Disclaimer I do not own InuYasha, Rumiko Takahashi is the rightful owner…I just love screwing up their lives.

Chapter 1: Withheld Anger

"Kagome! Now!" came an overly anxious voice. His eyes were fixed on the young mikos shaking hand, his clawed hands clenched into tight fists causing his nails to dig into his skin.

This was it, the one battle everyone had been waiting for, the one day all those miserable occurrences would be avenged. This was the time…and the only thing standing between victory and failure was this one shot.

A drop of sweat formed a trail down Kagome's left cheek, her thoughts were running wild. If she didn't hit she would fail everyone including herself, she HAD to be 100 sure before she let go of the arrow.

'I can do this!' she told herself over and over again as if it would magically make the arrow hit. Her grasp on the arrow grew tighter, the arrows wood was actually biting into her skin now. 'I can do this!' she told herself again, 'I just have to-' interrupted mid-thought Kagome looked to her shoulder, shock plastered on her face. Who had just squeezed her shoulder?

"You can do it…we all believe in you…" the demon slayers voice rang with hope, she was the one who had done it, she was just trying to reassure Kagome that people did actually trust in her abilities. Though she wouldn't admit it she was in fact depending on Kagome. Speaking of which…how did it all come down to Kagome anyway?

Flashback

Golden orbs swept over the land around them before focusing in on the curious girl beside him.

"Kagome…I-" InuYasha began, his words stopping and forming a lump in his throat. He just couldn't say it, he had just witnessed Kikyo's death, his heart was to fragile to take the pain of rejection. He began speaking again, changing the topic all together, "Kikyo…she-she's dead…"

Kagome's brows furrowed, a sudden confusion hit her. She already knew this by the look on InuYashas' face from when he had come back later on that night. Not to mention he had told her this before.

"She told me how to defeat him…Naraku…" he chocked on his name. A sudden sadness overcame him just from mentioning him. Why did he have to make him betray Kikyo so many years ago? What did he achieve other than becoming the most hated person alive?

A gentle hand grabbed his. Kagome had to somehow reach out to him, let him know that she was there for him, that she would never abandon him, "InuYasha…" she lightly squeezed his hand, "I'll help in any way…"

He then looked at her, his eyes slightly softened. That is what he loved about this girl, she would help in any way, she would worry about him, she actually cared. Even when they argued she would do her best to make up with him…she always stayed by his side.

InuYasha sighed, "It's risky though…for him to die you have to use a shikon shard attached to an arrow…not any shikon shard. A PURE shikon shard and hit him directly where his heart once was at the same time I strike his actual heart," he glanced at the shard hanging around her neck. It was a piece of a jewel that had caused so much calamity, so much fighting…so many deaths, but this shard was the last one left. Naraku had all the other ones except for those of Koga's and Kohaku's. Naraku was winning…at that thought InuYasha dug his hands into the ground, his teeth clenching shut.

Kagome noticed he was getting unsettled. She had to calm him down, "InuYasha" she whispered calmingly as her hand stroked his, "I'll help in anyway…I will do my best even if it means me dieing."

InuYasha was shocked yet all the same happy. He began shaking his head, "Kagome, Kagome, Kagome…" he said, his voice was just above a whisper. His arm snaked around her waist as he continued calling her name. Swift as an arrow he pulled her into his lap. His mouth moved to her ear, words beginning to form from his lips, "I already told you…I won't let you die, I'll protect you."

Kagomes' cheeks began reddening as her eyes opened in shock. Her mind was running amuck and out of pure unexpectedness she spat out exactly what she was thinking, "InuYasha…w-why are you acting like this?"

Almost exactly at the time those words left her lips he pushed her off of him and stood, fists being once again made.

She began panicking, thinking he had taken it the wrong way. She quickly began to talk, "Wait! InuYasha I didn't-" he reached over and covered her mouth.

Anger erupted from his voice, "Go get Sango and Miroku, NOW! Naraku is coming."

Hearing this Kagome immediately scrambled to her feet dashing forward to go off in search for Sango and Miroku.

End Flashback

Kagome finally let go of the arrow, "Please hit!" she shouted. It was almost there and as far as anyone could see it was going to hit EXACTLY where they wanted it to. Kagome wrapped her arms around herself feeling a cold wind brush her. That's when it happened…the wind hand blown the arrow off course. And the only thing she could do was stand there as her mind screamed no. Naraku began laughing as he stared at Kagome who was just standing there, she didn't even blink.

"So…the miko can't even hit her target, I can't believe I even considered her a threat. After all…she is just a reincarnation of Kikyo," Naraku scoffed at the failure of a miko. Slowly he walked over to where the jewel shard lay and picked it up. Chuckling at how close he was to dieing, "At least I got another shikon shard out of it, did I mention…the last shikon shard?" he then took his leave. Not before grabbing his heart back though.

Just as Naraku left Kagome collapsed, covering her face from the world, not allowing anyone to see her oncoming tears. She had failed everyone, she let her own group she considered family down. Everything was always her fault, the jewel shattering, InuYasha almost dieing just to save her. Even InuYasha's pain was her fault…if only she had actually just left him to be with Kikyo. She began to cry out, "I'm…sorry…I…let everyone down…I'm so sorry…I…let you down," gasping non-stop.

Silence filled the air. Instead of the usual comforting of Kagome everyone just sat there letting her cry and repeat sorry over and over again.

Kagome continued sobbing but stopped for a second to the sound of distant footsteps. She made out the image before her the best she could with the blurring tears which only became worse with each footstep she heard as she saw her friends leaving her.

Shippo hopped down from his perch on Sango's shoulder running quickly over to Kagome. Looking over his shoulder he shouted at his leaving friends, "Where are you guys going? What about Kagome!?"

They continued walking while the hanyou emotionlessly said, "Leave her alone…" and as if taking the rest of InuYasha's sentence right out of his mouth Miroku continued, "She'll just weigh us down."

Sango continued walking in silence, her feet slightly scraping the ground as she stared at her feet.

The fox demon tried his best to hug Kagome as he lovingly told her he'd stay with her.

Kagome picked the little fox up as she picked herself up and called out one single name, "Sango!" Sango stopped, her back still to Kagome, "Are you…mad at me?" Kagome's voice held the sadness displayed in her eyes.

Sango began walking again as she shakily responded, "No." Kagome's eyes opened in shock. She was sure she had just heard hesitation in Sango's voice. Her best friend…she was…'mad at me?' Kagome asked herself, her thoughts starting to tug at her heart.

Shippo tugged at her sleeve and simply questioned her name out of concern, "Kagome?" as if on cue she fell down again her eyes pouring out more of her sorrow.

She held Shippo close almost like he was her lifeline or light within the dark. She was feeling so alone.

Meekly she asked the fox kit, "Are you…mad too?" Shippo shook his head vigorously before responding, "Of course not! It wasn't your fault!"

A small smile graced Kagome's lips, at least she knew someone still cared and had forgiven her.

Author Notes

Yes, I have finally started writing again. I never have really posted on here but I hope you enjoy my first fan fiction I have actually posted on here. R&R! And please go easy on me. But any spelling mistakes you notice please let me know so I can fix them. Also any suggestions are welcome. PLEASE NO FLAMING.

InuYasha Romance Goddess