A kiss, a tear. Farewell, mi amor…

Disclaimer: I don't own Inu.

When Kagome runs into Inuyasha and Kikyo in the woods, she has a surprising reaction. One-shot

00000000000000000000000

There they stood in silence, the glow of her soul skimmers shining eerily around them. The woman looked hauntingly beautiful, as she always did, her skin fair and pale and raven locks that flowed like water down her back. Her lips, however…

Kikyo's lips were of dull rose, a shade too dark for life, but not quite dim enough for death. Understandably. This priestess was the walking dead, after all…

Inuyasha sighed. I sat behind a tree, unable to move. Why was it that during these…situations, I'd lose all power over my body? Like another force was compelling me to stay. I strained my ears to hear something, anything. Shifting, breathing, the wind blowing through the canopy of treetops above our heads.

My head reeled with memories and emotions, my heart longing to gain control over my legs and just walk over to them, take Inuyasha in my arms and live happily ever after. The nagging in the back of my mind told me to run, run far away and never look back. I knew I couldn't do that, though… Running away from things never quite solves them. Not to mention the hundreds of demons that roamed these woods at night. There was that to consider-

"Inuyasha…"

I held my breath, waiting to hear more. I felt like my head was going to burst with anticipation.

"K-kikyo…"

Heard more shifting upon the grassy forest floor, a sharp intake of breath…

"Kikyo!" Inuyasha cried in surprise.

I stood, raising myself from my crouched position. I was better than that…I owed it to myself to just leave them be and give them my blessing if that was what they truly desired…each other.

My heart tore, and I clutched my chest in pain, my eyes burning, fighting to release the tears I so desperately tried to contain. I heard a surprised gasp. Moaning quietly, I stepped out from behind the tree, knowing Inuyasha had finally noticed me. He had smelt my tears.

"Kagome!" He whispered, either in shock or simply embarrassed. I found myself smiling, waving it off, which placed a rather horrified look on the half-demon's face, his amber eyes twinkling with curiosity.

I was glad to see I had maintained my composure, dignity and all. The tears remained locked up inside as I neared the boy who I loved so dearly and the woman I loathed so much.

"Kagome…" he whispered again, concern and something I couldn't quite place filling his voice. I think he was as surprised as I was that I hadn't run off.

I felt Kikyo's cold stare on me the entire while I was there.

"Inuyasha," I said, looking directly into those amber orbs. I turned and faced Kikyo, the same genuine smile on my face. "Kikyo…" Swallowing hard, I reached my hands round my neck, my fingers toying with the silver clasp of the chain on which the Shikon Jewel rest.

Inuyasha watched with wide eyes. Just what was it that I was doing, he wondered, his ears twitching every so often.

I clasped the near complete Jewel in my hand, holding it out to Kikyo, who shared no look of shock, but a gaze of distrust instead.

"Here," I said, my voice amazingly calm, "Take this Kikyo, and protect it. You can care for it better that I ever did." I smiled, nodding approvingly. Inuyasha watched in horror.

"I can't protect it where I'm going anyways," I added, to rid myself of her confused glare. My hand still outstretched, I removed my fingers and showed her the shimmering, tiny item.

"Kagome…what are you talking about?" Inuyasha asked, staring at me hard. "Where are you going that you can't protect the jewel…?"

"Home, Inuyasha," I said softly, longing for Kikyo to just take the Jewel and leave me be.

He paused, clearly very confused about what I had meant.

Kikyo's expression vanished, her eyes full of deep hatred towards me replaced by that same eerie, impassive stare they always held. My incarnation turned away, her back to myself and Inuyasha and the jewel as well.

"I'm impressed," she said, her icy voice tearing through my confidence like a knife. I shook for a moment, still intimidated by the older woman.

"Farewell. You never truly belonged here in the beginning." Fading into the thicket, the tragic priestess vanished into the forest, the light of her soul skimmers fading in the thick fog.

My hand remained out, my arm quivering slightly. I returned my hand to my heart, the jewel enclosed in my fingers once more.

"..K-kagome?"

I looked up, my eyes meeting those of Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, take it."

"What…are you talking about, Kagome?" he asked, his voice uncertain. "What do you mean you can't protect it anymore..?"

I watched him, also turning my back on him.

"What do you mean you're going home?" he asked quietly, his eyes pleading for an answer.

"I'm going home…and I'm staying there, Inuyasha."

I received no reply.

I knelt on the ground, fingering the crystal orb affectionately. This small item symbolized my emotions, my pain, my hatred, my love. I had to go home, but without the burden of these memories. Placing the jewel on the ground, I said a small prayer and stood.

"Goodbye, Inuyasha."

Without another word, I walked into the forest, free from the captivating grasp of anger, hurt, affection. Wandering through the forest, I happened upon the well and smiled, my tears completely gone now. I slide my legs over the edge and fell down, a sensational blue light engulfing me as I left this world and entered the next.

0000000000000000000000000

Hmm, it was a little suicidal I guess, near the end. More symbolic than anything.

Please review, thanks! I may just have to do a sequel where she comes back years and years later….

Thanks!