Made New by SongMiko

Alone.

The morning sun sang the glorious song of day break over the feudal era; the cool air was a refreshing substitute for the hot sun from the day before. Glowing rays of red and gold stretched their limbs across the forest, and gave it the appearance of a jeweled kingdom. It was as if the tree leaves had suddenly become emeralds, and the small stream flowing sapphires. Kagome thought this era definitely topped her own when it came to sun rises, sometimes before the rest of her group was awake, she would get up just to watch it. She almost never missed it. The alone time was a plus too. Though now, she didn't have to wake up too early to be alone. It was only Inuyasha and herself, and he never got up this early unless he had to. A soft smile touched her lips. Mornings like this were the only time where she could truly rest lately. Inuyasha was pushing her harder than ever. With Naraku dead, even if the jewel was still incomplete, you would think that he would lighten up just a bit. Let her take a bath for Kami's sake! No - didn't happen. Yesterday, she had to sit him twenty times before he would let her stop, twenty times! The whole situation was so completely ridiculous that she sat him a few more times just for good measure. Served him right!

Kagome sighed and placed a dainty hand on the side of her face. She guessed she couldn't blame him completely. At least she knew why he was being such a baka - Kikyo. Love is something you should fight for, and when she was the only thing in the way of Inuyasha being with Kikyo, she could understand how he felt. Kagome herself might have done the same thing for him, when she had let her heart belong to him. Two weeks ago she walked in on the two again! The experience was not unlike previous encounters, but still she decided it was the last time she would cry over the Inuyasha. She wouldn't let herself keep hurting-not over him.

Flash back

The clearing Kagome stepped in was being illuminated only by the bright stars and the eerie glow of sliver soul collectors. Kikyo stood proud even as they swam around her, engulfing her in their strange light. Kagome never ceased to be amazed at how much pride Kikyo had. She was stealing the souls of the dead after all. Sure she was beautiful and a powerful priestess, but didn't stealing souls make you sort of like a monster? Kagome would rather give her own life then deny anyone their final rest. Kikyo certainly did not feel the same. Kikyo's midnight hair lifted in the wind, and Kagome saw Inuyasha crinkle his nose. She didn't think he could ever get used to that smell. It almost made her laugh, but she held it in. She didn't want to give away that she was there. Kami she could just see how that situation would play out. But they couldn't see her, at least she hoped not. She pulled herself away from them. Time to go, she knew she didn't want to see this, but her heart was thumping and she wouldn't be satisfied with the unanswered questions buzzing in her head. 'Inuyasha . . . ' The tree she was hiding behind was big enough to lean against, and she turned herself back around. Later she could blame it on her curious nature, but for now she just wanted to find out how everything really was. How he really felt, how Kikyo felt about him.

"Kikyo, I'm so glad you're all right." Inuyasha's voice was soft and so full of relief that there was no way anyone could call him a liar. That was what hurt her the most. Not once had she ever heard him sound so grateful, so perfectly happy. A tear formed at the bottom of an icy blue iris. Maybe answers were not what she wanted after all.

Kagome remembered the battle with Naraku. It had not left Kikyo's fake body in good shape. The image of what Kagome thought was her bleeding corpse still burned her memory. Kikyo might have been her rival, but really she never stopped feeling responsible for getting in the way of Inuyasha's and her happiness. That didn't make Inuyasha's voice hurt any less, though.

Kikyo's body stiffened when she heard him and she turned. "Are you really? You didn't seem so concerned before."

Another vision of Naraku holding Kikyo's body in his tentacles flooded her mind. Kagome had been in the other tentacle and Naraku promised to kill whomever Inuyasha chose not to save. 'That's right. He saved me instead.' Naraku was a sick man. Making him choose between Kikyo and herself.

" Kagome was dying -"

"So was I Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha's ears flattened "You know she's nothing to me." That was it. That was what she stayed for. More tears came and she choked down a sob before it rose from her throat.

"Then why did you choose her over me? Is the bitch so important to you Inuyasha? How easily you forget your love, our promise." Kikyo's face returned to her usual coldness. "I will never be with you so long as you still follow her around like a sick puppy." As silver collector came to her shoulder. "I once thought you were better then the dog inside you. I see now I was wrong."

Inuyasha took a step back."I'll show you, you mean more to me then some shard detector Kikyo! As soon as the jewel is complete."

End Flash back

Kagome stopped listening after that. Why did fate always do this to her? What was this-the fifth time she had walked right into one of their little moments? It didn't matter. That was the last time she was going let herself cry over Inuyasha. As far as she was concerned he and Kikyo deserved each other. She was just happy her friends didn't have to endure this with her.

Only after the battle did Inuyasha sent them home. They slowed them down. At least that's what he told her. No one wanted to leave their sister behind, especially Shippou who needed his mother. But Kagome knew that Sango, and Miroku deserved the wedding they had promised each other, and they could take good care of her Shippou. Besides she was the one who broke the jewel. Why should they have to suffer with her until it was complete? She left them with tears in her eyes back at Kaede's village. Now she guessed that she and Inuyasha were headed into the western lands.

"Oi wench! Where's breakfast?" The blur of a red hanyo landed in front of her.

Kagome jumped. "Coming, sheesh you know you don't have to be so rude!"

"Keh, whatever just hurry it up." He crossed his arms.

Kagome walked over to her old yellow pack gingerly. Of all things how did that stupid old bag survive? "Chicken, or beef?" She held up two Ramon cups and smiled.

"Doesn't matter" Inuyasha took both cups and tossed them over his shoulder. Apparently he changed his mind about breakfast.

"Inuyasha!"

He shrugged.

"Those were mine! And I haven't had anything to eat yet ether!" She threw her fists down.

"Shut up would ya, and quit wasting time." He turned his back to her. "Get on"

"Hold on a second mister! Don't you think that was a bit overboard?! "

"Who cares? We don't have the time."

Kagome fumed. Why did she deserve this? Her stomach was already angry at her for not eating dinner last night. Well that was not entirely Inuyasha's fault. They had gotten into another argument and she simply lost her appetite. Now breakfast was gone too? Really she thought it might be better if she just walked away, and found the jewel shards on her own. 'Fat chance' She mentally rolled her eyes. She was competent enough by now with her miko powers and her bow. If she went alone, she would not be bothered so much. But Inuyasha would never allow it. He was still over protective when it came to her. She remembered the last time Koga had come around. That had not gone well. How could he declare her his one moment and then trash the next? Kami he was going to drive her insane, maybe it was time she took a stand for herself. 'Kikyo would not have stood for this.'

Kagome breathed. Could she really refuse him? Even now with the way he was treating her she still felt like she owed him something. With all the times that he saved her life, and she was the one who was in the way of his happiness. Still, she was worth more than this. She was not just some shard detector, and certainly she would not allow herself to be treated like a slave. She tried to steel her nerves. 'I am letting myself be less than her.'

"What are you waiting for? Let's go" He said again.

"Inuyasha, no."

Inuyasha turned his face with his back still to her. His eyes widened a bit at the new appearance she held. Her normally sunny face was set as hard as stone and the curve of her mouth he was so used to seeing up turned was just the pink flare of a perfect lip. The only thing soft about her face now was her eyes. Those deep pools of blue were sad and frustrated in the place of the brightness he had expected to see. He knew what he was doing wrong but to be honest he couldn't help it. He just wanted this to be over so he could go back to Kikyo. She would never be the same without all of her soul but at least he could tell she still loved him. That was enough to make him push this journey.

"Please Kagome?" He made his tone nice and flattened his ears. "I'm sorry about the Ramon. I just think it's time to move on."

Her face softened, she felt the guilt start to sink in again, but she kept her resolve. "No." Her voice surprised herself. It was stronger then she really felt. 'I can do this.' "I'm not going with you."

~*~

Sesshomaru was not in a good mood, Jaken decided as he looked over to his Lord. His sunlit honey eyes were even colder than usual and Jaken couldn't read them no matter how hard he tried. What he would give to know what was going through his master's glorious head right now. Or any time really.

"Jaken," Sesshomaru's smooth tenor startled him.

"Y-yes mi lord?" Jaken's bulbous eyes bulged even more.

"Stop staring at this Sesshomaru." With that he promptly booted the little imp. Really how dare he let his gaze linger on him? 'This Sesshomaru will not be gawked at.' Rin's light giggle sounded and he turned to her. Well at least the toad amused his ward. The child was a mystery. Her chocolate locks were always tangled and her gap tooth grins never ceased to make him want to smile with her. It was annoying. Still, he would not turn her away. He couldn't bring himself to. To think the almighty Sesshomaru could not rid himself of a little - he stopped his thoughts. He had been down that road before and refused to give it more thought then it was worth. Rin was there, and she was his to protect that was all that there was to it.

"Lord Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin tugged gently on his hakama.

"What is it Rin?" He took a moment already knowing what she would ask to scan the area for anything dangerous. She wanted to go play somewhere. She always kept Jaken busy looking after her while she ran around the country side spreading out her joy. Sesshomaru did not partake in this with her. He found it a waste of time. But she was a child so she had much time to waste. Even if she was a human.

He spread out his aura. The auras of the other life forms pulled and tugged at his letting him know peacefully of their existence. To his surprise among the numerous animals and plant energies he felt he also felt that of his half brother's bitch. He could not mistake the electric and soft miko power she radiated or the touch of his half brother's aura that lingered in her own. Telling him she was claimed. That would not be a matter of importance if he had felt Inuyasha with her but no-she was alone. Sesshomaru couldn't stop himself. He was . . . curious. Moreover, a bitch of his pack should not be left unprotected. Wherever Inuyasha was, he had better have a good reason for leaving the girl. Rin reminded him of her presence with another tug.

"Can I go play in the flowers?" She asked tawny eyes sparkling. He turned his gaze over to the field of blue and yellow flowers. Of course she would choose to go there. She was forever making Jaken wear the flower trinkets she made him. It seemed she and the miko he realized, were alike in their choice of resting places.

~*~

A/N Hey guys thanks for reading, there will be more real soon promise. By the end of the month you shall have the next chapter. Hey don't get mad that this chapter is so short it felt done to me and reviews are nice but they're not necessary still I'd like to hear what you guys think. See you next time

~Song Miko