~. ~ Erase ~. ~

Many knew her not by just Kagome but by various names such as the Shikon priest, the guardian of the Shikon Jewel, jewel collector, reincarnation of the priest Kikyo if not wench, bitch or other insults by her enemies or by the hanyou she once loved. She was tired of all the labels people, demons; hanyous' used on her especially those around her. She just wanted to be Kagome just plain old Kagome, but that was something so far off in the past since she is the guardian of the Shikon because Kikyo was a walking corpse now and even though it didn't look like it Kagome was stronger than Kikyo since she only took some of her soul not all of it thus Kagome was stronger however even if she was stronger, Kagome didn't know how to use its full potential and Kikyo did. No one really looked at her as Kagome Higurashi no one but her son Shippo. Kagome smiled, her kitsune adopted son was the only one that saw her as Kagome but not just Kagome but his adopted mother and she loved him for it. Kagome stopped smiling and her face turned to an unreadable expression, but even then she herself felt as though she was not Kagome but everything everyone else said, she was sometimes not even that. As times passes she feels herself slipping away and it is all the Shikon jewel fault, Kagome lifted her arm from her side and grabbed the lone Shikon Jewel within the glass bottle and squeezed it, but not enough for it to break. Yes, it was all the Shikon Jewels fault because it dragged her here to the feudal era but she was grateful to it as well. Because of this Cursed Jewel she meet Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kaede and others it even gave her a purpose within this complicated life. She sighed, 'life sure is complicated' Kagome thought. Sometimes though she wished that everyone forgot her and the Shikon; the Shikon would be a danger so she still had to take care of it, but if they forgot then everyone would be happy Inuyasha would be with Kikyo and Miroku wouldn't have the wind tunnel to worry about and be with Sango. Kagomes eyes lightened up and couldn't help but smile, Sango would have Kohaku, Shippo… her face once again grew unreadable, Shippo didn't have family and even if he stayed with either Inuyasha or with Sango he would feel as though he didn't belong or a burden for both the couples.

"Child you should come inside to the warm fire, the wind will pick up soon" Kaede said she was right beside her, Kagome Jumped from her sitting position on the ground, she hadn't felt or herd the aged women approach her. After recovering from her shock she answered; "Thank you, Kaede for your concern I will go inside in a few" Kagome Smiled at Kaede reassuring her she would.

"Very well child but please do hurry, after all tomorrow will be a long day and your friends will need you" was the last thing Kaede said before returning to the confined walls of her home. Kaede was one of the people that saw her as the reincarnation of Kikyo even though she didn't say it Kagome saw it the moment they meet and even now.

'Tomorrow' Kagome thought as she turned to look at the full moon, all thoughts of before forgotten. 'Tomorrow is the day we kill Naraku or he kills us' she thought bitterly, the wind shifted making her shiver and get goose bumps. Kagome turned to look at the hut and walked towards it.

Within the hut contained her restless friends, even though so too many they might seem calm. Inuyasha was at the center of the room where the fire was, he was resting on his side on the hard wood floor, his elbow resting on the floor while his hand supported his face, his eyes closed and he had one leg over the other. He would be the meaning of calm but she knew better his jaw was tight, muscles were tensed and he was keeping his ears from wondering about on his head. Tomorrow, he will finally get his revenge from Naraku since it was his fault that he and Kikyo fought each other and she pinned him to a tree. 'Probably trying to act all macho' Kagome thought as she rolled her eyes and turned to Sango and Miroku. Sango was polishing her boomerang like weapon as she and Miroku talked sitting down on the floor on the far corner. Sango was polishing her Hiraikotsu too hard, Sango's brother killed her father and the exterminators who left their village to exterminate some demons from a castle but it turned out to be trap, because of this Kohaku died but was revived thanks to the Shikon Jewel and Naraku. Miroku even though he looked as though he had no care in the world smiling and laughing with Sango but Kagome saw his left hand in the form of a fist his knuckles were white, that hand held the wind tunnel was, the wind tunnel was made by Naraku he attacked Mirokus grandfather and was passed to Miroku's father and now to him, his father and grandfather died because the wind tunnel sucked them in and now he is afraid he'll be next. She sighed inwardly, they didn't need to assimilate that nothing was wrong and everything was good and jolly she knew he knew that nothing was right at the moment.

"Mommy!" Shippo cried jumping to her arms. She smiled at her son and hugged him as he hugged her back.

"Hey! Shippo what are you doing still up?" Kagome said while she was walking to the other side of the room close to Miroku, Sango and Inuyasha, Shippo on her arms still hugging her and she him.

"I-I didn't smell you so I woke up, I didn't want to go back to sleep without you so I waited for you to go to sleep" Shippo blushed, Kagome sat down, her legs spread and her head rested on the wall.

"Well you don't need to wait for me anymore and don't worry, I won't leave you so go to sleep" Kagome said placing him on her thighs and humming to him. When she saw his shoulders hang loose and his breath even out she turned to everyone else.

"So what are we going to do?" she said in a serious tone. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at her. Inuyasha sat Indian style facing Kagome and so were Miroku, and Sango. They stayed silent a few seconds until Miroku spoke " We can't do much Kagome we have to wait until he comes tomorrow since we could all feel it, he's heading our way" he said in a serious tone as well, just like Kagomes, which everyone was surprised to hear.

"I know that but we can't stay in the Village, if we do then it will endanger the people" Kagome said concerned in her voice.

"We Know Kagome that is why before the sun rises we will leave the Village and go to a secluded area, to not harm anyone" Sango said

"I know but where are we going to go?"

"To Inuyashas forest there no one will be hurt" Miroku said.

"Okay but what about Shippo he can't go with us he might and probably will get injured if he does." Kagome encircled her arms around Shippo in a protective manner causing him to lift up to her chest.

"We talked to him while you were outside when he woke up, we told him he was to stay in the Village but he refused saying he would escape and go to you"

"It was to be expected I guess, but even then we have to make him stay here" a tear escaped her right eye; she didn't pay attention to it and just let it fall to Shippos' forehead. Shippo started to shift a little until Kagome rocked him Back and forth calming him down.

"We will leave him here sleeping" Inuyasha finally said and went back to his old position closing the discussion.

Kagome was scarred and no doubt about it, everyone was even Inuyasha but they could do nothing at the moment but wait until Naraku came for them and the Shikon Shard. 'This is tortured thought Kagome' before her eye lids became heavy and dozed off. But Naraku wasn't as far as they assumed, no he was close too close.