Author's Notes: Thanks for all your reviews. I wasn't expecting that many! Thanks! Now to answer some of your questions. No, Im not going to change Shippo's affection for Kikyo. I made Shippo like Kikyo to add a twist in the story. Besides, can anyone else, other than me, see it happen? Kikyo is not mean to children, so she wouldn't be mean to him. And because Shippo likes Kikyo, doesn't mean he has stopped liking Kagome. Also, Kagome in this story begins to cut herself. If you don't like reading about that, then please don't bother reading for I would rather not want to waste my time, reading a bunch of flames. Some characters may end up being OOC. Sorry about that, but it helps the story and usually there is a pretty good reason why they are OOC. Also... This chapter is longer than the last one. Sorry bout the first chappie being too short!

Noelle

Color Me, Red

"Kagome! Hey Kagome!!!!"

Kagome suddenly felt a tug at her blue school uniform skirt. She looked down and saw Shippo. Shippo gave a toothy grin and clinged onto Kagome's left leg. Kagome's eyes soften. She could never be mad at Shippo. Even if he had somewhat betrayed her. She kneeled down and scooped the little kitsune into her arms.

"Hey, Shippo." She said as she began to scratch behind his ear. Shippo may have affection for Kikyo, but that didn't mean he had stopped loving Kagome. Shippo was the only one in the group that paid any attention to her. Usually when they camped for the night, Sango and Miroku would snuggle next to each other and cut off the world, while Inuyasha and Kikyo would take off to the woods for a couple of hours. Kagome wasn't stupid either. She knew what they would be doing. It was too obvious and Shippo even once told her, when Inuyasha and Kikyo came back from their "walk," that Inuyasha smelled sweaty and weird. Kagome noticed that Shippo was know leaning towards her hand as she continued to scratch behind his ear. Shippo was the only one that would bother to talk to her now.

Everyone else would just ignore her. Kikyo could see the shards. Kikyo had better aim than Kagome when it came to the archery. Kikyo was calm and didn't scream when monsters tried to attack the group. Kikyo was graceful and not clumsy. Kikyo didn't screw up or "get in the way." Why would Inuyasha and everyone else bother with Kagome anymore when they had someone like Kikyo? They didn't need her anymore. Inuyasha didn't need her anymore. They had Kikyo. He had Kikyo. Kagome gave off a small sigh. Yeah, she was not needed anymore, yet she still came. She couldn't go back to her normal life after meeting Inuyasha and everyone else. She would rather die. She couldn't bear trying to forget the fuedal era, the Bone Eater's Well, the demons, the group.... Inuyasha. She just couldn't live anymore if she had to go back to her dull life.

"KAGOME!!!!" Kagome suddenly snapped back to reality to look into a pair of furious golden eyes. It was Inuyasha... and he didn't look too happy to see her. In fact, he looked really annoyed.

"Eh...?" Was all Kagome could utter. There wasn't much else she could say. She knew why he was mad. He probably noticed she had stopped to pet Shippo and spaced out, slowing down the group. Inuyasha was always a control freak when it came to looking for shards. He wanted nothing to get in his way. Even if it was the raven haired girl from the future.

"You stupid girl! You're wasting our time!" Inuyasha snapped at the poor girl. Kagome's eyes narrowed.

"And...?" She growled out.

"How many times did I tell you, you weren't needed here anymore, huh?! You get in the way and I always have to end up protecting you!" Inuyasha growled out. "Just go back to the future, Kagome. You're just a burden to me and everyone else." The white haired hanyo sneered.

Kagome's heart stopped. You're just a burden to me and everyone else... A burden? So that was what Inuyasha thought of her, eh? A burden. She wasn't even good enough to be considered a friend. She was just someone that got in the way to everyone: Miroku, Sango, Kikyo, Inuyasha... Maybe even Shippo? Tears began to form into Kagome's usually bright blue eyes. Her clenched both her hands, the knuckles started to appear white. She looked down to the dry earthly ground.

"Is that all I am to you, Inuyasha?" She said softly. "Just a burden? Not good enough to even be a friend." Everyone looked shocked. Even Inuyasha started to feel somewhat guilty. Kagome slowly walked up to him. Inuyasha winced. He was going to get it big time. He could just hear it. She was going to say it. Instead, she gave him a very weak hug.

"It's... alright. I'll just go back now. I won't ever bother you again." The raven haired girl then reached up to Inuyasha's neck and tugged at the rosary. It snapped and the beads fell to the ground. Kagome then looked up at the hanyou. "I was hoping you at least still consider me as a friend." With that Kagome ran off.

Inuyasha stared at the ground. At the broken rosary. He felt horrible at what he said. Why did he say that? Why? Was he a complete moron. Of course, he considered Kagome as a friend. His best friend in fact. Inuyasha felt two icy cold arms warp atound his shoulders.

"What a pity." He hearded Kikyo's cold emotionless voice say. "At least now, we can find the shards much faster without her." As soon as that was said, Shippo started crying. Miroku and Sango exhcange uncomfortable glances and soon Sango was picking up the small kitsune and uttering soft comforting words while rocking him back and forth. Miroku then walked up to Inuyasha and Kikyo. A sad regretful look covered the monk's face. He then looked over to Kikyo.

"Lady Kikyo, could you please excuse Inuyasha and I and help Sango comfort Shippo?" Miroku asked kindly. Kikyo let out a huff. Her face glared at the monk. She then look over to Inuyasha, pretending she was not angry, gave him a small comforting smile and walked off towards Sango and the still distressed demon. The perverted monk then gave a Inuyasha a regretful look. Inuyasha's ears flattened and he looked to the side and then to the ground.

"Why did you say that?" Miroku asked. "Did you even bother to consider what affect it might have to Lady Kagome?"

Inuyasha could do nothing as Miroku continued to scold him. He deserved it. And now, he was going to have to find the school girl and apologize endlessly. He just hoped that she was okay as it started to slowly drizzle...

Kagome gave a small cough as she stared out into the rain. About ten minutes later, after the incident, the rain poured down really hard. Thus, she was now stuck in a small cave somewhere in the woods. She had no idea where she was, but at least she had a good enough supply of food and got a little fire to start. Her ebony hair was all stringy and wet. Her skin was soaking wet too. She sat in a black bra and her soaked skirt. Her pink sweater had gotten drenched with rain, so she took it off. Along with her socks and shoes. She hadn't bother bringing extra clothes for she was planning on going home for the weekend the next day.

She then took out a small bag of chips from her backpack and opened it. She looked at the golden little discs for a while before actually taking one and eating it. After one, she began to eat slowly. She had lost her appetite, but it wouldn't do her any good if she decided to starve herself for the night. She knew she would get hungry sooner or later. The school girl was lost in her own thoughts as she continued to much on the chips. She was oblivious to everything around her.

...Even the pair of red eyes that were staring with hunger from the shadows.

To Be Continued...

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Next Chapter: Naraku comes into the picture... Wait, is that Sesshomaru too? What happens when Kagome is caught in a conflict between one demon lord and one evil hanyou?