Hey, so I woke up sick this morning and to take my mind off things, decided to write! Just a warning, but the story won't give a way anything and if it does I'll warn you first*******SPOILER****** This takes place during the final act after Kikyo dies, but before they defeat Naraku. Also, every time you see a 4 pound keys in a row, it means that POV flip flops from Kagome to Inuyasha or vice versa. This chapter starts off with Kagome.

Enjoy!

"That's it!" I fumed, bending to reach for my yellow backpack.

"Oh, c'mon Kagome. You know I didn't mean it!" A clawed hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me to a stop. I took a deep breath, trying in vain to calm myself, and in one swift motion, snatched the hand and flung it to the side.

"Could've fooled me. Osuwari!" I yelled.

"SHIT!"

Shouldering my pack, I fought back the smile that slinked along my lips as a weak 'Kagome' sounded from the fresh hole in the floor. Knowing I had some sort of power over Inuyasha was satisfying, but more often than not, I felt guilty for doing so. I was voluntarily, slamming another person into the ground, hurting them. Inuyasha's a hanyou so 'sitting' him couldn't hurt too terribly bad-the blow to his pride probably hurt more than the actual 'sit'- but being forced into a face plant nonetheless couldn't feel to fantastically wonderful.

Crossing the small hut, I noticed the looks of praise and thanks Sango and Shippo gave me and even the thumbs up from Miroku. I guess not everyone is that torn up.

The wood from Kaede's destroyed floor shifted and creaked. "Kagome!" Inuyasha grumbled, "What the hell-"

I immediately stopped walking, the corners of my mouth, which had been tiptoeing upward, quickly slipped back into a frown. Slowly turning, I faced Inuyasha, who, presently, was on his knees donning a look of sheer terror. His wide, amber eyes were huge and blinking nervously, his soft, white ears holding unbelievably still.

"Uhh, Kagome?" he asked, wary of his words.

Let's just say I was NOT in a very regretful OR forgiving mood today.

"Osuwari! Osuwari! OSUWARI!"

I spun on my heel and marched out of the hut, flinging the fabric door open on my way out. I stomped through the tiny village, baffling adults with a single look of fury and scaring more than a few small children. Soon, the little town was nothing but a small speck in the distance as I stormed along the dirt road up the hill, a cloud of dust trailing in my wake. I was shaking, practically sweating, and definitely NOT ( initiate:sarcasm) almost frothing at the mouth with anger. My vision spotted with dark pinpoints of black. So caught up in my fury (not to mention picturing Inuyasha's head on a stick) was I, the quick, approaching caught me off guard.

"Kagome!" Shippo cried, "Wait up!"

Not slowing down one bit, I forged on. If I stopped to talk, even for a second, I knew the little guy would have me somehow begging for Inuyasha's forgiveness. I have to admit, though, I was pretty surprised when Shippo ran in front of my dirt tempest and held up both hands in a 'stop' position. I was so startled-and I hate to say it-I tripped over the poor fox demon, doing my own face plant.

"Kagome, where are you going?" he asked, perfectly fine, as I lay on the ground, spitting mud.

Completely ignoring the question, I asked, getting up, "Shippo, are you okay? Oh, geez, I'm so sorry! I didn't land on you, did I?"

"Kagome, I'm fine, but…" he trailing off, eyes shining.

I pulled myself to my knees, trying my best to shake the dirt from my white school blouse and failing. "Shippo," I said, glancing at the substantial dirt stain up and down my front, "Are you sure you're all right?"

"Why do you always leaves us, Kagome?" he yelled, a small tear tracking down his face.

I was flabbergasted. Shippo was one of the strongest kids I knew and not once had I seen him cry when I was leaving. How was this time any different? He had been there when everything went down just minutes before. Did our fight seem that bad to the onlooker as it actually was for me? "What?" I asked, confused.

"That's what you're doing, right? You were running to the well to get away from us! Just because you and Inuyasha had a fight again doesn't mean you have to go!"

"Shippo, no. I wasn't running from you. I would never run from you." Though I can't say the same for everyone else, I thought to myself, eye twitching.

"Kagome, you're lying through your teeth," he said, crossing his arms.

Even a seven year old could read right through me. "Only a little. I would never leave you, Shippo. I promise." That's a promise I don't know if I'll be able to keep for much longer.

"Just because, I'm little, does it mean I'm a baka like Inuyasha," he replied. "Besides, you're too nice for your own good. You couldn't lie if you tried," he finished, smirking.

A sad smile flashed across my face for half a second, but was gone almost as soon as it came. I hugged Shippo, and pulling away, let my hands rest on his shoulders. I looked straight into his clear, green eyes and gently whispered, "Bye, Shippo."

"You'll be back soon, right Kagome?" he asked, innocence swaddling his voice.

I wasn't going to bother even attempting to fib. I broke eye contact to stare off towards the trees, "I have to go."

Quickly I stood, and began to jog off into the woods. Head bowed, I ran against the strong breeze, hair flying in a stream of onyx behind me, leaving the sides of my ears unguarded. A curtain of hair wouldn't have obstructed noise to any extent, but would've helped nonetheless. I tried to close my ears, to block off any sound, but the soft weeping of the fox demon child was hard to ignore.

I sped up.

I have never been so insulted, so deceived...

I hit the tree line full force, choosing not to stay on the path, in case that baka decided to chase after me. This way, it would be harder for him to track my scent. Yeah, I'll get a whole two seconds further ahead than I would have if I had run down the road.

My stupidity caught up with me as branches snagged in my hair abd leaves and ivy slithered down my shirt. Thanks to several low lying bushes and fallen twigs, my ankles along with pretty much every other body part below my knees were slashed to oblivion, but I didn't care. I wanted to get out of the feudal era as fast as possible. If I brought home the whole forest, so it shall be.

And apparently it was meant to be, seeing as two seconds after I thought those words, I tripped over a fallen tree, executing a perfect face plant. I slammed face first into the hard earth, banging my head on a rock and receiving a mouthful of sticks, dirt, and who knows what else.

So this is what it feels like to be sat.

Can't say that I'm a fan.

Head pounding, I scrambled to my feet as fast as I could, discovering a long, deep gash running down the length of my shin. My knee-high sock was soaked through with blood and my left temple was throbbing. Only after a low yell of frustration did I realize I was standing only feet away from the edge of the clearing that surrounded the Bone Eaters' Well.

I crunched my way to the soft grass of the meadow, beads of sweat forming above my brow. Slowly, but surely, I limped across the green field to the well, injured leg dragging behind me like some sort of grotesque extraneous appendage.

By the time I rested my palms against the coarse rim of the well, my breathing was heavy and my head swimming. I slunk down the side of the well so that I leaned against it, knees bent, and my head in my hands. The tears started to pour as soon as my eyes were shielded from reality by sweaty palms. A slideshow of Inuyasha played across the backs of my eyelids; Inuyasha screaming at me, practically frothing at the mouth. Inuyasha's fists, curled in irritation, then punching the unsteady wall. Inuyasha, pointing in the distance, motioning for me to go.

You're useless, Kagome!

My eyes flicked opened. "Uhh," I groaned, knocking my head against the side of well, "Why are you so STUPID, Inuyasha!" I screamed.

I picked a piece of grass and fiddled it between my thumb and forefinger, trying my best to ignore the incessant biting and stinging in my shin. I reached through my gnarled hair to grasp the clasp of the thin necklace that hung from my neck. I pinched the hook and unfastened the chain, letting it fall into my lap. I pulled the small jar containing the Shikon jewels shards off the string and rolled it between my fingers, watching as the pink fragments glinted in the little sun that peeped through the thick layer of clouds. The shards were so important, so vital… I'm sure he didn't actually mean it, what he said.

I don't see why you even bother showing up anymore!

I was used to Inuyasha's insults and the fights that tagged along, but somehow… this time it was different. Something was a bit off and not in the weird 'I'm being controlled, this is code for save me' way either. It was more like, I gulped, he actually meant it. Usually, there was a faint undertone to his insults that meant 'I really don't want to say this, but I'm going to because it's expected.' This time however, there was no undertone, only pure…disgust. I guess I'm really not wanted.

My breathing hitched, my trembles of physical pain ceased, and goose bumps erupted across my skin. A memory, a landmark in our friendship, came to mind. One that made my heart skip a beat.

I will always stay here, return, as long as I am needed, as long as I am wanted. (A/N Anyone remember what episode?)

Quietly I whispered the words to myself that I hoped I'd never hear aloud, that I promised I'd never have to say.

"I'm not needed."

Or wanted.

I lifted my head to stare into the forest, thick with trees and darkness. The only noise that permeated the soft breeze was the faint rustling of leaves. No one was coming.

I stood up, which in the current situation, meant I raised my fist in the air and slightly elevated my good knee off the ground, flustered beyond belief, "Fine. I'll just go then!" I screamed to no one in particular, save a quickly retreating flock of birds.

Might've? It WOULD'VE been better!

A soft rain began to fall as I threw my good leg over one side of the well, leaving the other to dangle just above the grass. Blood dribbled down my ankle and seeped into the fine dirt that dusted the foot of the well. I glanced over my shoulder one last time and almost jumped into the well, but was stopped by an idea. I took the bottle of shards and switched it from my right to my left hand. I wrapped each finger around the curvature of the glass and hurled the flask as hard as I could in the opposite direction of the Goshinboku.

"Now I'll never have to worry about not being needed or… wanted again."

By now the rain was pouring and my clothes were soaked through. I shivered and shook, my skin crawling with cold. I heaved myself into the well before I could watch the jar hit the ground. As I flew towards the serene, blue light that engulfed the dark oblivion, I muttered my last words in the feudal era.

"Goodbye, Inuyasha."

####

"Do not worry, Inuyasha," the monk, assured. "I'm sure that Lady Kagome will return as soon as she calmed down."

"Man can she ever hold a grudge," I replied from my spot on the roof of Kaede's hut.

"You mustn't rush these things. I'm sure she will return within 5 days' time."

"Keh, like I care what she does," I replied indignantly. A little longer than usual, but sounds about right.

(2 or so weeks later)

"Why don't you just go after her?"

Because I don't want to get 'sat' so far into the ground, you'll have to peel me off the dirt with a shovel. I folded my arms, shut my eyes, and raised my chin in a lofty manner. "I already told you, Miroku. I don't care what she does, when she comes back, or if she ever does at all!" I snapped.

I could practically hear the monk's eye-roll from my perch.

####

I pulled myself up the last rung of the ladder and lugged my broken body over the wooden lip of the well, scraping my stomach against the timber. Great another scar to add to today's total.

I fell with a thump to the stone floor of the well-house. The ground was freezing, but my battered body instantly felt better against the cool rock. It was like nature's very first hot-and-cold patch. I lay on the floor soaking in the sweet cool of the surface, watching the steam fly off my hot body.

"Mom!" I called. There was absolutely no way I was going to be able to drag myself back to the house without help.

"Momma!" I called, but again there was no response.

Hmmm. That's funny. Maybe she went to the store or something.

"Souta!" No answer.

"Gramps?" Silence.

"Momma?"

Or maybe it's just Destroy-Kagome's-Self-esteem day.

"I guess I'm just gonna have to do this the old-fashioned way."

I rolled onto my back and reached for the rim of the well with my right hand. I stretched and stretched and finally got a grip on the rim. I pulled myself, one-handed, closer towards the well to reach up with the other hand. With both hands grasping the coarse lip, I pulled myself (using my newly developed archer's muscles if I do say so myself) to a stand on my uninjured leg. I let go of the well.

"Hey this doesn't hurt so bad." I began gingerly shifting my weight to my injured leg. "Yeah, this feels fine. I can so do this-whoa!" I shrieked, crashing to the floor.

I can do this!

I repeated the process of muscling my way to a stand, but this unfortunately included wiping out every time I tried to walk out of the shed. I was going to be sporting quite a few new bruises to compliment the huge gash on my leg.

"Gahhh!" I screamed, more in frustration than pain, tumbling to the floor for about the fiftieth time in the last ten minutes.

I can't do this.

"Momma!" I called, "I need help!" Silence. "Anybody, please!" Nothing. "Souta, gramps, anybody!" Tears began to form in the corners of my eyes. Why will no answer me?

"Inuyasha!"

I clapped my hand over my mouth. Where did that come from? Why did I say that? Inuyasha can't-won't-come to help me. If I'm calling out for that insolent, annoying, self-centered, hard-head, feeling-impaired, conceited jerk, I must be desperate! I pfffed aloud. Besides, it's better this way. I can finally live a normal teenage life. Be happy! But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make myself smile. I couldn't be happy.

What've I done?

Shaking the thought from my head, I pulled myself to my knees. "I will do this. I will get into the house if it kills me!"

Suddenly, the door to the shed flew open and the silhouette of a large man stood in the doorway, framed in moonlight. I tried to stay as still as possible. The last thing I needed was a strange man coming anywhere near my personal space.

"Hello?" called the man, stepping into the light. "Is anyone in here?"

The voice belonged to a young man, maybe early twenties. He was dressed in casual attire, but the gun peeping out of his pants was more than obvious. He had light brown hair that flopped in front of his wide, disarming blue eyes. Along with the gun, he also carried a long silver flashlight, that after several seconds of concentration, I realized was pointed directly in my face.

I threw a hand in front of my eyes as I watched his gaze shift from my tired face to the pool of blood that lay under my broken body. He hurriedly bent down and with one hand grabbed my wrist, the other touching my forehead. "Miss, are you okay?" He asked.

"Ummm…"

"No of course you're not. Here let me help you up." I watched in total shock as he reached for my other hand and, in one easy swoop, pulled me to my feet. He took my arm and wrapped it around his shoulder so I wasn't leaning on my hurt leg. For a moment, we stood there awkwardly. I was still in utter disbelief that I was standing and not falling at the same time, but the poor guy helping me was practically shaking under my weight.

Turning to face me, he asked, "You wouldn't happen to be Kagome Higurashi would you?"

"Uhh, yeah, that's me. Why?" I replied, turning to face him as well.

His gaze immediately dropped. "Miss Higurashi, I'm really, really sorry, but I have horrible news."

I felt my heart drop and my muscles lock in place, "What?"

"Are you sure you're in good condition? Because if you're not stable I don't want to tell-"

"What is it?" I blurted.

He finally turned to look at me, with those odd, blue eyes. "I'm so sorry miss, but… a few hours ago you're mother, brother, and grandpa were involved in an automobile accident-"

My face fell as the blood drained from my head. Colors and objects in the shed swirled together in one giant mess. Reality and dream twisted together in one giant clutter.

"I'm so sorry miss-Kagome. Your mother and grandfather died on impact and your brother died a few minutes later on scene."

I felt my knees buckle and the nice officer grab the small of my back as the ground rapidly approached my blackening vision.

The whole world dropped away.

####

I stomped into Kaede's hut, nearly tearing off the drape that marked the entrance, yelling angrily, "Miroku!"

"Yes, Inuyasha?" answered Miroku, who had been calmly messing with his blue prayer beads. "And no need to yell," He said, setting down some plier looking thing and walking right up to my ear. He wouldn't dare. "We're all right here!" he screamed.

"Gahhh, Miroku!" My eyes crossed as an explosion of pain blasted in my head. I threw my hands over my ears, howling, "Would you quit that!"

He backed away. "Your wish is my command," he said, bowing. I rolled my eyes. "Anyway, what did you need?"

Ears ringing, starbursts dotting my eyes, I nonchalantly answered, "How many days has it been since she left?"

"Who is this 'she' you speak of?"

I blinked several times, trying to rid myself of confusion and the annoying balls of light flashing in my eyes. "I think you know who." I spat. He's totally screwing with me!

"I think you'll have to remind me," he sang, turning to reach for a certain unassuming demon exterminator's behind.

So you wanna play this game, huh?

In one quick move, I reached for my waist and ripped Tetsusaiga out of its sheath in a blaze of yellow light. I brandished the sword so that the tip just barely poked the monk's back and waited-three, two, one-

"Hentai!" SMACK!

Smirking, I watched Miroku spin from the force of the slap to come face to face with a gleaming, fully transformed Tetsusaiga. I raised a single eyebrow as he gulped once, then twice, although his demeanor remained outwardly calm. And let me tell you from personal experience, having the tip of a sword dig into your nose, let alone an all-powerful one, is scary any day and maintaining a peaceful exterior throughout is quite a feat.

"Miroku," I growled, "I know you know how long it's been. Answer me."

Silence.

I pushed the sword's tip in just a bit farther, but not enough to break skin or cause any pain. I wasn't gonna hurt the poor guy. That would be rude. I was just gonna scare him 'til he wet himself, is all.

"Answer me, hentai!" I snapped.

The monks eyes nervously darted to the left and then the right (looking for backup?), but no one would meet his eye, or mine for that matter. He just stared over my left shoulder and blatantly said, "It's been thirteen days. She would've come back to let us know if she was going to be gone for more than a weeks time by now."

"When does she ever do that?" I interrupted.

Sango spoke up, "All the time, baka. It just so happens that she always has to after you two have a shouting match!"

Unbelievable.

"Inuyasha."

"WHAT!" I barked

"I believe the only reason," Sango started, "Kagome may not have returned to inform us of her absence would be if she truly was angry at you and is holding a grudge, which I don't believe she possesses the capability to hold onto for this long, or…she couldn't.

"Man, girls and their tempers-Wait. What do you mean if she…couldn't?

But I already knew the answer. I felt the smirk fall off my face and my eyebrows shoot to the roof. I was out of the hut and running for the well before I even realized what I was doing. Something wafted in the breeze, something bitter and coppery.

The scent of human blood.

And the smell of fruit and…cleanliness.

Kagome's blood!

I shot down the dirt road that led to the woods, and to the well, where the epicenter of the scent blew. My feet were a blur. I could barely feel them hitting the hard ground as they raced across the terrain.

Kagome is fine.

Kagome is okay.

The well is open.

Kagome is probably just sitting on her fuzzy chair watching that glowing box, laughing at me because she thinks I'm going nuts waiting for her to return. Which I'm not.

Earth gave way to soft grass and in one long leap I was standing at the foot of the well. And in Kagome's blood. My heart skipped a beat and my muscles automatically tensed for battle, even though there was no demon in sight. A growl rippled from my throat, slicing through the soft wind that shook the trees and waved the grass.

It wasn't like Kagome had gotten a small cut and a drop of blood had fallen to the ground. There was a lot and it was everywhere. In the grass, soaked in the dirt at the foot of the well, even on the well itself leading a crimson trail all the way to the rim.

I was diving into the well, preying for the blue light, before I even had a chance to think it through.

####

I sniffed. My heart hurt, and the darkness that surrounded me was deep and unavoidable. It was swelling around my emaciated body, and I was easily succumbing to it. I had no will left to keep going. Not if I was alone.

Everyone I had ever loved, cared for, befriended was gone, vanished into thin air. I had shunned the people that had encircled me to the point that they hardly even remembered who I was, let alone who I was to them. The ones that stuck by had disappeared.

A dry sob broke through my parched lips. I tried to make myself cry, to feel the pain that I had inconsequently brought upon myself, but my eyes were dry. There was nothing left to cry with.

Even my tears had abandoned me.

####

Bursting out of Kagome's hut, I sniffed the air. No one was home or had been for a long time. Kagome and each of her family member's scents still floated about the house, but they were stale, at least a week old.

My head drooped forward and my ears fell in disappointment, as I stepped out of the house and into the shrine's main courtyard. She didn't leave, did she? Every part of me wanted to say no. Kagome was my friend, my first and best friend. She would've let me know if she'd left. Right?

And then there was the other, darker side of me that denied all of those thoughts were true. That just because she was kind and forgiving on the outside, didn't mean she wasn't constantly angry and annoyed with me for having her continually cross over into my time.

But Kagome's not like that. She is what you get.

Confused, I growled into the misty night air. I trudged over towards the ancient Goshinboku, that was somehow miraculously still alive and growing, in Kagome's time. I hopped over the small, white fence that bordered the tree. I dropped my gaze to the muddy ground, watching as my feet slowly sunk lower and lower into the mud. I reached one hand towards the bark, knowing what my fingers would encounter. I traced a long scratch down the length of the scar that marred the near perfectness of the Goshinboku. It was slightly smaller than the matching wound that adorned the tree in my time, but only because fresh bark had started to creep along the edges of the mark here.

I lifted my head to stare at the wide trunk. It was huge, much bigger here than in my time. Funny how the tree keeps on growing, while the scar remains nearly the same size for over 500 years. My claws dip in and out of the tree as they bump over the hole that Kikyo's arrow left. Maybe it has something to do with the magic of Kikyo's arrow. Or maybe it's because I, instead of a normal human, was sealed to the tree. Miroku's right. I do need to use my brain more often. I sighed aloud, frustrated over the stupid tree that had absolutely nothing to do with finding Kagome.

And then it clicked.

"I smell her!"

####

I dropped to the ground as the rain poured over my freezing body. I shivered violently against the hard, cold, unforgiving ground. This is what it's like to be alone.

Another unintelligible noise broke through my shattered lips.

Pain erupted behind my ears, but not physical. Emotional pain. I was done. Done with the world. Done feeling. Done with people. Done trying to care. Done with myself.

But there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.

####

I stood before the entrance of an enormous metal gate and took a deep breath.

Yup, she's definitely here, but something's off. I had pinpointed the center of Kagome's scent back at the Goshinboku towards the foot of the great tree, like she had rolled around in the dirt on purpose. But then, her scent had smelled normal, like it always had. Upon arriving at the massive gate, it smelled different somehow. Like it was fresher and had a bite to it.

Like Kikyo.

Panic flooded my stomach as my limbs turned to jelly. All thoughts dissolved, all reason turned to dust. I was frozen in place, shock overwhelming any rationale I had, not that there was much to begin with.

Like death and graveyard soil.

My mind was on lock down, no thought or feeling entering or exiting. All that ran through my mind was disbelief. By then I had realized I was at the entrance to a graveyard. That much I got. But why would I be here unless…

It couldn't be true. It did not compute. It just wasn't possible.

Kagome…dead?

####

My whole self was cloaked in aching, my heart in agony. I was wholly and completely out of touch with reality. My capability to discern what was real and what was imagined had melted as horrifying visions flashed through my head. Or did they? Maybe they were real. It made no difference to me. They were equally horrible no matter if they were truth or dream. Having to decide if they were fact or fiction was almost as bad as having to watch them slideshow across my eyes.

And there was no one by my side to help me through it.

####

A scream ripped through the still air, splitting the night in two. My ears turned to powder, developed sense of hearing for once being a hindrance. Agony was laced through the cry, tones of misery and despair intertwined. Most prominent of all, though, was the pain. The shriek was so dreadful, so sickening it was enough to make my stomach toss and turn.

It was also enough to liquefy my bones and suddenly I was snaking through the maze of gravestones. Before I could realize why, I was yelling Kagome's name as loud as I could off pure instinct. And then I got the connection. The one screaming was Kagome and I had gone after her before I'd even noticed I was running.

"Kagome!" I shouted, following the sound of her voice.

Her scent was dampened, thanks to the midnight mist that blanketed the field, but at least it was there at all. Kagome screaming was perturbing, but then again, when was she not yelling? In fact when didn't she yell? "Ahhh, Inuyasha, I'm being kidnapped again! Ahhh, Inuyasha, my books are floating down the river! Get them! Ahhh, Inuyasha, Osuwari!" She was probably just freaking out over another bug or snake or something.

As much as I hoped it was true, I knew in the lump in my chest, that according to Sango didn't exist, something was not right.

At first all I saw was a dark lump hunched on the ground. I immediately stopped running. She's okay. She's okay. I felt my face relax from a scowl I hadn't realized I'd been holding, but then I noticed the smell of salt mingling with her scent.

"Hey, Kagome!" I called, "You ain't crying again, are you?"

Slowly she raised her head to face me, confusion and tears dotting her small, sad face. This surprised me. Kagome is… well, Kagome. Happy, annoyingly optimistic, didn't cry over broken bones Kagome. What's going on?

She moaned in a thick voice, "Now I'm seeing things." Sobs burst from her chest.

I rolled my eyes, not able to stop myself. "Kami, do you EVER quit?"

She only cried harder. Way to go, Inuyasha I thought to myself, messing with the hem of my robe of the fire rat.

She sat up and pulled her knees to her chest, resting her head on them. "You aren't here," she muttered brokenly, like she had a dry throat, "You aren't real. It's impossible!"

My brow furrowed in confusion. Last time I checked, I wasn't some demented little kid's imaginary friend. "Kagome," I said, voice softening, "Look at me."

She gave no indication that she heard me at all. Somehow this made me angrier than it had when she had told me she hated me all that time ago. She continued to rest her head on her knees, eyes facing down, not acknowledging me, the graveyard, or the cold wind that gusted through it. Goosebumps dotted her skin, but she did not shiver. Her hair was a ratty mess, but she made no move to smooth it. Her odd skimpy clothes from the future were different than usual, darker and rumpled, and a tear ran along the side. She made no move to cover herself.

"You're not real. You're not real. YOU ARE NOT REAL!" She screamed.

"Kagome." Again no reaction. Am I talking to myself here?

"Kagome," I said, more forcefully this time.

"I am not insane," she muttered to herself.

I walked over to where she sat huddled and bent down in front of her face so she had no choice but to look at me. I'd never seen her so miserable, so distraught. Whoever did this to her would pay. "Kagome," I said, on the verge of, what was it called? Tenderness? On the verge of tenderness, and grabbed her hands. "Look at me, Kagome. I'm right here."

Slowly she lifted her head, eyes puffy and red, and looked me straight in the eye.

"You're not going insane. I am real," I grabbed her hand, "and I am right here. Look at me, Kagome."

I watched in amazement as her mouth opened with a soft pop and her eyes widened to the size of sand dollars. And the next thing I knew, her hand was flying towards my face. Of course I caught her arm before she got anywhere near to slapping me, but the thought was still there.

"You stupid baka!" she screamed, arm twitching. Was she trying to free herself from my grasp? I brought her arm down so that it was at her side, but didn't let go. "Why can't you just leave me alone like you're supposed to?" She shrieked, sadness shifting to pure hatred.

Ouch. "Kagome," I said, confused, "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

She sniffed as something flashed in her eyes. Oh man, am I in trouble. I tried to back away, but it was too late. Hurricane Kagome was about to break and I was directly in its path. "Why am I crying? Why am I upset? Why am I screaming at you? Well I don't Inuyasha, why don't you ask yourself?" Her voice broke. "If you had any decency, any sense of goodness, or compromise in you at all, I wouldn't even be in this situation right now!" Her lip quivered. "This is all your fault!" She screamed. She blinked once, lip quivering, and then suddenly broke down in hysterics.

Alright, she's lost it. "Kagome," I grabbed her shoulders and gently shook her. "Calm down. It's okay." I added, "You're okay. I'm okay. We're both okay."

"Get OFF of me! Get away!" She screeched, closing her eyes, and more or less throwing a temper tantrum.

"If you tell me what's wrong, maybe I would!" I shot back

"I said get OFF!" she shouted, scratching at my hands holding her in place. I didn't move, didn't give her any slack. Somehow, in her frenzy, I could just picture her hurting herself and I wasn't about to let that happen. So I continued to scan her tear-stained face, her sad, dry eyes. Kagome looked so… defeated, so miserable and absolutely devastated. There's no way this is my fault, is it?

Unthinking, I folded her into my arms and hugged her freezing, trembling figure. She was so cold and at first seemed to thaw against my body, but then must've realized where she was. She began to struggle, kicking and screaming against my chest, begging me to let her go. She beat her head against my torso and violently jerked back and forth, but no matter how hard she tried, she was never going to be any match against my strength.

As quickly as it had started, her punches and poundings faded and she soon lay still, leaning into my chest, crying silently. Her small hands grabbed and clutched at my haori until she finally had a firm grasp on it. She was actually pulling herself closer, which was a big improvement over trying to be the crap out of me. I rested my chin upon her silky head and tried to hold as still as possible.

She pulled back, "Inuyasha," she whispered, I nearly jumping in surprise (nearly being the key word here), "They're gone."

"Who is?" I asked quietly, choosing my words carefully so as not to set her off.

"Momma, Gramps, Souta," her voice cracked, "They all…"

Oh crap was I wrong. I quickly put my hand on her head and brought it to rest on my chest again. "Shhh, Kagome, it's okay."

"But I'm-I'm-there's no one else left."

"Kagome, I won't leave you. I'm here," I said closing my eyes as I held her.

"I'm alone," she whispered into my chest.

I felt the hot dampness of her tears dampen my haori. I didn't say another word. I just let her cry. Later, I would think If anyone ever finds out about this, I will never here the end of it, but at the moment, I didn't care. I just pulled her tighter and hugged her closer over her brother's grave.

Awww, that was cute. If you guys like it review. If no one really likes it, I can just leave it as is. I made it so long that in case no one really liked it, it could be left as a one-shot; however, I do have an entire storyline planned out with much more action.

Let me know! Review!