One Look

Inuyasha held her in his arms, his unresponsive, undead love. She didn't know the hold she still had on him, or maybe she knew all too well. Maybe she knew that once he started kissing her, holding her, pleasing her, he wouldn't be able to stop.

"Kikyo," he muttered softly to her shoulder, wanting her to feel the same core-melting desire he felt for her. Her stoic non-response only made him grip her tighter.

"Come with me," she called softly into his ear. "Follow me to hell."

He would do anything for her, even this. He knew he would, just...not yet...something was incomplete, something he couldn't place. Putting his finger on it, he backed up slightly, arms still wrapped around her possessively.

"I'll follow you, Kikyo." He gazed into her deep brown eyes, with his golden pools of yearning. "Just as soon as I destroy the one who did this to you!" Kikyo frowned, brow furrowed, yet her eyes were cold, almost as dead as she was supposed to be. She attempted to pull away slightly, to loosen his grip but only succeeded in having him pull her back into his embrace.

Sighing, she gave in and relaxed against his chest, her only response to his advances this night. She looked into his eyes and she felt him sigh in content.

Just one look was enough.

'Oh Kikyo,' he thought with anguish, pulling her flush to his body. 'You deserve to be given a peaceful rest in the afterlife. How can I give that to you when the demon who did this to you is alive and well?'

"My love," he muttered. Her scent was too intoxicating, too real. Memories of their times together those fifty-some-odd years ago sifted to the front of his memory. His longing, his need, real then just as now. Taking in her scent, Inuyasha felt a small pang of guilt. She was near. She was watching. She was hurting. Looking towards her, Inuyasha gazed steadily, not removing his arms from Kikyo. His eyes pleaded with her to understand, to stay.

- - - - - - - - - -

Kagome looked at the scene before her, the object of her desires in the arms of her soul's predecessor. She felt her heart rip in that familiar way, somehow knowing that this is what she was destined to see, over and over again. After all, he hadn't promised her, Kagome, to spend all eternity with her. He hadn't chosen to stay by her side, he was here out of a sense of vengeance for his lost-and-found love.

She could see as he held the undead miko tightly to him, his grip tightening as he whispered in her ear. He hadn't seen her, not yet, and she couldn't think of moving, of leaving, of fleeing. Not yet.

She saw him pull back, his arms still around her and Kagome thought of those arms, those powerful, protecting arms as if they were around her. She could feel their warmth as if he were there for her and not the other one.

Kagome saw as Kikyo melted into him, like she wanted to be doing, like she deserved to be doing. 'I want to be more than just his jewel shard detector. I need to be more!' Now she thought of moving, of leaving, of fleeing. She was ready to run, to go home and leave it all behind, a bad dream to be forgotten. She didn't deserve this, didn't deserve to feel so torn, so useless, so unwanted!

She saw him look at her, his eyes seeing her, pleading with her.

'Don't go!' they said.

And she couldn't. Damn it, she couldn't move! Even as he held another, even as she kicked herself, even as her heart was shredded by the sight before her, she couldn't.

Just one look was enough.

This is a break from my other story. It's so far from the storyline that I have no way to include it there, so...here it is in all its 'oneshot-ed' glory!

Reviews are always welcome.

- Sarga