I do not own the rights or any characters of Inuyasha.

Whispers

Chapter one

Whispers plagued her as she tossed and turned in the night. Her ebony hair swayed playfully in the night's gentle breeze, catching rays of moonlight as she tried to return to her peaceful sleep beneath the stars. Something in her body told her that the voices, behind the endless murmuring, were familiar but she couldn't hear the words being said as the whispers became silent once again.

Then she felt it, a tug at her soul calling her from her warm sleeping bag and into the fresh air of the night. She was mesmerized by the way her body seemed to be moving on its own accord, as she made cautious but hurried steps into the awaiting forest. With each step the tug became more intense. So she hurried along until she could finally hear with clarity the words being said.

The words that would never be directed at her the way she wanted them to be. Words that which caused her heart to falter and tears to gather in her chocolate colored eyes. With each new word spoken she felt as if someone was ripping a chunk of her heart apart.

"I love you." Said the silver haired man to his lover as glowing orbs encased her body leaving an unearthly tint to her skin.

"What of my reincarnation, Inuyasha? Don't you profess to love her as well?" the raven haired woman replied in an almost lifeless voice. "You could never be replaced in my heart Kikyo. All I want is for you to remain at my side forever. Kikyo just come to me please. I can care for you and I can provide anything you'd need" Inuyasha pleaded as he moved forward to embrace Kikyo.

"You seem to forget Inuyasha that my place is no longer in this world. I grow weary of this existence where I am neither truly alive nor am I granted the peace of death. It will not be long till I depart from this place. Your love is wasted on me for it isn't returned in this body." Kikyo replied as she freed herself from his embrace and walked away leaving a trail of soul-stealers behind her.

"Kikyo…" He whispered helplessly, his ears flattened against his head in sadness as her silhouette disappeared into the surrounding darkness. After what felt like an eternity he turned around and started his long tread to his campsite and his sleeping companions. A short distance later the smell of salt assaulted his nose and instantly he cringed knowing exactly whose tears they were.

"Kagome..." He sighed out, his eyes softening as he spotted the crumpled mess of girl huddled upon the roots of a tree. They stayed silent for what seemed to be hours before her crying had settled enough for her words to be understandable.

"I can't…" she said as she pushed herself off the ground and walked towards him. When she was only a foot from him he pulled her into his chest as he tried earnestly to comfort her.

"shhh… I'm sorry… shhh… it's gonna be okay…"

"No, Inuyasha! …I… I can't do this…" her words came out in heavy rasps as tears made lazy mascara trails down her cheeks and hit his chest like bullets .

"No I won't do this to myself anymore. It hurts too much and as much as I keep wishing that you'll realize that it's me that's here for you and no matter how I hope that you'll coming running into my arms, deep down I know that it's not going to happen. This" She took a gasp of air before she continued, afraid that if she stopped she'd never say what needed to be said.

"Me being here and believing it for even a second is unhealthy and deluded. I don't… I don't have the strength to be by your side anymore. I'm sorry Inuyasha… but it no longer matters how much I love you or how I wish I could always be here for you. I'm done feeling like I'll never be good enough as I am. I'm finished running after you like a lost puppy and hoping that you choose me when I know you won't. If I were to stay now it would tear me apart and I don't want to lose myself. I won't lose myself just because you don't see me and can't love me."

Kagome's tears soaked the front of Inuyasha's robe as she finished talking and all he could do is hold her. Afraid that this time she wouldn't come back if he let her go.

"I do love you, maybe if you gave me more time I could love you better… Just don't leave me too." He whispered into her hair as she sobbed harder.

She forced herself to step out of his arms and looked into the amber eyes that held her world and whispered "I'm sorry but I don't have any more time to give and If you care for me, even an ounce as much I care for you, you'll let me go ." With those last words the browned eyed priestess walked away from the only man she ever loved.