Chapter 1
Inuyasha sat up against a tree that shelter the makeshift campsite that the gang was staying at. He didn't sleep, just watched the dying, orange light of the fire. A sudden spark lit up Kagome's peaceful face, making him turn his eyes from the flames to her. Her skin was so beautiful and her hair was always perfect. The half demon wanted to desperately tell her how he felt about her, but his pride and lingering feelings for Kikyo made him unable. Whenever he tried to clear his mind, pictures of her smiling face appeared.
He inhaled her sweet scent; vanilla and cherry blossom. "Kagome … if only I could tell you …" He stopped suddenly when thin ribbons of light floated through the starry sky; soul collectors. His heart skipped a few beats when they beckoned him. "Kikyo …" He stood up and followed them, leaving the light of the fire behind.
Kagome, who had awoke to the sound of his voice, opened her eyes and stared around. When she saw that Inuyasha wasn't there, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. The camp was quiet. The only noise she heard was the gentle snoring of Shippo, who was curled up in her lap. Something farther into the woods caught her eye. Faint white, shimmering beams of light glided through the trees; Kikyo. Curiosity and sadness overwhelmed her as she pushed the sleeping kitsune off and slipped on her shoes. She snuck away and headed into the trees, her feet crunching on twigs and leafs. When the trees began to clear, she saw a field that was illuminated by countless souls which floated around the trunk of the tree. Kikyo stood in the grass, her porcelain face expressionless. Inuyasha resided a few feet away, his face mixed with guilt and passion. Kagome watched from the shadows, feeling the beginning of tears brim in her eyes.
Inuyasha swallowed and spoke in a gentle voice. "Kikyo."
She walked forward and looked up at him. "Inuyasha, does my presence here still cause you grief?"
He shook his head and pulled her into a warm embrace. "No Kikyo, I never stop wanting for time to be turned back, before Naraku tore us a part. I want to be with you, more than anything. But …" He stopped when he smelled a familiar scent and the smell of tears. "Kagome." He thought. He didn't have a chance to turn when Kikyo connected her lips with his. Her lips tasted hard and cold, but he didn't pull away.
Kagome's head fell and she backed away, the tears in her eyes spilling down her cheeks. She wiped them away and pushed her way through the bushes. Thorns snagged at her sleeves as she made her way back to the others. As the fire came into view, she quietly walked over to her bag, stuffed her belongs in it and slung it over her shoulders. She stared at the faces of her friends and sighed. "I'm sorry you guys, I just need a few days." She whispered. Knowing Keade's village was only a few miles away, she hurried down the path.
Back in the forest …
When Inuyasha smelled Kagome's tears worsen and her scent going farther away, he felt the inner demon inside of him anger. What did he just do? He pulled away from Kikyo and dropped his arms from her waist.
She looked up at him in confusion. "What's wrong Inuyasha?"
"Kikyo, I can't keep doing this. I will always care about you, but you need to move on. I love Kagome. She changed me, taught me to smile, laugh … to trust my feelings again." He said.
Her face grew sour and her voice was laced with jealousy. "You would choose my reincarnation over me? She is a copy, nothing more! How could you do this to me?"
"You're wrong." he stated simply.
Her eyes stared into nothing as she spoke. "She and you should never have met. I was the one who was supposed to be with you, not her. She is living … I loathe her as I roam this world. I envy her as well. She has hold on your heart. I can never be free from this clay hell."
He touched the side of her face. "Kikyo, please… don't call me here again."
"I understand." She said as a few tears cascaded down her face. "Inuyasha, will you do something for me?"
"Anything Kikyo." He said running his thumb along her skin to wipe her tears away.
"Release me. I no longer wish to reside in this world any longer." She said with sob.
He stepped away from her and sucked in a breath. He lunged forward, his fist colliding with and shattering her body. Souls sprung from within her, shooting into the sky. Before her own left, she smiled at Inuyasha and faded into nothing. "Thank You, Inuyasha." Her body crumbled to the ground, its remains blowing away with the breeze.
"Goodbye, Kikyo." He said as her soul swirled around him and became a star in the black sky. As he walked away from the clearing and back into the forest, he could still smell the salt from Kagome's tears. As he followed her scent, he caught the tiniest trace of her blood nearby. He raced along until he spotted a few scarlet drops on the thorns of an Ivy bush. He didn't stop. He crashed through it and dashed to the campsite. He expected to see Kagome's soft face, but she was gone; her bag and all. Her scent led away back toward Keade's. The others were still asleep.
He ran over to where Shippo lay and shook the kitsune awake. "Shippo, wake up!"
The fox batted his hand away, his eyes still shut. "Five more minutes Papa."
"What … no, it's Inuyasha you idiot!" he growled.
Shippo rubbed his eyes and looked around for Kagome. "Huh? Where's Kagome?"
He growled and dropped Shippo back on the cold ground. "I'm going to find her."
Before the kitsune could reply, the half demon darted away. He followed her scent to and away from Keade's village. The smell of her tears grew stronger as he finally made it to the well. "Kagome, I'm sorry … I'm coming." He said as he leaped into the well's dark depths.
