The Power of Seven

Chapter Twenty-One

**** Day Twenty-Three ****

Kagome walked into the bedroom, noticing two things. Sano hadn't come back from his bath yet but Hiei was in the room laying on the bed. His eyes were closed, something told her he wasn't sleeping. He hadn't spoken to her since she'd gotten back, keeping away from her. It made her edgy being this close to him and alone. She tried to relax seeing he wasn't going to pay her any attention yet again. It was just as well, she wouldn't know what to say to him.

She couldn't go back now, she had a relationship with Sano. Unlike Hiei he payed attention to her, she rarely saw the small man. Everytime she did Mukuro was always at his side, a constant reminder of who she wasn't. Hiei never struck her as the type to go for looks. No, he was the type of man to appreciate power. Once again she was found lacking, the other woman being better at fighter and being stronger. She couldn't change who she was, she wasn't about to try again. Having done so once, it hadn't changed the end result.

Life had taught her that lesson well, she was Kagome. She sat on the edge of the bed, her hand went to her shoes. Night was just starting to fall, leaving the room halflit. Her fingers shook, his eyes were on her. Let him stare at her, she could ignore him as well. There was no reason for her to be nervous, it was just Hiei.

"No need to be nervous, I have no intention of touching you." Hiei closed his eyes again and leaned against the pillow. Any fool could see how nervous she was, trembling like a leaf, clearly keeping her distance from him. He was too tired to provoke a fight between himself and Sano, she wasn't worth it. Mukuro was right, Sano had every right to have her. Let the humans have each other, he could find someone else to sate his lusts on.

Kagome saw red, the cocky little shit. Not giving any other sign she took a deep breath then stood up. She reached for the pillow once she was in range, the sound of his grunting told her he was aware of her movements. "I'm going to sleep somewhere else if you don't mind." There was a slight shrug to his shoulders as he dismissed what she was saying. Before he could react she brought the pillow down across his face. He bolted up in the bed, his eyes glared at her. "Because you are a big asshole. Wait, I stand corrected, you are a tiny asshole."

"Girl, do that again and you'll regret it I assure you." He glared at her, his cheek stinging from the lash. The move wasn't something he'd been expecting. How childish could she be to hit him with a pillow. She met his glare giving her own, trying to intimidate him. "Leave, you aren't worth the effort." He wasn't going to fight with her, he was too tired. Let her sleep on the floor with Sano for all he cared.

"Well, I'm so sorry that I'm not your bionic bitch! Why don't you go sleep in her bed? Or are you afraid of gettting electricuted during the night if she short-curcuits?" She threw the pillow at him, his mouth was a thin white line. Maybe she was pushing him too hard by insulting his lover but she didn't care. Why had he bothered to sleep with her if he was being with another woman?

"Hn." The thought came to him, floating between them. His mind pulled up the feelings he'd felt passed on to him when she'd given herself to Sano. His own anger flared to life, fueled by his jealousy. "Let me inform you of why. We argued, so I sated my lust on the next available thing; you. But I should have known the replacement is never as good as the original. I learned my lesson quickly, I won't repeat my mistake. You weren't worth coming back to."

Hiei tossed the pillow back at her still form, her face was now turned to the floor. "Don't even think for a minute that you'll end up happy with Sano. He is merely doing what I thought to do. But the poor fool lacks experience, he'll see it for himself soon enough. You aren't worth spitting on, you'll be tossed aside when he tires of you." Hiei tried to feel if his words were having any effect, wanting to lash out and cause her pain. "When this is over you might as well go home, back to where you belong. Save Sano the trouble of getting rid of you, save him your teary goodbye."

"No, you're wrong." Kagome's voice came out weak even to her own ears. A hollow feeling was begining to settle in the pit of her stomach. He couldn't be right, she couldn't take that. Not again, just because Hiei didn't want her didn't mean Sano couldn't find it in himself to care about her. He had to care, why else would he be with her? "Sano cares about me."

"Don't fool yourself. Do you honestly think you are worth loving? You are nothing but a weak human, not even a pretty one. You barely scrape by as being attractive. I've seen images of this Sayo that he was in love with by using my jagan. I assure you, you are nothing compared to her. That woman was beautiful, you are nothing but a replacement for what he lost. Whatever made you think that he loved you? Because he fucked you? Let me point out that I did also. Know that when I say the emotion I feel for you comes nowhere near love, it never will." Hiei probed her when her shoulders stiffened, still there was nothing. So she didn't give a shit what he had to say, fuck it. "Get out of here, you can find somewhere else to sleep tonight."

Kagome let her feet drag her out the room, the cold tile going unnoticed. He was right and it hurt, what had made her believe that either of them would ever come to care for her? Had she been that eager to find love and acceptance that she'd throw herself at any man to show her attention? She couldn't hate him for pointing out the obvious and the truth. She'd given Inuyasha her whole heart and trust, doing whatever to make him happy. That hadn't been enough to keep him at her side. Did she think by giving her body to them, they'd come to love her? Love was something one must earn and be worthy of.

How could she earn their love when she wasn't worthy of it to begin with? What did she have to offer anyone? She was nothing special, there was nothing unique about her. Just another average human female, boring others with her miserable existence. Why would someone ever love her? She wasn't powerful like Mukuro, wasn't beautiful like Sayo. Even Sango was a good fighter, Rin had her cheery personality, Shizuru had an awesome sense of humor and was brave. Genkai was worthy of any man's attention, being strong and beautiful. While she was always in need of being to be saved, getting herself into trouble. Giving nothing to those around her, just more trouble than she was worth.

Hiei was right, why hang onto Sano? He'd end up leaving her in the end and she'd cry about it, making him feel bad about not returning her feelings. Save him the trouble of having to end it, he had no reason to want to remain with her after this was over. But she couldn't go back to the past, there was nothing for her there. There was nothing for her here either.

Rin walked quietly behind Kagome, she'd called out to the miko twice already but got not response. Something seemed to be causing her to be lost in thought. She kept behind her, just in case the girl wasn't feeling well. Their walk led them to the roof of all places, Rin gasped as the cold air rushed over her. It was extremely cold out, she had been off to bed, not planning on a night stroll. "Kagome, where are you going?"

The pale girl didn't answer but kept walking, Rin picked up her pace trying to catch up. The miko stopped when she got to the edge, maybe she just wanted to enjoy the view. She began to worry when the girl stepped onto the edge, another step and she'd go over. "Kagome, come down, we are up high. Rin doesn't want to see you try to fly." The miko didn't give any sign that she heard, instead she stared at the ground far below. Rin couldn't stop the panic and fear she felt, she took a couple of steps closer putting her only a foot away. A strong aura picked up daring her to come any closer, "Kagome, please you are scaring Rin."

Kagome felt the first tear fall as she gazed down into the darkness, she couldn't even see the ground. The darkness was calling to her, beckoning her like a lover's embrace. She longed to throw herself into the nothingness that waited for her on the otherside. One step would end all the pain, her useless life. No longer would she be someone's copy, no longer a bother to anyone. Maybe if she was finally dead she could compete with Kikyou. Would Inuyasha finally love her, if he knew she'd given up on life; unable to go on without him?

Rin heard footsteps seconds before Yomi and Kurama came out the door twenty feet away. They stopped in their tracks feeling the aura the miko was giving off. She turned back to her friend, "Please come down, please for Rin." The girl wasn't listening though, tears were streaming down her face. There was no talking to her it seemed, Rin didn't want to see her hurt herself. For several more minutes she tried calling her name, anything to stop her from going over.

"Oh fuck!" Shizuru stopped beside Kurama, seeing the girl standing on the edge. Yomi grabbed Sano as he tried to run past him, Kurama helped him latch onto the man's arms as he tried to run to the girl.

"Don't, if you run to her, she may jump before you even get close enough to help." Kurama yelled at him, ceasing his struggle. They had no idea what was going on in her mind, one wrong move and she'd go over. Rin was the only one close enough to make a difference if she tried it. Then again there wasn't much the small girl could do.

"Kagome!" He yelled her name, hoping she'd hear him. He could feel her pain, its was tearing through him. Something had caused her to breakdown, she was losing the will to live. He couldn't let her do it, he couldn't lose her. "Kagome, please listen to me. Don't do it! What are you going to accomplish by this?"

The question finally got her attention, she turned and smiled at him. "Earning his love." Another tear fell at his startled gasp, then she stepped forward letting her eyes close. There were screams as something hard wrapped around her wrist. The feeling of falling consumed her, letting her know the end was near.

Rin screamed as the air rushed past her, she didn't like trying to fly. Somehow she doubted the blue man would be there to catch her this time. "Rin doesn't want to die!" She screamed into the air, knowing no one could save them in time. She had just thrown herself off the roof with Kagome without thinking ahead. The pulsing began at her side seconds before she screamed, something hard slammed into her back breaking her hold on Kagome's wrist. The sound was cut short, her world went black.

Yomi fell to the floor the same time Sano did. The pain consumed his body, tearing through him. Kurama grabbed his shoulder bending down to see to him. "Leave me, see to them." Kurama nodded and looked over at Sano real quick, Hiei was in the same position no doubt. He started running back down the hall only to pass Hiei's crouched form in the hallway. A groan was heard as he leapt over his fallen friend, he jumped down the stairs, making his way to the first level.

He was the first to get to them and cringed at the shape they were in. He was scared to find out just how bad it was, there was no way they could have survived the fall. Kagome had landed on her side while Rin had hit her back. Blood was pooling out of the miko's head, to coat her thick black hair. Rin's arm was turned in the wrong direction, having broken on impact. Her head was rolled to the side showing she too had hit her head. A groan escaped the miko, "Impossible."

He ran over to check on her, the pulse was feignt but there. Rin's was stronger but that was the only indication that she still lived. Yusuke was the next to come out, eyeing the two bodies. "Don't ask, just pick Kagome up and bring her inside. We need to take them to Genkai."

"No need I'm here." Genkai scowled seeing both of them. "I find it hard to believe that they both jumped. What happened?" She went to work healing them. "The miko is done, take her inside Yusuke. I'll need more time with Rin, her back is broken." She kneeled next to the girl, doing what she could for her.

"Actually, Kagome was the one that jumped, Rin just decided to go with her for some reason." Kurama ran a hand over the pale forehead, thanking whatever had saved them. What had caused the miko to jump? What could be bad enough to make her want to end her life? Better yet why hadn't Hiei shown up like Sano? He should have been able to feel the girl's distress more.

Shura came out frowning, all hell was breaking loose inside. "I've come to retrieve her body." He'd heard his father's outraged cry, then saw him on the ground. He knew what the pain was caused from, loosing one's mate. His eyes fell to Rin, she was alive! That meant his father should be able to feel that as soon as the pain passed. "Let me take her to him."

Genkai nodded, she was done. "Careful, I'm sure she'll still be in some pain. She's lucky she still has a body." Shura picked her up, frowning at the large pool of blood that was being left behind. The boy cradled her against his chest taking care not to disturb her. He walked back inside, feeling his father quickly approaching.

Sango was on the floor holding the miko crying, he frowned. His father got to him, he wasted no time in taking the girl. Shura saw the relief cross his face and his father called him a fool. The small girl looked like a doll in his arms, his father turned on his heels leaving them. He bent down placing a hand on Sango's shoulder.

She turned to him with tear filled eyes, "Why?" Why would Kagome try to leave her? Someone landed in front of her, her eyes stared at black boots. Hiei bent down to try and take her. Her anger flared, "No, don't you touch her." Her hand slapped his away, he couldn't take her. She looked into his eyes, there was guilt all over his face. "You had something to do with it didn't you. So help me, if you did something to hurt her I'll kill you."

Anger flashed through his eyes for a brief moment and then nothing. He stood up and backed away, trying to control his anger. Forcing the issue wasn't an option either. He might be able to handle the taijiya but the look Shura was giving him was enough. He would interefere on the girl's behalf, fighting him would solve nothing. She was alive, he'd be content with that for now. There was no doubt in his mind, he'd been the one to cause it. Not long after she'd left the room, the pain had reached him. At first he'd been glad to feel it, knowing that he'd hurt her as much as he was hurting, if not more. Then minutes later, a wave of despair had crashed over him. He tried to tell himself he was feeling it because she was human, they always felt things stronger. Then the feeling of finally accepting death had come to him, he'd tried to move but he'd collapsed in the hall.

Shura took the miko from her, "We need to put her in bed, where she'll be comfortable." She nodded at him, getting to her feet. Sano came rushing up to them, Sango turned to him. "You aren't to come near her either. Not until I've spoken with her do you understand. I won't hesitate to kill you. As much as I want to help here, Kagome comes first. Don't force me to do something I will regret later."

"Are they okay?" Shizuru pulled up beside Kurama and Genkai. What the hell had Kagome been thinking to take a dive off the top of a building? It was apparent she was depressed at times but what could have caused it? Kurama told her that they had survived somehow. "What would make her want to do it?"

"Her eyes," Kenji spoke from beside her, his head held down in sorrow. "They spoke of a person that had given up. My mother once had that look, she'd almost given up in the end. That girl was ready to die." Pity was a strong feeling, a person shouldn't have to suffer like that. He looked over at Sano who was standing still, hands fisted at his sides. "Sano, you know why don't you."

"The first thing I do when I die is hunt that bastard down, I don't care if I have to go to hell to find him." That bastard deserved to be miserable for everything he'd done. Someone like Kagome didn't deserve what happened to her. The wounds he'd inflicted still bled, causing her constant pain. "No one deserves what she went through."

"Hmph, if you are speaking of Inuyasha then you are wasting your breath." Jaken came walking down the hall to fetch the fox for his lord. "That stupid hanyou doesn't deserve to have his name repeated. Let his soul rot in hell with his dead bitch. Though I'm sure he is rotting alone, since there wasn't a soul to accompany him on his journey." Jaken chuckled at the thought, Lord Sesshoumaru had been right. His brother had been an idiot, a disgrace to their lineage. Loving a human was one thing, that was forgivable but to love someone that wasn't even real was foolish in his opinion. The soul contained in that woman had been the miko's. So the hanyou had been loving nothing more than a memory. "He choose to go to hell with the dead woman, atleast my lord died in battle."

"You were there weren't you." Sano looked down at the imp, who looked ready to spit nails. The mention of Inuyasha seemed to piss him off as well, he had to have been there. He knew that Inuyasha had gone to hell with Kikyou. Sano doubted Kagome would confide in the imp, so he had to witness it first hand.

"Of course I was, don't be stupid. I watched it all happen, I had to watch my Lord die that day. Then Inuyasha turns around and disgraces my Lord's family. He didn't even die in battle like a warrior, he let a child do what he could not. He was too busy worrying about a woman that was already dead instead of taking care of Naraku. Can't blame the miko for feeling like discarded trash, when the hanyou chose a woman made of dirt over her." Jaken found himself jerked off the ground, the little man cutting off his air supply. "Don't get angry at me for speaking the truth. Everyone knew what the story was back then. The miko was a reincarnation, nothing more. Inuyasha choose Kikyou who'd been brought back to life by a witch, her body made of dirt and ashes after stealing part of the girl's soul."

Hiei dropped him, the imp scrambled to his feet. He knew there was more to the story but the imp couldn't tell him what he wanted to know. Sano had some information for him, "Speak now, tell me what she told you."


Next Chapter: Kagome has a visitor and a new weapon is found.. click the review button if you want to see more.. thank you