Kagome woke to a sharp cracking sound similar to the breaking of a tree branch. Then there was a thud and the ground shook.

"DAMNIT!" Inuyasha yelled. She smiled, not because he had hurt himself, but because it meant things were slowly getting back to normal with him. Since their kiss he'd been silent with the entire group. He appeared to always be in a trance, some sort of deep thought. She heard footsteps approaching and pretended to be asleep. Inuyasha sat down cross legged with his arms over his chest. He let out an angry huff of breath.

"I don't even love her, so what am I doing?" Inuyasha muttered under his breath. "Kikyo is dead, so what do I care?" Kagome pondered at his angry expression. Was he trying to convince himself he didn't love Kikyo anymore? She just wanted to ease his pain. She wanted this more than she wanted him to love her. If it meant not being with him romantically meant he'd be happy, that's what she wanted. A happy Inuyasha. She hated to see him so troubled. She would sacrifice her own happiness in seconds to keep him happy; she'd sacrifice her down life for him. "Kagome, are you awake?" Inuyasha mumbled. When she did not reply he stood and stalked into the forest. She didn't want to make him feel awkward by letting him know she'd overheard what he just said. So she let herself drift back into sleep.

[Dream In her sleep she dreamt of her wildest desires. Kagome saw a woman wearing white and yellow. She also wore a mask painted in the same yellow as her clothing. This mask concealed her entire face. She sat by a pond. The sun had just set below the mountains, leaving evenings pink glow in the valley. The woman cupped both of her hands in the pond, holding the cold liquid in her hands. The water turned to fire as Kagome approached. The pond remained the same, but what was cupped in the woman's hand was no longer water. The wind blew and the fire went out, leaving Kagome in the darkness. The remains of the fire turned to white and yellow flower petals, showering her in warmth even in the cold darkness. 'This is what you seek. This is how to ease his pain' She caught the flower in her hands that the wind blew softly to her. 'What does that mean? A flower is going to ease his mind?' She stared at the simple white and yellow daisy, the only difference between and any other flower was the stem that seemed to be carved from ivory. The flower looked almost holy. 'No, child you must taste the petal, the yellow petal, and cut his skin over his heart to ease his pain. Wipe the blood with another yellow petal, and taste his half-demon blood. Only then will he be happy. It leads him to guidance and more optimistic thoughts child. If he continues his pessimistic ways, it will be the death of him.'

Kagome shook herself awake from the odd dream. She had no clue what it meant, it didn't even make sense. But surely, she didn't want Inuyasha to die! She would rather sacrifice herself. She was left alone for the most part. Sango, Miroku and Kirara had gone into a nearby village to bring back food. Inuyasha and Shippo were fishing in a pond nearby. 'A pond…dare I check for the flower?' She went to the pond to find Inuyasha and Shippo arguing over who caught the big fish.

"No way Inuyasha! I caught that one!" Shippo yelled placing his hands on his hips like a child. Kagome smiled.

"No you didn't you little pipsqueak!" Inuyasha placed his own hands on his hips, matching Shippo's stance exactly. Kagome snuck around them, and floating near the ponds edge, was the flower she dreamt of. She ran to the pond's edge quickly grabbing the flower before it could float away. It shone in the afternoon light more than it should. She carried it with her back to camp. Wondering whether to use the dream's advice or not. She plucked a white petal 'He loves me.' She plucked a yellow petal 'He loves me not.' Once she finished the thought, she brought the petal to her lips. Instantly a hot desperation spread through her. She wanted to cry but she held back the hot tears that threatened to fall down her face. With a shaky breath the emotion changed. No, not changed, disappeared. A cold hollowness consumed her. With no control over her body or her voice, her mind screamed in confusion. 'What the hell is happening to me?' She fought the urge to stand and collapsed. Her body unconscious, her mind screaming. 'What does this mean!? Am I dead? I can't be…"

Inuyasha wiped the sweat from his palms. Kagome had been gone all day, it was almost dark out. The sun had set beneath the mountains, bathing the valley in a cool pink light. The pond was glass still. There was a slight wind as Inuyasha tried to cook the fish he and Shippo caught earlier that day.

"Inuyasha, are you sure you did nothing to upset Kagome again?" Miroku asked as he sat down beside him. Inuyasha cast him an angry glare.

"Yes I'm sure. I haven't seen her at all since I went fishing with Shippo." He returned his glare to the fire, trying to conceal the worry in his eyes. The group sat in silence. The air was thick with worry and unasked questions. It was as if you could cut through the tension with a knife. Inuyasha wanted to scream. Worry had consumed him. Kagome never left without letting anyone know. She had been sleeping when he went to fish in the pond. That was the last time he saw her. She had been alone, sleeping. Defenseless. 'How could I leave her like that?' His palms began to sweat, and his heart lodged itself in his throat. If anything had happened to her while he was away, he'd kill himself. He couldn't possibly bear to lose her. Fate wouldn't be so cruel…would it? Oh, yes it would. Minutes felt like hours. He couldn't handle just sitting here, it was nearly dark. With a frustrated growl he pushed himself to his feet.

"Inuyasha?" Sango glanced at him, worry plainly filling her eyes. He nodded once. The whole group sighed in unison. A relief that the silence had been broken washed over them all. No matter how idiotic Inuyasha could be at times, if Kagome's life were in any danger… There was no way Inuyasha would let her get hurt. Everyone knew he'd sacrifice himself for her. Whether he would admit it or not, the group knew this. Like they knew their own names. It was never spoken, but they all knew. Without another word, Inuyasha leapt into the trees. In search of Kagome. A terrible gnawing fear left his stomach chilled and his throat dry. He had to find her.

Fear was the only thing Kagome knew in that moment. No, not fear, panic. Her body wouldn't move. She couldn't speak. It was getting dark, and she didn't know how she was going to get back to camp. Would anyone come to rescue her? She still had the ivory flower in her grasp; the thorns dug into her palms, but didn't break skin. She wanted to cry, but her body wouldn't listen to her. The only thing she was capable of moving was her eyes. Which were darting around constantly, looking for any clue that she'd be okay. She didn't even know what to look for. But it kept her sane. She kept drifting in and out of consciousness. During a period of 'rest' she would have these visions… Of the masked woman in white and yellow. If only she knew the face beneath the mask. She should never have believed such an odd dream. During her visions, the woman revealed her true identity. But she'd wake before she could see the face. If only she knew. One thing she was sure of was this woman was casting these visions into her mind. Trying to brainwash her. And this damned flower… a way to control her body. Something terrible was going to happen, she just knew it. And she drifted back into her nightmare, unsure which she feared more, being awake, or asleep. In her next vision, she saw herself and Inuyasha. He was holding her in his lap desperately trying to revive her. The ivory flower still in her hand, unnoticed. She watched everything in slow motion. That's just how these dreams were. Inuyasha had fear in his eyes. Fear for her, he thought she was going to die. He had tears in his eyes, but he tried to be strong. And as he confessed his love, she watched herself murder him. Then the dream focused just over Inuyasha's shoulder, the woman in yellow and white, removed her mask. It was Kagura!

Kagome awoke from the worst nightmare she had ever had. Unfortunately, she woke in Inuyasha's arms. Just as she had seen in the dream. She tried to scream, still unable to control her voice. 'NOOO! NOO PLEASE!' Inuyasha was so happy to see her awake, he held her close, and she still was nothing more than a limp form in his arms. She felt her hand tighten around the dagger, and her body tensed, trying to resist. 'PLEASE! INUYASHA! RUN!' when he looked into her face again, she tried to tell him with her eyes. 'Inuyasha! Get away from me! Now!' She knew he could not read her mind, but it was all she had to go on. She felt her own body move, of its own accord. She sat up in his lap. 'NO! NO! I HAVE TO FIGHT THIS!' Tears welled in her eyes, she could feel them. Almost visible, if Inuyasha saw the tears, he might just figure it out. She fought Kagura's control to raise her head, but to no avail, her head remained down.

"Kagome! I was so worried about you. What happened? Who did this to you? Kagome? Can you hear me?" Inuyasha babbled, relief and worry evident in his voice. Kagome felt the tears at the surface, almost ready to spill over. 'Please, Inuyasha. I don't want to hurt you… please just run now, leave me behind! RUN! DAMNIT INUYASHA GET OUT OF HERE!' She screamed it in her head. Hoping her voice would scream it as well.

"Kagome, I'm so sorry. I should never have left you alone. If I knew… Oh Kagome, I've finally figured it out. What I wanted to say that night… I know what to say. I know its right… even if you don't feel the same way, you should know." His voice cracked and she felt the flower transform into a dagger. The hilt still covered in thorns. She gripped it tight. Desperately trying to keep her body still. But she felt herself. She watched herself, just as in the dream. 'NOOOOOOOO! INUYASHA! PLEASE! I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, BUT PLEASE! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD RUN! RUN NOW! DAMNIT, JUST GET OUT OF HERE NOW…' His voice softly intercepted hers, just before she plunged the dagger into his heart. "Kagome, I love you." He smiled at her as she raised her head. The tears in her eyes shocked him. But that was nothing compared to the shock he received as she drove the dagger into his chest.

"INUYASHA! I LOVE YOU TOO! RUN!" Her voice worked. Her tears spille over and she fought the hold Kagura had on her with an irate fury she'd never felt before. Inuyasha's eyes filled with tears.

"Both of the women I've loved…have pierced my heart…" Inuyasha said. He coughed and blood ran down his chin. The tears spilled over onto his cheeks. Not from pain, but betrayal. Kagome squeezed the hilt of the dagger, thorns tearing violently into her skin as she pulled out the dagger. Her blood dripped onto his wound.

"INUYASHA!! DAMNIT! I LOVE YOU TOO!" She screamed it at the top of her lungs. He closed his eyes as she pulled open his robes. The fact she cut open her skin released her mostly from Kagura's evil thrall. Inuyasha stared into her eyes, and the look that was there. Made her miserable. It was a look of total betrayal. He didn't know she was possessed. Would she share the same fate as Kikyo? After all she in her reincarnation… could Fate be so cruel? More importantly… would Inuyasha survive? His eyes closed as he turned his head to the side. Gritting his teeth against the pain. Kagome looked past his shoulder, Kagura stood amongst the trees. She removed her mask…and laughed. "NOOOOO!"

Authors note[THIS WILL BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, COMING UP ASAP. WILL INUYASHA LIVE? WILL HE EVER BELIEVE KAGOME AND FORGIVE HER? WILL THEY HAVE A HAPPILY EVER AFTER? A VERY UNEXPECTED EVEN OCCURS IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. ALSO, PLEASE READ MY OTHER FAN FIC. "A CERTAIN DEMON ON THE MIND: IS IT LOVE?" READ AND REVIEW. CHAPTER 3 COMING SOON.