Authors Notes: Gah! Oh boy, who wants to skin me alive right now... ((watches everyone who is still even reading raise their hand)) Aww... Ano. This is a cry for help. If you guys want to see chapter four, I'm gonna need some help. My creative juices are barely non existent! I don't want to sound like one of those annoying authors who don't know what the hell they're doing, but I can't help it! Tell me in a review if you want to help dear Hari-chan with this damn story. I need all the help I can get. But you do get this nice, extremely different and better chapter two! (Read it, it's waaaaaay better!)

Disclaimer: ((Blink, Blink)) Um... yeah. I don't own the anime/manga, nor do I own the song. Obviously. So STOP TORTURING ME ABOUT IT!

Italics/Bold: Voice

Italics: Flashback

'Blah': Thoughts

Excerpt from "Ohio is For Lovers" by Hawthorne Heights

" So cut my wrists and black my eyes-

(Cut my wrists and black my eyes!)

So I can fall asleep tonight

Or die.

Because you kill me;

You know you do,

You kill me well…

You like it too and I can tell.

You never stop until…

My final breath is gone."

Scars

Chapter Two: Ohio is For Lovers

Amber eyes peered into the Bone Eater's Well as the blue glow of the Sengoku Jedai's only portal to the past closed once and for all. Should he feel angry? Sad? Relieved, even? He had thought that once he became full youkai, he wouldn't have to deal with any sort of emotion at all. Yet he felt it all with such vigor, that the intensity of it all almost scared him. Yet he did feel one emotion above them all, amazingly…

Hatred.

Not for Kagome, of course. Oh Kami, he could never hate Kagome, no matter what form he was in. No… that hatred was only towards himself. Amber then bled red as a growl reverberated in his throat. The bitter taste of regret consumed his soul as a pair of razor claws gripped tightly on the well's rim. But what was the use of feeling bad for what had happened? Nothing could change his fate now.

Ironically, that didn't really make Inuyasha feel any better.

The youkai scoffed at himself as he glared down at the well. He raised his right hand, ready to destroy the last link to his past-

"Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha stiffened as a voice echoed in his ears, a voice he would most likely never truly hear again… Inuyasha put down his clawed hand and backed away from the well with a clouded look in his blood like eyes.

'This place is stupid anyway…'

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Kagome couldn't stop crying.

Her hands couldn't stop shaking, her breaths continued to come out unevenly, but she just couldn't stop crying. A pair of golden amber eyes, bright as the sun in the breaking of dawn, appeared in her mind's eye as she tried to compose herself. Those beautiful, expressive eyes…

How could they hurt her so?

Kagome didn't know. All she knew was that she couldn't stop crying and that she was in so much pain, it felt as if she were ready to burst.

Kagome gasped in pain as she tried to get up from her spot on the dirty, cold ground. Her legs were now even more scratched up than before and the fading scars were now covered in new blood. Just looking at her own body made her want to wretch.

'How am I going to get out of here?!' Kagome silently panicked. Blue eyes searched around the well for anything that could possibly help her up, but she knew that was futile considering she was in a well and the rope was a good three or four feet above her. She reached up and tried to grab the rope, but gave up quickly. The pain was just too much to bear…

Kagome shook her head, trying in vain to ignore the throbbing behind her eyes and cleared her voice the very best she could. "Help!"

It came out as more of a whispered plea, but Kagome wasn't deterred in the least. Kagome cringed in discomfort as she stretched her throat and pulled herself up as much as she could. "Somebody, please help!"

"Kagome?" A young boy's voice reached over the well as Kagome saw her little brother's face peak over the rim. Brown eyes widened as the light from the open door reached over and lit the darkened tunnel only to reveal just what kind of state the young girl was in.

"Jii-chan! KAA-SAN! Come quick, Kagome's hurt!"

That was all Kagome heard before she passed out on the ground below her.

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Blue eyes wearily blinked open as the early morning rays of sunshine hit them gently. Kagome sighed as she carefully got out of bed and limped towards her window in dismay. Three weeks had passed since the "incident" as Kagome had dubbed it in her mind. Kagome had been completely knocked out for two of those three weeks. It had been very discomforting to wake up in a hospital bed after everything she had been through…

"Mmmm…" A groan escaped the mouth of the former protector of the Shikon no Tama as a pair of azure eyes slowly blinked open. Bright lights invaded the young woman's vision as Kagome brought a hand up to lessen the vibrant glow.

"I see you're awake, young lady. You gave us quite a scare."

An unfamilar voice broke through the distortion as Kagome finally realized just where she was...

"A... hospital?" Kagome weakly questioned as she took in her surroundings. White impaled the walls as an aging man Kagome assumed was her doctor stood patiently in front of her. The young woman blinked wearily as she hugged herself self conciously. "How did I get here?"

"You were brought in by your family. They said you fell down the well at your shrine, but... to be frank, Kagome, a lot of these wounds don't look they just appeared from a fall. I don't want to be to presumptuos in asking, but... were you attaked, Kagome? Did someone do something to you before you fell into the well?" The doctor eyed Kagome carefully, as if staring at her would pry the truth out of her. Kagome swallowed imperceptively and nodded her head in the negative.

'Liar...'

"Can I see my family?" Kagome asked suddenly as she looked expectantly up at the doctor. This seemed to signify the end of the discussion. The doctor looked hesitant in answering, but realized that no matter what he said next, this young girl wouldn't budge in her answer. Kagome just seemed to radiate stubborness. He sighed as he reluctantly gave into the girl's wishes.

"I'll send them right in."

'I am so in over my head...' Kagome thought wearily as she rubbed her forehead in exhaustion. What was she going to do...

"Kagome? Are you alright, sweet heart?" Higurashi-san stood patiently at the door as she watched her daughter in worriment. Kagome straightened immediately and smiled plastically.

"I'm fine, okaa-san. Just still a little tired." Kagome answered. She had yet to answer any of their questions, though. In fact, Kagome had pretty much dodged any question towards her injuries and Inuyasha since she had woken from her "deep sleep."

"Kagome, you scared us so much! What happened, onee-chan?" Souta gazed at his sister with teary, worried eyes as he patiently awaited her response. Kagome opened her mouth to answer, but then closed it immediately after. She just couldn't tell them what really happened... It would break poor Souta's heart to know just what his hero had become...

"I... was attacked by a random youkai on my way to the well and just managed to stumble into the well before it could get me. That's all." Souta and her jii-chan seemed to accept this answer fairly well, albeit hesitantly, but her mother narrowed her eyes in the slightest of ways, and Kagome knew she didn't believe a word of what she had said.

It didn't matter though, because Kagome refused to breathe a word of what really happened. And that's how it would stay.

Kagome sighed as she clenched her fists in frustration. Higurashi-san frowned silently, but exited her daughter's room without another word. There was an air around Kagome that seemed... off to say the least. The older woman wanted to say something, but knew her daughter wouldn't say anything in this frame of mind. All she could do was wait and hope Kagome knew just what she was doing.

'Please be okay Kagome...'

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"Inuyasha, please, just stop it! You know you don't have to do this!" Kagome's azure blue eyes welled up with unshedded tears as she pleaded with this new version of Inuyasha. The hanyou lowered his head in shame as he lifted his clawed hand, albeit hesitantly...

A sharp drag of a clawed hand ran across a wrist as a pair of amber eyes bled crimson. A drop of the knees, and Inuyasha was on the ground. A lost look laid within his eyes, along with the blood red.

He stared down at his claws as the smell of her blood permiated into his ever sensitive nostrils. He then looked down upon the young woman who he had sworn to protect as she cradled her injured arm against her chest. The shocked look in her eyes hurt more than any attack ever could.

Just what did he just do... ?

Inuyasha stared at the slashes upon his wrist as the pain ebbed away and the cuts healed themselves over. It was in these weaker moments that Inuyasha was able to reflect upon the pain he inflicted on not only Kagome, but himself as well. His eyes closed in agony as a wave of guilt washed over him. When the feelings got too intense, they sometimes drove him to do crazy things...

Like say... mutilate yourself for instance.

But may be if he kept cutting upon himself, he might be able to destroy this wretched body and meet her in the next life. Soul clean and ready for a new start, with her by his side.

"Kagome, just please give me the damn jewel. Please..." Kagome looked torn as she looked down at the jewel and then up at Inuyasha. She wished she could give him what he wanted, but she had a duty to uphold. One that was even above her love for the half demon in front of her.

Kagome, already drowsy from the loss of so much blood continued to hold on to the jewel in resilience. The young miko looked at Inuyasha in defiance and stubbornly shook her head.

He'd have to kill her first.

And with that came the beginning of the end.

"Kagome..."

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Kagome sighed as she continued to sit on her window ledge, with only nostalgia accompanying her. Memories of the past flooded into her mind as she thought back on the more innocent days where it was just her and her hanyou...

How she missed her home.

Enough.

Kagome jumped up in surprise as a deep voice rang within her ears. Kagome looked around the room in surprise as fear began to creep into her mind. "Who are you? What do you want?" No one seemed to be in the room...

'Damn it!'

I did not know you knew of such words, Kagome. Were you not the innocent one in your little rag tag group?

Kagome blinked wondering if she had said anything outloud. She winced onced she realized she hadn't. This thing could read her mind and knew her name. This was bad.

Really bad.

Sit down Kagome. We have much to discuss.

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"Inuyasha, what are you planning to do now that the jewel is finished?" Inuyasha glanced over at Kagome as she kept her head down and continued to look towards the ground. It was moments like these when he was able to reflect upon just how vulnerable Kagome actually was.

"You know what I want with the jewel, Kagome. That hasn't changed in the slightest." The young miko's eyes glistened for a split second before she nodded in comprehension.

Yet... something seemed off. He brushed off the feeling once Kagome picked her head up and ran ahead towards the well with a smile on her face. If only he knew...

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A now youkai Inuyasha blinked as a partially mutilated Kagome stared up at him from the ground in pain and shock. He had done it. His wish had finally been granted.

But no wish came from the Shikon no Tama without a price.

He was such a fool...

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Kagome closed her eyes in confusion as she thought back on what the ghostly voice had just informed her.

"What?"

If mysterious voices could sweat drop, she was pretty sure hers would be beyond the point of it. A pause made its way into the uncomfortable conversation as the voice once again repeated itself.

Kagome, you and Inuyasha are meant to be.

Kagome only blinked in response.

I promise it's true. I would not dare torture you with such lies.

Kagome hesitated before allowing herself to speak. "That's impossible... he made his own choice with his future. If anyone destroyed what we had, it was him. His future is set..."

'As is mine.'

Amber eyes looked directly into her own oceanic gaze as the youkai held tightly onto her wrist.

"I love you, Kagome."

"Even if what you say is true, how can we be together? He's in his time, and I'm in mine. I can't go back there with the Shikon no Tama, and I doubt he would like to come here. Even if he could. We obviously didn't stand much of a chance from the start." Kagome laid down upon her bed and stared into a picture she had taken of both herself and her hanyou in his original form a couple months back.

Do not worry Kagome... everything shall be set right...

The voice gently faded from her mind as Kagome was once again left with her own thoughts. Was she going crazy? Kagome sighed in exasperation as she turned to her window and looked towards the well house in pure longing.

'Inuyasha...'

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"Inuyasha? Come on, Inuyasha! You know I hate it when you try to sneak up on me!" Kagome pouted cutely as she stared out into the forest expanse. Where was he anyway!?

"Gah!" Kagome jumped as she felt someone land behind her. She whirled around and smiled at the hanyou who now stood in front of her. An 'osuwari!' had been on the tip of her tongue, but that rosary had been taken off months ago. "Hey, I was calling you just now- Inuyasha? What's the matter? Are you ok?"

Amber eyes simply stared at her, detached from reality. His eyes...

They looked so cold...

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Trees.

He was surrounded by trees.

Why?

Would you rather be dead?

Inuyasha blinked groggily as he sat up. He looked down at his chest only to find that his latest attempt at suicide had been thawrted yet again. Not even a scar to show for all his trouble. He couldn't even kill himself correctly.

How pathetic.

You really are a moron. Are you just going to try to ignore me again? I'm not going to go away anytime soon.

Inuyasha closed his eyes, trying to will the ghostly voice away from him once again. It had haunted him for the past two weeks, trying to get him to go through the well. He doubted that would be happening any time soon. Damn annoying voices.

Why do you insist on denying yourself your own basic needs? You really will die if you do not go to her...

"What's the point?! She hates me anyway! She hates..." What had started as an angry scream simmered to a frustrated whisper dramatically. Tears clouded over his red tinted eyes for the first time in a long time. Something inside of Inuyasha had finally broken, and he just couldn't take it anymore.

'Not without her...'

Go see her...

A grimace carved itself over Inuyasha's lips as he looked out towards the horizon. He would see her, beg for her forgiveness and then they would live happily ever after. Inuyasha sweat dropped as he gingerly scratched his head. Or something like that would happen anyway. Why did he have such a bad feeling about this again?

'Maybe because you betrayed her trust, stole the Shikon no Tama from her and harmed her physically and emotionally in the process. Let's not mention probably scarring her for life from the whole experience.'

Inuyasha looked down at the ground and sighed in exasperation.

"Something tells me it would have been just easier killing myself."

Owari

(End of Chapter)