Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or anything affiliated with Inuyasha.

Chapter 1 - After Naraku's Rise

Things were happening and she couldn't explain them. She felt like her reality was shifting. At first, it was just a strange breeze or an odd smell. Then, it was the weird tint of the sky or a bird that she had never seen. However, something happened the day of her high school graduation. Something shot right through her.

Her eyes snapped open as she sat up in bed. She sharply turned her head to her window. The sky was still dark, but she could see the sun just starting to peak in the distance. There was something comforting about being covered in the pre-dawn darkness. However, at that moment her breath was coming out in short pants.

"What the hell was that?" She whispered to herself.

Slowly, she moved the blankets and put her feet on the ground. She took a moment to try to feel something from her bed, but stood when she couldn't grasp it. She walked to her window and opened it. She leaned out into the fresh air and took a deep breath. There it was. She knew what she had felt, but she just couldn't believe.

"A...demon?"

Kagome took another shaky breath. She assumed, after she fell down the well, that there had been demons in this era all along and she just couldn't sense them. However, when she came back with training she still could not sense anything. She had been back home, permanently, for two years and constantly tried to stretch her powers out. She tried everyday to seek them out and now one was seeking her out. Its power alone shot through her as she slept.

She slammed the window shut as a shiver raced up her spine. She knew she needed to get some sleep, but she couldn't help herself. She pulled on dark blue skinny jeans and threw on a black v-neck. She threw her hair up and pulled on her shoes. She crept down her stairs like an intruder and out the back door. It was still dark and there was a slight chill in the air. She looked at the well house and couldn't deny that there was something odd hanging around it.

"Oh, stop it, Kagome!"

She stomped her foot and stormed toward the well. She wouldn't let two years away from the feudal era make her soft. She couldn't resist the small flutter in her stomach at the thought of seeing Inuyasha and her friends again. She pushed it away and focused on her task. She let her powers reach out. She was trying to find whatever it was that reached out to her. She certainly felt something in the well house.

She walked right up to it and threw the door open. She was met with darkness. Nothing. She sighed as she walked toward the well. She was going crazy. She leaned forward on her hands and looked into the dark depths of the well.

"Well, Kagome, you have finally become your Grandfather," she laughed at herself

She registered the spark a split second before she felt hands on her. Two strong hands grabbed her arms and held her painfully tight. She moved forward to get away, but she was trapped by the well. The body behind her just moved further into her. She couldn't even bring herself to scream. Her family would come running and then what? She shivered as she felt a mouth close in on her ear.

"It's about time," a whisper full of malice filled every inch of the well house.

Kagome cried out as she was picked up into the air by the back of her neck. Her hands went to the hand at her neck. She kicked her legs wildly as she felt herself being moved just above the well. She was desperately trying to turn and see who was holding her.

"Go and clean up your mess, girl."

She barely registered his words before she felt herself falling. She desperately reached out at the clawed hand that dropped her. She could already feel herself falling into the familiar light. She caught a glimpse of black clothing and red. Then, she felt the dirt under her feet and the clear sky above her head.

"Oh, no...Inuyasha is going to kill me," she sighed heavily.

She climbed out of the well, but the second she looked up she wanted to jump back down the well. The forest was gone. She could see scorched land, fallen trees, and not a single trace of green. Her eyes filled with tears as she took in the scene. Her feet moved her closer to what was once Inuyasha's forest and she noticed something terrifying. This damage was old, very old.

"What...," her words failed her.

Suddenly, she could hear feet pounding the earth. She looked up just in time to see a large group of people running in her direction. She just stood there starring like a fish. They all looked crazed with wide eyes, wild hair and odd weapons. She recognized some of them as people from the village, but none of their scared eyes even noticed her.

"Move!" A gruff shout turned her head.

She looked just in time to see a large man barreling through the crowd. However, she didn't react fast enough to avoid the hammer in his hands as he pushed into her. The force of the hit brought her to her knees. She tried to crawl back to well, but only managed to get stepped on. Slowly, her vision started to blur and she could feel herself slipping into the darkness. Her arms gave out and she crashed into the ground face first.

"Yasha," her broken whisper barely made it out before her eyes fell closed.

…...

Sesshomaru walked through the village with a look of disdain. These human villagers were pathetic. He had not even raised an eyebrow at them and they were running. It would seem that this uprising of demons was affecting the humans more than he thought. He almost wanted to laugh at them for the their weak, pathetic behavior.

His feet were leading him to Inuyasha's forest. He couldn't deny that the forest was a loss. Humans! One way or another they found a way to destroy nature. His brother never seemed to help things along.

He almost sighed to himself at the thought of his brother. However, just before his thoughts could stray, he saw something odd. The well was...glowing or at least it had been. Then, he saw a body lying a few feet away from it. It was obviously a woman, but he couldn't figure out the clothing. Something nagged at his memory, but he couldn't grasp it. He almost growled in frustration.

Suddenly, a moan escaped the body. He stopped right in front of it and bent over gracefully. He grabbed a hand full of black hair and lifted the woman's head. He raised one eyebrow as the memory came back to him. The miko. Inuyasha's wench had returned.

"A little late, girl."

He released her hair and didn't flinch as her head smacked back into the ground. She was not his problem, but he could not deny that she was powerful. Although her lack of training was appalling. He looked to the sky and noticed Naraku's minions were descending. He sighed as he reached down, roughly grabbing Kagome by the arm and threw her over his shoulder. He didn't even bother putting her over the shoulder without armor. She would make her pay for being such an inconvenience.

…...

Kagome's mind slowly fought to get back to the real world. She could feel a breeze and smell the forest. However, the more she awoke the more she regretted it. Pain. Pain was all she could think as she became more aware of her body. There were several areas on her person that were throbbing with pain.

Sesshomaru looked over as the girl started moaning and groaning. He almost regretted his rough handling of her. Perhaps, if he had been more gentle he would not have to listen to her complaints now.

Slowly, she rolled onto her back. Only then did she realize there were leaves and sticks sticking to her face and hair. She huffed as she tried to get the forest floor off of her face.

"Stop making a scene and get up," his frosty voice shot through her morning haze.

Kagome went stone still, her hands froze in her hair and her eyes were wide. That voice! She knew that voice and she knew the fear that came along with it. She let her head drop to one side and her eyes landed on him: Sesshomaru.

Her fear was satisfying, but short lived. Her body protested, but she sat up like a bolt of lightning. He could smell her shifting from fear to confusion and frustration.

"Sesshomaru..."

"Stating the obvious is doing nothing to help this situation."

She frowned at him, "What am I doing here and where is here?"

"How eloquent."

Her frown deepened and she was about to scream when he decided to actually be helpful.

"We are west, not far from my lands. I found you laying near the well," his voice was flat and uninterested.

"Okay...what happened here?"

He watched as she struggled to wrap her head around a single question.

"Naraku."

Her face fell and her heart stopped painfully in her chest. Naraku. What the hell happened?

"Enough. Get up. We have to get back to my dwelling."

"We?"

Her head was spinning and she felt herself quickly going back to the darkness she just awakened from.

"I will not repeat myself."

"Why am I going with you!?"

He almost grimaced at the sound of her yelling. He choose to take one large dangerous step toward her as she looked up at him with defiant eyes.

"If you do not get yourself up, then I will help you forcefully."

She looked up and she knew exactly who she was looking at. Kagome knew that he would kill her, or at the very least hurt her very badly, if she did not obey him. However, she couldn't seem to fully understand anything that was happening. All she really understood was the fact that she was NOT supposed to be going anywhere with Sesshomaru.

"Just leave me here. You don't even like me. I will find Inuyasha...ah!" She screamed out as his strong hand gripped her upper arm and pulled her painfully to her feet.

He squeezed her arm painfully as he pulled her small body closer. He put his face dangerously close to hers.

"I will break this arm if you do not listen to me. You WILL come with me. Inuyasha is dead."

Her entire body gave, pain forgotten, as his words sank in. Dead?

"What?" Her voice was far away and her eyes unfocused.

"Yes. The fool brought it upon himself. Now, let us proceed toward my home."

She stood unblinkingly. Sesshomaru gave her one last warning squeeze, but she didn't noticed. He looked down at her already bruised arm. Humans were entirely too fragile.

"Dead..."

He could smell the salt and he truly couldn't think of a single thing he'd rather do less than deal with a crying woman. Sesshomaru's hand connected with her jaw like lightning. He hit her hard enough to knock her, but was mindful about breaking her jaw. He caught her before her knees even gave out and once again slung her over his shoulder. This time he put her on the shoulder without armor.

…...

Her eyes opened and for a moment she had an overwhelming feeling of deja vu. She ached all over and she had no idea where she was. However, two observations alerted her to the fact that today was a new day. One, her jaw hurt. No, it didn't hurt, it was throbbing with sharp AND dull pain! Two, she was starring up at a wooden ceiling instead of trees and beneath her she felt something soft.

A moan escaped her lips as she turned onto her side. Yes, she was on a futon. Her heart started to speed up as she woke up more. Slowly, achingly she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Where the hell am I?" She moaned again.

She looked around the room and noticed two sets of sliding doors. She could see the sun shinning through one set. She got to her feet and walked to the doors. She opened them and a courtyard was before her. Across the courtyard she could see what she assumed was the rest of the "house" she was in. She looked right and saw more rooms and the left was large wooden doors. She noticed a fountain in the center and two small gardens to the right and left. For a moment she debated walking across one of the small bridges connecting one side to another. However, she didn't have to make a move.

Suddenly, the doors across the courtyard opened and Sesshomaru walked out. She took an involuntary step back as his eyes landed on her. She didn't suppose it was too much to assume she was in Sesshomaru's house.

"Miko."

She barely heard his voice from across the courtyard. He did not have the same issue.

"Why am I here?"

"Hn. You do not remember yesterday," it was not a question.

Her hand came up and gently touched her jaw. She flinched at her own touch. Well, someone must have hit her!

"I believe I have you to thank for that," she growled.

"No. You have yourself to thank. Next time, learn the lesson the first time," his voice was cold and hard.

"Lesson!? You knocked me out!"

"I had no time for your emotional break down."

"Emoti...what?" Her voice lost its edge.

He resisted the urge to sigh. She had done this twice after the initial awakening. He should have hit her harder the first time. However, he did not and she woke up in a rather embarrassing state each time. He would smell confusion, fear, anger, then sadness. Then, of course, he would hit her again. Looking at her now he almost regretted it. There was a large, ugly bruise covering her jaw, lower lip and some of her cheek.

"Must we do this again."

"What...oh...oh no," her voice cracked.

And there it was. It hit her finally. He watched as she fell to her knees. Her hand covered her mouth just in time to soften the sob that broke through. He watched her with disinterest for a moment and then walked back into his room. He had no time for this. However, he would allow her to wallow in her self-pity. At least she could do it with some dignity and not for the world to see with him at her side.

She did not notice his absence. She couldn't wrap her mind around anything. Inuyasha was...dead? She remembered the stampede of village people near the well. She remembered what once was Inuyasha's forest. Naraku. He would stop at nothing to destroy this world; to destroy her world.

She crawled back to her futon and collapsed onto it. She curled into a ball on her side and just let herself cry. The tears were endless and hot. She didn't even noticed the loud sobs that left her mouth. All she could see was the first time she had ever seen Inuyasha. His handsome, peaceful face asleep as he was pinned to the tree. His beautiful white hair and his ears; she could still feel their familiar softness in her mind. Then, all she could see was the last time they ever spoke.

Sesshomaru could hear her from his study. He was very tempted to knock her out again, but thought better of it. She needed to get this out of the way so he could begin his work with her. The fool needed to be trained if she was going to help fix her mess.

Authors Note: THERE IT IS! My second fanfiction! I have no idea where I am going with this...well kind of, but not really. If there is anything my last fanficiton taught me it is the fact that these stories sometimes write themselves. It isn't always up to me lol I am really excited to be starting a new story!

I hope you liked and yes you are supposed to be a little confused/lost.