A.N. here we go... and quit picking on me Miserikordi... I'll post as fast as I can... and will more people please review?? I'm losing hope for this story...

by the way.. thanx to all those who DID review...

**********************************

Chapter 7.5 - The Lost Entry, InuYasha's Pain

My breath came out audibly. My body was bruised and broken, swollen to the point that my breathing had been restricted. It wasn't as bad as when it had happened. The memory of the brutality was hazy, but yet clearer than I had wanted it to be. I could barely move. I gagged on the fresh air that I had lost the taste of while captive in his dungeon. My clothes were torn, and blood was encrusted over my entire body. Rain poured solemnly from the sky, but failed to hide the state of the moon. My blackened hair was glued to my face and shreds of clothing by the thick masses of water gushing from the oblivion above. I had been weakened enough as a demon. Naraku probably believed that in leaving me here like this, I was going to die, and at the moment I was willing to just let it happen.

"Ka…gome…" I murmured emptily.

She wasn't in any better shape than I was. I reached out to her, and grabbed hold of her school uniform. I pulled her close to me and eyed her shell. She was so cold. I had to warm her up or she wouldn't make it. I couldn't feel her breath, but I wasn't going to give up. I hauled her onto my lap and wrapped my arms around her possessively.

"Ka… go… me…" I sniveled, "You can't die yet… I haven't had the chance to love you…"

I whimpered as I gazed down upon her. Tears welled in my eyes, only to escape soon after. They slid down my cheeks in a warmth unlike that of the bitter night's air. They caused new ones to form, sliding from their origin in streams. Some of them drizzled onto her face, so I cautiously wiped them clear. Her skin was so delicate, it felt like silk. It was so soft, but so cold that I couldn't stop myself from crying out loud. She couldn't die, not yet! I began to howl.

"KAGOME!!!" I screamed, "NO!!!"

~~~~~

"InuYasha?" came a familiar voice.

It summoned me from my sleep.

"Where have ye been?" she pressed.

"Kagome…" I managed.

"She has passed, child," Kaede explained mournfully.

"No…" I rebutted in disbelief.

"I'm sorry, InuYasha," she coerced.

"No," I whined, "She can't!"

I scrambled to my feet, lifting Kagome up off the ground.

"She's not dead!" I shrieked.

Before catching a reply from Kaede, I was gone.

~~~~~

"Wake up, Kagome!" I demanded, "Come on! You have to wake up! This can't be real!"

I had shaken her lightly, thrown water over her, even yelled as loud as I could. Nothing could bring her back. For a long time, I sat on all fours, watching over her. For a while I even thought that maybe my tears could make it happen. She was just a girl, a schoolgirl, she was too young to die… I threw my arms around her and huddled up to her cold lifeless shell.

"InuYasha, come child," Kaede pleaded, "Please, what is it?"

I told her all I could remember, clutching the body closer to mine as it spilled. Everything just flooded back, and I could remember… the way it felt to… to hear her cries. My body was shaking so badly by the time I had gone through the first half of the recap. I couldn't finish. Kaede put her arms around me and told me everything would be alright, but how could it be if the bastard that had done it was still out there? What if he planned to do it again? Would Miroku and Sango have endure the same thing before this nightmare could end?

"Why, Kaede?" I choked.

"Why what, InuYasha?" she inquired.

"Why can't I take her place?…"

***************************************

A.N. what will happen next?

the sooner you review the quicker I update...