Kagome rubbed her aching head as she sat up, blinking to clearly take in her surroundings. The darkness was so immense that only the frequent veins of lightning made the landscape visible. "Oh, boy." She whispered, getting to her feet. The land around her was completely bare, only a few weeds and dead trees decorating its surface. "What have I got myself into?" She searched herself for injuries, whining when her tattered clothes were the only fatality she could find. Reaching over her shoulder, she gasped at the empty space. "I forgot my bow...and my bag. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" Taking an unsure step, she looked around wildly, weary of what could be hiding amongst the darkness. 'InuYasha doesn't have Tetsusaiga, and I don't have my bow. Can things get any worse?!' A deep growl from behind her answered her question. Standing deathly still, she turned her head to the source of the sound. The three headed animal stalked out of the dead wood, each head surveying an area of its own. "Good answer." Dark pools of saliva dripped from its enormous fangs as it began to sniff the ground. She turned her entire body slowly, taking advantage of its unawareness as she crept out of sight. The blinding blackness made it hard to run, roots and rocks seeming to appear from out of nowhere, the falls inflicting more damage on her already destroyed clothing. She could hear the loud barks and growls growing nearer, followed by the new cry of what sounded like a pterodactyl. 'There's nowhere to hide! What can I...' She slid to a halt, falling on her knees from her sudden cease. The waterfall glimmered against the lightning, seeming to be the only spot of beauty this rancid place held. Kagome eased closer, stepping onto rocks to keep from falling into the water. She held out a hand and let the fresh liquid from the falls splash onto her palm, jerking it back when the enormous footsteps could be heard behind her. She turned swiftly, leaning back into the water. "I tried...." She whispered, accepting her fate as the monster drew closer. She closed her eyes, unaware of the hand coming from behind the falls. Her scream for help was muffled when it clasped over her mouth as she was pulled behind the crystal water and out of the demon's sight.
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"I can't believe she did this!" Kouga paced nervously, glancing toward the jewel every few seconds. "We could have went with her! We could have...."
"Enough, Kouga!" Sango shouted, getting to her feet. "Kagome did what she thought was best! It hurts me as well, but Kagome is a lot stronger than you give her credit for!"
"She's right, Kouga." Miroku stated coolly, leaving the sleeping Shippo's side. He placed a hand on the wolf prince's shoulder. "She can handle this." Kouga turned and narrowed his eyes at the monk, slapping his hand away.
"If she is able to bring that mutt back, I'll see to it that my woman never has to look after his ass again!" He snapped. Sango's eyebrow twitched as Miroku and Kouga began to bicker. She clenched her fists, shoving them at her sides as they trembled.
"Will you two shutup???!!!" Shippo jumped from his spot with Kohaku and Kirara, seeking safety with the old priestess by the fire.
"Huh?" Came the reply from the arguing men.
"This is not a game! Now, I suggest we stop this senseless chatter and get to work on finding a way to bring Kagome and InuYasha back!" The slayer turned and stomped out of the replacement hut, steam seeming to boil from her ears. Miroku raised an eyebrow, slapping Kouga on the shoulder as he passed.
"Now, look what you've done!" The two began to argue again as they exited the hut, Shippo and Kaede sitting idly by, shaking their heads.
"Pitiful." Shippo commented.
"Such a waste of energy." Kaede agreed. The pair looked at the empty doorway, appalled by the noise coming from outside.
"You started it, monk!"
"Be thankful I don't have the wind tunnel!"
"SHUT UP!!!!"
'CRASH!'
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Kagome squirmed and kicked to no avail, her eyes wide in both surprise and fear. She felt another arm lock around her waist, pinning her arms to her sides. She tried to scream again, but the hand was pressed so hard she could not even try to open her mouth. She looked around the small cave, droplets of water splashing against its hard floor. 'I'm behind the waterfall.' She felt the hair rise on the back of her neck as warm breath coursed against her ear.
"Don't scream." It was only a whisper against her skin, but enough to reveal the identity of her captor. The grip was released, giving her full mobility to turn around. Amber glowed against the darkness as he raised a finger to his mouth, nodding toward the water in front of them. Kagome held her emotions, watching the shadow move closer to the entrance. She could hear it sniffing about the water, pawing and digging to make sure she wasn't hiding underneath. Kagome backed into her savior, pushing him into the very back of the cave as the creature stuck a head through the waterfall. Saliva dripped onto her legs as it scanned the cave in its entirety, the hand being reapplied to her mouth as her breathing became louder. He reached for a rock, throwing it outside while the beast's head was turned. The demon moved with great speed, exiting the cave and following the skipping object. Kagome let out a sigh of relief, spinning to wrap her arms around the hanyou.
"We thought you were dead!" She sobbed into his kimono. Silence being his only reply, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her back to face him.
"Where's Miroku and Sango?" InuYasha asked, searching her eyes for an answer.
"I came on my own." Kagome bit her lip nervously, clenching her eyes shut in wait for a scolding. It never came. He pulled her into him, almost crushing the breath out of her.
"Stupid girl." Kagome looked up at him and smiled. Her moment of happiness ended abruptly as she lifted her hand from his stomach. Crimson dripped from her palm, diluting in the water on the cold cave floor.
"InuYasha, you're hurt!" Pulling him to the front of the cave for better light, she jerked open the front of his kimono, revealing the punctures and abrasion from his previous days alone in that place. "InuYasha...." She breathed in disbelief that he was still able to move.
"It's not that bad." He pulled his shirt closed and crawled to the entrance, searching for any sign of danger. Kagome shook her head. She knew better than to think he would show an ounce of weakness.
"How come it didn't catch out scent?" She asked, lowering to her knees beside him.
"It did. Well, mine anyway." He answered, turning to stretch a leg outside the water. He felt around until he found a rock to stand on, pushing from the cave floor to exit. Reaching back through, he pulled Kagome out and sat her on the stone in front of him. "That thing got a hold of me the other day. My blood overthrew your scent. Probably thought I was dead." He shrugged, pulling her to his side as he jumped onto the shore. He landed in a crouch, wincing silently as pain shot through his abdomen. Kagome noticed his distress and lowered her head, ashamed of her stupidity.
"I don't have my bag." She whispered, knowing he would hear her. InuYasha's brow furrowed as he stood.
"So, what? I've made it this long. I'll be fine. You hurt?" Kagome shook her head, moving up to his side.
"How did you get here?" She asked softly.
"I really don't know. You?" He replied, moving dead branches out of their way.
"I'll tell you later." Kagome walked with her head down, recalling Kikyo's words.
*Flashback*
"I am saying that I had my chance with InuYasha. The fates were cruel and our time was short, but now.....it's your turn."
"You, Kagome, are now the guardian of the Shikon No Tama. Do not take for granted its power.....and do not doubt your own."
*End Flashback*
Kagome watched the hanyou walk slowly just a few feet in front of her, her decision of telling him Kikyo's words still unmade. He jumped across a decaying log, reaching back to pull her over. They neared a ledge, the entire vastness of the land revealed as they hovered the edge. Kagome gripped the sleeve of his kimono, resting her head against his arm. "What now?"
"I don't know, Kagome." His face took on an uncertain expression, his arm encircling her shoulders. "I just don't know."
