Summary: Kagome moved from Japan to America when she was in seventh grade. She stopped talking in eighth grade, and no one knows why. Now, in eleventh grade, Kagome will undergo a series of events that will dramatically change her...Kagome's POV.

Rated M. Why? Because my mind has many bad things in it and I don't know what I might use...

Dates Written:
June 28st, 2006

Last chapter right here. Well, most likely this is the last chapter. I'm still teetering on the idea of having another chapter... Nah, I think I'll have this chapter be the last one. If you want to know more, you'll just have to tell me that you want a sequal!

Funny. I was listening to music while typing this chapter (well, singing to the music in my head while writing this chapter. Usually I just zone the music out). And, because of that, I kept making typos and writing sentences that were a mix of lyrics and what I wanted to write... It made no sense.

WARNING: This chapter is a fair candidate to be shorter than the other chapters. I'm not gonna worry about making it really long, because, honestly, all I care about right now is finally finishing this story. I've spent forever on it!

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The Games We Play
Entry Thirty-Seven: Darker Than You

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The Day The Rebellion Would Have Been, If There Hadn't Been A Fight...

Kagome stepped into the fresh air and started up her car. She had to drive to the local park, then she had to hike to the Forest Shrine she would meet Naraku and Andrew at. It was a Sunday, so not many people would be out. Most people, given a Sunday, would be home and resting from whatever they did with their kid the day before.

Kagome was scared, to say the least. Around her neck was a slightly glowing pink orb. She fingered it and looked down. She was worried that it was too obvious. Would it be?

This wasn't the real Shikon No Tama.

The real one was in her glove compartment. What? Where else was she gonna put it? She couldn't leave it at home, because she needed to get to it if that was the case. She didn't have any friends to give it to...

Of course, if they found out it was in her glove compartment, they would easily get there before she would. But that wasn't the point. Kagome knew they wouldn't have the chance to do it. She gripped the steering wheel tighter as she anticipted what was to come.

- - -

"Ophielia, are you still whining and moaning over the lost evidence you left on your desk?" Ophielia's boss asked her. Her head had been in her hands for the past three hours. That was no big deal, because often times people would just sit like that and think about whatever case they were working on.

The things that caused her boss to think that? She didn't start work for another hour. Her desk was clean. She had a bow and arrows and a sword by her desk. She had lost it. Even more alarming- she wasn't irritated that the lust-struck, dumbass puppy was staring at her like she was the most amazing thing since sliced bread.

"No." She replied dully. Her partner looked at her. Suddenly, the phone range. The lust-struck, dumbass puppy jumped up and yelped. The boss flinched a bit from surprise. Ophielia? She nearly tackled the phone in her hurry to answer it. After an 'uh-huh', she hung up. She picked up the strange weapons by her desk and handed them to the dumbass puppy.

"Okay, here are the rules, puppy." She said sternly. He didn't seem to mind the nickname. He was probably too dense to realize it was intended to be an insult. "We're leaving. You speak, and I throw you into traffic. When we're hiking, if you speak, I will shoot you in your testicles and ass before I kill you." She hissed. His face paled as he nodded.

"And if you try to help me, then may God have mercy on you, because I sure as fucking hell won't. You won't speak, get in the way, or do anything that I don't tell you to do. You do what I ask and nothing more." She said. Puppy nodded and then they left, Ophielia saying a quick good-bye to her boss.

He watched then then looked around her desk. What had just happened?

- - -

"Okay. I'm about to call Sango and Miroku. Ophielia got the message, but she has to bring some dumbass puppy with her. I think that's the trainee that's been making her go insane." Inuyasha said. Sesshoumaru nodded and revved up the car's engine. Within moments, they were speading off at over 200 miles an hour. Traffic? What traffic? No one else had car that could stay airborne.

A few moments later, Inuyasha hung up the phone and bucked his seatbelt. His brother scared him. Sure, what was there to hit in the air? Nothing, really. But his brother drove in a manner than made him think they would crash into something hard and painful.

"You don't have to go so fast, Sesshoumaru. We can afford to get there after..." Inuyasha pleaded. He gripped the sides of the car with a death grip, his claws digging into the expensive leather upholstery. If Sesshoumaru wasn't in sucha hurry, he would scold Inuyasha for ruining the car's interior.

"And, what do you suppose would happen if we were late and they knew that all this was a hoax and that Kagome was going to fight them? They would have time to kill her and get help before we got there. We need to be there before she is there." Sesshoumaru said. Inuyasha nodded.

"Do you know how Sango managed to start crying?" Inuyasha asked randomly. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow and resisted the urge to look at his brother.

"Women cry more than men." He stated.

"No... I mean she knew that the fight was set up and fake. How do you think she started crying?" Inuyasha asked.

"The same was Kagome did." Sesshoumaru replied smartly. Inuyasha growled.

"How did Kagome do it, then? And don't you fucking tell me the same way Sango did!" Inuyasha snapped. Sesshoumaru let out a short laugh.

"Humans can't create scents as easily as we can. We know what fear smells like, so we can put out the smell of fear. They don't realize that fear has a smell, so they can't put the smell out. Ophielia told me that she spoke with each of them and told them to imagine something that made them convey the emotion.

"For example. Sango wanted to cry. I'm sure she thought of the saddest thing she knew while she was speaking her rehearsed lines. Kagome did the same thing. Miroku thought of the day he found out that his father was dead, he said that helped him act shocked. And Souta? He had time to ponder it, so he didn't need much of a scent." Sesshoumaru said.

"That really works?" Inuyasha asked.

"If you didn't wonder why Sango sounded and smelled upset, then it worked. If Sango sounded upset but smelled perfectly normal, then you would have noticed something was off. It worked if you were unaware of the tactic." Sesshomaru said. Inuyasha nodded his head.

- - -

"Hey, Miroku?" Sango softly as Miroku packed up camp. They wanted to be sure that they would be there for Kagome in time, so they camped a mile or two away from the Forest Shrine and would hike there. Then they could also feign innocence if they accidentally got caught.

"What is it, Sango?" Miroku asked with a grunt. He silently cursed the tent and the people who made it manage to fit in the bag. It always fit in the bag when you bought it. But, after you used it, it was nearly impossible to get it back in that same fucking bag. He was writing to the president about this.

"Remember when you would jokingly ask if I would bear you child?" Sango asked. Miroku smiled and nodded. That was when he started liking her. He felt really silly once and did that... And the way she blushed when he said that was so cute, that he made a habit of asking her at least once a day.

"Yes, I remember that." He said with a calm smile.

"Well... When this is over..." Sango paused and commanded the butterflies in her stomach to chill and the voices in her head to shut up. It took a while, but soon the butterflies and voices listened. "When this is over and we graduate and all... I'd be glad to do that for you." She said. Miroku smiled then leaned forward and kissed her nose. Sango giggled.

"My dear Sango... Why not get a head start since school will be over in a month or so? No one will notice and then we can have our family all the sooner." He said. Sango would have thought he was joking if she hadn't seen the loving and tender look in his eyes. She rarely saw it, but it was coming out more and more these days.

"Alright." She said with a grin.

"Now, here's what you can carry." Miroku said. Sango looked at the gallon-holding camel pack then at Miroku, who was tying the tent to a much larger bag.

"It's not fair to make you carry all that weight on your own." Sango whined. Miroku looked at her then to the side at Kilala.

"Sango, you have to carry a boomerang and a few other weapons. I think the weight evens out there." He said. Sango got quiet then she looked at her weapons, which Kilala had in her moth. She smiled and got onto her demon cat, stroking her fur. Kilala was so smart.

"Time to go." She said. Miroku got on and Kilala took off into the air.

- - -

"Ah! Kagome! How wonderful it is to see you!" Naraku said. Kagome glared hard at him and he instantly shut up. She had a glare that could freak Ray Charles out.

"Cut through the shit, Naraku. All I want is for you to kill them and take this fucking jewel off my hands. Use it however you want after you kill them." She said. Naraku smiled and took a step towards the shrine. Kagome followed keeping her anger and hard glare on her face.

She was a good actor, she had to tell herself that. She had herself convinced that she was doing this just to kill her friends. Of course, she knew that she wouldn't harm them, but she was almost fully believing herself.

Kagome and Naraku entered the old-fashioned shrine building. As soon as they were in, Kagome spotted Andrew.

"If you don't mind, I would like using the outdoor alter to give it to you. This place reminds me of dead people." She said. Andrew laughed and the three of them walked to the back of the shrine. Kagome set the fake jewel down on the alter, where it had been thousands upon thousands of years ago.

"I, Kagome Higurashi..." She paused for a moment, sounding as if she was trying to remember the words. There were actual words you had to speak if you wanted to give the jewel to someone else. While she paused, a blur went running by and took the jewel with it. Andrew and Naraku both looked up in shock.

And wouldn't you know who was standing there?

Sesshoumaru smiled as he put the fake jewel around his neck. He had to make them think it was real or they would search for the real one.

"What the fuck?" Andrew was the first one to speak. Naraku just watched and prepared to absorb any information that was let out. He would not talk, because it would only show that he was weak and clueless. He hated being weak and clueless.

Before Sesshoumaru answered, a giant boomerang began aiming directly for Andrew's head. He jumped backwards from it, barely dodging it. While he was on his ass, Kagome ran towards the trees. Naraku started to grab her arm and stop her, but Kilala stepped up. The fire cat growled like it was thirsty for blood, and Naraku found it rather hard to move.

Kagome made it to the trees and found Ophielia. She had the camera set up and the trainee behind her, sitting down like a dog. Kagome smiled as she took the weapons from the trainee's grasp. She tied the sword on one side of her hip and clipped her quiver to the other side of her hip. She quickly pulld an armguard on under her jacket and a finger guard over her fingers.

Kagome aimed her arrow at Andrew. That was her target. He was the one who had defiled her. She held the arrow for a moment and her miko powers rushed into it. After a split second, she let it go. Andrew managed to move just in time and glared at her. Where were the others? She didn't know, she didn't have time to pay attention.

Sesshoumaru rushed towards Naraku with demon speed. Naraku picked up on things easily and moved out of the way of the enraged blur. Sesshoumaru stopped shortly and slammed the Tokijin into the ground. Blue sparks came from the sword but soon vanished. His attack was going underground.

Naraku felt a trembling at his feet and he moved out of the way. Just in time, too. Blue lightning rose from the very spot he had been standing in. More lighting surrounded the initial spot, but he didn't care. He wasn't hit.

"You put on a convincing show. Enlighten me on how you do it." Naraku said. Sesshoumaru knew the tactic was just going to distract him. He found out when he sparred with Inuyasha. Conversation weakened your guard enough for them to notice, but not enough for you to notice.

"Will you tell me why you care?" Sesshoumaru shot back. Short questions would keep his guard up. Naraku smiled once he realized that his tactic had been discovered.

"You're good. But not good enough." He said. He lunged forward and aimed his claws for Sesshoumaru's head. While Sesshoumaru blocked his head, Naraku brought his other hand across Sesshoumaru's stomach. He put poison into him, to weaken his body. As he backed up, Sesshoumaru smirked.

"I have poison. It doesn't work." Sesshoumaru said. His wound patched up withing moments. Sesshoumaru sheathed Tokijin and summoned his whip. "With the poison you have given me, I'll be able to create something potent enough to kill you." Sesshoumaru said with a smirk.

Sango watched the fight and looked at Inuyasha. She gave Kilala a signal, and the demon can ran after Kagome. Once she was close enough, Kagome jumped onto Kilala's back, leaving Andrew wide open for attack.

"Wind Scar!" Inuyasha yelled pointlessly. He raised the Tetsaiga and brought it down. Four yellow lines of raw power began racing towards Andrew. But damn him being a demon. Andrew raised both his arms to cover his head, creating an X. When Inuyasha's attack hit him, nothing happened. Andrew stood up and laughed.

"I have to give it to you, Kagome. You sure can pick the stubborn ones... Stupid, too. Inuyasha, you're a half demon. You can't beat me." He said. Kagome winked at Inuyasha and he turned to face Andrew.

"Want to remind me of my inferiority?" He asked angrily. He tried once again for the wind scar, but Andrew managed to negate the attack once again. While Andrew's attention was on Inuyasha, Kagome stalked around behind him to get a clear shot at her back.

"Inuyasha!" Sango yelled from a few yards away. She wasn't speaking to Inuyasha, though. She was indirectly speaking to Kagome. "Inuyasha, there should be a mark on his back. If you can hit it, then you'll be able to destroy his ability to block!" Sango said. Inuaysha nodded.

Kagome raised her arrow and charged her energy. She hit Andrew dead on the back, where the mark was. It glowed black, like a tainted jewel shard. Andrew hissed in pain then turned around to face Kagome. His eyes were blood red and his fangs were growing. He was giving into his darker demon form.

"You'll regret the day you crossed me, child. I'm stronger than you." He roared in demon. Naraku paused to see the commotion, and Sesshoumaru even looked too. Something about Kagome's scent was changing.

"So? I'm darker than you." Kagome spoke harshly in demon tongue. This staretd Andrew and Naraku. She dropped her bow and arrows and slowly changed forms. Kagome gave into her dark side willingly. She could control herself, she knew that. She just got stronger.

"What the hell?" Naraku stepped forward to examine the situation. While he was out of it, Sesshoumaru slammed the back of his sword against his back. It was the spot that glowed black. The spot that allowed them extra powers. Naraku hissed and turned to face Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru tried desperately to fight Naraku while making sure Kagome was okay. Soon, it was too much. He had to fight Kagome. After he told himself that Kagome would be fine several times, he was able to focus on Naraku.

Kill the bastard before he kills Kagome was Sesshoumaru's thought and incentive.

Kagome felt her body changing, and she enjoyed it. She was going to use her powers to take him out. Andrew lunged forward before the change was complete. She couldn't move, her body was immobile until she was done. Thankfully, a giant boomerang hit him in the back of the head. He looked at Sango and the bow hit him as it returned to the thrower.

Kagome finally was able to move. She lunged forward, fighting with all she had. Quite honestly, Andrew was no match for her. She was darker and stronger.

Sesshoumaru got Inuyasha to start sending prayers to rest Naraku's and Andrew's spirits. Sango watched and helped in any way possible. And Miroku? He was setting up the seals and barriers that would keep the two of them from reincarnating.

Sesshoumaru finally managed to get a clean cut on Naraku. Literally. His poison claws cut into Naraku's neck, taking it clean off. He didn't care or flinch. This man tried to kill his Kagome. There were penalties for that. He turned to see Kagome sitting down, but changing back into her human self.

"What took you so long?" She asked. Sesshoumaru smiled as he looked at Andrew's body behind her.

"I was worried about you. It distracted me." He said. He sat down by her and watched Miroku set up for the complex ritual.

- - -

"You're absolutely sure that they won't come back to life or something creepy like that?" Inuyasha asked warily as he stared at the finished spell. They had to make sure that the incense didn't stop burning, or else the ritual would fail and the two could come back to life or be reincarnated. Some scary shit like that.

"Positive." Miroku said. He leaned against the wall and watched the alter that was three feet in front of him. Sango had her head on his chest and her eyes were closed. A smile was on her face as she realized that she didn't die. No one did. They didn't even have to worry about it.

Inuyasha hesitated before he spoke what he was really aching to ask. "Would you mind if I--"

"If you love her, then go." Sesshoumaru said. Inuyasha looked at him. His mind quickly ran over what his brother had said about caring for him. His brother had his back and his best interests in mind. It still made him happy. Inuaysha nodded then raced off towards the hospital. Towards his Kikyou.

"So, you two, are you ever going to get married?" Sango asked, purposely being rude. Kagome's face reddened and Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow in curiousity.

They really balance each other out. She shows almost every emotion, and he shows hardly any... Miroku mused.

"Sango..." Kagome whined. Sango smiled then looked up at Miroku.

"I think we'll get married." She said happily. Miroku looked down at her and copied her smile.

"And have lots of kids." He added. Sango got a sly grin on her face just before he kissed her. Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru. A part of her longed for something romantic, but she couldn't deal with it. She would have to do things one step at a time. She no longer had to run so fast that she ended up tripping.

Sesshoumaru looked down at Kagome. He knew she wasn't ready. He knew it would be a long time before she was ready. But, soon, she would be ready and he would be with her at the time. He had never known the feeling of love before... Wanting so badly to make someone happy, even if it means that you'll have to go against your own dreams.

"I think... You're tooemotional to marry." Kagome said. She turned her head away from Sesshoumaru and stuck her nose in the air. He started laughing. Not just a chuckle or two, but actually laughing. Kagome looked at him with a triumphant smile. Sango and Miroku were too far into making out to notice the scene.

"Oh yeah? I'm not marrying you because you never tell me what's on your mind!" Sesshouarmu retorted. Kagome giggled, then stopped. Did she really express herself that much? After she reviewed her nature and actions, she began laughing. She leaned on Sesshoumaru and brought his hand up to kiss. Sure, it was kinda weird forgirl to kiss a guy's hand, but she didn't care.

She was happier than a retard in a room of colorful bouncy balls.

"Okay, Mr. Emotional, that's it! I want a divorce!" She said. Sesshoumaru looked at her ring finger and chuckled.

"I knew that you wanted one because you never wore the ring long enough to get a ring tan." He said. Kagome blinked.

"Ring tan?"

"When you wear your ring for so long that your skin around it is tan but the skin under the ring is a blinding white." He said. Kagome smiled and hugged him.

"Just because we're divorced doesn't mean I can't date you, right?" Sesshoumaru asked. Kagome looked up at him and gave him a bright smile.

"Right. So, ex-unreal-husband-of-mine, would you like to date?" She asked.

"Of course." He said. He leaned down and kissed Kagome's cheek. Silently, Kagome thanked him. If he had kissed her lips, she would have thought that he was a pervert in it for her body... Or her body would have frozen up.

"Kagome... How did you managed to pull off the act so well?" Sesshoumaru suddenly asked. He had been wondering about it since Naraku brought it up.

"I spent years upon years of hiding what happened to me and my feelings... Besides... Acting like something you're not to protect who you are... It's just something we do to protect ourselves... It's just one of the games we play..." Kagome said wistfully.

O o O o O o O o O o O

You want to control me? Fuck off. I won't let you control me. I won't let anyone control me. I'm tired of having to listen to you and do what you want me to do. You think that I'm just an innocent little girl? Well, I'll show you otherwise. You'll regret the day you ever challenged me. And, soon, I'll make sure you can't even remember the day you challenged me.

O o O o O o O o O o O

Duuuuude! It feels so weird not to have the 'Next Chapter' and 'Reviews Required' thing right here! So, do you guys want to know more? Well, if you do, then beg me for a sequal!

I'm joking. You don't have to beg. Just tell me that you're interested in one. I'll work on getting it out, but I'm not quite sure when it'll come out. I want to work on some other stories before I start on it... If you add me to your Author Alerts, though, you won't have to keep Private Messaging me to ask when I think I'll have it ready for ya'll.'

I liked the ending... What about you?

- Lonely Bird