Recap:
Inuyasha stared at Kagome, unable to speak. 'Kagome's really back!' his mind screamed at him. Slowly, Kagome turned her head around. And what Inuyasha saw made him gasp with horror.
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Blank, lifeless eyes stared back at him. No light came from it. They were showing no emotion, and they were a bit blurred, as if she were in a trance. Inuyasha backed away. What was going on? He thought everything would be back to normal! "Kagome?" Inuyasha asked hesitantly, "You ok?" Kagome remained silent. She kept staring off into space. Then she stood up. "Well, if you're ok, then maybe you should go outside and get some air. You've been inside for 2 weeks now," Inuyasha said, trying to sound calm. If Kagome was alright, she'd answer.
Instead, she just nodded, and left the hut. Inuyasha gasped again. What happened to her? She wasn't showing any sort of emotion, hasn't spoken one word since she was revived. "Kagome!" Shippou squealed. He'd missed her so much! Shippou leaped into her arms. "I've missed you so much!" Shippou sobbed. "Kagome-chan!" Sango and Miroku shouted. "Ah, Kagome, I see that you have been revived by the Lord of the West," Kaede nodded. Inuyasha walked up to Kaede. "Something's wrong with her," Inuyasha said quietly. "Aye. I know. Though her trip with Death has been short, it was painful. Her trip to hell has been nothing but torture, physically and mentally. It will take time for her to heal, if she does at all." Kaede noted.
"Nani?!" Inuyasha sputtered. IF she heals? "Damnit, she WILL heal, you old hag! Kagome's stronger than that! She doesn't back down on anything!"
"It's not that simple, child. Hell is more horrid than you'll ever imagine. Why do you think Kikyou wanted to take Kagome's soul so much? If she regained her soul, she would never have to go back to hell. They know your weaknesses, they know your fears. They know how to get past your defences and straight into your weak point, where you will instantly give up all hope of seeing light. Those who have been in hell for a long time, they have given up all hope of finding happiness. They've already given up their soul to Death, and if they are ever revived, their spirit will never return. They won't have emotion, personality or memories. They'll just----exist. Like an empty shell." Kaede finished, "Kagome was lucky to have been revived soon after she died. If she was revived later, her condition would have been much worse."
Inuyasha gaped. He had no idea hell was that horrible. And to think he almost killed himself! He would have ended up like those before him. Tortured. "So, what about Kagome? Will she ever return to normal?" Inuyasha asked. "Only time will tell. Now, it all depends on the future," Kaede said. And with that, she left.
"Sango, Miroku!" Inuyasha yelled. He had to talk to them. 'This is all Sesshoumaru's fault!' "Get your asses over here right now!" "How did his mother stand it?" Sango asked, shaking her head. Then, she walked over to where Inuyasha was.
When both of them were in front of him, Inuyasha started talking quietly. He didn't want to worry Shippou. "What's wrong with Kagome-chan?" Sango asked quietly, "She didn't talk to me ever since she got revived! I know she would have at least said 'hi'!" "Her little trip to hell, that's what. I asked Kaede, and she said that Kagome will need time to heal. She also said that Kagome has been tortured endlessly in hell, and that Kagome may never heal. She might stay that way forever," Inuyasha said. "Nani?" Miroku said. "You heard me!" Inuyasha hissed. "Well then, I'm afraid that we'll just have to wait and see what happens," Miroku said, and noticing Inuyasha's death glare, he quickly added, "Inuyasha, I know you aren't the type to wait around. But there's not much we could do, except treat her kindly. With luck, she would return to the way she was before. Kagome has a strong spirit. She'll make through this." Inuyasha sighed. He knew Miroku was right. So he jumped onto a tree branch, watching Kagome walk around and picking some herbs.
Nightfall soon came, and soon they would have to get ready for bed. At around midnight, Inuyasha heard something. 'Something's not right,' Inuyasha thought, 'There's no uninvited visitors inside the hut, yet there's way too much movement inside. Too much movement for everyone to be asleep.' He walked inside.
Kagome was inside, thrashing in her sleep. She was having trouble breathing, and her eyes were open, but not focused. 'She's having a nightmare!' Inuyasha thought with a start. Kagome suddenly spoke. Not exactly clearly, but clear enough for Inuyasha to pick it up. "No! Sango! Miroku! Don't touch them!" Kagome screamed out the last part. Her face was starting to turn blue with lack of air. Inuyasha had to wake her up, and fast, or Kagome would die! Again! "Kagome wake up!" Inuyasha shouted. He shook her. Kagome still didn't wake up, but she was starting to breath again. Her breaths came out in small, choked gasps, though she was still thrashing around.
"Damnit," Inuyasha growled, "Wake up, Kagome!" He saw a bucket of cold water in the corner, grabbed it, and poured some of it on Kagome's face. Suddenly, Kagome's eyes snapped open. Within minutes, her breathing returned to normal, though her eyes were still unfocused, still dark and unemotional. And, it was probably Inuyasha's imagination, but her eyes looked darker than before. It was then that Inuyasha realized that Kagome's condition was getting worse, not better. And it would only be a matter of time before Kagome would be past recovery.
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A/N: Well, there you are! Chapter 7! Hope you liked it! Aw, I'm so mean to Kagome! -sniff sniff- First death, then endless torture, now she's traumatized! Bwa ha ha! Evil me! Anyway, enough of that. As some of you might have noticed, I seemed to have gotten a flame. Yes, that's right! An evil flame! And I know I've said this in my profile, but I'd like to point out that the flamer didn't say what he/she wanted changed in the story. So I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me what you want changed, instead of you just saying you hate it. Alright? Ok, now that that's said, I have one more thing to say: REVIEW!!!