Chapter 2

Author's note: I love Spirited Away, but the slug thing sadly did not come from that. I just saw a slug outside. Sorry for earlier mistakes, just wrote a Bleach story earlier and some habits die hard lol

Inuyasha jumped from tree to tree as he followed Sesshomaru, wanting nothing more than to just go back. Kagome was hurt and he didn't want to leave her side in her moment of vulnerability. But his presence alone would kill her. His friends stayed to protect the village for him, and Miroku decided to purify Kagome's room everyday until the slug detached and died. They were strong, but they needed his strength. He frowned, thinking back to Kaede's words.

"A slug demon can survive for a long time without food. For it to die from hunger would be a month. You must not come back until then."

Inuyasha grumbled about how she was just a stupid old hag who didn't know anything, looking up when he heard someone gasp. He saw a little girl by what looked like to be a two headed dragon, Inuyasha smelling she was human. He frowned, the little girl not cowering away in fear at the sight of Sesshomaru. Instead she ran towards him, a wide smile on her face.

"Welcome back Lord Sesshomaru!"

Inuyasha was confused, but he didn't want to get down from the tree. He just sat down, watching the little girl as she presented a flower crown to Sesshomaru. Jaken seemed irritated, kicking a rock with a grumble. He stopped though, looking to the tree Inuyasha was in.

"Lord Sesshomaru, the half breed has followed you!" Inuyasha growled softly at him, Sesshomaru not caring to look at either of them. He was looking at Rin, the little girl putting the crown on her head when Sesshomaru shook his head at her offer.

"Inuyasha will be traveling with us for a while." Jaken sputtered, his big bug eyes getting impossibly wider. Inuyasha smirked, resting back against the bulk of the tree.

"But sir he is a disgusting half breed! He will taint us!" Inuyasha looked sharply to him, his eyebrow twitching. He hopped from the tree, Jaken screaming out when he stepped on him. Inuyasha growled as he rubbed his face in the dirt.

"Shut up toad!" He barked, Rin gasping when she saw him. She had not known what Jaken was talking about, Rin looking to the dog ears sitting on his head.

"Master Jaken, he looks rather clean to me." Jaken sputtered, swallowing some dirt in the process. Inuyasha took his foot off from him, Jaken spitting out the dirt.

"He's-"

Inuyasha didn't let him finish, Jaken's words ending in a scream when Inuyasha kicked him. Inuyasha growled, Rin smiling as she watched Jaken fly away. Inuyasha looked to her for a second, walking back over to the tree he had been perched in.

"Wait, what's your name?" Inuyasha stopped, looking to the little girl again. Her face was bright with curiosity, Inuyasha turning away.

"It doesn't matter." He jumped into the tree, Rin's expression becoming one of confusion. She ran over to the tree, looking up where she could see Inuyasha's red haori.

"My name's Rin!"

Inuyasha looked down to the little girl. She confused him. Inuyasha knew he was no saint, knew that what he was should be rejected by both humans and demons. He was an interbreed nobody wanted to claim. Yet, this little girl didn't look at him that way. Kagome always a certain look in her eyes, able to comprehend he was nothing but a reject. But, this little girl looked like she couldn't even tell the difference.

Was that why Sesshomaru kept her around?

"Are you going to tell me your name now?" Inuyasha wondered if maybe she was mentally slow. His ear twitched when he heard a branch break. Sesshomaru was walking away, Inuyasha frowning. He didn't bother asking him where he was going, deciding to just stay here. He could wait here for a month and then go back so he wasn't too far away from Kagome. He nodded, Rin frowning slightly.

"Are you sleeping?"

"Rin, lets go." Rin's frown was replaced with a smile, the little girl bowing to the tree.

"I have to go now." She ran over to Sesshomaru, the two headed dragon going by her side. Inuyasha didn't move from his spot, his mind was made up.

"Wait for me my Lord!" Inuyasha snorted softly at the toad demon that ran after Sesshomaru, wondering why the thing even stayed with the annoying asshole. He guessed they fit together though. They were both annoying.

"Inuyasha." Inuyasha frowned at the sound of Sesshomaru's voice, rolling his eyes as he stood. He didn't have to go with him and didn't plan too, turning towards the east. He jumped to another tree, guessing he could make him believe he was following him. Sesshomaru did not comment so Inuyasha continued on, jumping from tree to tree.

He jumped down when he reached a river, sighing as he kneeled in front of it. He cupped some water in his hands, frowning when he saw Sesshomaru's reflection in the water.

"I told you to follow me." Inuyasha ignored him, bringing the water to his lips. He yelped when he was kicked, falling into the river with a splash. He was laying down beneath it, Inuyasha sitting up up with a gasp when he breached the surface. He coughed as he tried to get the water out of his lungs, looking to Sesshomaru with narrowed eyes.

"Really asshole!" he barked, Sesshomaru's blank expression not changing.

"Do not listen to me again, and you will experience worse than just smelling like a wet dog." Inuyasha growled at him, standing up in the water. He was dripping wet, his ears clogged from the water that got inside. He tried to clear them out with a finger, turning his head sideways.

"Nobody said I had to listen to you stupid!" He growled, Sesshomaru watching him silently. Inuyasha grumbled about him being a grouchy old dog as he got out of the water, looking to his wet clothes. It would dry itself quickly, but even so he didn't like getting wet. He shivered when a cool breeze brushed against him, already feeling the effects of the coming fall.

"If you wish to return to your village, you may go."

Inuyasha wanted nothing more than to go back. He hated Sesshomaru, and as far as he was concerned, there was nothing to like about him. He moved his hair out of his face, looking to the north. His village was over there. The one place he wanted to be right now.

Kagome.

Inuyasha frowned, looking down to the ground. He couldn't go back unless he wanted to kill her. The slug was slowly draining away her life, and if he went back it would only drain her faster. Inuyasha looked to Sesshomaru, his eyes narrowed in determination.

"I will not go back. But i'm not gonna play follow the leader with you either." Sesshomaru said nothing, only stared at him. Inuyasha waited for what he was going to do, but he did nothing. He just turned and walked away, Inuyasha relaxing just slightly.

"You will follow me." Inuyasha growled, running up to him and grabbing his arm, forcing him to face him. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, Inuyasha getting close to his face since it seemed he didn't hear him before.

"I will not follow you. Period. Do you get that asshole?" Inuyasha gasped when he was pushed back, falling into the river again. Sesshomaru looked at him as he spat out water, his eyes showing an ounce of irritation.

"I did not give you a choice. Inuyasha." Inuyasha got to his feet, unsheathing his sword. Tetsusaiga roared to life, Inuyasha pointing the blade at Sesshomaru.

"I never asked for one!" Inuyasha darted forward, his attack blocked by Sesshomaru's sword. He growled as he jumped back, Sesshomaru lowering his sword.

"Stay in this forest, she will die." Inuyasha growled, jumping up. Sesshomaru jumped away when he landed his attack, Inuyasha growling as he swung his blade sideways. Sesshomaru blocked it with his own, his eyes showing that much more irritation. Inuyasha grunted when he was punched, Sesshomaru cutting his wrist. Inuyasha gasped, Sesshomaru kicking him into the water again.

Tetsusaiga fell onto the ground in its weaker form, Inuyasha gasping when he broke the surface of the river.

"You are foolish. As long as you remain in the forest, it will feast on her. You may be only a half breed, but you have father's power." Inuyasha looked to the cut on his wrist, the small cut already starting to heal. His blood dripped slowly, staining the rushing water. He looked to Sesshomaru when he sheathed his blade, his eyes stoic once again.

"I will not tell you again."

Inuyasha watched him walk away, slowly standing up. He wondered how big the stick that got shoved up his ass was. He walked out of the river, picking up his sword. He sheathed it, jumping into a tree. Even though he didn't want to be near Sesshomaru, his words echoed in his mind.

He could not stay here. For Kagome to wake up, he had to leave.

Inuyasha followed Sesshomaru's scent, his mind screaming in outrage. He didn't want too, but for Kagome he had too.

:::+:::

"Inuyasha! You betrayed me!" Inuyasha reached out in the darkness, only red in his vision.

"No… Kikyo…"

"You're nothing but a demon!"

…

Inuyasha bolted awake, panting softly as his heart sped away in his chest. He looked down to the clearing they had stopped at for the night, Sesshomaru resting against a tree. Rin was sleeping next to the two headed dragon, Jaken sleeping a few feet from her. Inuyasha sighed softly, looking up to the sky.

Kikyo…

Like his thoughts had been heard, a white snake circled his arm. Inuyasha stood, sniffing the air. He jumped away from the tree, heading for that bitter scent. He stopped in a small clearing, his eyes widening when he saw Kikyo standing in the middle of it. Her white snakes surrounded her, the one that had came for him going back to her.

"Kikyo…"

She looked to him, her blank eyes showing a small ounce of relief. Inuyasha jumped down from the tree, Kikyo not moving to greet him. He took a step towards her, unsure of what to do.

"I heard of Kagome's condition." Inuyasha frowned, not wanting to talk about her. Kikyo saw it in his eyes, looking up to the sky.

"It has been a long time since I looked at the stars." Inuyasha looked up to them, sighing softly as it seemed they twirled above them.

"That night Kikyo…" Kikyo looked back to him, Inuyasha looking back to her. He took a few steps toward her, wishing he could hold her like he used to. He wanted to kiss her, Inuyasha looking down to the ground.

"I wasn't myself, I..." Kikyo walked up to him, Inuyasha looking up to her face. Kikyo gave him a small smile, Inuyasha leaning in just slightly as he yearned to kiss her.

"Every time we meet, you apologize for that night." Inuyasha knew he did, but he also knew it would never be enough. That night he took her life for his want for the jewel, his hand twitching when he remembered the feeling of her blood staining his fingers.

"The jewel's power is strong." Inuyasha looked to her, Kikyo's smile gone. She turned away, Inuyasha not wanting for her to go yet. He wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling her stiffen. He pressed his nose against her neck, closing his eyes as he breathed in.

"We can't Inuyasha." He opened his eyes, Kikyo slowly moving out of his embrace.

"Never again."

Inuyasha watched her walk away, his heart aching for her. He had betrayed her in the worst of ways, took away the life he never had the right too. He had gone delirious with his need for the jewel, had done many terrible things. Inuyasha thought back to Kagome, looking to where Kikyo had once stood.

He had failed them both.

He turned away, walking back to the clearing where Sesshomaru rested. When Kagome woke up he was going to fix this. He was going to help Kikyo's soul find peace. He was going to complete the jewel with Kagome and their friends.

He would never let them get hurt again.