Chapter Three

Four sets of eyes stared worriedly into the crackling fire, none speaking for a long time. Their companions had been missing for several hours now, but their searches came up empty. The only option now was to make camp and search again in the morning. The small campsite was quiet, with only the bugs of the night chirping and the fire licking at the wood.

Shippo was the first to speak, though he fought through several failed attempts before the words finally came. "Do you think they are all right?" He asked sheepishly. Sango and Miroku exchanged worried glances but didn't speak. Shippo curled his arms around his knees and rested his chin, green eyes staring into the fire. Shippo had short brown hair and a puffy brown tail, and wore blue pants with a lighter blue shirt and a brown vest.

Beside him lay Kirara, a two-tailed cat demon. Kirara never spoke, but the expression in her eyes mirrored that of her companions. She was currently in her kitten form, though during battle she transforms into a full-sized demon resembling a saber-toothed tiger. She had white fur with black ears, feet and markings on her tail and forehead. In her full form she can fly, and she transports her friends around without much effort.

On the other side of the fire Sango sat quietly, occasionally glancing into the darkness of the forest. She wore a two-toned pink kimono with a long green skirt, her long black hair tied loosely with a ribbon. During battle however, she wears her demon slayer outfit consisting of a black suit and pink armor. Behind her lay her Hiraikotsu, a boomerang about her size that she has no trouble wielding. "Do you think we should try searching again?" She asked quietly, her brown eyes turned towards Miroku.

Miroku sat directly beside her, wearing a two-piece blue robe. His right hand was covered with a Tekko and wrapped up with a rosary to keep his wind tunnel from opening. Beside him lay his Shakujou staff, his main weapon aside from the wind tunnel. He brushed his short black hair out of his face and glanced at the shadows. "It wouldn't do any good, I'm afraid. It seems there is nothing we can do but wait." Miroku replied. Sango sighed softly and continued to stare into the fire.

"I'm sure their fine…" Miroku said reassuringly, hoping to ease his companion's anxiety. Kirara's head jerked up and she stared into the forest, her ears perking. 'She senses something!' Miroku thought, following Kirara's gaze. Sango and Shippo followed suit, all watching expectantly for Inuyasha and Kagome to come walking out together. Seconds later, they heard movement.

'Please be Inuyasha and Kagome…' Sango thought, closing her eyes to pray. Many possibilities were running through her mind, not all of them good. She knew she worried too much, but it couldn't be helped. Inuyasha and Kagome were family to her now, and she was concerned.

"Inuyasha!" Miroku exclaimed happily. Sango's eyes flew open and she saw Inuyasha step from the trees into sight, Kagome in his arms. She whispered a silent thank you and jumped to her feet. The joy of seeing Inuyasha alive didn't last long when she noticed his expression. The expression of grief. One Sango knew all too well.

"Kagome…" Sango whispered. Miroku seemed to notice it at the same time. How limp she was in Inuyasha's arms…his expression…and how he couldn't meet their eyes. 'No…Kagome…'

"Kagome!" Shippo called out happily. "Shippo!" Sango exclaimed, scooping him up as he ran for Inuyasha. 'He shouldn't see Kagome like this.' Sango thought. She turned him away so he couldn't see and held him there. He struggled for a moment, not understanding. "Hey, what are you doing, Sango?" he asked, but she didn't reply. She hugged him tight and tried to fight the tears. How could she tell him?

Miroku approached Inuyasha quietly, holding one hand up to his face and silently praying for Kagome. "I didn't…I couldn't…I…" Inuyasha stuttered, falling to his knees and clutching Kagome tightly. Miroku put a hand on his shoulder for comfort. Sango lost her battle with her tears and they began to flood down her cheeks. A tear fell on Shippo, and he looked up.

"S-Sango? What's the matter, Sango?" Shippo asked quietly, trying to peek over her shoulder, but she just clung to him tighter. He heard Kirara's whimper and Inuyasha's voice and knew something was wrong. 'Why won't they tell me what's wrong?' he wondered.

"What happened, Inuyasha?" Miroku asked gently, trying not to sound accusing. The last thing he wanted to do was make Inuyasha feel worse. He could only imagine what Inuyasha was thinking right now, but he knew it couldn't be good. Not if Kagome was gone.

"K-Kikyo…Kikyo killed her…because of me." Inuyasha said slowly, each word like a hot poker to his heart. Tears were starting to form again, despite his attempts to stop them. Miroku's grasp to his shoulder tightened, but it didn't help. Nothing could help.

'Kagome…dead?' Shippo thought, struggling hard against Sango's hold. "Kagome?" He yelled, managing to free himself. He jumped over her shoulder and ran to Inuyasha, who refused to meet his gaze. Sure enough, a lifeless Kagome was slumped over in his arms. He climbed up on her chest to look at her face, then shook her collar, trying to wake her.

Tears blurred his vision as he did, yelling for her to wake. Inuyasha opened his mouth to stop him, but he couldn't form the words. Shippo's sobs pierced the air, and he collapsed on Kagome, hugging her neck helplessly. Sango walked over to them and after a silent prayer for Kagome she once again scooped Shippo into her arms. He didn't fight this time, but clung to her and continued to sob.

"Inuyasha…I'm so sorry." Sango whispered softly, then took Shippo with her back to the fire to grieve. His sobs turned to whimpers, and his tear-filled eyes looked up at Sango's. "She looked so scared…Did she die afraid?" Shippo asked between cries. Sango's eyes filled once more, blurring her vision. 'I hope not…What a horrible way to die…' She thought.

Inuyasha was deathly still. Miroku knelt beside him and Kagome and said nothing. Kirara licked Kagome's face, and no one spoke for several minutes. Inuyasha eventually broke the silence. "What do I do…Miroku? What do I do now?" He asked quietly. Miroku looked up, surprised. Inuyasha never asked for help, or for guidance.

"We should give her a proper burial." Miroku said, looking around the area for a good spot. "I can do it, if you'd like." He added quietly. Inuyasha didn't answer for several minutes.

"No, it's my burden. I'll do it, but not here. She should be buried back in her time, with her family. They should know, anyway." Inuyasha decided, looking at Kagome's face. 'Though they will never forgive me for failing her.' He added silently.

"That's very thoughtful of you, Inuyasha." Sango said, turning slightly to look at him. Were he himself, he would have jumped up, glared at her, and yelled at her for implying he wasn't always thoughtful while shaking his fist. Then Kagome would have made him 'Sit'. Now she could never make him 'Sit' again. He buried his head in her hair again and silently prayed for her to come back, open her eyes and tell him it was all a dream.

But she didn't. "We should leave now then. We can't wait until morning." Miroku said, standing up. Sango nodded and got up as well, gathering their things and preparing Kirara for the flight. Kirara transformed, more than tripling her size. Inuyasha stood as well, positioning Kagome on his back to make it easier for him to run.

Sango jumped on Kirara's back, holding a sleeping Shippo in her arms. 'Poor kid cried himself to sleep…' Sango thought. Miroku sat behind her and nodded to Inuyasha, signaling him that they were ready. They departed, Kirara flying through the sky and Inuyasha running below them. With their speed, it didn't take them long to reach Kaede's village, the last stop before the well that would take Inuyasha and Kagome back to Kagome's time. Kaede greeted them, despite the time of night.

"Kaede, shouldn't you be sleeping?" Sango asked, a little confused. Kaede, an old woman now but the younger sister of Kikyo, had long been a source of guidance on moral support for Inuyasha and Kagome. She was the Priestess for this little village, and very knowledgeable. She stood directly in the road, stopping Inuyasha from passing.

"I sensed that something was wrong. From the look on your faces, I can see I was right. Please, come inside." Kaede said, gesturing her house. Inuyasha shook his head.

"I'm in a hurry, old woman." He said, then tried to get around her. Kaede stood her ground, and pointed at her hut. "Now." Was all she said. Inuyasha sighed, but decided he wasn't in the mood to argue. So he took Kagome inside and lay her on the floor on a blanket. Sango and Miroku decided to wait outside with Shippo and Kirara.

"Kagome…" Kaede whispered, touching the girls face. She looked at Inuyasha with curious eyes. "What happened to her?" She demanded. Inuyasha jerked, guilt and despair crossing his face.

"It's all my fault. I went after Kikyo, and Kagome followed. I was selfish…and foolish." Inuyasha said, shaking his head angrily. Kaede waited patiently for him to gather the courage to continue. "But she knocked me out. Kikyo killed her because she thought Kagome made me want to live, where Kikyo wants me to die with her. Kikyo killed Kagome because of me. I lead her right to her death…" Inuyasha said, balling his hands into fists and smashing them into the floor.

Outside he heard Sango whisper softly, "Poor Inuyasha…how horrible." Miroku grunted in agreement. Inuyasha shook his head. 'How could they feel sorry for me? They should hate me for what happened to Kagome. I hate myself.' He thought.

"You didn't know, Inuyasha. I am confident of that." Kaede said softly, touching Inuyasha's hand. Inuyasha stared at her blankly. "If you had known Kikyo would kill Kagome, you never would have gone in the first place. Kagome means too much to you. My sister is a fool." Kaede whispered. Kaede loved her sister dearly, but this reincarnation wasn't her. Betrayal, hate, and anger had ruined her soul. Naraku had ruined her sister.

Inuyasha watched as Kaede began to touch Kagome, first feeling for a pulse then opening her eyelids. Inuyasha was about to ask her what she was doing when a whirlwind of footsteps outside caught his attention. The scent of wolf filled his nose and he cringed. 'Koga…' he thought. He did not have the patience for that mangy wolf.

Koga was the leader of a wolf-demon pack who'd kidnapped Kagome then fell in love with her. He was tall, with long black hair in a ponytail and a brown wolf-fir headband. He wore black and silver armor with a brown wolf-fur skirt and tail. Koga is known for his speed due to two Sacred Jewel shards embedded in his legs. Though he declares his love for Kagome and swears to one day marry her, she doesn't feel the same. Koga is a constant rival of Inuyasha, and their meetings never end without a fight.

"Koga!" Sango exclaimed, stepping in front of him to stop him. But he wasn't to be stopped. His blue eyes bore down on her. "Where is Kagome? How come I smelled that mutt and not her? Isn't she always with you guys? Did he let something happen to her? Bastard!" Koga yelled angrily, never giving Sango a chance to speak. Miroku tried to move in, but Koga shoved past them both.

Inside, Inuyasha heard the entire exchange and felt his blood boiling. 'How dare he accuse me of…I would never…' But it was useless. Koga was right. Inuyasha hissed angrily at himself. 'Damned wolf is right. I've done this to her.' He thought. Koga came marching into the hut angrily, ready to yell when he saw Kagome and darted to her. He knew the moment he touched her cold hands. Inuyasha never moved, facing away from them and staring at the wall.

"Bastard! You let Kagome die! This is all your fault you stupid mutt!" Koga yelled angrily, holding up a fist at Inuyasha even though he couldn't see it. Inuyasha didn't move. "Don't ignore me you—"

"You are right." Inuyasha said quietly. So quietly Koga almost didn't hear. His admission of guilt made Koga pause. This was not like Inuyasha at all. Usually Inuyasha would be in his face, calling him a mangy wolf and demanding he leave. Instead he sat very still. But this wasn't enough to quell the anger in Koga's heart.

"You admit it! You are the blame for Kagome's death!" Koga yelled, stomping his foot. Sango and Miroku stepped in, standing between the furious Koga and the silent Inuyasha. "Koga, stop this! Can't you see Inuyasha is hurting?" Sango pleaded, hoping to calm him.

"He isn't hurting enough! Kagome is dead because of him. DEAD." Koga bellowed, glaring at the back of Inuyasha's head. Miroku pushed him back by swinging his staff.

"It wasn't Inuyasha's fault! Kikyo knocked Inuyasha out and killed Kagome out of jealousy!" Miroku said, threatening to swing his staff at Koga again should he try to attack Inuyasha. Inuyasha smiled slightly. They were trying to protect him, but he didn't deserve protection. He deserved whatever Koga inflicted.

"I don't care! He didn't protect her! He didn't-"Koga started, but was interrupted when Sango exploded in his face. Anger distorted her features, and he could almost see the flames of fury surrounding her. "SHUT UP! If Kagome were alive, she wouldn't want you to fight! She'd be ashamed at you! So stop it right now! It wasn't Inuyasha's fault, and yelling at him and making him feel bad isn't going to bring Kagome back. Kagome is dead, Koga. And we all have to live with that." Sango yelled furiously.

"This girl isn't dead." Kaede said matter-of-factly. The old woman didn't have to turn around to know that every set of eyes were fixated on her. And judging by the gasps and silent anticipation in the room, she knew she had their attention. "Kagome is not dead. She isn't necessarily alive either. But the point is that she can be saved." Kaede finished.

'Kagome can be saved…'