Disclaimer: InuYasha and all its characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Wahhhhhh!T-T

Chapter 12

They had watched on helplessly through the barrier as Kagome tortured Naraku and herself. There had been nothing they could do. He hadn't even thought of using Tessaiga. Tessaiga was only used against evil, in Kagome's defence, more often than not. What he saw was almost like seeing her possessed, but this was much worse. It had been her, she hadn't been possessed, she wasn't under some spell, that was Kagome, his innocent Kagome. His Kagome was capable of such things? It had never entered his head that she could do such a thing. Not in a million years would it have ever entered his head, but there it was. When she finally noticed them, even a little before, she had seemed herself. And now, well now she was holding onto him like a child, crying like an infant. Like she was the one who had been hurt.

She smelt like Naraku. On her neck his scent was strongest, but it was all over her, nearly drowning out her own scent at times, but he could still smell her. She was terrified. He could smell it clearly, pouring off of her, radiating out of her every pore. Her sobbing was scared, but not so much of Naraku. She seemed scared of herself and she was begging for forgiveness. Begging. Stalwart Kagome reduced to grovelling. He had never thought he would see that day either. She was trembling, even before she had grabbed onto him, but now that she clung, he could feel the shaking clearly. She was scared and he wasn't helping. Times like these, he felt useless. He was useless. He was her guardian, and he had failed her. Failure was not something he accepted from others, let alone himself. He held the girl close and silently asked for her forgiveness. He wouldn't say it aloud. He couldn't. His pride wouldn't let him. Not in front of the others. When they were alone, maybe.

"Kagome? How do you feel? Did Naraku hurt you?"

She shook her head against his chest. "Just scared me, and I guess I over reacted. I didn't mean to do that..."

"I know, Kagome," he whispered, "I know. Do you think we can get going or do you need a few more minutes?" He didn't want to be there when Kagura or someone found him, but he didn't want to force anything on Kagome.

"I need a bath," she whispered, oblivious to his question. "I can feel Naraku's filth all over me. Make it go away. Please, make it go away."

He nodded and released her before helping her onto his back. She was in no condition to walk and he wanted to get moving. After motioning Sango and Miroku to lead the way and making sure Kagome was comfortable, the group began to walk through the forest, back to the road. The final battle would have to wait for another day.

As the sun set on the little clearing, a strong wind blew through it, throwing some of the coloured leaves to the ground. A large white feather appeared, carrying two young women, one, a child, pure white holding a mirror and the other, older, pale with dark hair holding a fan. The older looked at the cowering form of their master with disgust as the child watched impassively.

"Really, Kanna, you'd think Naraku could handle one human girl."

"Kagome is no ordinary mortal, Kagura. She is something special. Is she not the same girl that broke my mirror and prevented you from killing InuYasha?" Her tone was flat as Kagura flinched. "She has a destiny different than we shall ever see."

"Whatever," Kagura snorted rudely as she lifted the body onto her feather. "Let's just get him to the castle."

The pale moon shone high in the night sky, surrounded by the millions of tiny gems called stars. The quiet call of an owl off in the distance marked the midnight hour as he sat restlessly on his tree branch, alternating his glance between the stars above and the girl below, silent but still awake. It wasn't like her. Normally Kagome was asleep almost as soon as Shippo and he would fall asleep once he knew she was dreaming. But not tonight. She had barely said a word since they had gotten away from Naraku and she had bathed in a nearby spring. Sango had said she had kept mumbling about needing to be clean. When Kagome had finally come back, they had stopped for the night and set up camp. Kagome had said next to nothing since and it bothered him that the normally chatty girl was so quiet.

"InuYasha?" asked a tiny voice from below. "Are you still awake?"

He jumped down, landing right beside her in her sleeping bag. "Sure am, Kagome."

"Do you think Kagura is going to pick up Naraku?"

"It's possible, I guess," he replied quietly.

She moved to stand, careful of the kitsune next to her on the bag. "So let's see if the kaze no shimobe can follow them. Walk with me?"

He stood slowly and helped her up. Taking his hand, she made him follow her away from the camp and out to a nearby cliff looking out at a large lake covered with specks of starlight. They were already there, waiting silently until he released Kagome to approach her. He hadn't trusted them from the start, but after that last attack, he wasn't going to give them any chances to hurt Kagome. One of the things went to her, wary of him. Oblivious, Kagome caressed its head before letting it and all the others fly off into the cool autumn air. She smiled and took his hand again, squeezing it gently. He did nothing. Kagome was just a jewel detector and he wished she would stop trying to be his friend.

"I think we need to talk, InuYasha," she said sweetly as she sat down, pulling his hand down with her. He finally sat but remained silent. "It's about Naraku."

"I already know."

She smiled up at him gently. "It's hard to love someone and hate them at the same time, isn't it?"

"How would I know?" he asked coldly. He didn't want to be here. How could she so calmly confess that she loved Naraku?

She brushed a stray strand of hair behind his ear, her hand brushing along his skin. Her other hand cupped his chin and forced him to look at her. "You love her, don't you? It hurts you to think she wants to be with someone else, doesn't it?" He said nothing. She wrapped her arms around his neck moving to sit in his lap. "It breaks your heart in two doesn't it? You never want to see her again, do you?"

"What do you know about me, Kagome?" He shouted standing, throwing her to the ground. "Nothing, that's what! You're just a stupid girl who thinks she's all grown up when she's really a little baby!"

She laughed. "Temper, temper, InuYasha. You're letting too much out on the wrong person. Little Kagome is just a child; that's why I am here. She couldn't deal with Naraku, or the guilt." InuYasha looked at her skeptically. "That's what I'm here for. That child would have been in much worse condition if I had not come along to help her. Of course, she asked for my help. In her heart, Kagome knew she needed me, knows she will always need me."

The realization came to him suddenly. "Kikyo."

"Who else?"

"What have you done to her!" He should have seen it earlier. How had he missed it?

"Only what she wanted. She wanted to be strong and brave for you, and now," She grinned coldly, "she is."

"She's already brave and strong, Kikyo, and you are dead. Leave her alone."

"But I like this body soooo much, InuYasha." She took his hands in hers and smile. "I'm alive again. We can be together like we always wanted." She leaned up to kiss him, her eyes closing slowly...

He pushed her down roughly, wincing at how hard she hit the ground. Kagome would feel that in the morning, if she came back by morning. He took the girl's collar and roughly pulled her face to an inch of his.

"InuYasha?" She smelt terrified.

"You are the one that wants Naraku, aren't you?" He shook her roughly when she didn't reply, "Aren't you!"

"Yes," she finally stated, her hands struggling to rip his away from her neck.

"You're the one that hurt him?" She nodded, sobbing slightly. "Say it!"

"I did it," she whispered before he tossed her to the ground. She stank of fear and salt. Unfortunately, he could only smell Kagome, only see her face as she cried. He had to be getting soft.

"You are coming with me," he commanded as he grabbed her wrist. "Don't even try to get away."

She followed him all the way back to the camp without resistance. She stayed where he put her as he woke Miroku. It took only a few whispers for the monk to begin gathering his belongings and set about inspecting 'Kikyo'. When he finally finished, seemingly hours later, InuYasha moved in.

"So?"

"There is nothing I can do my friend," the monk replied softly. "I am afraid that this is beyond my skills."

"So what do we do?"

"We see Mushin and see what he says." Miroku looked at the girl slumped by a nearby tree. "Maybe he will know what to do."

"And her?"

"She should return to her normal self soon. I hope."

He looked to the nearly dozing girl who somehow still managed to glare at him. "And if she doesn't?"

Miroku just stared ahead bleakly.

Evil? Maybe, but this is an angst fic. Again, sorry for the long wait, butI will be trying to update over the summer. R&R please. SY