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

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kagome hadn't expected the Shinigami to be awaiting her when school let out. However, the man stood there, hands in the pockets of his red leather jacket and his head bowed. Swallowing slowly, she wasn't sure if she should approach him or not. Sesshomaru had said that he would come pick her up but the Goblin had yet to appear. Had he sent the doppelganger instead? Had something come up? Her heart pounded in her chest when the familiar brown eyes stared up at her.

The grim reaper scoffed. "Oy wench, you're out finally."

There was a small bubble of laughter that burst from her mouth when she heard that oh-so familiar greeting. She walked toward the Shinigami. Her heart knew that this was not Inuyasha, or if it was, it wasn't her Inuyasha. She had resolved to leave her first love behind. Not because she didn't love him anymore, or because she wanted to forget him. But she had been holding onto his hand for so long, that it was time to walk on her own. It was as if the memory of him, her Inuyasha, waved and watched her on.

The Shinigami stepped up to her, looking down at her. "I've been waiting out here. Took ya long enough to get out."

"It's not like I have a say," she smiled. "Is there something that I can help with? It was awfully nice of you to stay and wait for me, but Sesshomaru's coming to pick me up."

"Keh, I don't care much for that bastard." the grim reaper crossed his arms. "But I gotta question for you."

"I have a name, silly." She felt a pang in her chest as an overwhelming tide of familiarity washed over her. "It's Kagome, ka-go-me."

He shooed her statement away like a fly. "Say, why did you and that dumbass Goblin call me Inuyasha?"

She blanched.

"I don't remember squat of my past life." He scratched the back of his head. "That's the consequence of becoming a Shinigami. You don't remember anything from when you were alive. But both you and him, you two assholes seem to know me... and if it's a clue to what I used to be, who I used to be..."

Kagome clenched her hands, the nails on her fingers digging into soft palms. She wanted to run to him and hug him. Hold him as she spilled all of his secrets and every recollection she held of his life. But she knew, for the Shinigami, that was not the path for him. In the eyes of a miko, the way that his auras swirled around him like chains and threads—clouding his mind and heart—she knew that he had to remember on his own. And she hated it.

"It's a simple mistake," she laughed. "You both share the same face. It was an easy mix up."

He frowned. "An easy mix up?"

"Shinigami."

They both turned around to see Sesshomaru approaching them. With the wind sifting through his silver hair, and the tails of his blue coat while his eyes were hidden beneath a pair of sunglasses, Kagome realized just how dramatic the Goblin was. He was overkill.

"Keh," the Shinigami snorted and shoved past her. "I'll see ya around, kid."

"What no goodbye to this one as well?" Sesshomaru taunted the grim reaper as he stalked away with annoyed roll of his eyes.

"Sessh, be nice," Kagome chided, "he was actually in a pretty serious mood."

"I doubt that one can obtain any gravity in his demeanor," the Goblin huffed, making his way before her.

"He asked about why we called him Inuyasha at first."

"Did you tell him the reason why?"

"No."

He watched the conflict form on her face. "You did the right thing. He must figure things out for himself. That is the punishment the Shinigami have...or rather perhaps it is a blessing. The saying among their kind is that things are best left forgotten—it hurts them too much to remember the past sins of their life."

"But he wasn't evil, Sesshomaru." She protested, looking up at him earnestly. "And neither were you. I don't understand why there has to be any punishment, or blessings, or curses, or any of that. I don't understand it at all."

Blinking slowly, the Goblin reached out and gently brushed the tips of fingers through the fringes of her bangs. She froze, her eyes going wide at the sudden touch. His hand moved on its own accord. He gently sifted his fingers through her long locks, before patting the side of her head.

"You are far too kind, girl," Sesshomaru murmured. "Far too kind for the burdens you see us bear to bother you. Far too kind to have to carry the burdens that weigh you down as well. But these are our burdens all together, Kagome. By God's or the deities' will...they are ours."

"It's not fair," she whispered.

"It never is," he hummed, resting his hand atop of her head. "But here this Sesshomaru is, willing to help you carry your burden. This one hopes that you would be willing to help carry his. And in turn, we will both help the Shinigami hold his own."

"Sesshomaru." She lifted her hand, the pads of her fingers brushing along his wrist. "You actually care."

"This one does so on occasion," he sneered.

Laughing, she pulled away from his touch, heart fluttering. "Oh wow. For a moment you sounded cool."

"This one is always cool." His chest huffed, and his brow quirked in a way that stated the comment miffed him.

Kagome shook her head, still giggling. "Are we going now?"

"Hn. Care to follow this one first? I have a few errands to run before I take you home," he stated, extending his hand for her.

"Oh, you do know how to use proper pronouns after all!" She exclaimed playfully, taking his hold in her own.

"This Sesshomaru will leave you here."

"And he's back."

Shaking his head, he tugged her along. "Come, let us leave before any of our squeaky friends leave the school."

"They all have clubs!" Her sides felt like they would explode from laughing. "And squeaky?"

Sesshomaru offered her a smirk before running. He pulled her in tow, running back toward the school. He led her inside, swinging the door open and letting it slam behind them. Kagome continued to laugh, even as the surge of his power sent them spiraling to somewhere that she didn't know.

a/n: Oiiii minna! Here's just a quick little update for you all...it's mostly fluff but there is some plot in there if you squint. I just finished watching Goblin again, and I've got a few ideas for this fic, so look forward to future updates!

Thanks for reading! If you're feeling generous, please leave a review~ Arigato gozaimasu!