LOVE LIFE by Youkai Yume

Fragments of a Dream

LOVE LIFE

By: Youkai Yume

Yume: Okay, I know it's been a while, but I'm finally back with the long awaited SEQUEL for LOVE LETTER.

CF: yays!

Yume: You do not have to read LOVE LETTER in order for this story to make sense, but it is recommended that you do.

CF: {sighs} Ah, love...how wonderfully wonderful.

Yume: Yeah...let's screw it up.

CF: {evil grin} KAY! ^^

Yume: Please don't forget to review at the end of the chapter, and no flames por favor! ^^

Disclaimer: A pathetic creature like me? I don't own anything! Much less Inuyasha!

Chapter 1: Fragments of a Dream

"We'll just think of it as a 'See you later...'"

When will later ever get here? How long ago had she said that to me? Far too long, I realize, and yet the words echo again and again in my head everyday since she left. Since my Kagome boarded that plane taking with her my heart and leaving me with a promise...A promise that she'd return to me.

I waited for that day to come. I waited until graduation, and I waited until college...am I still waiting now? I'm not sure anymore. I was beginning to wonder if I'd truly ever meet her again. It was so long since I last saw her smile or heard her laughter that she was beginning to turn into an intangible memory.

A memory that seemed far too heavenly to be real, more like a dream than anything. I was beginning to feel as if my Kagome, and everything I had experienced with her---our first kiss, our confession, our passion...was all just a dream---one that ended far to soon.

Of course she had written to me at the beginning. I always looked forward to her letters, and hearing how she was faring somewhere in Kyoto, silently hoping that she was happy. And secretly hoping (although somewhat selfishly) that she wasn't as happy as when she was with me.

But the letters stopped suddenly. I don't remember when they had begun to stop coming, but it seemed as if there were no more envelopes in the mail from Kagome Higurashi for myself anymore. I was beginning to think she didn't love, want, and need me anymore as much as I loved, wanted, and needed her.

Still, I refuse to believe that. I will never believe it. But...

Though I am well into my third year in college now---Tokyo University to be exact, I still often think back of happier times in high school, with her...

Does she even dream, think, or wish for me as I do her? What if I had become a memory in her eyes? Still, I had dared to hope that she would return to me, my Kagome. Despite the long distance and even longer time I had been apart with her, I had not been with anyone else. Not that there was anyone else that I wanted besides HER.

"Come on, Sesshomaru! College! It's all about the GIRLS!" Miroku had said to me when I had bumped into him upon his freshman year. Sango had given him a good whack for that one. Needless to say, I was a bit surprised that they made it into Tokyo U. Well, maybe not Sango, but Miroku surprised me enough. The standards must be lower than they used to be...

However, I found his words to be highly offensive, even if he WAS still the pervert I knew him to be in high school. Like I would actually betray Kagome's memory by having mindless flings with college girls. College was a place to indulge in studies and make something for yourself...Heavens, I'm beginning to sound like my father...god forbid.

But indulge in my studies I did, not even giving relationships a second thought. People were beginning to think there was something wrong with me. But I never paid much heed to their words anyway. They knew nothing, understood nothing. They were nothing. Nothing.

Ah, perhaps I am reverting back to the cold ice prince all those years ago. Indeed, I had secluded myself from contact with others, rarely talked at all, and yes, even my teachers found me intimidating. Even Inuyasha had commented on how I seemed to change...Yes, just like it was all before HER.

Kagome...I miss you, I admit that with my entire being. But was it TRUE love? We were only in high school, barely adults when we spoke the three words...foolish and carefree from the harsh realities of what the world had to offer. Were we really meant for each other? And if so, then why is it that there is so much tearing us apart?

I can't help but sigh.

Time was wearing down on me, life had dealt me with so many dirty hands that I've lost what little compassion that I seemingly learned from her. I had practically convinced myself that she was just a dream...that what we had was just puppy love, and life goes on...But then, why is it that I feel as if I'm still waiting? Still clinging onto the fragments of a dream called Kagome?

~ @ ~

The black contents of his coffee swirled in the ceramic cup, distorting his own reflection in its hypnotic rings. He stared blankly into it, letting the steam rise and caress his skin before he took a sip of it. Absently, he noted that it tasted bitter than need be, but at the moment, neither cared nor wanted to do anything about it.

It aptly described his life in a way...bitter...

It was quiet today. The café was not filled with the usual cluster of college students clamoring to buy their early morning lattes in an attempt to wake themselves up. Whether it be from a full night of cramming for an exam or partying one's life away...it still brought most of them here.

Well, although it was quiet now, undoubtedly it'd return to its' bustling state soon enough. Afterall, he was here early, and only a couple of early birds were in the café.

But he was silently grateful that this morning, it was just the musty smell of freshly ground coffee and the dull yet soothing music that played softly in the air. Yes, he was one who appreciated his solitude.

It had been three years since he entered Tokyo University, and in that three years time, things had happened. For example, with the graduation of his younger brother, Inuyasha, his father had announced that he himself would inherit the company that his father owned.

Sesshomaru, was anything but thrilled...in fact, he could care less. But it was, by all means, a family business. Just recently Inutaisho had received a business propostion---one which was almost too goo to turn down, and that was the partnership of one of the second successful companies besides his own, Shikon corp.

However, from what he had heard, there was a catch in all of this---one that involved himself. Sesshomaru frowned at the thought of the terms in which it took to make the deal go through. He hated it terribly, and he thought his father out of all people would understand that he wouldn't--- couldn't go through with it.

"Because of a silly promise you made?" He remembered his father saying to him that day. Sesshomaru had remembered feeling so angry then. Wasn't his own happiness, his own wants and needs and his own ambitions more important than some stupid company deal?

Obviously not...Despite how his father had went on about how much he saw HER as a daughter, he kept on insisting that it was the chance of a lifetime. Grudgingly, in the end, he neither agreed, nor protested against it. His father took that as a sign that he would go through with it.

'Let him think whatever he wants,' Sesshomaru thought sourly. It's not like he cared anymore. Life seemed so meaningless and empty...Besides, it's not like he was REALLY keeping that promise...was he?

A growing headache formed in his mind, and he brought up his fingers to rub his temples. He shouldn't ruin his peaceful morning with such pressing matters. It's not like he actually had to deal with the matter until he was done with school.

Turning back to his coffee, he decided that's what he was going to focus on- --his studies, and that history exam he was going to have later on today.

The light ring of the door signified the entrance of another customer, but he didn't bother to look up. Instead, he promptly opened a book that he had beside him and began to read.

"Hello, how may I help you?" The woman from behind that counter asked in an amiable voice.

"Um...just a cappuccino would be fine." A soft feminine voice answered. A few moments later, he heard a rustling sound beside him, and figured that whoever entered had taken a seat next to him. Still, his eyes remained on the book.

"Here you go," The woman came back with the cappuccino, and a curt "Thanks" replied.

They sat there in silence, neither said a word, and if the silence went on any longer, Sesshomaru would've sworn he was still by himself. Bu then...

"What are you reading?" The girl beside him asked. Her voice was soft and casual. He remained silent for several moments, and without looking up he finally answered.

"The Da Vinci Code," Was his bland answer. He could hear a muttered "oh," and it pretty much fell silent again. He didn't even bother to look up at the girl, and he was pretty sure she didn't even bother to look up at him either. Usually he'd be unnerved at the fact that he was ignored, but for now he preferred silence.

"Is it good?"

Spoke too soon. He let out a bored "hm" and continued reading. Beside him he could feel her rustle and turn away, a slight sigh escaping her lips.

"Great...the first person I meet around here and he's about as talkative as my sock..." She mumbled.

"So, you talk to your sock then?" Sesshomaru replied in an irritated as well with slight amused voice. He heard her huff in frustration, and the cup on the table containing her cappuccino was taken in a rather rough snatch that some droplets spilled on the table.

Sesshomaru lifted his gaze slightly from his book, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the girl had her back turned to him. Raven locks cascading halfway down her back, and momentarily he was entranced at the gleam it produced when illuminated with the early morning rays. He shook off the feeling, and returned to his unfinished novel.

"I'm sorry, do I annoy you?" She grumbled.

"Ah, you catch on quickly. I can see how you managed to get into Tokyo University." He replied, his voice holding no emotion besides a hint of amusement.

"Are all the people here such jerks or is it just you?"

His grip on the book tightened momentarily. Usually his patience was not easily worn out, but this girl must be an expert. And yet at the same time her defiance reminded him...somewhere in the back of his mind of...He shook his wandering thoughts.

"I'll take your silence as saying yes, you're a jerk." She finished. Sesshomaru was one step closer to turning to see the face of that annoying woman and give her a good long glare, but thought better of it.

"Stop that."

She gave out a choked cough and he could probably imagine that she was having her head tilted to the side.

"Stop what?"

"That thing where you open your mouth and sound comes out, it is quite irritating." The girl let out an exasperated sigh, and he knew that he had won this round. The other would always break in the end...he always won.

"I was mistaken..."

He turned slightly to look at her, his eyes only meeting once again with the back of her head, and she made no move to turn to look at him.

"I really am sorry, I thought you were someone else, and I thought..." She shook her head, causing some of her raven locks to cascade over her shoulder. "You even sound like him..."

Sesshomaru scoffed and his golden orbs returned to his book, eyes narrowed as he heard a slight rustling sound from behind.

"Well, I assure you that whoever you are talking about, I am not he." There was a long silence that followed after, and for a while only the sound of the door opening and closing and the soft jingle of the bells signified more guests coming in.

"No," She finally responded. "No, you're not him." The soft and quiet tone of her voice surprised him, and it surprised him even more so when he caught a bit of sadness seeped in her words.

"Well then, Sayonara," She bid him farewell with a more cheery tone, and he was about to say something witty to her to make the insulting moment last...but... "You couldn't possibly be Sesshomaru."

It was barely a whisper, but he had caught it. In a flash, he had whirled his head around, golden eyes suddenly alert and intent on grabbing the girl by the shoulders and demanding her to repeat what she said.

Too bad he never got the chance. When he turned she was no where in sight, and only the closing of the door indicated that she had left the café.

'Damn.' He mentally cursed. Sesshomaru was about to turn back, finish his bitter coffee and put his novel on hold when something caught his eye. Tilting his head slightly to the side, he crouched down and picked up what appeared to be a picture...a rather worn out picture at that.

His breath became hitched in his throat when he saw who was captured in the picture.

"Kagome..." He whispered. Indeed it was a picture of him and the girl that he had spent countless nights trying to forget, smiling contently as she had her arms wrapped around his neck in a loose hug from behind.

Instinctively his fingers came up to trace the lines of her face on the photo, and a sense of longing as well as nostalgia ran through him. 'Could it possibly be...that girl was...' Golden orbs one again came up to stare in a bewildered state up at the door, watching as the streets slowly filled more and more with people with the rising of the sun.

And Sesshomaru realized...his coffee wasn't so bitter afterall...

It was bittersweet.

End Chapter ^_^

Yume: Okay! First chapter kinda short. More or less a prologue!

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! No flames and don't forget to nominate!