Disclaimer – No I do not own inuyasha but soon ever so soon grins

Kagome opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder looking at the spot where Sesshomaru had been the night before. 'He's gone just like he said he would be' thought Kagome. Sighing Kagome flipped on to her back and stared up at the ceiling. 'Last night was horrible; I still can't believe that it was all a dream. It felt so real, but it was all a dream so there's nothing to worry about.' Kagome tried to convince herself that the events that happened the night before weren't real. Yet she couldn't quite make herself believe it, they felt so real. Closing her eyes Kagome thought about the nightmare, She remembered everything so clearly. Running through the forest from Kikyo, the chains and what she remembered most vividly was the pain. It hurt like nothing else she had felt before, it was like her whole body was engulfed in flame but it hurt some much more than that. A shiver ran down her spine, she would never forget that dream as long as she lived.

The door opened and Sesshomaru came into the room. He looked tired to her, his hair was in a loose braid that ran down his back and he had bags under his eyes and, his face was paler than usual. Sitting up, Kagome smiled at Sesshomaru, remembering the feeling of safety she felt when he laid down beside her the night before. That was another thing she would never forget.

"Good morning Sesshomaru," Said Kagome "I want to thank you for staying with me last night. I really do appreciate it." A blush made it way into her cheeks.

"I only did it so that you would rest, your body and mind have been under a lot of stress lately." Replied Sesshomaru.

" Oh…" Said Kagome. She couldn't think of anything else to say so she looked down at her hands. Her eyes widen in shock as she looked down at her wrists, they were bruised and swollen. She couldn't take her eyes off them, there was no explanation for how they got this way. No reason except for.. no it couldn't have been real. IT was just a nightmare, wasn't it?

Sesshomaru watched as Kagome discovered the state of her wrists. By the look on her face it was clear that he would have to explain how they got that way. He pitied the girl, she lived her days in fear, and now he had to tell her that she couldn't even have the comfort of sleeping with out that fear. Sesshomaru was just about to speak when, to his surprise Kagome spoke first.

"The dream I had last night, it wasn't real, was it?" Kagome asked, looking into her eye's he could tell that she wanted desperately for him to tell her that it wasn't real. He wished he could ease her fears and say it wasn't, but that just wasn't possible.

"It was and it wasn't," replied Sesshomaru, by the look of confusion she gave him he knew he had to explain further.

" Your were locked with in your own mind." Seeing that the look of confusion didn't leave Kagome's face. Sesshomaru sighed and explained further. "Your body remained in this bed, but your soul was in a dream, which you were unable to escape. Somebody kept you locked within your own mind, it was like you were dreaming. Except that you could feel everything that happened to your while you remained trapped. Every time you were hit it was like you were being physically hit and so a bruise would form, but the difference is that you were being hit mentally. So really you were attacked in your own mind."

Kagome could believe what he had just told her. she had been attacked within her own mind! That wasn't possible, but the proof was there right there on her wrists. It did happen, she was tortured even as she slept. Tears threatened to fall down her cheeks but she wouldn't let them. She had done enough crying over the last few days, she was sick of it. Forcing the tears back Kagome managed to find her voice.

"Who?" she asked so softly that Sesshomaru had to strain to hear it.

"Who ever it was that was in your dream, is the one that was controlling it," he replied "Only one person can enter the dream or the spell is broken. That's how you escaped, you broke the barrier around your mind enough to let someone else in. So the world shattered. Who was it Kagome?"

" K..Kikyo," She barley managed to gasp out. Now Kikyo haunted her in her dreams. There was no safe haven for her anymore. Her sleep had always been a comfort to her, no one could get to her there that was, until now.

"Kikyo, are you sure about that Kagome?" Sesshomaru asked.

Kagome just nodded, she knew who it was, she could never forget that laugh. Thinking about Kikyo made another shiver run down her back, as one tear rebellious tear ran down her cheek. She didn't even bother to wipe it away , she didn't care anymore. It was all too much for her to handle, it had all become too much for her to bear. She was beyond tears now, she was too depressed to even cry. It was hopeless, why was she even alive? She didn't want to live any more, she didn't care.

Over the next few day's Sesshomaru watched as Kagome sank further and further into darkness. She had no appetite, she didn't talk and she was covered in an overpowering scent of despair and hopelessness. He could tell that she had lost all of her will to live. The worst part about it was that he would have to let her go soon, her wounds were almost all completely healed and soon he would have to good reason for her to stay. The worst part was a night, he could smell her tears as she cried herself to sleep. All he could do was watch as Kagome suffered alone. And soon he would even be able to watch over her, she could stay in his room forever. School wasn't a problem he had called in and said that they wouldn't be attending for the next 2 weeks. Even though he had the school call her family and tell them that she was fine, he was sure they wanted to see her. What could he do? He had to find someway to help her, but how?

Kagome stared up at the ceiling, she felt numb and empty, nothing mattered to her anymore. It all felt so hopeless, at night she could sleep, and during the day she hid under the cover's pretending to sleep. She knew that she was almost completely healed, yet even knowing this brought her no joy. Kagome didn't know how much more she could take.

"Kagome I'm going out for a couple of hours will you be ok on your own?" Sesshomaru asked. He needed to get some fresh air and they were running out of food, also he thought that maybe a walk might help him figure out a way to help her.

Kagome just nodded.

Sesshomaru sighed as he walked down the street, his arms weighed down by groceries. He had taken a little bit longer than he had intended to, in hopes that the fresh air could help him figure out a way to help Kagome. He had come up with nothing, he didn't know what to do next. He had to figure out some way to help her. As he walked down the street her looked in the shop windows, hoping to find something to help him. As he walked past a shop window he froze, he couldn't believe his luck. It was perfect, he knew that it was exactly what Kagome needed. Quickly he went in and bought the object.

When he arrived at home Sesshomaru quickly unlocked the door and walked in. Dumping all the groceries on the couch he went into the bedroom where Kagome was.

"Kagome, I'm back." Sesshomaru said. He was not surprised to when he didn't hear an answer so he continued. "Kagome you can't keep hiding in the dark, you have to come out and face the world sooner or later." Kagome remained silent. " Kagome at least turn around and look at me."

Kagome complied and sat up and turned to look Sesshomaru in the eyes. Her eyes were so full of pain that he was sure that he could feel it to. She was so sad, she had lost all hope. He knew that he had only one chance left to help her. He preyed that he could do it.

" Kagome I bought this for you," He said as he pulled out small black notebook and pen. He tossed the gifts on to the bed. " it's your choice whether you use them or not." When Kagome didn't responded he just sighed and walked out of the room, he was tired from worrying about her and he needed a nap.

As soon as Sesshomaru left Kagome laid back down and closed her eyes, she couldn't sleep but she knew that she had to. Her body couldn't take the lack of sleep much longer but, her thoughts just would leave her alone. She saw Kikyo every time she closed her eyes, and then the memories would flood back to her. Fresh tears started to roll down her cheeks but, she didn't even try to stop them, she just didn't care anymore.

Kagome stayed like that for hours, around 1 in the morning the tears finally stopped, but Kagome still couldn't sleep. Kagome tried to shift into a more comfortable position when her foot hit something head. She looked down at her foot and saw that the black notebook was still there. She started at it for what seemed like ages, finally with a sigh Kagome picked up the notebook and pen and began to write.

The Knife

I look in the mirror

And try to look past

The pain that caused me

To hide behind a mask

My life was shattered

On that day

I must have done something

For which I had to pay

The price I had to pay

Was one that ruined my life

I didn't want to live

As I held up the knife

It went to my wrist

And I started to slash

In hopes if I was dead

I would forever lose my past

And then the blood

Became a puddle on the floor

I let a tear fall

Because I would be no more

I looked in the blood

And in it saw my face

The blood had shown me

That this wasn't my place

On a note quickly

I wrote I love you all

I started to feel dizzy

Then I started to fall

Then I felt happy

Because now my life

Was slowly disappearing

Because of the knife

Breathing became hard

As in front of my eyes

That dark man came

Who comes for all that dies

He said that it was over

And that I was no more

I shed a last tear

And watched it hit the floor

I looked at the knife

Which was still in my fist

I loved it so much

For it gave me my bliss

I thanked the knife

It was my only friend

It had done as I asked

And made my life end

Kagome sighed and closed the book. She felt better now, it was like the pain that had been suffocating her so much had been lifted. She laid her head on the pillow and closed her eyes. And for the first time since she tried to kill her self she fell into a dreamless sleep.