AN: I'm so glad I've gotten such positive responses for this. I'm rather pleased with it, myself. My writing is weird... it seems to change with every story I write. It's all depending on my mood when I start it... and however well I start it, that's how it proceeds for the rest of the fic, regardless of whether it starts good or crappy... but, yeah, that's just me... queen of the crackheads...

hEyKyRa13

Disclaimer: (forgot to add this last chapter... don't sue me, please... I need to eat lunch...) You know... I have to wonder if Mrs. Takahashi ever writes stuff on here... cuz technically, she wouldn't need a disclaimer... SHE OWNS IT!... hmm, just some food for thought... so no, I don't own Inuyasha or any of its characters... except the stars... I own the stars... but now, this train of thought has inspired me to create my own manga that's so popular, it earns a place in and I'll post something without a disclaimer, and if they try to boot it off, I can just stick out my tongue and chant "Nah na nah na nah naaaaahhh"... I look forward to the day...

Soul

Chapter 3

The Bastard's Letter

How can you do this, Mom?

I held my breath, staring up at the night sky, waiting for a response. The stars held no sympathy, merely blinking in and out, almost mockingly. I stuck my tongue out at them.

No matter how many times I asked myself that question, for some reason, the answer never magically materialize in front of me.

I sighed. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Third time's a charm, right?

How can you do this, Mom?

…

…

Yeah, that didn't work. Still no magical answer… maybe the "charm" didn't apply to the thirty-third time…

So what do you say?

I blinked. Did I just hear…?

Hmm… I don't know, what do you think?

She's a tough cookie, but she's no spring chicken, if you know what I'm saying. I say she lasts a day…

Well, what do you know? I actually got an answer… not the one I was expecting, but hey, beggars can't be choosers, right?

Before what?

Before he slices her in two…

And why, exactly, was I calmly accepting the fact that a gang of unfamiliar voices were chatting in my head, again?

No way. Lady Higurashi's a lot tougher than that. Even if she isn't as young as she used to be, she's got more than enough wit to make up for it. I give her a week, at least.

I still say you're over estimating those humans… four days, tops.

What about Kagome?

She's younger, but not nearly as experienced. Three days.

Is that a wager, I smell?

You know, I am here, you guys… whoever you are…

Oh, what do you know? It's the little human, herself!

Little Kagome.

Hey, girl. You were right! You humans are entertaining.

What?

All you do is wage war against each other.

And then, when your race is almost wiped out, the demons come to finish the job.

What the hell?

All very entertaining indeed.

Agreed.

Shut up!

What's the matter, Kagome?

Guess we're not as stupid as you thought, huh?

Stop it!

I thought you'd be happy. You were right all along, weren't you?

That's right. You like being right, remember?

I said shut up!

Aw, wittle Kagome doesn't like us anymore?

Who cares? Keep her going. She's more fun when she's mad.

Wo-hoo! Pass the popcorn!

Go ahead, human! Get pissed! Blow off some steam!

SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!

"SHUT UP!"

"Kagome!"

It was a new voice that called to me, but with the laughter of all the others still ringing in my head, my mind was left with little power to acknowledge it. Nonetheless, I lashed out desperately, unable to see the source of the voices amongst the deep black.

"Kagome!"

Why are they still calling me? Haven't they had enough? Why can't I see them? Why can't I see anything?

"Kagome, wake up! You're dreaming!"

…Maybe that's why?

"STUPID STARS!" I screamed as I shot up, my eyes snapping open. Sweat fell down my face like rain, the little droplets caught on my nose and eyelashes trembling with each labored breath I heaved. Dark bangs clung to my soppy forehead, obscuring my already hazy vision, slowly coming into focus as my drugged coma-like state began to wear off.

"Kagome?"

The voice sounded foreign to my ears, and at first, I jumped in surprise at the sound just behind my ear. However, doing so created a rather unpleasant side effect- my none-too-lovely reminder that I slept in a bunk bed… on the bottom bunk, might I add…

CLANK

"Crap!" I hissed, cradling my injured head, glaring up at the metal mattress supports that caused the damage. If it's not stars, it's my own bed, isn't it?

A gentle hand grazed my own lightly. Luckily, I was altogether too preoccupied to be surprised a second time. "I'm sorry I startled you. Are you okay?"

I seriously considered indulging my tremendous urge to let her know just how not okay I was, but I bit my tongue, leaving myself to be content simply rubbing my offended head. My lethargic stupor had long since worn off, and the intruder's identity was no longer anonymous.

Sango knew me all too well. "I'll take that as a no."

I snorted. "Why don't we skip the painfully obvious-" I emphasized the word on purpose, and glanced at her discreetly to see if she noticed; I was pleased to see she did, "-and just start again with you explaining why you are in my room in the middle of the night?"

Sango breathed a defeated sigh and nodded, making herself comfortable on the corner of my bed, being sure to duck her head to avoid the same fate I was still suffering from. With my face cloaked in the darkness, I scowled. Privately, I half wanted her to hit her head like I did, so that she could feel the-

"I had to talk to you before we left," she began timidly, staring at her feet. "You have to know something."

"What is it?" I wanted to know, my pain temporarily discarded in favor of interest. "And what do you mean, 'before we left'? Who all is going besides you and Mother?"

Sango eyed me curiously. "Your mother left before you were told. I'm only one of about two dozen villagers who were asked to accompany the Lady Higurashi. We're supposed to leave in a few hours."

I gasped. "What? So soon? But why?"

"You know Naraku and his type," Sango spat venomously, shuddering in contempt. "They have no patience for these sort of things."

"The bastard," I growled. Of course, this was certainly not all I could call him. On the contrary, I had quite the vocabulary at my disposal.

Naturally, Sango recognized my reaction and intercepted… unfortunately. "Kagome, that wasn't what I came to tell you."

I was irritated by the interruption, but my curiosity overwhelmed my irritation. "Well, what is it, then?"

Sango turned away momentarily to fish out a neatly folded piece of paper from her jacket pocket. My eyes widened.

"Isn't that Naraku's letter?" I voiced my thoughts aloud. After Sango's affirmed nod, I glanced at her suspiciously. "What are you doing with it?"

"Here," was all the answer she'd give me as she tossed the note to me, studying me carefully as I cautiously unfolded the note and drew my attention to the words neatly scripted on the page.

To my dearest Lady Higurashi,

It's certainly been a while, my dear. How are you faring? Very well, I do hope. And how of your children? Kagome and Souta, if I'm not mistaken. My apologies if I sound a little forward, but, on the other hand, I do have a guest, here, who is simply dying to know…

Anyway, he'd absolutely love it if you were to pay a visit. It's been quite a while since you two have last seen each other, and if I know you, you must miss him a great deal. He certainly misses you.

So, it is in your best interest that you come to visit us as soon as… humanly possible, if you understand my meaning.

I do look forward to reacquainting, again.

Until then,

Naraku

By the boiling of my expression, Sango had pretty much assumed I had finished, and coughed softly to re-attain my attention. I gave it very reluctantly. Another one of those moments in which I would have preferred to quietly erupt… not like I would have stayed quiet for long, mind you…

"That's not all," was what finally attracted my interest. My eyes flicked toward her. She hardly looked any happier than I felt. She nudged her chin back down at the note. "Turn it over."

With a quirked brow, I did as she instructed. Sure enough, there was more thinly scribed writing.

PS- Oh, and before I forget, I would also request that, as sort of a re-acquainting present, you bring the Shikon jewel. I know your husband would very much appreciate it-

Sango ripped it out of my hands before I had the chance to shred it… bummer…

"WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT-"

Sango effectively clamped her hand over my mouth before another word was screamed. Not an easy feat, mind you, but I was hardly in the mood to be impressed.

"Shut up!" she hissed softly. "Do you want to wake up the entire village?"

I pulled her hand long enough to harshly whisper "But that moronic, son-of-a-" before it promptly returned to my mouth.

Sango leaned closer, this time not intimidated by my wrath… again, another bummer… "Look, I know you're pissed, but just to let you know, your mother is still awake, and if she finds out you know about why she's really going to Naraku's fortress, she won't be too happy."

I fixed her with a glare that all but screamed 'Do I look like I care?'

Sango rolled her eyes. Damn, it didn't work. "Kagome, trust me. If you thought Lady Higurashi's performance tonight was a little much, you really don't want her to know that you know what that note says."

"So what?" I snapped, jerking my head out of her grasp. "Sango, you don't get it. Do you realize what that note says? My father is alive! And Naraku has him!"

"That's why your mother is going to handle it," Sango retaliated.

"She's not going to handle it, Sango, she's committing suicide!" I told her.

"Kagome, you have to have faith in your mother. She'll make everything-"

"Everything will not be fine, Sango!" I insisted. "My father is alive! This makes a world of difference! Naraku's not going to let him or Mother out of his grasp once he has them both!"

"Kagome, would you just calm down and listen-"

"No, you don't understand! Naraku can't have-"

SLAP

I sat stunned for a moment, staring at the blank space of wall on the opposite side of the room. The impact of her hand on my cheek snapped my eyesight in that direction, and for now, I didn't feel the need to move it. A part of my mind registered the fact that the stinging sensation was from my throbbing cheek, but another, much larger part, simply did not care. That blank spot was just far too interesting to spare a glance at my friend.

I knew I had stepped… no, more like frog-leaped over the line, this time- I went way too far. And I knew exactly why.

Great job, moron. You just had to go and remind her of… them…

"How dare you say that I don't understand?" Sango breathed, both rage and betrayal exposed in her tone.

I wisely remained silent. Wow, I really underestimated that wall. It really is very fascinating.

"Kagome, we've known each other our entire lives… no matter what you tell me, regardless of whether your father is dead or alive, there is no way you could convince me that you hate Naraku more than I do. I probably understand a helluva lot more than anyone on this damn planet how you feel, so don't you dare patronize me like I'm some clueless nitwit simply sitting on the sidelines. I've been through too much, both by myself and with Kohaku, to deserve that."

"I know," I whispered contritely. "And I'm sorry… I wasn't thinking."

Sango wasn't in the mood to be humored, apparently. "You seem to be doing that a lot, lately."

"Well, can you blame me?" I snapped a little more sharply than I had intended. "You're right, Sango. You do understand me better than anyone else. So can't you understand why I feel so… frustrated?"

This seemed to do the trick as I noticed from the corner of my eyes Sango's expression soften. "Yeah, I do. I just wish… that you'd stop to consider everyone else for a while. You're not the only one suffering, here."

"I know, I know," I sighed, ignoring my still stinging cheek to plop my head in my hands, propping my elbows on my knees. Of course, my eyes never left the spot on the wall. At this point, I was a little afraid to. Sango was right- she knew me too well. "But I can't help but feel it's… different."

"It's been seven years, Sango. Seven incredibly long years… and all along, I've felt like I've been the only one to believe that he was alive. At first, everyone believed… then they mourned… then they told me to get a life. Even Souta, after a while."

"But-" Sango began, but I cut her off just as quickly.

"Don't deny that you doubted, too," I cut her off. "I was the only one who wouldn't let go. And now I find out was proven right… and I almost wish I wasn't. It's going to mean that… I may lose… my other…"

"Kagome, I-"

"Sango, I know you said that I'm not the only one suffering, and you're right. But not even you can really completely understand how… weird I feel… I can't even really explain it other than I don't like it… and I don't know what to do… I just… don't… know…"

My legs came up to my chest and my head lowered to hide behind my arms resting on my knees. I didn't cry… tears were a luxury I had lost privilege to a long time ago, but, if anything, the disability to release everything simply made the raw pain I felt even worse.

Soft rustling and movement on the bed told me that Sango had left me to my privacy. At this point, I didn't know whether I had appreciated the move or regretted it- should I have stopped her?

Suddenly, a thought blurred across my mind, and I called out before I realized she had left.

"Sango?"

Silence.

"Yes?" she replied uncertainly.

I held back a sigh of relief. "The jewel. In the letter, it mentioned a jewel… Shikon. What is it?"

I heard Sango's jacket crinkle only slightly. She must have shrugged. "I'm not sure. I questioned Lady Higurashi about it, myself, but she didn't respond."

I nodded. "I see," I replied quietly, absorbed in my own thoughts. This time, I didn't notice as Sango hesitated long enough listen for any other questions before silently stepping out, closing the door behind her.

AN: The more I write about them, the more I find myself loving them... those stupid stars crack me up... go figure...

Review Responses:

Ice-Blue: Thank you very much! I hope you liked this chapter as much as you liked the last.

tsume.hack: ...Correction, you are the queen of the crackheads... just cuz I say so... aren't I so mean? hee... at least I'm better than the blue-haired chick... but anyway, once again, you need to get into the background story of Inuyasha so you can fully appreciate all the glory of the subduing necklace... and by the way, I wasn't originally gonna do this, but I'm figuring out a way to add the subduing necklace in this fic... still have some kinks to work out, though... and yes... I always ph34r you... but as long as I have my little green book, you should show even greater ph34r to me...

Knock-on-Wood: Have I told you that you are quickly becomming my favorite reviewer yet? You are just far too sweet... I don't deserve half the compliments you gush out on me, really... hey, wait... did I read that right?...O.O... I'm one of your favorite authors?... (blush) awww... I'm gonna hunt you down and glomp you to death now...

xbittersweet: I LOVE that you LOVE this so much... and yes... nail-polish remover is a horrid smell... makes you dizzy... like amonia... yuck...

Next Chapter: The plan- It's a walk down memory lane for Kagome, and it'll be a heck of a morning for Kagome's mom when she discovers why... pretty much, the beginning of Kagome's long, treacherous journey... and yeah, just read and you'll see...