A quick chapter, just to get things going. I promised chaos in my summary, and alas, it has finally arrived. I just like to mess with people... Mwahaha. And as always, thanks for the great reviews.

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What am I doing? I hardly even know him. Kagome's response to Sesshoumaru's closeness had been almost instinctive; she had reacted without thinking, and now as she pulled away from their moment of shared romance, she knew that she had enjoyed it. As her hands slipped slowly away from the back of his neck, she felt her heart pounding wildly and her emotions were raging. She stared into Sesshoumaru's eyes, and couldn't keep the confusion from her face.

Somehow, there was a tenderness there that Kagome had never before seen. She was at a complete and utter loss, and could find no words to express what she wasn't even sure she was feeling.

"I fall victim to a trap, after my father's and brother's examples," Sesshoumaru said, quietly. Kagome lowered her head, unable to reply to something she didn't fully understand. Yes you do. Inuyasha's father loved a human woman and Inuyasha was the result. Inuyasha... Inuyasha was in love with a human, Kikyou. What is he saying?

She felt his hand brush gently across her cheek, and she felt her body shiver. She returned her eyes to his, and opened her mouth to speak.

"I don't know-" she started to say, but stopped as he bent down to pick up the blanket, and then place it tenderly about her shoulders, covering her from the cold night air.

Sesshoumaru turned away from her and began to walk toward the cave entrance.

"Wait! Where are you going!" Kagome asked, clutching the fabric in one hand and reaching for him with the other.

Sesshoumaru glanced over a shoulder, and the wisp of a smile crossed his face.

"You need to rest. I will be back soon," he said, and left behind a confused and mildly irritated Kagome. When he disappeared from view, Kagome slipped slowly to the ground, and came to rest on her knees.

Over the past few days, her world had spun wildly out of control... She buried her face in her hands and tried to think out why she had kissed Sesshoumaru, the brother of Inuyasha of all people, and even more perplexing, why she had enjoyed it so much. Before she could come to a solid conclusion, she had collapsed into an exhausted slumber.

Sesshoumaru left the cave and his eyes narrowed. He looked about, senses alert.... A bird swooped down, and with a sudden movement, he caught it in one hand.

The bird glared at him with irritation, but did not try to bite or squirm. Sesshoumaru removed a small note that was attached to its neck and read it carefully. After a long moment, he opened his hand and the bird immediately took to wing, squawking indignantly as it flew quickly away. It disappeared into the rain and the darkness of the night.

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"Kagoooommmeee...." An unfamiliar voice was calling, from far away and somewhere very close. In this strange land of tilted hills and backward trees, nothing was certain. Kagome shook with trepidation; she knew this place, but she couldn't remember how. The sky was closing in on her, and it seemed to vibrate and shake with the effort of staying up. It was dark all around, the only light from distant stars that never stayed in the same place for very long. Sapphire light, glowing from the stars... How strange... Madness, Kagome thought. That's where I must be...

"Kagoooommmeee...." Teasing and dripping with menace... Gentle and harsh... Kagome wished she could tell from what direction it was coming, so she could flee from it. Desperate for an escape, she began to run anyway, pushing her way through underbrush she could not see. She stumbled and fell, and found herself fighting away tears.

"Kagome?" A hand took hers, and she flinched away with a cry of terror. She fell back, and looked up to see that it was Inuyasha. A sob erupted from deep within her, and she reached out to him. Then he scowled darkly and looked away. "You'll never be half as strong as Kikyou. Go home," he muttered, turning his back to her.

"Inuyasha...?" she whispered, feeling the sting of his harsh words.  She gasped when he began to fade away.

"Inuyasha!!" She jumped forward, trying to stop him from leaving her in this place, alone... But then he was gone, and she was falling into the arms of Sesshoumaru. He stared down at her with piercing eyes, and she felt as thought her soul was laid bare before him.

"Pathetic human," he said, his eyes cold and distant, and he faded away as well.

Kagome collapsed, sobs of agony tearing through her.

"Kagoooommmeee.... Tell me what you want," the eerie voice pleaded.

"Leave me alone!" Kagome screamed, covering her ears and shaking her head violently, as if that would relieve her of the demons within.

"Tell... me.... I will stop the pain." The voice surrounded her with warmth and soft sounds, as if to soothe her and chase away all the pain. Sapphire light danced all around, blocking all else from her vision.

"I want it to go away. They're both right. I'm not strong enough," Kagome whispered.

"As you wish..."

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The sun rose that morning, on a group of sleeping travelers.

Kagome awake slowly, and rolled over in her bedding. She sat up, and found herself gazing at Shippou, where he was still curled up next to Kirara in content slumber.

The world seemed to freeze for Kagome, as her glance went from Shippou, to Sango, to Miroku... then up, and into the branches of a tree, to Inuyasha.