Chapter 1: Lost in Yourself

Note: This story takes place smack dab in the middle of their journey, but before Inuyasha gains the ability to use the barrier breaking Red Tessaiga.

Just wanted to clarify that this WILL NOT be the stereotypical angsty corrupt Kagome fic. I have plans for this to be fun and adventurous. So don't expect the traditional take. (Well, except in this chapter. This chapter is definitely a bit more serious, but trust me. The next one won't be).

Inuyasha ran, the fear and rage bellowing through him like a new found strength, pushing himself to be faster and more alert as he continued down the dirt path. He could smell him, the putrid scent of smoke and sewage filling the hanyou's sensitive nose, and in the back of his mind, he could hear the cackle of that self-proclaimed snake king. His pale green eyes with the deep slit in the middle were metaphorically staring Inuyasha down menacingly, hissing as his flat, thin tongue poked out from between his lips. And while everything about him had haunted the silver-haired man since their last meeting, he wasn't scared of him in the way of fearing his power and abilities. In fact, Inuyasha had no doubts about being able to slice him down. It was the fact that, while Inuyasha had frolicked off to meet up with Kikyo, this snake king had slithered in and taken Kagome, flaunting off his new "prize" when the hanyou had returned before taking off to who knows where. And it had been days before Inuyasha was able to pick up on his scent again. He was scared for Kagome. Snake demons were nasty and cruel, and he wouldn't doubt that the priestess wasn't unharmed. He could only hope that whatever that snake had done was irreversible.

He continued to run until he came upon a modest, dark-wood mansion sitting in the middle of a swampy lake. It was at least three stories high, and looked as if each floor was the size of ten normal huts. The snake king's scent was everywhere, and it clouded everything else, making it impossible to even smell Kagome. But he knew she was in there. His instincts were going crazy. Save her. Kill him.

He had pretty much abandoned the rest of the gang when he smelled the snake, running at speeds no one was sure he had ever reached before, so he knew he was going in alone. But he hadn't wanted to slow down in case Kagome was severely injured.

So, Inuyasha leaped over the lake, reaching the front porch of the mansion, where he proceeded to kick down the door violently, sniffing in aggressively before following the demon's scent to the top floor. The interior had vines growing all around, looking as though it had been abandoned. However, when he took a step onto the third floor, he stopped momentarily, taking in the scents around him and realizing that something was different. It smelted vaguely better, and after sniffing the air a few times, his pointed nose sticking up into the air, he realized he could smell her. Her delicate scent was mixed in with the demon's strong one. She was here. And so was the king.

He continued to follow both, bursting into the door at the end of the hallway, which revealed to him a room larger than any of the others. And at the end, was Kagome, her wrists chained to the wall above her head. She was wearing a black kimono, her schoolgirl outfit cast out in the corner. And that's when he noticed that it was torn and red with her blood. Still, the girl was still standing up, giving Inuyasha assurance that her wounds were not severe. He made the move to run towards her, but he was stopped a few feet in front of her by a demonic barrier that had been cast, which knocked him backwards. His back hit the ground with a thud, and he looked up to see that that had caught Kagome's attention, and she slowly raised her head to meet his gaze.

Her eyes widened when she saw him, and she lunged her body forward, desperately shaking her wrists in an attempt to free herself from the chains. Her body kept shifting, a look of complete panic marring her features, but everything was in vain as the she stayed firmly attached to the wall and therefore unable to escape.

"Inuyasha! Inuyasha, please!" She shouted, her voice taking a tone he had never heard before, "You have to get me out of here, Inuyasha!" Her breaths were ragged, the corner of her brows curling upwards as she continued to struggle. Her screams for help were like the breaking of glass, sharp and painful, and it made his blood run cold. She had never been so scared. That snake bastard had done something to her to create a fear so intense and full of desperation, he could feel it when he looked at her. But he couldn't see any injuries on her. And she didn't seem to be actively bleeding where she stood. So, the hanyou had no idea what in the hell happened. But still, the despair he had manage to strike within her sparked even more rage within him, and Inuyasha quickly jumped to his feet and scanned the area for anything around them.

"Sssso, the half-breed sssspawn of Inu no Taisho hass come to sssave his pathetic priestesssssss." Inuyasha looked up to see the the snake demon on the ceiling, and he promptly dropped down. He had long, black hair that he tied into a low ponytail, and striking pale green, elliptical eyes. He was wearing scaly armor and in his hand, he held a thin rapier. Inuyasha growled as the demon now stood in between him and Kagome.

"I've been waiting. Your father murdered my lover and dessstroyed my whole kingdom, and now I am able to get my revenge." He continued, "Ssso, it iss time for you to face me, the powerful sssnake king, Doku!" His introduction was followed by an immediate attack as he swung his sword at Inuyasha, who dodged, leaping to the other side of the room.

"You ain't king of nothing. And I'm going to destroy you for hurting Kagome." The hanyou pulled out Tessaiga, taking no time in swinging it, "WIND SCAR!"

Doku dodged it, a grin on his slim face. The blow created a hole in the room, the moonlight shining in.

"You will not kill me, foolish half-breed." He responded, "And when you fail, you will watch as I sssteal your precciousss priestesss. She will be mine." He turned to glance at the girl, who trembled under his gaze. Inuyasha saw this and felt fury as he saw a flash of red. Kagome was still terrified. He needed to save her. And he needed to do it fast.

He lunged forward and swung at Doku, and their swords collided, the clank of metal on metal ringing throughout the room. They continued to swing at each other, neither being able to hurt the other. Kagome watched in horror, her eyes wide as she continued to wiggle her body in a futile escape attempt. The hairs on the nape of her neck had risen, limbs tense and and fists clenched and clammy.

"No one takes Kagome from me!" The hanyou shouted as he delivered a quick blow to Doku's chest. The armor stopped Tessaiga from piercing the skin, but the snake had been thrown backwards, hitting the floor harshly and yelping in pain. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, seeing how weak the demon really was. Quick, but unable to take a hit. He turned to Kagome, to see that she still had that panic look on her face, and he looked back at Doku, deciding that killing him was the best way to get that barrier down.

"It iss too late for her, half-breed." The snake demon hissed, causing the hanyou to turn away once more and look for any evidence that Kagome was injured in some serious way, scanning her body for wounds once more. However, he just couldn't figure out what Doku was talking about. She didn't seem to be on the brink of death, so why would it be too late for her? What had he done?

"Inuyasha!" She yelled, bringing him back to reality, where he turned to see an injured Doku was nearing the hole in the wall. He gave Inuyasha a faint grin before hopping out into the swampy lake, leaving the two alone in the room. He cursed under his breath before going to follow, but was stopped but the sound of the chains hitting against each other as she struggled. He couldn't leave her alone in there, especially not in the state she was in. He would have to deal with that snake another time.

He approached the barrier, before swinging Tessaiga against it. But nothing happened.

"Dammit, for a weak ass bastard, that Doku sure can put up a strong barrier." He grunted, before swinging again. The sword collided with the barrier in a show of sparks, but the barrier still remained.

"You have to hurry. He did something. Something terrible!" Kagome begged, her breathing still uneven despite seemingly being safe at the moment.

I don't know what the hell happened, but I have to break this barrier. Judging by Kagome's state, Doku wasn't bluffing when he said it was too late. He did something to her. He thought, feeling increasingly irritated. He didn't know how to break a barrier this strong, and Kagome clearly wasn't capable of shooting a bow and arrow to break it right now. He grit his teeth and growled as he contemplated what to do, mindlessly swinging at it while he did. Each hit proved uneventful.

"Dammit, dammit, dammit!" He shouted angrily, breathing harshly as he continued to put all his strength into every hit.

Minutes passed with no success. "I-I can't breath." She whispered, and he realized that during this time, she had stopped wiggling in her chains and her head had drooped down like a dying flower. Smoke had appeared within the barrier, and he realized that snakes had appeared, coming from cracks in the walls, and were emitting some sort of poisonous gas from their mouths.

"Fuck!" He grunted, watching as Kagome was effectively dying right before his eyes. He could practically feel her life force draining. He steadied his Tessaiga, knowing that he didn't have much time to figure it out. He shut his eyes, concentrating as a warm breeze flew passed him. He thought of Kagome, and everything that she was. Everything he meant to her. He thought of her laugh, her smile. The way it felt when he held her. Everything. And as he did, he felt something change within Tessaiga.

"Huh?" When he opened his eyes, he realized that it was glowing red now, as opposed to its previous pearl white. And it compelled him to hit the barrier one more time. He looked up, a flash of determination in his eyes. He would save Kagome. He had no doubts now. He raised the sword above his head, before bringing it back down with as much force as possible, this time shattering the barrier, its remnants floating away like sparkly dust. Satisfied with himself, Inuyasha sheathed Tessaiga and proceeded to kill every snake before quickly using his claws to break the chains that bound Kagome. She fell forward, into his chest, unconscious, and he dragged her to the other side of the room where the air was clean.

He laid her down and knelt next to her, "Kagome... Wake up." He shook her shoulder a bit, knowing that she was still very much alive. She managed to open her eyes and look at him, realizing that he had managed to break the barrier and save her.

"How did you... get through to me?" She asked, weakly.

"It doesn't matter. But you have to tell me what happened here." He looked at her, his demeanor serious, and she managed to prop herself up a bit, leaning her upper body on her forearms. She looked into the distance, taking in a deep breath as she struggled to stand up.

"Hey! What're ya getting up for?" The hanyou questioned with a cocked brow, though he did grab her arm to help her, "I can carry you back. Just tell me what happened."

"I'm showing you." She said. After she was steady, she took a few steps forward, her back facing him. She began to undo the knot that kept the kimono closed, much to his surprise, but she didn't turn around. He tilted his head to the side, wondering what that crazy wench could be up to, but he didn't speak. Once she loosened the clothing enough, she dropped the material to her waist, revealing her back to him, but nothing else.

He took in a deep breath, and held it as he took in what was in front of him. Her back was severely scarred, lines of torn flesh marking her. He had scourged her, and the sight made Inuyasha want to turn around and puke. Her once delicate and clear skin was now tainted by reddish pink welts. He began to understand why she had been so terrified.

"K-Kagome..." He muttered, barely audible as he watched her lift the kimono back up and tighten the knot again, before turning back to look at him.

"He whipped me, severely. The pain was so harsh that all I could see was red." She began, "But it wasn't for nothing. He put some sort of venom inside of me, through the ripped flesh. He said that it would create something within me that he could harness. He said it would deform me. I... I'm scared, Inuyasha. I'm scared of what he's done."

It took a moment for him to process what she said, but he approached her slowly, placing a clawed hand on her shoulder, "We need to get you to Kaede and quick. Can you get on my back?" She nodded, and he turned around bent down, only standing once he felt the comfortableness of her weight fully on him. He moved his hands to grip the back of each thigh, and felt her arms wrap loosely around his neck. He took off through the hole in the room, jumping over the lake, his feeting hitting the ground for not more than a second before he continued running at top speeds back in the direction of Kaede's village. If he ran fast enough, he would get there in less than two hours.

"Let me know if you feel any different, okay?" He instructed, and he heard a faint "uh-huh" from her and kept going and going. Nothing could stop him right now, not when it came to her.


"Kaede, wake the hell up!" Inuyasha yelled as he busted through her hut with the injured Kagome on his back. Startled, the woman's eyes busted open, looking over to see Inuyasha laying Kagome gently on the ground, then going to start a fire using the pit in the middle of the room. She rubbed her eyes, then noticed that the young girl was not moving.

"Inuyasha, what has happened that ye barge inside my home in the middle of the night?" The older woman asked, though as the flames began to illuminate the otherwise shadowy room, she began to see how pale the young girl was, realizing that she has passed out from something. "Ye have rescued Kagome from the snake demon, but not before she acquired injury?" Kaede stood, watching as the hanyou quickly returned to Kagome's side when he was satisfied with the fire. His eyes were gentle, and he kept licking his lips which had become uncharacteristically dry. He spent a few seconds watching her breath before he managed to look up at the older woman.

"He fucking tortured her. Her entire back is full of scars from being flogged." He spoke with agitation, and he was constantly gritting his teeth, "But that ain't even the worst part. She said he used the tears in her skin to put some damn venom inside of her. And she's terrified of what it's gonna do to her."

"Snake demon venom?" Kaede gave a worried glance over at Kagome before looked back at the hanyou, "Did she say what it was? Snake demon venom is known to have many different purposes. And each purpose has a different cure. Venom is their specialty."

He shook his head, "All she said was the venom was going to create something inside of her that the snake bastard was gonna use. She didn't say what for. But it would deform her." He scratched his head as he tried to think of what all of that was about. He hadn't the faintest idea of what it meant by the venom would deform her, or what it would create that would be useful to some revenge bent maniac like Doku. But dammit, he knew he needed to figure it out and soon. Her face was pale as hell. She had spent all of her energy trying to hold onto him instead of just asking for him to carry her bridal style or something. He had felt her slipping from his back when they were less than an hour from the village and knew that she was going to pass out. And now, he just wasn't sure when or if she was going to wake up.

"Create something? I will assume then that the venom is not purely one meant to kill." The old priestess began shuffling through the plethora of scrolls she had, "Inuyasha, did she suffer any other injury?"

"She breathed in a bit of poison being emitted from some demonic snakes." He replied, watching her anxiously.

"Then, while I search for information, I need ye to collect a few herbs for me. She may also be suffering from her poison inhalation in addition to the snake venom. So be quick. Go to the next village to the north and tell the priestess Kaede sent ye. Give her this piece of paper and she will provide ye with all that I need." She handed him a piece of paper with a list of herbs and a small bag of coins, "Now, go! Ye must make haste!" Inuyasha nodded and took off, while Kaede quickly brought Kagome over to her futon. She loosened the kimono enough that it slid down to her waste and flipped her over onto her stomach.

"Oh my." She gasped as she saw just how bad her back looked. Thin gashes decorated her skin like a child's drawing, revealing nothing but raw flesh beneath. She quietly mumbled a prayer before grabbing a vile of disinfecting oil to clean the wounds before they got infected. After, she went back to reading through her scrolls to figure out exactly what kind of venom Doku used on her and why. Kagome remained asleep during this time, not stirring one bit.


Three days had passed. Inuyasha had brought Kaede the herbs and she had successfully created an anecdote for the poisonous gas Kagome had inhaled from the snakes. When given to Kagome, she stirred slightly, almost as though she was asleep, mumbling something incoherent but never truly waking up. Inuyasha had given the bad news to the rest of the gang, who responded with concern and worry. (Of course, there were a few curse words tossed his way courtesy of an angry Sango who hadn't forgiven him for leaving Kagome alone in the first place). Still, there was not much anyone could do besides listen to what the old woman had to say. She sent Miroku to another village to inquire about snake demon venom, and Kaede was able to deduct what kind of venom was used, though no one knew what its purpose was. It didn't matter though, because the monk had learned the ingredients needed to stop it from further spreading.

Still, no one knew exactly what the venom had already done to the Kagome, who remained unconscious the entire time. And while the venom would never be able to fully fulfill its purpose thanks to the anecdote, the gang was unable to truly cure her. And worry still dominated he hearts of everyone. She didn't seem to be deforming in any way, though, which was in some ways reassuring.

Inuyasha was pacing on the outskirts of town, leaving Kaede to alone to concentrate on making the anecdote. It was still up in the air if Kagome would wake up any time soon since no one knew the effects of the venom, and no matter how hard he raked his brain, he couldn't come up with any possible guesses. And it aggravated him to no end that her fate was so unpredictable.

"Kaede is almost finished with the anecdote." Miroku exclaimed as he walked onto the scene, trying to inspire some sort of hope within the dreary half-demon.

"Keh, but I still can't figure out what this venom does." He growled in response, "The scroll you got from the other village says that Deformation Venom is ceremonial. That the victim is deformed based on an act. But what the hell does any of that mean?"

"Well, you said that Kagome was flogged and that the venom was then put inside of her through those wounds." The monk began, "Well, the flogging was most likely the ceremonial act that the scroll is referring to. Though, I cannot quite figure out what exactly is being deformed, perhaps the venom needs to fully spread before it is able to take its full effect. Of course, we will not know until the anecdote is given."

"If that old hag was almost done when you left, when do ya think she will have given it to Kagome?" Inuyasha stopped his pacing and looked at the robe clothed man.

"If I had to guess, I'd say in a few minutes. Although, I wouldn't go barging in." Miroku advised, "She instructed all men to knock, given that she will occasionally undress Kagome to check on her scars. And while I rarely pass up and opportunity to gaze upon a beautiful woman's figure, I find my priorities have skewed given her unfortunate state."

"Keh, try 'gazing upon her' in any other situation and I'll knock your ass out for three days as well, damn lecher." The hanyou grumbled before walking back into the village. He decided he's stroll a bit before making his way to the hut to check on the progress. The village folk all seemed to give him sympathetic glances, to which he mumbled curses under his breath, not at all asking for or appreciating anyone's pity. It was about the hundredth sad look when the hanyou impatiently decided it was time to knock on Kaede's door.

"Yo! Kaede! She ain't indecent, is she?" Inuyasha called out.

But to his surprise, it was Kagome who answered, "Ya know Inuyasha, I'm not some floozy who hangs around without clothes on."

He blinked once, and then he blinked again. He hadn't expected to hear her sweet voice any time soon, so when it hit his ears, his mind was sent spiraling so much so, that it took a few moments for him to regain mental composure enough to walk inside. He cleared his throat and took in a deep breath before taking his first step inside, feeling intense anxiety. He just hoped he would walk in and she would be okay, with no complications.

And when he finally got a good look at her, she was sitting on the ground in priestess attire, a wide smile on her face.

"You...You're awake?" He asked, barely able to even get the words out of his mouth.

"Yup! I woke up a few minutes ago. Took me a while to remember everything, though." She replied. The old woman was across the room, looking at the scroll again. Inuyasha couldn't help but see that her brows were furrowed together, though, as if she was still worried rather than being happy that she was awake and well. But the hanyou ignored it, looking back at Kagome and taking in her presence.

"How're ya feeling?" He asked, approaching her.

"Well, I don't feel like a million bucks, but I could be worse." The girl replied, shrugging but still not wiping that smile from her face, "Actually, I do want to breathe in some fresh air. Could you help me up?" He nodded his head and stuck his hand out for her to grab, then pulled her to her feet. She thanked him before skipping out of the hut gleefully, and he watched before decidedly making his way to the exit as well. But before he could join Kagome outside, a voice stopped him.

"Inuyasha, come have a word with me about Kagome." It was Kaede, and she motioned for him to come over to where she was, the lines on her face deepening with worry, and he followed her instructions without question merely because of the concern she was showing.

"What?" He questioned, crossing his arms over his chest, "Spit it out."

"Kagome woke up only a minute after I gave her the anecdote. I had turned to rinse out the pot I had used for her, and when I turned around, I saw her sitting up and staring into the distance, completely spaced out." The woman began, looking at the door repeatedly to make sure she hadn't come back, "But the look on her face... She was angry. She was shaking. I saw hate in her eyes. Her nails were scratching the floor. And it was almost as if she hadn't even noticed me. When I called out her name, she snapped right out of it, and began acting completely normal. But heed my words, something is wrong."

"Keh, you're telling me because for a quick second after she woke up from being tortured she was pissed, that's supposed to be abnormal?" He snorted, "That doesn't make any sense. She seems fine now."

"Ye must listen! I believe the snake demon meant to darken Kagome's heart, using the evil act of torture to influence the venom inside of her, eroding her purity." The old woman insisted, still checking the entrance, "With the aid of everyone, I was able to stop the venom from further corrupting her, but I fear that she has already lost much of her goodness right now. The venom had been spreading for three days. And I had never seen such a malicious look."

The hanyou wasn't sure what to think. From the looks of it, Kagome had seemed just fine. She didn't even seem upset about the fact that he let her get kidnapped in the first place by chasing after Kikyo. And even pure Kagome would give him an earful about that. He just couldn't believe that she was somewhat corrupted. So, he just waved her off.

"Listen, ya old hag. Kagome seems just fine to me. Sure, if she starts acting weird, I'll bring her ass over to you." He turned his back to her, arms still crossed over her chest, "But until then, I ain't gonna assume she's some darker version of herself."

It was almost on cue that the girl walked back in, the palm of her hand pressed against her forehead. The two looked over at her with anticipation, wondering what was happening. But she just chuckled a bit before waving her other hand to reassure them that she was fine, "I thought getting some fresh air would do me some good, but frankly I just feel so fatigued!"

"Well, what the hell are ya doing then? Get some rest or something." The silver-haired man suggested, dropping his arms to his side, "You been through a lot. So take it easy for a bit."

He walked over and noticed that she had dropped her hands, too, and was now fiddling around with her fingers, almost as if nervous about something, "Well... I was actually wondering if you could do me a favor..."

"Huh? Well, c'mon then. Ask me." He grunted in response.

"Could you... take me back to the well?" She questioned, looking down a bit.

He blinked, wondering why she had seemed so worried to even ask such a question in the first place. It wasn't like he had absolutely no sympathy for situations like this. Sure, when she wanted to randomly go home in the middle of jewel shard searching for some dumb exams, he would give her lip about it. But considering she was kidnapped and beaten by some damn snake king, he wasn't going to force her to stay. "Yeah, no problem. Ya ain't gotta act all nervous, though."

"It's just that..." She bit her lip, "Well, after what happened, I don't think I'd be able to walk there alone."

He blinked again, not really sure what to say besides, "Don't worry. I'll take you." But it seemed to be enough because she smiled and went to grab her bow and arrows.

"Child, what do ye need such weapons for?" Kaede questions, still skeptical of the young girl.

"Anything can happen, and I just don't want to feel totally helpless, ya know? Inuyasha can bring them back after we get to the well." She replied coolly, her tone filled with daisies and sunshine, "I'm just feeling a little cautious."

"Well, it's fine with me." Inuyasha began walking out of the door, "Let's go, then."

She quickly followed after him, waving to the older woman as they left. Silence fell over their walk, not that Inuyasha really minded. He was just happy that she wasn't dead or disabled by Doku. Kaede had even been able to minimize most of the scarring, so Kagome didn't have to worry about her back being permanently marked up. He acknowledged that it had really been a close one this time, and he felt that he could breathe easy once more now that she was okay.

"Wanna get on back?" He asked, but she shook her head.

"While I am tired, I think I should fight the urge to be lazy for now. It's such a nice day out, ya know?" She grinned, lifting her face so the sun could shine down on it. He watched her closely, amazed at how utterly Kagome she was being after all that happened. In fact, she was more Kagome than usual. Her attitude was positively radiating joy, and she was pretty much smiling at everything. He was tempted to say that the snake demon venom had made her even happier than usual, rather than making her soul darker. But he shook his head. If he tried to tell Kaede that, she would probably kick him out of the hut for good for not taking her more serious.

They were almost there, the Bone Eaters Well coming into view. She had skipped ahead of him, creating about a dozen feet of distance between them.

"Yo, you want me to just drop you off here?" The half-demon asked, but this time, the girl didn't answer. She just kept walking.

Did she not hear me? "Hey!" He called out a little louder, "I asked ya if you just want me to drop you off here." It was this time that she stopped moving, standing completely still before turning slowly towards him, her eyes squared on him. He wondered immediately if he had said something to offend her, but couldn't quite figure out why she was looking at him like that. It wasn't like he had called her a bad name or any of the sort.

"Sure. You can go after you answer a few questions." She said, coyly, her head tilting to the side, "Of course, you have to answer them correctly."

Questions? What the hell is this wench going on about now? He cocked a brow, noting the odd way she was standing, trying to figure out what that look in her eyes meant and why she was making him so uneasy. Her breathing was harsh, her chest rising and falling dramatically as if she was out of breath, but her expression was that of someone who was completely collected and disconnected from everything else.

"Keh, ya gonna make me stand here til I get them right? Is this some kinda game or something?" He questioned, but was silenced quickly by her move to grab a bow steadying it on her arrow and aiming it right at him. His face ran pale as he began to realize that Kaede was right. That look in her eyes was malicious. Had she been playing him the whole time?

"No. If you get them wrong, I am going to kill you where you stand. You ready?" She smirked, looking positively evil in her stance.

"What the hell has gotten into you?" He shouted, not sure what to do. She was close enough to him where, if she shot, he wouldn't have time to dodge. And he was sure if he moved now, she would shoot, too. He was stuck, at the mercy of some evil Kagome who apparently wanted him dead.

"I'm asking the questions." She replied, her voice cold, "So, question one, how did it feel to see me on the brink of death, knowing it was your own damn fault?"

He paused, feeling his heart being squeezed from inside of his chest. How did it feel? "I'm sure it felt a lot similar to how that arrow will feel going through my chest if you shoot me."

She chuckled a bit, "Alright, I'll give you that. Seemed heartfelt enough, coming from someone as emotionally pathetic as you... Hmm, question two. Was seeing Kikyo worth all the heartache you put me through?"

Again, he felt his insides being strangled. You know I don't like hurting you, Kagome. Dammit! Why are you doing this? But he knew he had to answer. His life depended on it. "No. I hated myself for hurting you every time I did." He wasn't sure if that was completely true, though. While he did hate himself for everything that's happened for Kagome, he felt an obligation towards Kikyo. He knew it hurt her but he made the decision every time. But he had never thought about it in terms of whether or not hurting her was worth it. He just hoped it was a good enough answer for her.

"Seems a little insincere considering if it was never worth it, you probably should have stopped, but I'll let it slide for now." Kagome paused now, her cocky demeanor seemingly faded as she began to ask the next question, almost as if it was somewhat hard for her, "Now... Me or her?"

He felt all of the air escape his lungs, his mouth dry and begging for relief. He never wanted to venture down and really figure that one out. He just wanted to have Kagome and fulfill every obligation to Kikyo. But still, it wasn't about the truth. It was about what would save his damn life so he could find a way to fix her.

"You or Kikyo..." Inuyasha stared her dead in the face, "You."

Her breathing hitched as he answered, and he hoped she would lower her bow, but instead she only readied herself to shoot, "Wrong... you damn liar."

"Kagome, wait!" He shouted, closing his eyes in preparation for his assumed death. He could feel the spiritual arrow coming towards him at top speed, and time seemed to slow as he waited for the moment it would pierce his flesh and end him right there. He blamed himself for what happened, but he began to feel even more like a failure for knowing he wouldn't be alive to truly make it up to her. He wouldn't be alive to save her.

However, he heard a thud right at his feet, and opened his eyes to see the arrow had hit the ground. There's no way she could miss. She may not be the best archer that ever lived, but she's definitely too damn good to miss a shot this close. He stared at it, realizing that she had missed on purpose. She had chosen not to kill him. His golden gaze lifted to her, and she threw her arrow to the side and fell to her knees in a fit of tears. He wondered if it was safe enough to approach her now, but when the scent of saltwater hit his nose, and her choked sobs filled the air, he couldn't help himself from rushing to her side.

"I...I still can't hurt you." She cried out, "Dammit, Inuyasha! Why can't I hurt you? Why, when you spend every day hurting me?" He clenched his teeth, knowing full well that it was because the venom hadn't fully spread, so there was still a good part inside of her that still cared.

"Kagome, listen to me. The snake venom Doku injected into your wounds must've meant to corrupt you, but we stopped it from fully spreading. You can't kill me because you don't fully hate me." He tried to explain, hoping he could convince her to calmly go back to the village with him, but she shook her head violently, her face covered by the palms of her hands.

"It's so raw. I've been angry before, but it's so raw. And I don't know how to handle it." She was shaking as she spoke, "Fuck you, Inuyasha! Fuck you, you stupid man! This is your fault. I'm not pure and it's your fault!" She lifted her head out of the palm of her hands and stared at him with narrow, angry eyes. She had never felt like this before. It was as if she had no defenses to calm her rageful spirit. Her emotions were just there and they were exploding inside of her like grenades. And the fiery storm raging felt unquenchable by anything besides screaming and killing. She just wanted to spread it. Give it someone else. Give it to him.

"We have to go back to Kaede. You need to be healed." The hanyou pressed on, kneeling besides her.

"No. She doesn't have a cure." The priestess asserted, wiping away her tears, though her forhead was riddled with lines of frustration, "And I don't want any of them to see me like this. No one can know about the darkness inside of me."

"Then how the hell are you supposed to get better?" Inuyasha demanded, trying his best not to sound so pushy considering she was most definitely pissed at him.

"I don't know. I-I'm gonna have to find the cure myself." She took in a deep breath, "I can't trust myself around them. And unlike you, they didn't do anything wrong."

He cocked a brow. "By yourself? Stupid girl. It's too dangerous for you to be out and about alone." He growled at the thought of her traveling by her lonesome, with no one to protect her. "Do you want to die?"

"Just shut up and let me think, Inuyasha!" She yelled, standing up and turning her back to him. She bit her lip tentatively as thoughts rumbled through her mind, but she just couldn't focus hard enough to grasp any better ideas. All she felt was pain and confusion, and each beat her heart ached. She had to get a grip and handle her emotions before she lost complete control of herself.

I just need the world to stop spinning. This anger inside of me is just too much. I never had to deal with such powerful negative emotions before. It was like my heart always had goodness to defend itself from all of that. A shield to protect me. But now, it's all hitting me like a bullet. She thought, a pained expression on her face, I have to find this cure. But Inuyasha's right. I can't do it alone. But I don't want to put everyone at risk right now. They don't deserve it...

"You... You have to come with me, Inuyasha." She suddenly turned back to him, her eyes wide, "I can't go back there to the village. But you... this is your fault. So, you're going to find the cure with me."

"You just wanna leave?" He questioned, feeling thrown off by her sudden demand. She just tried to kill him, and now wanted to go with him on some journey to find the cure. He felt himself tense up, not liking how completely impulsive she was being. Keh, she doesn't know how to handle all of her emotions right now. It's making her act rash. That's why she attacked me. It's not that really hates me, she's just hurting. But I can't say no to this. This is my responsibility. I'm the one who put her through all of this. He never regretted leaving the group to see Kikyo more than he did right now. Especially seeing this girl in such shambles.

"Yeah... I just... let me calm down." She walked over and took a seat, leaning her back against the wood of the Bone Eater's well. She wasn't sure how to calm down though, it really felt as though this hurricane of frustration would continue to tear her down in ways she never imagined. She wanted to scream, punch something, and get swallowed up by the earth all at the same time. She was getting pulled in so many different directions, she was certain her limbs would just fall apart. The wind swirled around her, dancing on her burning skin, a temporary cure for her heated aggravation. She clenched her jaw, slamming her eyes shut so tight, tiny wrinkles formed around them.

Moments went by, and Inuyasha did nothing but observe her struggle. It was clear as day that she was losing this battle against this venom, but he didn't know what to do about it. It wasn't like he could get inside of her and kill it himself with Tessaiga, as much as he wished he could.

"How... how do you do it?" She asked, looking up at him with pleading eyes that begged for relief, "How do you calm down a storm?"

He took in a deep breath, trying to think, now. But it seemed as though it was pointless. How could he get her to calm down? He was the furthest from pure out of anyone in the whole group, besides that lecherous monk, of course, but still. He was in no position to get her back to her normal self, or at least calm herself down enough for her to feel a normal. He had no idea what it was like to be pure; to naturally fight off his fury with ease the way Kagome seemed to. She always forgave. She always saw the good in others as though it was staring her square in the face. He wasn't like that. He was naturally temperamental.

But that's it... I know what it's like to lose myself to my anger. He quickly realized, But... when I go too far, what calms me down? That's when it hit him. He silently moved towards her, her expression serious and full of purpose. Each movement he made was decisive, and when he reached her sitting form, he fell to his knees, grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into his chest. His arms moved around, holding her tight against him. He heard her gasp, beginning to fight him off, but she quickly stopped and just let herself feel his warm embrace.

When I lose myself, Kagome brings me back. Whether I become full-demon, or I'm just overwhelmed, she always brings me back. He thought to himself, hoping he could return the favor. And by the lack of struggling and the way her breathing steadied, her exhales tickling his collarbone, he had a feeling it was working. She cared for him, no matter how angry she was. That bastard of a snake king wouldn't be able to change that one. No venom could. That was clear when she didn't shoot him. It was clear in the way that she looked at him. His heart skipped a beat when he heard her mumble his name against his skin. It wasn't malicious. She just whispered it quietly, sounding calm collected. He smiled inwardly.

A minute later, he pulled away, keeping his hands on her shoulders to look at her. She didn't seem to be in pain anymore. In fact, she seemed relatively peaceful where she sat, looking off to the side now. Her cheeks were flushed and lips slightly parted. He waited for her to speak, analyzing her every move while she went to push some hair behind her ear. But she didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to even begin processing it.

"How do ya feel?" The hanyou asked, his voice rough, yet gentle at the same time. She finally looked to meet his gaze, those chocolatey doe eyes colliding with his horizon ones.

"Better. I think." She whispered back, "... Maybe you're not entirely emotionally pathetic."

He huffed, "Keh, my emotions are just fine."

"Yeah, I shouldn't talk." She smirked, "I'm just as fucked up as you now."

He cocked a brow, before giving her stern look, "Hey! Watch your mouth. You ain't supposed to say shit like that."

She giggled at him, something he definitely wasn't expecting, "C'mon, can't you take a joke? Wouldn't you rather me joke around inappropriately than try to kill you?" He shook his head, not sure how to respond to this one. She was definitely still Kagome, but the cursing wasn't something he could see himself getting used. Especially not laced around her delicate voice.

"Well, it doesn't matter anyways. I'm feeling alright, right now." She stood up, his hands dropping off of her shoulders and back down to his side. He watched her stand, following suit in preparation for her next move, "We have a cure to find. And I sure as hell don't wanna wait around to this venom to fuck me up again." The words flowed from her delicate, pink lips effortlessly, like she wasn't even thinking twice about them as she said them. The hanyou knew that Kagome would have never let such foul words come out of her mouth like that, and yet, it felt like it was coming so natural to her right now.

"Where do ya even wanna go?" He questioned.

"Let's go to wherever Kaede got that scroll from." She replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Keh, like they're gonna give a half-demon like me information." He huffed, knowing that, while Kaede knew some of the priestesses in nearby villages well, the village they got the scroll from was less friendly, which was why she had sent Miroku.

"You can always force it out of them." She snickered, "You can be pretty scary if you wanted."

He saw the playful grin on her face, and couldn't help but snicker back, "Keh, keep on with the jokes, Kagome."

"I can't help that I'm funny." She laughed, "Now, let's get this show on the road, dog boy." He knelt down, has back facing her so she could get on. His head still reeling from everything that happened, but now that she was calm, he had to admit she wasn't terrible company. He would much rather her make crude jokes than try to kill him and cry when she couldn't. In fact, having a Kagome that curses was starting to seem like far from the worst that could be happening. Still, he knew that it would be best for them to find a cure before another episode of hers begins. No one really understood this venom, so he anticipated for it to happen at any given time.

He took off, running at top speeds to reach their destination.

"So, what would you do if I just started choking you?" She questioned, tightening her grip around his neck, but enough to actually cut off air. Sh didn't know why, but her mind kept coming up with rather cruel, odd ways of joking that she couldn't help but find funny. And frankly, she much preferred her distasteful sense of humor than that whirlwind of rage.

"Do you want to get thrown off right now?" He replied, hearing a fit of giggles in response.

"I'm kidding! Don't throw me, idiot!" She exclaimed through the laughter. He couldn't help but smirk.

Yeah, she definitely wasn't the worst company.

Alright, time to get edgy. This chapter was much more serious than I expect the rest of the story would be, but I tried my best to give you a glimpse of how Kagome is gonna be. I'm still a little iffy about everything, so let me know if this story is worth pursuing.

Essentially, I just want this to be a fun spin on "corrupt Kagome" fics. I'm taking the basic ideas, but I'm switching it up from the dark, and serious theme and making it fun. Basically, I just wanna stray away from the stereotypes.
No constant intense struggle. No Inuyasha feeling uncomfortable consistently around her. It's going to be fun. And it's definitely going to be steamy. And dammit, it's gonna be sassy. But not angsty. Anything but super angsty.