Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

A/N: I know that I'm still working on Bloodshed, but I can't help myself and post this. This isn't going to be a long story, probably has less than 10 chapters. I'm not sure when to update, but the least is every month. I might post the next chapter earlier, but it really depends on how fast I write the next chapter. One thing I can promise you is that I'll finish writing this. If I have to delay it, then I'll write it on my profile.

Chapter 1:

Confusion

Inuyasha watched as Kagome, once again, ignored him. It had been three days. He wanted to pull his own hair. What had he done wrong?! She refused to ride on his back. She refused talking to him. Worst of all, she refused to even look at him.

Had he mentioned that he wanted to pull his hair at her behaviour? Yeah? Well, make that two times for today then.

It all started when he saw Kikyou's Soul Collectors flying around in his forest. He told his group that he wanted to see her and left. After he returned, Kagome talked less until none with him. Everyone kept telling him that he should apologise, that he should make Kagome feel better. He asked why, and they wouldn't give him a straight answer. But he heard their whispers, saying he should care about Kagome's feelings.

It's not like this happened the first time. It had happened before. Again, it was after seeing Kikyou. He had wondered deeply, and had started to see a pattern here. So every time he sees Kikyou, Kagome starts to ignore him. Was she jealous? If so, why would she? It wasn't as if there was anything happening between them. He just wanted to know if the dead priestess was fine. Besides, Kikyou had died because of Naraku, and it was in betrayal too. He couldn't stand not checking her out once in a while. He needed to make sure that she was okay.

What was so wrong with that? He just talked to Kikyou. Okay, at certain times he may have wanted to hug her, but that's the max to it, and it was only because he wanted to ease her pain. He could tell that she was suffering after her resurrection, even if she wore an indifferent mask. She wasn't the one that wanted to be revived as a walking dead. She was forced to come back to this world.

Back to the point, he did nothing more than hug her!

So why was Kagome so upset with that?

The others were looking at him with disappointed expressions. By others, he meant Shippou and Miroku, who were shaking their heads from afar. Kagome was sitting with Sango in the distance, having a serious conversation with the taijiya. Her eyes sometimes flickered to his direction, but before he realises it, those brown orbs wasn't on him anymore. Subconsciously, his ears flattened on his head, but he remained his usual gruff facade. Was she talking about him? Was she planning to leave?

Should he apologise to her?

He was met with silence, since now, the others were occupied with talking to each other. Even Kirara kept herself busy—all snuggled up on Sango's lap.

He was sitting under a tree, his legs crossed and his arms hidden in the sleeves of his suikan. His eyes went downcast as more questions started forming inside his brain. He took another glance at the miko and sighed. He was on the verge of standing up, walking to her, and apologise to her.

Should he apologise?

Silence.

No.

He inwardly flinched at the voice of his demon side.

"Maybe I'm just acting childish," Kagome said as her eyes averted from the taijiya's. She bit her bottom lip, "I mean, it can't be helped that he still loves Kikyou. I don't know, I just..." she looked up to her friend's face. "What should I do?"

Sango smiled faintly at her. "You don't have to do anything, Kagome-chan. You know, you're the nicest person I've ever met. If I were you, I would've 'sat' him a hundred times," she observed Inuyasha from the corner of her eyes. "By now, he should know, and the very least, try to understand your feelings. Kikyou is dead, meanwhile, you're alive. He should get that through his skull."

Kagome smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. She had forced herself to stay away from Inuyasha. Inuyasha had always went to her—to Kikyou. It hurts to see him go to the dead priestess, and she felt worse knowing that Kikyou wants to bring him into hell with her. One could say that she was jealous, and she couldn't help and admit that she was, but could they blame her? She had been trying to express her feelings to him, to show that she cares too, but Kikyou would always come in and ruin her efforts. It wasn't fair. Does she have to die to make Inuyasha realise that she... too... loves him?

"I can't believe it," Kagome heard Shippou say, and she turned her head to his direction. "The idiot still doesn't understand, huh?"

"Kagome-sama, are you feeling better?" Miroku commented as he walked to her way with Shippou beside him.

"I'm fine, thank you for asking," she answered.

Her friends have been supportive with her, telling things like don't worry, or he'll soon understand. She was glad that they were with her every time Inuyasha leaves. Even if she had forced herself to allow the hanyou to go to the dead miko, she still felt lonely and hurt. But the others were always there to help her overcome the pain, and usually, she does. Soon, everything would return normal. Inuyasha would show some sign as an apology, and they would talk like usual again.

But why does this time feel different?

Mixed emotions were swirling inside the hanyou. It was worrisome. This time, it wasn't because of Kagome ignoring him. There was this emotion that was... different than usual. Sure, he felt a little betrayed, hurt and angry for his group to ignore him, but this time... there was hatred.

It wasn't a lot, just a tiny bit, but it was still worrying him. He had never felt hatred towards them for ignoring him... or siding with Kagome. So why was this time different? Wait, this time was different. Before this, his demon side had never made any comment about Kagome or if he had a conflict between his group members, but now, his demon side was actually expressing his opinion. It was scary... yet reassuring?

He frowned to himself and answered his demon, But Kagome's mad at me. I have to apologise.

It took a few moments before his demon side replied, Why?

Because it's my fault, dammit! Inuyasha thought angrily as he gritted his teeth, ignoring the hatred coming from his demon side. I know that Kikyou's the reason why she doesn't want to talk to me. I know... Kagome is... she... she's probably hurt...

So it's your fault now?

Isn't it?

His head was voice-free for a moment, but then it came back.

This is why I hate humans, Inuyasha flinched, but only slightly, by the inner voice. I have to admit, Kagome is nice to us, and to you, but can't you tell that this isn't your fault? You've done nothing wrong. All you did was see Kikyou.

And Kagome's probably hurt by that. We both know that she has feelings for me... she even made it obvious.

Yet, you choose Kikyou.

That was before!

So now it's different?

Inuyasha swallowed a lump in his throat, not liking the bitter sound his demon side was making. The bitterness in the demon's voice wasn't directed to him, though. It was directed to someone else.

Yes...

And you didn't tell her?

Well, sorry if my actions weren't obvious all this time. I thought saving her and basically sacrificing my entire life would help her realise it, but I guess I was wrong. I never had to tell her before that I chose Kikyou because she just knew it. So I thought... maybe she would know by now, Inuyasha frowned as the sadness started poking at his heart. Maybe Kagome isn't really good at reading my feelings after all...

No, she isn't, his demon side almost clipped.

Do you think she hates me? Do you think... I don't know... that she won't talk to me forever? It's been a few days now... Maybe I should just start with the first move?

He could feel his demon rage in his head, and he had to clutch his hand over his chest to calm it. Tessaiga was probably playing a big part, or he would've shifted into demon mode by now. He took deep breaths, confused on what made his demon side so angry. Usually, it was just silent. Maybe it had been taming itself all this time, and had reached its limit?

Before he could think of something in his head, his demon side had beat him to it.

Don't apologise.

Miroku deeply sighed. Why can't Inuyasha just make the first move? The problem in their relationship is that, both of them were really stubborn. Sure, there were times when Kagome gives in and apologises to him first, but usually, when it comes to Kikyou, Inuyasha would start with his apology first. It doesn't matter if it was a small action or gesture, but it would help things settle between the two of them.

Sango knew what Miroku was thinking and turned her head to the side to look at the hanyou. Surprisingly, Inuyasha had his eyes closed, his head leaning at the back of the tree. Was he sleeping? She couldn't tell from the way he was leaning back. She knew that he was only half-asleep, since his senses were always on full alert, but still, was he taking a nap? That was odd if her guess was true. Inuyasha never took naps.

"I'm gonna go and give him a piece of my mind!" Shippou declared as he stomped his way to the napping hanyou.

"Wait, Shippou-chan! You don't have to!" Kagome half-shouted just in time before Shippou was out of hearing range. The kitsune spun, his brows furrowed. She repeated, "You don't have to, really. Things will get better soon."

"No, Kagome," Shippou said firmly as his arms were crossed. "Inuyasha is just being a stubborn jerk!"

Shippou couldn't stand it. He saw the pained look Kagome had when she nodded to Inuyasha, an indication that she allowed him to go. The hanyou then went to the forest that day, leaving Kagome in sorrow, and not suspecting a thing. The idiot should've apologised by now, but that wasn't the case this time. It's time for him to get things moving, and Shippou was determined.

"Oi, Inuyasha!" Shippou shouted as he was approaching the—sleeping?—hanyou. "Inuyasha, I know you're not sleeping! When are you going to apologise to Kagome?!"

But something was wrong, he could tell.

Inuyasha's ears didn't even twitch when he came. Surely, the hanyou could've heard his footsteps. But he could tell... that Inuyasha wasn't alert to any of the noises he made. It alarmed Shippou and he quickly leapt onto the hanyou, his ear on the hanyou's chest. When he heard the sound of Inuyasha's heart beating steadily, he sighed in relief.

"Shippou-chan!"

"Is Inuyasha okay?"

"What's wrong?"

"He's... He's breathing but..." Shippou removed the ear from Inuyasha's chest. "He's unconscious."

"What?" Kagome asked, her voice having the tone of someone panicking.

They heard a cackle, before an old woman appeared out of thin air. She held a wooden staff in her hand, her long grey hair reaching below her shoulders. Her eyes were blue like the ocean, and it held wisdom. Her appearance would make anyone think she was some kind of witch ready to place a curse on them, but that wasn't it for her. Everyone was left confused... this person held no sign of evilness.

"Who are you?!" Sango shouted and reached for her Hiraikotsu behind her back. "Are you the one who did this to Inuyasha?!"

"Calm down, Sango," Miroku said, and turned his head to face the old woman. "It's hard to believe, but... there are no traces of evil in her aura."

"What? How is that possible?" Sango asked in shock and glanced at Kagome for confirmation. The young miko nodded, but her eyes were focused on the old woman.

"Now, now, children," the old woman said and waved her staff around. "Be good and have a nice nap."

All of a sudden, everyone was struggling to keep their eyes opened. Their heads lolled forward, and the next thing they knew was that they collapsed on the ground, barely concious. The last thing they saw was the woman chanting something, her staff above her head and magic was released.

Everyone screamed when they fell into a pit of darkness. It seemed like a never-ending trip, but finally, they reached the bottom of it. Miroku was the first to get up, rubbing his bottom due to the landing. He then looked around at the rest of his companions. They started stirring and slowly getting up from their lying positions.

"Where... Where are we?" Kagome asked, her voice slurred.

"I'm not sure," Miroku replied and realised someone was missing. "Inuyasha's not here."

"What?" Sango said moved into a sitting position. "Oh no. Could it be that she trapped us here and take him away?"

Before any of them could reply, there was a glowing white light on the ground, and the surrounding darkness shifted into a village. Their eyes scanned the area, and they could immediately tell that this wasn't Kaede's village. The old woman must've teleported them here. They heard the sounds of children laughing, and they nodded to each other—a silent agreement to ask the villagers where they were. All of them approached a small crowd near a bridge. The children seemed to form a circle and their attention was focused on something. In the midst of the crowd, they could hear a very faint whimpering.

Kagome tilted her head to see what had gotten everyone's attention, but gasped in horror when she saw a tiny Inuyasha, curled into a ball with hands over his ears, getting kicked by the children.

A/N: I've always wanted to write a story where Kagome and the others see Inuyasha's past. If you enjoy the story, don't forget to leave a review!