Chapter 1: The Darkness
"The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness"
It was dark, the full moon occasionally showing from behind the dark clouds that drifted over it. The small dark figure stood outside of the circle of light made by the camp fire, eyes flickered over the three figures closest to the fire to settle on the young man who lay on the very edge of that circle of light. The eyes stayed focused on him taking in every detail, concentrating on the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. Another pair of eyes kept watch from the darkness on the small figure as it made its way toward the fire.
The footsteps were almost silent but still Inuyasha stirred in his sleep, making a small sound as he shifted. The wind blew through the trees rustling the leaves and the familiar scent reached him just as the blade plunged deep into his chest. His eyes flew open and his mouth opened in a howl that became a silent gasp of air as his gaze focused on the girl above him. Her face was nearly covered by her long black hair blowing loose in the wind but still the beautiful pale skin and ruby lips were clearly and painfully visible.
" Ka….gome?" he whispered disbelievingly as he raised a blood covered hand from his chest.
The round pink jewel swung on the chain around her neck, flashing as she knelt down beside him. Her eyes were a deep hollow black as she stared at his bloody hand, her eyes dropping to the silver dagger as the firelight reflected in its shining surface. His blood spilled across his naked chest and down his side to soak into the ground creating a halo of blood around him and the sword at his side.
Kagome ran her fingers along the sheath of the tetsiaga then lifted her hand to trace the ancient and intricate carving on the handle of the dagger all the while no expression appeared on her face. She made no sound but she seemed to take in a deep breath as her fingers wrapped around the hilt dagger.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha's fingers wrapped around her wrist, his gasp full of pain and disbelief. Her hollow eyes slowly rose to his, not their usually silver but black now on the moonlit night and filled with a mortal pain. Her hand tightened around the dagger, his hand tightened painfully around her wrist his other hand grasping the Tetsiaga. She moved to straddle him her foot coming down over the hand on the sword. He grunted and stared hard at her face.
"Where is Kagome?'
She flinched, if from his strangle hold on her wrist or his question was not clear but her voice was cold and hollow as her eyes when she answered.
"I am Kagome,"
Her other hand came up and pushed the blade home deep into his chest to the hilt, her body leaning forward with the effort. Her face was nearly touching his, the ends of her long hair trailing through his blood. His eyes widened and he grunted in pain, the fingers around her wrist loosing and falling to his side.
"Why?" his breathing was shallow and slow and to speak cost him painfully his eyes closing as he lost consciousness. Kagome moved her lips a bare breath from his and for the first time emotion was clear, and with so much love in her voice it was painful to hear she whispered ,
"For your sake Inuyasha"
She stood in one fluid motion her cloak flowing around her and turned away stepping back into the shadows without a backwards glance and towards a tall silhouette waiting in the distance who watched everything with a small satisfied smile. .