It was silent inside the hut. Nobody had spoken much over the last few days. Everyone was still in shock over what had happened. Kagome had been the heart of their group. Now that she was gone, it was un-telling what would happen. She had kept them all together. Made the days brighter, happier. Now that she was gone, everything was dull. Reduced to nothing but a dim greyness where everything used to shine so brightly.

Miroku looked over to see Inuyasha walk inside. He had been effected most of all. His spirit was broken. He was only a shadow now of the man he used to be. Miroku wasn't sure if the hanyou would ever recover from the blow his heart had taken, considering everything that had happened with Kikyo in the past to damage it in the first place.

Inuyasha sat down in the farthest corner of the hut. He wasn't in the mood to be sociable, much rather being alone anymore.

"Inuyasha," Miroku said trying to get the hanyou's attention. He had been meaning to talk to him for some time now. There were many issues that needed to be cleared up. Problems that needed to be resolved, and soon.

"What do you want Miroku," Inuyasha mumbled.

He didn't say anything for a moment. There was no easy way to ask this, so he might as well just get right to the point. "What are you going to do about Kikyo?"

At the sound of the name Inuyasha's blood began to boil. He hated her, with every fiber of his being. If she was to fall off the face of the earth right now, everyone would be better off. She was just a manipulative bitch anyway. "What do you mean what am I going to do about her?"

"Now that Kagome is…there's nothing stopping you from following her to hell once Naraku is destroyed."

Inuyasha turned to look the monk in the eye. He was always a perceptive bastard. It would have been so much better if he could just leave some things alone. He always wanted to meddle where he wasn't wanted. "I'm not going with Kikyo to hell, if that's what you're wanting to know. After Naraku is destroyed, I'm going to go be with Kagome on the other side. I've known for a while now that I and Kikyo wasn't meant to be. After everything was over, I was going to ask her to be my mate."

Miroku sighed. He really wasn't all that surprised. He had expected as much for quite some time now. He just needed his suspicions confirmed, and to make sure that the hanyou's intentions where honorable as well.

-x-

"It's been three days Migumi-sama and she still had yet to awaken. Do you think she will live?"

The woman sighed. If the girl didn't survive, then everything will have been for not. She couldn't let the girl ruin her plans, again.

"Her wounds are healing nicely. Her body just needs more time to recuperate. I'm sure she will wake up soon Ebisu, have no fear."

That seemed to appease the man's worries. Little did he know, that if she had any say in the matter, that girl wouldn't be alive much longer. She had a slow, and painful death in mind for the girl. Only one thing was missing from the whole equation.

Inuyasha himself.

She was sure, however, that when he caught wind that Kagome was still alive, he would come swiftly. Nothing would stop him from coming to the girls rescue.

She was counting on it.

"Migumi-sama! She's starting to wake!"

Perfect timing, she smirked, then turned and put on her most concerned face. "Call for the medicine woman Ebisu. I'm sure the girl will need fresh bandages and the like as soon as she wakes."

The man left swiftly, praying that this meant the girl would be ok. Little did he know however, that he was leaving her in the care of a monster.

-x-

Sango walked down the trail leading to the village slowly. She couldn't believe the rumors going around. They had to be lies.

Right?

About ten miles away, a girl had washed up on the shore of a stream running near a small village. She had barely been alive. The way that people described her though was the most disturbing.

She fit Kagome to a T.

That was impossible though. She seen the cliff that Kagome had jumped from. There was no way she could have survived the fall.

She looked up from the ground to see she had already reached the village. She had to tell the others what she had heard. If there was even a small chance that she was still alive, then they had to find her, and bring her home.

She began to run, making it to the hut in no time. She stepped inside and seen Miroku and Inuyasha already inside. Shippo was nowhere to be found, which wasn't unusual lately. He mostly kept to himself anymore.

"Inuyasha you're not going to believe this."

At hearing his name he turned, and looked at Sango with the dullest expression on his face. All the life had been drained from him. It made Sango all the sadder.

Miroku's curiosity had all been peaked with that statement. He was curious to see what she had to say.

"There are rumors going around the village, about a girl who washed up on the shore of a river about ten miles away from here, in a small village."

Inuyasha ears perked up at hearing that. It was impossible. He wouldn't get his hopes up just to have them blown to pieces.

"What does that have anything to with us Sango?" Inuyasha asked.

"Inuyasha. The girl that they described, fit Kagome's description exactly. I think it's her."

His heart stopped. He couldn't let this go. He had been given a small shred of hope. He had to find out if it was her or not. He had to.

He stood and headed for the door, Sango and Miroku following him, "Then what are we waiting for. If its Kagome then we have to go get her, and bring her home, where she belongs."

-x-

Shew I didn't think I would ever get this done. My brain just died there for a little while, but it and my creative muse finally decided to make an appearance again. So low and behold the re-edit for Ch. 4 on 12-20-13. I hope you guys enjoy it. Please leave me reviews. Criticism and the like is much appreciated.

Sesshy Demon