Summary: It's hard to imagine things ever coming up when you're down, and vice verse. That's what Kagome Higurashi told herself years ago. Now she's stuck on the bottom, once again. Even though she has to tell herself that things will get better, she highly doubts that they can. The best things to her have been jerked away, once again, and dangled above her head to taunt her.

Rated M for death, depressing material, and foul language...

"Talking"
Flashbacks
Song Lyrics (centered)

Best of Us
Chapter 7: Dangled

I don't know what happened. There are memories , even though I'm curious, should not be revealed. Just remembering the sensation of burning from my past caused it to come back. I'm not sure if it would have killed me or not. I felt as if my skin really was peeling away and I was going to die. Perhaps it was just a fabrication of my mind.

Curiousity killed the cat. I feel like the cat right now. I'm walking down a dark alley...

- - -

I walk to the couch, talking to Inuyasha calmly. He's telling me what he learned of Kaylee's disappearance. Kidnapping is more of a suitable word, though.

"There's no scent. My bastard brother can't even pick up a scent. That means it has to be Naraku. He's the only one with the ability to mask his scents, according to you." He tells me. I nod my head, but my mind isn't on our conversation.

I'm starting to wonder if this mystery man from my new memories has anything to do with it. He was cold-hearted, so there's no doubt in my mind that he'd attack Kaylee. Kouga would spare her and go strait for me. He was ruthless... If only I knew his name. I'm getting tired of calling him the mystery man.

Still. I'm beginning to wonder if Naraku even does have her. He's been surprised-looking when I mention my daughter. Makes me think that he might actually be clueless. Then again, seeing how easily he fooled Sango, I think I could just be wrong. He asked about Kaylee, and talked to Inuyasha about her. Then, after he found out about her and Inuyasha, she went missing.

Suspicions aren't always true, though. Even though I may think that he's to blame, there's a slight chance that he is innocent. Inuyasha is still convinced it's him. He doesn't know about my new memories. I'd rather it stay that way. I don't want him to worry any more than he has to. Besides, I think he's pretty stressed as it is.

"What's on your mind, Kagome? You're distracted." Inuyasha says. I look at him, wishing for once that he wouldn't be able to read my mind so well. I don't want to tell him that I'm thinking it could be someone else. He'll ask why, and i'll haev to tell him about the new memories I'm getting.

"Can I go out to see if I can get Kaylee?" I suddenly ask. I'm not sure who's more surprised; me or him. I don't want to go get Kaylee, since I have no interest in seeing Naraku again. I know he doesn't want me toget her, just off of how he reacted the first time I went.

"Just... Be careful and know that I love you. I want you to live." He tells me. I'm shocked even more now. He is agreeing with my sporadic decision to get out daughter back. I don't know why he agreed, though. He has every reason to say no. I hug him tightly, feeling the full weight of my words land on me.

"In 45 minutes, come after me. I don't want to feel like you're never going to come." I tell him. He nods his head then kisses my lips.

"I love you, Kagome." He says. I nod my head then leave.

I don't know why I decided that this would be a good thing to do. I got drugged off fo the first time I went to get Kaylee. Naraku is stubborn. He'll kill her, if that's what it'll take for me to submit...

I now understand why he's trying to prove his dominance over me. Naraku is worried because I'm rising up against him. I'm getting stronger, and I'm learning the abilities of my powers. Okay, so I don't know how to use them most of the time, but I know they exist. He knew that I'd get rebellious and sick of playing along. So, he decided that he'd have to teach me the rules again.

If he hadn't taken Kaylee, I would still be submissive to him. But, he did the one thing that could have made me even consider fighting back. He messed with my daughter. He took away my child, and I will see to it that he will regret it. Even if it means that his toy (me) dies, I'll make sure he regrets touching Kaylee.

Never spark a mother's wrath. It'll be the worst thing that you can even imagine. A mother's wrath is worse than a PMSing mother. That's saying something.

I walk towards the shrine. There's only one car, and I'm going to let Inuyasha use it. He'll probably be in a hurry to follow along with me. I'm not in a hurry to get there. I have no interest in getting there right now. But, I asked Inuyasha to go, and he said yes. I should go...

I shouldn't have asked to go. I should have just told Inuyasha that I had more memories of another bad person. That I knew someone else was just as bad as Naraku - or worse - and that they might have Kaylee. I should've just told him that, other than blurting the wrong question out.

I still wish I hadn't asked that damn question. There's no point in fussing over it anymore. I'm at the bottom of my old home's steps, and this place is creeping the hell out of me. It's dark, the trees are sinister-looking, and Naraku is somewhere in that house. With my daughter.

I can imagine his creepy grin as he threatens my daughter. She'll either cry, or think he wants to play. She can be very niave. That's one of my favorite things about children. They don't know what's going on in the world. They're so happy, since they don't know why there are things to be sad about.

I walk into the house, and I can tell that Naraku is here. After a while, I decide that I know where Kaylee is. I walk to my mother's old bedroom, and find a staircase. Great. Stairs. I'm so happy. Not.

After being sarcastic, I begin my descent. I don't like stairs, nor do I like the idea that this is the only way down and up. If Naraku wants to, he can just break the stairs and we're both trapped. Sure, Naraku can get out. He has demons that are ready to be summoned or created by him. What do I have? A growing belly that will, eventually, pop.

"Nice of you to come, Kagome. I didn't think you'd actually come here. I know it scares you. You've got courage for coming... Or you felt lust for me like I feel for you." He says. I glare at him before looking around. This is what you'd imagine a typical dungeon to be like. Underground, horrible, the works.

"Where's Kaylee?" I ask immediately. He sighs then turns to the one wall that's darkest.

"Kaylee is such a complainer. Haven't you taught her that she shouldn't be upset just because she's hungry?" He asks. The wall rotates, just like a horror movie, then I see Kaylee there. She's crying.

"Mommy! I'm hungry and I want to go home!" She immediately complains. I step forward to touch her, but Naraku slaps my face with the force that sends me backwards. I wince in pain when the stone wall helps me stop, and I look up again.

I gasp in shock as Naraku does something that I didn't expect. I knew he was heartless, but this isn't what I thought he'd do. I assumed that things would end up being okay. That Naraku would get over his new power trip and just leave us alone. That's my optimistic side talking to me.

Further down, I knew that he'd do this...

Next time on Best of Us...
Kaylee... I can't even begin to describe the remose that's filling me right now. I wasn't able to help her, and that kills me inside. Inuyasha is devistated too. Now, we have to deal with this pain together, while he makes Naraku pay for what he's done. What will I do? I feel like everything is my fault. I knew Naraku wasn't dead, so I should've kept myself from being happy until he was...

Just went from twelve chapters to ten chapters. I got rid of three then added another. I think this series might be around three stories long. Then Kagome can live a happy life like she wants to... I shouldn't speak so much about it, huh?

Sorry that this chapter is so short. I am working on my real-life story and it's more interesting than this. Anyway, I got a lot of reviews about how mean Inuyasha is. Get over it. Inuyasha is protective of Kagome and she did something he thinks she shouldn't have done. He just didn't know how to react.

Can you tell I'm pissy today? I've been ready to tackle and strangle someone all day. Sorry that you readers have to take the heat. I should really try to calm down...

I think 70 reviews sounds reasonable for this... Don't you?

- Bipolar Tangerine