Chapter 3

This wasn't supposed to happen. She firmly told her family that she'd be back. She told her mother that she'd have her back permanently. On top of that, being stuck here wasn't exactly a good time. Inuyasha had just assaulted her, she was in pain, and had just told everyone goodbye.

Her arm throbbed. Home was right there and she was so far away.

A jolt shot through her body as Sesshomaru yanked her up by her hurt arm. She screamed and tried to rip his hand away, to no avail.

"Why are you not home priestess? I do not require any unnecessary problems you may cause for Rin within the village, where I am sure you shall gladly attempt to reside."

She hunched under him with her knees, trying not to let him see her cry. She was in so much pain, and after this hell of a day all she wanted to do was run away from it all.

"I-i don't know! I just wanna go home!, please Sesshomaru stop!"

He stared at her uncaring. The scent of her tears flooded his nose. When had this woman become so pathetic? Inuyasha sure did spoil her, allowing her to be so weak. Never making her fight back. When he first met her, she talked back to him and dared raise her voice even. Now this creature groveled under him in the most pitiful form.

"Shouldn't your powers have purified me due to your struggling and fear?," He asked smoothly.

She stopped moving. He was right. Something was wrong. She raised her head to look at his hand still holding her in place. Gently, she placed her hand over his. And nothing. She couldn't do anything to him.

"You are a priestess no more, Kagome," He said as he let her go with a thump. She lay there staring at the ground.

Hearing his footsteps as he walked away in the direction of the village. He was cruel. An honest monster and she saw nothing that would indicate her ever falling for that man. She began to cry. Drawing her knees up to her chest, she missed her mother. Her friends. Sango. If anything, she truly missed Miroku. How amazing he was at offering advice as to what to do. Now she was nothing more than a weak human.

find me

His words whispered through her mind as she slept. It made her stir and roll over, only to be awoken wincing. It hurt sleeping on the ground in the middle of the forest. She couldn't bring herself to go back to the village. After saying goodbye to everyone, and knowing Sesshomaru was there. He was annoyed by her, that much was obvious. And she didn't feel like dying.

Kagome had checked the well several times. It did nothing. She walked off out of the clearing just a bit to be out of sight. Though she made a fire so that much was pointless to begin with. She now stared at it, wondering where Inuyasha had gone even. Urasue was dead, and if she recalled no one else could do it. At least not without making Kikiyo into an evil being that is. That hurt her to imagine.

I'm trying to understand Inuyasha… I know you're hurting bad. So badly you feel like you literally cannot live without her, so you're acting desperate. But does that really excuse what you're doing? How do you think I'm coping.. You haven't even asked me if I was alright…

Kagome was bare to any demon needing a meal that much was for sure. She had no arrows. No bow. No powers to back it up even. One thing she was growing tired of was being so alone. There were people trying to reach out to her, but they didn't understand. How could she trust herself even after getting her friends killed?

A commotion in the distance drew her attention as she sat up. Scanning the area she saw nothing. Hoping it was nothing but animals in the background.

Trees busted through her spot over her, as she covered her head bracing the impact.

"Stop you insufferable beast! Calm yourself before the presence of our Lord or he shall have our heads!," Jaken screeched, pulling the straps to head the dragon demon. A-un stumbled around and fell on its side, exhausted. Jaken dragged himself out from under it, hissing in pain. His foot had been smashed under the giant demon. But his vision was caught by the girl.

She sat there, eyeing the two. Mouth a gap, she motioned herself away from them.

"And for What are you doing out here alone human girl? A weakling like yourself should be in the village with the rest of the pathetic beast!," He shouted. But she said nothing. He grimaced.

"Fine! You humans are nothing but rude monsters who have no respect!," And tried to huff away, but had to stop and lean against his staff. His foot was was injured badly and would take hours to heal.

Jaken steadied himself on A-uns side and began harshly hitting the beast.

"Awaken you stupid demon! The village is right there! I am too hurt to walk, so escort me now so is your duty!," He shouted, but it didn't move. Clearly this demon was too exhausted from whatever adventure they were on.

"... You're hurt.," She faintly stated. He turned and glared at her.

"I know this woman! I cannot travel to the village on my own and my Lord is awaiting us! Though none of this is YOUR business so do not address me again!"

Kagome stood and approached him. She sat herself down on her knees and bent forward slightly. He only stared at her in confusion.

"I'll carry you, on my back. A-un is just sleeping, but you need medical care. Or rest… either way Sesshomaru will be extremely angry with you, right?"

She didn't want to see anyone else get shit on like herself. Even though this toad certainly didn't deserve it. Sleep didn't grace her much tonight anyways. She needed to speak with Kaede over her powers, and this would be her excuse to make things less awkward.

He only gawked at her. This woman was certainly nervy! He did NOT want to touch this human, let alone have her carry him. But she did have a point. He was gone for weeks now from his Lord. A mission that should not have taken long, so he already was in trouble.

He slowly climbed, scrambling to fit himself on her back. His foot hurt badly and he wanted nothing more than to rest in the hut with his Lord and Rin.

She stood up, and began tredding to the village. It was very late into the night now. She was unaware of the time, but sleeping outside in the woods alone was terrifying. This was better than nothing.

Jakens exhaustion took the better of him as he slowly began nodding off on her. Her swaying from walking was lulling him to sleep, and he invited it.

She heard his breathes soothe behind her. Kagome smiled slightly. At least she could ease someone's discomfort. Not like she had been much use to people as of lately.

The village came into view and the moonlight shown brighter now that she was out of the woods. She slowed her pace as she crept up to Rins hut. Tension somewhat stirred as she was unsure whether to just walk in or not. It was late, knocking would certainly wakeup Rin. And that would Definitely anger Sesshomaru.

"You may enter."

She jumped, his voice from inside the hut scared her. She slide the panel aside, and there Sesshomaru had laid beside Rin. His moko moko wrapped across her.

Unsure exactly what to do, she crept in and laid jaken down on the rice mat across the room. Sesshomarus eyes never left her. Like an animal stalking his prey.

Shivers ran down her spine, for this man's single presence scared her. His aura was oddly relaxed. She guessed it was because she wasnt harmful anymore. Not like he was scared of anyone, or anything anyways.

Kagome turned to leave, "woman," He said. She looked over her shoulder at him.

"you may not leave if you do not wish. Jaken is a pest but you have brought him back on your own accord. For that you may take residents here for the night." And with that, he closed his eyes.

She wasn't sure what to say. He closing his eyes made it clear the conversation was over. She stood there awkwardly, and slowly shuffled behind jaken. Her back turned against his, she dozed off. Sleep finally came, for the first time in a while she had with out nightmares or being disturbed.

Morning had came soon. But she had not woken. Everyone was awake and Sesshomaru gave clear orders for no one to disturb Kagome. His offer to her was rest. That, and his senses had taken a break from her awful despair lately. It reaked. Her tears reaked.

Her nose scrunched as she woke up and rubbed her eyes. She had definitely not wanted to get up. It felt good to finally get rest, but the sooner she could sleep in her own bed, the better. So she stifley got up, cracking her back. She yawned leaving the hut.

Looking around, Rin was picking flowers in the distance. And Sesshomaru, not far, was kicking jaken repeatedly. The site made her laugh, but was greeted by a blank look from the Lord.

She gulped, and he walked across the field to approach her.

"Have you discovered anything about the well?"

She shook her head back and forth. "No, but. I was hoping Kaede could help me. She's not really a priestess but she may be able to sense if something is wrong with me.."

"I thought it was obvious what was wrong.," He said.

"What? I have no idea what you mean."

He became annoyed. "I had thought I made it clear before. You are a mere human. No priestess."

And with that, he left. Again his words stung and made her angry inside. She Was still a priestess.

I know that I am! Maybe my powers are just… sick! Ya, like how bodies get colds!

Kaede watched her with a confused look. Kagome said she was never returning, and here she was leaving Lord Sesshomarus hut. The scene embarrassed her a bit, and waved to the young girl, beckoning her over.

Kagome went, rather worried seeming.

"Hey Kaede," She said rubbing her arm.

"Im not sure whats going on but the well has stopped working. I was gunna go home, but I can't. I tried...that..and my powers are gone"

The old woman looked at her shocked.

"Kagome! The well has sealed? Have ye powers gone with it?"

"Sesshomaru says I smell like a mere mortal. Like they're completely gone. I'm worried about it, do you think something could be wrong with me? I don't believe it was any demons doing…"

She furrowed her brows, not knowing what to do really. She was no priestess so she couldn't sense things like the others. But she could at least tell her if her soul was okay.

"Come child. Let's see how your heart is doing. I shall glance inside, ye have gone through much troubles lately." With that, both of them walked to and into her hut. They sat down, and Kaede began mixing together strange herbs and small dried lizards in a cup. Followed it by water brought to a boil, she poured it into the cup and handed it to Kagome.

"Drink child. After I shall see what ails"

She did was she was told, and scuffed the disgusting stuff down. It made her gag and she started to clench her chest. It was just as Kaede feared.

"Do not fear dear, it is showing me the problem. Here, lay flat on ye back."

Kagome laid back, feeling like hell after that drink. Why did it hurt her so badly? Kaede put her hands on Kagomes chest, feeling for her heart. She breathed in hard, and exhailed slowly. Closing her eyes to focus.

Kagome lay there awkwardly and in pain. Kaedes hands pressed across her breast hurt, along with her chest. The pain began to spread, burning her whole body. The old woman backed up slowly. Clenching her hands, face shown worry.

"Kagome. I do not have good news for ye. It is your heart child. The soul inside. It is dark. You… you are tainted. By mourning. By Inuyasha. By the slight jealousy you still had once held for Kikiyo. The guilt of ye friends deaths. The well has rejected ye, as another life that is not pure enough to pass. Only a loving heart can."

She laid there quiet. It all made sense. But she wasn't sure what she could do about it. Was she to stay here until she simply 'got over it all?'. That didn't seem practical. And in all honesty, she was so weak mentally the thought of simply moving on exhausted her.

"I don't think I could get over it all. Or move on.. I just don't have any thrive to be happy anymore.."

"Well Kagome. The only other option ye have is to distract yourself with another aspect to life that makes you feel love. Happiness. And kindness.," She slightly said. Kaede had never seen Kagome so given up on life. Of all people, she didn't expect her.

Kagome sighed. She couldn't imagine anything that would ever bring her true joy again. The thought of ever getting home drifted away, along with her consciousness.