Bring Me To Life by FirePrincess

Lifeless

Author's Note - Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha of course, as its the work of Rumiko Takahashi. Also I don't own the song featured in this fanfic, Bring Me To Life which is the property of the band Evanescence. Thank you and please enjoy ^_^ 

She had just returned from her era, fully stocked up on food and bandages, Kagome made her way to Kaede's hut. It was still early but getting dark and by the time she entered the hut, she found everyone but Inuyasha sitting around the fire. Shippo had gotten a cold the past few days and was sleeping already, which was one of the reasons Kagome went back to her time, to get medicine for the young Kitsune.

As she sat down, she started shuffling through her bag, "how is he doing Miroku?"

"He's been asleep since you left yesterday, he's got a fever and hasn't ate much..." he explained.

Sango was sitting next to Miroku, Kirara in her lap, as they watched Kagome silently.

"And where's Inuyasha?" she asked, pulling out the bottle of medicine from her bag and pouring some of the contents into a little cup. Gently she picked Shippo up and woke him, "Shippo...I've brought you some medicine...I promise you'll feel better if you drink this," she stated in a soft tone, much like that of a mother caring for her sick child.

"We thought he was with you, he said he left to go to the well and wait for you," Sango stated though now Miroku and Sango exchanged glances of confusion.

"Nope, he wasn't there when I got out..."

Shippo groggily awoke, drinking the medicine and making a face right after, "yuck, Kagome this is terrible..." he said softly, wanting to wash out the taste.

"I know but you need to take it, now you've got to eat, I brought some soup my mom made for you," she explained and pulled out the container from her backpack as she sat him in her lap and began to feed him.

A few hours ago, Inuyasha had been sitting beside the well, awaiting Kagome to return. He was growing impatient and just as he had made up his mind to go and get her, he was stopped when he saw soul collectors floating by. He looked down at the well then at the direction the soul collectors had gone and with no further thought, he ran off behind them.

Time had gone by unnoticed by the half demon. It was dark now and he had just reached Kikyo only a mere hour ago. His mind flooded with thoughts of only the dead priestess that she was in his arms in an instant and they were lying on the ground naked. By the time they were through, they were dressed once more and Kikyo was preparing to leave him. "Oh Inuyasha, I love you, I had hoped we could be together like this for a long time..."

"I know...Kikyo I'll never let you go, you're the only one who matters to me," he explained, pulling her into his arms and kissing her neck.

"And what of my reincarnation?"

"I don't care about her, she means nothing to me," he stated.

"Inuyasha...do you mean that? If you had to choose...would you always choose me over her?" she asked.

"Of course, I'd do anything for you..." he whispered.

Meanwhile, when Kagome had finished up with Shippo, she left him to rest, deciding to go and find Inuyasha, for it was getting late and he had yet to return to the village. Sango, not wanting to let her go alone into the woods at night, had chosen to go with her while Miroku stayed behind to keep an eye on the sick kitsune.

But when the two girls found the half demon, Kagome froze and hid behind a tree, Sango watching the scene before her as well.

Each of those words Inuyasha uttered had stung Kagome, she felt as if she was being stabbed repeatedly in the heart. Tears began to form and before she could be caught, she began to run from the scene.

Inuyasha wasn't aware she was there until he had smelled the salt from her tears. His attention turned to the trees behind him only to find Sango there glaring at him before she ran off behind Kagome.

He was frozen in place, not knowing what she heard or what she may have seen and he suddenly felt sad, not wanting to go after her for he knew he was the one who caused her to cry.

Kikyo walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him, "I'm sorry Inuyasha...but she had to know, now was as good a time as any...I must go, I have a lead on Naraku, farewell my love," she stated and moved away from him, walking off into the opposite direction of the woods.

Kagome had kept on running, not knowing where she was going and not caring either. She was so far from Inuyasha and the village that her feet were growing tired but she still she felt she needed to run. She had to get away. Blinded by tears she ran through the forest when she suddenly tripped over a rock and fell to the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks, she pressed against the ground to get up when she noticed she was laying at the feet of someone else...

Sango had long ago lost Kagome and decided to head back to the village, letting Miroku and Kaede know what happened, she took off with Kirara to the sky in search of her best friend. Miroku taking a different route on the ground. Kaede was left caring for Shippo as he remained a sleep.

Inuyasha had figured she probably returned to the village and by the time he gathered his senses enough, that was where he headed, unknown of the danger Kagome was now in.

Kikyo smirked at the girl before her, an arrow aimed right at Kagome. "What's wrong Kagome? Hurt by Inuyasha's words? You didn't really think he could love you...did you?" she asked as she looked down at the shocked priestess.

Kagome slowly stood up, glaring at her, "leave me alone!" she shouted and pushed the dead woman out of her way, starting to run off again. But Kagome didn't get far, Kikyo shot her arrow, the glowing blue surrounding it as it went straight through Kagome's back piercing her heart. She gasped and cried out, before falling to the ground face first. As she lay there, gasping for air, Kikyo walked over to her, laughing darkly, she pulled out the arrow as her soul collectors surrounding Kagome's body.

The demons pulled at Kagome's soul, sucking it out of her and placing it into Kikyo as the dead priestess's body began to glow, Kikyo could feel her heart beat again, emotions long gone, now flooded back to her, "It will be sad news to your friends, but don't worry Kagome, I'm stronger than you, I'll be able to help them a lot better than you ever could in defeating Naraku...thanks for restoring my life..." she laughed and reached down, ripping the sacred jewel pieces from around Kagome's neck and turned away, walking off.

Kagome had heard none of the vile woman's words, her body laying there lifeless, eyes that once lit up brightly with life, now showed blank, black pupils, her body growing cold.

Kikyo knew the slayer was in the area but as it began to rain, she knew the cat demon wouldn't be able to locate Kagome's body and so she made her way to her sister's village to break the news to the group.

Sango had returned the moment it began to rain, upset and pissed, she entered the hut.

"What is it Sango? Did ye find Kagome?" Kaede asked worried.

"No...it began to rain, Kirara lost her scent..." she looked down worried. "I hope she's alright..."

Miroku had returned as well, bumping into Inuyasha outside of the hut, "Did you go after Lady Kagome?" he asked the half demon.

"No...I...I mean...Sango..."

"I see...I'd stay out if I were you, if Sango's back, she's not going to want to see you right now...for your sake, you had better hope she found Lady Kagome or at least that perhaps she went back to her era..." he stated and walked past the dog demon into the hut.

Sango looked at Miroku, hope in her eyes but they dimmed the moment he shook his head. "I hope she returned home...but she went in the opposite direction of the well..." Sango said sadly.

"Inuyasha really did it this time," Miroku sighed, sitting down and drying off by the fire.

Said half demon had just entered the hut and sat down in a corner quietly, everyone was silent and simply staring at the fire, when Kaede stood and faced the hut's entrance. "Sister...is that you..." she called out, sensing Kikyo's presence from the other side of the hut.

Kikyo smiled and entered, "of course...how are you Kaede?"

"Something is different about ye..." she trailed off not liking what she was sensing from her dead sister.

"That's because of Inuyasha...he's promised his love to me...but it seems Kagome heard us talking and ran off...just before I got here I saw her going back to her era, she seemed really upset and dropped this," she stated and held out the pieces of the sacred jewel that Kagome had.

"But...without those Kagome can't return here..." Sango stated alarmed.

Inuyasha stared at the jewel and sighed, "perhaps its better this way...I've hurt her, I don't blame her for not wanting to see me ever again..."

"You can't be serious Inuyasha?" Miroku asked as he was seeing a new side to the half demon. "Do you really care nothing for her?"

"I care...but only as a friend, with her gone, she won't be in danger anymore...besides...if she sees me...I'll only hurt her more..." he looked down to the floor, feeling rather guilty.

Sango was now pissed at his behavior, "You know Inuyasha, you are a selfish jerk! And I'm sick of it! I wish I never met you!" she shouted in anger, rage filling the demon slayer, rain or no rain, she stormed off out of the hut. The confrontation ending there.

"I'm sorry I caused so much trouble Inuyasha...but as you said...it may be better this way, I can help you obtain the rest of the jewel and kill Naraku, at least this way she will be where she belongs and out of harm's way," Kikyo smiled softly.

Kaede and Miroku exchanged looks, something about what Kikyo said, bothered them both but they remained quiet with their thoughts.

As it continued to rain, Kagome's body still lay there lifeless, demons had gathered around her but each time they tried to devour her, a strange barrier kept them away. No one knew where Kagome really was and no one, now that Kikyo planted her story, would bother looking anymore.

It had been about 2 weeks later, and the group with the new addition of Kikyo, were heading towards the east to find Naraku. Sango was still pissed at Inuyasha and yelled at him any chance she got. Miroku lectured him once in awhile when Inuyasha argued back with the slayer, his way of telling him to just let her vent. Meanwhile Shippo was just as mad as anyone and he rode silently on Kirara, not once looking over at Inuyasha. Kikyo, although a part of the group, was shunned by everyone except for Inuyasha of course.

They had crossed paths with Koga who, when told the story of what happened to Kagome, had tried to kill Inuyasha then and there, but with some persuasion from Miroku and Sango, he had let the dog demon live, promising to get to him after Naraku would be dead.

They had even encountered Sesshomaru and he noticed immediately that the strange priestess was not with them, but in her place was Inuyasha's dead lover. Although Kagome was a human, the demon lord had respect for her, for with each encounter, her devotion to his brother was unwavered, not only that but for a human, she was rather strong, her sense of pride and the way she held no fear even in facing him was impressive. Seeing her replaced now, changed Sesshomaru's thoughts of his brother, he didn't even bother to fight him this time as they crossed paths, simply uttering, "pathetic half breed..." as he walked by. Jaken was surprised but knew to keep to himself and not piss off his lord. Rin simply followed behind him, not having a clue what was going on with Lord Sesshomaru and Lord Inuyasha at this point. She simply turned around, walking backwards to follow Lord Sesshomaru as she waved at the group they had passed.

No one had found Kagome's body, at least not until another night came once more...

Sesshomaru came to camp near Kaede's village when Rin had grown tired for the night. He allowed her to go off towards the hot springs, Jaken sent to find food for the young girl. And as he was about to sit, his senses stirred. Something wasn't right in the area. All life in the forest seemed to be absent, as if they were all killed. For some reason he found himself walking away from the camp, attempting to figure out what was wrong in the vicinity.

Before long he stood before a ton of demons surrounding something. Not knowing what it was and wanting to protect Rin before they sensed her in the area, he used his poison whip and slashed the demons in half as they all disappeared from the poison eating their bodies on contact. When they were all gone, he raised an eyebrow, there before him was the priestess that always followed his brother around. The Tensaiga at his hip, began to pulsate, calling to him to use it on her.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors?

Leading you down into my core,

Where I've become so numb...

Despite his dislike for humans, he didn't ignore the sword's call to him, pulling it out of the sheath, he narrowed his eyes, "even the demons from the underworld can't seem to get to her body..." sniffing the air he was in shock, "she's been here for two weeks..." he could tell by the scent of the purified bodies of demons and the fact that her scent was strong in the area.

He lifted the sword in his hand and swiped at her, cutting the demons of the underworld and shattering the barrier around her body. Re-sheathing the sword, he waited but there was no sign of movement. He scowled and kneeled down, lifting her and swinging her so he could see her face. As he cradled her, he noticed her eyes looked like black glasses of emptiness, her body though cold, was intact and she didn't smell of the dead, yet she lay here lifeless, which puzzled him even more.

Without a soul

My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold,

until you find it there and lead it back...home.

Not wanting to leave her here, he stood and carried her back to camp. Rin was already back and sitting down against a tree, eating the fish Jaken had caught for her, of course Rin knew to cook it first before eating it. She looked up, "welcome back Lord Sesshomaru, want some fish?" she smiled and offered it to him.

"No," he answered and sat down against a tree as well with Kagome in his arm.

Rin gasped, seeing Kagome's body in his hand, "Lord Sesshomaru...is Lady Kagome alright? Is she hurt?" she asked worried and stood up standing in front of Sesshomaru and looking at the priestess.

"I am unsure Rin, Jaken, find me Totosai..." he ordered without even looking at the toad demon.

"Y...yes my lord!" he shouted and ran off to locate the sword maker.

The demon lord stared down at the girl in his arm, his mind filled with questions, 'why didn't Tensaiga work? How was her body still preserved as if she died only hours ago? Why did her friends abandon her and not even give her a proper burial?' He didn't understand any of it, when suddenly, her body began to move, fingers first, then hands, she sat up after a moment and fell off of Sesshomaru's lap in doing so.

"Priestess..." he called to her but when she turned to look at him, her expression was blank, her eyes still held no light to them, her body still cold, she was like a lifeless doll. That's when he understood, Kikyo, the dead priestess was with the group and now that he thought about it, he gathered no scent of a dead being with them. "I see...she has your soul priestess..." it all made sense now. He began to figure that perhaps Kikyo had told them Kagome had left, after all, when he encountered them, the slayer, monk and kitsune didn't seemed pleased with Kikyo around and they were rather detached from Inuyasha as well. It was only a hunch but that woman was tainted with death now, her judgment no longer pure, she could rip the soul from this poor girl and act as though nothing happened. Though now he was faced with a dilemma, what to do with Kagome's shell of a body? Without her soul, she couldn't possibly return to being fully alive and he shouldn't even care. But one look at Rin and the sadness in her eyes as she tried to talk to Kagome with no luck in a response, made him want to help the priestess, besides, how could he explain to Rin that even he was unable to return her to the world of the living? Rather than face that question he now resigned himself to helping her. Sighing he relaxed against the tree, "sleep priestess," he stated. She heard him and obeyed as if he were her master. She lay down, her head on his lap and closed her eyes, though sleep was for the living and she merely just lay there, sleep could never possibly come to a lifeless doll.