Author Rants: I don't own Inu Yasha, or "Faint," by Linkin Park. (I suggest you listen to the song while reading this. It's off of Meteora and it rocks!)

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.


"He won't even look at me..."

"Kagome...he was so wrong to accuse you of that..."

"I just wish..."

"..."

"I just wish he'd trust me..."

Kagome's earlier conversation with Sango rang throughout her mind as she lay awake in Kaede's hut. Sango and Miroku were off at the next village with Kaede and Shippo...leaving her with Inu Yasha.

The one person she didn't want to be near at the moment.

He wasn't in the hut - rather, she guessed he was sulking in the Goshimboku tree. Or with Kikyo, she thought sadly.

Sighing, she sat up from where she lay on the futon and pulled on a pair of loose jeans and a black short-sleeved shirt. Grabbing her stereo and CDs, she disappeared into the blackness of the night.




Once she was sure she was far enough away from the village - and Inu Yasha - she set her boombox next to a tree. Stretching, she checked to make sure the right CD - Linkin Park's "Meterora" - was in the stereo.

"Let's see...which song...'Numb?' Nah. 'Easier to Run?' Nope, listened to that yesterday. Hmm...this!"

She chose the song she wanted to listen to, and pressing play, she closed her eyes and listened to the opening chords. When the time came for the lyrics, she opened her eyes and started to sing, her voice harmonizing with Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda's vocals in the song.

I am a little bit of loneliness a little bit of disregard
Handful of complaints but I can't help the fact
That everybody can see these scars

Unconciously she placed her hand over her heart as she leaned against the tree, gazing across the lake in front of her. Her eyes took on a blank stare - as if she was trying to hide the scars on her heart and soul.

It was quiet out in the area, except for the stereo and Kagome's voice. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling of absolute loneliness that surrounded her.

Her grip over her heart became tighter.

I am what I want you to want what I want you to feel
But it's like no matter what I do, I can't convince you
To just believe this is real

She pushed off from the tree and stumbled over to the lake. The stars surrounded her reflection in the still water and she started at her image. She scowled and smacked the surface of the water, distorting the reflection.

So I let go, watching you, turn your back like you always do
Face away and pretend that I'm not
But I'll be here cause you want what I've got

The ripple image seemed to change. Kagome blinked, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her, but the image was still there. Kikyo and Inu Yasha together...then it changed again. Inu Yasha glaring at her , holding the shards, and turning his back on her. She shrieked and hit the water again, darting away from the lake as if it were poisonous.

Her hand came up to the shards around her neck and she tugged at them forcefully, causing the chain to snap. She glared at the shards for a second, before chucking them at the stereo, where they landed, glowing slightly.

(I can't feel the way I did before)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)

Her voice came louder until she was almost shouting the lyrics, the sound overpowering the original vocals. Kagome leapt to her feet, glaring out across the nearly-black expanse. She snapped her eyes closed as she fisted her hands at her sides.

(Time won't heal this damage anymore)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)

All the pent up anger and hurt from earlier came bursting from her with an explosion. She was sick of it all: sick of putting up with Inu Yasha sneaking around to see Kikyo, sick of him comparing the two of them, sick of him not trusting her...

Sick of having her heart shattered over and over again.

I am a little bit insecure a little unconfident
Cause you don't understand I do what I can
But sometimes I don't make sense

Kagome's voice quieted a little, but her tone still remained bitter. Opening her eyes, she stalked over to the tree that her stereo rested under, and leaned against it with her arms crossed over her chest.

I say what you never wanna say but I've never had a doubt
It's like no matter what I do
I can't convince you for once just to hear me out

Her eyes darkened as she rememebered trying to explain what had happened between her and Kikyo yesterday.

She had ran into Kikyo while practicing her archery in the forest. Kikyo had tried to bind her with the kouyouki again, and she had managed to escape them. As she did that, Kikyo had slashed her shoulder with one of Kagome's arrows, just as Inu Yasha had come bursting into the clearing. Throwing herself on him, Kikyo had lied, saying that Kagome had shot her.

When Kagome had tried to explain, Inu Yasha had just yelled at her, insulting her and accusing her of attacking Kikyo.

So I let go watching you turn your back like you always do
Face away and pretend that I'm not
But I'll be here 'cause you want what I've got

Her fists tightened, until tiny streams of blood flowed from her palms. She grit her teeth and finally let out a pained yell, releasing all the raging emotion trapped within her.

The sound echoed through the clearing, bouncing off the trees and fading into the music. Kagome jerked around and slammed her fist into the tree, wincing slightly at the stinging it evoked in her knuckles.

(I can't feel the way I did before)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)

She watched as the crimson blood from her split knuckles joined the already trickling flow that came from her cut palms.

The liquid dripped to the ground, its color reminding Kagome of Inu Yasha's haori. And of her own bleeding heart.

(Time won't heal this damage anymore)
(Don't turn your back on me)
(I won't be ignored)

Slumping down to her knees, she finally broke, letting the anger be replaced by the overwhelming sadness. Tears streamed from her eyes, and she leaned against the tree, letting out a choked sob once in between lyrics.

"I just...can't take it anymore. You've hurt me for so long...and now..." She raised her tearstained face to stare blankly at the lake.

"Inu Yasha...I trust you...can't you trust me...?"




Ten minutes or so later, she had bandagaed her hand and dried the tears. She almost seemed normal, except the overbearing sadness within her eyes.

Gathering up her stereo and shoving the shards into her pocket, she turned around to leave.

Only to run headlong into Inu Yasha.

She backed away, sadness flashing again in her eyes for a moment, before she masked the emotion and turned to walk around him. He watched her disappear from the corner of his eye.

Once she was gone, he sighed. Jumping into the tree where she had just been, he settled down. Kagome's song had really gotten to him. Inu Yasha closed his eyes.

He had a lot to think about tonight.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.


Yay! Another chapter for the collection!

I just burned Meteora (thanks to a friend ^.~), and loved it! So many of the songs apply to Kagome and Inu Yasha...and a few for Sango and Miroku. So expect more songfics from Meteora!

Oh, and R/R too, please. ^^