The Funeral of Hearts by Iridescent

Prologue

She had seen Sango fall. Then Miroku. Inuyasha. She had outlasted all of them. She had made if, when they had not. Kagome looked at the rising sun. To her, when the sun rose, it meant hope for all people. Hope for their torn and broken lives to get better. A new day. When the sun rose, it was like a sanctuary, it's beautiful light symbolizing hope. It reminded of the saying, "There's always a light at the end of a dark tunnel." But now, it seemed all hope was lost, and that sanctuary she hoped to find was so far away. There was no light at the end of the tunnel, not tonight. Just a bridge that's burning down. Kagome collapsed, exhausted. She had spent all week helping out in nearby villages that had been destroyed by youkai. After all, this would have to be her home, for now. 'This work is so tiring with Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku not here to help, ' she thought miserably. That thought sent an electric jolt of pain through her heart. How she missed them. She would never forget them. She was silently mourning her losses when a little boy ran up to her screaming, "Miss miko, help us!" She stood up quickly. "What's wrong?" she asked gently. "It's youkai!" he cried. "How many?" The boy was breathing hard, and she tried to calm him. "It's all right, just tell me where they are." "O-over there, " he stuttered. She looked at where he was pointing, and grabbed her bow. "All right, thank you." Her voice was shaky, but laced with confidence. If she could survive Naraku and all his minions, she was sure she could survive a few weaker youkai...But then again, she had no idea what she was getting herself into..