Word got through the whole village and everyone was very quiet about it. There were a few whispers here and there about how a demon managed to bring a girl to the future but the biggest rumor was that the girl was the priestess Kagome's daughter. Shippo, Miroku, Sango, and Kaede did their best to try and stop the rumors before someone would ask Kagome about the whole thing, and whenever someone asked InuYasha about it he either ignored them or told them to stop talking about it.

It had only been yesterday when in Kagome's thoughts; she had failed to protect her only daughter. Kagome knew about the rumor in the village and avoided everyone. Only a few moments ago some women came up to her and asked her if it was true. Kagome sighed and nodded grimly and left. When word got out that Kagome gladly handed over Yume to save her own life, InuYasha was furious and he and Miroku beat up the guys who started it pretty badly.

Kouga had left that night even though he wanted to stay but Harakkaku and Ginta had no idea where he was. So to sum it up, the past day and a half have been hell for all of them.

♥ ♥ ♥

Miroku came back into the hut. "No sign of Kagome."

Sango petted Kirara who was asleep on her lap. "She probably isn't in the village anymore. No one has been the least supportive except for us and Kaede."

Miroku nodded grimly.

"Did you take care of those villagers?"

"Yep, we made sure they wouldn't start anything like that again."

Sango shook her head. "I can't believe how insensitive their being. I mean, I can't even imagine losing even Kohaku like that. I did lose him, but at least I know he's alive. But Kagome—she lost her daughter."

Miroku sat down next to an exhausted Shippo. "Your right."

"Damn it!" InuYasha came in from outside and sat down. "Those villagers started it again."

Miroku looked up. "What did you do?"

"Heh. Don't worry what I did to 'em. They won't try it again, that's for sure."

"Good I would've done the same thing, poor Kagome! No one is even trying to help!" Sango said angrily.

"Where is Kagome?"

Shippo sat up quickly. "WE thought she was with you InuYasha."

InuYasha thought about this and got up to leave again. "I know where she is."

The wind changed rapidly from a small gust to a steady blow. Kagome thought Kagura would show up again but the wind died down as quickly as it picked up. Under a tree, close to the Sacred Tree, was Yume's grave. Next to some very pretty pink and white flowers were the now wilted and almost dead flowers that Yume had given to Kagome a few days ago. She was exhausted. She had stayed up the whole night not making a sound. Kagome wanted to stay awake, just to make sure she hadn't dreamt up yesterday. But hours passed and Yume was still dead. Kagome pushed back a piece of hair that kept blowing into her face. She wasn't sure how long she had been there or if she even moved.

"If only I had been able to protect her. But I didn't. The villagers are right, it's like I handed her over without hesitation."

"You better not be serious."

Kagome turned around. InuYasha stood silently behind her.

"Miroku and I almost killed those guys. Don't tell me we did it for nothing."

Kagome turned back around. "No—thank you for that."

InuYasha thought about turning back around but Kagome said something that made him stop. "Yume said—to tell you—well everyone—that—" Kagome couldn't find the words to say it. She sighed. "Yume said to tell you good-bye. And thank you."

InuYasha crossed his arms. "I couldn't let anything happen to her. If I had let Kanna kill her, you would've killed me."

Kagome nodded. "Right."

There was a long silence before anyone said something.

"Sango is pretty worried about you. So is Miroku and Shippo and me."

Kagome nodded again. I just want to stay here. Sorry I'm worrying all of you."

InuYasha shrugged. "Want me to leave?"

Kagome shook her head quickly. "It's been a while—like since morning—that anyone has tried to talk to me. So…you can stay here if you want."

InuYasha was surprised. He thought for sure that Kagome wanted to be alone. He stepped up next to her and stood there quietly. Kagome wanted to stand up. All she really wanted to do was to change out of those dumb priestess clothes she had been wearing for about five days now. She knew that Yume was gone, and even though she only knew her for so long, she really did love her. Her heart felt empty and she guessed that was the reason she couldn't stand up or go anywhere. The emptiness made her want to cry and she would've but didn't want to in front of InuYasha. She felt he didn't need to see her cry again. She sniffed back a few tears and continued to sit there quietly.

What seemed like hours were only minutes, Kagome took a deep breath and broke the silence. "It was all a trap and I fell for it. He lured us into the castle and got rid of Yume. Right after he got what he wanted. He has Kouga's jewel shards—"

"Nope."

"No?"

"Right. After you hit Naraku with that arrow, the jewel shards came out. You would've killed him if Kagura hadn't stepped in and helped."

Kagome nodded. Out of sorrow for all that had happened and the bad memory of yesterday, she couldn't help but make a small whimpering sound to keep herself form crying. She tried to hold even that back but it had escaped her. She covered her mouth and tried to stop the tears. Not only was she upset now; she was embarrassed. Don't cry. Don't cry.

Kagome gasped unexpectedly and looked up. InuYasha was staring straight down at the grave though his hand was on her shoulder. Kagome's eyes welled up with tears and shook her head quickly to make them go away.

"InuYasha, I want to go home. –But I want to stay here too more than anything."

InuYasha didn't answer.

"InuYasha?"

Finally after a long time, InuYasha pushed his hair away from his eyes, only to fall right back where they were, and helped Kagome up. "C'mon. I'll take you home."

Kagome was very surprised. InuYasha is being really nice about that happened. He doesn't even care that I want to go home. Usually he'd get all mad.

"InuYasha, you don't have to do this just because you feel sorry for me."

InuYasha stopped.

Kagome sighed. "Thought so. My feelings don't have to be spared just because of—" Kagome said out loud but couldn't finish her sentence. "Forget it." With her head down, Kagome passed InuYasha to go to the well.

"Wait. Kagome—"

"I'm fine!" Kagome broke into a run and left out of sight.