Kagome sat by the window and tried to get comfortable. It had been several days since the attack, and she seemed to be recovering well. It still hurt like hell though.

"How are you doing?" Sango sat down beside Kagome.

"Okay I guess." Kagome softly replied, adjusting the numerous blankets she was covered in.

The two friends watched the rain silence, lost in thought. It seemed like so much had happened in the last week, yet Kagome couldn't recall everything.

"Sango?" Kagome broke the quiet. "What happened to me?"

Sango hesitated. "What parts do you remember?"

"Not much..." Kagome thought back. It was daybreak, and she hadn't slept the night before. Something didn't feel right. It felt like an oncoming storm, yet not quite.

Kagome said carefully, "I remember Inuyasha sounding the alarm." After that, it was chaos. They came from all directions. "What were they?"

"Inuyasha said they were fire salamander youkai." Sango whispered. "I've never seen so many in one place before."

"I couldn't find Shippo." Kagome relived the bits of memory she had. The panic she felt when she couldn't see or sense where Shippo was among all the youkai was paralyzing. Why did this happen? "And there was the youkai..."

Sango had witnessed the whole thing. She was just too far away to reach Kagome in time. "I'm sorry." her voice cracked as tears began to fall, "I'm so, so sorry Kagome. I couldn't stop it."

Kagome was attacked from behind. The sheer number of youkai clouded her senses so it came as a surprise. Her bow was knocked out of her hands and out of reach. Immediately she was pinned down to the ground, face inches from the giant lizard's gaping mouth.

"I don't understand-" Kagome gasped, trying not to cry, "it said something about the jewel."

Sango was silent. From what she could see, the youkai was overpowering Kagome. Its claws were practically digging through Kagome's body. It was in heat. There was so much blood and spilled seed. Kagome's reiki instinctively kicked in, and purified it after a struggle. It was then that Sango was able to reach her.

"But the jewel is gone, Sango! I-" Kagome exclaimed, her tears breaking free. "I thought wishing it away would fix everything."

Perhaps it was better if she didn't know the statethe lizard was in. The memories were painful enough as it was. "It's okay, Kagome." Sango tried to comfort her. "There will always be people looking for the legend of the Shikon. All we have to do is stick together."

Kagome cried into her friend's shoulder. Stick together. She was the reason for all of this, Kagome thought. She was the carrier of the Shikon jewel. Why should they have to suffer because of her? Why should the entire village put up with the danger she constantly put them through?

She gasped as her sobs caused pain to tear through her sides. Coughing, she tried to calm herself down to relieve the pain. She gulped air and took deep breaths.

At last she sniffled, and gave a shaky sigh. "Thank you Sango."

"For what?" Sango asked.

"For saving my life." Kagome gave a sad smile.

"Of course, Kagome!" Sango gave her a gentle hug. "We all love you, you know."

"Thank you." she repeated.

They broke their embrace and Kagome asked, "Where's Inuyasha? I haven't seen him lately."

Sango had a troubled look on her face, "Well...the night the village was attacked, he went to look for Kikyo." she paused, "She's been around since then."

"She-" Kagome was interrupted by Miroku appearing at the door.

He called, "Sango, dear, I think Kaede-sama needs help with lunch." he nodded a greeting to Kagome before disappearing.

"Oh, I'll be right back, Kagome. I'll come get you when lunch is ready." Sango gave her another hug before leaving.

Kagome returned a polite smile and was left alone in the room. The sound of the rain sat beside her thoughts.

Why did Inuyasha go to find Kikyo? Why was she still here? Kagome's mind was racing. Why her?

She felt betrayed, but she wasn't surprised. She always knew in the back of her mind that if she were to die, it wouldn't be a huge loss to him. He still had her. The 'original'.

Before the final battle with Naraku, she had decided with Inuyasha that she would stay in this time. After the jewel disappeared, the well had stopped working. Now she was regretting both her choices; staying here and choosing him.

The pit in her stomach was full of dread, disappointment, and bile. She felt sick.