Chapter Fifteen- I Care

Kagome woke herself. It was the middle of the night and all she could sense was the restlessness around her. The winds were not settled, the animals were concerned, even the earth itself seemed to be anxious for the wellbeing of this night.

She looked around the room, finding herself against Sesshoumaru's door like she had been for a day or so now. Slowly she stood the stretch her muscles. Groaning as pain rippled through them. 'It's been a while since I've used them' She mused. She fell back on the ground and panted a little. How long had she been sitting there, it didn't feel more than a few hours. She attempted once again to raise her body, only to find herself one more fall towards the ground. Her hand hit the edge of a glass plate, flipping it in the air and shattering on the floor. She let out a little yelp at how loud the clattering echoed in her ears. There was movement in the other room as Kagome crawled towards the glass, trying to clean it up. She moved until she felt a sharp pain and the feeling liquid beneath her hand. 'Oh great job Kagome, just go search for broken glass in the dark you dumb.'

The door handle coming from the front door jiggled open, finding it locked. She could make out a growl and movement traveling to the door between Sesshoumaru's and her room. She could've tried to lock that one too, but she started to panic as she realized that there was glass stuck in her hand. Her opposite hand flared with miko powers, breaking the darkness in her room.

The injury wasn't all that big, but she couldn't stand the scent of her own blood, it smelt weird. But still she held her hand, trying to gather the courage to pull out the glass. She placed her other hand on the floor, trying to gather her breath, only embedding more glass into her other hand. The pain was, bearable, but it was still there. 'Ugh you're so stupid Kagome, how do you get yourself into all these messes?' She stopped what she was doing, taking in her room. Something was different. A growl escaped from her lips.

"Are you having fun watching milord?" Kagome lashed out bitterly, catching his amused scent.

"Just be silent miko, there are some of us who value the peace and quiet." He watched her pitiful frame inhale and exhale air. Trying to calm the anger that raged inside her body. She was a proud creature, just when he though there was no way she could have awed him more, she began a demon, an inu demon at that.

"I will try milord." Kagome gritted her teeth and stood, stepping on even more pieces of glass, but it didn't matter anymore. She was nothing more than a disappointment to him, some inexperienced demon that kept him down. She could sense more of her blood spill onto her bedroom floor as she walked to the balcony window and opened into, she focused slightly, trying to form a youki cloud, but she failed. So slowly she jumped off the railing, landing unevenly in the garden. She watched the flowers waving in the wind, smiling at the beauty.

'At least out here I have light.' She commented slowly, staring at her hands first. There was so much glass that Kagome had to use her teeth to pull out several piece. She finished her hands and stared at her feet frowning. Even though she could heal her wounds she still wasn't able to dull the pain and her feet were so bloody she couldn't see the pieces of glass.

Kagome did the only thing she could think of, walk to the nearest water source, which happened to be a fountain in the middle of the garden. Slowly she cleaned her wounds, pulling the glass out of her feet and allowing the waters to dull the throbbing in her toes. She healed them with both her demon and miko powers, finding them better then new. She only wished she could feel better as well. She had lost the only people who had even shown her kindness first she lost Kyo, the lady of the seas who had risked her own life to save the life of a pitiful mutt. Kagome sighed, that was basically what she was now. She was a miko and an inu demon, putting shame to both heritages.

Then she lost Sesshoumaru all because she was weary and mistrusting. He was all she thought she had left and all she did was push him away, so afraid of commitment and being tied down but all along she was the one tying him down. She was weak, she was a disgrace, she was…in love.

"When did my life come down to this? I haven't seen Kyouko, or Rin. I haven't seen Miroku or Sango, none of them in ages. I am 'mated' and in love with a demon who thinks of me no more than a rock under his feet. I've lost my best friend because I was stupid enough to be jealous over another woman…" Someone walked into Kagome sense of range but she didn't care to acknowledge them. What did she care anyway? Tears trickled down her cheeks as she though back when it was just her, Souta and grandpa, sure it was a regular life, filled with school and shopping and hanging out with friends, but there was peace too and no room for heart aches.

"Hey Kag's. What are you doing up so late?" A voice of the past pushed her harder into tears. The figure walked up to her and placed a gentle hand on the middle of her back. "You're going to be fine Kag's. You know he doesn't really mean all that stuff he just, well he just is worried for you that's all."

"Sure has a funny way of showing it." Kagome leaned into the touch. It had been so long since she had this kind of comfort.

"Yeah it must run in the family." The voice answered clearly amused. "I remember when you said the same thing to me, always yelling at me and telling me to s-i-t."

Everything in her wanted to laugh as she remembered the times she had with Sango, Miroku, Shippou, Kirara and Inuyasha but her, these times only made her cried harder. It was back in that time where she didn't really have to worry about losing them all, it was back in that time, back in those years when she looked forward to fighting Naraku, but right now Inuyasha had no clue what he was up against. He had been her best friend even though it was clear she wanted them to be more. He was always there for her and even when he wasn't she knew she couldn't stay mad at him, it just wasn't natural. "I'm sorry Inuyasha. It's my fault that Kyo is gone, and now she is probably dead because she saved me." Kagome sobbed, her body racked with untamed sorrow. Inuyasha looked down at her in pity and took her into his arms, holding her, showing her kindness like his brother never really would. He could feel the anger rise up in his brother's soul, hating him for holding what he considered his, but he couldn't help it. Kagome was his friend and right now she needed to be comforted. He heard her sobbing slow as she turned around, her face in his chest, tears still running down. "Remember when the well house had burnt down and I had to leave my home and move to Akihabara. Well I started dating in my new school and I dated this boy named Shunsuke." Kagome knew that her tears started flowing again, remembering how much she believed she was in love with him. "I just thought I loved him, but then he tried to rape me." Kagome burst into tears, sobs taking over her body as she heard Inuyasha growling. "That's when I came back to the shrine. My grandpa had rebuilt the well and put this shard into the edge." Kagome pulled out a pure white jewel shard, handling it gently. "I didn't know what it was for, or why it seemed so special, but I think I know now." Kagome couldn't believe she was about to tell someone one of the secrets she held in for so many years. "You see the jewel is a special jewel that can never be tainted. That's why no one who is not completely pure could touch it and that's how I am going to destroy Naraku."

Inuyasha looked down at her uncertain if what she was saying made any sense. "Kagome you can't fight Naraku by yourself." Inuyasha lifted her chin so that she was forced to look into his eyes. He saw truth and hesitation. "Kagome I promised you I was going to be the one to defeat Naraku and I don't go back on my promises."

Kagome shied back and snorted in slight anger. "The hell you don't. Whatever happened to waiting for me?" Kagome sighed as Inuyasha looked down guilty. "Look, I am the only one who can destroy Naraku. I just don't want anyone to be in the way when I do it alright." Inuyasha fought for words, trying to object. "Alright?" Kagome pushed, receiving a nod from her best friend.

"No, it's not alright." A cold voice startled the two.

"Sesshoumaru?" Kagome stood and backed away, bowing. "I am sorry milord did I wake you?"

She watched as Sesshoumaru's cold eyes fell on her. "Hn." Was his only response, but Kagome didn't react. She only nodded then backed away, heading back to her room.

Inuyasha turned towards her and stuck out his hand, "Wait Kagome…"

A growl escaped Sesshoumaru's lips as he stared at his brother. "I don't want you near her."

"You can't demand my not to talk to her, she is my friend." Inuyasha barked back.

Kagome stopped to listen to the argument, interesting in what Sesshoumaru would say next.

She could feel Sesshoumaru's arrogance grow as he readied his remark. "She may be your friend, but you want her as more. Well mutt she belongs to me."

Kagome tensed, it wasn't true, and she really didn't belong to him.

"You lie and I know it. She said so herself, she isn't even your mate, she isn't even claimed yet…"

"Stop it." Kagome said sadly. Not turning to face them. "Fighting is not needed, I am sorry, this is my fault." Slowly Kagome lifted her head and looked at Sesshoumaru. "I'm sorry I was just so scared." She whispered, taking off to her bedroom.

She found the bed easily, and her floors had already been clean, probably thanks to Rina. Lying on her covers she wept, why was she scared, was it because Sesshoumaru had showed that he cared for her? Was it because after being broken like she was she didn't believe someone could still care for her?

Kagome sat there deep in thought, not noticing that Sesshoumaru had entered her room and was watching her. He knew she didn't mean to hurt him, but she had, and he had hurt her twice as bad. "Kagome?" he whispered, causing her to look up.

"Lord Sesshoumaru." She whispered, standing up and bowing. Quickly Sesshoumaru moved towards her and lifted her bowing form.

Sesshoumaru stared at her eyes, in awe of how they changed colors. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?" he voiced his concerns.

Kagome shook her head then frowned. "Do you hate me?" Sesshoumaru just gave her a quizzical look so she continued. "I'm an Inu miko…demons don't like that."

A chuckle left Sesshoumaru's lips. "You're beautiful." He whispered gathering her up in his arms. "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, but how…"

"I met with Naraku one night and he forced me to drink this nasty tasting stuff. I had forgot about it, but I was supposed to die because of the poison but I didn't because my powers put it dormant and used it to enhance my body, my speed, and my nature senses. It was to stay dormant until I took in more poison, which happened to be yours and then it turned me to a demon. That's what I think anyway, I am not sure of it." Kagome said uncertain. She laid her head against Sesshoumaru's shoulders and closed her eyes, trying to go to sleep. "I'm sorry I hurt you." She whispered softly, watching as he lowered his head. Softly he kissed her, staring into her eyes when he released her.

"I regret every time I hurt you." He whispered back, kissing her again then letting her fall asleep in his arms. With ease he carried her to his room and laid her down on her side of the bed, he walked back into her room and gathered a few sleeping kimonos and some other clothing and transferred it to his room.

Lifting her body he undressed her and marveled at the sight, then slowly he placed the sleeping kimono on her and undressed himself, slipping into the bed on the opposite side and pulling her into him, letting her move and rest her head on his chest. He was glad that he could love her again. Both arms wrapped around her waist as he held her close. He wanted her to be his, and he would ask her, soon.