Oh, my God, I am SO sorry. I've been so busy writing my vampire novel that I completely ignored my fanfics until now. Please forgive me! Don't kill me! I'm back now and I promise to finish it.

Rating will go up in this chapter, mostly for language.

Disclaimer: Alright…alright! …this place isn't so happy anymore, and I don't wanna be sedated unless you give me laughing gas… pushes a large needle away and clears throat I don't own Inuyasha.

Chapter Seven

Blood of Tears

The hair stood up on the back of her neck as she stared at them, open-mouthed. Turning to Kikyo, she shouted, "You little SLUT!"

Kikyo was smiling. "Hello, Kagome," she said coolly. "How are you today?"

"You know exactly how I am," she replied just as coldly. "I wasn't expecting you two to be doing that this early, but it's to be expected, I suppose." She turned sharply, walking away.

"KAGOME! Wait!" Inuyasha sped after her, but she picked up speed of her own.

"Leave me alone!" she screamed at him. "Haven't you done enough already!"

So he left her alone.

Kagome was panting when she reached another clearing. This was unbelievable. They could not DO this to her.

She slid down the ground, tears rolling down her face. She'd lied to herself, said she didn't care, but she did! It wasn't fair! It just wasn't fair!

Her hands fell to the side, and by chance, bumped softly against the small pocketknife she kept with her. It had to be a sign.

She pulled it out, unsure at first of what she was going to do, until she felt something slice through her wrist.

Inuyasha sat in a tree. Kikyo was gone. She'd left elsewhere now that she'd succeeded in permanently ruining his life.

He was just moping and hating himself and his life when he considered the circumstances. Kagome had not been happy when he'd last talked to her. Maybe he should go apologize and make a huge fool out of himself before Kagome did something drastic.

But on the night air, he smelled she already had done something drastic as he jumped down from the tree branch. He sniffed.

The smell of fresh blood.

Kagome's blood.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha's strong legs carried him much faster than a human's would have as he raced to save Kagome.

The smell of the blood was starting to take over her usual aromatic scent.

Finally, he found her holding a knife in the air, staring at it blankly. Blood dripped from the knife and down to the ground, staining the grass. Her other hand was up in a similar position, and he could now see where the blood was coming from.

"Kagome, what did you do!" Inuyasha screamed, horror evident on his face.

Kagome's head turned towards him. He gasped when he saw her expression. Vacant, empty.

Like Kikyo.

This was the one thing he'd prayed would never happen, that she'd wind up like her previous incarnate. He'd had new hopes for Kagome, but here they shattered as he saw her void eyes.

Then, the eyes went down again to the small knife. She switched hands and slashed the other wrist right in front of him.

"STOP IT! STOP!" he screamed, rushing forward to grab her hands. He yanked the knife away, throwing it into the brush, then pulled Kagome up into his arms. "I gotta get you back…I'm taking you back to the other village to see Kaede."

She didn't answer. Her head fell down, her body going limp. She'd lost consciousness.

He ran with her to find the others, who emerged from the huts at the sound.

Miroku looked absolutely shocked. His staff clattered to the ground and his mouth hung open in alarm.

Shippo started crying. Kagome had been his surrogate mother, and she probably appeared to be dead to the small fox-demon.

Sango, though, got angry. "What the hell did you do now, Inuyasha! Wasn't it bad enough that you stole her home away from her, as well as her family and freedom! It had to be you that drove her over the edge, you bastard! Only you could be callous enough—"

"Sango! Now's not the time to be pointing fingers!" Miroku interjected. "Lady Kagome needs to be taken to Kaede."

"I need Kirara," Inuyasha said, looking down at Kagome's motionless form. "She cut herself pretty deep."

A loud cry of "mew!" came from the hut. The cute kitten transformed into a giant fire-cat. Inuyasha hopped onto her back, propping Kagome up in front of him against Kirara's neck.

"Start your way home!" he called as the went up into the air.

Kikyo walked along, chuckling. She was sure by now Kagome and Inuyasha were both damaged so badly that his chances with her were totally ruined.

The sun was beginning to shine. She smiled a bit, looking up at the red sky.

Then footsteps sounded behind her. She glanced back, then nodded, turning fully and bowing. "Is it Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru, for once, was not accompanied by his servant Jaken or that annoying—yet adorable—girl Rin. He walked calmly to Kikyo. "I smell the girl Kagome's blood. I was wondering if you had something to do with it."

Kikyo smirked. "There was a bit of a lover's dispute between the little girl and Inuyasha."

Sesshomaru nodded. "Very unfortunate."

She studied his face. He appeared serious, but he wasn't stupid. He KNEW she'd done something to make them fight. "Well, then, I'll be on my way…"

"Not so fast…" Sesshomaru's hand was tight around her wrist. "I could use an assistant of some… application. Jaken's so useless I'm about ready to kill him. Rin's not much help, but she's not taking away from anything…so…"

Kikyo felt her heart beat faster already. The only other time she'd spoken to Sesshomaru, the first thing she'd noticed was just how different he was from Inuyasha…quiet, cool, and a bit superior. He was better-looking, too; that helped. She then willed her pulse to slow, then said, "I will accept your offer. What am I to address you as?"

Sesshomaru paused. She had a feeling it was hesitation, but he seemed to be pretending he hadn't left a gap in the flow of the conversation. "You may call me whatever you wish. Most preferably just Sesshomaru." He turned without another word, and she followed just as silently.