Kagome was well aware that she needed to hurry. Today, she had overslept a bit, and there was a tight schedule ahead –shower, bread that needed to toast, a sprint to the nearest bus stop, and off to the station.

There are responsibilities waiting for her. Students were counting on her guidance, curses that needed to be purified, and there was a certain partner who required attention, akin to entertaining a persistent child. Well, perhaps she could strike out the latter. Technically, she didn't have to do it, but dealing with her partner felt like navigating an unavoidable storm, relentless and hard to escape. It was a task she had to face, whether she liked it or not.

However, today was different. As Kagome stirred awake, a weariness settled upon her. The sensation was unmistakable – she felt tired.

Kagome tried to shake off the weariness, there seemed to be no logical reason for it. She had retired early the previous evening at eight o'clock, and with no late missions yesterday, she left school ahead of schedule, heading straight to bed.

"C'mon Kagome." She whispered to herself, an attempt to self empowerment. "Just do your routine and no overtime for tonight."

With that, she nodded at herself and headed for the bathroom. But the moment she stood up, an unexpected wave of dizziness washed over her. It was as if the world itself had decided to spin, and Kagome had an uneasy sense that her body was not in sync with the usual rhythm of her routine.

She steadied herself against the sink, blinking rapidly as if trying to dispel the disorientation. It was a peculiar sensation, almost like a dream where the ground beneath her felt unstable, and every step was a precarious venture.

"Alright. This is strange," she mumbled, trying to make sense of the sudden unease. The water in the bathroom seemed louder, the light too bright. Kagome took a deep breath, hoping it was just a fleeting moment of imbalance. Yet the dizziness persisted, adding an unexpected layer of complexity to her morning.

Determined to carry on, Kagome splashed some cold water on her face, hoping it would chase away the disconcerting feeling. However the dizziness lingered, a subtle dance of disorientation that made even the familiar act of washing her face feel like a challenge. But she tried to put it aside. She needed to get ready. With that resolve, her routine continued.

Once dressed and ready, she hurriedly toasted a slice of bread, each moment ticking away. She took a seat waiting for her bread to be ready and tried to soothe her persistent dizziness. Her usually effortless task required more effort than usual. Furthermore, her fatigue still clung to her. If she was not careful she could fall asleep here.

'I can go back to my room and sleep there,' she thought. 'I can think of a good excuse to not teach today.'

The sound of a toasted machine startled her, made her come to sense.

She patted both her cheeks lightly and straightened her posture. No, I'm fine, just fine. There is no way I would make everyone worry with my absence.

Bracing herself, she took her toasted bread as Kagome gathered what remained of her energy and stepped out into the morning. The world outside seemed unusually vibrant, the colors too vivid. She tried to maintain her usual energetic pace, but each step felt like a chore. Her phone, fully charged now, buzzed with messages from her colleague or more specifically a certain partner of hers. But even lifting the phone to check them felt like lifting a weight.

Kagome forced a smile as she headed to the bus stop. Her mind echoed with the mantra of fulfilling her duties, but her body rebelled against the demand of the day. The routine that was once second nature now felt like a series of challenges, and Kagome couldn't escape the gnawing realization that today was not going to be a normal day.

Fortunately she arrived at school on time. Despites the growing challenges, Kagome pushed forward and entered her class where her students awaited her.

"Are you okay, sensei?" asked one of her students, Fushiguro Megumi. "You look tired."

Kagome didn't realize she was already at the class but she quickly covered it by painting a smile on her lips, though it felt more like a fragile mask than a genuine expression. "Just a bit tired, Megumi-kun. Nothing to worry about."

Megumi, perceptive as ever, furrowed his brow. "Sensei, if you're not feeling well, maybe you should take a day off. We can manage for a day."

"No, no I can't do that Megumi-kun. Satoru is currently overseas. And there's no one else to cover my classes. I appreciate your concern, but I'll manage," Kagome replied, the weight of her responsibilities evident in her voice.

"No offense, Higurashi-sensei," another student of hers joined in, it was the shoulder-length caramel hair girl, Kugisaki Nobara. "You look shi-awful." Her words were quickly replaced after she got elbowed by Megumi.

Kagome chuckled at Nobara's comment, appreciating the straightforwardness. "Well, thank you for honesty, Nobara-chan. I might be a bit tired today, but that won't stop me from giving my best in class."

Megumi nodded in agreement. "We understand, sensei, but if it gets too overwhelming, please let us know."

"Absolutely," Nobara chimed in. "Gojo-sensei is not here to take care of you, so it's up to us to look after you, Higurashi-sensei."

The bond among her students filled Kagome's heart with warmth. "Thank you, both. Now, let's focus on today's lesson."

The class proceeded, and Kagome endeavored to maintain her usual teaching demeanor. Yet, she couldn't escape the awareness that her weariness was casting a shadow over the vitality that typically infused her lessons. Fortunately, Megumi and Nobara, perceptive as ever, refrained from bombarding her with questions. They seemed to understand that Kagome would reach out if she found it challenging to persevere any longer.

Once the class concluded, Megumi and Nobara approached Kagome once again.

"Sensei, we were actually planning to head to the training field later for some practice," Megumi said. "Would you like to join us? It might be a good way to unwind."

Kagome considered the offer. A part of her yearned for the solace of her home, and because Satoru is currently busy she might not get a mission any soon. But the idea of spending time with her students was tempting. "Sure, I want to see how Maki-chan and the others are doing. I'll join you."

As they made their way to the training field, Kagome felt the dizziness intensify. The vibrant colors of the surroundings blurred, and she stumbled slightly, unnoticed by Megumi and Nobara. She attributed it to fatigue and pressed on, determined to fulfill her promise of seeing the practice session.

The training field was alive with the sounds of clashing techniques. Toge and Panda were engrossed in their sparring. And Kagome greeted Maki who has been watching both of her classmates sparring with a smile to conceal her discomfort.

"Hello Maki-chan! Are you excited for the competition?"

Maki glanced at Kagome with a nod, a rare hint of smile playing on her lips. "Always sensei and with more training we will crush them."

"Yeah, Maki-senpai will crush anyone standing in our way with that sword of hers!" Nobara declared with a wide grin. She glanced over at the ongoing sparring match before shouting, her voice a blend of encouragement and playful teasing. "Come'on, Inumaki-senpai! Amp up those speech attacks a bit! Panda-senpai can hold'em."

Toge responded with a determined nod, and Panda chimed in, "Kugisaki's right. Don't hold back, Toge! I can take it!"

With a grin still plastered on her face, Nobara turned her attention to Maki, "so what will we do senpai?"

Maki took a moment to answer, she seemed to be thinking about what was the best training for her junior, "your techniques are becoming more refined Kugisaki. Maybe we can keep honing them. We will see what you can improve from there."

Megumi added, "not only that, when we were spar yesterday I noticed your control over your cursed technique is improving. You're getting faster and more precise, Kugisaki."

Nobara beamed at their compliments, "Well, what's this? Compliments from two of the most serious students in the school. It must be my lucky day." she teased, "speaking of which, how are you two doing with your training?"

Megumi glanced at Maki, exchanging a silent understanding. "We're making progress," Megumi replied. "Maki-senpai swordsmanship is as exceptional as always. And I'm working on refining my techniques like you. We're planning to focus more on coordination in the upcoming sessions."

Maki nodded, her eyes focused. "We need to ensure that our teamwork is impeccable, especially with the sister competition approaching."

Nobara leaned in with a mischievous grin. "And when are we going to see some of those secret techniques, Maki-senpai? You've been holding out on us!"

Maki smirked, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Some things are best kept secret, Kugisaki. But maybe, if you impress me enough, I'll consider sharing a few tricks."

As their banter continued, Maki turned to Megumi, her expression serious. "By the way, have you heard anything about when Gojo-sensei will be back? He promised us to oversee one of our training sessions before competition."

Megumi hesitated for a moment, glancing at Kagome, who had been silent for quite a while. "Not sure," he replied, "he's on some overseas mission. We haven't received any specific information about his return."

Maki furrowed her brow as she looked at Kagome. "That's unusual. Normally, Gojo-sensei would have already bombarded Higurashi-sensei's phone by now. He would be calling her numerous times, no matter how serious the mission is."

Kagome, standing a little bit behind their circle, tried to concentrate on the conversation. The dizziness, however, continued to intensify, making it increasingly challenging for her to follow their discussion. The sun, shining more brightly overhead, seemed to amplify her discomfort.

As Maki expressed her concern about Gojo-sensei's unusual silence, Kagome's vision blurred, and she felt the world spinning around her. She clenched her fist firmly, trying to keep herself together, but the effort proved futile. The relentless dizziness overwhelmed her, and before she could offer any response to Maki's observations, the world around Kagome faded into darkness, and she collapsed.

…..

"Look, the stars are out."

Inuyasha followed Kagome's gaze toward the night sky. He grunted in agreement, "Yeah they're always out at night, what's so special?"

Kagome smiled, "I just find it comforting. It's like, no matter where we are, the stars are always there. Kind of like a constant in our lives."

Inuyasha huffed but didn't argue. They sat together in companionable silence, staring at the vast expanse of the night sky. The stars twinkled above, creating a celestial tapestry that seemed to connect the earth to the heavens.

"...It's like my name."

"What?"

"My mother once said she named me after the sparkling light she saw." Kagome once again looked up at the stars, lost in thought. "Maybe…maybe I'm like those stars. A small, sparkling light in the vast darkness."

Inuyasha glanced at her, a curious expression on his face. "You? Sparkling?"

Kagome nudged him, "Yes, me! Just like those stars up there, each one has its own story, its own place in the sky. Maybe we're not so different from them."

Inuyasha smirked, "Well, I don't see any other humans up there."

Kagome playfully swatted his arm, "You know what I mean. It's just a comforting thought, that no matter what happens, we're all part of something bigger."

They continued to watch the stars, the comfortable silence settling between them again. Each lost in their own thoughts, the only sound being the night breeze and the distant rustle of leaves.

Inuyasha, breaking the silence, mumbled, "You're not just sparkling, you burn brilliantly."

Kagome turned to him, a soft smile playing on her lips. The moonlight accentuated the warmth in her eyes. "Like the stars?" she teased, her voice carrying a gentle melody.

Inuyasha nodded, his gaze fixed on her, "Yeah, like the stars. But brighter, more captivating." The sincerity in his words almost caught Kagome off guard.

"Sometimes," he continued, his voice softer now, "I worry, Kagome. Stars may shine brightly, but the brighter they glow, the sooner they fade away. It's like they burn out."

Inuyasha took a deep breath, his eyes locked with Kagome's. "Please," he pleaded, his voice carrying the weight of his emotions. "Don't fade away like those stars, Kagome."

…

Kagome slowly opened her eyes, finding herself lying on a comfortable bed. The soft glow of daylight filtered through the curtains, and the sterile scent of antiseptic lingered in the air. As her eyes adjusted, she noticed Shoko, standing nearby checking some medical supplies.

Shoko looked up from her task, a smile stretched on her lips trying to look warm despite the worryingly bags on her eyes, "well, look who's back among the living. How are you feeling Kagome?"

Kagome groaned slightly, still feeling a bit disoriented. "I've been better. What happened?"

Shoko approached, holding a clipboard. "Megumi brought you here. He said you fainted during the students' training session. Any idea why?"

Kagome rubbed her temples, trying to recall. "I've been feeling dizzy since this morning. I thought it was just fatigue, but it got worse during the training. I must have pushed myself too hard."

Shoko nodded in understanding. "Well, let's take a look and make sure there's nothing serious going on."

After a brief examination, Shoko checked her vitals and asked more questions about Kagome's symptoms. "It seems like you've been under a lot of stress lately, Kagome. Make sure to take breaks and get some rest. And if this persists, we might need to run some more tests."

Kagome nodded appreciatively, "Thank you Shoko."

Shoko studied Kagome's face, her expression furrowing the more she looked. "Are you going home alone? Ijichi can give you a ride."

Kagome shook her head, a hesitant smile playing on her lips. "It's okay, I don't want to inconvenience Ijichi-san during his free time."

Shoko regarded Kagome for a moment before relenting. "Alright, text me when you are at home."

Kagome offered a nod and said goodbye to the doctor before turning to leave.

As Kagome stepped out of the school, she scanned the surroundings but found no sign of Megumi or Nobara. She concluded that they were likely on a mission and resolved to talk with them the next day.

Exiting the school grounds, Kagome felt the cool evening air envelop her. With a sigh, she made her way to the train station, her thoughts drifting as her body moved on autopilot towards home.

Upon reaching her apartment complex, Kagome ascended the familiar steps to her unit. However, her steps faltered and her eyes widened in surprise when she spotted someone waiting in front of her apartment.

It was none other than Gojo Satoru.

Noticing Kagome, Satoru pushed himself off the wall beside her door and greeted her with a casual tone. "Yo Kagome! Took you long enough to get home."

"Satoru, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice tinged with both confusion and a hint of exhaustion from the day's events.

Satoru feigned a pained expression, placing a hand over his heart in mock pain. "Kagome, I'm wounded," he said with a dramatic sigh, "Here I am, returning from a grueling mission, only to find that my favorite partner has been ignoring my calls all day."

Kagome's eyes widened slightly. "Your calls? I…I didn't notice my phone ringing," she admitted, her hand instinctively going to her bag to check her device. True enough, there were dozens of missed calls and messages from Satoru, all of which had gone unanswered in the midst of her dizziness and fainting episode.

"Oh, I see how it is," Satoru continued, the playful twinkle in his eyes belying his feigned indignation. "Out of sight, out of mind, huh?"

Kagome couldn't help but smile, despite the day's weariness still clinging to her. "No, nothing like that," she assured him. "I wasn't feeling well today. I fainted during the training session and just got discharged from the infirmary."

The concern was immediate in Satoru's posture as he straightened up, the playful act dropping instantly. "You fainted? Why didn't you say so earlier?" he asked, his voice now filled with genuine worry.

Kagome shrugged lightly, trying to downplay the incident. "It was nothing serious, just a little overexertion. Shoko checked me out, and I'm fine now."

Satoru didn't seem entirely convinced, his gaze scrutinizing her as if looking for signs of lingering illness. "Kagome, you should have called me. I would have come back sooner."

Kagome shook her head, stepping past Satoru to unlock her apartment door. "You had your mission. Satoru, I couldn't ask you to drop everything just for a little dizziness."

Satoru followed her inside, closing the door behind him. "A little dizziness that caused you to faint is not 'nothing', Kagome. You know you can rely on me, mission or not."

Kagome turned to face him, a soft smile on her lips. "I know, Satoru. And I appreciate it. But I'm really okay now. Just need a good night's sleep."

Satoru watched her for a moment longer before nodding, accepting her reassurance. "Alright, but I'm staying over tonight. Just to make sure you're truly alright," he declared, a protective edge to his voice.

Kagome's smile widened, touched by his concern. "Thank you, Satoru. Your company is always welcome."

As Kagome prepared a simple dinner for them, Satoru settled in, making himself at home as he always did. The evening passed with light conversation, the earlier events of the day slowly fading into the background.

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NOTE : Got caught up in work. I'll update once a month. Take care and best wishes! Happy lunar new year guys!