-Note from me- This is my first fan fic, as you probably hear from everybody. But I would like to make this a good one if it isn't already. So please read and review. Tell you what you liked about it, what you didn't, what I should cut out, and/or what I should add. Just please be honest and thanks for your patience with me and my newbie-ness.

Thanks,

Michelle!

Don't Leave Me

Chapter 1,

Under the Stars:

How long has it been since I first came down the well and found myself in the fuedal era? It seems like a lifetime has passed by without me ever noticing it. I've come across many people and I have made lots of friends. Shippo, Sango, Miroku, Kilala, and Inuyasha...{sigh}, Inuyasha most of all. Somehow, that arrogant, selfish, self-centered jerk rubbed off on me. I find that I can't leave his side without feeling like I've left a piece of me behind. What is this that I'm feeling? Am I feeling it because I am the reincarnation of the priestess Kikyo? No, th-that can't be. I may look like her, but I'm my own person. I think and feel things on my own accord. Kikyo does not influence my feelings. Then why? Is it because I...

"You're awake?"

Kagome looked across the dying fire to meet the gaze of those inquiring golden eyes. It was the middle of the night and the stars were in their full glory. The moon was almost full and all that could be heard in the night's silence was the tiny crickets, singing their requiem for the sun to return. So she sat up in her sleeping bag, being careful not to wake the others, and gazed at the inky sky.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep. There's just too much on my mind. How about you? Why aren't you sleeping?"

The moonlight illuminated his ethereal silver hair in a brilliant halo that framed his face. Finally, Inuyasha looked up from the ashes of the fire to Kagome. What she saw there was a look of pain and loss, but was just as quickly washed from his face; his mask was on once again.

He was thinking of Kikyo, just now. I know it. Only when he thinks of her does he look like that. And it breaks my heart to know he's hurting inside.

"Well, someone has to stand guard. And seeing as how you all are sleeping, I guess it has to be me." He said in that all too familiar tone.

"If it makes you feel better, I feel safe knowing that you are protecting us." As she spoke, Kagome was barely audible.

"Hmph," Inuyasha muttered as he crossed his arms and looked away from her face. "I'm not your guard dog." Then he looked back to gauge her reaction.

Kagome looks hurt, he thought. Damn, I spoke too soon. Why did I say that?

Her face held a certain sadness to it that made her already dark brown eyes look even darker. Kagome hung her head and looked down into her lap. "That's not what I meant, Inuyasha."

"Kagome, I..."

"I'm going for a walk. Please, I need to be alone for a while. I won't wander far." And then she was off, into the dark shelter of the forest they camped next to, Inuyasha staring after her in confusion.

I was going to apologize, but she wouldn't let me. Kagome, please don't be mad at me. It's just too hard to let my guard down sometimes. You don't realize how many times I've wished to confide in you but was afraid to trust again. What's wrong with me?

Oh, Inuyasha. Why, after all this time, can't you trust me? Maybe you have no reason to trust me. I mean, I did let Koga escape twice before, and I haven't watched over the jewel fragments well. I can't even count how many times they've been stolen from me. After Kikyo took them last time, we only have a couple fragments in our possession. Naraku has the majority of the jewel because Kikyo gave him my piece. And he's getting stronger everyday because of it. It's like we've done nothing but collect the shards for Naraku. And what happens if we ever get the shards back? Or when the jewel becomes whole again? I'm afraid. I don't want Inuyasha to become a full demon. He won't know us anymore. He'll lose contact with everything and everyone knows. His soul mission in life would be to kill. Blood lust would consume him. Inuyasha would not be a completely differen person and I think I would die inside if that happened.

And then again, would it be any better if he decided to become fully human? No, it wouldn't because he still wouldn't be the same person I know and...love? Do I love Inuyasha? That would explain a lot. Why I feel like I'm connected with him on more than one level. He's my friend, but so is Miroku, and I don't feel this way for him. Yes...I do love him. But how does he feel? I can't let Inuyasha know about this. He's still head over heels for Kikyo. How can I compete with someone who is dead? That wouldn't be right. Inuyasha must never know how I feel. Even if it kills me. He doesn't need that kind of emotional turmoil and I won't be the one to cause it.

While she was occupied with thoughts of Inuyasha, Kagome stumbled upon a part of the woods that didn't seem familiar. The trees were gnarled and stretched to the sky in a futile attempt to escape their forsaken surroundings. The dank smell of decay was strong along with the feel of cool, clammy dampness in the air. Moss clung to everything; it covered the trees as well as the ground and the rocks. Trees everywhere. They were so close to each other that Kagome was overwhelmed by a feeling of suffocation. Shadows were cast to every corner and crevice. It was hard to tell if anything lurked in those foreboding shadows.

Where am I? What's going on? I know this place wasn't like this earlier on.

There. I felt it.

It felt like a shard of the Sacred Jewel. It must near, but where?

Kagome looked over her shoulder to an enormously deformed tree. It's roots wove in and out of the earth and it's branches covered her entire view of the star filled sky.

Why didn't I see this one before? There, I feel it again. It's in the tree. Maybe if I recover this piece by myself, Inuyasha won't think I'm so useless anymore.