Chapter 1- Fresh Blood

Kagome held the razor blade close to her white flesh. She pressed the edge of it into her skin and let out a sharp gasp as she saw the thick red liquid flow. She grabbed some tissue off of the roll next to her and pressed it to her freshly cut arm. Kagome let her silent tears flow from her big brown eyes. She had done this time and time again, inside the small bathroom, with the same four blue walls, sitting in the same spot, with the same razor blade. Everything was exactly the same. Except . . . except for where she cut, her arm, her thigh, maybe even her hand. How many times she'd done this she didn't know. Just count the scars.

Ever since her father died in the war, Kagome had cut herself. It helped her release the pain. It gave her some kind of relief. She cried, not because it hurt, but because it was all she could do. Her mother wouldn't understand. She had her own problems. And her little brother would understand even less. He was too young to even remember their father. And grandpa, well, he never really liked her father. Kagome felt all alone. Even InuYasha and the others; they just wouldn't understand. Kagome put on a cheerful act for everyone, but in reality she was hurting.

Kagome looked herself over in the mirror above the sink. Her eyes were a little puffy and red. She quickly washed her face and fixed her hair. She was already late to go back and see InuYasha, she didn't want him to come dragging her back to the feudal era . . . again! She made sure the bleeding had stopped before she threw the tissue away and unrolled her sleeves. She fixed her shirt and skirt and looked herself over one more time

'Normal.' She thought, 'Totally normal.' Kagome opened the bathroom door and was relieved when no one was in the hallway. She figured everyone was sleeping. She went into her room and packed a few things and slung her brown bag over her shoulder. Then she quickly ran down the stairs. She slipped on her shoes and looked in the hall mirror one last time before opening the big door.

Her feet splashed in the puddles from the rain earlier as she made her way toward the sacred family shrine. Her bag made a thud as it hit the bottom of the old, dried up well. It was her turn next. She jumped down into the well and grabbed her bag just as she began to float through time. Kagome sighed as the blue-purple haze surrounded her.

A few seconds later she was in the well . . . back in the feudal era . . . again. She'd be glad when all of this was over. When they defeat Naraku and the Shikon Jewel shards are all collected she can stop putting on an act for everyone. When it's all over, she can go back to her life. But, then again, she had no life. She distances herself from everyone. Her to best friends from middle school stopped talking to her because she was always in a bad mood. At least here in the feudal era she had a purpose. Kagome had thought this so many times. As she neared the village, she saw InuYasha in the distance. She sighed and put on a smile.

"What took you so long? You should've been here hours ago." InuYasha asked.

Her smile faded. "Whatever happened to hi, Kagome. How are you?" she said angrily.

"Well we need to get going. We don't have time to lose."

"Fine!" She snapped.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing. Can we just go now?"

"Whatever." He said. They went into Kaede's hut where Sango, Miroku, and Shippou were waiting.

"Kagome's back!" Shippou shouted. The little fox demon jumped into her arms.

"It's nice to see you, too, Shippou." Kagome laughed.

"Did you bring it, Kagome? Did you?" Shippou asked excitedly.

"Yep." Kagome said as she pulled the small box of crayons and paper out of her bag.

"Wow! Thanks, Kagome!"

"Hello, Kagome" Sango said from the other side of the room.

"Hi, Sango. Hello, Miroku" She replied. Miroku smiled and nodded his head.

"Is everyone ready to go already?" InuYasha asked annoyed.

"Yeah" They all replied.

They once again began their journey in search of the sacred jewel shards.

Kagome was tired. They had been walking for hours. "InuYasha?"

"Yeah." He answered.

"Can we rest now? I'm really tired and hungry."

"There's a river we can fish from about a half an hour away. Here, I'll carry you." InuYasha said as he kneeled down. Kagome positioned herself on his back and rested her head on his shoulder. He lifted her with ease and they began walking again.

"InuYasha?" Kagome said yawning.

"Yeah." He replied.

"Thank you." She said as she drifted off to sleep, his sliver hair a pillow for her dreams.

Kagome awoke to a blazing fire. It was dark, so she hadn't known how longed she'd slept. She was wrapped in InuYasha's red robe. Kagome moved closer to the fire. Sango was cooking fish for everyone. Shippou was showing Miroku a picture he had drawn while InuYasha wasn't in sight. Sango handed Kagome a piece of fish.

"Thanks." She said as she accepted the food. "Hey, Sango."

"Yes, Kagome."

"Where's InuYasha?" They all looked at her. "What?" She asked.

"He's um . . . well . . . " Sango started. Kagome's question was soon answered by a floating ball of light. Souls. Kikyo's soul catchers.

"Kikyo . . . " Kagome whispered to herself.