Chapter 17: Devastation

A/n: Obligatory disclaimer that I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters.

"It won't let me through." Kagome breathed out. They must have been sitting there for an hour. Shortly after Sesshomaru had arrived he had picked her up and placed her in his lap again. He had tried talking but she couldn't respond. He had also tried staying silent and waiting for her. When that didn't work he started his rumbling. It wasn't much but it was something.

She was depressed. It felt like her world was over and she didn't know what to do. It was almost worse that she was alive. She was so close but she couldn't get through to let them know she was okay. Her mother was probably worried sick and she didn't get to say a final goodbye to her family.

At some point Sesshomaru carried her back to the village. She didn't feel ready to go back to the group, to try to pretend to be okay, but her voice wouldn't work to tell him that. Sango was the first one to approach her.

"So what happened at the well?" She asked softly. Kagome couldn't get the words to come to her mouth so she looked to Sesshomaru.

"The well would not allow her to return home." Sesshomaru informed them. Sango's face fell and she tried to hug Kagome as best she could while Sesshomaru was still holding her. No one really said much after that, even Inuyasha was quiet.

"Not hungry." She mumbled as Miroku tried to hand her a bowl at dinner. He hesitated but didn't push her. She watched the group as they tried to be happy. Everyone was avoiding anything to do with the well, her time, or her family.

Eventually she felt too guilty and excused herself to Kaede's hut. She didn't know what to do with herself. She was usually the happy one, the one who comforted everyone else, not the one who needed comfort.

She heard whispered 'poor girl' and 'she must feel like she's lost her family' before everything went quiet for the night and she let her tears fall again. When the moon was high in the sky Inuyasha entered the hut and sat with her for a while while she cried in his arms, it wasn't the same. She missed the comfort mokomoko and Sesshomaru's purring brought her.

"Hey, we'll find a way for you to see your family again." Inuyasha tried. "Sesshomaru is a lot older than me, maybe he knows somethin'."

"Really?"

"Yeah, ask him when he gets back."

"Maybe. Where is he?" She asked. Inuyasha looked like he didn't know if he should tell her or not.

"He went hunting to let off some steam. He's not dealing to well with not know how to comfort you." Inuyasha explained.

"Oh." She said sadly. She didn't want to make things hard on him. They didn't speak much more before Inuyasha left and Sesshomaru took his place. Eventually with his help she fell asleep.

The next morning Kagome slept through breakfast. She and Sesshomaru spent the morning in the hut. Aside from his hunt last night it seemed he didn't want to leave her side.

"So, I assume you want to head back to your castle soon?" Kagome asked.

"We can stay in the village a little while longer. That way you are close in case anything changes." Sesshomaru offered.

"Okay, thank you." She gave a small smile.

"I do need to make a trip to my castle to check things over."

"Oh."

"It shouldn't take me more than 2 days."

"Can I…" She hesitated. "Is it possible for me to keep mokomoko here?" He thought about her request for a moment.

"That should be fine. I won't be able to transform into my true self but I shouldn't need to for a simple trip like this." She nodded and cuddled into him for a few more minutes before he stood to leave.

"I'll only leave if you're going to care for yourself while I'm gone."

"I will." She said nervously.

"You must eat something before I go." He pulled her up and out to where the group was.

"Kagome! Would you like some stew?" Sango asked.

"Um, sure." Sango smiled before serving her a bowl. She ate slowly compared to the others and declared she was finished half way through her bowl. Sesshomaru must have deemed it enough as he got up and placed mokomoko around her before speeding off.

"Where's he goin'?" Inuyasha asked.

"He's doing a check of his lands, he'll be back in 2 days." Inuyasha scoffed.

"Hey Miroku, wanna help me collect wood for the hut?" Miroku agreed and the boys left.

"Where are Rin and Shippo?" Kagome asked.

"They've been playing with some of the village kids. It's been good for Rin to be around other humans." Sango answered.

"Oh." There was an awkward pause. "How are things with you and Miroku?"

"Good." Sango blushed. "It's been nice to hang out without the threat of demons constantly." Kagome nodded but didn't have much else to add. They just sat in silence for a while. "You should go lay down, you look tired." Sango suggested.

"Yeah, I'll do that. Don't worry about waking me for dinner, I'm not that hungry." Sango hesitated but nodded.

Kagome went to Kaede's hut and laid down. She spent the night and most of the next day in the hut by herself. She cried on and off and finally ran out of tears near the end of the day.

She didn't feel like being by herself anymore so she went and sat by the fire with the others. Everyone was momentarily surprised by her presence but quickly continued their idle conversation.

"Hey, do you guys mind if I sleep in the hut with you tonight?"

"Rin would like that!" Rin said excitedly. Kagome smiled at her.

Sango and Miroku slept close to each other by the side wall while Kikyo and Inuyasha laid by the back wall. Kagome laid by the empty side wall with Rin and Shippo tucked into either side of her. It's nice to sleep with them again. She thought before drifting off.

Kagome passed on breakfast and lunch like she had the other days but she did sit with the group all day. Sesshomaru should be back any time now. She thought tiredly watching Rin and Shippo play with Kikyo and Kilala.

"Miko." Kagome looked behind her to see Sesshomaru. She quickly got to her feet and threw her arms around him. He put his arm around her as well.

"You're back!" She said excitedly.

"Yes, and you haven't taken care of yourself like you said you would." Sesshomaru could tell from her pale skin and purple under-eye bags. Kagome looked away. "My discovery will just have to wait until you've eaten then. You'll need your strength and energy for it." This caught Kagome's attention.