Don't Fall Away by Brandie

Distand Relationship

Summary- Sess&Kag; After an incident in her time, Kagome starts to distance herself from InuYasha and the others. This has them all worried, especially Sango. One night, Kagome goes off on her own to take a short walk. When she doesn't come back, the group heads out immediately to search for her. As it turns out, the shards of the Shikon no Tama that Kagome carries attracted a demon and she was attacked.( This is not one of those stories when Kagome forgets her bow and arrows at the camp like an idiot. She just happens to need a little help.)*Three guesses who*

disclaimer- Well, let's just say that I wouldn't be putting up this disclaimer if I owned the show or the characters. However, I wouldn't mind owning Sesshomaru.*giggle* Anyways, if I did own InuYasha, you can believe that things would be so much different. For example, Kagome would be with Sesshomaru and InuYasha would be...well, I guess he'd just be there. It wouldn't make sense to get rid of InuYasha, then you'd have to find an entirely different name for it and it would throw off the plot entirely. But, then again, so would putting Sesshomaru and Kagome to gether. Enough of my babbling. On with the story!

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Say good night

Don't be afraid

Calling me, calling me

As you fade to black

(EvaneScence: My Last Breath)

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Don't Fall Away

Chapter One: Distant Relationship

Kagome peeked over the side of the well and sighed. Now that she had graduated school, she had almost no excuse to go home every week or so. But, no school also meant that she didn't have to wear the uniform anymore. Kagome's new outfit of choice was a baby blue tank top, a black velvet jacket, and a matching pair of black velvet jogging pants. She was hoping that she would get lucky and that InuYasha would be with Kikyo. She sighed in relief when she saw no one. Kagome hoisted herself over the lip and cautiously started walking toward Kaede's village. She could hear her heart beating in the calm silence of the forest. The atmosphere helped to calm her down a bit, but it did nothing for Kagome's sense of dread that kept building the closer she got to the village. Kagome stopped walking and took a deep, calming breath. She heard a stick snap and fought the urge to turn back and retreat to the safety of the well. Kagome searched her surroundings, and when she was satisfied that it was only an animal, kept going.

When she finally reached the village, Kagome pushed all thoughts of uncertainty out of her mind and attempted to act as close to her normal self as she could manage. She walked into Kaede's hut and waved. Sango and Miroku looked up and waved back at her. Kagome looked around the hut for InuYasha and hid the relief that she felt when he wasn't there. She went to the other side of the fire and took out her sketch book.

"Do you think something's wrong with Kagome?" Sango whispered to Miroku after about a week of the same behavior.

"Perhaps she's just tired." Miroku offered.

Sango frowned and looked over to the far side of the hut, which had become Kagome's new seat since about two days ago. "She's steadily been getting worse, though." Sango said. "I really do think that she may be purposely avoiding us."

"She just lookes tired to me. Remember, Sango, Kagome's not used to this kind of work like we are." Miroku pointed out.

Sango frowned again. She got up and walked over to Kagome and sat next to her. Kagome jumped and her face paled.

"Kagome, is something wrong? You're not really acting yourself today." Sango said. Kagome glanced around nervously and then looked back at Sango. Kagome smiled weakly and shook her head.

"No, I'm fine." Kagome said nervously. Sango raised her eyebrows at her.

"Really?" Sango asked.

"Yes, really. I'm fine. I'm just a little tired, that's all. You don't need to worry." Kagome said reassuringly. Sango frowned again, but went back to sit with Miroku and Kirara anyway.

Kagome sighed and looked back at her drawing. It was not something that any normal person would draw. It was a peaceful little village and it looked quite nice. There was only one problem with it; it was on fire. The small village was engulfed in a raging inferno that was slowly destroying it. There were dark figures standing by the edge of the forest, their eyes burning red, but not from the fire reflecting in their cold depths.

Kagome jumped as she heard InuYasha walk into the hut. He looked around and spotted Kagome in her corner and walked over to her.

"What are you doing?" he said, plucking the sketch pad right out of her hands.

"InuYasha! Give that back!" Kagome yelled.

"I don's see what's so important about this thing." InuYasha said, examining the drawing. "It's just a piece of paper with a picture on it."

"I don't care! Give it back, InuYasha!" Kagome said angrily. "Osuwari!"

InuYasha was slammed face-first into the ground. Kagome reached over and snatched her sketch pad back from him. Miroku and Shippo shook their heads, but Sango looked at Kagome with worry. She was sure that there was something wrong with Kagome other than what she claimed. Sango decided to keep an eye on her, just in case.

InuYasha got off the flore and glared at Kagome.

"What the hell was that for?!"

"You were being an ass hole. I thought it would have been obvious." Kagome snapped, shoving her sketchbook into her back pack. "But I guess I was wrong."

Kagome got up and slung her considerably smaller back pack over her shoulder. She strode over to the door and stopped when Sango spoke.

"Where are you going, Kagome?" she asked. Kagome was silent for a second.

"For...for a walk." she muttered, then stepped out into the darkness. Kagome picked up a bow and some arrows that were sitting against the side of the hut and wandered into the forest. She walked along, following no specific path, kicking up dirt with her heels. Kagome sighed and looked up at the stars that shone through the trees. The sky reflected in her eyes, making them look like some sort of priceless gem. Kagome sighed.

A twig snapped somewhere behind her, and Kagome quickly notched an arrow. She backed into the shadows and held her breath. A demon walked into the clearing in front of her and stopped.

"I know you're there, miko." it said. "Now be a good girl and give me the shards of the Shikon no Tama, and I may spare your pitiful life."

"Over my dead body, ass hole." Kagome said. She shot the arrow into the demon's heart. It screached in agony and pulled the shaft out, but the head was stuck in its chest.

"You'll pay for that, bitch!"

The demon lunged at Kagome and she jumped behind a tree. Kagome quickly notched another arrow and let it loose in the demon's back.

"Is that you, Kagome-chan?"

Kagome whirled around and gasped.

"Rin-chan! What are you doing here?" Kagome asked breathlessly. "You shouldn't be here. I need you to go back to Sesshomaru."

"Sesshomaru-sama is not here. Sesshomaru-sama left Rin with Jaken. Jaken was supposed to be watching Rin, but he fell asleep, so Rin went to go find Sesshomaru-sama, but Rin found you instead!" Rin said quickly.

"Rin-chan, go hide until I'm finished, okay?" Kagome said pleadingly. Rin nodded and retreated just out of Kagome's sight range. Kagome turned back to the demon, who was still trying to remove the second arrow from his back. Kagome notched yet another arrow, but never got a chance to shoot it. Sesshomaru appeared in the small clearing and finished off the demon in one blow with his poison claws. Rin ran out of her hiding spot and threw her arms around Sesshomaru's leg.

"Kagome-chan saved Rin. She told Rin to hide while she killed the demon, but Kagome-chan didn't kill the demon." Rin said excitedly. Kagome smiled warmly at the child who was still clinging to Sesshomaru's leg. Kagome turned around and started to walk back to Kaede's village, but stopped when she heard Rin call her name.

"Where is Kagome-chan going?" she asked. Kagome turned around and knelt in front of Rin.

"I have to go back to my friends now." Kagome said apologetically. "We'll see each other soon, okay?" Rin nodded and Kagome smiled at her.

Kagome stood up and walked back into the forest. After she had walked for a few minutes, Kagome slowed her pace significantly. 'I don't have to go back just yet.' Kagome thought. 'It wouldn't hurt to stay out a little longer.' With that settled, Kagome walked a few feet from the path she had chosen and sat down against an old tree. Kagome sighed and leaned her head back against the soft bark of the tree. Kagome felt her exhaustion taking over and was asleep within minutes.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Kagome hasn't come back yet!" Shippo whined. Kirara walked over to him and nuzzled his cheek. Sango turned to Miroku and looked at him with a worried expression. Kagome had been gone since the previous night and Shippo thought that she left him.

"InuYahsa, maybe it's time that we go find Kagome." Miroku proposed.

"If she wanted to come back she would have done it by now." Sango glared at InuYasha and stood up.

"If you're not going to look for Kagome, then I will." she said. Sango picked Shippo up and walked out the door, followed by Miroku.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kagome woke to the warm sun on her face. She opened her eyes and sighed. 'I should get back now.' she thought. Kagome stood up and stretched. She picked up her backpack, her bow, and her arrows and started walking back to the village. It only took her a few minutes to realize that she didn't remember which way she had come. Sure, she had fallen asleep right next to the path, but she just didn't know which direction to take.

"Okay, we need to deal with this in a mature fashion." Kagome declared. "Heads left and tails right." Kagome took a penny out of her backpack and flipped it; it was heads. She shrugged and headed west. After about a half hour, Kagome sighed in frustration and sat down on the path.

"I think I went the wrong way." Kagome stated. "Ugh! How does she do it? Kikyo runs all around here and she never seems to get lost! Shouldn't I have some sort of instinct on this stuff or something?" Kagome stood up and headed back the way she came.

Kagome heard a rustle in the bushes behind her and turned around. Rin jumped out of the bushes and ran up to Kagome.

"Hi, Kagome-chan! Rin saw you walking and decided to visit!" Rin said excitedly. She continued to chatter while Kagome was searching for Jaken or Sesshomaru.

"Rin-chan! Where are Sesshomaru and the other...thing?" Kagome asked. Rin stopped talking and tilted her head in a dog-like fashion.

"Rin left Master Jaken in a clearing because he fell asleep. And Sesshomaru-sama is going for a walk." Rin stated. "Rin didn't feel like listening to Master Jaken snore anymore. So, Rin went to go find something else to do."

"Rin-chan, you should't run around on your own." Kagome said gently. "Come on. Let's go find Sesshomaru."

"Okay!" Rin said hapilly. Kagome kept walking west with Rin in tow. They were walking for around a half an hour when something tugged at the edge of Kagome's senses. She stopped and Rin looked up at her. Kagome stood there, waiting for whatever was nagging at her senses to appear.

Sesshomaru walked calmly around the bend in the path and came face to face with Kagome who, for some reason unknown to him, had Rin standing slightly behind her. Rin's face lit up when she saw Sesshomaru and she ran to him and attached herself to his leg. Kagome tilted her head slightly, trying to grasp why this scene looked so strange. Then it hit her and she had to bite her bottom lip to keep from laughing.

"Rin is happy to see you, Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin exclaimed.

"Where is Jaken, Rin?" Sesshomaru asked. Kagome noted that he wasn't as cold towards the young girl as he was to everyone else. A few seconds later, Jaken came scurrying up behind Kagome.

"Jaken, I specifically recall ordering you to keep and eye on Rin." Sesshomaru said after the toad had stopped running. "Your imcompetance is wearing thin on my patience."

"Please forgive me, Sesshomaru-sama!" Jaken said quickly. Sesshomaru gave no sign of having heard him. He turned around and Jaken hurried to follow.

"Sesshomaru-sama! Can Kagome-chan come , too?" Rin asked hopefully. Kagome, who had taken to leaning against a tree, looked up at Rin. She had thought that they had forgotten that she was even there. Sesshomaru turned to look at the little girl also. Rin seemed to be silently pleading with him. Sesshomaru nodded ever so slightly and Rin grinned. She ran over to Kagome and pulled Kagome along with her. Kagome was going to say something, but the fact that she was coming along seemed to make Rin so happy and she just couldn't hurt the girl's feelings. So, Kagome just let Rin pull her along the path. After a while, Kagome and Rin started up a game of "I Spy". Rin would usually pick the same thing over and over.

Kagome got tired of Rin's constant chattering and gave her a yo-yo to play with, which kept her abnormally quiet.

"There!"

Kagome jumped and turned around to see Sango, Miroku, and Kirara coming towards them.

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Ah! Oh no! whats gonna happen next? You can fink out for yourself later. Dasvidanya!