AN: I'm sorry it's been so long, but I've been really busy with life issues. I apologize in advance if this chapter's crappy. I struggled with it, but what's new? Thanks to everyone who took the time to read and review.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, and I don't think I ever will.

The first thing Kagome noticed was the cold. It was a painful cold, piercing her skin with a sharp burning sensation. It startled her, she didn't notice it get so cold before. In fact, she had a hard time remembering anything really. She couldn't even recall where she was, or where Bankotsu was, but she shrugged it off, not caring too much.

The scenery was so much darker than it normally was in the Feudal Era, it looked like nightfall, but there was no way it could have been night. Kagome tried to think back, she remembered Bankotsu and his lightning, but that was all.

Kagome shook her head and continued on, her dream self not caring about details. Even though it looked like night when she first started walking, it seemed to have become darker, so dark that she couldn't see anything. It was as if she had decided to just walk in a hole and was buried underground.

Shivers went down Kagome's spine. Something was coming closer, but she didn't know what. A twig snapped behind her and she slowly turned around, waiting for something to just come out and attack her.

Kagome let out the breath she realized that it was just Inuyasha. Just Inuyasha, not a demonized monstrous Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha! I've missed you." Kagome ran up to the half demon to give him a hug. Inuyasha scoffed and shoved her off.

"Kagome, we talked about this. You can't keep hugging me when I'm engaged to Kikyo."

Kagome stared at Inuyasha and blinked a few times. "What? What do you mean?"

Inuyasha stared at her before laughing. "You knew you could never replace her, right?"

Kagome blinked, not quite processing what he meant. "Inuyasha…"

"Kagome, don't tell me you're becoming stupid. Kikyo's always been a genius."

"Inuyasha, I still don't understand…" Kagome looked up at Inuyasha uncertainly.

Inuyasha sighed and took out Tetsusaiga. He smirked and looked at Kagome with a predatory gleam in his eyes. "You just don't get it, do you?"

Kagome flinched as the sword went through her before everything went to black. Everything was so confusing. It made no sense, and Kagome's mind was doing the best she could to sort through everything. Soon, she was assaulted with images, pictures of future events that would probably never happen. There were pictures of her and Inuyasha smiling, defeating Naraku, Bankotsu helping them and laughing with them; actually, being with them. The images quickly turned more depressing. Glimpses of Naraku winning, Bankotsu killing her, Inuyasha betraying her, it was all too much. Kagome screamed until her voice was hoarse.

Suddenly, the pictures vanished, and Kagome was left in a clearing. There were white lilies spread everywhere, and she was wearing an expensive white kimono. Miroku and Sango were standing next to her, equally dressed up.

"Kagome, why are you screaming, the wedding's about to start?" Sango asked, and Kagome paused, she hadn't even realized that she was still shouting. She then noticed Inuyasha and Kikyo, who were standing a ways away. Kikyo had her usual expression on her face, but Inuyasha seemed elated.

After a short amount of time, Kagome was beginning to figure out what was going on. She had to be dreaming, Inuyasha wouldn't just do this to her for no reason, would he? Kagome smiled happily and laughed, causing looks from the others at the wedding.

"I understand. Inuyasha… you don't really still love Kikyo." Kagome said, standing up.

"Watch your mouth, wench." Inuyasha stood up to match Kagome, and in a few minutes, Kagome was sporting a large red handprint on her cheek, that was turning sickly shades of purple and blue. "You were never anything more than a replacement! Someone to pass the time with until Kikyo was ready!"

Kagome stared at him, tears were gathering up in her eyes, but she desperately tried to hold them in. Her breathing was ragged, and she didn't know what to do. Inuyasha was hovering over her, as if debating on whether or not he should kill her. Slowly, Inuyasha stepped back. Kagome mouthed the question of where he was going, but all that could come out were choked words and sobs.

Inuyasha smirked, cracking his claws. After a few minutes, he had fully stepped back to where Kikyo was, and she opened the gates to hell. Kagome gasped, the whole ground was opening up, threatening to swallow everyone whole.

"Inuyasha, where are you going?"

"Where does it look like? Kikyo and I are going to finish the wedding ceremony in our new home. Of course," His eyes glowed and he exposed his fangs. "You're always welcome to join us."

Kagome shrieked as Inuyasha morphed into a huge monster, the only thing recognizable about him were his glowing red eyes. They looked at her, waiting for the right time to devour her.

"I-Inuyasha?" Kagome stuttered, knowing that she was probably going to die. "Please, don't-"

"Don't be stupid! Why should I listen to you?" The monster licked his lips. "You've never been anything more than a copy. A useless one at that. Nobody liked you; everyone was just using you for your powers. Mirkou and I even had a bet to see how long you'd last. That's right. Everyone's been using you, and you're a pathetic excuse for a miko!"

Kagome's eyes were wide with fear and tears were streaming down her face. All along, they had just been using her. Did that mean that everything she had ever known was a lie? Those hilarious conversations she would have late at night with her friends were all fake? Inuyasha had been leading her along the whole entire time. Kagome sobbed, she hadn't even realized they were using her, how could she be so dumb?

"That's right. You were just a temporary replacement for Kikyo. And you were an awful replacement at that. Kikyo was and always will be better than you! Kikyo is smarter, kinder, gentler and better than you in every single way. At least Kikyo could defend herself; you're nothing but a worthless piece of garbage that can't do anything!"

Kagome felt her spirit slowly breaking, and welcomed the darkness that soon surrounded her with open arms.

Bankotsu looked around, not understanding what had happened. He could vaguely remember Kagura, but anything after that was a complete blur, gone from his memory. He sighed; he hated not knowing what was going on.

Bankotsu spun around, hearing a rustling sound in the forest that was only a couple feet away from him. "Kagome?"

The trees were silent. He could vaguely make out Mount Hakurei in the distance, but that would mean that he was back in Japan, and that was too good to be true. There were a few things off, as well. There were only forests and no villages at all. It looked as if the place had never even seen humans before.

There was no answer, until someone grabbed him from behind. "Bankotsu! I missed you!"

Bankotsu turned around and smiled, he would recognize that voice anywhere. "Jakotsu, what are you doing here?"

Jakotsu stopped hugging the mercenary and stared. "What do you mean?"

"Wait, where's Kagome?"

Jakotsu scoffed. "Why do you care?"

"Well, I…"

Jakotsu interrupted. "Seriously, Bankotsu. Do you like that wench more then me?"

"She hates it when you call her that." He interjected weakly.

Jakotsu rolled his eyes. "Whatever, the point is that she's all you ever talk about."

Bankotsu peered at his best friend with a worried look. He hadn't even seen Jakotsu in at least a week, somewhere around there, seeing as he lost count. Still, Bankotsu wasn't too occupied with her. She was just his… just his… something. They weren't really enemies anymore, friends? Not actually friends…

"Oh great, you're thinking about her again."

"What? I was not. It's, well, we're stuck in that weird place together. We have to get along, somewhat."

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you loved her." Jakotsu snorted and rolled his eyes.

"What? I do not! We're just trying to get out of… wherever we are!"

"I doubt you're anywhere important. You and that slut probably just ran off." Jakotsu sneered.

"Trust me. We're trying to get back. And her name's Kagome."

"Okay, okay, Kagome. And because of you Ginkotsu and Suikotsu are both dead."

"Dead?" The color drained from Bankotsu's face.

"Yep. They needed you and you weren't anywhere to be seen. Renkotsu's going crazy with grief. Actually, I'll probably be dead soon."

"What?" Bankotsu stood up straight with alarm.

"Well, someone has to fight Inuyasha, and seeing as you're busy, I guess it'll be me. Can't say I'm not excited though, I want those ears!"

"Jakotsu, I'll find away back, I won't let you die."

"You already made me die once, what's one more time? Whatever. Have fun with your wench."

"Jakotsu…"

Jakotsu flipped his hair and sighed, his tone serious for once. "Maybe Renkotsu is right; you are a bad big brother."

After a few minutes, or eternity, with the calming darkness, more images returned. This time, they were surrounding her as if video clips, playing over and over again all at once. There were so many that she couldn't comprehend many of them, but the ones that stuck out the most were pictures of Inuyasha and Kikyo, happy together. Kagome hated those scenes the most, and that caused her to feel so guilty. Inuyasha and Kikyo deserved each other, after all, Kagome was useless, a shard detector at best.

Eventually she arrived in another place. This time Naraku standing in a brown clearing, watching her intently.

"Kagome, I've been waiting for you." Naraku's icy voice sent chills down Kagome's spine.

Kagome tried to muster up a glare, but she and Naraku both knew that it was a pathetic attempt; it was nothing more than a timid scowl.

"Kagome, Kagome, Kagome," Naraku began in a condescending tone. He smirked at her, fully enjoying her fear. "It appears that you lost this time."

Kagome cleared her throat and subconsciously backed up a few steps. "I don't know what you're talking about Naraku!"

"Why Kagome, don't you see? All of your friends are dead."

Kagome gasped. "N-no, that's impossible!"

Naraku chuckled and waved his arms around the area. "It's true; don't you see their corpses on the ground? Every last person who ever came in contact with you is dead. And do you know why?"

Kagome looked at the ground and saw Sango's lifeless body and ignored the tears prickling at her eyes. He was right, every single person who had ever shown her kindness was lying their lifelessly. Even the people from her era were dead. Her mother was lying haphazardly, tangled with the other bodies.

Naraku narrowed his eyes, displeased with the fact Kagome would sooner start crying then answer him. "Foolish women. You brought this on yourself. You're responsible for all their deaths."

"Wh-what?" Kagome asked, unsure if she should believe him.

"Of course dear Kagome, they all died protecting you."

"No…"

"And you're next."

"Wait!" Kagome shouted, now shaking with fear and remorse. "Where's Bankotsu?"

Naraku laughed, and the sound seemed to echo off the dead bodies, making Kagome tremble. "I was wondering when you'd ask. Well, who did you think killed all of your friends? I certainly wasn't going to do all of that dirty work. I was only interested in Inuyasha, and you."

Kagome's eyes widened and she stumbled backwards, nearly tripping on a body she couldn't identify. She had thought Bankotsu actually wanted to help her. Of course, he hadn't said anything in words, and they weren't really friends, but, he wouldn't do this. Would he?

"Y-you're lying! Bankotsu wouldn't do this to me!" Kagome quickly wiped away the tears that were threatening to fall.

"You really think that? All this time, he's just been trying to gain your trust. As soon as he believed you wouldn't turn on him, he was going to kill you and your friends."

Kagome glared at the hanyou. "You're wrong! B-Bankotsu wouldn't do that!" She shouted, willing the lies to go away.

The world seemed to crack, and Naraku was frozen in place. Kagome watched as everything started to crumble. First the bodies disappeared, then the scenery. After a few minutes all that was left was Kagome and Naraku in a white void. Kagome cringed and walked up to Naraku, who still hadn't moved an inch. She bit her lip before deciding that hesitating wouldn't do her any good. Quickly, before the opportunity was wasted, she slapped Naraku on the face. Hard. The crack of their flesh connecting was the only sound that could be heard, soon even he faded, and Kagome's world turned dark.

Bankotsu had been walking for what seemed like forever. He had to find away out. Jakotsu had vanished right before his eyes, and he didn't know what to do. He couldn't fail everyone again. It was already too late for Ginkotsu and Suikotsu.

"Naraku!" The man was standing calmly in the center of a field.

"Ahh, Bankotsu, you've finally arrived."

Bankotsu clutched Banryuu in front of him. "Where the hell am I? And what have you done with Kagome? I bet Jakotsu's gone because of you, too!"

Naraku chuckled and smirked, before wrapping Bankotsu around with his tentacles. He glanced at the mercenary with disdain, and then threw him aside. Bankotsu glared and tried to charge at him, but every time Naraku would either teleport on the other side of the field, or block it with his own powerful attack. Bankotsu hated to admit it, but Naraku was stronger than he gave him credit for.

"Soon, you're going to join Kagome, Jakotsu and the rest of you're precious killers."

Bankotsu glared daggers at the hanyou. "Don't talk about my brothers that way! You're responsible, aren't you? You're the one who made Jakotsu disappear!"

Naraku glared, but a condescending smirk soon replaced it. He let his miasma leak out and smiled, pleased that Bankotsu was having trouble breathing. "Bankotsu, don't be ridiculous, Jakotsu is gone because of you."

"What? Don't lie, you bastard!"

"Why would I lie when the truth is so much crueler?"

Bankotsu shouted and struck Naraku with his halberd. He was getting more frustrated by the second. The guy wasn't even affected by his attacks.

Naraku stuck back, and shot one of his tentacles straight through the mercenary's stomach. Bankotsu stuttered, choking on the blood that was rising to his mouth. Bankotsu doubled over and was kneeling on the ground, gasping from the miasma that was entering him.

Naraku continued, amused by Bankotsu's pain, "You're the leader, yet when your ragtag group actually needed you, you abandoned them."

"I… didn't abandon them." Bankotsu breathed out. He watched in morbid fascination as the blood just kept pouring from his stomach. He should have died from blood loss by then.

Naraku's red eyes glinted. "You're right, even when you were there, you still couldn't do anything. You're nothing but a worthless puppet."

"Why… haven't I at least passed out?" He stomach was on fire now, as it was being eaten away. 'Probably is, damn bastard.'

Naraku laughed, it was dark and sinister, and sent chills down Bankotsu's spine. "I'm just dragging the pain out for as long as I can. I can make you spend eternity like this."

"Consider our deal officially dissolved." Bankotsu declared coldly, looking at Naraku with an expression of pure hatred. His breath was labored, and he felt as if any moment he would pass out.

"It never really was."

Bankotsu flared about, not enjoying the weightless feeling he felt at all. He had been suspended in space for nearly an hour, it seemed. Of course, you couldn't really tell, seeing as there was absolutely nothing there besides the frowning mercenary himself.

Bankotsu crossed his arms and pouted, he was seriously getting sick of the dark that hadn't let up once. He pondered Naraku's words. What did he mean? He hated him, but what did that mean for his brothers? Would Naraku come after them and take their shards? Bankotsu cursed loudly, the only sound that he had heard in a while. He would just have to get out of… wherever… as quickly as possible.

Eventually the darkness subsided, and was slowly replaced by familiar scenery. Bankotsu's eyes widened. It was where they died. He could see everyone laughing and joking around, including himself. The next thing he knew, they were surrounded.

Bankotsu watched in silence, living the moment in his head. They had captured them and the chopped off their heads without even giving them the honor of seppuku. Bankotsu had tried to barter with them, but they wouldn't budge. He couldn't even do anything for their honor.

Bankotsu clenched his fists and glared at the events he was seeing. Renkotsu had been right. He was a terrible leader. There was nothing he could do. They were going to die again and it'd be his entire fault.

Kagome's words from earlier ran through his head. "You did the best you could."

Maybe Kagome was right, he couldn't have predicted it would have happened. 'I'll just have to stop it from happening again.'

As soon as Bankotsu made his silent vow he woke up.

"The miko's escaped from the mirror. She'll wake up soon."

Kagura huffed. "About time. If that emotional wreck woke up, then Bankotsu should wake up soon too."

Kanna said nothing, instead focusing on the mirror.

"I'm going to go clear the way to that priestess's place. The last thing we need is for them to be held up by a bunch of demons."

"If Naraku finds out what you're doing, he'll kill you."

"Heh, like that'll happen." Kagura knew the silent agreement between them. If she didn't tell, Kanna wouldn't. It was as simple as that. The sisters had worked that out a long time ago, and both of them would hold their part of the deal.

Fifteen minutes later Kagura returned. She causally wiped some blood off of her face. "Anything new happen?"

"They're waking up. We should go."

Kagura nodded and hopped on her feather, waiting for Kanna to mimic her actions.

Kagome stirred, immediately sensing Kagura's presence. She bolted up from where she had spent the last few hours.

That was a big mistake. Kagome clutched her head to steady herself and pushed her headache to the back of her mind. She looked up at the sky and could just vaguely see Kagura's feather floating away.

A hand laid on Kagome's shoulder and she whipped around, screaming.

Bankotsu flinched back and covered his ears, sending her a glare. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I… it's nothing. Kagura and Kanna got away."

Bankotsu knew she was lying but didn't press the matter. She was probably just freaked out from whatever she had seen.

"Come on, let's go. We can deal with those two later. Right now, we need to go find that priestess." Bankotsu spoke the words gruffly, like he wanted to be anywhere but there.

While walking up the -surprisingly- demon free mountain, Bankotsu took in Kagome's features. There was something about her that seemed off. There were huge bags under her eyes, and the life seemed to be sucked out of them. She looked so much older than before, her youthfulness seemed to have evaporated in the few hours. Bankotsu cringed, he hated seeing her like that. Although, he couldn't really blame her, he was still rather out of it himself.

"I think this is the place." Kagome knocked on a wooden door that basically led into a cave.

Suddenly, two arrows zipped past them. Before either of them had time to react, they were pinned to the cave wall by their clothes. Eventually, they stopped struggling once they realized that they were being held there by miko powers. An old lady stepped out of the door and slowly walked towards them. She had white hair that was tied up, and she wore tattered priestess clothes. The most noticeable feature about her was that she had a huge scar that took up half of her face. Once she saw who they were, her stern expression turned more gentle, although there was still a wary air about her.

"And just who are you?"

Bankotsu cleared his throat, before Kagome started speaking for them. "I'm a miko. We've been searching for you, are you the last priestess around here?"

The woman nodded sadly. "I am, I see you harbor no ill intent. Now tell me, just what is a miko, and a mercenary doing here?"

Bankotsu glared at her. "Listen, can you let us go? We don't have time for this."

The miko laughed before walking up and removing the arrows. "Please come inside. It is dangerous out here."