Bring Me to Life by Crystalline Twine

Prologue

Prologue

In the days she had spent in the Warring States Era she had developed a definite physique. Her arms had become muscular, her senses heightened, and her overall physical health was in top shape. She always had a tough face on, and she could make everyone around her believe she was all right, but emotionally, she felt empty, a bit lonesome. Perhaps that is why she began her journey to physical perfection, for she had never cared much about it before. She knew exactly why she starting doing things this way. It was the seemingly never-ending drama in the love triangle she could never escape in her adolescence. She was approaching the end of her high school years now, and she had filled out nicely; she had grown taller, slimmer, and as most girls do, grown other things as well. Her hair had lengthened and smoothed. She had taken to wearing the clothes of a priestess of her own will, and for two reasons: she had decided that she would train with Kaede and learn her powers, and because they were comfortable and allowed easy movement. However, she neither wore the ceremonial colors of powder blue or cherry red, but an enchanting shade of turquoise. The dreary darkness of her past had mostly dispersed, but there was still a shadow about her. She had promised to remain by his side, because she wished to out of love for him, but it was because of the love she felt for him that she could never look him in the eye after his escapades with her former self. He vowed love to each, but it was clear whom he put first. His 'love' would always shadow her mind, ego, and confidence. That, perhaps, brought her where she is now. She had finally stopped loving him, because he could never stop loving Kikyou. Despite Naraku's defeat, the shell of her former life was still walking in unrest about the territories. She would never return to the spirit world until she had dragged Inuyasha to hell with her. Therefore Inuyasha was still rolling in self-pity and guilt...

Don't get me wrong, but some things can be changed, and some cannot. Despite her obvious change, Kagome was not what she might seem. She was still basically the same happy-go-lucky person she once was, but that was hidden away. She hadn't become the cynical, depressed person she may first appear to be. Her heart was just in mourning, the beginning of its healing; or perhaps far from healing. Confidence she lacked, but not in the ability she had, for she had perfected it. She felt unworthy of love, longed for it, yet wished there was no such thing.

"It's better to have loved, and lost, then to never have loved at all," right? Uhh, no. For to have loved and lost creates the longing that eats at your soul, and it is your soul that saves you from your longing; the longing that delves a deep rift in your heart, and plants an ache that is ever present, a conscious thought that keeps sleep from finding you at night; a shadow... that haunts you until you feel as if you can't breath anymore, and you want it to just end.

No, she had not become suicidal because Inuyasha had a way with barbed words, insulting, and emotionally abusing her. He had always called her a weak human, and tears were human weakness as well. She had become strong and could now control her emotions. She'd show him she wasn't weak. People believed what she wished them to believe, and that's the way things had come to be.

Except she wasn't as convincing as she believed herself to be. She had become hardened to Inuyasha's behavior. It didn't bother her so much anymore; she had accepted it. It had taken a bit of time, time that she wished she had never wasted on brooding.