The Last Light

Chapter One: Anything but Ordinary

"And when the world is on its knees
With me, it's fine
And when I come to the rescue
I get nothing but left behind
Everybody seems to be getting what they need
Where's mine?
'Cause you're what I need so very
But I'm anything but ordinary"

"Ordinary" by Train

Stress was leaning against her just a little too much. Living two lives at once is too hard for a teenager. School is considered torture to ordinary kids that have one simple life. Homework is given out every day, and there is absolutely no time for hanging out with friends. A life in the Feuderal Era is torture, especially when fighting demons. An ordinary person in this time period would have everyday as a day of worry and terror, mostly over if they will live for one more minute or not.

Kagome Higurashi was not ordinary. She did not have those 'ordinary' days like everyone else. She was Kagome, protector of the Shikon no Tama, and a student at her high school. In some people's eyes, her life may sound exciting and adventurous, something different than what it really was like. But even different opportunities can become complex nightmares.

And it was remarkable to know that Kagome had been living two lives for three years.

The bell rang, echoing throughout the empty hallways. Papers were littered over the muddy tiled floors, and garbage cans were tipped over, their contents spilled out. Announcements were hanging on the walls; pinned against large brown bulletin boards. And every door along the hallways was closed.

That stupid bell kept ringing loudly and annoyingly.

Within a second, the bell ended, and shouting and loud talking erupted through the classrooms. The doors swung open, sometimes slamming into the wall with a loud thud, but no one seemed to notice or care. The hallways that were once quiet and peaceful were suddenly crowded with hundreds of loud teenagers, anxious to get home. People shoved their way through the crowds, and lockers opening and slamming shut were echoing along the corridors.

Among those people was eighteen year-old Kagome Higurashi. She was a skinny girl with long black hair, sparkling brown eyes, and had a smile that could light up any room. She also had the worst attendance record of any student in her grade.

Her mind was set on one thing as she pushed past people, all chatting happily about their weekend. It was either, "I'm going out with my boyfriend," or, "I'm going out with my girlfriend." Occasionally she would hear, "I'm trying to get my ex to like me again, and then dump him," but that was it. Nothing else, and Kagome started getting irritated, especially when her friends unexpectedly popped up behind her.

"Guess who I'm going on a date with!" Yuka cried, bouncing around in excitement.

Ayumi gasped, "Who?" she asked in wonder.

Yuka paused and Eri and Ayumi leaned in, desperate to know.

"Mark!" The girl's squealed and Kagome rolled her eyes as she opened her locker and stuffed almost every book in her bag.

Eri sighed, "I'm still going out with Takoma… seriously guys, I need to find someone else…"

Ayumi smiled, "Well come on, let's go find you someone," and she pulled Eri and Yuka away from Kagome. She stopped suddenly, with her hands still on Eri and Yuka, and they stumbled backwards. Ayumi looked at Kagome, "Hey Kagome, do you want to come?"

Kagome sadly smiled and shook her head, "No, I have a lot to do this weekend."

"Alright, see you!" Eri called, as the three girls ran off.

Kagome watched them run off, Yuka and Ayumi yelling, "Does anyone want to go out with Eri?" throughout the halls.

Kagome sighed as they left and slammed her locker shut.

Kagome walked home, her feet dragging lazily the whole way. As she opened the door to her home, she was greeted with the smell of freshly baked cookies. Dropping her backpack on the ground, she walked along the hall until she turned into the kitchen.

"Why hello dear!" Her mom said as she looked up from putting the pan of cookies into the oven.

Kagome smiled, "Hey mom!" and looked around small the kitchen to find Inuyasha sitting at the table, munching away on a cookie. Inuyasha was a half-demon, or a hanyou. He was wearing his red haori that he wore everyday, with the Tetsusaiga strapped at his waist. He had golden eyes, that Kagome loved looking into, and long silver hair. But what she loved most was his two fuzzy dog ears at the top of his head.

He looked up when she entered. Kagome noticed something flash in his eyes. Anger?

"Inuyasha, what are you doing here?" Kagome asked as she went and sat down next to him, grabbing a cookie on the way.

He looked up. "It's time to go wench, we need to go find those damn shards," he said, and turned his attention to another cookie.

Kagome bit hers and looked up, "Why are you in such a bad mood, Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha growled, "I'm not in a bad mood." He pushed the chair back, letting it scrape against the floor, and stood up, his hands leaning against the table. "Come on, we have to go-"

"Oh hold on, I just got here!" Kagome said as she grabbed another cookie and waved him off.

Inuyasha grumbled something under his breath and walked out of the room.

Kagome looked at the door with an eyebrow raised. "What's his problem?"

Mrs. Higurashi looked at her daughter and smiled. "Oh, he just walked in all grouchy, so I gave him some cookies…I really don't know what is bothering him though. Sorry, dear."

Kagome nodded as she just shrugged it off, and finished her cookie.

"So I guess I'm leaving again mom," Kagome said as she stood up and walked over to her mother.

"You better be safe," Mrs. Higurashi said as she hugged Kagome and kissed her cheek. "But Inuyasha is with you, so I have nothing to worry about."

Kagome smiled and turned around to find Inuyasha at the doorway with her overly large yellow backpack slung around his arm, and a gruff look on his face.

"I'll be back soon mom, I promise!"

And she was intent on keeping that small promise.

As soon as they passed through time, Inuyasha immediately jumped ahead, leaving her alone in the well with her heavy backpack around her arm.

"Uh, Inuyasha?" Kagome called. She saw him look down at her. "Can you help me up?"

"Get up here yourself wench," Inuyasha said as he crossed his arms.

Kagome scowled. "Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha glared at her and jumped down, landing on the ground gracefully. He picked Kagome up, slung her backpack around his arm, and jumped out of the well.

He immediately set her down and handed the stuffed backpack to her. Kagome took it and swung it around her shoulder, almost collapsing with the sudden change of weight. She looked around at her surroundings. She loved this place. She could smell the fresh air that she would have never smelled in her time. The full-grown forests, which were not cut down. And how on nights, you could see all the stars. She sighed.

Inuyasha walked ahead. "Come on wench," he grumbled out.

Her good mood was immediately put aside as she glared at his walking figure. "Inuyasha, what is your problem today? What's wrong?"

Inuyasha growled and pretended to ignore her.

Kagome started running, and tried to desperately catch up with him, even though her backpack was weighing her down. Doesn't Inuyasha always hold her backpack for her?

She grabbed hold of his arm and tugged on it, "Inuyasha, can you tell me what's wrong?" she asked with worried eyes.

Inuyasha looked at her. "You're late," he said as he glared at her.

Kagome dropped her backpack onto the ground and put her hands on her hips. "Is that what you're mad at?" she said, making it sound like the idea was stupid.

"It was three days, wench! We could have been getting the shards. Naraku probably has most of the shards now!" Kagome was taken aback.

"It's not a big deal, Inuyasha! I already told you that I might take longer because I have to take my tests-"

"Damn it Kagome! Those tests aren't as important as finding the shards-"

"Inuyasha! I have a life too you know! If I don't do well on these tests, I will never have a good life! Do you want me to have that?" Kagome yelled with her fists clenched at her sides.

"It doesn't matter!" Inuyasha yelled, "You can have a life here! You don't need your damn family and-"

He stopped. Kagome's eyes had tears brimming in them and her bottom lip trembled slightly.

"Inuyasha, you don't know how hard it is for me," She said as she picked up her backpack, "I don't even know my friends anymore, I hardly see my family, and you expect me to spend everyday here?" She turned and walked towards Kaede's village, ignoring the weight of her backpack that was close to dragging her to the ground.

Her words hit Inuyasha like a brick. He watched her walk away. "Kagome!"

Kagome ignored him and kept walking.

He took a few steps forward and stopped.

"Damn it," he muttered to himself.

Kagome walked through the flap of Kaede's hut furiously. Her eyes were flashing angrily (her tears were gone) and her brows furrowed together, forming a little line in the center of her forehead. Her fists were clenched into little balls at her sides, and her mouth formed a straight line. Kagome looked up from the ground when she entered the hut and immediately put on a fake smile that would not fool anybody.

"Hey guys!" she said in a voice that oozed with fake enthusiasm.

"Hey…Kagome…" Sango slowly said, eyeing her.

"Why hello Lady Kagome," Miroku said, a glint in his eyes.

Shippo however, didn't do the usual 'hello' greeting. "Did Inuyasha get you mad again, Kagome?" he piped up.

Kagome's smile vanished as she dropped her overly large backpack on the ground. "That jerk! He doesn't understand! He just jumps to conclusions and yells at me for stupid reasons-"

Miroku smiled at her.

Kagome looked at him, "What?" she said annoyed.

Miroku just smirked and shook his head, "I shall not say," he said and kept grinning to himself.

Kagome rolled her eyes.

"Kagome, did you bring me something?" Shippo asked hopefully, looking up at her with his large eyes.

Kagome smiled, this time, it wasn't a forced smile, but a loving one, as she knelt down and opened the flap of her backpack. She dug her hands inside and tried to feel for the chocolate.

"Wow Kagome, you brought a lot of stuff!" Shippo said as he peered inside.

"Yeah, well, I have a lot of tests to study for next week."

"Oh," Shippo responded, only caring for his gift.

Kagome smiled and said 'aha' in her head as she pulled out the chocolate and handed it to the bouncing Shippo.

"Thanks Kagome!" He exclaimed and ran to the middle of the hut, munching along happily on his treat.

Kagome smiled and sat down next to Sango and Miroku.

Sango looked at her, "So what happened between you and Inuyasha?"

Kagome sighed. "When we came out of the well, he started yelling at me for beings three days late-"

"Yes, Inuyasha was pretty angry this morning," Miroku said thoughtfully.

"Well that's just Inuyasha being normal," Shippo said as he finished his chocolate, and then ran over to sit in Kagome's lap.

"But do you guys know why?" Kagome asked.

Sango shook her head. "We don't know, he was quiet this morning, and then he started yelling at us also…"

Kagome sighed. I wonder what's up with him.

There was a sliver of the moon shining brightly. No clouds were in the sky. It was bright out almost, with the stars glowing cheerfully onto the darkened world.

Kagome stared up at the ceiling of the hut. Inuyasha hadn't come to the hut yet. She was getting worried.

Sleep seemed far away from her, like in some other place. Kagome groaned as she sat up and looked around. Everyone else was asleep around her, including Kaede who had come later in the night from helping a pregnancy.

But Inuyasha wasn't there.

Standing up, she carefully avoided waking Shippo who was sleeping next to her, curled in a ball. Shippo moved a little at the loss of warmth, but continued snoring lightly.

Kagome smiled as she tiptoed out of the hut, walking quietly into the night.

She was still in her school uniform, and felt a little cold in the night air. Forgetting that, she walked along, her feet shuffling along the stiff grass. Looking up, she saw the stars and the small moon glowing brightly as if there was no tomorrow. It was amazing, that in the future, you could hardly see these wonderful nature views.

Where are you Inuyasha? Kagome looked around the trees as she entered the forest. Could he be at Goshinboku?

The forest was quiet, like nothing had ever lived in these trees for years. There was no wind to make the trees sing, or sunlight to shine through the branches and onto the ground. It was quiet. No other word was needed. Shadows lurked behind every corner, and the only sound you really could hear was Kagome's feet, sweeping through the grass.

Kagome's arms crossed over each other in front of her chest. She suddenly felt cold. But it wasn't the cold air. It felt like she was being watched, like millions pairs of eyes were on her and she couldn't see them.

Her mind instantly imagined demons behind every corner, every tree. They hid like crouching animals, ready to pounce on their prey. She imagined snarling teeth and sharp claws…and…

Kagome shook her head as she walked a little faster. If demons were surrounding her, Inuyasha would come and save her.

But would he? After that fight, he might just let her be killed by the demons. He might just forget about her and run off, trying to find Kikyo, to go to Hell with her.

Kagome shook her head and slapped herself mentally for saying that. That's not Inuyasha…he would never do that.

But doesn't he want to go to Hell with Kikyo? Kagome thought.

Kagome came back into reality, and turned her head every which way, being alert for any sign of danger. Her heart sped up, and right now she regretted having forgotten her bow and arrows.

Kagome never really liked this particular night; it always made her remember the night of her father's death, of regret. The same picture of her father being killed by that murderer. Her, standing there watching the scene. The image replayed in her mind. She remembered her dad against a tree, the gun sticking right up into his throat, held by the masked killer. Kagome remembered herself, as a five year-old, standing there, with tears in her eyes, as she cried out her fathers name over and over again.

Kagome felt tears prick at her eyes. That night was exactly like a night like this with a sliver of the moon and too many stars to count. And at that time, when she was five, you could actually see more stars back then more than you could see now in her time. Her memory of that night was haunting her. It always haunted her on a night like this, or more precisely, on the night of her dad's murder.

But the forest was soon gone. Kagome stepped into a clearing that made her memory of that one night scatter away. She continued walking, and then stopped in front of Goshinboku. She looked up at it; the tree was high, its leaves and branches feet above her, shining in the brilliant starlight.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked up into the tree.

There was no answer.

"Inuyasha, are you there?" Kagome asked again.

No answer.

She sighed and turned around, leaning against the trunk of the tree. She folded her arms against her chest and stared down at the ground.

Where could he be?

Kagome rubbed her eyes as she felt them droop. "Should I head back?" she muttered to herself.

She pushed herself off of the tree with the backs of her arms, and started to walk away slowly, drowsiness starting to get the best of her.

"Ah, the young miko." A voice said behind her, sending shivers up and down Kagome's spine, causing her to wake up completely.

She stopped lifeless in her tracks, exactly like a dear in headlights. She slowly turned around to come face to face with Naraku. He stood there, feet away from her, in his own personal self. He did not have that baboon costume on.

Naraku smirked at her, "I see you are alone, and without any protection," he laughed as he saw fear flash through the girls eyes.

Kagome backed up a couple of steps, "What do you want?"

Naraku saw her walk backwards, and kept the smirk planted firmly on his face. He took a step closer and said, "You are with the Shikon Jewel," he took another step, "This is perfect." Kagome mentally shivered at the sound of his voice, it was like fingernails running down a never-ending chalkboard. He was in control, and she knew it.

Kagome backed away, "Stay away Naraku!"

Naraku walked closer to her, "I can't do that, especially when the jewel is within my grasp," And he laughed.

Kagome saw it, the black magic at his hand, and watched it fly through the air. Her head followed it and moved with it until she saw it directly in front of her stomach. Her head was looking down as she felt it spear through her like a bucks antlers going through her skin with a strong force. She screamed as it touched her. The force flew her backwards, slamming her into Goshinboku.

Kagome barely stayed awake as she saw Naraku coming towards her.

Naraku was there, hovering above the girl with his hand to her throat. He picked her up, the girl choking, trying to scream. Her hands tried to pry Naraku's off of her neck, but that only caused him to squeeze tighter. He lifted her up off the ground, and the girl could no longer scream, no longer breathe. Her feet were kicking in the air, trying to kick her predator who had the control. Naraku only laughed and spread poison from his hands through to her neck. She tried to scream, but no sound was heard. Nothing.

Then the girl's legs instantly stopped kicking and her hands fell down to her sides. Her eyes, that were once brown, were now lifeless.

Naraku laughed, loud into the sky above. Then he looked back down, and grabbed something from her neck. It sparkled in the light, and a powerful aura was coming from it. Then, he threw the girl at the ground, a distance away from him, and she bounced on the ground like a broken doll.

Realization struck Inuyasha. "Kagome!" he screamed, running for her. Naraku laughed and disappeared, along with the world. It disappeared slowly, one object fading away after the next. Inuyasha stopped running and looked around. Nothing was there, nothing. All it was darkness. Not even a sliver of light was seen.

Inuyasha looked around, "Kagome!" he yelled. His voice echoed, running farther and farther away. But nothing responded, not even a little voice.

Inuyasha turned his body around, looking for anything, but he couldn't see anything but darkness. He turned every which way, looking for something, anything, or mostly, any sign of Kagome.

Then he turned again, and came face to face with Kikyo. She stood there, light surrounding her, her head bowed. Her eyelids were closed, and Inuyasha stepped forward.

"Kikyo?" he paused to listen for an answer. He got nothing. "Where's Kagome?"

She opened her eyes and looked up, "Choose one Inuyasha, or I will deal with it myself…" her voice faded away.

Inuyasha sighed as the dream from last night drifted back into his memory again.

He leaned his head back against the tree and closed his eyes. He felt bad. Guilt was rising throughout him, coursing through his veins. Sure, it happened a lot, but every time he and Kagome had a fight, he always ended up feeling guilty and sulking in some tree.

This morning he was pissed, and he himself, the stubborn one, had admitted that. Some of his anger was based off of the dream he had. To think, no, to know, that Kagome was dead at that one time…well…it wasn't an incredibly good feeling for Inuyasha. It felt like he had been ripped down the center, and then torn into many pieces that were scattered everywhere, each piece far away from the next. His demon side felt like taking over, like he wanted to feel emotionless, if that had ever happened.

He growled at himself, and opened his eyes, into the night. That would never happen to Kagome. I will never let that happen to her…never.

Inuyasha looked up into the night sky. He remembered a night like this with Kagome. It was only the two of them, and they were out walking in the forest. Kagome was talking to him about anything, and he couldn't help himself but smile at her. And when she probably talked herself out, she got tired and started to lean on him for support. He had carried her back to the hut, and the whole time, Kagome was asleep in his arms, muttering his name over and over again with a smile on her face.

Inuyasha smiled. That one night was a night to remember.

But he still yelled at her for no reason that morning. That thought wiped away the smile on his face. He yelled at her for being three days late, and blaming her if Naraku got some of the shards. And of course, when she yelled back, that only got him worse. So she just walked away, not saying anything else to him.

Inuyasha sighed. She was three days late, and he thought he was going to be nice about it, but he just blew up at her.

Did she mean what she said? "I don't even know my friends anymore, I hardlysee my family, and you expect me to spend everyday here?" she had said. He knew her life was hard, even difficult, but did she feel bad about seeing him, about coming here? Does she regret having met him?

He groaned. She probably hates me now…

A scream pitched the air.

Inuyasha stood quickly to his feet, and twitched his ears. He knew who that was.

"Kagome!"

Shippo awoke suddenly. He heard something. Something that sounded like a scream.

He immediately stood up to find everyone sleeping. Sango was curled up in a little ball with Kilala nestled by her neck. Miroku snored a little under his blankets. Kaede was on the other side of the hut, snoring more like a cow than a pig.

But Kagome wasn't next to him.

"Where's Kagome?" He asked worriedly aloud to himself, a little too loud.

"Shippo?" Shippo looked to the side to see Sango rubbing her eyes and sitting up. She yawned. "What are you doing up?"

"Sango, I heard someone scream. It sounded like Kagome!" Shippo said, fear etched in his voice.

Sango fully opened her eyes and saw that the spot where Kagome was once laying was now empty.

"Shippo, where is she?"

He shook his head. "I don't know, I woke up and she wasn't here."

Sango quickly stood up. "Come on, let's go find-"

Miroku stirred in his sleep at the loud voices. "What are you guys doing?" he mumbled, sitting up and looking at them with tired eyes.

"We're going to go look for Kagome."

Yeh!!! I wrote a story at last! I'm excited!

Well, I think this is going to be a good story. I edited through it a couple of times, and did I mention my new beta? Yes that's right! Her name is Monica7725!!! Go read her stories! She writes Harry Potter, and she has some really good Draco/Hermione and Fred/Hermione fics!!! Big thanks to you Monica!!!! Monica7725 also helped me with the summary, so a BIG chocolate cake for her!!!

Man, this chapter took me a long time to write. At first it was around 19 pages of Word, and then I was supposed to write around 5 more pages, so I split the chapter in half. Hopefully the next chapter will be up really soon because I already have half of it done! Yeh!

Okay, so make sure you review! I love reviews, I may respond to some of them.

And if you read The New Girl, this story is gonna be much better than that one! Now I'm paying much more attention to my chapters!