Chapter Two

Death

Darkness... never ending darkness

That's all she saw.

The cold metal of chains chilled her pale skin, the sound of them echoing deep in her mind. And with closed eyes she stood, chains around her waist and wrists, stretching skyward, connecting Kagome to the real, to the last of her life.

'InuYasha... I'm so sorry...' she thought, sighing and opening her eyes.

And that's all she could think of, all she could do. Apologizing to him, over and over. And for a split second, for that on minute, her mind stopped. She thought of nothing, she saw nothing. Only the bright red color she'd been longing to see...

"InuYasha?"

And the figure of the hanyo nodded, smiling.

"InuYasha!"

She wanted to run, to go to him, to be with him. But the chains held her in her spot. She couldn't move. And with the sudden realization, her eyes watered. She felt horrid.

'An hour, an hour he's dead and it feels like a century... what's wrong with me?'

And tears fell once again in burning trails, proving her weakness. But a warm hand cradled her face, a finger wiping away her tears. And with chained wrists, she leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist, crying into his kimono.

Still ahead of Sesshomaru, Rin laughed and let the snowflakes fall into her open mouth. And as she stood regularly again she giggled, peeking into the forest behind the trees. Glancing back at Sesshomaru and Jaken occasionally, she was thoroughly enjoying herself, just being a kid.

Sesshomaru didn't really understand why she was so excited about the snow, but then again he understood she was a mortal child, so he bothered her not. And as he walked silently, his mind slowly worked, his thoughts all his own. Hew would pay attention to Rin one moment, then be lost I his head, repeating the process over and over. And, far the moment, he was watching Rin.

And as he did, Rin had poked her head back into the forest, but this time she didn't poke her head back out. Instead she had run in, a reason only known to her. That was until Sesshomaru caught the scent of blood.

"Retrieve her. Now." Sesshomaru ordered Jaken, stopping in his tracks.

---

'Blood... who does it lead to?' Rin wondered running along the path of blood soaked snow, just trying to find who or what it lead to.

By now the young girl had no reaction to seeing bloodshed; she had been exposed to it enough. But she had little experience of hate, near to none of evil. The girl was too young and blind at her age, in fact she was much like Kagome, give of take a few things. Along with that she had a great liking to Kagome, which would make this all the worse.

When the blood trail ended, there lay a body, the cold, pale body of Kagome

She screamed.

---

And the moment the sound of her scream reached Sesshomaru's ears he ran after it, no emotion coming to his face. Passing Jaken as her ran in demon speed, Sesshomaru was quickly a foot behind Rin. And he was slightly shocked as well, seeing the corpse of what was once his half-brother's miko companion.

He stepped in front of Rin, whom was crying silently, and knelt beside the body of the miko. Putting his hand on her pale cheek he gazed into her open, glazed, empty brown eyes.

'A worthless death.' He thought, glancing a her right hand, clenched into a fist.

And taking the fist, he pried open her fingers with ease. And, as he had expected, the glowing pink shard of the Shikon no tama lay there, slightly blood coated from a cut in her palm. And as the scent of her blood radiated from her whole body he stood.

"We're leaving." He said coldly, starting to walk away.

But Rin, for the first time in her travels, did not follow Sesshomaru as he left. Instead, she went up to the body and knelt beside it, closing her eyes.

"Rin, come you stupid girl, or Sesshomaru-sama shall leave you behind." Jaken said, turning around.

And a strange silence lingered in the air, and still Rin did not move.

".. Sesshomaru-sama?" she turned her head to look at the yokai, "Are we really just going to leave her here?"

Sesshomaru stopped walking and looked back at the young girl.

"Hai."

"...Rin can't just leave her here..." the girl said, speaking in third person as she usually did, "... Kagome-chan has become Rin's sister..."

"Are you begging for this miko's life Rin?" He asked, now fully turned towards Rin and Kagome's body.

"Hai..."

"InuYasha... can I stay with you... forever...?" Kagome asked, her arms still wrapped around him.

And as he brushed her bangs out of her face, with one arm around her waist, he shook his head, a solemn look in his face and in his eyes.

"Wh – why?" she asked, confused and almost to tears, "If I must stay here, why can I not stay with you?"

Once again, he shook his head with that same solemn look. And then Kagome couldn't help but bury her head back into his chest, trying not to cry.

"Please... just talk to me... please." came her muffled plea.

But he said nothing, just wrapped his arms around her tighter. He couldn't speak to her though he wanted to, he could only say a few things to the living, and now was not the time. Then his nose caught a scent that all of the dead knew the scent of the sword from the living.

"Kagome..."
She jumped, his voice was different. It was distant, echoing, sounding as if two people were speaking at the same time.

"...I'm sorry, you can't stay with me. It is not your time..." He let go of her, stepping back a step.

"InuYasha...?"

"...Miroku and Sango may not be alive, the same with Shippo and Kirara. I have not seen them yet. But Kagome, you must let go of my memory, I am at peace. And remember–"

Kagome was suddenly yanked back, the chains rattling. She was being pulled back to the living, the chains tightening as she was lifted.

"– I love you."

Gasp. Chough. Sigh.

Sesshomaru sheathed Tenseiga as the miko struggled to catch her breath. He watched her for a moment, watched her struggle, and saw her cry. Then Rin was in front of him, kneeling next to Kagome.

"Kagome-chan! Are you okay?" the young girl asked, holding Kagome's shaking shoulders as she sat up.

But Kagome didn't answer, she just sat there, crying silently, not opening her eyes.

"Kagome-chan! Please! Open your eyes!" Rin said, wanting to make sure the girl whom she thought of as a sister was alright.

But there was only silence.
Rin's heart dropped to her stomach.

"Kagome-chan..."

"Rin, we're leaving." said the cold voice of Sesshomaru.

And s the yokai turned around and began to walk away, Rin stood, aware that she had pushed her luck enough today. And as she turned she felt horrible, but she had little choice, so she left, hoping Kagome would speak for herself.

Silence.

"Please..." Kagome opened her eyes, "...don't leave me here..."

Sesshomaru continued to walk, but spoke in reply.

"Go to InuYasha, you are his companion, not mine."
"...InuYasha... is dead..."