DISCLAIMER: Don't own Inuyasha or any of its characters. So don't sue. Don't own the song "Coming Undone". That belongs to Korn. Don't own them either.

AMP: ::dances around in her favorite penguin socks and sings:: I love this song!

Sessho: ::clamps hands over his ears:: Please stop your squalling, you disgusting little imp!

AMP: I thought that was Jaken…

Kagome: It IS Jaken…Turn up the volume AMP!

AMP: turns up volume and continues dancing with Kagome

Sessho: An insane writer who thinks she's a penguin and a disturbed miko who only keeps her mouth shut in the story…how does this Sesshomaru get into these messes?

AMP: Cause we enjoy putting you there Fluffy!

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Chap. 1: Coming Undone

"Keep holding on
when my brain's tickin' like a bomb
guess the black thoughts have come again to get me
sweet bitter words
unlike nothing I have heard
sing along mocking bird
you don't affect me…"

Sango sighed as Kagome sang in the corner. The headphones on her ears blocked out everything as she rocked back and forth. Kagome had been like this for weeks…ever since the final battle.

No one but Kagome and Inuyasha had believed they would actually win. And only one of them was still alive.

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Kagome knelt over Inuyasha's dying form. His life blood was gushing from his chest and stomach and she struggled to keep him awake. They had managed to bring down Naraku, but that didn't grantee they would survive their numerous wounds. Sango and Miroku lay several yards away, both unconscious. Kirara nuzzled her mistress's cheek attempting to get a reaction.

"Inuyasha, please," Kagome begged. "Hang on." She sensed someone staring at her and looked up. Kikyou stood a few feet away glaring at her. "He is mine," the undead woman hissed and knocked Kagome backwards. Kagome leaped to her feet, but before she could make another move she felt a searing pain in her left shoulder. Kikyou had shot her. Kagome sank to her knees as Kikyou marched toward her. The clay priestess raised a delicate hand and slapped Kagome across the face, sending her to the ground. The young miko watched helplessly as Kikyou knelt beside Inuyasha who was obviously trying to speak.

"Hush, my love," Kikyou murmured, placing a cold finger on the hanyou's lips. The ground under her began to open and Kagome called desperately to call to Inuyasha as they began to sink into hell.

The dead and dying couple disappeared into the crack, but as it began to close a ball of blue light shot out and Kikyou could be heard screaming in frustration as the portal closed. Kagome watched the blue light swirl overhead and was able to sense Inuyasha just before it disappeared and she blacked out.

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"Damn you, Inuyasha…" Sango seethed. She would never be able to hate her deceased friend, but she wasn't sure she could ever forgive him for the damage his death had done. It might not be his fault, but she felt she had to blame someone for her friend's current state. "Kagome may be strong, but no one could have predicted this," she thought as she watched the tormented girl turn up the volume.

"That's right
deliverance of my heart
be straight
be deliberate…"

Kagome had gone back through the well after recovering from her physical injuries and stayed gone for almost two weeks. Shippo had cried and wailed that Kagome was never coming back, heedless of what the others said to comfort him. Indeed her return had surprised everyone, but what shocked them was the person she had become. She had traded her school uniform for jeans and t-shirts, having graduated the previous year, but now all her clothing was loose and black. Sango had looked through Kagome's pack that first day when the younger girl was out of the room and had been puzzled to find it full of similar clothing and tons of the small silver shapes that Kagome called 'batteries'.

The group had also been acquainted with Kagome's portable CD player and her usual selection of light-hearted pop music. After her return, however, her taste had taken a darker turn. The songs blaring from the headphones and coming out of Kagome's mouth were depressing and angry.

Everyone had assumed the abnormal behavior would stop as she started to recover, but as Kagome got worse they were forced to admit that she may never be the same. She rarely went anywhere without her headphones now and often spent hours hiding in a corner of Kaede's hut singing to herself.

Everyone was worried for Kagome's sanity, but poor Shippo was terrified. He understood that losing Inuyasha had dealt Kagome a serious blow, but her unusual behavior was depressing him as well.

"Wait
I'm coming undone
unlaced
I'm coming undone
too late
I'm coming undone
what looks so strong
so delicate…"

"I will not allow this to continue" Sango got to her feet. She knelt in front of Kagome and waved her hand in front of the girl's face. She gave no sign of recognition. Sango couldn't take it anymore and ripped the headphones from Kagome's head. She stopped rocking and looked at Sango. Correction, she looked through Sango and continued to sing.

"Wait
I'm starting to suffocate
and soon I anticipate
I'm coming undone
what looks so strong
so delicate…"

Sango looked up as Miroku entered the hut and stopped short. He gave Sango a worried look and slowly moved towards the girl crouching in the corner. "Kagome…Kagome…" whispered Sango. Suddenly she lost her temper. The past few weeks of watching her friend become more and more lost in her own world had finally caused her to snap. She grabbed Kagome's shoulders and shook her violently. "KAGOME" Sango screamed and screamed as she continued to shake the terrified girl.

"Sango, stop!" cried Miroku as he struggled to pull the raging woman off of Kagome. He managed to drag her away, but Kagome was now screaming and rocking rapidly back and forth. He reached out to her, but she quickly pulled back, shoved him over and ran out into the night.

"Choke choke again
I thought my demons were my friends
getting me in the end
they're out to get me…"

Two hours later Kagome was sitting on the edge of a river staring into the black water. It had started to rain and the falling water had quickly soaked through her thin black jacket. She could sense the demonic auras of a few youki, but they were small enough not to pose a threat. And even if they had she would not have cared.

"Since I was young
I've tasted sorrow on my tongue
and this sweet chugga gun
does not protect me…"

She closed her eyes and tried not to listen.

There they were again. They always came when it got quiet. The voices whispered louder as she rocked her body and fought against them. She screamed at them in her mind, but they only grew louder. There were too many to make out individual words.

"Stop," she whimpered, "please leave me alone."

"That's right
trigger between my eyes
please strike
make it quick now…"

A pair of hands grabbed her shoulders from behind. She shrieked and struggled as the voices screamed louder.

"Kagome! Kagome!" a voice called.

She opened her eyes and stared into the concerned violet eyes of Miroku. The exhausted girl slumped against him and sobbed. The voices were only whispers again and she pushed them to the back of her mind as the monk lifted her in his arms and carried her back to Kaede's hut.

"Wait
I'm coming undone
unlaced
I'm coming undone
too late
I'm coming undone
what looks so strong
so delicate."

Kagome had calmed and was once again sitting in the corner with her music, singing softly to herself. Sango had been terrified for her friend and had been more than happy to slip the headphones back over her friend's ears and let her be if it meant keeping her safe and within sight. Shippo sat near Kagome and watched silently as she once again began to rock.

A few moments later a burst of rain flew into the hut and with it a soaked figure. Sango reached for her giant boomerang and Miroku clutched his staff as the figure stepped into the light.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at the humans in front of him and glanced around the hut, his gaze settling on the corner in which Kagome still rocked with Shippo standing protectively in front of her.

"Sesshomaru-sama," Miroku said, "To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"

The Taiyouki spared Miroku a glance before turning his attention back to Kagome. "I am here to verify the rumors of the half breed's death," he stated. "From the condition of his wench, I assume I will not have to ask."

Miroku stepped into Sesshoumaru's line of vision, blocking his view of Kagome. "Yes, he is dead. He lost too much blood after the fight with Naraku. Kagome's condition, however, is none of your concern."

"The hanyou's death was a fair trade to rid the world of Naraku," The demon lord continued. "The young miko however, IS of some concern to this Sesshomaru. I have reason to believe that my brother intended to mate her. My honor therefore, demands that I ensure her well being."

"Well," Sango spoke up, "as you can see, she is safe and we are caring for her as best we can. You're wasting your time"

Sesshomaru barely concealed his annoyance with the taijiya. "Only a human would call this 'caretaking'. The girl is obviously very disturbed and in need of more than you can give her. This Sesshomaru will be taking over now."

The silence in the room was broken only by Kagome's quiet singing. Both Sango and Miroku stared at Sesshomaru as if he had been wearing Kagome's school uniform and declaring himself the god of peach trees.

A voice from behind them broke the silence, "Sesshomaru-sama is right. The child will not recover without the proper care, and I think a change of scenery would be helpful." Kaede stepped into the room and moved toward the Taiyouki. "However, if ye want us to willingly place her in your care, my lord, ye must agree to let her visit us and her family. It would not help her to be completely separated from those she cares about."

Sesshomaru stared down at the old woman for several long seconds before replying, "It is an agreement. We will leave in the morning."

They all turned their attention toward Kagome. Her persistent rocking was slowing and her singing began to trail off as she drifted into sleep…

"Wait
I'm starting to suffocate
and soon I anticipate
I'm coming undone
what looks so strong
so delicate…"