Disclaimer: Nope, don't own InuYasha...damnit..

Gomenasai - T.A.T.U

What I thought wasn't mine
In the light
Was a one of a kind,
A precious pearl

When I wanted to cry
I couldn't cause I
Wasn't allowed

Gomenasai for everything
Gomenasai, I know I let you down
Gomenasai till the end
I never needed a friend
Like I do now

What I thought wasn't all
So innocent
Was a delicate doll
Of porcelain

When I wanted to call you
And ask you for help
I stopped myself

Gomenasai for everything
Gomenasai, I know I let you down
Gomenasai till the end
I never needed a friend
Like I do now

What I thought was a dream
A mirage
Was as real as it seemed
A privilege

When I wanted to tell you
I made a mistake
I walked away

Gomenasai, for everything
Gomenasai, Gomenasai, Gomenasai
I never needed a friend,
Like I do now

Gomenasai, I let you down
Gomenasai, Gomenasai,
Gomenasai till the end
I never needed a friend
Like I do now

She ran.

That's all she could do.

What lay behind her was something she needed to run from.

Everyone was dead. Everyone. Not even Shippou who she held in her arms during the battle was spared.

InuYasha, impaled by his own sword.

Sango, her back and neck broken by her own boomerang.

Miroku, multiple arrows through his heart and back; a sword wound to the stomach.

Shippou, dead because of a arrow that was meant for her.

Kirara, sliced in half by Sango's misguided boomerang.

It was her fault…if only she had been stronger, had taken up Sango's offering of training and Kikyou's attempt at teaching her. But she would have none of it. Because she was weak. She felt weak. She knew that no matter how much she trained, she would never be strong. She wouldn't live up to Kikyou.

She thought that if she couldn't protect herself, she had the others to protect her. That's how it always was. She would stand in the background firing off her sacred arrows while her family and friends beat whatever they were fighting. They did so with Naraku.

Now, because of her weakness, everyone was dead.

It finally sunk in and she collapsed on the ground. Her muscles screaming and burning from her long run.

She did the only thing she could think of.

She screamed.

His head turns slightly at the womanly scream somewhere off in the distance, an eyebrow raising. Then he sniffed and what he smelt made him stop in his tracks, the little kappa youkai trailing dutifully behind him running into the back of his legs. A human girl blinks up at the tall silver haired male in front of her. "Sesshoumaru-sama?" She asks curiously as she helps the green kappa youkai to his feet.

He ignored her and inhaled deeply, the smell…no, stench that invaded his nose caused him to frown ever so slightly. "Rin, Jaken. Camp here tonight. I will be back." He said in his calm baritone voice. "Hai!" "Hai, milord." Came his two replies.

Nodding his head, the silver haired youkai begins walking towards the stench.

He smelled the death of his brother's pack. Including InuYasha.

As Sesshoumaru walked, he wondered why he cared about the death of his brother, or his brother's companions. He hadn't seen hide nor hair of the bunch since he left after the Sou'unga incident.

He knew that they beat Naraku. He heard word of it as he passed along a village were Rin could gather herself a new kimono. Sesshoumaru was slightly impressed at this, not that he would ever, ever, tell anyone this aloud.

That was it. His eyebrow rose at the revelation. 'InuYasha's pack defeated Naraku, so what could have taken their lives so easily?'

He was assaulted with the smell of blood and death as he reached were his half-brother's remains lay. His nose crinkled slightly and he shook his head, continuing towards the stench.

As he reached the clearing he blinked rapidly at what he saw.

InuYasha was impaled upon Tessiga, a look of shock on his dead face. The demon slayer was laying at an odd angle not far off from InuYasha, her large boomerang on top of her. The monk was a ways off, five to six arrows protruding from his back lying in a puddle of his own blood. Sesshoumaru looked closely and saw the small fox demon with an arrow through his chest laying towards the edge of the forest.

'Someone's missing…' He thought as he looked around one more time. His mind went back to the scream he heard earlier, 'The miko. She is still among the living?' He frowned and curiosity getting the better of him, took off in the direction he sensed the miko at.

He would have to approach her carefully. He needed to know what killed her group.

Kagome sat staring unseeingly at the ground, tears falling from her eyes, rolling down her cheek to drop off of her chin.

'It's all my fault…Gomenasai, everyone, for not being strong enough…'

She felt someone behind her, staring hard enough at her that she almost felt the heat of the gaze. She didn't care anymore. If it was a demon, or whoever killed them come to take out the left over, she would die perfectly content and without making a sound.

"Miko." Sesshoumaru's brows drew together in an uncharacteristic show of frustration. 'What is her name again? One would think I would remember it after hearing InuYasha scream it so many times.' His mind reeled for a moment as he remembered his battles against and beside InuYasha, the latter not taking up much space since there weren't very many. 'Kagome.'

"Kagome." He said firmly.

Kagome slowly lifted her head and looked up at Sesshoumaru. What Sesshoumaru saw in her eyes made him cringe inwardly. Her blue eyes were dull and lifeless as they gazed at him. "Who did this?"

Kagome opened her mouth to speak, to try and force out who she knew killed her family.

"I…I did."

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened momentarily. 'There is no way that she possibly killed them all.'

He voiced his opinion with a glare, "You lie."

Sesshoumaru watched her shake her head. 'Seems she believes she really did kill them. She feels responsible.'

"Why did you do such a thing?" He opted for asking questions instead of accusing her of lying now.

Kagome's eyes lowered and she stared at the earth. "Because I wasn't strong enough to save them."

"Foolish girl. You should not blame yourself for their deaths," he said icily. Kagome shook her head violently. "Can't you see, Sesshoumaru!? I killed them! Because I refused training I killed them!" Her voice drops to a whisper, "Kaede once said I have the power to rival Midoriko. But I never acted on it…I was stupid enough to believe them invincible…"

Sesshoumaru snorts and walks toward her. Kneeling down he removes the pelt from his shoulder and wraps it tightly around Kagome's form. "Do not move from this spot. I will be back soon. When I return, you will return to the old miko's village and await for me every morning at dawn. I will train you. Do not think of running, for this Sesshoumaru will find you and you will not like the consequences."

He didn't give Kagome an option to answer, he simply stood and walked off, heading back to the area of the battle.

-------

When Sesshoumaru arrived back at the clearing, he felt Tensaiga at his hip begin to rattle. Without hesitation he withdrew the sword and swung the blade in an arch towards the dead companions of the miko.

Blue light washed over the clearing, destroying the netherworld imps that were attempting to take the souls of the dead ones to the after life.

He quickly walked over and kicked the Tessiga from underneath InuYasha, sending the blade skittering away.

Sesshoumaru began to hear the heart beats of the once-dead group. Nodding his head he turned on his heel and made his way back to Kagome, leaving the group to gather their bearings.

Kagome sat in the same place Sesshoumaru left her, wrapped up in his pelt. She wasn't going to argue with him about his training for her. She knew now that since her companions, her family, was dead she needed to protect herself.

She faintly thought about using the Shikon no Tama, or Jewel of Four Souls, to bring her friends back to life. But she quickly dismissed the idea, knowing that a selfish wish would some how go wrong.

Feeling Sesshoumaru approach her, she closed her eyes and remembered what her mother once said to her.

"Kagome, sometimes bad things happen and the only thing we can do about such things is to let them make us stronger. We have to grow from them, not think about how it could've been or how it should've went. How do you think I managed to live when your father died?"

'She's right…I can't let their deaths affect me like this. Yes, I can mourn for them. But I can't wallow in self-pity because I'm alone…' She thought to herself.

Her thoughts were jolted when she felt a warm, strong arm pick her up. She opened her eyes and was met with the stoic face of the Demon Lord. Tears prickled her eyes and she closed them again, leaning her head against Sesshoumaru's armor clad chest.

'Sorrow doesn't radiate off her anymore…just a deep sadness.' He thought absently as he picked up his pace and made his way north towards Edo. It would be daylight before he arrived at the mediocre village and once he got there, he would begin the miko's training immediately.

Amber eyes opens slowly and the hanyou groans. If he knew what a bus was, he would have been comparing a collision with a bus to how his body felt right now.

He gasps, the memories of the battle that took his life flooding back to him. Sitting up quickly, InuYasha searching for his comrades. He sees them with an equal look of confusion on their faces.

He growls deeply in his chest at the assailant who killed them. He couldn't remember.

"InuYasha…where's Kagome?"

Kagome! How could he forget about her.

Swiftly jumping up, he began to sniff the air, forgetting about his death experience and the dead miko. He could smell Kagome, but only faintly. The scent that made his stomach churn was clearing in the area, along with the smell of some kind of magic.

'Sesshoumaru…'

Hours passed and Sesshoumaru had begun to show Kagome the basics of wielding a katana. The proper footing, grip, attacks and blocks. He had to admit, the little miko learned quickly.

Which was a plus.

Now, Sesshoumaru leaned against a tree as he over saw the training the elder miko gave Kagome. At the news of InuYasha's and the other's deaths, she wept silently. Sesshoumaru gave her time to seep her tears before informing her of Kagome's training.

He pulled the old miko, Kaede, off to the side first and spoke the words that Kagome told him. Her one good eye widened and she shook her head furiously, 'tsking softly.

"Kagome is a child with a very large heart, Lord Sesshoumaru. Ye must know this if ye are to train her. I could understand Kagome's reasons for not wanting to battle. She is from a far away land…where humans are dominant and war is fought by a large army with weapons that could wipe out half of Japan with a single stroke."

He was amazed, to say the least, but didn't voice his opinion. He instead told the miko that she would be helping Kagome with her miko powers.

Kaede agreed quickly and after much persuading from her part, had managed to get Kagome into the traditional miko attire.

Sesshoumaru's thought were interrupted by the sudden aura flare from Kagome. The spiritual power had the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. The old miko was right, from what he sensed and what he could remember about the fabled Midoriko, Kagome did have the power to rival the creator of the Shikon no Tama.

He saw Kaede smile at him then turn her attention back to Kagome at his nod.

It would be a week or more before his half-brother arrived. In this time he planned to have Kagome up to par and able to defend herself enough if something should happen.

It would also give him time to get Kagome into a routine of training that she wouldn't abandon once she found out her companions were alive again.

In the mean time he planned to visit Totosai in order to have him fashion a katana for Kagome.

Three days later, Sesshoumaru did just that.

Kagome stepped out of Kaede's hut, wearing the red and white miko garb; her waist-length hair gathered in a high ponytail atop her head.

It was a little bit before dawn so she had time to spare before Sesshoumaru showed up and they began their training.

As she trekked her way down to Kaede's herb garden, she allowed herself to wonder about the stoic Demon Lord.

He was an enigma, to tell the truth. He only spoke when he needed to and was ruthless in his training. In the past three days he had Kagome to the point of collapsing at the end of their training session, when the sun set.

She would admit that she could tell she was physically stronger- even in a short amount of time.

Along with Kaede training, Kagome had to say that she grew quite powerful in the three days. She could form a barrier around herself easily, managed to channel her purification energy into her hands like she did the first time she was pulled down the Bone Eater's Well.

'The first time I saw InuYasha…'

Tears gathered in her eyes and she shook them away. It still hurt, knowing that everyone was gone. But she wouldn't let that bring her down into a depression. She refused it. She knew they would want her to be strong.

She kneeled down in the garden, gathering the herbs Kaede had asked her to get today. Kagome didn't notice, from being too in thought, Sesshoumaru come up behind her and lay a katana down next to her.

"Kagome."

She jumped, "AAHH!" Placing a hand over her racing heart, she glared up at the Demon Lord. She could've swore she saw amusement dancing in his golden eyes.

Mumbling, she rips the last herb from the earth and shoves it into the basket near her side. Then she noticed the katana laying next to her.

The sheath was a dark blue color, almost black it was so dark. The handle was the same color as the sheath and a silver tassel hung from the end.

She looks up at Sesshoumaru who nods at her then looks pointedly at the katana.

Kagome, her hand shaking, runs up the smooth surface of the sheath then grips the hilt. Grabbing the sheath from her other hand, Kagome removes the katana from it's home. The blade gleamed in the morning light, making Kagome squint slightly.

Then she gasped. 'It's beautiful!'

She stood quickly and placed the sheath of the katana in her sash around her waist. Lifting the katana up, she was amazed at the feel of it. 'It's like it was made just for me…'

She took a stance, holding the katana out in front of her like Sesshoumaru taught her. The grip of the hilt felt perfect to her.

Quickly she sheathed the blade then flung herself at Sesshoumaru, not minding that her face came crashing into the metal of his armor.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank yoooou!" She squealed and hugged him tightly around his neck.

Sesshoumaru froze. The only person he let touch him was Rin, so he wasn't really used to having a female throw themselves at him, literally.

He slowly brought up his only arm and wrapped it around her shoulders, squeezing her left shoulder as gently as he could.

"Totosai forged the katana for you, I merely supplied the tooth and tassel." Kagome blinks and looks up at him, confusion written on her face.

"Tooth and tassel…?" She let go of him then, resting her hands on his shoulders.

Sesshoumaru nods and keeps his hand on her shoulder as she pulls away, "I had the katana made in the same fashion my father made Tessiga and Tensaiga. The tassel…is a lock of my hair."

"Lock of your hair? Tessiga nor Tensaiga has a tassel…" Kagome said. Reaching down with her right hand and crossing over her stomach, her fingers worried the silver tassel. "Hai, they do not. I really do not know why Totosai took a lock of my hair and made it into a tassel. He only said it was necessary."

Kagome nods slowly and backs away. "Well, let's train, ne?" Sesshoumaru's brow raises then he nods, turning on his heel and heading back towards the village.