WARNING ATTEMPTED RAPE!

Carl stayed with Kagome for the rest of the afternoon. He helped her hang up the laundry that she was was working on when he showed up. It was an odd thing to do, considering he had never done that for his mother. While they worked, Kagome told Carl the legend of the Priestess Kikyo, who was in love with the Hanyou Inuyasha. Carl listened to intently story. He found the story exciting and tragic to see how the two lovers ended up.

While Kagome was telling Carl the story, they didn't notice that Rick had shown up that Kagome's camp and watched both of them with a smile on his face. He was glad that Kagome had been able to calm Carl down after learning that he and Lori were splitting up. Rick was worried when Carl ran off, but when he saw that he had gone to Kagome, he let out a sigh. If anyone could help Carl right now, it would be Carl. But Rick still needed to talk to Carl about telling his mother that she hated her. It didn't matter how angry he was at her; Carl shouldn't have said that to Lori.

Rick pushed off the tree he was leaning on and walked towards the duo. He cleared his throat, so he didn't frighten them. Kagome and Carl turned around. Carl smiled at his dad, "Hey Dad; Kagome was telling me a Japanese legend, it was pretty cool."

"I heard part of it; it sounded cool. Maybe later, Kagome can tell the story again to you and Sophia."

Carl's eyes lit up, "Yeah! Will you, Kagome?"

"Of course, Carl."

"Hey, Carl, I need you to take a walk with me. We need to talk about some stuff." Rick told his son.

Carl frowned, "Is it about what I said to Mom?"

"Yeah, it is."

Carl sighed, "I know, Dad. Kagome told me that I shouldn't have said that to Mom. I was just so angry that she did that to you. I wanted to hurt her as she hurt you."

"But, Carl, that isn't right."

"I know, Kagome explained it to me. I'll go apologize to her, but if it's okay, I'd like to stay with Kagome for a while longer."

Rick looked at Kagome, who smiled. Rick's heart skipped a beat at seeing that beautiful smile, "It's fine with me, Rick."

"Alright, but you need to come back before it gets dark."

Carl smiled and hugged his dad, "I'm going to go get Sophia so that you can tell her the story too."

"Okay, Carl," Kagome said.

Carl hugged Kagome and took off running towards the RV, calling for Sophia. Rick looked at Kagome and nodded his head, "Thank you for being there for him."

"Anytime, Rick, I love that little boy as if he was my own."

"I'm glad you feel that way."

"So, what are your plans?"

"For now, I'm gonna stay as far away from Lori as possible and only help her when it comes to the baby. That's the only thing that concerns me now."

"Well, as I told you from the beginning, if she's willing to accept my help, I'd be happy to take care of her as well."

"Honestly, I don't think she will. Lori thinks I broke up with her because of you."

Kagome gave him a queer look, "Okay, that's insane."

"She's not entirely wrong, but that's the main reason. I'm not gonna put up with adultery."

"Rick-"

"No, it's okay, I understand. You think that I want to use you as a rebound, but that's not the case at all, and I'm gonna prove it to you."

"Rick, why don't you worry about healing first and about making things alright for Carl."

"The funny thing is, breaking up with Lori doesn't hurt as much as I thought it would, and Carl loves you already."

"Rick, don't," Kagome begged, with tears in her eyes, "I couldn't take if you suddenly decide to get back together with Lori."

Rick took a step towards Kagome, and she took a step back, "I would never do that to you."

"People will think I ruined your marriage."

"I don't care what the others think, and you shouldn't either."

"But we have to; if we don't, it's going to cause tension in the group."

Rick nodded, "Alright, I'll wait, but I'm not gonna give up on you."

Rick wanted to kiss Kagome so badly, but he controlled himself when he heard Carl and Sophia coming, "I'll talk to you later. I need to set up my tent."

Kagome nodded, and Rick turned around and walked away. He greeted Sophia and told them not to stay out too late. Meanwhile, Kagome greeted and hugged Sophia, and they sat down, and Kagome started her story all over again.

While this was going on, Lori was in her tent crying. She couldn't believe what had happened. In less than an hour, Lori lost her husband and son. She had no idea where Shane was, and Lori desperately wanted to talk to him. But he had disappeared. Lori had to find a way to fix this. A plan started forming in her head that if she spread a rumor that Kagome had broken up Lori and Rick's marriage, the group would tell her to leave. After all, they knew Lori longer. Why wouldn't they believe her?

So, Lori started crying harder in hopes that someone would hear her. And sure enough, Andrea was the first person that heard her, "Lori! What's the matter?"

"Rick, left me," Lori sobbed.

"What?! why?"

"He told me that he didn't want to be with me anymore that he wanted to be with Kagome."

"No?!"

"Yes, I begged him not to leave the baby and me, but he said he didn't care that the only thing he cared about was being with Kagome."

"That fucking bitch! I knew she was trouble from the beginning," Andrea said and hugged Lori. Lori held onto Andrea tightly, but she had a smirk on her face. When she let go of Andrea, Lori had worked up more tears.

"Don't worry about a thing, Lori. Somehow, I'll fix this."

"Thank you, Andrea."

Andrea squeezed her shoulder and left the tent.

Andrea was going to confront Kagome and tell her to leave Rick alone or leave the group, but she knew she couldn't do that; everyone loved Kagome. So, she decided that she needed to get everyone to agree to kick Kagome out of the group for the good of everyone. Andrea thought that she would start with the apparent person, Shane.

Andrea found Shane sitting on the tractor, staring at the sky. He knew that Lori was his again, and Shane couldn't be happier. Now Shane was going to get everything Shane wanted, Lori, Carl, and his baby. All he needed to do is get rid of Rick; then, he'd have control of the group too, and he could get back at that Japanese bitch.

"Shane," Andrea yelled.

"What's up?"

"You'll never believe what happened," Then Andrea told Shane everything that Lori had told her. Shane started turning red with anger, not because of what Rick was doing, but because Lori wanted him back. So, Shane decided that the only way he would get Lori was by getting rid of Rick after all.

"So, will you help me get rid of Kagome?"

"Oh, yeah, I'll help you," Shane said.

Andrea smiled, "Thanks," she said; Andrea didn't notice the crazed look in Shane's eyes.

"Might as well kill two birds with one stone."

So, Andrea started talking to everyone in the group and telling them what was going on with Lori and Rick, and she started blaming Kagome. Not a single person believed her, but they started talking amongst themselves, figuring out what happened between Lori and Rick. Carol was adamant that Kagome would never do anything to break-up Rick's marriage.

"Oh, I know that Carol, it's not in Kagome's nature, no matter what she feels for Rick," Dale said

"So, she does have feelings for him," T-Dog asked.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean anything," Amy said, "She would never let Rick leave Lori. If Rick left Lori, he must have had a good reason."

"Shane?" Glenn asked.

"What about Shane," Maggie asked.

"They used to sleep together before Rick came back," Glenn explained.

"That's got to be the reason. There ain't no way Rick would betray Lori if she hadn't done something," Daryl added where he was sitting next to Amy.

Daryl had finally admitted his feelings for Amy after he had a long talk with Kagome. She was right; even though times were dangerous, it didn't mean that people still couldn't find happiness. "Lori's lying," Daryl said. The group nodded. So, they decided they weren't going to do anything about this situation. It was a private matter between Rick and Lori.

While this was going on, Shane planned and watched. He decided that the easiest way to lure Rick out was to kidnap Kagome and take her out where he could be alone with Rick. Then he could kill both of them. Hopefully, a Walker would eat their bodies.

So, when Shane saw Kagome walking Sophia and Carl back to camp, he waited in the dark until Kagome was walking back to her tent, then he struck. Shane struck her over the head with his gun and knocked her out; Shane smiled an insane smile. He picked up Kagome and threw her over his shoulder and took off towards the pasture.

By the time Shane got out to the field with Kagome, she had woken up. Kagome started struggling against Shane, and he threw her to the ground. Before Kagome could recover, Shane punched her in the face. Kagome fell back, "I finally have you where I want you, you fucking bitch. You've been in my way for too long, you and Rick. But tonight I'm getting rid of both of you. But first, I'm going to teach you a lesson."

Shane staddled Kagome and backhanded her, busting her lip, then he started choking her, not enough to kill her but enough to make her struggle for air. Shane was going to play with her a while until Rick got there. Kagome struggled against Shane, clawing at his hands he had wrapped around her throat. She was finally able to bring her knee up and knee him in the groin. Shane groaned and fell to the side.

Kagome struggled to get to her feet, but Shane grabbed her ankle and pulled her back down. He straddled her body again but this time, pinning her arms and legs so Kagome couldn't move. Meanwhile, Rick went looking for Kagome in her tent to say goodnight, "Kagome?"

Rick looked in her tent, but she wasn't there. He was about to walk back to the group when he noticed a gun on the ground. Rick picked it up and realized that it was Shane's extra gun, and Rick saw that there was fresh blood on the handle. Rick's eyes widened when he realized what happened. He didn't waste any time telling the others; Rick took off in search of Kagome and Shane.

Rick was looking desperately for Kagome and Shane, but then he saw off in the distance, someone out in the pasture, 'It's got to be them,' Rick thought. Rick started running in that direction. At the same time that's going on, Shane had ripped Kagome's shirt and tried to get her pants off. He was biting and sucking on her neck. Shane was going to humiliate her in the worse way he could think of before he killed her. Just as Shane was about to pull his dick out, he was tackled by Rick.

Rick repeated punched Shane in the face until Shane was able to hit Rick on the side of the head. Shane quickly got to his feet and fastened his pants, "I didn't think you'd make it in time, Rick."

"How dare you touch Kagome, you son of bitch."

"Why do you care? You already have a wife."

"No, I don't, I told Lori we were through, you can have her."

"See, I can't, Rick, not as long as you're alive. She's always going to want you over me. So I'm gonna have to get rid of you."

"Then why go after Kagome?"

"Bait, and it's a bonus."

Rick was about to rush Shane, but he pulled out his gun, and Rick froze. Rick started trying to talk Shane down, "Nothing has been done that can't be undone, Shane. I don't want Lori anymore. You can have her, and you and she can live a happy life. Kagome and I will leave. You won't ever see us again, just put the gun down."

Rick reached over and took his gun out to show Shane that he wasn't a threat, and Shane started lowering his gun. Rick walked towards Shane, then lunged for him and stabbed him in the heart. Shane gasped and fired his weapon. He began to sputter, and Rick slowly lowered him to the ground, "Damn you for making me do this! But I'm not going to let you hurt anyone else again."

Shane sputtered one last time and died. Rick took a breath and wiped his eyes, then rushed over to Kagome, "Baby, baby, are you alright?"

Kagome sat there shaking, trying to cover herself. She flinched when Rick touched her until she saw it was him. Kagome lunged for him and hugged Rick tightly and began to cry, "Thank you for saving me."

"Kagome, I told you, I love you. I would do anything for you," Rick said and kissed her forehead. He took off his shirt and handed it to her so she could put it on, leaving him in his undershirt.

"Dad?"

Kagome and Carl turned around and saw Carl standing there staring at them, "Carl. You know...you should be back home with mom."

Carl suddenly cocked his gun and aimed, "It's not what it seems. Please." Rick said, stepping in front of Kagome.

Suddenly Carl fired and killed Walker Shane that was creeping up on Kagome and Rick.

Rick and Kagome whirled around and saw Shane dead. Kagome kicked herself for not sensing him, but she was so shaken up that she didn't notice. Suddenly Kagome gasped, Carl and Rick, looked at her, "Kagome, what's wrong?"

"We need to get out of here. Walkers are coming."

"How do you know?"

"I can sense them."

Rick looked at her strangely, "Don't argue with me; we have to move. I owe you an explanation."

Then Rick heard it, the growls of the Walkers. He grabbed Kagome and Carl by the hands, and they took off running. "Don't stop running, no matter what."

At the house where everyone had gathered, the others had realized that Rick, Shane, Kagome, and Carl were missing. Then Daryl noticed the herd heading towards them. Hershel was determined to make a stand while the other would take out as many as possible while leading the rest away with the cars. They all get into the car and start shooting at the Walkers, trying to corral them. Meanwhile, Rick, Kagome, and Carl set fire to the barn to draw the Walkers away from the house and to give themselves a chance to escape. They're trapped in the loft, so Kagome summoned her Sacred longbow of Mount Azusa.

Carl's eyes widen, "How did you do that?"

"Magic, I'll explain later."

She pulled back on the bowstring and conjured and spiritual arrow and fired. The arrow passed between the Walkers turning to ash everything around it and striking one of them. They climbed out on the roof of the barn and got Jimmy's attention, and he pulled the RV up to the roof so that they could jump down. The trio got off the RV, but it was overrun with Walker, and Jimmy was killed.

Meanwhile, the others are still killing Walkers when they realize that it's hopeless and that the farm is lost, and it was time to escape. Lori and the other run to the truck and get in, but a Walker grabbed Patricia and bit her, then more began to take chunks out of her. Beth screamed as she watched Patricia get overwhelmed by Walkers. Lori pulled Beth and Sophia, and they got in the truck with T-Dog and left as Andrea jumped out to save Carol, but she too was overwhelmed.

Hershel stayed behind, trying to defend his farm, but it's no use. He's starting to run out of ammo, and the Walkers are everywhere. One is coming up behind him, but Rick shoots it. "Hershel, we gotta go!"

"My farm!"

"It's lost, we have to go!" Rick said as he pulled Hershel. They all jump into the Suburban.

Rick drives as quickly as he can away from the farm that he doesn't see Andrea trying to flag them down. She has no other choice but to run for her life. As this is going on, Daryl is sitting on his bike in the distance, watching the chaos until he hears someone scream. He started his motorcycle and rescued Carol, and they escape.

They drive for the rest of the night, and Rick heads back to the highway, where he thinks the others will meet up. They reach the area where they had stopped the last time and wait for the others. In the meantime, Hershel checked over Kagome, "We need to find some antiseptic to clean you up."

"It's going to have to wait," Kagome said, "Besides, I can heal myself."

"With your healing magic," Carl asked.

Kagome nodded.

"Kagome, what's he talking about? And how did you do that with your bow? You told me in Atlanta you were going to tell me, but you never did," Rick said.

"Well, I guess we have the time, I might as well tell you now. I'm what is know in Japan as a Miko, a Priestess. I have the power to heal and destroy demons and other evil creatures…"

Kagome explained what had happened to her since she wa fifteen years old and about the Shikon Jewel and her adventure in the past. At first, they didn't believe her, well Carl did, but Rick and Hershel didn't. So, Kagome used her powers to heal herself as much as possible; she was too tired to heal herself completely. After that, they had no choice but to believe her.

"So you could have used your healing powers to heal Carl? Why didn't you?"

"I did to a point, but I still needed to remove the bullet fragments. And I usually only use my powers in extreme cases. Like when Sophia and Amy were bitten. I can heal a Walker bit if I get to it before the infection spreads. And I can tell if it's spread or not."

"So, you're saying the Walkers are evil being?" Hershel asked.

"They must be if I can purify them. But I don't know what's making them evil. I mean, they're dead, but there is something evil about them," Kagome explained.

As Kagome was explaining, the others began to show up. Maggie and Glenn with Amy and Dale with them. T-Dog, Lori, Beth and Sophia, and Daryl and Carol. Carl hugged his mother, and Amy hugged Kagome. At the same time, Maggie and Beth hugged their father. They take stock as to who survived and what they have. Rick told them to search the cars and get what they could, and then they set out to look for somewhere to stay.

As they drive, Rick told T-Dog that they were running out of gas. Rick honked to get the other's attention, and they make plans to make a run in the morning for gas. The others are scared and begin to complain, but Rick orders them to stay calm and hunker down for the night. Eventually, the group asked what happened to Shane.

"I killed him," Rick said calmly

"What?" Glenn asked.

"I had to; he was going to kill Kagome and me. As it was, he tried to rape her."

Lori got upset, "No, he would never do that."

"Well, I saw it, and the bruises on Kagome's neck and arms say otherwise," Rick growled.

Kagome put her head down, Embarrassed that she let that happen, Carl let go of his mother and hugged Kagome, trying to comfort her. Sophia does the same thing. When they bed down for the night, Kagome is surrounded by Amy, Carol, and Beth to feel more secure. Daryl and Rick stand watch.

"So, what are we going to do?"

"We need to find someplace where we can hunker down and build a life for ourselves," Rick said.

"Do you think such a place exists," Daryl asked.

"I have to, or else I'll lose all hope," Rick said as he looked at Kagome.

Daryl nodded.

As they talk about this, they don't know how much worse the world is about to get. Yet someone will eventually save them, but when is anyone's guess.