D a r k i n s i d e

I said it was coming, now here it is. I really don't know why I wanted to do this. I guess... I just felt like lashing out at something. So here we are. Have read more InuYasha since the last chappie, so expect more chars, more knowledge and more ways to screw with stuff. Like yee diddly haw.

Disclaimer- anything can and will happen, but there probably won't be much profanity, and no smut. And since this is a fic all chars are copyright Rumiko Takahashi.

Kagome hopped down the well, smiling cheerily. Life was good. She was happily in love with InuYasha, Miroku wasn't hitting on her, and...

Yeah. That was about it.

AAAANYWAY.

Funny- it had been a sunny day back home in present-day Japan, but back here in the Warring States era it was raining, and black clouds loomed overhead. She supposed that there had to be some little weather quirks when you were jumping from one time period to the next. Ah well. Such was life.

---

Hojo knocked at the door of the Higurashi residence.

"Hello?"

No answer. He knocked harder.

"Is anyone home?" he asked hopefully. "I brought some homeopathic stuff for Kagome- said it was good for chronic acne, like you said she had."

Kagome's grandfather opened the door.

"I hate to say it, kid," (he paused for dramatic effect) "but you haven't got a prayer."

Hojo was startled. "What?"

"Kagome's got a boyfriend now."

"NOOOO!"

Poor Hojo ran away sobbing.

---

Kirara skipped through the meadow.

Daisies were left flattened in her wake.

And the reader wondered what in the name of poptarts was going on.

---

Kagome ran into InuYasha's arms. His rough embrace gave her comfort beyond anything she had ever known.

"So what's been happening?" she murmured.

InuYasha attempted to shrug, then realized he couldn't while he was holding on to her. "Oh, the usual. Demons, Naraku, you know- that sort of thing." He played with a strand of her hair. "Oh, right- Kikyo came to visit last night."

Kagome stepped back, shocked. "What? Did... did anything... you know... happen?"

InuYasha blushed. "Um... yeah... kinda."

Kagome ran away sobbing. "You fricking two-timer!"

InuYasha scratched his head, then yelled after her fleeing form. "IT WASN'T MY IDEA! okay, well, maybe it was... um... GET BACK HERE!"

From his shoulder, Myoga muttered, "Like that's going to help."

---

Kagome leaned against a tree, chin resting on knees, hair covering her face, and feeling totally dark inside. Why had she ever trusted the half-demon? What had made her think that he would completely give up Kikyo now that they were a couple? What had given her the idea that he was any better than his brother?

And why the hell did she still love him?

Soft footsteps padded up beside her, although she didn't notice, staring off into space and wondering what she would do. Tears coursed their gentle, salty path down her cheeks.

"Hello." The voice was soft, quiet, cultured. And familiar.

Kagome looked up, red eyes bleary. "Sesshomaru?"

"Yes. Something wrong?"

Kagome sniffed. Like he cared. "Your stupid bastard of a brother cheated on me, THAT'S what's wrong. And he'll keep doing it! I know he will! And I'm never gonna be able to stop him unless I kill Kikyo, and that would make him hate me forever!"

Sesshomaru looked thoughtful for a while. "Perhaps we could help each other, then. I could kill the mortal woman for you, and you could..."

Kagome perked up. "Yes?"

"Set me up with Kirara." His normally pale, composed face seemed to acquire a bit of a flush. Did he really feel that way about the cat-thing? It was impossible to tell, although he was playing with his hair so much...

"Yeah, okay, why not?"

---

InuYasha looked into the cave. The tainted patch was still there, and probably would ever be. The heart of the bandit Onigumo- it was as black as night, and as perverted as...

Well, he couldn't think of a comparison for that, but it would probably come after he didn't need it anymore.

Drawing the Tetsusaiga, he edged his way deeper into the cave. There had to be something here- something to help him win back Kagome, or become all-demon, or...

Instead, he found Miroku. The monk was poking the tainted dirt with his staff. It didn't seem to be doing anything. Nevertheless, he continued to prod the soil.

InuYasha spoke up. "What are you...?" The monk simply looked at him, as though he should know.

"Er... never mind."

more's coming. but after this. it's just getting me back into my groove, you understand.