Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Goblin: the Lonely and Great God

Chapter Twenty

Kagome's mother walked into her daughter's bedroom, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Sweetie, wake up, time fo—" Mrs. Higurashi paused, watching with astounded brown eyes as her daughter was already up and about, rummaging through her closet for her school uniform.

Tilting her head to the side, Kagome nodded her head. "Don't worry mama, I'm up already."

The older woman stared, unsure of if her daughter was feeling okay. She looked over the teenager skeptically. For the past two years, her daughter had yet been able to get out of bed herself. It had been as if the loss of the well had caused her to lose the will to troop through the day, to make her own path on her own. Her daughter's words of 'I'll be right down for breakfast' rushed past her and she found that she wasn't paying attention as she returned to the kitchen. Mrs. Higurashi could only think of two things. Something either happened last night between Kagome and the youkai Mr. Taisho, or Mr. Taisho's presence in their time had given her daughter a boost to try and trek on—to move on from the memories of time travel and hanyou boys. The mother wasn't sure whether to be grateful or concerned.

With a sigh, Kagome let her hands fall to her sides once her mother left. A soft shaky sigh fell past her lips. Walking to the bathroom, she looked in the mirror to try and see how bad the damage was. Her hair was a mess and the dark circles that ringed the skin under her eyes looked horrible. Groaning, she slouched a bit, wondering if a quick fix with makeup would be able to hide the results of her sleepless night. In all honesty should have slept well, mostly because she lived. Her heart still beat in her chest and the fact that she was still breathing helped. She was not lying crumpled and broken at the bottom of the Meguro river, but instead every ounce of blood still ran through her veins. Safe. Safe in her room, her home. And, the crazy thing was, thanks to Sesshomaru—she could be grateful to be alive. But still there was a bit of terror that lay like a peach pit in her stomach. It had been so easy for those men to attack her and take her, and there was nothing she could do about it. Unlike the demons of the past where her miko powers would have made quick work of the offenders, she had been powerless to stop her own kidnapping.

The thought made her remember that time, back when she had first met Inuyasha. She had nearly forgotten. He had rejected helping, and she had been kidnapped by bandits. Still, despite barely knowing her, the hanyou had swept in and saved her...well he saved the jewel, but it was nice to think that he wanted to save her too.

Her hands clenched the porcelain countertop and her knuckles turned white. She hadn't realized it, but pinpricks of tears beaded at the corners of her eyes, and she thought back to her hanyou. She missed him—missed him so much she thought her heart might shatter. How had he always been there to save her? In every way, Inuyasha had been good to her, minus him sneaking off to see Kikyo, but she felt pity for him in that regard. The undead priestess had been his first love…

Just as he had been mine.

Voices floated up from the kitchen and while Kagome could not quite make them out, she figured Sota had finally gotten up. Shaking herself a bit to wipe the nostalgia from her thoughts, she wandered to her closet and stripped off her pajamas to don her school uniform. She smoothed out the skirt, and made sure the button-up was neatly tucked in. Her fingers made quick work of the striped ribbon and tied it around her neck before pulling on the navy blazer. She returned to her restroom and brushed her teeth, combed through her hair, and applied a bit of powder to the darkened skin under her eyes. Giving a determined nod, she grabbed the black school satchel (a small part of her wishing it was a yellow backpack) and ran down the stair. Her feet bounded as she took each step, her hair bouncing off her shoulders as she did so.

There was the sound of chatting and pleasant laughter as she drew closer to the kitchen. So it definitely was not her brother, the voice sounded far more older and masculine. Had her mother been expecting company so earlier in the morning?

When she rounded the corner into the kitchen, Kagome paused, disbelieving.

Sesshomaru sat at the kitchen table, a hot cup of tea grasped gently in his hands. His facial expression was relaxed and his eyes were attentive. Mrs. Higurashi stood in front of the stove next to Jiijii while breakfast was cooking. The older woman was talking and every so often lightly chuckling, her hands plating omelettes, rice, and hotcakes. Her grandfather was watching the Goblin skeptically, sticking as close to the mother as possible.

Kagome watched the scene.

It was so normal.

He sat there.

Happy.

His lips were straight pressed but the light in his gold eyes told her he was amused. The way the sunlight filtered into the kitchen made everything seem so bright and colorful. Her mother had rosy cheeks. Her grandfather had color that made him seem younger. And Sesshomaru. He sat with the sun glittering off his silver hair, bouncing and casting shadows along his black blazer and brown sweater. His hands were gentle in the way they held his mug, the way the light glowed off the white ceramic made his fingers glow warmly, faint red outlines along his skin showing how close to him he was. As Kagome watch the scene, she felt her hand rest over her heart, overwhelmed. Her heart thudded faintly against her chest, fluttering happily. She loved the smile on her mother's face. And she loved the peace that seemed to rest on Sesshomaru. He had seemed so burdened the past few days.

Is it okay to move past a first love? She wondered shyly, a small grin spreading across her lips.

"Oh, Kagome!"

Just like that, the magic broke. The adults turned to face her and she realized what a silly expression she must have been wearing. With a sheepish scratch at the back of her head, she walked forward setting her bag down in the hallway.

"What a surprise," she laughed nervously, not entirely sure where to look. What in the world had she just been thinking?

"Mr. Taisho stopped by this morning to walk you to school, dear," Mrs. Higurashi smiled warmly, placing the food on the table as well as empty plates at each of the seats.

"Oh he did?" She asked, sitting down numbly at the table while looking at the Goblin.

"Hn," he nodded, taking a delicate sip of his beverage. "This one figured since you had been out to visit him last night, he would be courteous and accompany you to your morning walk. It is good to know you are an early and prompt student."

A red flush blustered across the bridge of Kagome's nose and she upturned it a bit, placing omelette and hotcakes on her plate. "Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be a timely student?" Oh Kami, why am I lying?

He turned and looked at her, blinking coyly at her while Jiijii began to rant off about how excellent of a student his granddaughter was.

She couldn't decipher the look in his eyes, and his empty countenance did nothing to help her decide on what his look was telling her. But whatever it was, it was hypnotic. The way his eyelashes fluttered slowly mesmerized her. And there was a glitter in the honeyed depths of his glance, something knowing and mischievous. What was the old dog planning?

Huffing, Kagome thanked her mother for breakfast and began to eat, scarfing down the plate as her brother made his way down the stairs.

"Oh? Who's this?" He asked, sitting down at the across from the Goblin.

Oh that's right, they've never met before, Kagome thought, swallowing a bite of rice. She opened her mouth to make introductions.

Sesshomaru cut her off however, giving a slight incline of his head. "This one's name is Sesshomaru. I am a friend of Kagome's."

"Whoa," Sota oohed, giving a calculated look at the man. "You look cool. Are you a youkai?"

"In a sense," sniffed the white-haired male.

Kagome wondered if he was insulted by the question. She knew him losing his identity as a Inu daiyoukai was a bit of a blow to his pride. But he seemed to have taken the inquiry quite well.

"Just like big brother Inuyasha!" smiled the middle schooler, his grin widening.

Kagome shot up from the table, chair squealing. She walked over to her mother and place a quick peck on her cheek. Placing her plate on the counter, she began to return to the hallway, her hand reaching for her bag and her feet taking her to her school shoes at the front.

"Come on, Sesshomaru, if we don't leave now I won't be there in time."

She heard him thank her mother and grandfather for their hospitality, all the while bidding Sota an amiable good day. His footsteps padded along behind her. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. The miko felt herself fluster as she listened to the sound that seemed to ring softly in her ears. That was his footsteps and not her heart, she hoped. There was no reason for it to be otherwise.

"See you all," she called out, stepping into her shoes and sliding the front door open.

"Have a good day sweetie!" Her mother called back before returning to scolding Sota about something.

"Thank you," Sesshomaru reiterated again, giving a slight bow at the waist before putting his shoes on as well and leaving.

They walked down the stairs together, neither one of them speaking as the Tokyo traffic and city life bustled around them. The Goblin placed his hands in the pockets of his jacket and kept his pace steady and easy as he followed the girl. She in turn held onto the straps of her bag with both hands, her eyes trained determinedly on the sidewalk in front of them. What was she supposed to say—perhaps thank him for last night. Although when she thought about it she wondered if she had did so last night. Should she do so again? It wouldn't be overkill if she did because he had saved her life. She squeezed the straps tighter.

Why can't I find anything to say?

"I do not mind the correlation to Inuyasha, miko," Sesshomaru finally said, his eyes giving a quick look to her. "It does not fill me with anger as it had in the past."

Kagome blinked in surprise, not expecting him to speak first. "You don't hate him...for everything that he did?"

"I do not," He decided carefully, his eyes paying attention at what was ahead of them. "While he was at fault for many things, he had no need to apologize for his nature. As for what he did to me, he was not in his own mind. He kept Rin safe. He made sure that she was alive. This one cannot loathe him for keeping my ward well. In some respects, the half-breed has this Sesshomaru's respect, even."

"Whoa," she breathed, "I...wasn't expecting that."

"This one seems to be doing a few things that you are not expecting, woman."

Tilting her head to the side, she felt a pout puff at her cheeks. Is he teasing me?

Walking on, the silence settled among them again, however less awkward and less stifling. It was almost nice, the quiet companionship that he provided her. She knew that once she caught up to her friends' paths on the way to school, he would most likely leave her because of the loud chattering among them. But this gentle company that he provided her, it was almost reassuring. She didn't know why it was, or what exactly he was reassuring. Nevertheless, she found herself fond of it.

"Are you well?"

Again his voice was sudden and it startled her a bit as she returned her attention to him.

"The events of last night were entirely this one's fault, you have my sincerest apologies," he stated, voice low. "It is understandable, now that you know that this Sesshomaru has quite a few enemies as well in this age, should you desire to disassociate yourself with this one."

Her laughter broke his seriousness and he shot her a confused look at she giggle.

"That's not the first time I've been kidnapped before," she laughed, her hands rubbing at her cheeks. "And you saved me. That's all that matters."

Sesshomaru did not respond except for the hesitant 'hn' that rumbled from his chest.

"Besides, I have to help you find your bride, remember?" She poked his arm lightly, praying he wouldn't run her through because of the touch to his person.

However, he stared at her again, as he had during breakfast that morning. The look was surreal and deep. His eyes held both a sadness and a joy that she could not quite understand. He blinked and his hand reached forward. Kagome felt time stop as she watched him, she wondered what he was going to do. The beating of her heart sped up and she looked up at him, her eyes searching for the meaning in his expression as his hand extended to her.

"Kagome!" A high-pitched voice called out.

The Goblin's hand drew away quickly and the devoid look in his eyes returned. She let her sight linger on him for a moment before she turned to see her friends approach them. A small amount of disappointed filled her. She knew it was silly to feel that way, but...she had wanted to see what would have happened.

"If this one leaves you to your friends, would this be acceptable?" He asked, not entirely looking at her anymore.

"That's fine," she whispered, finding that her voice was dry and almost speechless.

"Would you like company on the way home?" He murmured, turning his gaze completely away from her.

"That would be nice."

"Then this one will wait for you at the gates once your classes have let out."

Sesshomaru walked away from her then, his figure disappearing into a shop as the telltale strands of lavender colored smoke drifted away from his body. It was so fast, his exit, that she hardly had time to watch him leave. But there was a clench in her chest and she knew the feeling. As her friends surrounded her, hounding her for questions about her companion, her eyes lingered on the doorway the Goblin had disappeared in, and allowed her thoughts to wander to the aching that she felts.

Would it be okay to move past a first love?

a/n: Author's note! Thank you everyone for all the lovely reviews, I really enjoy writing this story! So we have a bit of an extra long chapter today because 1) it's been a while since my last update and 2) we reached the 20th chapter! This story is almost 100 pages long already at 33k+ words! I'm so blessed to have all of you reading this! Truly! Arigato mina!

See you all for the next chapter!