Disclamier: I don't own InuYahsa

The Past. "Time before the present and the events that happened then" The Pending. "Not yet dealt with, decided, or settled" Caught between the two I dream. I can't tell what's reality and what is fake.

Chapter One: Those Grey Faces

"I heard a cry today. It broke the silence of the night like a siren. It kept going and going. My eyes were searching frantically for the creature of such a wail. It seemed like it was coming from all directions. It brought back…"

I pause.

"What did it bring Sesshomaru?" My therapist urges.

I look at me wrist.

"You know what, I'm going to be late."

I wonder if she noticed I'm not wearing a watch.

"Well, you can always come back later on today. I have no appointments and-,"

"Yeah, I'll see." I really didn't want to be here now. I get off the brown leather chair and grab my long khaki colored trench coat and walk out of Izumi's office. Through the wooden door I could hear her sigh and pretend I didn't.

I walk out of the building, the frosty morning winter air hits me like reality. Placing my hands into my pockets I head down the streets.

There were so many people in Tokyo; everyone seemed to be in their own worlds. Soft faces turned into cold mugs over time. It was like no one could trust anyone.

The thought of this realism made me laugh.

Those grey faces stop and look at me strangely. I stop. My face goes back to monotone serious as I turn the corner.

I finally reach my destination and sole purpose of my life, work. I'm a social worker, working for the CPS of Tokyo, Child Protection Services.

When I walk in I'm greeted by the receptionist, Iori.

"Good morning." She says dryly as she flips the page of a magazine, doesn't even spare me a glance.

To anyone who would happen to wonder in the CPS building would say Iori is the kind of person who is hard to talk to, gives short answers. One look from her reads 'I don't care.'

Insensitive.

Well to be honest, it's true. But Iori has a reason for working for CPS, we all do.

I nod my head in response and walk through the door leading to the conference room. I am bestowed by my bickering colleagues. If there was a reason why co-workers shouldn't date, it would be those two.

"I wanna have two! No wait, four! The more the merrier right!"

"Grr...How can we have kids! We're both guys!"

"It was just wishful thinking!" Jakotsu cries dramatically, barring his face in his hands.

"Aww, Jakotsu I was just kidding. We can have kids…hell, we'll have seven!" Bankostu pleaded with Jakotsu's PMS.

"No we can't," Jakotsu pouts. He was such a child sometimes.

"Ahem," I interrupt, trying to pull Bankostu out of an even deeper hole.

"Oh, good morning Sessh!" Jakotsu says to me happily. It was like he forgot how mad he was.

He continues, "Me and Bankostu here were just talking about our future."

"I see," I reply shortly

Bankostu just sits there during our exchange with his hand resting under his chin as he balances his elbows on the table. He was use to Jakotsu's "interesting" ways.

The far door opens and in comes our boss of Unit 23, Ichitaka. He's a tall man with long black hair and stern green eyes.

"Good morning gentlemen." He's carrying a file tucked under his arm.

"Hey," Jakotsu replies.

"Morning," Bankostu says tiredly.

I just give him an acknowledging look.

He sits down, as do I. Ichitaka slides the manila folder across the table. We all stare at it.

"Well?" He says "Who's gonna take this one?"

"Sorry," Bankostu starts, raising his hands "I already have the one with the abusive boyfriend and disturbed child."

"Yeah, and I have the 'Brady Bunch' with the crazy mother and fathers who's never home," Jakotsu states.

All eyes are on me.

I slide the new case file over and skim the contents.

Young mother

Neighbors have concerns about child

"It was handed over to us from our cronies at the police station." Ichitaka says, "They said it was our jurisdiction."

"Yeah this was fun and all," Bankostu says as he gets up "but I have to get back to work."

"I need coffee." Jakotsu yawns, following him out the door.

"When do I see to this?" I ask.

"Tomorrow, I'll have your investigation papers ready by then." Ichitaka says.

"Understood." I say, and walk out the door.

I'm on my way home when my mind feels clouded. I feel some what, off. Like the feeling I got when I was eight, after being rude to the girl I liked. The world seemed to spin around me, hearing became hard. I start to run.

Winter rain begins to pour. The streets around me seem like a blur, a mixture of patchy scenes covered in tears. I start to run harder. I'm out of breath and soaked but still continue to run, as if every step I take may be my last. I don't know were I'm going but I still manage to continue.

I find myself out of breath in front of Izumi's office. I open to door to see her packing her stuff, ready to go home. She stops putting papers in her brief case when she lays eyes on me.

"Oh Sesshomaru, what can I do for you?"

I take off my jacket and seat myself down on the brown leather chair. She sits down too in her chair behind her desk.

"Memories." I say.

She looks at me confused, "Excuse me?"

"This morning, when I was telling you about the cry in the night, it brought back memories."

Izumi folds her hands and leans forward, "What were those memories?"

"They were of my past."

She is listening intently now.

I continue, "Back then, I couldn't help her. Back then, all I could do was listen to her cry."

Izumi leans pack into her chair, her red painted lips curve into a smile "Well now I think we're getting somewhere."

My mind is lucid as I walk home. And began to notice once more how many people were in Tokyo. Those once supple faces that turned into cold mugs over time, the countenances that seemed like they could trust no one.

I can feel my eyes fill with amusement and a smile grace my face.

To my surprise I start to laugh again. It's an uncontrollable laughter that just erupts from my throat. I soon find myself wiping tears from my eyes. It was a hilarity that you don't mean to do, but can't help it.

Those same grey faces stop and look at me strangely. I pause briefly and stare back, trying to gain control of my spontaneity actions. But in the end, I just proceed to laugh some more.

Kagura's P.O.V.

I walk down the street and I try to forget the fact that I just got fired from my job. Grocery Stores are evil organizations anyway. But I know I need to find another job and fast. I need the money, but not for myself, for him.

As I continue to walk aimlessly down the street I start to think. Gloomy, dark, murky, sad...whatever you want to call it, I see it everyday. These simple adjectives are used to describe people who can't get out of a routine day. They're the faces of the beings that are always reaching but are never close. The ones that are struggling not just for themselves, but another life. The grey faces. The melancholy grey faces.

I also think of the other kind a face. The faces of beings that can look at the grey faces and laugh. They're faces that do not laugh out of spite, but the faces that laugh because the know something the other doesn't realize. And when I find out what that certain realization is, I have a feeling I'm gonna laugh too.

My voice feels scratchy. Well I guess that's what you get when you have no one to talk to. I'm not some loner or anything, but all my old friends...and my family...well let's just say their not here right now. You know I really love this choice of freedom, with my career and all. Two months ago I was a sales associate and as of about 15 minutes ago I use to work at a grocery store. Then again, I got fired from both. Am really that worthless?

"So, why do you think we should hire you?"

"Well...I'm a good worker. And I promise to be committed to this."

"Committed eh? Well Ms.Kaze, there's a lot of people who are committed. What makes you so special? Hmm...Let's take a look at your resume. 'Several previous job experiences' Says here you're 'good with people' Like I haven't heard that one. But all and all, this is very impressive."

"Thank you sir"

"But you know what's strange?"

"Umm...no"

He threw another paper on the desk that looked to be another resume. It had a picture of a young girl's face on it.

"Miaka Netsuke here from Osaka is about the same age as you. And you know what else?"

"No."

"She's looking for the same job."

"..."

"What I'm trying to get at Ms.Kaze, is that there are 100s of other girls out there, just like you, who want this waitress job. And what I want to know is why I should give you the job, instead of Miaka Netsuke from Osaka?"

That one left me speechless. But I can't give up now. Like I said before, I need this job.

My boots feel a little lighter. Now that my job problem is fixed, I can now move on the bigger question: How am I gonna live?

I sound like such a worrier huh? The sad kid who fucked up and is now blaming every one else. No, that's not me. I got myself into this life and I have no one to blame but me. I learned the hard way of how the word works.

It's tough to go places with everyone whispering behind you back. And when you turn around toward them, they smile like they've done nothing wrong. That's one of the main reasons I moved to Tokyo. To get out and try my best to forget my old life. But it's kind of hard when that old life is the basis of me living this difficult one.

But when I think about home I think about how much I liked being judged. Every comment I heard brought me one step closer to finding out who I am.

So, I'm glad I'm here. I am.

It's raining now. A cold rain that pours down from the sky. It's not like the usual gentle crying, but a pounding that demands to be heard. Sometimes I wish I could be like that. Its makes we wonder where I could be right now. But wondering never gets you anywhere. This isn't some fairy tale story where my prince charming will come and my life will be filled with easiness and pleasure. This is real. I don't have any support or any friends. I have to work hard and struggle in this silent pain.

I walk down the street and decide not to put my rain coat on. I guess it's my way of trying to break out from the rest. I'm soaked and cold. The people around me look at me strangely. But it's like looking in a mirror. A grey mirror.

And I look at my freezing wet form and I call my self a liar. Because I don't want to be here. I want to go home.

Tbc...