Strength by Rose

Intro: Never Coming back

Intro:

Wind swirled through the trees as rain pelted the muddy ground. Lightening lit the sky while thunder shook the earth to its very core. A gasp for air traveled through the stinging rain as a woman dressed in a green mini skirt and white low cut shirt sprinted through the dense woods of Feudal Era Japan. Her sapphire colored eyes were wide and filled with fear as she heard her pursuer getting closer. The skinny teen’s muscles trembled from over exertion causing her movements to become strained and less coordinated.

Her dainty feet tripped over a strong tree root that stuck out of the mud. She screamed as her tiny body slid in the mud staining her school uniform. "God damn it." She scolded herself as her feet and hands scrambled in the slippery mud to get to her feet once again. Her nails clamped down into the earth getting slight leverage as she hoisted herself to her knees.

"I've got you now little girl." A boar youkai stated as he barreled through the trees. He roared into the dark sky as he leapt into the air towards his prey.

Her heart froze in mid thump, the world freezing around her as she whipped her head around, water droplets being released from the confines of her hair in the process. Her muscles tensed while her lungs took in oxygen from the surprise of her opponents close proximity. The black haired teen screamed as her hands flew up in front of her in reflex. Tears cascaded down her face as she braced herself for the pain that was coming ever so closer. 'Inuyasha.' Was all her mind could think of as her mind flashed back to what happened to get her to this horrible position.

Earlier that day:

"Sit!" Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs while her fist shook at her side.

Sango grinned from behind her friend that was only covered by a towel. "Miroku will learn his lesson the second I get changed.” Sango whispered to her flustered sister from another mister. “You two will pay for watching us while we bathe!” She screamed as she wrapped her blue towel around her tiny frame.

Shippo watched the scene unfold from the hot spring the girls were standing in. He smirked and watched the enraged hanyou climb to his feet with anger written all over his face. "We weren't watching you!" He snapped at them causing another sit to be screamed from Kagome's mouth.

"Then what were you doing Inuyasha?" Sango snapped at the silvered haired dog that was sprawled out at their feet.

Shippo rolled his eyes and caught a glimpse of white from the bushes. He jumped and screamed as he swam to his adoptive mother. Kagome turned and looked at the scared kitsune that grabbed her leg and stared at the bushes with obvious worry and fear. "Kagome there's something in the bushes." He cried.

Inuyasha grumbled as he rose to his feet once more. His golden orbs stared out into the bushes as he sniffed the air to find the intruder. A green toad looking creature stumbled out of the bushes with an excited Rin pushing him from behind. "Rin you must…" His words stopped rolling off his long tongue as he stared at the half breed and his gang that stood in front of him. "You…what are you doing in the Western lands. You are not allowed to be near here." The green creature snapped pointing his three headed staff accusingly at the gang in front of him.

Kagome gulped as she grabbed her clothes and clung them close to her chest as she felt a demon aura growing close to her own. "Inuyasha?" She said as she backed up towards her secret love.

Inuyasha growled and pulled out his sword that transformed in front of him as he watched his older brother step out of the shadows of the forest to glare at the younger male. "Jaken take Rin to the clearing." Sesshomaru spoke never removing his gaze from the four beings in front of him.

"Yes Milord." Jaken stated as he ushered Rin away from the scene that was going to quickly turn ugly.

Sesshomaru stepped out of the bushes and into the make shift clearing for the hot spring. "What are you doing on this Sesshomaru’s land half breed?" he seemed to growl out in his unemotional tone.

Kagome stepped behind Inuyasha with Sango right beside her. 'Very bad. I can't protect myself and worry about this damn towel.' Kagome thought as she clutched the towel tighter around her form.

"None of your business." Inuyasha snapped.

Sesshomaru deepened his glare at the challenging male in front of him. "It is this Sesshomaru's business to know what is going on, on his lands."

"We were resting for a bit and needed to take a bath." Kagome answered not wanting a battle right now between the two demons.

Sesshomaru turned his icy stare to the two girl’s that were only clad in their towels. He sniffed the air to smell fear radiating off of the demon slayer but smelt confidence and strength from the miko that spoke for her group. 'She shows no fear. Hhmm…' He thought as he took a step towards the group of people causing everyone to tense except for the miko in question. 'Very…different.'

"You must leave this Sesshomaru's lands by tonight." He stated before turning his back on the intruders and disappearing once more into the shadows of the forest.

Inuyasha sheathed his sword and walked away from the stunned girls and scared kitsune that stood behind him. "Where are you going?" Sango asked after the retreating hanyou.

"A walk." He answered bluntly as he leapt into the trees.

"Men." The girls sighed at the same time.

Blink. Blink. Giggles exploded from the two skinny females before that went about collecting their dirty clothes. They walked back to the campsite and got changed before starting a fire for their dinner and warmth for the night.

Darkness crept through the sky as it flashed with light as lightening jolted through the sky. Sango grumbled as she tugged her sleeping bag under a tree. "Looks like its going to be another wet night. Better find shelter." Sango stated as she stared at the quickly moving clouds.

Kagome sighed and packed her things into her yellow back pack before lifting it onto her shoulder. "I better find Inuyasha and tell him that were leaving camp to find shelter." Kagome stated with worry glowing in her eyes. She moved into the shadows of the forest while her friends continued to pack.

"I better find out where that perverted monk is." Sango stated as she rose to her feet.

"I'll come with you." Shippo said as he ran to the demon slayers side with Kilala.

Kagome grumbled as she walked through the woods. The smell of the newly forming rain drops gently caressed her skin, gliding along with the wind that was slowly starting to pick up with the rhythm of the angry storm that was quickly approaching. Her hands worked threw her hair as she pulled it back into a tight ponytail. Her feet glided across the earth as she rounded the corner to the hot spring they were at earlier in the day. "Inuyasha?" She called into the creeping darkness that surrounded the woods. Her ears strained to listen to her surroundings while she walked around the forest in search of her friend.

A soft glow of light shined from the trees as a soul stealer flew through the air towards the pink light. Kagome sighed and moved towards the light hoping she wouldn't see her beloved hanyou in the arms of dirt and clay. Her feet crept closer to the pink light as she peered around a large oak tree that stood proudly in the center of the forest. Her sapphire orbs stared at the silver haired man of her dreams holding the dead woman once more. "You must kill my reincarnation to make me live once more. That's the only way I'll be able to come back to life and be with you." She whispered into his sensitive ears.

Inuyasha pulled away from his love and stared into her blank emotionless eyes. "Kikyo…I…I love you…" That's the last thing Kagome heard before she ran away from the scene.

Tears poured down her face as a flash of lightening lit the forest floor causing rain to fall from the dark clouds. It’s as if the storm felt her pain, her emotions, it wanted to cry for her…with her. Kagome's hands wiped her eyes as she ran around a tree only to collide into something fury. She gasped and looked up into red eyes that glared down at her. "What do we have here?" The youkai spoke as he went to grab the trembling teen.

Kagome rolled to her side and scrambled to her feet. "Leave me alone." She stated a little shaky as she took a weary step back.

The boar youkai rumbled with laughter as he rose to his feet. "I was hoping for a nice meal tonight." He said as his mighty claw swiped at the girl.

Kagome screamed as she turned causing the youki's mighty claws to rip her back pack off her back. Kagome sprinted into the woods as the sky cried on her causing her clothes to cling to her body.

Present:

Kagome held her arms up to protect her face as the boars mighty claws swung down toward her. She huffed as a body crashed into her making them both roll away from the claw that struck the ground. The youkai growled as his red eyes turned to the two bodies that had rolled into the bushes.

Kagome's eyes snapped open to stare into gold. "Stay here." The male voice spoke as he rose from the bush and stepped towards the threatening demon.

Kagome scrambled to the edge of the bushes wanting to catch a glimpse of what might be happening just beyond the brush. She yelped and leapt to her feet as the boars decapitated arm landed in front of her. The screech of pain and impending death ruptured from the bleeding youkai that gripped is lost limb. White flashed from the left to the right and then to the left again before the creature fell to the floor silent.

She couldn’t comprehend what just occurred within the mere seconds that created the minute of her being saved and the death of the ugly creature at her feet. Kagome’s wide eyes landed on the swirl of white as it appeared before her. Her body trembled while her sapphire robs traveled or her saviors fanciful form. Silver hair pressed against his back from the onslaught of rain while his white kimono drip from being drenched by the onslaught of pouring rain. He turned his stare from the dead boar to the female that stared after him in amazement. "S…Sesshomaru?" Kagome stammered trying to help her brain catch up with what just happened.

Her body shook as her mind slowly processed the new information that her eyes were feeding her brain. She couldn’t hold in the relief, the thankfulness that was exploding from her skin. She acted upon impulse. "Thank you." She cried as her body launched itself at the taiyoukai before her, wrapping her arms around his waist in the process.

The western lord stared at her curiously before he let out a warning growl causing the girl to release him. "You are not to touch this Sesshomaru."

Kagome's blood shot eyes turned to the mud as she bowed to the lord and said her sincere thank you once again. Her back straightened when she heard the trees rustling again. Her feet spun in the mud as she turned to look at Inuyasha and the rest of the gang charge into the area ready to attack. "We heard you scream Kagome, are you…you?" Inuyasha stopped and growled out the last word when his eyes landed on his older brother and Kagome standing in front of him. "How dare you attack Kagome?" He snarled drawing his sword.

Sesshomaru opened his mouth to speak only to stop when a black haired miko stepped in front of him with her arms stretched out to either side of her. "Leave him alone Inuyasha. He saved me for your information." She snapped at the enraged hanyou. "Unlike someone I know."

"Who?" Inuyasha asked curiously.

"You! I heard you talking to Kikyo. I'm not stupid." Tears started to roll down her face as she dropped her arms down to her side. "I'm going home." She said as she started to walk away from the group.

Inuyasha stared off after her as his hands tightened around his sword. "What did you hear?"

Kagome froze and whipped her head around to glare at him. Water flew off her body as she glared at the man in front of her. "I heard everything you two said. I thought we were friends at least. I will not let that…that bitch come back to life. And you are a fucking idiot if you think I will let you."

Inuyasha stared at her with amazement. His muscles relaxed as he stared at her tear filled eyes. He stepped towards her only to watch her tense up and her eyes widen. 'Fear, she smells like fear.' Inuyasha thought as he stopped walking towards her.

Sesshomaru stared at the girl with curiosity. 'She's scared of him but not me. Interesting.' He thought as he stepped in between them. "What did you do half breed?" Sesshomaru asked.

"None of your business, now back off." Inuyasha snapped as his hands gripped his sword once more.

Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Kilala stared at the scene with confusion. "Kagome?" Sango said from behind Inuyasha with the others.

Kagome stared at her friends with worry and sadness. "I'm sorry. I can't stay here anymore." She said as her eyes looked down at the ground. "Not when I'm in danger." She whispered the last part under her breath.

Sesshomaru glanced over his shoulder at the girl that hid behind him for safety. 'So he is threatening her now.' "It is now this Sesshomaru's business as to why this miko fears you if she is going to come with this Sesshomaru and watch Rin."

Kagome gasped and looked up at the demon with astonishment. "What?" She asked just loud enough for him to hear.

"No she isn't." Inuyasha snapped at him. "She's staying with us and helping us find the jewel shards."

Kagome glared at the two men said what SHE was going to do. Anger boiled inside of her veins as a little growl crawled out of her mouth. "I'm not doing anything. I'm not watching a little girl, I'm not going anywhere with a man that said he was going to KILL ME, I'm not looking for jewel shards. I AM GOING HOME AND NEVER COMING BACK!" She screamed as her body shook with anger. She turned and ran away from the scene never hearing anyone call her name.

Everyone watched as she disappeared into the darkness. "KAGOME!" Sango called after her dearest friend as she moved forward after her. Kilala transformed and ran along side Sango. The fit demon slayer leapt onto the three tails back before it launched itself into the air.

Miroku turned to Inuyasha who stared after the girl with his mouth agape. "I sure as hell hope that Kagome didn't mean that you were going to kill her." Miroku threatened before he ran after the girls with a tiny Shippo on his shoulders.

"Well half breed, how does it feel to loose all your friends and the one woman that actually loved you all because a dead human?" Sesshomaru asked before he disappeared.

Kagome cried as she stumbled to the well, hearing her friends call after her. She slid to a stop in the mud and stared at her savior who stood next to the well. Sesshomaru stared at the sad girl that stared at him with every emotion swirling around in her eyes except, fear. 'Why doesn't she fear me like everyone else?' He asked himself as he walked towards the girl.

"Don't touch me." She warned as her skin glowed a vibrant pink.

Sesshomaru stopped and stared at the girl in front of him. "Why do you wish to go home if this Sesshomaru wants you to watch Rin?"

Kagome stared at him with anger radiating off of her. "Because I want to go back to where I belong and think things over. I don't need to be somewhere where my best friends attempt to kill me or even think about killing me."

Sesshomaru nodded his head and stepped to the side. "This Sesshomaru can protect you while you watch Rin. You can leave and have the half breed follow you or you can come with this Sesshomaru and never see the half breed again." He proposed.

Kagome stared at the well with longing eyes as her thoughts zipped around in her head. "Kagome!" She heard someone call in the distance. "Fine I'll come." She answered as she let down her barrier. She stepped up to the western lord and stood next to him while she heard her friends call out her name. Her blood shot eyes rose from the ground to stare at Sango and Miroku standing next to each other while Shippo ran towards her.

She smiled a faint smile on her clear face as she bent down and picked up her adopted son. She held him close to her chest as she felt Sesshomaru's demon cloud surround their feet. He glared down at the beings that stared after them. Kagome stared at her friends when her heart stopped as her eyes met with hurt golden orbs. Inuyasha stared at her with hurt written all over his face. She turned her head towards Sesshomaru and closed her eyes as she felt them leave the ground and fly away from her friends and gang of three years.