Summary: Kagome discovers that InuYasha has an addiction she never thought he would. It soon ends up unveiling her own sinister past. With her secret life out in the open, will she find the strength to alleviate him, or will he drive her to follow his dark path?

A/N: Hey everyone! I’m starting another fanfiction. Anyway, I’m pretty sure that this idea has never been used before. I hope you find it unique, and interesting. Well, on with the story.

Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns everything, and I own squat.

Chapter 1: What’s wrong with InuYasha?

‘I wonder where he goes.’ The night was still and quiet, despite the crackling fire sparking up embers in the blanket of darkness that covered the area. Kagome narrowed her eyes, her gaze aimed at the forest beside her. She sighed, curling further into her sleeping bag, worry engulfing her. Lately, InuYasha had been sneaking off every night, a content, almost relieved expression set on his face as he did. He never announced he was leaving or gave any explanation. He simply waited until he thought everyone was asleep, and trudged into a nearby forest.

‘I wish I knew what he was up to,’ Kagome thought, nearly regretting it. In a way, she was scared to find out. Still, whatever it was that he was doing caused an inexplicable metamorphosis in his attitude, and everything he did. During the day, he was persistently grouchy, even more so than usual. If he got too frustrated, he would simply vanish into a cluster of trees, his return from which seemed prolonged. The worst of everything was that he just didn’t care about much anymore. He didn’t constantly ramble on about defeating Naraku, or finding all of the jewel shards. In fact, he wasn’t even remotely happy when they did find a shard.

Fighting didn’t appear to please him at all either. He was lazy during battle, and virtually ended up leaving it to Miroku or Sango. He seemed to be getting weaker as well. His normal, unending strength and determination were gradually collapsing. He even made it a point to go back to Kaede’s village almost every week for supplies. Not only did this slow down their journey, but it also instilled a relentless feeling of weariness among their group.

Kagome gasped, quickly clenching her eyes shut as she saw InuYasha leap down from the tree above her. She peered at him through half open lids, watching him hurriedly glance around the camp before heading into the forest. ‘Why does he have to be so secretive? What could be so bad about it?’ She shook the thought away. No, it had to be bad. There was no question.

She rolled to her side, clutching the sleeping bag tightly, letting herself drown in its comforting warmth. Her thoughts drifted back to the day when everything started.

Flashback (A few months earlier)

“And you let him leave?” Kagome was glaring daggers at her younger brother, who was quivering nervously in front of her.

“I couldn’t help it, Sis!” Sota cried, throwing his arms out, as if to dramatize his statement. “He just left without a warning!” He crinkled his brows, folding his hands, and bringing them to his chest. “I’m really sorry.”

Kagome let out an exasperated sigh. “How long has he been gone?”

Sota bit his lower lip, his eyes quickly averting to the floor. “Well, he left a few hours ago. I think he went to look for you.” He took a step back from his sister, fearing a sheer meltdown on her part.

“We’ve got to find him, then,” she said, grabbing his arm, and jerking him forward.

(00000000000000000000)

There was rain, its falling shower pounding against the ground. Kagome was hysterical as she paced her living room, the reflection of her tearstained face passing through the windows as she did. InuYasha was gone. She shook her head at the thought, unable to stand it. Why didn’t he come back to the house? Was he lost?

‘With his keen nose, you wouldn’t think he’d get lost,’ Kagome rationalized. ‘Then again, this era is probably filled with a ton of strange smells that he’s not used to.’ She let out a whimper of distress, her legs slightly quivering as she moved around the room. All of the running around that day must have caused her current lethargy and anxiousness. She had constantly been back and forth between the city and the feudal era, searching for the missing hanyou. ‘Let him be safe,’ she pleaded, continuing to pace, despite her protesting legs.

“Kagome, he’s here!” Sota yelled suddenly as he leaned his head through the doorway to the room. He pulled back for a moment, before leading InuYasha into the room.

Kagome couldn’t help but let out a sharp gasp as InuYasha’s hazy eyes met hers. He looked exhausted in his unkempt appearance. His hair stuck out in dishevelment, and his eyes had a certain unawareness about them that she couldn’t quite place. “InuYasha?”

A lopsided grin emerged on his pale face as his legs collapsed under him. He murmured her name; it was almost as if he were begging her for something. He sprawled out across the floor, his breathing becoming labored.

“InuYasha!” Kagome rushed toward him, kneeling down by his side. Placing her hand on his cheek, she could feel tears beginning to form. What had happed to him out there?

She never knew.

End Flashback

Kagome sat up, trying to drown the images of that day out of her head. It didn’t matter how much she wanted to know; InuYasha refused to reveal any of the events that took place. There was no sense in dwelling on it now. Still, all of the changes in him didn’t start until after that incident. There had to be a connection, right? Her impatience grew quickly as she thought about this. Why hadn’t he told her anyway? ‘I have to know,’ she decided. ‘I can’t watch him act like this anymore.’

She slid out of her sleeping bag, mindful of the slumbering kitsune next to her. Her heart began pounding against her chest. In every sense, she knew that walking into that forest would change her life forever, a chance she was willing to take…for InuYasha.

(0000000000000000000)

Euphoria. It was an ephemeral bliss, lasting ten seconds at most. Even so, every moment of it was worth it. InuYasha smiled softly as he was overcome with this incredible sensation. He felt like every trouble he had ever had was suddenly uplifted. His brows furrowed in annoyance as the feeling began to wear off. “Damn,” he muttered. “It seems like it gets shorter every time.” He took a fleeting look sideways, hearing a rustling sound within the shadows of the trees.

His ears were perked, further increasing his audible range. Eyeing the collection of trees in front of him, he growled. “What the hell are you doing here, Kagome?”

She said nothing as she peered at him closely. He was holding something. She watched him put it into a small pouch that he had been carrying with him for the past few months. She was sure that that small bag tied to his sash held his secret. All she needed to do was open it. Kagome slowly let herself leave the safety of the trees. “Um…sorry,” she said. “I just noticed you were gone, and…”

“Don’t ever follow me again!” InuYasha snapped, his voice having a strange languidness about it. He staggered forward, almost as if he were limping. “Let’s just go.”

Kagome started to protest, but was stopped short as InuYasha grabbed her hand and jerked her in the direction of the camp. “InuYasha, wait!”

He mumbled something, slightly turning toward her.

“What’s wrong with you?” Her voice was soft as she spoke, clearly illustrating her concern. She stared at him intensely before taking a quick glance at the pouch on his side. She reached for it.

InuYasha’s hand hastily slapped hers away. “Don’t!”

Kagome gasped. There was no questioning in his tone; this was a demand. “InuYasha, please? I want to know.”

“No!” InuYasha backed away from her, hurrying back toward the campsite, leaving Kagome alone.

‘He left,’ she thought. ‘He would never leave me in danger like this before. Now…’ She cried softly. ‘I can’t stand this anymore. I have to find out what he’s hiding.’

(000000000000000000000)

“We need more supplies.” InuYasha gazed at the group, his arm quivering as if he were nervous about something.

“We just stocked up a few days ago,” Miroku pointed out. “How can we be in need of more already?” He narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

If possible, InuYasha began to twitch even more. “Just shut the fuck up, Miroku! I…we need more.” He stood up, traipsing angrily toward the forest beside them.

Kagome watched him leave with an apprehensive look on her face. ‘What can he possibly need that badly?’ she wondered. She glanced at her backpack curiously. ‘We’ve got more than enough supplies to sustain us for at least another week. There must be something…’ Her eyes widened as she noticed a small pouch lying carelessly beside a bush. ‘He must have dropped it,’ she realized.

“What’s wrong, Kagome?” Sango stared at her inquiringly, noticing her friend’s anxious expression. “Is there something I can do?”

Kagome shook her head. “It’s nothing.” Her attention turned back to the bag. There was nothing to stop her from opening it. She rose to her feet, hesitating for a moment. Was this right? After all, this was InuYasha’s business, not hers. ‘No,’ she thought. ‘I can’t think that. This is important.’ She continued to move closer to the sack, lowering herself beside it when she reached it. Her hands were shaking, and she could hear her heart pounding in her ears. Carefully, she picked up the pouch, opening it.

“Hey!”

Kagome stumbled backward as her gaze landed on InuYasha’s glowering face, the bag flying out her hands. “InuYasha,” she said unsteadily. “I’m sorry…I just…you’re…” Her eyes averted back to the pouch.

“What the hell makes you think you have the right to go through my stuff?” InuYasha stalked dangerously close to her, picking up the bag as he did. “Don’t ever touch this again,” he hissed in a menacing tone.

She nodded frantically as he leapt back into the forest with the bag clutched tightly in his hand. ‘Was that what I think it was?’ Her thoughts drifted back to the open pouch. It was so hard to even fathom it. ‘He’s using drugs.’ The image of the syringe flooded back into her mind. She recalled seeing pictures of such things in her health class, along with the powder-like substance she had also noticed in the bag. That explained everything, his strange behavior, the supplies, and his disappearances. ‘InuYasha is…addicted to heroin.’

The next chapter is on page 7. ^_^

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, guys! I just had to stop it here! The next one will most definitely be longer. Anyway, tell me what you think. I’m dying to know! Please REVIEW! I really want to hear your thoughts before I post the next chapter.

wahoo!! yay!!

update soon ^-^

Yay! I actually got a reply! Well, I'll finish this chapter soon. I'm trying to do this one, and work on the other one at the same time. Oh well. The reason I didn't post this chapter after I finished it is because this is a strange idea, and I wanted to see how people would react to it.

yay me love story.. ^-^

kiki, add me to fl? (friends list)

DRUGS.

*cough*

Update.

Lol. Yep.

Good story! Update!

I thought it might be that, even before I began reading this. It's great! Please finish the first chapter soon, kikyophobia!

wonder how he got em...lol

Wonder what kind of drugs they are he's gotten into? Cocaine maybe? Small pouch, sounds like he may be snorting coke or something.

Nope. Guess again. Hehe.

I'm not an expert on drugs so I'll have to wait for the next chapter...

Okay, another guess: Meth?

Nope.

Okay, I give up. I'm out of ideas. I was about to say either regular amphetemines (different from meth) and barbituates, but then I remembered that both of those have to be taken in pill form. Barbituates are addictive sleeping pills, and I don't it could be that, as InuYasha would be sleeping all the time then I think.

I don't even know if I want to know what Inuyasha's taking...
Hopefully, it's not THAT bad.
But I have a feeling that it is...

That's true, and that's why I didn't pick any of those. ^_^

I'm not even gonna bother researching...

^^

lol...oh, I hope inu realizes what he is doing...

Yep. I agree with ichinichi. Otherwise, they could let Naraku win. *shivers*
That would not be good...

Yeah. Well, InuYasha can be quite stupid sometimes. We all know this.

wow...you think up really cool ideas...dangit I forgot my colors again...anyways awesome!!!

Thank you. That's always my favorite complement. I strive to be unique, and to not use ideas that have been done a thousand times before. That's why I love it when someone tells me so.

lol maybe he's on cough sirup lol :blue20:

Hm.. I'm guessing he's gotten ahold of Marijuana?

Lol. You're all wrong. I can't believe no one's guessed it yet! It's so obvious! Then again, I already know. Maybe that's why it seems so conspicuous.

Lol. I have no idea then. I'll just wait for the update. ;p

ITS TABACCO OR SMOKE'S ISNT IT!!!!!!!! :blue20:

ummm...not coke...not Marijuana? Thats the only ones I've ever heard of!! Can we get a hint please :cactus25:

Ok, I edited the first post. The answer and the rest of the chapter are now in there. Enjoy!

heroin(sp?) thats what it was.....................AHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :blue20: :blue20:

*slaps palm to forehead* duuuhhhh lol I'm so not bright sometimes ....
I'm sorry but as I read that all I could think of was this clip I had seen of Kagome and she said I think I have a hangover, and then she's like but thats OK. Then InuYasha and Sango look at her and they sau and you're not upset!?
It was weird..but it made me think of it...don't know why...I'll shutup now :cactus25:

How could I have been so stupid!! :blue20: Heroin! Dang! I wonder how he got exposed to that stuff in the modern era? Well, this calls for a little of Pink Floyd's song 'Comfortably Numb', as Heroin is what that song's about! Anybody ever heard that song?

I have...well I heard it through my brothers bedroom door before I sto- borrowed his boombox :blue20:

Anybody want me to put up the words to it then? I don't mind.

That would be cool if you don't mind please

Okay then. Companion song to go along with this fic:

Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb

Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone at home?
Come on, now,
I hear you're feeling down.
I can ease your pain
Get you on your feet again.
Relax.
I'll need some information first.
Just the basic facts.
Can you show me where it hurts?

Chorus
There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.
When I was a child I had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain it you would not understand
This is not how I am.

I have become comfortably numb.

I have become comfortably numb.

O.K.
Just a little pin prick.
There'll be no more AAAAAAAAAH!
But you may feel a little sick.
Can you stand up?
I do believe it's working, good.
That'll keep you going through the show
Come on it's time to go.

Chorus
There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown,
The dream is gone.
but I have become comfortably numb.

Cool. I've never heard that song before.

I like that song :cactus25: but right now I have 'Come' stuck in my head, it's my new fave