Author's Note: -Alright. This is the newer version of Chapter 2. Thanks to Giantdwarf, I read back over the chapter and fixed all the 'syntax' problems, although I'm still not completely sure what syntax means. Sigh Don't blame me, I don't have English until next semester, andI basically forgot everything during the summer vacation. Lol. So, here you go. Hopefully you all find this new version 'flows' better. I tried...

Disclaimer: As I said before, I do not own any of the Inuyasha-related things you recognize.

These Hands: The Voice (Chapter 2)

"Kill Her."

"Kill who?"

"Kill the woman. Kill her."

"Kill Kagome?"

"Kill her…" The voice faded away, leaving only the sounds of the night and the crackling fire. Inuyasha sat up and put his hand to his head. What on earth was that? He lowered his shaking hands. "That voice," he spoke softly. "Did it want me to kill Kagome?"

Kagome rolled over in her sleep, causing Inuyasha to jump. She was breathing lightly, holding the young fox-demon in her warm embrace. Inuyasha gazed at her and smiled; she truly was beautiful. He sighed as he pulled the locket out from under his shirt and grasped it tightly in his hand. "She's safe…good."

He sat for a moment, recalling what had happened only a few hours before. She had been standing there, right in front of him. The opportunity had been perfect, but he could not bring himself to say those words he had practiced over and over again. Kagome…I love you.

"Kill her. No one will hear you. Kill her now."

Inuyasha shook his head as if to repell the voice from his mind. "Shut Up."

"Inu…yasha?" Kagome yawned as she rose from her sleeping bag. She focused her eyes on the half-demon; he was grasping his sword tightly. "Are you okay?"

He didn't respond.

She moved slowly over to where he was sitting and placed herself gracefully beside him. "Inuyasha?" She stared into his eyes, but he would not return her look. "You look as if you've seen a ghost or something. Inuyasha…are you shaking?"

"Keh, I don't know what you're talking about." He said quickly. "I was just…"

"Kill her."

He stopped suddenly. His heart began to pound as the voice filled his mind once again.

"Inuyasha?"

"Kill her."

"Inuyasha…wh-what's wrong?" Kagome grabbed onto his arm, trying to snap him back into reality. He was staring straight ahead, not moving.

"Kill her now. She's the reason Kikyou despises you. She is the reason you will never become a full demon. Kill her. Kill her now. No one will interfere. Slice her neck, slash her body. Kill her."

"Inuyasha…you're scaring me." Kagome's voice was shaking. She grasped his arm tighter. "Snap out of it!"

"Kill her.

Inuyasha stood up abruptly, pushing the startled Kagome aside. I have to get away, he thought. This voice…I can't control it.

"Hey! What was that for?" She looked upat Inuyasha; his face was hidden beneath his hair as he began to walk towards the dark forest. "I-Inuyasha?" She climbed to her feet and slowly began to approach him.

"Don't follow me!" He snapped, turning back to face her; his eyes were stern. "You may not be safe."

"Inuyasha…Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed after him. He turned and kept running, without slowing down. "Stupid, Inuyasha," she said. "I'll teach you." Kagome took a deep breath and clenched her fists tightly. "SIT!"

Nothing happened.

"What?" Kagome took a step backwards. "It didn't work? Maybe if I try again." She took another deep breath. "SIT."

Inuyasha continued to run, unaffected by her command. Kagome fell to her knees, her heart aching. Tears began to form in her eyes and she leaned on her hands for support. Her warm tears rolled off her cheeks and onto the earth. She began to shake as struggled to speak, "Inu…yasha."