A/N Thank you my readers! I appreciate your willingness to continue. Still do not own Inuyasha, and never will. If I did, well, I wouldn't be doing this

Special thanks to:

Veraozao

LoveInTheBattleField

I love snowy owls

YoruichiXSoiFon1

Death by Me

sesshybabe123

I commend your kindness and loyalty! :D

CHAPTER 4

Kagome's POV

I awake, not even remembering falling asleep. I groggily blink my eyes free of sleep, when I feel something against my side.

Shippo and Kirara.

They must have come in after I had fallen asleep and curled up against me. Both had tears trailing down their cheeks, even in their sleep. I smile bitterly at the fact that they had to lose any more. Haven't they had enough tragedy in their life? Enough loss? Sighing, I shake my head; I have to be strong for them. With Inuyasha slowly breaking apart, I have to be the glue.

Thinking of Inuyasha, where is he? I scann Kaede's hut half-heartedly. He wouldn't be there, he usually isn't, but I had hoped he would be anyways. I sit up and am surprised to find even the slightest injury I ever had gone. Even my scar from Mistress Centipede had vanished. I rummage around in my bag until I find what I was looking for. A mirror.

Porcelain. That's what my skin looks like. It's new and smooth, like a baby. I'm not going to lie, I'm relieved, yet a part of me can't help but feel angry and sad. I've gotten many scars, most of them from the Feudal era, and all of them told a story. They told people that I'm not weak. Now I'm going to have to prove myself all over again.

I am roused from my bitter musings by a soft cry. Looking down, I notice Shippo was writhing. Nightmare. I gently pick him up, and am slightly amused to find him clutching Kirara. Then I realize why he was clinging to her, and that sobered me up. I gently cradle them both against my chest. Then I hum the tune of an old lullaby whose words I've long ago forgotten. It works and, in minutes, the two are sleeping peacefully again. I place them down and decide to go for a walk. I need a place to grieve alone.

I was walking out of the hut when I see Inuyasha. He has a new look of grief on his face. And is covered in blood. I stop in shock and his head whips up, his eyes catching mine. What else had happened now? Could any of us take anymore?

"Wh-What happened?" I stutter out.

"Miroku." Was all he says, his eyes cast downwards, looking anywhere but at me.

There was a long silence. It helps me with my overwhelming grief as I let out a shaky breath.

"Was it- Did he- Inuyasha, did he, did he kill himself?" I ask, with bated breath.

He looks up suddenly in shock.

"How can you even think that?" He shouts at me in anger, his eyes scream of betrayal of one of our true friends. Then he storms off into the woods, not waiting to hear my response nor my reason for asking the question. And I just let him go.

Inuyasha's POV

"That bitch! How could she even think Miroku would do something so cowardly? He wouldn't. He never would. For her to even think that!" At that moment I wanted nothing more than to shake some sense into Kagome! Miroku was her friend! Yet here she was, thinking he could end his own life.

I take a deep breath and look around, realizing I'm near the well I collapse beside it, as my anger gives away to grief. I couldn't stop the tears that flow freely down my face. I know I have to be strong for the others, but right now, I have to let it all out. It was my fault. I know that. I failed to protect them. Even Kikyou, who had fled after the battle. She was gravely wounded, and had went off to die. I still remember her words.

"I was never meant to live this long Inuyasha. I'm just happy I can now die in peace, without hatred or fear, but instead with serenity and forgiveness. Thank you, for giving me that."

I run my hand over the lip of the well. What would have happened if Kagome never came through it? Would I still be stuck to the tree? Would Shippo's parents never die? Would Sango's village never be destroyed? Would Miroku get the curse off of his hand? Would everyone be happier?

I get up from my position and blink away the last of my tears. I couldn't afford to alienate one of the few people who actually accepts me. I just wish that everyone could be alive again. I wish – wish. I know what I have to do.

Kagome's POV

It isn't his fault. I know that, yet I couldn't help but feel hurt. I know that he was just defending Miroku, but he had to know how hopelessly in love he was with Sango. And with her gone, well, I wasn't sure how strong Miroku had been.

I trusted Inuyasha however. Therefore it must have been a demon. I was now painfully aware that with Naraku gone so was his Wind Tunnel, his greatest weapon. Making him an easier target, coupled with the fact that the woman he loved just died, he had likely been easy to -. I could not bring myself to think of another friend dead. Another friend killed. I couldn't handle anymore. I could feel my heart shattering as I slowly stop walking. I was right outside Kaede's hut and I just collapse outside of it. Sobbing loudly. I should have saved them. I should have destroyed Naraku sooner. It was my fault.

'Sango!' I yell, running after her retreating figure. 'Miroku! Koga!' I yell again, trying to get their attention, to catch up to them. They continue walking, as if I'm not even there. They don't even turn around. Soon I was left alone in complete darkness. I turn around quickly as I heard a noise.

'Inuyasha? Sango? Miroku?' I ask. All I get in response is a quiet chuckle that doesn't seem to have a source.

'Anybody?' I yell in frustration.

'Be careful what you wish for, dear Ka-go-me.' Chuckles a voice that comes from everywhere but nowhere at the same time.

'Show yourself!' I demand, sounding a lot more courageous than I actually am.

'Kukuku,' he chuckled again. 'If that's what you really want,' he says tauntingly.

That's when he was there, directly in front of me with a pile of bodies at his feet.

Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kirara, Sesshomaru, Rin, Jaken, Mother, Grandfather, Souta, Koga, and Kaede. Everyone that I truly care about was upon that pile. Bile rose unbidden in my throat and my eyes burn with unshed tears. Dead. Everyone was dead.

I awake in a cold sweat, a scream upon my lips. I stop when I realize where I am, in Kaede's hut. I guess I must have fallen asleep after crying so much and someone had brought me inside. Once again Kirara and Shippo are curled up against me. I sigh bitterly when I feel the pang in my heart. My nightmare isn't over; I'm living it right now. People were dead the only difference was when I'm awake, I can refuse to let others die as well.

I gently get out of bed, not disturbing Shippo and Kirara, and march out of the hut, grabbing my bow on the way out. Filled with a new resolve, I went to practice. With Sango, Miroku, and Koga dead, we're down three fighters. I need to be able to protect whatever family I have left. With Sango gone, only Mr. Kuroki could help me.

He teaches me martial arts, hand-to-hand combat, sword fighting and archery. Besides being perfect in all of them he also doesn't mind my erratic schedule and often gave me free lessons. Well, as long as I tell him a good history story, and being that's all that my grandfather talks about, well, lets just say I've learned a lot without paying. With that thought I went off to find Inuyasha. The sooner I left the sooner I could come back. I run off in search of him.

Sesshomaru's POV

I found Rin and Ah-Un, with Jaken squawking about me abandoning him. We were heading back west before heading northwest towards my lands. With Naraku gone I could finally take care of my lands in peace.

Rin was riding Ah-Un and was teasing Jaken, and I lightly smiled, I had actually missed this. This would always be my family more than my actual family. Out of nowhere a sudden pain jolts me, causing me to stumble.

Kagome.

She's in danger! And, without a second thought, I take off running. I don't have enough energy to fly and running there would be quicker. I speed through the woods, not even hesitating to think why I could just know she was in danger all of a sudden, nor why it mattered so much to me.

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