The Better Man

Chapter Six


Kagome layed back in the tub letting the water ease the tension out of her muscles. What was wrong with her? She had to be losing it, her mind had started to hit the gutter while sitting in his lap. He had a girlfriend, she was sure it was a natural reaction from her rubbing against him. Of course it had been an accident. She'd be twenty in a few months, she wasn't naive either.

Her relationship with Inuyasha had taught her to grow up fast. She settled back in the water and let her thought go back to how it had all ended. Thinking about it still broke her heart and made her break down.

After Naraku had been slain, things should have been happy for everyone. Yet the jewel, had disappeared and along with it the hanyou. Kagome had been estatic, she'd had the hopes that after everything Inuyasha would want to be with her. After all Kikyo had said she merely wanted to see to the defeat of Naraku then. They all went back to Kaede's, Kagome had planned on staying in the past with Inuyasha. That night everything had changed for her. He asked if he could speak to her alone, so she had agreed. He took her in the woods, where they were alone. Kagome wasn't sure what he'd been about to say, she was so happy she'd thrown her arms around him and kissed him.

It took several seconds but he'd returned the kiss. It hadn't ended there, it should have. She soon found herself naked and with him over her. That night she'd lost her innocence and all her hope for a happy future. She'd been more than happy to give herself to him. He took what she had to offer and more. She'd fallen asleep in his arms believing that it was the begining of their life together. He'd even spoken the words she'd had longed to hear.

The next morning she woke up and knew something was wrong. She was in Kaede's hut fully dressed and everyone seemed upset. She'd asked where the hanyou was, Sango turned her head not being able to face her. Miroku had been the one to inform her that Inuyasha had left this morning telling them that he was going to fulfill his promise to Kikyo. Kagome had raced off trying to find him, what she found had broken her heart. A large crater was in the ground, laying in the middle was Inuyasha's rosary. Her heart broke knowing that he had left her.

Later that day, her world officially fell. Her soul started to feel the same tug, it became intense as the minutes passed. Then she looked down to see the jewel resting once more in her side. She'd informed the others immediately. Plans were made. Kaede told her that she had to go home where there was less youkai. Also, she helped Kagome make a ward. Kagome choose to make it out of Inuyasha's rosary. Her blood was used, Kaede said it would prove to be stronger that way. Once it was made, Kagome placed the rosary around her neck. It would seal away her powers and that of the jewel. As long as she wore it no youkai could sense the jewel hidden deep within her. Let the world believe that it had been destroyed with Naraku. In the end, she'd gone home alone. She wished her friends farewell and came back.

Now here she was sitting in her tub much later still crying over her lot in life. At least she knew the rosary worked, tonight proved it. Three of the men tonight were very powerful youkai and none had sensed the jewel.

She let the water out and climbed out the tub. She wasn't sure if she'd started to get excited because she'd been thinking about Inuyasha or because of who'd she'd been sitting on. She'd been thinking about both. Her and Inuyasha only went together once and she'd hadn't been interested in anyone since.

A sigh escaped her, she was just glad that Kuwabara was human. She knew Kurama had to have caught her scent as she ran past him. She'd been trying to hide it but as she climbed out the small barrier she'd erected around herself had fallen. The towel rose to collect some of the moisture out her hair.

Not wanting to think about the past any longer or her wanton behavior earlier she decided to head to bed. She climbed under the covers, her hand went up to hit the lamp. The room plunged into darkness, she closed her eyes.

Kurama felt the fire youkai land on the tree beside him, "Figured you'd stop by."

"Hn. I merely came to see what you were doing."

"Sure. Contemplating," He looked into the room and watched the light go out. He could smell her even with the window shut. "What do you sense Hiei?"

"Nothing, she appears to be nothing more than a regular human."

"Exactly, which doesn't make sense. Yusuke said that she had probed him somehow earlier this evening but he hadn't sensed any type of energy coming from her. We both saw her fight. I hate to admit it, when she stepped out the car I was hit with the smell of her arousal. It was strong enough for me to smell it as soon as she stepped out. But neither of us sensed it while she was in the car. How had she shielded herself without us feeling her using some type of energy?"

"I have no idea. Maybe we are imagining things."

"Do you honestly believe that? If you did then you wouldn't be standing next to me. There's something strange about her, I just can't place my finger on it."

Hiei snorted. "You mean you can't understand why she hasn't fallen at your feet like the rest of the female population. Maybe she has some common sense."

Kurama flushed. "True she has completely ignored me but that's not what troubles me. Maybe we should mention her to Koenma to be on the safe side."


Koenma looked up from his desk the next morning, he stamped another paper. The door opened and his eyes met those of Kurama and Hiei. "What do you two want. I don't believe I sent for you."

"We've come to ask you something. We've met someone recently and something doesn't seem right." Kurama informed him of their suspicions.

Koenma's eyes narrowed, just his luck; his team had ran into the Higurashi girl. "I know of who you speak and I assure you that she is no threat. Best to leave her alone." He stamped another paper.

"That's all." Hiei wanted to smack the stamper out his hand.

"Yes, the girl is just another human, nothing to worry your little head over. Now, if you don't mind I have a lot of stamping to do." Koenma left it at that. Hopefully they would let it be, the girl deserved some peace. He didn't need those two making trouble for her, he'd put a stop to it if they did.


A/N: Now with somethings explained, I just want to point out that Kagome can use her miko powers in small doses without it being sensed. For something major, she'd have to remove the rosary/ward.

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