted from him. To give up and accept her fate as she had.

But somehow he couldn't – somehow he was unable to let go. Let go of the want to help, to intervene fate, to stop destiny. To save the one who meant so much.

He swiftly rose, straightening his pose. It was not too late. He could still search on. And he would. Nothing could keep him from doing that. He just needed to hide it. He didn't want to make it more difficult for her after all.

…

Naraku smiled warmly at Kagome as she entered the dining room that evening.

"Hello, Kagome." he greeted and sat down with her. "How has your day been?"
Her calm gaze didn't irritate him though he was slightly surprised that she didn't wonder about Kikyo's absence.

"Good." she replied neutrally, softly.

"Don't worry about Kikyo, she sadly left us and won't return." he smiled as gestured his servant to bring the dinner.

She nodded, knowing what he implied. He was glad to see that she didn't pity Kikyo, or worry about her, or even condemned him for what he did to his long-time partner. Kagome kept her neutral and calm exterior. "I see." she only said.

A knock sounded on the door and he impatiently called for the person to enter.

"Master Naraku." Kagura came in, bowing deeply. "There are some news from the researchers."

"Ah, how fortunate. Tell us."

She nodded. "They found the exact time and place when the power will peak." she nodded politely at Kagome. "The time when the seal will break."

Naraku smirked. "Good." he waved a hand. "You are dismissed, Kagura."

The black-haired woman bowed once again and then left the room without a glance back.

Kagome delicately and gracefully ate the dinner prepared. She never complimented it or criticized it. She was a calm, silent graceful goddess and Naraku felt more and more right in his decision to cast away Kikyo and claim Kagome. She would be his. No matter what.