The Heroic and Super-Duper Trials of a Girl and a Demon by UnknownRandomness

Release

A/N: Update 6 of 6. This concludes my little backlog and I hope you like the direction this story is taking... you could always leave me a review! (I am a reviews addict, please feed my addiction).

Prompt: Replacement (Week 34)

Word Count: 486

Kagome bit into a succulent berry, its rich juice filling her mouth with its tart essence, but she found no pleasure in it. She had been eating these berries for the past five days, and the young woman was fed up of eating them. There head been some variety in her diet; her hunt for meat was successful, and the young woman had gorged herself on wild pig until she couldn't eat anymore, before burying the entrails and carcass. 

It hadn't been pleasant; killing an innocent animal and then butchering it with an arrow... but once she had washed away the blood and her tears in the stream- and had a hunk of meat roasting on a skewer- her remorse had slowly turned into guilty acceptance. This was the way the world worked, and she wouldn't last very long if she struggled against it. 

Her gaze slowly roved over the forest canopy, dappled light peeking through the gaps. It was incredibly quiet and peaceful, perfect for relaxing. Kagome sighed lightly, dropping the large berry she had picked to munch. The woman from the busy, future Tokyo enjoyed the restful atmosphere, truly thankful that there were no youkai trying to kill her or jewel shards to find; but she was utterly bored.

She yearned to be included in one of Rin and Shippo's energetic games, to hear Jaken grouching about her silly ningen actions, to ride Ah-Un's strong, scaled back, and- most of all- to be in his warm presence; talking or simply being togther. It hurt to think of Sesshoumaru, and she suddenly stood, sickened by her own feelings.

Kagome ignored the multitude of berries that had just tumbled from her lap, just needing to walk, to push him out of her mind before she began to cry; she could feel them, the tears, pooling under her eyelids, making her vision blurry. The miko walked steadily through the trees, mind and feet functioning separately.

Why did she do this to herself? She thought she had cried all the tears she could for Inuyasha and his love for Kikyo, and when she believed that she had moved on, grown up; who was the one to cause her fresh grief? His brother.

'Perhaps it runs in the family' she thought bitterly, 'what with their father and Lady Tashio and Izayoi.'

A horrible thought struck Kagome and her step faltered. Had Sesshoumaru already found a replacement? Filled her space with another woman, a beautiful demoness? An image of Rin hugging a faceless lady filled her head, Sesshoumaru turning towards this woman and smiling, smiling as she wished he would for her.

Kagome sunk to the ground, uncaring of the heavy tears that streaked her cheeks as she made herself a promise. "I won't... I refuse to go through this again; not for myself or that goddamn inu!"  

A little further into the forest, her amber-eyed observer listened avidly.