A/N Hello all you people out there!

[Silence]

Um, Fine. Welcome to chapter two of Sacrifice. As you can see, I got plenty of reviews to continue, the grand total of six! SIX! Which means that if I mess this up, I'll probably be kicked off FF.net. So that is my excuse for making you wait. And also, AOL crapped out on me for a week, and then it seems I don't have the correct "cookies" or something to log into FF.net, and I spent a grand total of about two weeks figuring out how to load them up. School, damn it for getting in my way. Anyway, this is another song fic, though I didn't mean for it to be. I was just listening to Good Charlotte's Hold On and it seemed to fit so well with the story. Before I go anywhere else, yes I know the song is about suicide, and no, neither Kagome nor Inuyasha kill themselves at the end. I just look at it another way, and I think it could be about holding on to a relationship that someone's trying to break, if you ignore the "Your mother's gone and your father hits you," line. What can I say, I love being different. So now chapter two is a song fic. But now on to my reviews, which are the nicest reviews I've ever gotten [thanks!]:

Yo-Yo Youkai Carmen: BAM! You're my first reviewer and here's the new chapter! And also, I love your name. Carmen's my Spanish name.

Issa-chan: Wow. Thirteen sos. I counted. Thank you so much for reviewing! And I'm sorry for not updating sooner, but here it is!

Toadman: You have given me one of the single nicest reviews ever! I'm glad I did a good job with coming out of the flashback, I was really worried about that. There is a lot of crap coming in on FF.net, but it's a pretty much free and open site, so we should be thankful for that, I guess. Kudos [love that word!] for reviewing!

Minakokiss: [Gets starry eyed] You really can't mean that. I like the mud scene, but I'm merely a beginner. But I like to pretend that's true, it makes my smile. And, tell me if you put up a drawing on-line. I'd love to see it! That's like the greatest of all compliments, you wanting to draw what I write. I'll definitely have a beautiful ending, though I can't promise you it'll be happy. Probably will be, but I can give no guarantees. Oh, I just can't stop smiling.

Code-wyzei: Haza! Another reviewer! Here's your update, even though you probably wanted it quicker, but here it is!

CrAyOnS tAstE LikE pUrple: Hooray! My final reviewer! I think it would make a good one shot, but I like writing it so what the heck! Hope you enjoy.

So on to the story, ye of old, ye of new, ye who wandered half-heartedly into this tale. May you enjoy, I loved writing it.

Disclaimer: Really, I'm in a town house in the middle of nowhere Nebraska writing on a five year old computer. Do you really think I own Inuyasha or any of Good Charlotte's songs or anything for the matter? Didn't think so.

Sacrifice

By: Pale Moonlight

This world, this world is cold

She ran, far and fast, farther and farther away. She was leaving him; she'd left him again. The darkness swallowed her, her scent faded from the ground. He fell to his knees, the cement beneath him offering no comfort. A drop hit the mix of stone, then another, onto an all out down poor started.

But you, you don't have to go

Why, why did she leave him? Inuyasha looked up, half-heartedly expecting her to be there, but saw nothing, only the same skyline of buildings, the same street, the same emptiness.

You're feeling sad, you're feeling lonely,

And no one seems to care

Inuyasha found the way to his feet and kept his eyes looking forward. The darkness showed no comfort, and a wind stung at his back. He dropped into a bench in front of the station, and looked to the ground. Everything seemed so wrong, nothing was going correctly. Why didn't he tell her? Sticking his hands into his pocket, he pulled out a small leather box. Upon it's opening, he gazed upon the small, golden ring within. The diamond glittered in the street light, and even it's simple shimmering was too much for Inuyasha's eyes. Tears started to fall again.

Your mother's gone and your father hits you,

This pain you can not bare.

Kagome no longer felt her legs, but she ran. Her eyes were blinded, she'd fall and trip, stumble, collapse, and yet still she ran. Her only thought was to run, to escape everything and run.

The street gave out beneath her, and the air pushed her down to the ground. Kagome merely lay there for a second, the cement adding no comfort; it's cold, rocky form tearing and eating at her flesh. Stupid, he was so stupid. Why didn't he just stay home? Kagome felt tears at her eyes, but she refused to cry anymore this night. Standing on tipsy legs, she decided to go to the bus station; that'd get her away. She'd figure everything else later.

But we all bleed the same way as you do

Where to now, though Inuyasha, again staring into the deep, never ending abyss the darkness seemed to be. She'd run straight ahead of him before disappearing. Inuyasha tried to stand, but something nagged him at the back of the brain.

And we all have the same things to go through

She was somewhere downtown, though Kagome didn't quite know where. The buildings added no help, any that looked familiar gave her gibberish on their windows, while the strange crept around her, luring her with false senses of peace. The street signs where dark, and foreboding in the light. At last she pasted somewhere familiar, it seemed to be a park.

"Get out of my way, bastard."

"Or what, dog face? You'll growl?"

Kagome shock her head. No memories, she'd no memories with this park. It was the same one all right, but there was nothing connected to it. Nothing.

Hold on,

If you feel like letting go

Was he to run after her; was he to chase her forever? Inuyasha peered further; the darkness smirked back at him. Kagome hated him, why was he to run again? She hated him.

"Stupid bitch," growled Inuyasha, "I hate you, you slut! Hear me Kagome, I HATE YOU!"

Inuyasha wiped at his eyes, heart pounding faster with every second. "And I'm going to go to Kikyo! Hear me, Kagome? I'll go to her just like you want!"

The darkness gave no answer. It seemed to be waiting for him to leave. Inuyasha stood, he was leaving. He'd go to Kikyo, and she'd love him and he'd forgot about Kagome.

"Hear that Kagome? I'M LEAVING!"

Hold on,

It gets better than you know

She took a step closer, right into the park. Kagome gulped, it was just some stupid park with the buses at the other end. She could do this.

The trees spread out their darkened leaves, the moon barely reflected any light down to her. Everything was silence, no noise from the town, no movement, and not even a simple rustle of leaves. Kagome looked about her. No one was there. She was alone, only herself in his park. Everything was fine.

Your days you say are way to long

His steps were pain, every fall ate away inside him somewhere. Inuyasha ignored this; somewhere inside him would just have to die. He'd live.

The lump in his pocket grew heavier with each passing second. It grew down to the ground at one point, rooting Inuyasha to his stop. He looked back, but the same darkness met him. With all his remaining strength, he walked on.

And your nights, you can't sleep at all

A bench came into view, but Kagome refused to look at it, she refused to remember. Stupid park presence, scaring her, upsetting her; she hated this damn park. But there was no way to travel but forward. There was no back; there was nothing behind her.

And you're not sure what you're waiting for

But you don't want to no more

Something was around her. Something was too close; some damn thing was following her. Kagome looked all around her; nothing was there yet something was everywhere. The night closed around her, chills ran the length of her spine. Each step slowed, every nerve concentrated on listening, ignoring the complexity of walking. Oxygen clumped up in her throat and her feet slipped along the sidewalk. And she heard it, the slightest rustle, directly behind her.

And you're not sure what you're looking for

But you don't want to no more

Everything reminded Inuyasha of her, each and every damn building spit out their memories at him. Kikyo no longer mattered, nothing mattered any longer. He'd just keep walking, he'd be somewhere someday, and that'd be good. The stupid night air bit his eyes; the stupid dirt wouldn't leave him alone, some stupid spirit called behind him. Nothing was important, he only must walk. That's all that mattered.

The coffeehouse loomed before him, and in front of his very eyes he saw him and Kagome, drinking their usual hot chocolate together. The darkness faded as the scene played before him, Kagome giggling and slipping at her hot chocolate, and Inuyasha just smiling, just looking at her and smiling. Kagome hated coffee, though Inuyasha, a slight smile coming back to his face. And coffee would have been bad for her, her all super hyped up. And before he knew it, he was laughing. Right through his tears, he laughed.

But we all bleed the same way as you do

"Didn't expect to see someone like you here," whispered a voice into Kagome's ear.

And we all have the same things to go through

Kagome shivered as she felt his arms wrap around his waist, his fingers trail down to her thigh, his head rest on her shoulder.

"You remember, don't you?" he cooed into her ear, nuzzling against her face.

Standing shakily in his form, she nodded.

"Good. I promised to kill you."

Hold on

If you feel like letting go

Inuyasha walked on, a lump in his pocket pushing him back, and a necklace pushing him forward.

"When you can come to me, do so Inuyasha. I will not wait long. Remember me, by my necklace, and my kiss."

Forcing his hand into the bitterness of the night air, Inuyasha reached from deep inside his shirt and pulled out the necklace. He could still feel Kikyo's warmth upon his cheek. It purred to him, he barely felt his own legs as he took each step. Kikyo's house stood before him, nothing separated him now, but a walkway, a few steps, a door. But he stood there, merely looking at it. Something else separated him and the lump in his pocket weighed down so fiercely that Inuyasha took it out of his pocket to gaze upon it once more.

Hold on

It gets better than you know

"You're not going to make this complicated, are you?" he sang to her, tightening his grip around her waist.

Kagome merely choked out air, and looked forward.

"I asked you a question," he yelled, crushing Kagome in his grasp.

Kagome paled, gasping for breath, struggling against the force behind her, leaping forward, trying to break the iron grip around her.

"Answer," he cooed.

"No," sobbed Kagome, as his hold slackened and he released he her. Like a rock she fell to the ground, and she coughed up the smallest bit of blood. Kagome took her first look back, and saw the dreaded yellow eyes she'd never forget.

"Good," said Kouga.

Don't stop looking, you're one step closer

Inuyasha stood at her door, the wood rotting away in strips, cheaply covered with reddish polish. The ground beneath him was cracked and aged to an immensely ill-looking welcome. Only the doorbell glistened, the house deteriorated around it, yet the doorbell showed no age. With the slightest of moonlight, it gleamed with an unearthly deep, black marble. His finger reached out, but the mere centimeter it needed to push forward seemed to last an eternity, and Inuyasha could not bring himself to press it.

Don't stop searching, it's not over

Kouga's hand connected with Kagome's check, and she flew back into a bench. It flared red, swelled up, and a thin line of blood ran down to her throat.

"You've no idea how good that felt," cried Kouga taking one step closer.

Hold on

What are you looking for?

"Come on," he urged his finger. Inuyasha could barely breath; he rocked forward, holding his finger with his arm, trying to break this unknown force all about the doorbell.

"I want this!" he yelled at his finger.

Inuyasha sighed, and sat down. The marble held its force, with its never-ending blackness.

What do you wait for? asked from deep within Inuyasha's mind.

"I'm not waiting!" yelled Inuyasha. "I'm going to ring right now!"

He stood up quickly and lunged his finger forward. It stopped at the same way away; relenting again on it's own force. Inuyasha looked down, not willing anyone to see his tears. He'd cried enough for today, he wouldn't anymore. He'd ring this damn doorbell and be happy.

What is real happiness? said someone.

Inuyasha knew now he was crazy; that was the second voice. The doorbell still called to him, yet he sunk into the cement. So he took out the ring. It was white gold, encrypted inside. I will always love you. Inuyasha snorted, he could never hold such a vow, lusting for one woman, trying to marry another. The diamond seemed dull and dampened in the darkness. Everything else still seemed right, but the ring looked so wrong here. He could get another for Kikyo, but Inuyasha didn't want to. He wanted the woman he loved to wear his mother's ring. He twirled it around his finger, looking deeply into the diamond, yet it still refused to sparkle.

What are you waiting for?

Kouga took his time walking to Kagome, she could tell that he knew she'd no where to go. Kagome refused to give in easily; she grabbed the nearest thing, a broken plank, and aimed it Kouga's way.

"Now, is that any way to act?" smirked Kouga, grabbing the plank and ripping it out of her hands. It burned as it roughly slid out. Kagome looked at Kouga, her eyes fearful, and prepared for the slap. He didn't disappoint; he smacked her other check, forcing Kagome's head down to the cement. A small pool of blood gathered about her head.

Kagome felt her body roughly turned aside, so she lay on her back. Something crushed her lungs, and as she painfully opened her eyes she saw Kouga upon her. His face still held the same smirk.

"Stop complicating it," he cooed. His claws ran up her cheekbone, leaving the smallest of lines of blood. His claws moved back down, down to her shirt. He started to rip at it, his claws cutting it right down the center.

"NO!" yelled Kagome, pushing him off.

Do you know what you're doing to me?

Two paths, his life had come unto its only major fork, each road looking as promising as the other. There was Kikyo, or there was Kagome. It all boiled to that, it all was that simple. Kikyo or Kagome, Kagome or Kikyo, all he needed to do was pick one, to chose one and forsake the other. It seemed so easy, as though fate had decided to somehow slacken their demand on him by simply giving him two choices. Kagome or Kikyo, Kikyo or Kagome. Inuyasha would have damned his stupid love for Kagome, had it not been one of the only things left inside.

Go on,

Inuyasha could live with only one, he'd could never go back after this. Slacken the demand his ass. So he sat, and thought, and thought, and thought. Nothing came to him, so he stood there. Minutes ticked on, yet he couldn't pick one.

Well? Someone asked him.

"Shut the hell up! I'M TRYING TO FUCKING THINK!"

What are you waiting for?

Kagome stood again, and again ran. She'd never stop running now, her whole live was one long, giant run from something. That's all she could do, run and keep running, forever.

Hold on,

If you feel like letting go

But plans were to change, as some bulk slammed Kagome back into the ground. A fist pounded down on her head.

"BITCH! I was going to make it easy on you, but it seems you still haven't learned. You can't ever get away from me, Kagome. I'll always be there, and you'll always submit. It's the way of the world, the strongest win will the weak die alone. But you won't see another time, Kagome, you've long ago passed that chance."

Hold on

It gets better than you know

Kagome felt a kick at her side turn her over. Two bloody claws ripped away what remained of her shirt. A glimmer caught her eye, as a knife blade cut down along her breasts. Kagome felt herself shriek as the blade opened her skin and blood to the night air.

"QUIET!" Kouga screamed at her, slapping her check again. Lights swirled before her eyes, as Kouga's form fuzzed. She felt her skirt slip off, down past her knees, down father by her ankles, and then she could no longer feel it.

"Kouga, please, no!" she whimpered, feeling his hands run along the line of her underwear.

"You've wasted your chances, Kagome. You can wait no longer. Let's see you run now."

Don't stop looking you're one step closer,

Don't stop searching, it's not over

Inuyasha stood up, defiantly, and walked up to the door. The ring was pushed far back into his pant pocket, forgotten and rubbing against his wallet. He stood right in front of the door, and reached the doorbell. His finger willing went to it, pressing it's deathly cold from in. The sound reverberated throughout the silence. Inuyasha smiled, grabbing the necklace. This was what he wanted.

Hold on

If you feel like letting go

He slashed at her legs, and Kagome screamed with each thrust of the blade.

"Feel that Kagome," Kouga asked, "You did that to yourself. I told you not to leave me, but you wouldn't listen. I told you, you should have listened, Kagome." Kouga slid up higher and looked straight into Kagome's paling eyes. "You going to tell me why you didn't listen?"

With every last ounce of stupidity, she spit in his face.

Kouga chuckled. "Fine, I'll forced it out of you. More fun for me."

Hold on

It gets better than you know

He grabbed her arm and twisted it backwards. Kagome felt her sockets pop out of place but refused to scream for him.

"You're not going to tell me how it feels, Kagome?" Kouga asked, smiling as he pushed her arm farther back.

"You BASTARD!" she screamed, releasing her tears of pain.

"Not the right answer." Kagome felt herself sit up, and the rags of her shirt slid off. His fingers ran about her arms, slowly making his way down across the cut, down farther and farther. Her chest was exposed to the brutal night air, her whole body quaking. Kouga pulled her into him, and ran his fingers down to her panty line as he removed his shirt.

"Maybe I shouldn't kill you," he whispered in her ear.

Hold on

Woo. Oh man, you guys must hate me. Let me clear this up, I have nothing against Kouga, I just was using him in this story. Wow, I'm so going to get flamed for this. You guys must hate me for this ending. I rather like it; it sets up well if I want to do a third chapter. So, what do you think? Was the WRITING good, bad, what? And what about the ending for this story, I can make it sad, or really happy. What do you want? Come on, tell me, do you really want it to end here? Hmm? Come on; tell me, I won't bite. So, if you want another chapter, please review, just one measly review, and you get another chapter. I might end it good or bad, all depending on you. I really want to end this; even it is sad, though reviews will help me so so so so so so much. So please don't hold back. Thanks for reading!

Your Faithful Authoress,

Pale Moonlight