Forgiveness

It was raining lightly, just barely drizzling as Kouga walked slowly through the graveyard. Today was the anniversary of both his cousins' deaths. Ginta and Hakkaku had joined the Hell Inu the same year he had. Being two years younger they had looked up to their older and cooler uncle from the time they were born and had desperately wanted to be like him. He missed them so much.

Kouga stopped short when he saw someone already knelt before their tombstones. Realizing who it was his anger rose.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

Kagome stayed still for a moment longer as she finished her prayer before standing to face Kouga. "Asking for forgiveness." She said simply.

Kouga noticed the fresh flowers and incense and his anger soared. He grabbed her by the shoulders shaking her. "So it was you!" She had killed them. She was the one who robbed them of their life before they had lived.

Kagome jerked away from him and stared him down. "Yes and I have to live with it every day of my life. I have to remember their screams and cries for mercy. I have to remember their youthful faces contorted from the pain and suffering that I inflicted on them. So yes I did it and I wish I could take it back. I wish I was in their place and they still had a chance but I can't." Her eyes brimmed with tears that threatened to spill over her cheeks as she spoke.

Kouga could hear the anguish in her voice but his anger still gripped him. "But you did it. You killed them." He hissed.

Kagome grit her teeth. "Do you think it was easy? Do you think that a piece of me did not die with them? Do you think I will ever be able to forget what I did to them? This is the first time I have gotten a chance to be before them again to beg for some shred of forgiveness and I will not let you stand here and taint this. I will not let you try to make me feel any guiltier than I already do because I assure you it is impossible."

Kagome turned her back on him and once again knelt before the tombstones of his cousins. She closed her eyes trying to fight the tears flowing from her eyes but Kouga saw them. Her shoulders shook with sobs that she desperately tried to hold in. Kouga wasn't sure what to do. There were no lies in her scent. She was in genuine pain, the scent of sorrow bled from her every pore feeding his very own.

Kagome once again stood and attempted to walk past him but his words stopped her.

"They were just children." He whispered.

"I know." Her voice cracked. "They were the same age as Souta." She turned to him her blue eyes red and puffy. "I didn't want to do it Kouga I really didn't. I'm sorry. I can only pray for your forgiveness as I pray for theirs."

Kouga said nothing as he watched her leave disappearing into the rain.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Sesshoumaru literally wanted to cry. As it was his beast was howling in anguish. The ghostly pain he felt settling in his chest was nothing like anything he had ever felt before not even when his mother abandoned him with his father. Sesshoumaru breathed slowly as he sat upon his bed and tried to block the bond. He knew the feelings were coming from the miko. She was screaming inside and as a result so was he.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Kagome walked aimlessly through the city. Her clothes were soaked, her low heels oozed water with her every step. Although the rain was cool the temperature was warm and so walking around wet was tolerable. And it hid her tears.

That was not supposed to happen. She supposed that she should have known there was a possibility that Kouga would be there but it hadn't even occurred to her. She continued down the street, oblivious to the strange looks people were giving her. She stopped at a light waiting to cross the street, it took her a moment to realize the rain was no longer beating against her skin and someone was calling her name.

"Higurashi. Higurashi."

For a moment the red eyes she saw staring back at her dredged up old memories of Naraku and she almost panicked before she realized who it was. Kagome turned to see none other than Kagura standing next to her sharing her umbrella. "Yes, Kagura?"

"What are you doing out here like this?" Kagura was surprised by the girl before her, she looked downright pathetic. Like a wet cat that had just been kicked down the street.

Kagome shook her head. "Nothing."

"You do realize it's raining, correct?" the light changed and they stepped into the street.

Kagome looked up. "Yes I know."

"Where are you going?"

"No where."

Kagura stopped on the curb and watched as Kagome paid no attention to her or the loss of her umbrella and continued walking. Kagura fidgeted for a moment. Getting her somewhere dry and warm was the right thing to do and she had said she was going to give the girl a chance, but she's never expected her to be this unstable. "Damn it." Kagura cursed to herself as she hurried to catch up with Kagome. "Where is your dragon, Higurashi?"

"I don't know. And he's not mine."

Kagura grabbed Kagome by the arm somewhat surprised when she was met with no resistance and began to pull the pathetic girl down the street. They weren't far from the common house which also meant they weren't far from Andres' building.

When they finally arrived at the building another resident that was just leaving was kind enough to let them in. A puddle formed around Kagome as they stood in the foyer and Kagura shook out and closed her umbrella. "Which one does Andres live in?"

Kagome didn't say anything.

Kagura asked again only to be met with the same response. "Fine give me your key, I know you have one."

Kagome finally looked at her, well glared is more like it. "What do you want from me? Why are you suddenly trying to be so nice? Is it to get in good with Andres? Don't think I haven't noticed the way you look at him."

"Look bitch I am about two seconds away from slapping the shit out of you. Do not push me! Give me the damn key and let me be nice." Kagura snatched the key out of Kagome's hand and after checking the number grabbed the other girl and dragged her towards the elevator. Kagome returned to her lack luster and unresponsive state barely keeping up as Kagura made her way to the apartment.

She unlocked the door and pulled Kagome inside. It didn't take her long to realize that Andres wasn't there. Kagura took a moment to explore, and even indulged in poking her head into what she guessed was Andres' room judging by the strong sweet smoky scent. Tearing herself away she located the bathroom and Kagome's room and went back to retrieve her where she still stood dripping by the front door.

"Snap out of it Kagome, you are being down right pathetic." Kagura hissed as she dragged Kagome into the bathroom. "I can't believe you ever kicked my ass." Kagome looked blankly at her, a look Kagura returned by throwing a towel at her. "Get out of those wet clothes and take a shower, you look like hell."

Kagura stalked out of the bathroom and shut the door behind her. She stood there for a few minutes before she finally heard Kagome move and the shower turned on. She went back to Kagome's room and after some careful searching found a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt, she returned to the bathroom briefly and set the clothes on the toilet before leaving again.

Kagura stomped her way to the kitchen and after much slamming of cabinets and drawers she managed to find the necessary items to make tea. The air stirred around her in irritation. What the hell was she doing? This was beyond being nice, not that she didn't have an ulterior motive. Of course she wanted Andres to see that she wasn't completely heartless. And she did decide that she would give Kagome a chance. But really who would have thought that Kagome Higurashi, the Shikon Miko could be so pathetic… so broken. Ugh, pathetic.

The air stirred around her in her ire and it took her a moment to register the heat that seeped into it. She froze knowing exactly who was standing behind her and slowly turned around to face him. Andres stood in the doorway to the kitchen. Emerald eyes were trained on her, his head cocked to the side, onyx locks spilling over his shoulder.

"Do you really want to know why she hurts right now? Do you want to understand?" His eyes held her rooted to the spot, the deep baritone of his voice holding her captive.

She nodded hesitantly. His gaze sharpened. "Do not take this lightly Kagura. Do you want to understand?"

Kagura squared her shoulders. "Yes." The anguished cry that was ripped from her throat wasn't voluntary. The weight that compressed her chest and left her gasping was something she had never experienced. The images that flashed in her mind's eye, the screams and cries for mercy that echoed in her ears made her fall to her knees, tears streaming down her face.

As fast as the pain hit her it receded. She held her hand over her mouth in an attempt to hold in her sobs, the effects still lingering. Andres knelt beside her and pulled her into his arms. "That was only a taste of what she feels today, of what she buries deep within herself every day. Give her a chance because you really want to not because you think it will impress me."

Kagura slowly took a deep breath and nodded as she pulled herself to her feet. Steadying herself on the counter she reached out with a shaky hand to turn off the stove and move the screaming kettle. Andres stood next to her and gently wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Thank you for bringing her home." He smiled as she blushed. "And even though you tell yourself you did it for me, I know you did it for yourself too."

Kagura slowly made her way to the door. "Goodbye Andres."

"Adios hermosa vienta."

Kagome quietly padded into the kitchen and began making herself a cup of tea. Noting how her hands shook Andres took the kettle from her before she burned herself. "I think you have made a new friend querida."

"Maybe but I thinks she's really after you." Kagome said quietly.

Andres merely laughed. "Ven aqui querida, let's get you into bed."