Hey Guys, I'm a little down posting this chapter. I received a review chastising me for not using the pairing system correctly and I ended up losing a reader. I know there are some elements of this story that are thrown together, but trust me there is a big plan for this story, and the pairings have been named appropriately. But if there is a large doubt in my readers mind it is because I haven't done a good job showing these relationships. So for that I apologize. But we move on, I'm happy to give you this chapter. As always leave me some love! Thanks, Rykere.

Kagome felt the surge of the energy leaving her body. It was draining and all encompassing, too bright to look at directly, but Kagome tried any way. She could hear the agonizing screams of the demon, and could feel his dying yells vibrate through the ground beneath her. Her eyes reduced to mere slits, Kagome watched as the man's body began to disintegrate, and she panicked. It wasn't her intention to kill him, just to rid his body of the demon plaguing her. She reached out her other hand to grab the quickly disappearing shreds of the man in front of her. But it was too late the voice abruptly stopped, the light faded and clearly Kagome opened her eyes. Floating above her was a small blue ball, that looked almost like fire. The light was calming and beautiful, and Kagome felt her nose begin to burn with unshed tears. It began to grow dimmer, and it disappeared on a whisper.

"Thank you..."

Kagome felt a small smile on her lips.

You're welcome.

Kagome was exhausted and freezing, but she couldn't move. Kagome stared at the sky.

She saved a life. For some reason she couldn't wrap her mind around the idea. She didn't do it out of fear or to save herself, but to save the poor man being held hostage in his own body. A feeling Kagome knew well.

Kagome heard the door to the roof bang open and Inuyasha appeared at her side. She smiled up at him sleepily.

"I saved him."

Inuyasha's face was twisted into a scowl.

"Kagome, you idiot. You just released a massive amount of spiritual energy. Do you know what that means?"

Kagome's smile began to fade, her eyelids close to knew the answer, she was sure of it. And the answer wasn't good. But as the a cold shiver spread throughout her body, she couldn't focus long enough to remember. Inuyasha's face swam in her vision

"Every demon knows exactly where you are."

Shit.

Kagome could feel herself being lifted off the ground, she drifted in and out.

"We'll have to have the ceremony now."

"Sesshomaru, she's unconscious! We have to wait."

Sango's voice.

"I will gather everyone now."

"Kagome?"

Inuyasha.

"Lay her down."

"Get up, bitch!"

Naraku grabbed Kagome by her hair and stood her on her feet before punching her back down. She fell to the kitchen floor, her view obstructed by the jungle of chair legs. Kagome pushed herself back up, trying to crawl away from him. His red eyes, burned holes in her back.

"Now that you've awakened, I no longer have to hold back."

Kagome pushed herself to her feet and ran for the front door. She felt for the door knob her eyes trained on Naraku. She couldn't find it. Kagome looked down, there was no door knob. She stepped back in disbelief and looked. There was no way out. She turned around quickly, pressing her back to the wall.

Naraku snarled at her. His skin was pulled taut against his face, and as she watched his bones began to move. His cheek bones jutted out unnatural and high. His mouth stretched wide, splitting his face ear to ear, in a smile. Kagome tried to scream but she remained silent, her mouth open wide. Naraku's forehead jutted forward, as he he continued to advance on her. A black mist surrounded him, and the closer he got the harder it was for her to breathe. Kagome fell to her knees choking. He grabbed her by her hair, wrapping his fist in her hair, and dragged her up the stairs. Her body limp as a rag doll. He tossed her onto his bed. Kagome had never been in his room before. She wasn't allowed, and she never dared to peek. Even when he left for weeks at a time. Naraku climbed on top of her and wrapped a hand around her neck. Kagome's fingernails scraped against his hand and face, trying to free herself. She pushed her hand into his eye, hard. He snarled but kept a firm grip on her neck, using his free hand to pin hers above her head. Her eyes darted around desperately, searching for something, anything. She felt herself getting lightheaded. Naraku smiled at her.

"You look just like your mother when I killed her. Tragic in your fight for life. Pathetic in your attempts. I had to get rid of the bitch some how. It was nothing to kill the brat. He went quietly Didn't even know how to fight."

Kagome stopped struggling and stared at him.

I defended him. She always knew Naraku was an awful man, but he, this man in front of her, might be Satan himself.

Kagome took one last shuddering breath. Naraku removed his hand and stared down at her limp body. He began to strip her. Kagome could feel her clothes coming off, but she was paralyzed.

Get up. Come on, get up! Move!

She laid there, as Naraku unbuckled his pants.

"You might as well died the way your mother did, too."

Naraku entered her.

"Kagome?"

Inuyasha.

"Let her rest,"

Miroku.

Don't leave me alone. Kagome cried. He's here.

Kagome stood in the kitchen with her mother. Kagome's mother looked strained. Her face gaunt and tired.

"Mom?"

Kagome's mother, continued cutting vegetables.

"Mom?" Kagome reached out for her mother's shoulder, but her mother turned away, walking sluggishly over to the stove and dropping her vegetables into the pot. Kagome followed her. And leaned against the counter as she looked at her mother's face.

"Mom. I'm so sorry. I blamed you. I... I hated you for leaving me here."

Kagome started to sob, and reached out for her mother. Her mother turned away again. Kagome followed like a child who had done wrong. Begging for forgiveness, as their parent ignored their pleas.

"I could never say it, but I hated you for picking Souta over me. Because I know you knew what he would do. I'm sorry Mom. I'm so sorry," Her mother continued to move around the kitchen as Kagome sank to the floor, exposed. Kagome's mother stopped in front of Kagome. Kagome looked up, tears blurring her eyesight and saw her mother as she remembered her. Beautiful, with kind eyes and laugh lines that brought her round face to life.

"It's okay little Kagome, go play with you brother," Her mother rested a hand on Kagome's hair, stroking it gently. Kagome cried even harder.

"I love you, mom."

"I love you too, Kagome."

Kagome's mother was gone. Kagome heard a giggle from the living room. Kagome rose to her feet following the sounds. Souta stood bouncing in his baby walker. His hair was just a wispy black patch on the top of his head. His face was pure joy as he banged the buttons on the rim of the walker and pushed around the toys attached. Kagome sat next to him and watched him. every time a sound effect happened, he would scream a giggle and bounce up and down excitedly. Kagome smiled at him. He was beautiful. Souta looked at her, and reached out to her. She picked him up hesitantly. Holding him awkwardly as she tried to cradle him against her. He cooed and started up at her with big, warm brown eyes. She loved him.

Kagome never got a chance to spend time with her little brother, between hiding from their father and nursing their mother back to health, she had never grown attached. Looking at him now she knew that was a mistake. She had missed out. And she could see how her mother could leave to protect him, if she had. So that this beautiful, pure face never had to see the same awful things she had. Kagome understood. She stroked his face gently and rocked him, growing more and more comfortable. His coos quieted into light snores and Kagome placed him in his playpen to sleep. Removing all the toys and covering him with a light blanket. Kagome gently stroked his soft hair.

"I love you, Souta."

When she stood up she was alone in an empty living room. She jumped as something violently hit the wall above her head. Someone was beating on the wall. Kagome walked up the stairs dread settling in the pit of her stomach. She walked in to her room. It was empty. The bed and her things missing. She turned away, gingerly stepping over the splintered wood that was once her door. She walked hesitantly towards Naraku's room. Her mind was telling her to leave, to walk out the front door and leave him, and that room, alone. But her feet carried her forward, some need inside her pulling her down the hall.

She stood outside the door for a moment, her hand resting on the door knob.

"I should go."

Kagome's hand tightened on the door knob, turning and opening the door. Kagome stared at the slightly ajar door.

"I should go."

She pushed it open lightly. There she saw Naraku perched over, and thrusting into her lifeless body. Her eyes trained unseeingly on the ceiling, as Naraku panted over her.

Kagome felt sick. Bile rose in her throat as she watched in shock. Slowly her body's head turned to face her, and it was the face of her mother, eyes wide open.

An animalistic scream ripped from Kagome's throat.

Kagome bolted up right, a scream fresh on her lips. Inuyasha sat up quickly beside her.

"Kagome, are you okay?"

Kagome continued to scream, the image of her deceased mother's body being violated, burned forever into her eye lids. An image she knew would haunt her for forever.

Kagome's scream devolved into a sob, and she pulled her knees to her her face into her knees, she wrapped her arms around her legs, holding them close. Inuyasha moved from the chair, that sat next to her bed, and sat beside her, pulling her into his side as she cried.

"Kagome, what happened?" Inuyasha's voice was quiet, filling the void left between her sobs

"He killed my mother and my brother."

"Who did?"

Kagome looked at him, "Naraku. He killed my mother and then raped her."

Inuyasha looked back at her alarmed, "Kagome, how do you know that happened?"

"I saw it, he told me. I know I was sleeping, but It's true. I know it is. This was different than any other dream I've had before."

Except for the one where we all died.

Inuyasha remained silent as he stroked her hair.

"I can't escape him. He's everywhere. On the street, in my head, in my 's still torturing me," Kagome said, wiping the tears from her eyes. She was too upset to cry. Too broken to keep screaming. And too tired to go on. She wanted to give up.

The door opened, Sesshomaru stood in the doorway, a box in his hand.

"You're awake. You must be healed. We can no longer wait. Your incident on the roof has made it impossible for us to hide. Dress yourself," He tossed the box on to the bed before closing the door firmly. Kagome reached for the box, and crossed her legs as she pulled it onto her lap. It was a white thick dress box. Kagome pulled off the lid, inside was a pure white dress. Kagome pulled the bodice out of the box. It was not bedazzled or embellished in any way but it was still beautiful. Soft chiffon, with an empire waist.

"What is this?"

"Tonight's the night. You have to officially accept your place as High Priestess."

Kagome shook her head, slowly at first, but more vigorously as the words began to sink in.

Inuyasha pulled the box from her hands. Her gentle hold on the dress gave way.

"Kagome. I don't know exactly what you saw. I am so sorry."

His hands found her face, and directed her gaze toward him. His thumbs wiped at her tears.

"I'm so scared, Inuyasha," Her voice came out a pathetic whisper.

"You are so powerful Kagome. You are the only person who can stop him from destroying this world. But you have to accept your position first."

"What if I can't do it?"

Inuyasha's rough hands, were gently as he caressed her cheek and brought his face to hers.

"I know you can."

His lips touched her and Kagome felt a new kind of ache blossoming in her chest. She hesitantly raised her hand to his, before closing her eyes and kissing back. Ignoring the guilt.

I don't think I can.