Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, but I'm still not giving up on it!

Chapter 35: Miko

Kagome woke and yawned, stretching her arms into the air and bringing them back down where InuYasha's ears should have been. Noticing that he wasn't with her, she sat up fully and looked around the room. He wasn't in the hut. She sighed. Kagome was really starting to enjoy waking up next to her hanyou, and this was the first time since they had become mates that he wasn't there when she woke up. She figured that he had just left to take care of breakfast or something, but still, she was disappointed that she didn't have her morning ear rub.

She stretched once more and got to her feet, rummaging through her chest and pulling out a red kimono that she had cut short to match the length of her old skirts. InuYasha hadn't seemed to mind a bit when Kagome told him she was going to redesign some of the clothes he had gotten made for her. He almost seemed happy about it. Kagome smiled. And I thought Miroku was the hentai.

Kagome's stomach growled. She stepped outside and looked toward the pond, then the fruit trees at the edge of the clearing. No hanyou. She shrugged her shoulders and gathered a few fruits for herself. If she waited on InuYasha she'd probably starve. After downing her breakfast she was starting to get antsy. InuYasha never left her alone like this without telling her first, and she didn't like the feeling one bit. Then, in realization, her stomach started to turn.

Kagome ran down the path that lead to the village. A few of the villagers gave her a slight nod as she race by. She ignored them and headed straight to Miroku's hut. When she arrived, Kagome jerked open the bamboo curtain and stormed inside. Sango was sitting in the corner, holding a crying Mai. Kagome calmed her temper, for the time being.

"Kagome, I'm glad you're here." She stood, still bouncing the baby in her arms. "I need to get some sleep. I can't even think straight. Can you watch Mai for awhile? I just fed her so she should be alright."

She nodded and took Mai into her arms. "Where's Miroku?"

"He's off in the village. Kaede came and asked for his help this morning. One of the new villagers isn't quite use to Shippou hanging around."

"Shippou? Is he okay!"

"Yes, Shippou's fine. Just a little argument. Nothing to worry about."

Kagome let out a sigh of relief. "Have you seen InuYasha this morning? I can't find him anywhere."

"I haven't seen him. Maybe he went with Miroku and Kaede."

"You're probably right. Go on and get some rest. I'll take Mai to see her uncle and father." Kagome rubbed her finger against the child's nose, making her reach out and grab hold.

"Thank you so much, Kagome. You are a true friend." As soon as the exterminator's head hit the futon she was asleep. Kagome smiled and left the hut silently. She hadn't really had a chance to be alone with Mai. The baby looked so much like her father it was almost ridiculous. Kagome could already tell that one day she was going to be a heartbreaker. Her father's looks and mother's attitude was enough to tell her that much.

"Kagome!" Shippou jumped at her heals.

"Shippou, are you okay? Sango told me about what happened in the village." She kneeled down to level herself with the kitsune.

"It's okay, Kagome. Nothing happened, really, and Kaede straightened it out for me." He placed his hand on Mai's forehead. "What are you doing with Mai?"

"I'm giving Sango a little break." She paused. "Listen, have you seen InuYasha anywhere? It's really important, Shippou."

"Nope. I haven't seen him. Why, did he do something bad? If he did he's probably hiding out so he won't get sat."

Kagome shook her head. "No, he's not in trouble." But if he doesn't get back soon he will be.

"I'm going to find Tani and tell her everything's okay. She kinda got scared and ran home."

A few minutes after Shippou left Kagome finally came across Miroku heading back home. "Miroku!"

He flinched at her voice and turned to face her. "Ah…Kagome…w-what brings you here?" he gulped.

"Have you seen InuYasha? When I woke up this morning he was gone."

The monk fidgeted with his staff. "Um…today? No, I haven't seen him, er, since sometime yesterday." He lied.

Kagome didn't believe a word of it, but she also wasn't about to fight with Miroku while she was holding his and Sango's daughter. "Fine." She glared at him, a fierce and angry glare that nearly made his heart skip a beat. "If you see him, tell him I'll be waiting at the hut." She kissed Mia on the cheek and handed her back to Miroku. He sighed in relief, knowing that the miko wouldn't harm him while he held Mai.

Back at her hut, Kagome paced back and forth. InuYasha had been gone for hours now. Kagome didn't know if she was more worried or angry with the hanyou. "He could have told me where he was going! He could have told me he was going! He could at the least have told Miroku or Sango, or even Shippou! That stupid, self-centered, stubborn, …BAKA! Augh! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! Did you hear that, InuYasha! I said SIT!" she hoped he was close enough for the rosary beads to take effect.

When she looked down a tear fell from her eyes and hit the floor of the hut. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably. She was scared. She didn't know where InuYasha was, or if he was hurt, or…worse. Kagome sat down, pulling her head down to her knees. "InuYasha…" she spoke to the silence, "please…be okay…" Her tears were flowing freely now, streaming down her face and falling to the floor. She heard voices coming from outside the hut. "InuYasha!" she sprang to her feet, but it was Miroku and Sango who entered; Sango with Mia and Shippou hopping in behind them. Kagome held her head low in disappointment and concern for her hanyou.

Sango used one hand to push Miroku forward. "Tell her, NOW!"

Kagome's eyes widened. "Miroku, do you know where InuYasha is?" he hesitated. "Please, Miroku, just tell me! Where did he go?"

Miroku sighed and shook his head. "He left early this morning for the Western Lands. He has gone to find Suoh on his own."

"And you? Yesterday you asked me all those questions… you were just getting information from InuYasha so he wouldn't need me! Didn't you Miroku?" her hands were held to her side in tight fists, her nails cutting into her palms.

"I am sorry, Kagome. He made me swear not to speak of any of it to you. He told me to keep you here until her gets back."

"And how long will he be gone?"

"Can't really say. Around two weeks is my guess, depending on how long it takes him to track down Suoh."

Kagome was silent for awhile, then she spoke up. "I'm going to find him." She started toward the door, only to be stopped by the monk who stood in her way.

"Move Miroku. This isn't your business."

"I cannot let you go, Kagome. I'm sorry, but you are to stay here until InuYasha returns."

"Sango?" Kagome's eyes pleaded with her friend. They were already swelling up with new tears. "Sango, I've got to find him. He can't beat Suoh by himself, I've got to help." She waited for the exterminators reply.

"You can't Kagome. If…if InuYasha wanted you to stay here it was for a reason. Though I don't agree with all the deception and trickery those two used, I do agree that you should wait here for InuYasha to get back." Mai squirmed in her arms. Sango looked sadly at down at her friend.

Kagome glanced at the two, then nodded her head. She didn't feel good at all. Her stomach was turning in on itself, her head felt light. She was going to be sick. Kagome covered her mouth with her hand and ran outside, finding the nearest bush. She heard Sango and Miroku's footsteps following behind her. Shippou stood in the hut entrance with a glum look on his face. Sango handed Mai over to her father, kneeling down beside Kagome and putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright, Kagome?" the exterminator was on the brink of crying herself. She hated to see her friend so sad.

"You don't understand," Kagome said between sobs, "Suoh was the one who killed InuYasha to begin with. He used my powers to recreate his body. He's going to kill InuYasha again if no one follows him to help!"

"I offered to go with him, but he refused my help. Not to be praising him or anything, but InuYasha is not as stupid as he seems. He told me he had a plan, and, since it is his brother's territory, I figured that Sesshomaru would be part of that plan. He did help us with Naraku, after all. And last time they met there was no quarrel between them. It is possible InuYasha means to confide in his brother for help."

"Are you serious?" Shippou stated. "InuYasha intends on asking Sesshomaru for help? He won't even ask us for help."

"Hmm. Kagome, do you want us to stay with you tonight?" Sango helped her to her feet.

Kagome nodded. "Sure. That'd be nice." But that night was anything but nice. Kagome let Miroku, Sango, and Mai take her bed. They protested a little, but gave-in in the end. Kagome pulled out her old sleeping bag, Shippou tucked snuggly under her arms. But sleep didn't come that easily for her. No, she had too much on her mind to sleep. Two weeks would be a long time. Sure, she had been away from InuYasha that long before, but she had always had her other home to go to then. Here she had Miroku and Sango, but as much as they wanted to help, they had their own family now. Since Mai was born, Shippou had been sticking around at their hut. This really sucks. She thought to herself. He was so far away…she couldn't even sense him.

That first night was the worst. The first night in forever she was not with InuYasha. The first night she wished she could be anywhere but feudal Japan. Sure, her friends were there; offering their support, but her bond with InuYasha was different; it was much greater than anything in the world. Not because they had become mates; but because they had healed something in each other that time itself could not. Kagome felt as if she had lost the part of herself that was holding her together. Yes, it's safe to say that during the first night she lost part of her soul all over again, and her remaining soul was crushed.

A/N: A bit short, but the next will be longer. Poor Kagome. And for the reviews, yes, you'll be able to see Kagome's new powers, just not yet. Hmm, what will Kagome do next?