+ A Night of True Pain +

It all happened so fast. Kagome couldn't register what was going on. All she knew was that she was in danger and was running for her, Kirara, and Shippo's lives. Her clothes were being torn up by branches as she ran. Shippo was in her arms bleeding and wounded. She would have stopped to heal him but she didn't have time. Kirara was on her shoulder also bleeding. But the wound was on her shoulder not on her stomach like Shippo's. Tears were flowing down her face as the mixing with the rain that pouring out of the black night sky. Kagome was running on instinct and didn't try to regain control over her body. Shippo was cringing with pain, his hands pressed against his wound to slow the bleeding. They all felt betrayed, and it hurt them to the bottom of their hearts.

+Flashback+

Inuyasha left them telling them he was scouting the area and would be back later. Kagome had a feeling in the pit of her gut that something was going to be terribly wrong before the night was over. She ignored it and went to watch Shippo draw pictures for her in an attempt to ease her mind. Over the years she had come to love him as her son and he loved her as his mother in return. They were practically attached to the hip. Where ever she went he went, most of the time. He would stay behind when she went to her time. He had wished he could go, but Inuyasha would never let him.

Kagome sat there for what felt like days, in truth it was hours. Three hours Inuyasha has not come back. Kagome was starting to get worried. She looked at her friends that were more like brother and sister to her. Concern shined in her eyes. Sango and Miroku both saw this and nodded. They knew this meant that Kagome was going to look for Inuyasha. No matter how much they didn't want her to, they gave their consent knowing she would anyways.

She got up and looked at the night sky. A cool breeze came by and it calmed her a bit. Shippo also got up, noticing that she was set on leaving camp. He jumped into Kagome's waiting arms. She smiled at him. They both subconsciously knew from the beginning... Inuyasha had gone to see Kikyo again. They knew yet they were going to confront them, hoping Kikyo wasn't trying to drag him to hell again. Kagome's heart ached a bit. He went to see her behind her back. Even after he had told her he wouldn't. Then again he never gave her her word, so it was to be expected.

"Shippo can you tell where they are, sweetheart?" Kagome asked. Shippo nodded slowly. "Yes... but I don't think we should go there." he warned.

She was aware of that as she was every time, but she didn't care. Not at that moment. So she walked calmly, like nothing was wrong, so calm it was almost scary. Her face looked calm and content that went perfectly well with her walk. All of her cool collectiveness was sending shivers to Shippo's spine. Something was going to happen, something that didn't bode well.

They were behind a tree when they came across Inuyasha and Kikyo. The two were currently locked in a passionate kiss. When they broke apart Kikyo leaned onto Inuyasha's chest. Inuyasha placed his head on Kikyo's shoulder and breathed in her disgusting scent. Although to Inuyasha it was beautiful. Kagome was hurt and upset at the sight she was granted, so she hid her eyes behind her bangs.

"Inuyasha… you love me, do you not?" Kikyo's voice was full of feigned innocence.

"Of course, Kikyo… You have to ask?" he answered huskily. She moaned at the tone of his voice.

"Then you will kill my reincarnate so I may have a whole soul. My soul." she said, her breathing labored.

"Yes my love, anything for you. The girl… Kagome will die." he replied like an obedient puppy.

Then Kagome stepped to from behind the tree into the lovers' line of. Kikyo smirked at her appearance. Shippo jumped down in front of Kagome growling in a warning tone at the dead miko. Inuyasha snarled at the kitsune. Kagome however displayed nothing but indifference. She continued to appear calm, like nothing was happening, like they weren't talking about her death. Her eyes held no emotion. She walked toward Kikyo still calm and collected. Kagome smiled as she was getting closer and closer to Kikyo.

"You can have the traitor, Kikyo." Kagome said close to a whisper.

Everyone in the clearing was shocked. Kagome never called Inuyasha a traitor. She was in love with him, she couldn't live without him, she always defended him and justified his words and actions.

Shippo gasped. "You're gonna let Kikyo take Inuyasha to hell?" he asked in awe. Kagome smiled softly and nodded. "He is a traitor. I want nothing to do with the likes of him. He would dispose his own friend for his dead love, who takes the souls of innocent girls and is suppose to be in hell… where she belongs." she said.

Inuyasha was pissed at the words that fell from her lips. He was just called a traitor and his perfect beautiful lover was spoken of in ill. He would not stand for it; especially by a stupid, stubborn, bitchy reincarnation who easily attracted trouble and would never compare to her incarnate. He growled at Kagome. His blood was boiling and he was beginning to seeing red. Kikyo slowly took his sword from him and allowing his youkai blood to take over. "You will pay dearly bitch." he growled.

He jumped and hit Shippo in the gut, his claws lengthened claws cutting the kit. Shippo went flying into Kagome's arms. Inuyasha looked at the young miko with menacing eyes. He wanted blood, her blood. He wanted to feel it on his body, bathe in it, to feel the gooey substance on his sharp claws.

Shippo was wounded in that one hit. It wasn't deep enough to prove fatal though. Just a scratch though he was bleeding heavily. He would pass out within the hour if he wasn't treated. Kagome looked down quickly assessing her kit's wound and frowned. "This is it Inuyasha... good-bye." with that said she ran as fast as she could to the campsite, Inuyasha not far behind.

When she reached camp Miroku and Sango were alert. They felt Inuyasha had changed into a full youkai and were prepared to attack. They told her to run and they loved her, so they would make this sacrifice for her and Shippo. She nodded with the sensation of tears burning behind her eyes, grabbed her pack, which wasn't as heavy as usual due to the lack of supplies, grabbed her bow and arrows and dashed to the direction to the well.

While she was running it started to rain. The sky had pitied her and decided to cry. That didn't stop her though, she kept running. As she was running she heard two pained screams; that told her of her friends' death. Kagome looked back. Tears started coming from her eyes and began to blend with the rain. As she looked back she noticed Kirara running toward them. She was in her little form with a wound on her shoulder. Kagome ran back picked Kirara up and started running towards the well again.

Kirara climbed to Kagome's shoulder and hid under her hair. She thought this would be easier position so Kagome could run easier with Shippo in her arms. Behind them they heard howling. They knew it was Inuyasha's howl and didn't look back.

+End Flashback+

Kagome reached the well and hugged onto Shippo when she jumped in. A blue light surrounded them when they were about to hit the bottom. As they made it Kagome climbed out the well as fast as she could. When she got out she ran to the door of the well.

Kirara and Shippo had about 5 seconds to take in their surroundings because as soon as Kagome was out she turned, slammed the door then ran to the park down her street. The park had a wooded area that no one went into but her. She would heal them there.

When she reached the bottom of the shrine steps Inuyasha was at the top. She gasped and ran down to the park. Inuyasha was soon close behind the trio. She screamed 'move out of the way' as she was running. The people looked at her and saw the two of them injured and moved to the side so they could pass. She didn't want them to get hurt by Inuyasha because of her.

On the third block she ran into a group of four males. They looked at her with worry. Fear was evident in her eyes as her pupils were dilated. She felt easily their power and instinct told her they could help. "Please help us! Don't let him get us. Please?" she looked at them with watery eyes as she spoke to them in a frenzied manner. They looked at the kit in her arms and nodded. Inuyasha came to her fast and slashed at her back. She fell onto the ground. All of the other civilians ran for safety. The one in the red jacket and jeans stepped in front of her. "What kind of sick freak are you!? You don't attack innocent women!" He yelled.

Inuyasha sneered. "Hand the wench over. She must pay... and give me the jewel shards. She's just a stupid weak reincarnation." he spat.

"You… you… bastard! After all we've been through you still call me weak? I am not Kikyo. I am not your bitch, wench or anything else you can think of. I belong to no one, you traitor." she hissed.

She lifted herself up with little struggle so she wasn't huddling over Shippo anymore.

Shippo whimpered. "Okaa-san, I don't want to lose you too." he grabbed onto her shirt and cried. Kagome instinctively held his head in a soothing manner.

More tears fell from her eyes that now displayed anger along with her hurt. Her aura flared up stunning the group she had ran into. They thought she was a weak and defenseless civilian, how wrong they were. "I want the rest of my soul back from that clay pot. I hate feeling incomplete..." she whimperd lightly. More tears fell from her eyes. "Sit, Inuyasha. Just shut up and sit." She said, pain was clear in her voice. Inuyasha plummeted into the ground, but not without a fight. He held his ground struggling to stand so much after he fell, the beads fell off him.

Shippo started to cry with fright only to remind him of his pain. "Okaa-san my stomach hurts. Really bad." he cried. She nodded. She stared warily at Inuyasha as she healed Shippo's wound. When she finished Inuyasha was off the ground trying to attack her. She backed up just in time to get away from his lethal claws. "Don't touch my mother you stupid hanyou!" Shippo yelled in Kagome's arms, hiding in the comfort of her chest. Kirara hissed in agreement.

Inuyasha was about to attack again when his left arm was cut off, like soft butter with a butter knife. He screamed his pain. He looked for the one responsible for his pain. The one in black had a sword with his blood on it. "You will regret helping her later, forbidden bastard." Inuyasha snarled. He grabbed the spot where his arm once was and left.

Kagome was shaking and wet, a little of Inuyasha's blood splashed on her face. Her eyes were wide and she was hyperventilating now that everything had settled in her mind. Shippo hugged her. "It's okay Okaa-san. We're okay now." he assured Kagome. She nodded and hugged him closer. "Shippo he wants me dead. He's gonna kill me for Kikyo." she said, pain, fear, and worry laced her voice. "I'll get stronger and protect you. Then you won't have to worry." he said tried to assure. "But right now you have to heal your wounds." he said. She nodded and a small sad smile met her face.

"Are you okay miss?" the one with incredible red hair and green eyes asked. She looked up at them. "Somehow yes. Thank you all so much. You don't know how much I owe you." she said. "It's okay. It's our job to protect people from youkai." the ugly red said. "Why don't we go to my house and tend to your wounds? By the way I'm Kurama." Kurama said.

"I'm Yusuke. The one in black doesn't talk much. His name is Hiei." Yusuke said.

"And I am the great Kazuma Kuwabara." said Kuwabara while posing. Kagome looked at all of them and nodded. "I am Kagome. This is Shippo and Kirara." she said pointing to the last members of her group. "I think I'm gonna take a nap." she said and passed out.

The boys looked at each other and nodded in silent agreement. Kurama picked Kagome up bridal style. Shippo and Kirara climbed onto his shoulders. Yusuke carried her pack and Hiei grabbed her bow and arrows.

They walked to Kurama's house and headed straight to his room. His mother wasn't there being that she was at work, so they didn't have to worry about that.

'Ugh. My whole body hurts. Why does this have to happen to me? I didn't do anything to deserve this. Where's the karma? I did good, so when's the good supposed to come back? I think I better explain to the guys who saved me my story. They're probably confused… It's the least I could do.' Kagome thought as she was starting to stir.

"I think we need to tell Koenma about this, after she's healed." Yusuke said. Kurama and Kuwabara nodded. She wouldn't make a good impression looking battered up like she did now.

She opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. It was a beautiful room full of mahogany wood. Dark cherry wood floors, mahogany bed board, a mahogany dresser, and a mahogany desk. The comforter on her was forest green, as were the walls.

"Nice place." she mumbled as she was sitting up. Everyone looked at her with concern, except Hiei, who kept his stoic mask in place. "How long have I been out?" she quietly asked rubbing the top of her head and weakly trying to smile sheepishly at them.

End chapter