A/N:: I have no clue why I wrote this the way I did. It just came out that way. However, since this story is an Angst, I guess it works, right?

Enjoy the Story

Fatal Flaw

Entendre Euphenist

Chapter Two:: Wishes

..~..

Sometimes, Kagome wishes she were stronger.

She imagines this while Kaede sends her off to fetch herbs in a nearby field in response to her sudden urge to train. The girl hopes that maybe one day the people who place so much faith in her (nonexistent) abilities will have a reason to. She wants to be dependable.

According to Kaede, what she needs is to clear her mind, and so she sits with a wicker basket between her feet, staring hopelessly at a sea of plant-life. As if in the back of her mind, little voices don't whisper (If you had only been stronger)to her while she steals from the earth in broad daylight. The medicinal necessities have become as common to her as breathing, and so this exercise in relaxation does her no good. ( She's already done, and heading back. "That was fast," Kaede tells her offhandedly later on.)

These herbs heal what she could have prevented if only she had known what she was doing.

Kaede assures her that she means so very much to Inuyasha, as if that makes the guilt go away. (That takes care of the competition however, now doesn't it?) All she has to do is believe in him, as if all of a sudden that's useful. Faith doesn't come to the rescue when strange demons come from nowhere and kidnap you. Believing in your hero doesn't make him show up any sooner, and suddenly he's too late this time, and you realize that's no knight; it's just Inuyasha.

The pieces fall into place carefully as her allusions fall away. Before her stands a man, dogged by time and circumstance, and she wonders just what exactly about him was so special after all. He's not invincible, and just how near to human he really is slaps her across the face harshly. Reality hurts, and she's not sure if she likes it.

Speaking of hanyous, there he comes with a nice pile of fuel for the fire slung casually over his shoulder. A very accurate sixth sense alerts him to her staring.

"What?" and she see just how defensive he really is. How did she ever expect to break through all of that?

"I want to become stronger," and she's not exactly sure why she told him but she's glad she did all the same. It's out there now, in the space between. It's definite.

"You're just some stupid mortal wench," he snaps without thinking, and it shows on his face how he really didn't mean it, but that's all a moot point now. She's not sad, but very angry that once again, nobody understands.

"But you're half human. Does that mean that you're only half strong, hotshot?" Oh. She's hit a sore nerve, now has she? She's forgotten about her tentative confession and is fully engaging in something both stupid and pointless. They both know this; know that this means nothing, but it means everything.

"You sound just like that damn brother of mine!"

"Hmm, ever think he had a point?"

" You're being a stupid bitch right now."

".........says the person who needs a piece of jewelry to prove that he's really strong." She shouts, and this time it does matter. She knows by the way his eyebrow twitches, and his mouth curls downward that this time she's gone too far. Ready to apologize, and anger subsiding immediately, she waits for his outburst.

His silence has never been so scalding.

"You want to act like that motherfucker, then you better go him. I don't want you anywhere around me." Quiet, hurt and dripping with anger. Each word is a tiny dagger to her heart because she understands all too well why he hides behind so many masks. This hurts, and she was the one who did it.

Words fail her.

" Inuyasha I-I'm so-"

But this cannot be this time. Too many years of being antagonized ( "You'll never amount to anything!"), and the stake was finally driven home. "You've got 'till I count to five to get out of my sight or so help me god, Kagome!"

His conviction wavers only slightly when she starts to cry in shock ( did he just threaten me?), but he's never goes back on anything. It's too late to go back now. What's done is done.

"I'm sor-"

"One."

"Please understand that-"

"Two"

"-I wasn't serious ab-"

"Three."

" I'm just upset and si-"

"of being weak all the time. I-"

"Four."

"I don't want to be weak anymore!"

"Five."

Eyes that show no emotion tell her that yes, he is serious, and legs with a mind of their own run out of the hut, out of the village, and golden eyes watch her flight. Inuyasha watches her until he can see her no longer, wanting to run after her except for the shackle around his ankle called pride. It won't let him do it. So instead, he bangs his closed fist against the wall of the hut in frustration because damn-it! it wasn't supposed to end like this.

"What have you done?" cries Sango when the teenager is not in sight but a large whole in the wall is. They all know what that means, and are similiar parts displeased and worried, and tired of it all. ( Can't we all just get along? ( But nothing is ever that simple.)) Can't we all just stop fighting and start listening? Please?

But the damage has been done.

And,"Inuyasha, you've really done it now." Miroku sighs, rubbing his temple to fight off the onslaught of what might just be an incoming migrain. He can't handle this right now and it shows in the way he just gives Inuayasha a look (Really now?) and ventures far away into the hut. Today is not his day because this is more than he can handle right now. Monk or not, a funeral service for someone he really felt impartial (agitated) towards really takes it out of a guy and right now, there's nothing left to give.

For today, Miroku is done and maybe in the morning he won't be.

Shippou does what all of them really want to do (call the inuyoukai an idiot and shout his head off) , and they are thankful. It feels as if a weight is lifted off of their shoulders as they finally say what really needed to be said. "Inuyasha, why can't you ever put yourself in her shoes! Imagine how she must feel right now."

In this moment, Inuyasha just cleches his hands into fist and looks away angrily, teeth gnashing. Sympathy alone won't soothe the sting of her words, but it would be an even bigger burn if he told anyone. Let them assume once again that he is in the wrong. See if he cares. (Liar)

Sango is sitting looking as if someone has punched her in the gut, but is only just realizing it. Her eyes are round, and her mouth does a little 'o' before she suddenly smiles, and focuses her tender gaze elsewhere. Golden eyes follow her gaze, which rests on the distraught kitsune, who has snuggled his way into Kirara's warm hide and cried himself to sleep. For a moment when their eyes meet, he feels guilty before she shrugs at him much to her own chagrin.

"It's not alright, but it will be." She says to him before lowering her gaze to the resting boy. "Once we have our Hope back," she assures herself silently ( Inuyasha hears her all the same.)

And for the moment, Inuyasha has no choice but to agree. Because without 'hope', they have nothing. Please come back.

Reviews are welcome.