Disclaimer - I own InuYasha just as much as I believe that the Easter Bunny has a lucky rabbits foot that once belonged to his now one footed uncle named Bob!

Caged

Chapter Three

Stretching Her Wings

Why did my head hurt so badly? I opened my eyes lazily as the sun that came through the open doorway hit my eyes. Groaning I rubbed my eyes trying to get adjusted to the light. After a few more minutes I pulled myself into a sitting position looking around. I felt eyes burning into the back of my head as I turned slowly to see InuYasha. I blinked a few more times trying to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I had so many dreams before teasing me of my lost freedom. Each one showing my friends turning the backs on me! I knew that it was a spell cast on my cage to try to make me lose hope. Still it seemed so real! My mind began to register all that had happened as I said out loud, "He is finally dead!"

Standing up I winced in pain! My head had hurt so much that I had not noticed the pulsing pain on my side. Looking down I noticed the bandage that was wrapped around my waist. That would explain a lot! Bringing a hand through my hair I grimaced at the feel of grime. Pulling my hand back it was filled with dirt, and blood. Oh my scent was now putrid! I smelled of death, and blood not a pleasant mixing at all. I looked around as I asked, "Where am I?"

"Kaede's hut,"InuYasha replied coldly. His words stung a bit well not really the words, but the tone. His face was set in distrust. He didn't trust me? But why wouldn't he trust me? My shoulder drooped a bit as I turned away from him, and began to walk out of the hut. This had to be just a dream, but I thought in dreams you couldn't feel pain.

"Where do you think you are going?" Came InuYasha's voice from the room. Shuddering slightly I continued walking. I couldn't turn back to him. His eyes looked upon me as if I were his enemy. "Greetings child,"came a familiar, and cheerful voice. Turning around I saw Kaede. My sadness was slowly disappearing as she held out some clothes. I took them, and bowed as I said, "It has been quite some time hasn't it Kaede?"

"That it has, but the important thing is ye are back!" With that the elder woman smiled, and turned from her walking towards her hut. She had treated me just like she had before was all I could think of. I was slightly expecting the same reaction from her that I received from InuYasha. As the sight of the hot springs came a smile crept onto my face. Finally after ten years a decent bath! Oh how I would enjoy this!

After what seemed to be around an hour or so I came out from the hot springs, and dress into the clothes that Kaede had given me. Looking down at my reflection I smiled. My scent was back to normal the smell. The years in the dungeon grime, and goo had left me. Still it gave me chills just thinking about the goo I washed off, and I swear I saw it move! My ebony hair was no longer coated with grime, and now the sapphire blend in my hair could be seen. My silver eyes shimmered with life that I thought would have left me a long time ago. I wore the clothes I had before I was taken. This was an outfit my family had given to me long ago it was a silver kimono with a gold sash to keep the clothing to stay. I could see the marking that were on my face now. Two golden stripes ran along my cheek bone on each side, and a sapphire star could be seen on my forehead. The gold that were above my eyes now sparkled in the intense rays of the sun. I could see my tail drag out a little from the clothing its sapphire fur now cleaned, and shimmering. Finally I looked like the same person I was ten years ago. Though I am not sure if I will ever be the same person I was back then! Only time will tell. Shacking my head of the depressing thoughts I began walking back to the village. Well not exactly a walk a little slower then that. I was still trying to tell myself I would not wake up that this was not a dream. The sound of the village seemed almost like it was welcoming me back until I heard a voice that sounded strangely like InuYasha. Tuning into that sound I froze at what I heard.

"...How the hell can we trust her? She can't be Kagome! Or maybe it was Kagome who control Naraku the entire time,"came InuYasha's booming voice.

"How can you say that Kagome would never do that," Shippo yelled as he launched himself forward only to be stopped by Miroku. "He is right InuYasha this is the real Kagome, and she would never do anything like that! She would never betray us!"

How could he think I would betray them? I had spent years of torture as they tried to get out information of my friends, and my reward for that is my friends thinking I betray them? How could InuYasha say that? I stopped all thought as I felt the warm salty liquid fall down my cheek. I stared at the door as though wishing it to light up with flames. Then I turned my back on them, and began to walk away. I shouldn't stay there if they don't trust me! What was the point of keeping myself alive for ten damn years to come to this? "How could you think that,"I said out loud before realizing it. Then I heard there silence as Shippo poked his head out of the door. Then the other to came to the door. Miroku, and Sango just stared wide eyed at me. Kaede smiled, and InuYasha was silent.

"How could you think I would have betrayed you InuYasha?" I asked as I turned towards them. Tears were now coming down faster. All my hope had been demolished as I stared at the hanyou. He opened his mouth as though to say something then shut it. "The only thing that kept me alive was knowing that I could see all of you again, and you think I betrayed you? Years of torture I endured for not telling them about you, and you think I betrayed you? Ten years in the damn cage trying to remember what your faces looked like just to keep me sane, and YOU THINK I BETRAYED YOU?" I felt my entire world shattering before my eyes. It seemed like it would all be better when I got to them, and this is what happens? I had to control my temper as I began to see red. Blinking a few times I just fell to my knees. "I give up! Are you happy Naraku? I give up I don't care what happens anymore!" Was all I whispered as I hid my face beneath my hands. I don't care what happens anymore! Just let my life end. Make all the pain go away! If this was a dream to make me lose hopes then I did a hell of a good job!

(( How sad! I know it was a bit short, but I just didn't know what else to write! I wanted to explain what had happened on the other side of the story, and so I will! I think I will have InuYasha narrate the next chapter. If you haven't been able to tell every other chapter will most likely be with Kagome first person. Each chapter that she narrates has something about a bird as the chapters name! I want to thank all of the people that reviewed! I love you all...but not in a weird I am going to stalk you kinda way! I am not completely sure if I will make this a Sesshomaru or InuYasha thing! It all depends on how the story goes! I will have a sequel to this, and what I have planed so far is...well I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but if you want to know my reasons for this you can email me! I think this will most likely be a mix between the brothers, and the sequel will finally say who it is! I have a great idea of how to settle the score for the two bros, but until then I will have to just keep planning on this! Well I love drama so this story will be packed full of it because my momma has gotten tired of listening to my on going drama! So instead you will suffer it, but hopefully its not that bad of a punishment! Also I must say I love the disclaimers now! I use to hate them having to say over, and over again my failure in claiming the series! Now its actually fun to state it in all different ways. Its like the old saying you don't like something change it. If you can't change it go get a zebra costume, and run in front of a pride of lions. If they do not eat you provoke them...wait the last part I added ignore if you want! Also I must say this before I forget. I will only say one simple sentence. NARAKU IS NOT THAT EASILY DEFEATED! Also I need you people to vote whether to have Kikyo in the story because I can only go to so many chapters without knowing! Well till next chapter!))

O

Darkend Halo

O