Authors note!!!

If any one wants to know, all the songs are from a band called Cannibal Corpse. I love that band! They are so great!!!!!!!!!! Woo-hoo! Thanks to all those who have reviewed! If anyone is a big Rurouni Kenshin fan then I recommend I'll Be Home for Christmas written by Dark Jisushiku! It's so sad! Now on with the story!

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As Inuyasha crawled out of the old well, he smelled the dim stench of blood.

'Kagome?! Where are you?'

He ran from the well house following the aroma of blood. He weaved in and out of alleys. He couldn't seem to run fast enough. He was almost crying with frustration.

'Where is she?' he thought frantically.

He abruptly skidded to a halt. His keen eyes well adjusted to the darkness, he was able to make out a limp form on the ground. He approached slowly. Kagome lay sprawled on the ground, her back shoved up against a wall. Her clothes were lopsided, hastily put on. Her pale legs lay exposed in a pool of blood. He gasped as he saw the wound on her leg.

She tried desperately to lift her head. It felt o heavy. She managed to look up. She saw the outline of a tall man looming over her. She whimpered.

"Please don't, not again! Please leave me alone!"

'She's terrified. Why?'

Kagome cowered in fear, knotting in a ball.

"Please," she whispered, "don't do it, not again. Please leave me alone, please just leave. Please." Her whispered plea left Inuyasha in a state of shock. He continued to stare at her. He took a small step forward. A moan escaped her lips.

"No, not again, Inuyasha, please help me."

The barely audible whisper reached Inuyasha's delicate ears.

"Kagome." He whispered, "It's alright, I'm here now. What happened?"

She looked up apprehensively. Relief flooded her features. She struggled to stand but collapsed from the wound on her leg.

"Kagome! Don't try to move!"

He moved forward quickly and tried to grab onto her arm. She jerked back violently, fear replaced her relieved face.

"Don't, please don't touch me. I can do it myself."

Inuyasha sat back startled.

"Kagome? What happened?"

Kagome bowed her head, her bangs shadowing her eyes.

"Nothing Inuyasha, I was just walking when some guys grabbed me. They tried to take my money and when fought back they stabbed me, that's all."

Inuyasha was too worried about her to doubt her words. Or to question why she was bruised or why her clothes were lopsided or why she smelled so much like another man. He was just glad she was alright. Unbeknownst to him, she WAS NOT alright.

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Kagome checked the ramen without speaking. She hadn't been speaking much. Sango watched her like a hawk, extremely worried about her.

"Kagome, are you alright?" she nodded silently, "Are you sure?" another nod.

Sango sighed kagome had been avoiding questions about the night Inuyasha had retrieved her. Kagome hadn't been sleeping, and when she did, she was plagued by nightmares or she just cried. She would never tell anyone what she had dreamt. Everyone had been extremely worried about her.

Sango was so absorbed in her thoughts, she didn't notice as Miroku slunk up behind Kagome. He smirked evilly as he grabbed her butt. Kagome instantly whirled around. Miroku expected a slap in the face, but instead was greeted by a very frightened Kagome. He took a step back, startled.

"WH-what do you want?" her voice shook violently with terror.

Miroku's smirk had long since faded.

"Kagome? What's wrong? I'm not going to hurt you."

As Miroku took a step forward to place a comforting hand on her shoulder she turned and fled, tears beginning to fill her eyes. She shook her head.

"No, not again."

She continued running until she collapsed sobbing on the ground. She stayed like that for several minuets, the tears refusing to cease.

'I can't cry tears will make me weak. I don't want to be weak."

She pushed her body up off the soft moss and up into a sitting position. She buried her emotions inside leaving an empty void in her stomach. She was giving up on hope, and living with a lie. She began to walk back to camp, careful placing a mask over her sorrow ridden face.

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Sango sat deep in thought beside Miroku.

"What do you think could have made her act so strangely?"

Miroku considered the question a minute before answering.

"Indeed Kagome reacted strangely. She had a look of pure terror on her face as she ran. I am deeply troubled by her actions; we must take into consideration that something has happened unbeknownst to us."

Sango nodded, he had said what she had been feeling.

"Let's just await her return and then speak to her about it." Again Sango nodded.

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Kagome did not return directly to Kaede's. She strayed into the forest, twirling softly in the warm breeze.

Inuyasha looked on from above, his keen eyes following her frail body. He longed to reach out and stroke her delicate skin, but he restrained himself. It was a pleasure enough just to watch her angelic form.

Kagome turned suddenly, sensing Inuyasha, she saw him sitting high up in a tree, a dreamy expression on his face. Feeling her eyes Inuyasha shook himself out of his fantasies. He stared right back down out Kagome, swooning as her fell into the pools of warm chocolate brown.

"What are you string at?" Kagome asked apprehensively.

"Feh! Nothing worth looking at, that's for sure."

Kagome bowed her head.

"You're right; I'm not worth looking at."

Inuyasha almost fell off the branch,

'What is she talking about, she knows I'm joking!'

He stared intently at Kagome for a moment, he smelled salt. Was she crying?

"Kagome? Are you alright?"

Kagome just turned slowly and began to walk away.

"Kagome wait! I didn't mean it! I think you're beautiful!"

Kagome turned slowly and pinned Inuyasha to the branch with a glare. She shook her head furiously, trying to shake the pain away.

"No Inuyasha, I am not beautiful. I am ugly and stupid and weak. I do not deserve to be looked." Her voice dripped with sadness. "I am just a stupid wench that can detect shikon shards. I cannot defend myself, I am weak and useless."

Inuyasha sat speechless. Why would she think something like that? He jumped down from his perched position and enveloped Kagome in an embrace. He felt her muscles tense immediately.

"Please Inuyasha, let me go, please!"

He whispered plea was urgent and frightened. He released her and a wave of relief washed over her face. He watched as her muscles relaxed and her shoulders drooped.

"Kagome? Are you okay?"

She shook her head yes. She had quickly replaced her mask and her face was impassive. She stared at him with desperate empty eyes. Inuyasha cocked his head to the side; he knew she was lying to him. He shrugged it off.

"Loving is so hard when you don't love yourself" she whispered. Inuyasha barely heard her.

Kagome turned and left, this time he let her go.

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"Kagome! You're back!"

Kagome flinched as Shippo threw himself into her arms. She looked past the fuzz ball in her arms and locked eyes with Sango. She sent a mental cry of help to her friend, hoping she would understand the pain she was struggling with. She felt like she was going to overflow.

"Kagome?" Sango questioned. "Are you okay? You have been acting strangely lately."

Kagome's eyes flashed with hurt. 'Again with the questions.'

She faked a smile, "Yes, I'm fine Sango, thank you for asking though."

The sun was setting and shadows flickered across her saddened face. She sighed, wrestling with her inner turmoil. 'I guess it's time to turn in then.'

Her shoulders sagged as she walked slowly toward her sleeping bag.

Invisible tears trickled down her cheeks, and pain and confusion and fear seared through her.

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Authors note!!

Please review!!!!!!!! I'll give you another chapter! Hehe! REVIEW! And because I like to, here is a poem courtesy of my friend (I can't tell you her name!)

Tell my life to go away

Tell my heart to die

Say, 'come back another day'

When I feel more alive

My body now a hollow safe

For secrets to be stored

My thoughtless mind takes all the blame

For words that I let go

They drift into the minds of others

Seeping through the dreams

Take you pick, one or the other

I'm tearing at the seams

This causes people great disruption

But to me, it's a relief

Now my body lies six feet under

And my mind can now run free

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!