Who Am I to Say by Inu Guardian

I Don't Know Anything At All

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha and I do not own the song 'Who Am I to Say'.

Author's Note: I had been thinking of writing another chapter to this challenge, and one finally clicked in my head. I hope this has a happier ending than the first chapter did. Thank you.

Chapter 2: I Don't Know Anything At All

Don't know why I'm still waiting

Many moons have come and gone

Don't know why I'm still searching

Kagome sighed softly, her breath coming out as a white puff in the cold air. Sweeping the shrine steps clear of the light snow left too much time for thinking. With one final sweep, she walked up the steps and put the broom in the tool shed. Closing the door, she walked to the bench beneath Goshinboku, her favorite thinking spot, and sat. With her arms wrapped around herself, she once again lost herself in thought.

Sesshoumaru was supposed to be home now, she thought, sadness filling her heart. What had started out as a semester at university was now an internship with a large law firm. He had come back after the first semester. He had promised to come back after the second, but instead took the summer semester in order to graduate early. Two years later, Kagome was preparing to graduate from high school after spring semester.

And still no Sesshoumaru.

Souta, Kagome's little brother, came walking up the stairs from visiting a friend. Upon seeing his sister sitting in the cold, he knew what was on her mind. After sorting through the mail he had grabbed on his way up, he took note of a letter addressed to Kagome and hoped that the contents would brighten her day. He walked to his sister and softly said her name.

Kagome looked up at her brother. "Yeah, Souta?" she asked quietly.

He didn't say a word. Only held out his hand with the letter in it.

She glanced at his hand and took the piece of mail. After Souta walked away, she slowly opened the letter and read it slowly.

        My Dearest Kagome,

        I'm sorry. I know that I should be there right now. I should be holding you in my arms. I wish I could be there, covering you with kisses. This internship is taking longer than expected. I am not sure when I will be able to come back to you. I am doing all that I can. I can feel your heart aching, just as you can feel mine. You always could.

        After being gone so long, I will work as hard as I can to make it back to you. I promise you that I will come back. Not even death could stop me.

        With All My Heart,

                Sesshoumaru

As Kagome read, tears streamed down her cheeks. He wouldn't be back this winter. He said it without saying it. She could feel her heart breaking. He promised he would come back. He didn't break the promise, just delayed it. She would wait for him too. She promised.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Can't you drive any faster?"

"Sorry, mack," the taxi driver replied. "I can only go as fast as the car ahead of me, and they ain't goin' much faster."

Sesshoumaru huffed silently and leaned back in the seat. Yes, as a demon it would have been easier to simply run to his desired destination, but with baggage from his flight, it would have been most cumbersome. So, he hailed a cab at the airport, thinking it would be faster and wanting to surprise everyone with his early return.

Golden eyes looked out the window at the slowly passing city. His internship had ended early with a promise of a job with the company, should he desire. His hard work was paying off.

I hope it was worth it.

His thoughts turned to the reason for his hasty return. Kagome would be graduating today. His precious miko announced that she was awarded Valedictorian, an honor she had been working hard to get. He didn't want to miss her speech.

He hadn't told her that he was coming, and he knew it would be an excellent surprise. If he made it on time.

He cursed the traffic jam that seemed to be at a standstill. Growling, he grabbed his wallet and threw several $20s at the driver. "Take my luggage to this address," he ground out as he pulled a card out of his wallet and handed it to the driver with the money. "You will receive more when they get there."

Without waiting for a replay, Sesshoumaru climbed out of the vehicle and took off down the stalled highway. He wouldn't make Kagome wait anymore, he'd decided. He knew that as it stood, he might have already missed the miko's moment, but he would try his damnedest to get there.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Now, it is my honor to present your Valedictorian. Kagome Higurashi."

Kagome walked up to the podium, a few note cards in hand, to the thunderous applause of her fellow students, friends, family, and teachers. She smiled at everyone, a light blush on her face, as she waited patiently for the clapping to subside. As the gymnasium quieted down, she took a couple of breaths to calm herself down.

"Thanks, everyone," she began modestly. She looked down at the cards which had now become blurred and unclear. After a moment, she threw the cards over her shoulder and leaned forward. Looking down into her graduating class, she let the words from her heart come out.

"This is it. What we've all worked for. But our work isn't done. Our little baby steps, the ones we used as practice, are growing into children's footsteps. We're making that next big step, the one that will change our lives forever. We've all had it pretty easy up 'til now. Every struggle, every heartache, everything we've accomplished...Is nothing compared to what awaits us. I had made a big speech about looking forward to what's ahead, looking back and remembering the lessons we've learned. But I'm not going to read that. It's long and boring and you wouldn't want to listen to it." At this, everyone broke out in laughter, the student body started clapping. "Just know that we'll have a great journey ahead with wonderful memories and friends to keep us company on the way there. I am proud to be Valedictorian to such a wonderful class. Thank you!"

Kagome waved as she walked off the stage, her class cheering her on as she left. She went to her place in line, now waiting to get that piece of paper that declared her a high school graduate.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

He arrived to see her walking off the stage, diploma in hand. He had missed her moment, the one she was so excited about. All because he sat in a cab. Major mistake on his part.

But to see her coming down the stairs, her face glowing with accomplishment. And she had a reason to. She had done better than anyone could have asked her to.

Weaving his way through the throng of bodies, he hurried to catch her. Bumping into many on his way, he barely spared them a glance as his gaze was on one body. At the edge of the ocean of people, he saw her retreating form.

"Kagome," he called over the applause.

Kagome stopped dead in her tracks. Almost thinking it was wishful thinking, she slowly turned around and was greeted by the best sight her eyes could have laid on.

"Sesshoumaru..." she whispered, almost disbelievingly. At his nod, she flew into his arms, tears streaming from her eyes. "You're here."

He held her as sobs caused her body to shake and heave heavily. "I'm here, Kagome. I'm here."

Now you're a song I love to sing

Never thought it feels so free

End Chapter

A/N: I may write a final chapter with a lemon. I don't know how the Japanese celebrate graduations, if they have them, so I just went off of my own high school graduation. R&R