Disclaimer: No one owns pain. I don't pretend to own it, nor do I pretend to own Inuyasha. Trying to only leads to pain.

Chapter 4

Kagome actually had a pleasant week. She had gotten caught up, which was a minor miracle, and had even managed to get a little ahead, by asking her teachers for the work ahead of time, since she was always sick. Some teachers didn't like doing that, but others were pleased with her initiative. Her friends had already tried to set her up with Hojou again, but she managed to stop them in the nick of time. She was too happy to have to tell Hojou she couldn't go with him when she would be going back. She couldn't believe her luck. Things were actually looking up for once. Things couldn't be any better. In fact, she almost had this feeling things were going to be great when she went back in time. Maybe Inuyasha had grown tired of being his rude self, and was going to be nice for a change. Even though that seemed impossible, she let that hope exist because she was just so exhilarated. Her friends noticed that and tried to pry out of her what was making her so happy. Eri, the smarter one, picked up some hint that Kagome was happy because of someone, which, when she brought it up, the other two pinned it on a guy. After much investigation, Kagome admitted to having one, just to have them off her back. When they asked who he was, she was hesitant to say, but the figured it out anyway. But they were still under the impression he was a violent, selfish jerk from the times they did get some info out of her. She had tried to remove that illusion, but failed simply because she wasn't ready or in the mood to defend him. But this time it was different, she was in a exuberant mood, and she almost spilled too much. She ended up telling them about his kindness, gentleness and strength, though he hid it most of the time. Eri, the sensitive one, saw that she was madly in love with him, much like her earlier conclusion. She suggested that Kagome should let them meet him. Kagome was quick to deny them that pleasure, since she knew if they did see him her cover would be blown, and things might be a little harder on them all. It was a wonder that the government hadn't investigated all of her absences. She wondered just how inefficient the government was. She was able to appease them with an excuse though, because of Inuyasha's shyness. She wondered what he was doing right now. She knew collecting the jewel shards was important to him, though probably less important than he made it out to be. The jewel was almost complete, and Kagome's thoughts turned to what would happen to their little group of motley friends. She knew Inuyasha would probably use the jewel to become full demon, but she wasn't so sure about Sango and Miroku. Those two didn't seem to have any wishes for their future, only the things they had to avenge. She didn't know what they would do with themselves if they all managed to beat Naraku. Inuyasha still had Kikyou to worry about though. Kagome frowned as her thoughts turned sour and painful. Who knew so much pain could be caused by a bit of her soul and a bunch of dirt...

Far off, far away from any settlement, Kikyou was recovering from her wounds. She sensed that Naraku had set forth a plan to smoke her out of hiding and destroy her. Part of her was happy that she might be able to embrace death again. It was such torture to be revived into the world, into a clay pot, which sentenced her to gathering of souls to survive. Her mind was intact, completely reawakened by that witches spell, yet not fully in control. She had only received a small part of her soul back. It was in complete control, that seething hatred which she died with. It took all her strength sometimes, to hold back that anger, so that she wouldn't foul up her carefully laid plans. She wanted Naraku to complete the jewel, and become full demon. Then she could swat him down like the bug he was. He didn't know it, and neither did Inuyasha, that hanyous were actually stronger than their demon counterparts, simply because of their human side. It allowed them a better control of their instincts, and lended them some of the cunning and ingenuity that was present in the human mind, though not many used it. Naraku would become just another demon when he absorbed the jewel. Naraku especially had benefited, because of his unusual abilities with barriers and magic. Had he not had his human half, he would not be able to do those sorts of things. He would be easy to shoot down once he became a normal demon. She hoped that Inuyasha would not choose that path, because it would make him weaker. He had long forgotten that it was his human side that allowed him to wield Tetsusaiga. The sword would become useless without his human side. He would become easy prey to the more powerful demons that came upon him. Her soul wanted that pleasure, that opportunity, that release, and she wasn't going to let him get away. Her soul would drag him to hell when she returned. Her mind did not like that, as she could see what had happened. But no control was granted her over her soul, and that was what kept the clay animate. Inuyasha would have to release her mind if he didn't want to go to hell with her. She wished he would do it soon, and release her of the awful burdens she had to carry again. Her mind retched at the thought of wandering the lands for eternity. She had already tried to restart her life, disillusion herself into thinking things were okay, and would work out. But she now realized she would always carry that all consuming hate around, and she would not be free of its torture until Inuyasha got over his promise, and released her. She would destroy Naraku, and then if Inuyasha would not release her, she would appease her soul by dragging him to the depths of a fiery hell with her...