Author's Note: This chapter and the next are going to be a little short, but I promise all of the other ones are going to go back to normal length or longer. Please don't flame me about the shortness of chapters 3 and 4, I'm doin the best I can!!

Disclaimer: I own Inuyasha and co. I know, I know, I'm way cool! You all are jealous aren't you? Oh… wait… no I don't. My bad.

Another Secret Code: 'single quotation marks', a.k.a. apostrophes, signify that annoying inner voice that talks to you and tells you right from wrong. Thank goodness I don't have one of those…

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~ ~ Chapter 3 ~ ~

~ ~ I keep your photograph and I know it serves me well ~ ~

[Kagome's point of view]

When Kagome had returned to her own era, she had tried going to school for a while, but it was no use. She couldn't draw herself out of her depression, so she withdrew and completed high school through independent study. (A/N: I don't know if they do this in Japan, but we do it here in America, so there ya go. Call it artistic license…)

It's been six months since I went back there… six months since I've seen Inuyasha. Kagome was sitting under the Goshinboku tree; she sat there for hours on end, day after day. She moved only to go inside and sleep, which was rare, or to eat when someone forced her. Come to think of it, when was the last time she had actually eaten anything? Kagome didn't know, nor did she care. She didn't eat much, she didn't sleep much, she didn't even speak much anymore. Her friends Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi had called her for a while after her return, but after a few months of unreturned calls, they got the hint. Kagome didn't want to do anything except sit under the tree, and the only company she wanted was the company of her memories.

I miss you guys so much. Kagome stared at the Polaroid pictures in her lap. They had been taken a month or so before Inuyasha brought Kikyou to join them, during the times when they had all still been happy and together. I remember how fascinated you all were by the idea of a box that spit images out. Kagome almost smiled at the pleasant memory. Almost.

She shuffled through the photos: Sango and Kirara… Sango and Miroku, with an innocent look on his face… Miroku with a bright red slap mark on his cheek. Kagome paused, feeling a little bit happier remembering the good times they'd had, then continued looking.

Shippou laughing… Shippou eating chocolate… Shippou sleeping curled up on Kirara's back… Shippou chewing on Inuyasha's ears. Inuyasha.

Then came a whole stack of pictures of Inuyasha: Inuyasha screaming at Kouga… Inuyasha sulking in a tree… Inuyasha eating ramen like a pig… Inuyasha proudly holding up Tetsusaiga… Inuyasha staring at the sunset with an uncharacteristic look of peace and thoughtfulness on his handsome face. That one was Kagome's favorite. It's so unlike the Inuyasha I saw for the last time at the well. He's so full of life here. But then Kikyou came and he turned cold. Oh Inuyasha, what happened to you?

But Kagome knew what had happened to Inuyasha. She hated having cruel thoughts towards other people, but Kikyou tried the limits of her patience. I hate that woman! Why did she have to come back and change everything? Kikyou, you stole everything that truly mattered in my life. You took away the one thing I loved, the one thing that seemed to give my existence meaning. Do you know how much you have hurt me? Do you even care? Kagome doubted it. She drew her blanket closer around her shoulders, shivering.

Kagome picked up the knife that had been sitting beside her in the grass. For the thousandth time, she tried to bring herself to shred the pictures, but just couldn't do it. She wasn't ready to sever the ties with what had once been the happiest, most meaningful times in her life. These pictures are all I have left of you, Inuyasha. I can't destroy them… not yet.

She stared at the silvery steel blade, watched as it reflected light from the setting sun. This knife is looking kinder and kinder as time passes. Then, once again, she rolled her sleeve up and stared at the flesh of her arm. It was crisscrossed with slashes; they painted brilliant crimson streaks from her wrist to her elbow. I promise this is the last time. 'You said that last time, Kagome.' But this time I mean it. She drew the tip of the knife down the skin of her forearm repeatedly, leaving thin, deep gashes that oozed blood. Kagome closed her eyes and swallowed the pain, glad that for a moment she was feeling pain somewhere other than inside her heart.

"Kagome, please come inside," Souta called from the porch. "Mom ran you a bath, and she says you need to eat something."

She hurriedly dabbed the blood from her arm with the corner of the blanket and rolled the sleeve of her sweatshirt back down; she didn't want anyone to see what she had done to herself. Kagome glanced at the sky, suddenly realizing that it had grown very dark outside. After gathering all of her belongings into her arms, she slowly stood up. She walked dazedly into the house: past her little brother, her grandfather, and her very-concerned mother.

"Kagome, I ran you a…" Mrs. Higurashi began. Her voice faded, however, when Kagome continued walking upstairs to her room. She didn't even act like she had heard her mother speak.

When she reached her bedroom she slammed the door shut, locked it, and flopped down onto her bed. Noticing that the blood had soaked through the sleeve of her sweatshirt, Kagome stripped her clothes off and put on a long-sleeved black shirt and a pair of baggy black pajama pants. She carefully slipped her necklace off and placed it in a china dish on her desk. The tiny Shikon shard glimmered in the faint light of the desk lamp. Inuyasha would kill me if he knew that I kept this. But I couldn't simply let go of everything I love. It's just not that easy. I had to have a way back, Inuyasha. I hope you understand.

She spread the photos out once more, staring at them. Well, Inuyasha, at least I have these pictures to remember you by. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but they serve their purpose well. Kagome crawled into bed, returning the stack of pictures to their place under her pillow. She tried to drift off, but knew deep down that sleep would evade her once again tonight.

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Responses: (yay!)

Arima1: *blushes* Aww thanks, you're so sweet! And I'm glad you don't mind the fact that I'm a psycho killer. Oh yea, and if I don't talk to you tomorrow, then remind me to tell you about my AWESOME weekend. I don't think I ever told you about it. *sigh* Allan is sooooo hot!!! (heh heh heh) Thanks for reviewing, you're a great friend. Love ya!!!!

Jammies2000: oooh you read my mind! I was actually considering bringing Inuyasha back in present-day, even though I hadn't originally planned on it. What do you think? Would that be too predictable? Please let me know! I loved your idea, of course it's not stupid! Hehehe I love angst/guilt too, and that's why I wanted to bring him back!! Thanks so much for the suggestion, and for reviewing!

Tessie-fanfic: I'm sad that I almost made you cry cause I don't wanna be the cause of it, but at the same time I'm happy cause it means that you like my writing. But I still don't want you to cry… Thanks for the review, I hope you like this chapter as well!

Rushyuo: HAHA I know, he is a stupid idiot, isn't he?! But don't worry, he'll get what he deserves. *wink* Thanks for reviewing!!

Inu-chan's luver: YES! Lol Thanks for the review!!

Defafaeth Mechqua: Your review made me laugh so hard!! It does seem like he's a few cards short of a full deck. Maybe it IS cause he's a hanyou… Thanks so much for the review!!!

CAPTAIN33: *blushes* Oh my gosh, you are so sweet!! I'm glad that you found inspiration in my writing. That's the greatest compliment any author could ever ask for. Let me know if you do end up writing a story inspired by mine, cause I will definitely read it!! You're AWESOME!! Thank you very very much for the review, it totally brightened my day!

WinterBlossom/Yuki*Sakura: hehehe I was very amused by the idea of killing Kikyou off as well. Glad you enjoyed that! It would give me so much pleasure to write that… lol. I guess I just like imagining all the ways in which she could die!! Thanks for reviewing!

Therealultima: You wanna know what's messed up?! People who use reviews as a way to communicate to other people. I was so excited when I got your review, but then I read it and realized that it wasn't even directed at me. It didn't even concern the story at all! Please, for future reference, if you need to say something to someone, say it directly to them. That way you won't get my hopes up. *sniffle* I guess I should be thankful that you read my story at all, but I just wanted to tell you that it hurt my feelings a little. But thanks for reading!! (I hope you liked the story)

Pyro: *wink* To find out what's gonna happen next you're just gonna have to continue reading!!! Inuyasha really is a jerk, isn't he?! Thanks for the review!

Kay Kylo: I know, I know, this story is really angsty. My editor is hating me for making her read it cause it makes her sad. But I just can't seem to stop writing the stuff!!! I'm glad you liked it anyway, though! Thanks for reviewing!

Moonlight-angel2003: Aww it's a crying face!! T_T. I'm glad that I did a good job on the angst, but please don't cry, it makes me feel guilty!! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Pinayazngrl: He IS a big idiot!! I guess he is just blinded by love… but it's sad that he has to hurt Kagome. Wait, why am I complaining? I wrote it!!! I'm glad you liked the story, and I hope you like this chapter as well!

Swimchick1614: It's kinda gross to think that he's in love with a dead girl, but what can ya do. There's no accounting for taste, I guess. Lol. Here's an update, just for you!! Thanks for the review!!!

KeWl_AzNeYeS: Thanks (I think)! Lol. I'll take it as a compliment since sad is what I'm aiming for!!! Thank you for reading and reviewing!!

LilacRose23: It's okay, you can beat Kikyou to dust! I think that would be funny as heck!!! And you totally read my mind about the good things that should happen to her!! Don't worry, I fully intend to make it up to Kagome!!!!!! Thanks so much for reviewing! I'm sooooooo glad that an author whom I admire likes my story!! @_@

ShortPoet: *wink* Just between you and me, you're right on with your idea!!!!! Shhh don't tell anyone!!! I love angst and drama too, so Inuyasha and Kikyou will be getting what they deserve. But I also love happy endings, so Kagome will be happy again by the end. You're awesome, and I'm lucky to have a reviewer as great as you!!

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