Exception by Szira

Look After You

Disclaimer: I hereby declare that I do not own the characters from Inuyasha orThe Fray's song. I merely utilize them for my own petty amusement.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Kagome walked into the dimly lit club with her guitar case in hand. She heaved a sigh, she really didn't want to be here tonight. Her normal smile wasn't apparent or even remotely visible. It had been a bad few weeks. No, bad was a vast understatement. These past 3 weeks were the worst. They made her feel like her life was just crumbling away while she scrambled to pick up the pieces in vain. Kagome sat in the corner of the bar, she had arrived an hour before she was able to go up. She set her guitar case on the floor and leaned down to put her face in her hands. Memories of the last few weeks came back to her in a rush.

*3 weeks ago*

"Momma I don't understand! You and daddy were always so close! What happened? Why isn't he with you anymore!" Kagome cried across the table. Her and her father had always been close. She was the epitome of the daddy's little girl image. She could get away with murder if her daddy was the one who found out.

"We had our differences Kagome. For the last seven years we just didn't get along anymore. We stuck it out for the sake of you and Sota but now that you two have been out of the house for a year we decided it was best. Don't blame yourself Kagome you did everything perfect. My favorite daughter." Kagome's mother explained softly with a smile. "Sometimes things aren't meant to be and often they aren't what they seem."

Kagome looked up and sniffled at her mother, "I can't believe you and daddy were acting for the last seven years of my life! I thought I saw love in your faces!" Kagome stood up quickly, her chair toppled out from behind her and she sent an angry glare at her mother.

"I don't blame you for being mad, it was my idea to deceive you two. Don't blame your father he's been wonderful. Ever since you were born he devoted his life to you Kagome, you were his little angel." Kagome's mother said with a watery smile.

"I can't be around you anymore..." With that Kagome stormed out of her former home, angry tears streaming down her face.

*End memory*

Kagome pulled out her phone and peered at the time. She sniffled hard, that was the beginning of this whole mess. She glanced at the time again, 8:30 the screen glowed at her. Looking around she could see the club was still mostly empty. Not surprising, it usually didn't get full till she was actually playing. She was the reason the club owner had given her an assigned spot during open mic night. She laid her head back on her hands and closed her eyes.

*2 weeks ago*

"Thanks for dinner Daddy!" Kagome hugged her father tightly. "How are you holding up? Do you need anything?" She asked him worriedly. It had only been a week since he moved off the shrine grounds. He decided to leave the shrine to his wife.  He would also continue to pay the bills for the shrine as agreed upon in the marriage settlement. He made enough, it wasn't of any consequence to support the women who gave him two beautiful children.

"Stop worrying Kagome, I'm fine I promise you." He pushed Kagome's box of leftovers into her hand and ushered her to the door. "Besides, don't you have a special boy at home?" They walked towards the entrance to the quaint Italian restaurant.

Kagome looked up at her father and smiled brightly, "You don't need to worry about Koga and I! We're great! The last two years have been wonderful, I think he's considering proposing even!"

"See you're happy and that's what matters my dear! Seeing that smile on your face just reaffirms I did a good job with you." Outside the restaurant they parted ways, him to his car and Kagome down the street towards her shared flat. She had a little skip in her step after seeing her father. Dinner with him was fabulous as always.

"Koga!" She called, sticking her leftovers in the refrigerator. The apartment was dark, it was an oddity. Koga should have been here. He said he would wait up for her. Kagome frowned and walked towards their shared room. It was a small apartment but it suited their needs just fine. It was dark under the door. She pushed the door open allowing the light from the hallway to flow in. Empty, the bed was made just as she left it earlier this morning. She wandered back to the kitchen where she left her phone, picking it up she looked up to see a note scrawled on the whiteboard.

Kagome-

I don't think we can do this anymore.

I'll be at a friend's for the next week

while you get your things out of my

apartment. The landlord will change

the locks in three days. I'd sign this

with love you but I don't anymore.

I've changed my number please

don't try to contact me.

Koga

*End memory*

Kagome opened her eyes slowly. Her phone buzzed at her telling her it was her turn. She picked up her guitar case and made her wait to the stage. Looking over the crowd she saw some new faces and couldn't help but think they would be disappointed tonight. Generally she sang alternative covers of rock songs but tonight she couldn't bring herself to be so upbeat. She opened her guitar case in the middle of the stage and pulled a stool over from the corner. After adjusting the mic she took her seat with her guitar and smiled weakly at the crowd. Usually she'd say something but tonight she just started playing.

If I don't say this now I will surely break
As I'm leaving the one I want to take
Forgive the urgency but hurry up and wait
My heart has started to separate

Oh, oh, oh
Be my baby
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
I'll look after you

Sesshomaru walked into the bar as she began to sing. He turned a critical eye to the stage. Usually he didn't come on this night, he didn't care to listen to a bunch of no talent nobodies. He signed in relief that she wasn't atrocious like most people who played here. He took a seat at the end of the bar unable to take his eyes off Kagome. He idly wondered what was going on in that little mind of hers that made her sound so sad. Judging by her looks he didn't think she was usually a sad person.

"You could have picked a better night Mr. Taisho." The bartender whispered sliding Sesshomaru's drink to him. "She's usually full of much more energy. She's here every Friday at 9."

"Hn..." Sesshomaru took a sip of his whiskey before setting it back on the bar, forgotten. There was something about this girl that he just couldn't tear his eyes off her.

There now, steady love, so few come and don't go
Will you, won't you be the one I always know?
When I'm losing my control, the city spins around
You're the only one who knows, you slow it down
Oh, oh, oh
Be my baby
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
I'll look after you

*Beginning of the week*

After seeing Koga's note Kagome called her father to come pick her up from the flat. She packed up her clothes, as that's all she had. A signal clear as day that this relationship wouldn't have been permanent in hindsight. She had been staying in her father's flat for the remainder of the week.

Kagome laid in her father's lap sobbing violently. How could things go so wrong so quickly. "Daddy what happened? Why am I so wrong?"

"You're not wrong darling. Koga made a terrible decision. You're the most wonderful woman he'll ever meet. Just you wait, sometime in the future you're going to get a communication from him saying how regretful he is he ever ended things with you." He stroked her hair gently.

*End Memory*

A tear formed in Kagome's eye, she closed her eyes and kept singing hoping no one would notice. It rolled down her face but her voice never faltered. She kept her resolve and kept going with the song.

If ever there was a doubt
My love she leans into me
This most assuredly counts
She says most assuredly
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Be my baby
I'll look after you

Sesshomaru stared in awe at this girl. She looked so raw, so human. He was fascinated by her. He leaned back to the bartender, "Who is she?" He mumbled.

The bartender shrugged, "Don't know she goes by Euphoria, after she witnessed the crowd just go crazy for her when she played here the first few times. I'm guessing she revels in that sort of attention."

"Euphoria certainly doesn't reflect her tonight, quite the opposite really." Sesshomaru pulled out some bills and laid them on the bar. Grabbing his drink he wandered closer to the vulnerable girl. He had never been so captivated by anyone before.

She opened her eyes and locked sights with Sesshomaru. She forced a smile at him and closed her eyes again. The curiosity she felt flowing from him was too much for her. She really didn't want to be even remotely involved with another man right now. No matter how exotic he looked. That was her weakness. Exotic men. Koga was tall with long black hair, the sexiest tan you could imagine and the deepest cerulean eyes, a true rarity upon Japanese men. She couldn't help but identify with him as she was a rarity as well.

Sesshomaru's breath escaped his throat when he felt her gaze lock with his briefly. Her eyes were stunning, bluer than glacial water with an outer ring of gold. They reminded him of geyser pools.  There was so much emotion swimming in her sapphire pools, he had to know more.

Before Koga was her high school crush Inuyasha, they never had anything he was dedicated to some other girl and was never available. Not that Kagome would have ever been able to ask him out, she had been too shy. Inuyasha was rude and abrupt about everything when she had approached him the first time she just kind of stuttered and giggled, wishing she could shrink away into nothing. After that goofy day they became friends, not close or anything but friends.

*Middle of the week*

"I'm sorry Ms. Higurashi, due to budget cuts we just can't afford to keep you on anymore." Her boss of 4 years told her solemnly when she showed up for work at the pediatric clinic.

"No! I'll take a pay cut anything just don't let me go!" Kagome explained vehemently. "These kids are all I have left..."

"I'm sorry Kagome we just can't afford you anymore. You'll receive pay for the rest of the week. I truly do regret this decision. You really were one of our best doctors." He handed her the termination notice and left her in the hallway of the pediatrics office alone.

*End memory*

It's always have and never hold
You've begun to feel like home
What's mine is yours to leave or take
What's mine is yours to make your own
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Be my baby
Oh, oh, oh

As she ended her song she took a deep breath and put her guitar back in its case. "I'm sorry everyone, I know a lot of you came to see me tonight but I have another engagement to attend." she explained into the microphone and closed her case. Picking it up she leaned over again, "Good night everyone and again I'm sorry." She forced a smile and left the stage.

Before Sesshomaru knew what was happening he had escaped through the back door. He hadn't even gotten to talk to her. He grumbled and pushed his way through the door himself but she was nowhere around. He'd have to come back next week and try to catch her.