A/N Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters.

Chapter One

Realization

Tonight the stars in the sky were shining brighter than usual. Like any other time she was star gazing, she would tell herself the reason the stars shine more brightly is because pollution has yet to damage the ozone layer. She shook off the idea and continued to gaze from her position on the grass, and her small hands folded gently on her stomach. It was spring and the nights were beginning to warm up, from the harsh winter that graced them during the past couple of months.

Spring represented new life and new beginnings for everyone and everything. Kagome wondered when her new life would begin. She couldn't wait on Inuyasha forever. Three years have passed since she was brought to the feudal era, filled with magic and priestess with lands infested with demons. She was seventeen and was passing high school by the skin of her pearly white teeth. Graduation was two months away and final exams were next month.

Kagome didn't know how she was going to find the time to study, when she was busy searching for the shards of the Shikon no Tama. She hardly visited her family and friends in the future and didn't know if the college she wanted attend would accept her. Considering her low grades she didn't believe she would even qualify for college. She sighs, depressed. This wasn't the life she pictured for herself when she was younger.

Kagome had dreamed of finishing high school at top of her graduating class as valedictorian. She had then wanted to attend Tokyo University and study to become a doctor. Then after a few years she would get married and have a family of her own. She wasn't dumb, on the contrary, she was smart and loved school, but with Inuyasha and her obligations to the shards she didn't have much of a choice. It was either the future that belongs to her family and others or her dreams of her future. It was a selfless choice, but she couldn't allow the future to be destroyed on the account of her.

Right now the others believed she was at the hot springs and not contemplating on what she had wanted in the future for herself and how her life had not gone as she planned. Now all she desired for herself was a distant dream that could never be reached. She was not as naïve as she was three years ago and wished she had wise up earlier. Life wasn't always rainbow and butterflies or the hero always saving the damsel in distress. If that were true, then Inuyasha would have saved her, not from the demons, but the darkness in her heart that she has been battling for the past three years.

Inuyasha wasn't a bad guy, confused, but not bad. He could make better choices when it came to relationships and fill his dense head once and awhile. Kagome smiled and played with a lock of her dark hair, pulling it to her face for examination. Her smile was playful, why couldn't her hair be silky like Inuyasha's or Sesshomaru's for that matter. She would kill to have hair like the elder brother.

She stiffens upon sensing the other portion of her soul and quickly sits up, casting her azure eyes behind her to the forest. They narrow in detest as she watched the flying serpents flow eerily through the trees, followed by a red and silver blur. Her heart tightens painfully as she fights back the tears that threatened to fall. "How dare he!" She gritted out her fist tightening as she bit her bottom lip in an attempt to hold in the sob she felt in her throat. "Inuyasha!" She cried out painfully as she grasps the grass with her hands, digging her nails and tearing the soil from its place.

"No more."Her eyes widen as she quickly looked up and stopped crying."Shed no more tears." Kagome gently wiped her tears of anguish from her face with her sleeve and sat with her knees tucked in, with her chin resting between them. She didn't know who was comforting her and she didn't care, the woman's voice was soothing and it was working. She found herself calm and relaxed.

"Who are you? Where are you?" Kagome asked softly her throat sore. The pulsation of the half completed jewel caught her attention as she pulled the chain from underneath her shirt. The glass container was filled with illuminating shards that caused her to look at it from half closed eyes from its brightness.

"It is I, Midoriko. Please young one, do not shed anymore tears over something that shall never be."Kagome listened to her and wondered how the priestess, who created the jewel from her own soul, was able to communicate with her. If she was able to communicate now, why didn't she done it sooner?

"Midoriko? How are you able to speak to me now?" She asked curiously. "Why haven't you spoken to me before?" She added.

"The reason is because your soul called out to me, in pain and I have come to soothe it."She explained simply."I have never heard such a painful cry from a soul throughout my life."She commented with concern lace in every word along with sympathy.

Kagome's blue eyes widen at the explanation and slowly they sadden. "My soul you say. Aren't you mistaking it for Kikyo's soul?" She said bitterly her cheeks burning red from anger, causing her azure eyes to stand out. The jewel shards stood silent, pulsating to the rhythm of her heartbeat.

"It is true, that your soul once belonged to Kikyo," At this Kagome looked sharply at the jewel and began to think if someone were to see her right now, talking to shards would think she were crazy.

"But now the soul belongs to you now and is in pain. It yearns to be free, Kagome, only you won't let it be."The ancient priestess informed her as Kagome thought about it. Free. Her soul wanted to be free, but from what? She didn't understand. No one was controlling her but herself. Kagome thought about this for a moment, she wasn't placed under a spell nor was she restricted in any way. She made sure of that when Koga and Inuyasha fought over her in their stupid fights.

"Midoriko, free from what?" She asked unsure and confused.

"You know the answer Kagome, just look deeper and you shall realize what it is you desire."Kagome could feel the jewel weakening and with that said the jewel shards died down losing its glow, leaving her to stare at it in disbelief.

"She left." She told herself, as she placed the jewel back underneath her shirt. "Free." She said out loud hoping the answer would come to her if she said it.

"Kagome, where are you Kagome?" She stood up when she hear Sango's voice and headed towards camp. What did she wanted freedom from or from whom? Deep in thought she bumped into the demon slayer and said a low apology. Sango raised a concerned brow at Kagome's thoughtful look and the way her sleeves were stained with tears. She looked down to her hands and noticed that they were covered in soil. Her eyes narrow instantly. She must have seen Inuyasha run off to Kikyo.

'Inuyasha, damn you for this.' She thought angrily as she quickly hugged the raven-haired girl. "Oh, Kagome I'm sorry." She said sincerely all the while thinking of ways to exterminate the half demon with Kagome's consent. Kagome glance at her friend from the corner of her eyes and listened to her bittersweet words of how she was going to exterminate the half demon when he showed his face back at camp.

As she listened she began to realize something. Sango automatically thought that she was upset because of Inuyasha, which was true. Was she always upset with Inuyasha? Yes, especially when he runs off to Kikyo. It seemed she would always be upset with Inuyasha because he will never love her the way he loves Kikyo. Kagome had believed that Inuyasha would come around, seeing as how they've been traveling together for three years.

She thought that he would eventually love her after three years, but that wasn't the case. 'Inuyasha and I would never be together, no matter how much I love him. His heart will always belong to Kikyo.' Kagome's eyes were beginning to become clearer as was her mind, when thought about the situation, which caused her to understand what Midoriko meant. Shock, she was shock. She wanted to be free of Inuyasha, to be free of the pain he always causes her. "It's Inuyasha." She told herself sadly as Sango pulled back and watched her carefully with narrowed eyes at the mention of his name.

"What about him?" She asked through gritted teeth. "Do you want me to cause him pain when he returns, Kagome?" She asked grabbing Kagome's hand and leading her to camp.

The poor girl was beginning to become delusional, right now she was probably thinking only of Inuyasha. When she had said that Kagome had it bad for Inuyasha she didn't think it would have been this bad. Inuyasha was killing Kagome's heart and soul every time he went to see Kikyo and he didn't even realize it. If he did then Inuyasha didn't deserve to have Kagome as his best friend.

Kagome allowed Sango to take her to camp and lay her down in her sleeping bag besides Shippo. She needed to think about her new discovery. She wanted to be free of Inuyasha. It was so unexpected, seeing as she wanted nothing more than to have his love. When she realized this new desire she felt a sense of want rush within her. Was this what she truly desired and wanted? If she were to give up on Inuyasha, will she be free or will she be trapped. To be truly free of Inuyasha she would have to leave him, but she didn't want to lose him as a friend either. Then she remembered what she had promised him, and that promise was to stand by him always no matter what.

She wanted to smack herself for her being so naïve three years ago. She had meant that promise and has stood with him, searching for the shards for three years now. Then again didn't she deserve some type of happiness to call her own? There was still Sango, Miroku, and Shippo to think about as well and their happiness. She knew Sango and Miroku would be married once Naraku was destroyed and they had put Kohaku to rest. Then there was Shippo, who was going to stay with Kaede, if anything were to happen to her once the jewel was completed.

Then there was Kouga, who wanted to avenge his fallen brethren. There was also Sesshomaru, who wanted to disembowel Naraku and Kohaku for attempting to harm his ward. Kagome wondered why the tai-youkai, who claimed to hate humans with a passion, allowed a little girl to follow him. Kagome rubbed her temples with her hand and closed her eyes.

This was giving her nothing, but a headache. She turned over in her sleeping bag and stared at the fire. She cuddled closer to Shippo and inhaled his light scent that always calmed her on night like these. She felt her eyelids grow heavy and found this strange. Usually when Inuyasha was away she would always stay up till he returned in the early morning from his not so secret meetings with Kikyo.

She didn't feel the anxiety she often faced when he was away, not knowing what he was doing or when he will return back. She felt at peace. 'This is strange, but I like it.' She thought to herself. She wondered what it would feel like, if she was truly free from Inuyasha. Then she will be able to visit her family whenever she wanted and it will give her a chance to make her dreams come true and pass her exams with flying colors. Well maybe not flying colors, but good enough for her to get into a decent college.

As she thought about her non-existent future becoming a reality, the more she wanted to be free of Inuyasha. 'Yes, this is what I want. I want to be free of Inuyasha, to be free of loving him and clinging to what we never will be.' Kagome thought and besides she was young and she was sure they were other guys out there for her. She didn't deserve Inuyasha's treatment and she didn't deserve her heart to be broken over and over again.

Three years was enough time wasted on him. It was now time to move on to bigger and better things. Kagome slept the entire night not once thinking twice if Inuyasha was back from his meeting with Kikyo. She was set in freeing herself from him and the first thing she needed to do was set her priorities straight. If Inuyasha wanted to cling to the past then so be it, but he wasn't going to drag her along with it as well.

It was getting late, the moon was already in its peak and Kagome was not back from her bath. He began to fidget, like he often did when he was worried and decided to get Kagome himself. 'Stupid girl, always needing to bathe every night, but that's one of the reasons why she always smells so nice.' He blushed at the thought, where did that thought come from? He looked over to the direction to where the hot spring was and wondered if Kagome had fallen asleep again. He snorted at the thought, but then another thought enter his mind. 'What if she fell into a deep sleep and is drowning.' That was enough of a thought to make him stand up, from his spot on the branch and jump down. Sango looked over to him and was about to ask him what was wrong, when she felt a wandering hand along her backside.

"Hentai!" She screeches and with quick reflexes grabbed her Hiraikotsu and whacked him over the head with it, knocking him out cold. "You disgusting pervert! Keep your hands to yourself." She said in an angry voice and glaring at him before turning back to Inuyasha. The half demon had been very fidgety since Kagome wasn't back yet. She furrowed her brow over his over protectiveness of Kagome. Sango always thought Inuyasha treated Kagome as if she was his mate. The thought gave her slight hope for Kagome, knowing her best friend has loved the silvered haired hanyou since the beginning of their travels.

She looked over to the hanyou and hid her smile inwardly, "Inuyasha, why don't you go see if Kagome is done with her bath." She suggested catching the hanyou's piercing golden eyes in a gaze. To her he seemed as if he was contemplating, whether to go or not. After traveling three years with the hanyou, she learned he disliked other people involve in his personal affairs.

'What is she getting at? Sango knows I always get Kagome when she's late, so why is she telling me to do something I was already planning on doing?' He thought to himself as he folded his arms across his chest.

"Why?" He asked causing Sango to be taken aback slightly. "Why don't you go get her instead of me, after all Kagome would only sit me if I were there?" He said her while approaching the demon slayer. 'He's not as dense as he portrays himself to be.' Sango thought as she began to come up with a reply. He was right about Kagome sitting him if he were to be around the hot springs.

Then again this will give them time to themselves and work out their obvious hidden feelings for one another. Her eyes widen as a plan formed in her mind. "Your right Inuyasha, I'll go check on Kagome seeing as you can't." she told him as she went to stand up. To her surprise, Inuyasha was growling at her.

"What do you mean, I can't, of course I can!" He told the demon slayer, as he let out a Keh.

These women were beginning to work his nerve. "I'm going to get Kagome, whether she sits me or not." he declared causing Sango to smile secretly.

'Good my plan worked, men and their egos.' she thought when Inuyasha suddenly stiffen and raised his head to inhale the air. "Inuyasha, what's wrong?" she asked already grasping her Hiraikotsu.

The sudden change in his eyes told her what she needed to know, when she caught his distant gaze. "It's Kikyo, isn't it Inuyasha." She told him with a slight edge to her voice. She was on the border of blind fury, but this didn't involve her. It would involve her, if the hanyou went to the dead priestess.

There was an internal conflict going on in his head, as he looked to the direction where Kagome was and to the direction where Kikyo's scent was. His eyes narrowed as he tightens both his fists. What should he do? He wanted to go to Kagome, but what about Kikyo?

If she wanted to see him, it was probably important and possibly concerns information on Naraku. 'Damn it, why do I always have to choose between them.' He asked himself as he looked to where two shinigami belonging to his beloved was at. They were beckoning him to follow him and he found himself following them. He felt his feet move and could hear Sango's angry cries.

Sango stood and yelled at Inuyasha's retreating form to follow Kikyo's shinigami. He was like a lost puppy going off to see his master after not seeing him for so long. Pathetic. How could he do such a thing to Kagome? She began to breathe to control her built up anger at the inconsiderate hanyou and sat back down. There wasn't anything she could do about it.

That is until she heard Kagome's anguished cry. She immediately stood and raced to the hot springs. "Inuyasha, you baka." She muttered hoping the hanyou will hear it.

Inuyasha winced upon hearing Kagome's cry for him. It was filled with pain that made him look back and almost wish to stop and go to her. That is that it almost made him want to go to her. He will deal with Kagome in the morning, Kikyo needed him now and he didn't know when she would visit again.

He followed the shinigami to a clearing, just below a cliff. The river that was besides it ran with force and power, and with the trees and flowers beginning to bloom, made the scene look eternal. He scanned the area in search of Kikyo, when her voice reached his ears. He immediately turned to his right, to see the priestess resting along the branches of an oak tree. Her long dark hair was loose from its restraints and flowed over her shoulders with grace.

Lighting bugs danced around the field, some of them landing on Kikyo and Inuyasha from time. Inuyasha thought she never looked as beautiful as she looked now as he gazed longingly at her. 'If Naraku hadn't interfered with their plans fifty years ago she would still be alive.' He found himself thinking to himself as he often did. "Kikyo." he said with a loving voice, causing the miko to bring her gaze to him.

"I knew you would come Inuyasha." She told him frankly with a small smirk on her cold lips.

Inuyasha approached the tree she was resting along and looked up as he was a few feet from it. Kikyo looked up to the gaze at the moon momentarily and Inuyasha took this time to examine her. She looked well and wasn't injured. Her pale skin was as flawless as he remembered and he noticed that her spiritual powers were not as it used to be. They were weaker than he remembered from their last meeting.

"Inuyasha, I am growing weaker, surely you have noticed." She told him as he brought his gaze to her eyes. They revealed nothing but pain and loneliness.

"Yes." He replied. She stared at him and closed her eyes before shaking her head.

"Forget it, for you would not agree to my request." She said which caused the hanyou to snap out of his deep thoughts and angrily glared at her.

"Of course I would agree Kikyo, do you not know that I will do anything for you." He told her loudly. There was silence except for the cricking of the crickets and the ripples from the river.

"Inuyasha, do not be a fool. How can you agree to a request without knowing what it is?" She scolded him with narrowed eyes, before letting out a weak sigh.

He took it upon himself and jumped to the same branch she was on, grabbing her by the shoulders and facing her to him. "Kikyo, I don't need to know when we both know I will do anything you ask of." Inuyasha assured her as Kikyo searched in his eyes. Golden orbs were sincere to his word. If she wanted to continue in the world of the living and achieve her revenge on Naraku, then she would do anything that was necessary to accomplish that goal.

It was a selfish request but it was needed, with Naraku alive it will only bring destruction to the world. She was the only one who had the chance to defeat him. How could she if she were to die. There must be a sacrifice to assure the world's safety.

"My request is simple, but it will not be easy. My soul is weakening as well as my spiritual powers. The portion that I possess now is not enough to sustain me for another year." she stopped and waited for his reaction. His face was unreadable but his eyes were clear to see that he was thinking about her reincarnation.

She closed her eyes and shrugged away his grasps from her shoulders. "I told you it will not be an easy task." Kikyo told him as she watched the river wash down its path. Inuyasha saw the look on Kikyo's face and felt his heart tighten. Kikyo's been through so much already, and it wasn't even her fault. It wasn't her fault that she was resurrected by that witch and it wasn't her fault that she died untimely.

Then what about Kagome, this wasn't her fault either. Then he began to think. Kikyo said the portion of Kagome's soul was not enough to sustain her. He thought back to when Kagome's soul had retracted back into her body at will. Kagome had a large soul, which was unusual. Maybe Kagome could give another portion of her soul to Kikyo.

"Kikyo, what exactly do you need?" he had to ask her and be sure of how much of Kagome's soul she needed, yet not enough to kill the girl. She brought her head to him with a look of mild shock. She shook her head and felt a sense of hope.

"I only need but another small portion that should be enough to sustain my body for another three years." she told him as Inuyasha nodded his head but she saw the concern in his eyes. "You need not worry Inuyasha, for we both know the soul that my reincarnation possesses is unnatural large." She started. "She will not die." She assured him.

"I'll do it Kikyo, just tell me what i need to do." He agreed as Kikyo closed her eyes and began to inform him of the tasks needed to be done.

A/N Lady Manami here and finished with the first chapter of The Silver Strand. My first Inuyasha fic. Tell me what you think, and I will very much like reviews, so don't forget to review! It might take a few chapters until the plot of the story starts rolling on. ;)

Also this story will be beta by XxSilverxTearsxX, I am very grateful for her help! I will be gradually posting up the new revised chapters throughout time! :)