Coming Back by Sophie

Yesterday's rose

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

Okay so that story is actually a three-shot I wrote to get out of my writing block when it comes to my other story 'Living with Darkness.' It's finished but I still had to edit it and sent to my wonderful beta for checking, so I don't know when the next chapter would be updated. Hope you will like it!

Thanks to Tsuki Ai- for betaing!

Chapter 1- Yesterday's rose

Kagome was sitting on the bench, waiting patiently for the next train. She knew it wouldn't come for the next half hour, but she just couldn't will herself to stay at home any longer. She had to come. Besides, the day was beautiful, maybe a little chilly as was to be expected so early in spring, but she was so excited, she didn't care. She really couldn't stay at home.

Not when he was coming back.

Her eyes slid close while her mind was running through all memories she had of him. There were so many. Some of them were funny, others sad, and others would be long forgotten if he wasn’t part of them. A light smile ghosted her lips when one of them repeated itself in her mind. The day she met him.

Flashback

"Hey you! You!" called a girlish voice and the boy finally looked up. His golden eyes met with blue ones and he scowled at the fact that the others were so close. What was worse was that they belonged to a girl, and he hated everything that was called a girl. Or woman, or lady… well… female in general.

The girl was still staring and the boy sighed mentally. Was she going to stare at him all day? Not that he cared, but it made him feel like an animal in the zoo, and he certainly was not an animal. Perhaps there was something behind him and he was blocking her view?

"What do you want?" he asked after some time passed. She cocked her little head to the side, still staring at him.

"Who are you?" she said suddenly, startling him a bit. He was almost sure she was mute.

"A ghost," he lied hoping she would go away. To his despair, the child moved closer to him, grinning like a mad thing. He had a feeling that, that grin would only mean trouble for him.

"Nu-uh. You can't be a ghost; ghosts are scary." He frowned at the insult.

"I'm scary." The girl just laughed.

"You're not scary; you're my new friend."

End Flashback

The raven haired woman laughed when her mind flashed the image of shock that made its way on her friend's face after she told him that. She doubted anyone else shocked him so ever again. The smile fled from her lips.

They were so happy then as children, even if their lives weren't the best a child could have. She was an orphan living with her elder aunt; he was left by his father in favor of some other woman's child. She missed her parents while he hated his father. Of course, it wasn't the only thing that differed between them.

They were as different as day and night. She was restless, always running and getting into trouble; he was stoic, thinking about things she couldn't understand and the one who was willing to save her from the mess she created. It was really a miracle that he had survived with her for so long.

The woman shifted on her seat to glance at the wall clock. Still fifteen minutes left. God, the time couldn't go slower than it was right now. Why was the universe so cruel to her? After all that they’ve been through...

Kagome closed her eyes again. She had to admit, her childhood wasn't the best, but she wasn't alone and that was what mattered. Then the world had changed and the rest of the happiness left to the other dimension leaving only chaos on the Earth.

She was fifteen when the war had started and he, being eighteen already, had gone, leaving her behind. “I have to protect things I love,” he explained and with well hidden tears she let him. That day she believed she was saying goodbye to him for few months, perhaps a year. It had turned into six long years.

She remembered all the letters she had sent him and those few he had time to write back. Even if sometimes they had only a few sentences, they were her treasures. The last one was saying he was coming back. She cried reading it.

The war left its mark in her country too. Even if they had enough luck that they never lost their independence, it didn't mean their market was left unscratched. Through the last six years, tying ends was far harder that normally. Kagome was doing everything she could to survive without losing her sanity or her humanity. It was a hard battle and her aunt's heart didn't survive it.

The young woman felt that loss really badly. The relationship between her and her aunt never was the best, since the elder lady had never been good with children, but still it was family. The only family she had left. Now she had none while the world was drowning in its madness.

Kagome shook her head. There was no point in thinking about this. Her aunt was now resting and she wouldn't be alone for very long. Her friend was coming back. Her world was going to be colorful once again. There was only a few minutes left.

She checked her reflection in the small mirror she had, left to her by her mother. When he was leaving, she was only slightly older than a child, but now she was a woman. She was wondering if he was even going to recognize her. She knew that no matter how he changed, she would recognize him anywhere.

Her heart started to beat faster when, in the distance, she heard the train’s whistle. It was only a matter of minutes, seconds probably. What would he think? Would he like how she looks? Sure, she was highly aware she wasn't the biggest beauty in the world, but she hoped he would approve of her. His opinion was always the most important to her.

She heard another whistle, this one louder.

He was coming... he was coming... he was coming…

She stood from her bench watching how the machine slowly approached the platform. It was ironic, she decided; for years she had hated it. The train had taken him from her, leaving her behind in the white cloud of smoke that only increased her tears. The same thing that, before, was the devil's creation, today turned into heaven's messenger.

Her heart almost fled from her chest when the train finally stopped and the wagon's doors were opened. There were a lot of passengers that were coming out and her eyes searched almost frantically to catch sight of the one she was waiting for.

And then she saw him.

The same face.

The same form.

It was him.

Just... older, bigger and wearing a captain's uniform. Her breath escaped her for a few seconds. He had matured, but it really didn't matter. In that man she could see the boy she forced to befriend her. He was back and she was grateful. The way he looked had no consequence for her.

The smile bloomed on her lips. 'Will he remember me?' she thought gathering the courage to call to him already. She saw him looking around absently, like he was checking if he was on the right station, and for a moment, she feared he would step back, once again disappearing inside the coach and from her reach. She couldn't allow it.

Not again.

"Sesshoumaru!" she called.

His eyes turned to her and she could swear his eyes widened for a moment. Her soul swirled with joy. He recognized her; he remembered her! He jumped on the platform and she took a step towards him. Then another and another.

Unconsciously, she was shocked she could walk. A moment ago her legs were like jelly and yet, he was closer with every step she took. God why wasn't she running to him? She was so excited about seeing him she couldn't sit. Why was she so calm now?

Her questions fled from her mind when she saw his face only a foot away from her. Why wasn't she holding him yet? Perhaps she was still thinking she was dreaming? Perhaps, if she said something, she would be assured enough to reach to him.

"Sesshoumaru," she whispered softly looking in his eyes. The eyes she hadn't seen in six years.

He looked at her and she was sure he would move to hold her, to touch her just like she wanted to do to him, but he seemed to freeze. His eyes narrowed strangely in a way she couldn't remember, and then he turned his head and took a step away.

His little retreat startled her a little. She wanted so badly to catch him before he could move even farther. She wanted it so badly, it almost hurt. And yet something was holding her hands at her sides and the same unseeing power tied her tongue and stole her voice. She froze just like he.

They stayed in silence for some time. The people were already leaving the platform and the train had gone to the next station. Still, neither of them noticed nor cared. They were in their own little world.

"Sesshoumaru..." she said for the third time. And like a spell, it freed their voices, at least his.

"You shouldn't have come," he said looking to the side. Her heart froze; his cold voice was turning it into ice.

She blinked.

"I'm no longer the man you once knew."

Her body shook. Absently, she asked herself why she couldn't feel tears in her eyes. Shouldn't she be crying?

"You don't have a place in my life anymore."

Her chest stung, but there still were no tears in her eyes. Why?

"Leave me."

Her heart shattered into little glass pieces.

He turned from her, leaving her alone. Again. Maybe she should stop him? Maybe, it was all a dream? A long, bad dream from which she would wake up any minute now.

He stopped, looking back at her paralyzed form. One tear had finally escaped her eyes. Maybe he would wipe it away, like he always did?

"And don't come back."

He left.

And she was alone.

Again.

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AN: Ha my first true angst! Please be kind and review!