Chapter 1: Scars

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of these characters, they are products of Rumiko Takahasi.

Kagome brushed a feather light kiss upon her mother's cheek and hurried out the door; while carefully manoeuvring her heavy bag onto her back. Sprinting she reached the well in seconds and with an unhappy face she jumped in and landed with a quiet thump in the Feudal Era.

"It's about freakin' time, Kagome!" stated a bored and arrogant voice. Kagome looked up with a fake, cheerful smile and called out, "Would you help me with this, Inuyasha?" The young-appearing hanyou obliged by jumping into the well, lightly taking the bag from her, and then jumping out.

Kagome climbed out after him with that sad, fake smile still plastered upon her face. Inuyasha stood there waiting for her and crouched, allowing her to climb onto his slender, muscular back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs firmly around his waist. He waited a moment to let her adjust, then he gripped her thighs and took off towards the village; a blur of red among the lively greens of the forest.

He sniffed the air vigorously as though suddenly thrown off course and stopped. Kagome held her breath; wishing, hoping, praying that her spell would hold the scent back. Inuyasha frowned, "I coulda sworn I smelt blood..." He shrugged and continued; ears perking when he heard Kagome's sigh of relief.

He kept that sigh in his memory for later questioning. She tried to reinforce the spell, but she was far to frightened. Then Inuyasha abruptly stopped and let Kagome off as they reached the village. He adjusted his grip on the bag while discreetly watching Kagome.

They both walked into the village, Inuyasha with a thoughtful, confused look on his normally arrogant face; he lowered is head and let his hair swish forward to hide his face. Shippo had not been at the well to greet Kagome and she was a little bit hurt. "Is Shippo mad at me?" she asked Inuyasha concernedly. Inuyasha slapped a hand to his forehead, "Oh yeah! I forgot to tell you, he's got a fever and Sango ordered him not to move. He's waiting for you—"

Kagome—with a shocked face—was already gone. She was worried now, the anxiety clear on her face. "Oh my poor Shippo!" She ran as fast as she could towards Kaede's hut and dashed inside. She was greeted then by her little Shippo—or to be truthful, his sleeping body. "Oh Shippo, I'm sorry I wasn't here for you," she whispered and brushed a strand of his mussed red hair from his peaceful face.

Inuyasha watched her as he entered. He had been noticing subtle changes in the normally joyful, loving Kagome. He alone knew her real smile, and the one she kept flashing wasn't it. She was almost always silent, eyes stained with tears and filled with unknown inner turmoil. What was wrong with her? What was bothering her? He shook his head, her misery reaching out and calling out to him.

Kagome felt someone watching her and shivered involuntarily, glancing at the hanyou behind her with growing unease. He walked to her and gripped her hand, pulling her with him. "We need to talk, Kagome, come on, the brat will be fine." She slipped her hand from his, heart aching.

"Alright Inuyasha," she said demurely. "But we have to make it quick, I can't leave him." Inuyasha led her to the Goshinboku god tree and sat down at the base of the trunk. "Kagome, something is wrong. I know you and something is bothering you. Usually I'd let Sango take care of this, but I think it's really important. Tell me about it."

Kagome looked up at his face, wishing she could, but she couldn't. She smiled, "Aw...Inuyasha, thanks, but I've just been tired. I've had less energy to smile or find things funny. And the tests! They're horrors, but I'm okay, really." She tilted her head to one side thoughtfully pursing her lips, "I just need to more sleep. That's all, stress does a lot of things to you."

Inuyasha knew she was lying, so he moved to her. "Kagome, that's not it. Why don't you trust me? I've always been there to protect you from the youkai we've met. Can't you tell me, I want to help you!" Kagome clenched her fists yelling, "There is nothing wrong! Just leave me alone!"

Inuyasha stood and snarled, "No! This is important, and I need to know you trust me!" Kagome gasped with indignant anger, stood, and shot back, "I can't trust you with my emotions, because you don't trust me with yours!" She whirled around and walked away furiously.

Inuyasha paused then went after her; they were nearing the well with every step. He reached over and gripped her tightly by the wrists and she screamed. He let go immediately as through her white school uniform the unmistakable red of blood seeped. He stared in horror as she rolled up her wrists to reveal scars and two bleeding, gaping slits, yawning at him.

He stumbled back then lurched forward grabbing her shoulders and crying out, "Why did you do that Kagome! Tell me! What the fuck made you do it!" He shook her hard and she broke away from him and leapt into the well. "Inuyasha don't follow me, because I'm sealing it!" she wept and he was left, with only her fragrant rose smell lingering in the air.

To be continued...

Hi everyone! I wrote another story, it's supposed to be more serious than my first. I hope you enjoy it; I'll write an explanation for Kagome's behaviour in the next chappie. Ciao locos, I'm gonna enjoy this one. You can review, or not, I don't really care. I feel honoured thinking that people read this, lol. Love, animefreek89.