Ray of Hope

by: AkaraUsagi

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inuyasha. If I did, I would not be writing fanfics. But anyways. On with it.

P.S... This is a Sess x Kag fic. Just because I 3 Sesshy!

"Inuyasha, do you want ramen?" Kagome asked needlessly. She knew he would. She had been traveling with the hanyou for three years now, and she knew him better than he knew himself. Inuyasha immediatly dropped from his perch in the God's tree and made his way over to Kagome, grabbing the bowl of ramen from her and ravishing it until it was gone. Kagome smiled. There's no one quite like him. I... I know I love him. Kagome's thoughts were interrupted by Inuyasha's voice.

"Oi! Kagome!" he called. Kagome's head snapped over to look at him.

"What?" she asked calmly.

"We're setting out now to go shard hunting." he turned and began to put the fire out. He knew that he was lying. Everyone knew that he was lying. Their was only three shards left- the two with Kouga, and the one with Kohaku. What he really meant was that they were going to search for Kikyo, who had disappeared after Naraku's death. Kagome knew this as well. Kagome sighed and looked at her watch.

"Inuyasha, it's six in the morning! I was hoping to leave a little later." she complained. Inuyasha turned his nose up at her.

"Keh! As if, wench! You've had enough rest!" Inuyasha spat. Kagome sighed. He's become more and more bitter in the past few weeks. Ever since Naraku died and Kikyo dissapeared. I mean, I understand that he's worried about Kikyo... but... he's becoming more and more distant from our group. He doesn't speak to Shippou at all, he exchanges brief phrases with Miroku and Sango, and with me... with me he doesn't talk much either. Kagome sighed.

"Alright, Inuyasha. Don't worry. I'll gather our things. Then we'll go out in search for her." she replied, knowing that Kikyo was the reason for their early departure. Inuyasha lowered his head.

"Keh! Then hurry up!" he growled. Sango came over and put an arm around her best friend.

"It's okay, Kagome. I'm sure things will turn out alright." she reassured. Kagome laughed.

I hope Sango's right. Just before Naraku's death, the well sealed over. That was thanks to Kikyo. She decided that I should stay in my own era... but she made the mistake of thinking I was home, and sealed it while I was still in the feudal era. I haven't seen my family for two months now... and I never will again. I know now that Inuyasha will never love me the way I love him... but I still can't help how I feel. Kagome grabbed her yellow backpack and followed Inuyasha's lead.

"Where are we travelling to today?" Kagome asked Inuyasha. He smirked.

"There's a village in the Eastern Lands that claims to have a powerful miko aiding them. That's where we are going." Inuyasha explained. Kagome frowned. The least he could do is ask us how we feel about it...

"Alright." Kagome replied gently, attempting to push her emotions deep down inside of her. Inuyasha sniffed the air and caught a slight scent of salt coming from Kagome. Kagome scolded herself for allowing that single tear to fall.

"Oi, what's your problem now?" Inuyasha complained. Kagome was finally at the end of her thread.

"Inuyasha! Baka! Sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, SIT, SIT, SIT!" she cried. Satisfied that he was now planted a good four feet into the dirt, Kagome walked right over him and kept on going.

"Wh-thwat wath that fow!" Inuyasha hollared.

"Spit the dirt out, then speak, you baka!" Kagome cried in annoyance. Inuyasha spat out the dirt and ran up to Kagome.

"I said, WHAT WAS THAT FOR! You were the one CRYING!" he yelled. Kagome couldn't help it. She finally let her tears fall free.

"How DARE you blame this on me! You make us get up early to go searching for Kikyo without even asking how we feel about it!" Kagome cried. Inuyasha's ears flattened down on his head.

"What?" he asked. He was too shocked to say much else. Kagome walked up to him defiantely and stared him down.

"You heard me! You don't even care about how we feel about all of this! You don't even care! You never once asked us if we even wanted to go with you! You never asked me once how I felt about the whole thing!" Kagome screamed, hoping to cause permanent damage in his ears. Inuyasha cringed at the pitch of her voice.

"Well you never said anything!" Inuyasha defended. Kagome stomped off into the forest.

"Whatever, Inuyasha! Have it your way!" she yelled. Inuyasha sighed with annoyance.

"Let's just go, alright?" he said. The group simply nodded their heads and followed the angry hanyou and the heartbroken miko. Sango put an arm around Kagome.

"It'll be fine, Kagome. He'll come around eventually and realize his true feelings for you."

"Thanks, Sango. It means a lot to me that you try so hard to cheer me up." Kagome smiled. She was truly grateful to have a friend like Sango. Sango smiled.

"Anytime!" she laughed. Kagome frowned slightly. This is going to be a long day... Kagome looked up at the rising sun. Yep... a really long day. Kagome's face stiffened with anxiety. I wish we could stop chasing after Kikyo... I just... I just wish I could tell Inuyasha how I feel... Inuyasha looked at Kagome, who was currently staring off into space.

"Oi, Kagome! What are you doing?" he asked. She forced a smile so as not to show Inuyasha how much he was hurting her.

"Nothing, Inuyasha. Nothing at all." she said sweetly. Inuyasha could tell that she was lying, but for once he decided not to press the issue- he'd already been sat several times, and didn't need to go through it again. Inuyasha frowned. What's wrong with her? She's never complained before. So why now? She's only travelling with us to detect when Kohaku or Kouga are near. It's not like she wants to stay with us after we get the remaining shards. At least, I don't think she wants to stay. Why would she stay with us? Miroku's no good, Shippou's annoying, and she practically hates me. Sango is her best friend, but I can't imagine Kagome staying just for Sango. Even if she can't go home, she'll probably just settle down in Kaede's village. Inuyasha smiled inwardly. Yeah. It'll all work out! We'll find Kikyo, Kagome gets to live in the village, Kikyo and me can travel as youkai exterminators... yeah! Everything's gonna be great! Still... why is Kagome so angry and sad?

...Is it because of Kikyo? Or me?