Over the Hills and Far Away
Beauty of the Best Part II
By: Rachynn

Disclaimers:
I do not own Inuyasha.
I do not own "Over the Hills and Far Away", the song by Nightwish upon which this fic is based.
I do not own "Beauty of the Beast" the song title (by Nightwish) that I borrowed for the title of this chapter.

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She couldn't help it. She snapped.

She had kept quiet, though she didn't expect to. She went on living, though she didn't want to. She tried to forget, though she knew she couldn't.

It took her a moment to recognize Kagome. The only time she had ever seen her was years ago, a quick glance if anything at all.

She was calm, at first. It wasn't going to get under her skin, she was going to act normally. She had nothing against Kagome as a person.

Except that, Kagome had everything that she had ever wanted.

She sold them the strawberries. The crop had been particularly good this year, after all. She watched the interactions between Kagome and the man who had followed her through the market. She knew his name, though not by choice.

She found herself broiling with jealousy and she could help but stare.

It was her smile. The way she smiled. Why was she smiling?

What possible reason could Kagome have to smile?

The townspeople hated her, for reasons they all kept to themselves.

Her husband was gone, accused of a murder that they both knew he didn't commit.

She was a disgrace and everyone within 10 kilometres knew it.

Besides, if her husband really did love her as much as Kagome thought and as much as Kikyo knew, then why did he spend that night away from her?

What possibly reason could Kagome have to smile?

Why was she still happy, when she had nothing?

Why, when Kikyo had everything, was she so miserable?

She hated that.

She hated it with almost every core of her being.

It wasn't fair. Not in the least.

So, she couldn't help it. She snapped.

"Didn't take you long to get over him, did it Kagome?" the words fell out of her mouth and she had no inclination to stop them.

Though it almost made her sick at the same time, to see the shock and confusion so evident in Kagome's face gave her a brief sense of stolen happiness.

The man looked up at her briefly, and recognition passed through both their eyes.

She didn't mean anything she said. She was angry. The feelings of that night with Inuyasha had remained bottled up inside for so long… and now they were pouring out of her.

"Why… why would you say those things?" Kagome's voice was weak in her ears.

"Because… I hate you."

Except she didn't.

"Why?"

Because you have everything I have ever wanted.

"You're weak. You depend on people, so you have no independence. When the one person who would care for you leaves, you latch onto someone else."

The words she was spewing out now came from nowhere. They didn't make sense, even to her, but she was the one who thought them wasn't she?

Kagome's escort was yelling at her now. He had his arm wrapped protectively around Kagome, who was unashamedly crying in public. Bastard. They had an audience.

Kikyo didn't care anymore. She had everything, but she had nothing to loose.

"I bet you don't even know where Inuyasha was the night that boy got murdered." Her voice was cold.

She didn't care anymore. She'd never have truly have Inuyasha. She'd go through life like so many other women. Grow up under her father. Marry a man she hardly knew and didn't love. Have children. Die. All for family duty and honour. It was all so pointless.

"Because he wasn't home that night, was he Kagome?"

Misery loves company.

"But, I know where he was. Would you like me to tell you?"

She could see the disbelief and shock in Kagome's face.

"How would you know?" It was almost a whisper.

"… Because he was with me…"

She saw Kagome break, twist and shatter into a hundred tiny pieces.

She hated herself for causing it.

---

"Now, do not be getting yourself in trouble again. I don't vant to zee you under current circumstances again…"

He nodded. The small old woman (apparently a distant cousin of Cecil's) bustled about, shoving things into a small bag. Food, clothes, cutlery (though why he needed any of that he didn't know.)

He barely understood anything she said with that thick accent of hers but had learned to nod his head as she rambled.

Finally she shoved the small bag into his arms. "Now go."

He nodded.

Cecil had graciously offered to bring him back home. They were about a half a kilometre away from the harbour, so he'd have to swim to shore, but he didn't care. He was home.

He thanked Cecil, the old woman (who, as it turned out was the ships cook) and the strange man who was always glaring at him and departed.

He knew he was never going to be able to repay them, so he wasn't even going to try.

He swam ashore, dried off as best he could, and headed in the direction of his house.

Inuyasha was careful to avoid main roads and clusters of people. He didn't want to run in with anyone who was related to the law.

The sight of his house had him grasping for words. Those long hours under the boat on the stormy sea had made him so sure he was never going to see it again.

Carefully he pushed open the door. "Kagome?" he called.

He as a little surprised by the lack of answer. Where could she have gone?

He shut the door quietly behind him. In the kitchen, he frowned. Someone else's cloth pack rested on the table. Pillows and blankets lay askew on his oversized chair. Had someone else moved in with Kagome?

He searched the house, but found no one.

The garden seemed cleaner, less overgrown.

A feeling of dread settled over him.

He changed out of his damp clothes and left the house. In the distance, he saw colourful tents and people milling about.

The Farmers Market.

He hadn't even gone halfway when he began to hear the whispers.

"Shameful, really."

"An outburst like that, in public. Indecent I say."

"Well, what would you expect from that woman. You know who her husband is."

He quickened his step.

"Did you hear…"

"…Kagome… yeah…"

"And the other woman…"

"…lost it…"

He was running, pushing people out of the way. As he got closer to the outskirts of the other side of the market the crowds got thicker.

"…Kikyo…"

"…Kagome…"

The sweet aroma of fresh bread vanished behind him. Then he saw her.

Kagome.

He thought the world became brighter at that moment.

It almost faded to black when he got closer. When he saw who else was there.

Kikyo.

"Kagome…" he screamed.

I can't be too late.

Please God, I got here in time.

Right?

She turned to him and briefly, he saw her tears.

Then he saw black as a fist made contact with his face.

"You bastard."

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A/N: I totally didn't plan that second part.

You, person who leaves anonymous reviews. You're too bloody perceptive.

And yes. Nightwish is an awesome band and you should ALL be hooked.