Kagome went to sleep that night, restless in her heart and mind, wondering what the future would hold for them.

The next morning, Kagome woke up with a start. Something felt wrong, but she couldn't quite place it. She had gone to bed the night before with a sick stomach, worried about their impending meeting with Rin. She could envision it perfectly. Rin would be told about the separation, and it would break Kagome's heart to see the little girl's tears.

After a few minutes of mulling over the best way to tell Rin, Kagome began to hear something suspicious. It sounded like a large van, beeping in their driveway. Without another thought, Kagome grabbed her bathrobe and dashed out to the front hall.

Dressed in a professional business suit, Sesshomaru stood with a briefcase in hand. When he looked at her, curious blue met knowledgeable gold, and they exchanged a long glance. Sesshomaru approached Kagome and stopped when they were a few inches apart.

"Good morning," he murmured.

She raised an eyebrow, unsure of what he was doing. "What's going on? Are those moving trucks?" She snuck a look over his shoulder.

"Yes, they are here to take my belongings." He turned away from her and motioned to an idle mover to get back to work.

"But—this is way too sudden!" She pushed back on his chest, and looked around the room, as if there was something in it that could stop him from leaving.

Quietly calming her, he placed his hand on her cheek. "I'm sorry. Things just have to be this way."

She frowned at his apology. Something was… different. He was acting odd, almost like a regular human. Where was the cold Sesshomaru she had grown to like?

"So, wait," Kagome tried to keep up with him as he moved towards the door. "When will you return?"

He reached the doorway and glanced at her over his shoulder. "I'm not sure. These things tend to take a while. Four years, probably."

"But!" Kagome stuttered, following him out the door. He kept on moving away from her and closer to the car. In less than a minute, he would be on his way. This is no time to stay quiet. I need answers, and I need them now. "Will we stay separated when you return? Can I contact you while you're gone? How would I reach you, if I could? Did you ever talk to Rin?"

As the questions poured from her lips a tear slid down her cheek. He ignored her questions and slid into his car. Starting the engine, he began to pull out, leaving Kagome distraught and hurt. She watched him turn onto the road but stop suddenly, as if he was forgetting something.

"Kagome!" He yelled, and motioned her over to the car window. Utterly confused, she stumbled over to him, and adjusted her loose bathrobe. She couldn't fathom why he had called her by her name, when he had never done so before.

"What?"

"I'm selling the house. You have two weeks to find someplace else to live." He nodded to her, and drove off.

Kagome stood on the side of the roads like a statue for the longest time. Images of Sesshomaru leaving swirled around her mind, making it impossible to think. Eventually, Jaken marched out of the house and ordered her to stop embarrassing his lord by standing outside in indecent apparel.

Something inside of her snapped. Kagome was beyond feeling angry, now she was feeling violent.

"Sango," Kagome pleaded over the phone a week and a half later, "I need your help. I'm so sorry, but I can only ask you and Miroku. Could we stay with you until we can get back on our feet?"

Sango smiled faintly and reassured her best friend, "Of course you can. You always have someplace to stay with us. How is the house search going?"
Kagome sniffled into the receiver. She was an emotional mess; going from being excruciatingly sad to furiously homicidal. "Alright. I might be securing an apartment over in the eastwood complex, but nothing is definite. It's just—the house is being sold in three days and…" She whimpered.

"Even though we're talking about Sesshomaru, this still seems too rushed. I just can't imagine he'd act like this to you. You're probably going to get a call from him any day now, I'm sure," Sango had been trying to comfort Kagome, but she was making no progress. Even Rin couldn't brighten her spirits these days, which was a big problem.

"That fucker—I don't want to hear from him!" Kagome shouted, and on the other end of the line Sango jerked the phone off her ear. "He can rot in his own personal hell for all I care! I hate him—that mother—"

"Kagome," Sango chastised, "swearing won't get you anywhere. Calm down… this isn't like you."

"What do you mean, isn't like me?! I am me! I'm acting the way I normally do! No man could ever change me into," Kagome chocked on a sob and violently switched emotions, "the emotional mess that I am! Oh Sango, what do I do? I think I was falling in love with him!"

Before Sango could reply, Kagome began to senselessly ramble. "I mean, how could he do this to me? I had no warning! It was so sudden… He left, sold the house, and got rid of me completely! The only proof that I had ever been in his life is in his bank accounts, because he paid all my debts!"

Sango attempted to hush her hysterical friend with no avail. Checking her watch, Sango made a hasty retreat, "Sorry, Kags, but I got to go. Feel better, and we'll talk, later, I promise!"

Sango hung up and Kagome sighed, looking at her phone. "Lots of people have been breaking promises to me lately," she whispered quietly, to no one at all.

A month later Kagome's life had begun to return to normal. She had acquired a job at a business and had started renting the apartment in the eastwood complex. She didn't see Rin very often because of her schedule, which left the little girl going to preschool every day. Both Kagome and Rin were sad about that one particular fact, but they acknowledged that it was necessary. Kagome needed to pay the rent, and had to work hard, just like before. The only difference was that they didn't have a huge debt on their heads.

Kagome's life was pleasant these days. She had cracked down on her wild emotions and focused on her work. Her life had stress, but if Kagome focused on making it pleasant, she found she could tolerate it. Her life would be pleasant, she was certain.

At work, Kagome had already started making friends. She had met a chipper young woman named Koharu and a nice man named Hojo, and Kagome had taken it upon herself to become friends with them. They were exactly the type of person she wanted to be: kind and optimistic, so innocent that they couldn't see the horrors of the world. She suspected neither had ever felt heartbreak or the crushing weight of debt. She wanted to be just like them because of that.

As Kagome entered her cubicle in the office, she set out her work papers, piling them neatly and organized. Her work was good for her; she could already feel how the structure of her day brought her back to sanity. In her heart of hearts, she was confident that the people she'd met and the people she would meet could help her repair the gaping hole in her life.

"Hello, Kagome-chan," the very man she'd just been thinking about, Hojo, was standing at her door.

She looked up from her desk and smiled artificially. "Hello, Hojo-kun. How can I help you?"

He scratched the back of his neck and nodded amicably. "Well, I was wondering," he swallowed nervously, "if you were free later tonight."

Rin… Kagome stifled a sigh. She wanted to remain pleasant; that was her goal. Hojo, however, made that goal particularly difficult. She wanted to emphasize her need for a friend, not a lover. "Um… I'm not too sure. I think I might have plans already."

"Oh." He nodded, not picking up on the vibes she'd been trying to send to him, "maybe later, then."

He left her cubicle, still feeling as elated as before. Kagome groaned. She couldn't do it. She would have a pleasant life, yes, but she could never be as dense as Hojo or Koharu. Their naïveté was infinitely annoying.

A month later, though, Kagome finally decided that Hojo would never get the message. Since Sesshomaru hadn't contacted her at all, and it looked like she would be living together with Rin till the end of her days, she wanted to do something. She wanted to lose her virginity.

She'd had enough time to get over Sesshomaru, and wouldn't be held back by his memory. It was clear to her that they had nothing to do with each other anymore, so she should build her own life, away from him. And by dating Hojo, she intended to do exactly that.

With a promise to meet at a bar Saturday night, Kagome made plans with Sango for her to watch Rin. An hour before the scheduled date, Kagome slipped on an inviting black dress and primped herself. She'd known Hojo long enough; she wanted to rid herself of her purity for once and for all.

He arrived at her apartment and she left to meet him. Sliding into his car, she greeted him and smiled, trying not to notice the interior of his car. The material that lined his car was soft, but nothing like she would've wanted. She wanted a man who had black leather seats in his car… and she didn't want to think of the man who had that car.

"Kagome, I just know you're going to love this restaurant. It's Italian, and the pasta is just wonderful. The drinks are just exquisite, too," Hojo rambled and Kagome counted how many times he'd used the word just. Three so far.

"Thank you, Hojo. I can't wait."

"And the view is just to die for. If you stand in a certain spot, you can practically see the whole town!" He smiled at her, and she nodded back politely.

He turned into a small parking lot, and they got out of the car. He awkwardly raised his hand, as if to create a blindfold so that when they turned the corner he could unveil the restaurant to her, but she stepped away from him, effectively blocking his attempt. She turned around the corner, and was as stunned as Hojo had promised.

The venue was sweet, in a quaint sort of way. It was, however, not at all what he had made it out to be. It was squished between two Japanese style restaurants, built with stone instead of wood like it's neighbors. The street it was placed on was a tiny road with several restaurants in the middle of an urban neighborhood. Not exactly elegant, per say.

They walked a few steps towards the restaurant until Hojo halted. Leaning forward, he looked around and then exclaimed, "Here it is! Just stand right here, Kagome, and you can see everything!"

She stood where he had been and gazed out on the city. Sure, she could see a lot of the city, but the city was tiny. And a large building obstructed the best part of the view. She sighed.

Misinterpreting her sigh, Hojo beamed. "I knew you'd love it. I just knew it!"

He lead her into the restaurant and filled her in on the history and special cuisine of the shop, that didn't really sound all that special. Though Kagome earnestly wanted to enjoy listening to his lecture she only had one thing on her mind. Six and counting...

Kagome slumped against the car door. He'd said the word 'just' around thirty times over the span of a two hour long dinner. Although, she couldn't quite be sure it was only thirty times, because she'd lost count around twenty. On the inside, she felt like she was dying.

"So basically, to recap on what I'd told you before, I think that if they taught algebra to elementary school students, then kids could be learning calculus by ninth grade! It's just so fascinating!" He smiled affectionatly at her, not noticing how bored she was.

The car turned into the parking lot of her apartment complex. Kagome mentally checked the list she had created for herself. Rin was out of the house, she smelled fresh and clean, and in the back pocket of her purse she had a condom. She couldn't think of anything else she needed.

Hojo cleared his throat, waiting for her to speak. Glancing at him, Kagome decided she'd start out slow; a simple kiss would suffice.

His lips were thin, as if they'd been pressed together so many times from talking that they'd lost all shape. His lips weren't unappealing, so to speak, but they didn't inspire any lust in her. She didn't allow herself to think of other lips that would as she leaned over the seat, brushing her hand against his cheek and kissed him.

He kissed like her ex-boyfriend, Kouga. During college, when she'd been going through a sad point in her life after her father had died, she'd met a wolf youkai. She had started dating him because he had feelings for her, and at the time, Kagome had just wanted to be loved. Several months later, though, when he proposed marriage to her out of the blue, she'd dumped him.

Even though she hadn't though of him for the longest time, Kagome still remembered Kouga's distinct kissing style. He'd slobbered a bit, like the wolf he was, and grasped both of her lips together to tease them. his kissing always made Kagome feel claustrophobic, as if she didn't have enough space to move around.

She shuddered. Hojo's kisses were like dry pecks, but somehow they reminded her of Kouga's kisses. Both men's kisses left her feeling... unsatisfied.

She wanted to think of something else, so she began to undo the buttons on her blouse. Just get this over with.

"Right here? Right now?" Hojo panted.

She covered her frown and whispered back to him. "Yes... right here, right now, like two crazy teenagers. Let's make dangerous love, Hojo." She bit back a laugh at how stupid she sounded.

"Teenagers? Why not in a bed, so we're comfortable? Do you have any protection?"

He asks way too many questions, she thought irritably. And weren't guys the ones who always carried protection around whenever they had even the slightest possibility of getting lucky?

She kissed him again and tried to clear her mind. But she couldn't do it. She just couldn't. Hojo was too irritating. He was too inquisitive and easily impressed. He said the word 'just' too much and got too nervous. Kagome knew that she was being picky, but she couldn't help it. She knew that she might not get another chance like this again, but suddenly it didn't matter anymore.

She wouldn't lose her virginity with Hojo.

The months passed quickly, turning into years and then suddenly Kagome was in her thirties. She had a steady job, and lived with Rin in their own house. Rin began attending school when she turned five, and was now in her first year of junior high, but barely talked to Kagome anymore. Their bond, which had been so strong before, had faded with the years and was replaced by loneliness.

Due to Kagome's large responsibilities at her job, worked late into the nights and rarely ate dinner with her sister. After a while, Rin had become friends with the next door neighbors and had started to eat dinner with them every night. On the days that Kagome did get home early, she'd find the house cold and abandoned, Rin staying with the family next door that could provide the atmosphere for her that she wanted.

Every once in a while, Kagome would think about Sesshomaru when she ate dinner by herself. He had never contacted her after he left, but every year or so Kagome found articles about a rouge demon. Rumor had it, the great youkai were still hunting the demon that had been reincarnated.

She didn't worry about him anymore. It had been so many years, the heartbreak of his departure had dulled, and she no longer felt the crushing weight of his rejection everytime she thought about him. She merely felt a void in her soul, empty and numb, which should have been filled by their marriage, her bond with Rin and children.

And so, her life moved on. At thirty six years old, she was depressed, tired, and lonesome.

The Sunday morning paper arrived on time, but when Kagome looked at the headline, she found it was anything but normal. Glancing around her quiet house, she called out to Rin.

"Rin! Wake up!"

Several minutes later, a sleepy teen emerged from her bedroom."What?"

"Look at this," Kagome held the paper out and rubbed her lips together as Rin read it over.

"Oh my gosh, you'd better go, then." Rin looked mutely worried, but returned the paper to her and moved into the kitchen to eat breakfast.

This is exactly what I need, Kagome barely recognized the hope in her heart as she grabbed her jacket and ran to the car.

The headlines read: Rouge demon attacks Tokyo. All mikos are to report for duty.

As she drove to Tokyo, Kagome's mind was racing. Thoughts about Sesshomaru, a rouge demon and her dormant miko powers drifted in and out of her conciseness as she started her journey. The article said that they needed mikos to heal the wounded citizens of Tokyo and try and find the demon, and even though her powers weren't very strong, she was hopeful. At least she could help in some way.

After arriving in Tokyo, she worked for a week straight. After each patient left feeling better than they had before, Kagome found herself feeling happier and as a healer, she felt like she had a purpose in life. She finally found someplace she belonged.

Kagome worked for a couple more days in bliss until she began to feel odd. Her arms seemed to be constantly aching, and her knuckles were stiff. Not wanting to worry any of her fellow mikos, she decided to try something she hadn't done for the longest time. Talk to Kikyo.

Kikyo's soul hadn't made any type of contact with Kagome over the latest two decades. It was as if Kikyo had shut her out, angry at Kagome for neglecting to spend time with Rin. Kagome's reasons had been justified in the past; she needed to pay rent, save money for Rin's college, and save money in general. But now Kagome knew why Kikyo had been so mad. There would never be enough money, never enough saved up. There was, however, a limited amount if time she would have on the planet, and she needed to spend it wisely. Like Kikyo, she'd forgotten what was really important, and focused on her job instead of her family life.

She tried to reach Kikyo with no avail. Gathering, she asked around her peers to see if anyone else was feeling strange. Sure enough, ever single woman was.

After a month of work the people of Tokyo were feeling better and the mikos retired to their homes. Kagome left feeling refreshed in spirit, but oddly ill in her body. Ignoring her seemingly minor cold, she returned home and repaired her relationship with Rin.

A month later, the women had reformed their bond, and though it wasn't as strong as it had been when Rin was a child, they loved each other again. Life was looking up.

And then, Kagome's life came crashing down on her. A year later, she was diagnosed with a disease special to miko only, where the her powers began to purify her body and kill her from the inside out. An epidemic had broken in Tokyo when the demon had attacked a year ago, and every miko had caught it. Within the next twenty years, there would be virtually no miko left.

The rouge demon had been caught and killed soon after Kagome had discovered her illness. The whole idea of him chilled her to the bone, and when she watched a news special about him, she found out why. After being asked why he had committed his crime, he turned towards the camera, he had announced to the world, "Just for you, sweetheart. It's all about revenge."

She cried herself to sleep, knowing who the demon was. Naraku had been out to get her, but he created a disease that was horribly painful, and had given it to every miko in Japan, just to make sure she would contract it. And then worst of all, just as she'd begun to enjoy life again, she was going to die.

On her death bed twenty five years later, Kagome was ready to go. She'd had a long, fruitless fight with the disease now called cenarerobus, and had lasted a long time. But now, it was time for her to leave her painful body, and join her miko sisters in the afterlife.

"Rin?" She asked quietly into the darkness of the hospital room. A mournful face appeared in the moonlight that was cast into the room. Rin had stopped growing a few years ago, and looked like a beautiful twenty year old maiden.

"Yes?"

"Did you bring him?"

"Yes." Another face appeared in the moonlight and Kagome's frail body drew in a large gasp of air.

"Sesshomaru," she breathed. He remained silent, watching her inhale weakly and exhale with a great shake.

"Hello," he finally said.

"It's good to see you," Kagome's smile looked spent.

"Hnn." He was as quiet as she remembered.

"I don't have much time," she drew another exhausted breath, "but you made me a promise a long, long time ago. I've come to collect it."

In the corner of the room, a tear slid down Rin's face.

"Protect my baby sister, Sesshomaru. You're all she has left now."

Kagome closed her eyes and rested before she could speak again. "And for the record, I fell in love with you."

Sesshomaru observed the sick woman and felt a mournful tug in his heart. Though he hadn't cared for her deeply, the miniscule feelings he did hold for her called out to him. It seemed cruel to him, the cold demon lord, that the world should have made the powerful woman he used to know get so old and decrepit. She was nothing like he remembered, with wrinkles and sunken eyes, and her skin holding no warm gleam anymore.

"I will fulfill my promise."

"Good," she sighed, "good... Now, goodbye. Rin... I love... you."

The clock that had contained Kagome's life time stopped ticking. Her string of fate was cut. Her arm drooped, her last breath left her lips. Kagome was dead.

And Kagome's life ended, and in a flurry, she observed select scenes in Rin and Sesshomaru's life.

She saw Rin overcome by sorrow, Rin wasting away. Drugs, alcohol, sex; Rin quickly became involved in the worst of it. She saw Sesshomaru, changed and unstable. The mind of the great demon lord became fuzzy with age, and he too found that life no longer contained it's luster. Neither cared for each other, because they were reminded of Kagome when they were together. The last scene she saw was so depressing that Kagome could not bear to watch any longer.

She woke up screaming, her sweat drenched night shirt clinging to her body.

Hurriedly glancing around the room she was in, she found she was in her bedroom at Sesshomaru's house. She was safe; there was no disease, there was no death, everything was fine. She was laying in her own bed, in the comfort of her own home, waking up from a nightmare. But that didn't settle her soul.

Without taking the time to throw on something to cover herself because her shirt only reached halfway down her legs, she dashed down the hallway. Arriving at Sesshomaru's door, before she had a sane thought flicker through her mind, she burst through.

She was met with the sight of her husband reclining in bed calmly, reading a book. He glanced up at her and raised an eyebrow smoothly.

Panting, she steadier herself on his doorway and began shouting before she knew what she was going to say.

"We are never separating!"

Oh wow, that was a really long chapter! Crazy, right? I'm curious, though. When did you figure out it was a dream? (Was it obvious or was it weird, like, what the heck is happening?)

On a side note the disease Kagome had in her dream was canarerobus, which means power eating in Latin.

Hope you enjoyed! ~Gracie

All Characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.