A/N: Okay, I'm pretty sure we've established that Inuyasha IS evil. Everyone clear? Good, lets move on. So, from now on, I hope you have tissues next to the computer, cuz you're going to need them. The rest of this fic ain't exactly cheerful…(Yes, I KNOW I'm evil.)

Chapter 17: Blissful Ignorance

Kagome sat inside of Kaede's hut, leaning against the wall. Everyone else had gone out for the small festival the village was having, in celebration of Spring. But she didn't go, she just wanted to be left alone. It was already noon, and she had still not seen Inuyasha since the night before.

She pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging Inuyasha's haori. She was now starting to get worried that something might have happened to him. It wasn't like Inuyasha to up and leave like that…and it certainly wasn't in his character to leave without his haori.

And as she discovered later, he left the Tessaiga in the hut, where he had been sleeping. He never left without Tessaiga.

Kagome pulled the red haori closer to her chest, her only comfort. She took a shaky breath, her eyes closing tightly as she buried them into the haori.

Inuyasha…She called in her mind, clutching his haori closer. Where are you?

Her mind had wandered during the day, there were so many situations that her imagination had come up with, so many terrible things that could have happened. He could have gone off…and been attacked by a youkai…He could have heard someone calling for help and left, only to be trapped in a spell…He could have left because of me…

She peeked up from underneath the fire rat haori, so that her teary eyes could glance upon the Tessaiga left leaning against the wall. It was the sword of Inuyasha's father, his lifeline when he was in danger. It had saved their lives countless numbers of times, usually when they thought all hope was lost. But he had left it, like he had left his haori, stronger than a suit of armor; a gift from his mother.

He had left it just like he had left her, Kagome, the girl who gave him her trust, the girl that he loved…his mate.

Kagome lifted her left hand shakily, turning her palm over slowly. There it was, the thin scar that Inuyasha had made with his claws the night before. The scar that bonded their souls as one. The scar which signified them as mates, together for life.

If we are united for life…She wondered, Then why did you leave me, Inuyasha?

Letting go of the haori so it sunk into a heap on her lap, Kagome gently traced the scar, feeling a slight sear of pain as her finger went across it. She remembered the words he had said the night before when the scar was made...

Inuyasha placed one of his claws against his right palm, and swiftly cut a straight line across it. Blood started oozing out of the wound as he cut her left palm.

"Kagome," he said softly, entwining his hand with hers, their blood mingling. "With this scar…we are mated. Our souls are one." Kagome felt a shiver go up her spine. The instant their blood mixed, she knew nothing, except her love for him.

Their souls connected, and Kagome could feel the his hanyou blood seep through her cut and into her veins…granting her his lifespan, allowing her to live for as long as he did. He was a part of her now…in her mind, in her heart…and now in her soul. He would always be with her, even when they were apart.

Inuyasha's amber eyes roamed over her body beneath him, his gaze causing Kagome to quiver in anticipation. His eyes settled back to looking at hers, until finally he could stand it no longer, and dove in for a passionate kiss, Kagome returning it with all the love she had.

Kiss after kiss, touch after touch, one thing had led to another until finally…Kagome blushed as she remembered exactly what had happened the night before.

She knew that she should feel ashamed, that she had given away her virginity away so easily. Some considered it to be something worthy of guarding with your life, yet she had lost it to the first person who asked for it. Desire had overridden all warnings her mind had given her.

It doesn't really matter, she thought, looking back at the mate mark on her palm. We have a commitment that's like marriage; deeper than marriage. It's not so much that it happened, its that…

A breath caught in her throat. Something is wrong…

Her hand absent-mindedly gripped his haori. I can't feel him…The night before even though he was right beside me, I could feel his presence because of our bond as mates.

Shutting her eyes, Kagome concentrated. She tried searching for his presence, anything to feel him, but she could feel nothing. His hanyou blood wasn't responding to thedroplets of hanyou blood she carried within her veins; his soul wasn't answering to her call…It was like he was blocked by a barrier, too far out of her reach.

Or he's...dead. She thought, her heart sinking rapidly.

"No," she whispered in defiance to the empty room. "It can't be that…I won't let it be…He's not dead."

Kagome hugged her arms to her chest. He's not dead…He can't be…but I can't feel anything…

She shut her eyes again, determined. Please, someone give me some sign…that he's alive. All I need to know is that he is alive…please…

Suddenly, she heard a heartbeat, getting louder and louder. It was beating rapidly, as if its owner was running. Kagome's hand flew to her own heart, and in an instant, she knew it was not hers.

Her heart swelled as her eyes opened. He's alive! A smile found its way to her face as she thought. He's alive! I know he is!

Hugging his haori out of sheer delight, she thought. He's running…that means he must be coming back! No matter where he is, he's coming back, and I'll finally be able to see him!

A smirk found Inuyasha's face as he ran into the small village, the few humans who saw him first shrieking "A youkai!"

With that cry, more humans ran out of their huts, only to see their worst nightmare. A red eyed youkai stood before them, claws bared for impending slaughter. The youkai was grinning insanely at seeing this many humans…more to kill. More blood to be shed.

"Women and children, get out!" the bearded headman yelled, running towards Inuyasha with a group of the men, each carrying a pitchfork or a crude weapon, pitiful compared to what Inuyasha had been expecting. They circled him, pointing their weapons at him. "We have you surrounded youkai, leave us!"

A "Keh!" escaped him as he raised his claws, his red eyes flashing in enjoyment. As the men recoiled, he let out a chilling laugh of excitement.

He's going to come back soon. Kagome thought, a smile on her face. Once he's back…we can finally tell everyone that we're mates.

Giggling, she thought, Inuyasha wouldn't like that…but we'd have to tell them, before they found out through other, more embarrassing ways. But once we told everyone, we'd be at peace. Without a care in the world.

Her brown eyes sparkled in joy. No more worries, no more fear. Just us…and our love.

The men cried in horror and pain as Inuyasha advanced, claws slicing through flesh and bone. Blood stained his white shirt and hands as it splattered everywhere. He could barely keep himself from laughing, it was all too much fun.

His claws could be stopped by nothing as they ripped through the village men as easily as paper. A sea of blood collected at his feet. The scent only driving Inuyasha on, giving him desire to kill more…Giving him a want for more blood.

Inuyasha grabbed a fleeing man by his hair, screaming for mercy. "No, please!" he begged, but this only made a wide smile open on Inuyasha's face. The human's face was frozen in terror, he shook with fear as he looked upon his captor, the youkai, insane with blood lust.

"You're not getting away." Inuyasha said, in the deep, guttural voice of his youkai side. "It would be a waste to lose you."

In one swift motion, Inuyasha slit his throat, the blood bursting from the wound, as he dropped the man like a sac onto the ground, the sticky liquid drenching the poor man's shirt. Women who were nearby screamed at this horror as Inuyasha turned around, looking closely at his bloodstained claws. His tongue traced his fingers, savoring the blood of his enemies.

His eyes suddenly flew to the crowd of women and children who still had not ran from the village. Screams erupted from them as they immediately ran, knowing that he would still catch them. Inuyasha grinned in delight as he waited for the perfect moment.

Kagome lay on her back, looking up at the roof of the hut, lost in her imaginations of a wonderful life. We could build a little hut…all to ourselves. A place to get away from everything. That's where we will spend our lives together…start a family, grow old together, whatever it may be.

But we'll be happy. Happy together, forever.

She brought her hand up, looking once again at the scar from the mating ceremony. We'll always be together…always untied because of our love.

Kagome imagined what he would say the moment he got back. "Kagome, I thought about you every minute! I shouldn't have left, because I missed you too much!"

He'll come back soon, and I know, that'll be the first thing he'll say.

Youkai Inuyasha jumped high into the air, landing in front of the fleeing women and young children. They screeched in terror, knowing they had no escape. Many of the women instantly grabbed their children, trying to protect them. Inuyasha snorted. As if a weak human woman could protect her child against him!

He flexed his claws, and then rushed forward into the group, slashing away. The first women in front went down with deep gashes across their shoulders, most women running in another feeble attempt to escape. Blood flew everywhere as he shoved them aside, leaving deep claw marks on anyone in his way.

Inuyasha smirked as he saw what stood before him, a girl, tears streaming from her brown eyes, her raven black hair falling into her face. She shook with fear, knowing she wouldn't be able to escape. Inuyasha raised his claws—

Inuyasha, Kagome thought, a happy smile on her face. I love you.

He had started bringing his hand down for the kill when he suddenly stopped. This human child reminded him of someone…someone he had seen before…

That girl! He remembered.

When he had awoken, not knowing where he was, the first thing he noticed that there was a unclothed human girl beside him, sleeping. His first instinct had been to kill her, but…he had stopped.

That girl had puzzled him. His scent was all over her, as if they had mated, but that couldn't be right…he would never mate with a human.

In his mind, he had wanted to see that girl screaming in fear, her blood dripping on the ground, but he could not. Something that he didn't understand stopped him, no matter how much he wanted to, he could not kill this girl. He didn't want to get touch her, nor even get near her, since he felt his heart get soft just by looking at her.

Before that girl woke up, he had taken his clothes, save his haori since she had it, and left.

Inuyasha growled in annoyance at that memory. He was supposed to be a youkai! How could he turn soft at the sight of one human girl? Forgetting the small child in front of him, He curled his fingers into fists.

His red eyes flashed dangerously. I won't let that girl get away with this! I'll find her, and figure out why she has this power over me. He smirked. And then, I'll kill her.

He glanced back once at the devastated village, his eyes wandering over all the dead, feeling no remorse or any other kind of compassionate feeling. All he felt was anger at the girl who had spoiled his fun.

Inuyasha ran away, retracing his trail back to the village, leaving the survivors of his massacre, stunned, wondering what could have caused him to flee.

Inuyasha glared at the memory he had of the girl. Soon, she'll be dead…and nothing will ever make me feel stupid human emotions, ever again.

A/N: You know, I think I went overboard on the "Oh the horror!" parts. But hey, It got across what I wanted.

So…poor Kagome huh? Yes, I KNOW you all are plotting my demise right now, you don't need to say it.