Where My Heart Lies

Cardinals were singing and the sun was signifying the middle of morning and noon as Sango exited the hut where her friend was sleeping. She hugged the winter kimono around her and looked at her feet as she walked. She had on a pair of boots that Kagome had brought back for her. They were clumsy, but kept her feet warm. As she headed for the storage shed, she replayed the last night's events in her mind. What had happened? What were the creatures that attacked Kagome and Miroku? Miroku had been sucking them into his wind tunnel until he realized they were poison. Then he had to defend himself with his staff and sacred scrolls. Until she and InuYasha had come along.

Sango couldn't believe how many of them were there. For each one they had killed, it seemed two more would take it's place. She winced as she grazed the still tender sore on her hand from the acid blood of the things. The number of beasts almost had almost been their undoing

Then Kagome had created the energy blast. Sango saw the wild look of the normally placid girl in her mind's eye. She was concerned, and confused. Long ago, Kaede had told them that Kagome would get more powerful, but she hadn't mentioned anything like this. The exterminator rolled her worries through her head as she entered the smaller hut. Because she was focused on the ground, she did not see the monk already in there. She startled herself when she walked face first into his chest.

"Oh!" Automatically, Miroku's arms encircled the girl to keep her from falling as she stepped back.

"Miroku! Uh, what are you doing here?" Uncomfortable in the close embrace, Sango blushed, but found herself unable to pull away. Sensing her discomfort, the houshi uncharacteristically released her.

"I came to get some fresh water and food for lunch. Is... Kagome still out?"

Sango dipped her head. The worry that had plagued her earlier appeared on her face again. Feeling the warmth of Miroku's hand on her shoulder, she looked up into his softened eyes.

"Do not worry, dear Sango. I'm sure she's fine. Kagome is a lot stronger than we give her credit for."

Sango bit her lip and fiddled with her hands for a moment. Finally she spoke her concerns.

"Miroku, I know she will be fine, she always comes out of things like this. But, I'm worried about what happened to her at the valley. What was that? I know what Kaede said, but... did you know that she had those abilities? It was almost as though she became possesed or something. Even Shippo was afraid of her. After we brought her back to the hut, he confided in me and said that her scent changed." Words unspoken flitted through her thoughts. Is this an evil energy she's tapping into?

Miroku did not respond for a moment. Squeezing her shoulder in an effort to comfort her, he spoke.

"I, too, am worried. I have spoken to Kaede about what happened, she will take it from there.We don't know as much as what she seems to about Kagome's powers, or this 'master' Kagome mentioned." Seeing that Sango was still hesitant, he continued.

" I know it's not normal for her to be so closed up about this, even though I'm sure she's talked with you a little, but she has to be scared as well. The only thing we can do is wait until she feels ready to fully discuss what is happening to her. We are her friends and we will be there for her."

Sango looked up at the monk with admiration. Sometimes, he really does surprise me. Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around his neck in an embrace. Miroku blushed, and tentatively slipped his arms around her waist.

"Thank you, Miroku." She was glad that she had talked with him. She didn't feel so isolated in her worries now.

Miroku smiled softly at her words. When she didn't let go, his mind turned to other, less chivaralous things. His left hand started to very slowly slip down her waist....

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InuYasha watched from his perch in the opposite tree as Sango left the hut Kagome was resting in. Jumping out of the tree, he landed lightly on the ground. When he was sure Sango wasn't going to return for another little while, he strode towards the little shack. After entering, he knelt by Kagome's side. As he watched her sleep, he ran his conversation with Kaede over in his mind. These recent attacks seemed too focused on Kagome. Normally the demons would be paying attention to her anyway, but only for the Jewel shard she carried. Nioaku, Merona, and these other demons weren't concerned with the jewel. Just Kagome.

He had approached the old woman about Kagome's latest display of power first. Kaede had wanted details of how and when Kagome changed. She wanted to know whether he had scented fear or anger in her, though he didn't understand why. When he told Kaede that he could smell a spike in both feelings in the young girl, the woman became pensive, seriousness taking over her features. She focused on a small pile of wood that she kept in her hut for a few moments then muttered something that InuYasha had thought strange. 'It may be neccessary for her after all' Whatever the hell that meant. When he asked about it, Kaede had brushed him off in a manner that InuYasha didn't feel he should oppose. Finally he brought up what Kagome had said about the master.

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"She has not told ye yet then?"

InuYasha's sarcasm over came him "Would I be askin' you if she did?"

For his remark he recieved a solid thump on the head with a piece of wood.

"Watch ye're tongue and mind ye're elders" he glared at the old woman while rubbing the painful lump she had created.

"The master is not something I should be tellin' ye. If ye ask her, I'm sure she will reveal all. I'm surprised she has waited so long." InuYasha became shocked, and a little angry. What was this? Why hadn't Kagome told him? He thought about Miroku and Sango. They had all seemed a little weird. Had they known too? He could feel the hurt and anger building within him.

"Ye need not be angry with Kagome, InuYasha." He looked up to see the aged priestess preparing a meal as she talked to him.

"She does not wish to worry you with more concern for her. Ye know that she would never keep something from ye out of malice. She is strong, but she wrongly thinks this is something she can take care of by herself. She does not think it is something serious yet. She wants to prove herself to ye."
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He had walked out of Kaede's home and sat on top of the hut where Sango was tending to hers and Miroku's wounds, and Kagome was sleeping. His own had healed easily, the demons had overpowered him by number, but had not done much physical damage. If the things had kept their distance from Kagome and the others, he would have been able to use the wind scar more. After some time, he had shifted positions and sat in the tree across from the hut, out of sight of the others, but able to see when the hut would be empty with the exception of the one girl he needed to talk to.

Which left him to where he was now. Kneeling by her side, debating whether to wake her or not. His brows knitted together. Damnit, why didn't she tell him. He was still bothered about it, angry even. But he was trying to take what Kaede had said into account. His thought was interrutpted as Kagome let out a small groan. Screwing up her face in discomfort and raising a hand to her eyes, she sat up and blearly looked at the hanyou next to her.

"What time is it? How long was I asleep?" Sleep was still in her voice as she spoke. Before InuYasha could answer, she rose to find herself still dressed in her training haori and pants suit. There were some holes in it from the Taireny blood that had been spilt. As she brought out a v-neck black sweater and grey jeans, InuYasha turned his back so she could change.

"It's almost noon. You've been sleeping since last night." Her mumbled response sounded nervous, as if she had suddenly been put on edge. Kagome paused at his next statement.

"You need to tell me about this master guy and what the hell has been going on."

She had known what he was going to ask before he even said it. She bit her bottom lip. What could she say? What she did know wasn't going to be enough. Turning to face him, she sat back down. Following suite, InuYasha stared intently at her for a moment. She knew that he had found out that she had told someone else, Sango, before she had told him. Everything in his face told her so. Taking a deep breath, she started the rather short story, starting with Nioaku, through her talk with Kaede, up to the most recent attack. Despite the difficulty, she still left out the well. It's not that important. And it was growing less so as time went on.

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Kaede watched as the hanyou left. When she was sure he was out of range, and that no one else was around, she headed towards the pile of logs in the corner. Moving them to one side, she knelt by the exposed patch of floor. Folding her hands in front of her, a whispered chant passed her lips. A glow in the shape of a square, roughly two hands length, appeared in the ground. Reaching into the light, subtle luminescence splayed on her features as her hands touched what she sought. Raising up again, she held a beautiful ornate box in her hands. It was made of rich mahagony, the center of each side marked with delicate carvings that told the story of what it contained. The corners were edged in a subtle pattern of gold and silver leaf. The lid was also elegantly carved, not with a story, but with the words of a long dead language, which only few knew of now. The picturesque inscription described the purpose of the treasure the container held, and how to use it. Encased in the detailed carvings were small precious stones, all in faint colors. The stone in the middle, roughly the size of a coin, was beautiful emerald. Kaede smiled softly as she held the ancient container. She had recieved the box from her mother, and had been taught of its purpose. It had been passed down through generations, to the youngest daughter of the family protecting the shrine in her village.

Kagome's powers had her thinking about this since they had started training, but it wasn't until InuYasha's words about last night that had her considering that the item within the box was meant for Kagome. Placing it back into the hidden compartment and closing the entryway to the hiding spot, Kaede pushed the logs back to their original position. She would talk with Kagome further, and then decide if it would be neccessary to open the olden wooden box.

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"This is why I didn't tell you in the first place! I knew you would be angry!"

Before the monk's hand reached the curve of Sango's bottom, Kagome accidently saved him from himself with her yell. Sango turned from him and exited the sotage shed and hurried to stand to the side of the hut to see what was happening. When Miroku pulled up behind her, he saw Kaede looking out of her own doorway at the commotion.

"Why the fuck wouldn't I be angry? You think this isn't a big deal? That this guy isn't dangerous!?"

The three onlookers watched the heated arguement between the human and the hanyou. At some point, Shippo had found his way into Sango's arms, but also stayed quiet.

Kagome whirled to face InuYasha. She met his infuriated gaze and hesitated for a moment, before her own temper flared. She hadn't told him because she didn't want him to worry, she was going to tell him.. he didn't understand.

"I know he's dangerous! It's me he's been talking to! Me he's sending these monsters after! He talks to - I've been training to defeat them!" Kagome had gritted her teeth. She hadn't told anyone about the dreams she had been having lately either. They were terrifying, yet she was sickened to find that the girl in them felt a thrill in the nightmare. She would be dressed in a black and red gown. Her eyes were the color of blood. Her hand rested on a man's arm as they looked over a world of chaos and death. Sometimes, she would see her friends, all slain and covered in blood. Worst was when she saw InuYasha, he would be kneeling in front of her, his eyes pleading. Throughout all this, there were low sensual words muttered in her ear, words she could never recall when she was awake, but that terrified her all the same. In her nightmare, she would see through her own eyes as her free hand plunged through InuYasha's chest and ripped out his heart. A tear would slip down his face, then his eyes would go cold and blank before he toppled forward. Looking up to her left, she would gaze into blood red eyes like her own. Then, as the fresh blood of the man she loved dripped down her arm, they would laugh.

Kagome shook her head, trying to rid herself of the image she had just risen from

"Defeat them! Defeat him? I don't care how damn strong you think you are, you can't take this guy on your own! You can't even fully utilize your powers yet! You're gonna get yourself killed!"
InuYasha's eyes were angry, every muscled stressed. How could she not tell him? How could he protect her from something he didn't know about? He followed her, still furious, as she turned from him, heading for the forest.

"You don't even know what your talking about! I know you're worried, InuYasha, but that's why I didn't tell you! I may not be strong enough to take him out, yet. Bu I can defend myself!" She threw her comment over her shoulder. They were not in the woods, but were surrounded by trees. They're friends could still see everything that was happening.

InuYasha grabbed Kagome's wrist and whirled her to face him. His fear for her safety was overwhelming him. His hurt that she hadn't trusted him with the information was whirling inside. What came out was his anger that she had been so stupid as to keep everything to herself.

"How can you be so fucking stupid!? I know exactly what I'm talking about! You think with this energy crap you've got, you can take on anything! Well you can't! You're not strong enough yet! How am I supposed to protect you? Sure, you blasted the creatures, but if Sango and me hadn't shown up, they would be chewing on your bones! If brainlessness is the side effect of you power, there's no point if havin them!" His grip had tightened on her wrist, his nose just inches from hers. Kagome could feel her own rage welling up inside her. Stupid? STUPID? He runs into every battle without thought and I'm stupid!? He doesn't know anything! She tried to wrench her wrist free of InuYasha iron grip, becoming blindingly angry with him. He didn't understand. He didn't know what it was like. To feel this pulsing power under everything you did. To have this awful dream every time you closed your eyes. To know that what was inside you could be turned into that.

InuYasha yanked on her arms bringing her back to face him again. Her free hand came up and pressed against his chest, just to the side of his heart. She could hear a rushing in her ears as her ferocity pulsed through her head. She raised furious brown eyes into his equally enraged amber ones.

"You are going to talk with me about this." her growled out between gritted teeth.


Kagome could feel her pulse quicken as her fury with him raged through her. She applied more pressure with her hand against his chest. To get some space between them. To get him to let go of her wrist. She pushed as hard as she could, to get away.

"I can take care of myself. Now...back!..Off!!" She pushed forward with her arm with all her might.
Before she could stop it, she was astonished to see a flash of aqua light spread out from her hand and flare into InuYasha's chest.

Caught off-guard, InuYasha grunted with the blow and was slammed back to a tree a few feet behind him. Surprise and pain registered as he smelt scorched clothes and skin in the air. Looking down at his chest, he saw source of the scent.

Kagome looked on in horror. Her eyes shot from InuYasha, to her hand, and back again. She trembled. What had she done? InuYasha was looking at her, stunned and hurt, both physical and emotional, clear on his face. He looked down at his own chest again as he raised a hand to cover the wound that Kagome had created.

She... He was taken aback. The breathless feeling he was experiencing had nothing to do with injury he had. Kagome had struck him with an energy blast. Visions of Kikyo raising her arrow against him swarmed his mind. He closed his eyes. A devious little voice in the back of his mind spoke up. I knew it....

Kagome took a gulp of air and rushed to where InuYasha was standing. Her voice was panicked and whispered, tears already forming in her eyes.

"InuYasha. Oh god. I'm ... I didn't mean to.. " She reached out cautiously to the wound. InuYasha pushed her hand away roughly. Kagome pulled her hand away and looked at him, remorse making her hands go cold and her heartbeat flutter. She knew she had damaged more than just his body. When he raised his eyes to hers, his look was hard and icy.

Straightening, he walked past her and headed to the forest, head down. Kagome ran and grasped the arm of his haori.

"InuYasha! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! It was an accident! Please..!" Her mouth was dry, her body felt taunt. Please don't go..

Hope lept in her heart from a moment when he took hold of her hand, only to come crashing down as he pulled it away from him and release it.

"You're right. You don't need me." His words were hard as stone and struck her with a force that left her gasping for air.

Turning his back to her, InuYasha lept into the canopy of the trees and left.

Sango and Miroku watched in stunned silence. Had Kagome just attacked InuYasha? Glancing to the old woman who had also witnessed the scene, Sango saw the sadness etched in her face before the elder turned back into her hut.

Shippo finally spoke up.

"What's happening to Kagome?"

Sango took a step forward, not able to answer the little kitsune, but wanting to console her friend. She hesitated, unsure of what to do. Miroku leaned forward and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Go to her Sango. I'm not sure what just happened, but she needs you right now." Sango nodded at the monk and deposited the cub into his arms. She hurried across the road to Kagome.

Kagome sank to her knees in the snow. She didn't hear Sango's voice calling her name. Didn't hear the crunch of the snow as the other girl came to her side. Her chest felt empty. Her head spun.

What have I done?

Whatever fragile trust had been between her and InuYasha had shattered. She looked in self loathing at her hands. Her temper, her powers, she hadn't been able to control them. Now she had lost him. As the certainty hit her, the hollowness was filled with a searing ache. Hot tears slipped down her cheeks as she raised her hands to her face.

Sango immediatly wrapped her arms around Kagome. She didn't know what to say to her. Part of her felt afraid for some reason, wanted to to panic. Instead she held on tighter to the younger girl and let her cry.

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The Youkai smiled as he watched the two girls in the snow. The pool of water rippled as he turned away and faced the undead miko.

"So you decided to come."

She sneered at him. The soul collectors weaved around her, protecting her from the miasma he encircled her with to keep her weak.

"I understand that you have the remaining shards, with the exception of three. I came to retrieve them."

The demon master laughed. Stretching out his palm, he displayed the large shard.

"This? I don't really have a need for this, but I figured it might come in useful one day." He closed his hand again. "And how it has."

"What is it you wish to bargain with?" Kikyo eyed him suspiciously

The youkai paced slowly in front of her, long ebony hair flowing out behind him. He toyed with the shard, bringing it to eye level.

"Not much really. I want you to seperate the hanyou and the girl. The one I believe is your reincarnation?" He saw her harden at this statement

"I need not be involved with them. Besides, to be used as your puppet? I'd prefer not."

The demon brought his face just inches from hers. As he raised his hand, Kikyo saw a red soul collector appear. She gasped as it sucked the souls that kept her alive from her body. It stopped just as she felt her strength starting to slip away entirely.

"Now, I think you might want to reconsider. This collector of mine will stay by you just as your own do. It cannot die, and will not dissappear until I instruct it to. So long as you follow my orders, it will allow you to live." The demon straightened again.

"Of course, it won't allow you enough strength to access your more dangerous miko powers, but enough to do the job. If not..," He pointed at the corrupted soul collector, and immediatly it sucked another soul from Kikyo's body. "You die."

He strode to his throne and slung one leg over the arm of the chair. "I'd be more than happy to release you from my little pet, and give you the shard, once you've completed the mission." His tone was almost jovial.

Kikyo glared at him. She detested the creature for using her. InuYasha and the girl were of no concern. She hated both. But she didn't want to deal with them until other issues had been taken care of. She gritted her teeth. This bastard had just bumped himself up on her list.

"Fine."

The youkai clapped his hands in contentment. Without a word, he lifted the miasma, allowing Kikyo's soul collectors to release her. Fixing a deadly stare at him one more time, one that he paid no more attention to than a fly on the wall, Kikyo turned and left.

Watching her back as she walked away, the Master smiled. I thought she was supposed to be a powerful miko. I'm disappointed. He turned his head and craned his neck slightly to gaze upon the shimmering image of his obsession. He reached out and touched a tear-stained cheek, causing the water to ripple. Soon...


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A/N: OK, so hope you guys liked these! Again, please leave comments and/or constructive criticisms, they are much appreciated. I'll update again in a couple of days (if you guys like of course) TTFN! ;) Oh, and there is going to be a name change. The story will be "What Lies Within:The Depths of the Heart" because 1, the story is going in a different direction and 2, I'm planning a sequel.....