Disclaimer- I do not own Inuyasha; all rights go to Rumiko Takahashi.

The Final Straw- Chapter 9

Kagome's body burned all over, but she did not dare let herself fall. Sango turned out to be a pretty tough trainer, and it was difficult at first but now she was starting to get the hang of it.

It had been three days since her encounter with Bankotsu, and his pain-filled cry still haunted her dreams, and her ears rang with the intensity of it.

Every night she dream of his shimmering blue eyes, and she felt so... at peace. In her dreams with Bankotsu she was finally able to get away from the pain of Inuyasha's betrayal.

"Bankotsu, I promise that when I'm stronger, I'll find you."

She couldn't explain it, but she could not deny the flames that spread through her body the moment Baankotsu's lips met hers. The kiss was filled with so much passion, and she missed the feel of his body pressed firmly against her.

Never before had she felt so desired, and safe.

It's been the longest winter without you,
I didn't know where to turn to.
See, somehow I can't forget you,
After all that we've been through.

She wanted to be with him again. She wanted him to steal her breath away with one look from those cerulean eyes of his. She wanted her knees to get weak at the sound of his voice. She wanted him to embrace her with those strong, muscular arms of his. She wanted to gaze upon his handsome face, and she wanted his silk-like lips to ravish her mouth. She wanted to feel his calloused hands all over.

She wanted him. She needed him.


Bankotsu's POV

Dammit. I've been searching for her for three days, and yet there is still no sign of her.

Possibilities of what might have happened to her spun in my head, and the kept coming back no matter how I tried to repress them.

"There's no way she could have survived that fall, but even if she did, where's her body?"

Going, coming... thought I heard a knock
Who's there? No one
Thinking that I deserve it
Now I realize that I really didn't know,

I tried hard to keep my cool but every time I thought of her, an unforgettable pain racked through my chest. I stared over the edge of the cliff where she fell, my Banryuu clutched tightly in my fist.

"Why was she so afraid? And why did her eyes show so much pain?"

Her deep mocha eyes haunted my dreams, and I swear she was there whenever I turned a corner.

I remembered the feel of her soft body against mine. I remembered the softness of her ivory skin, and the exquisite taste of her cherry lips nearly drove him to the brink of insanity.

He was furious with himself for letting a little onna make him lose his self-control, but at the same time it enchanted him.

He remembered how fragile she seemed, and he remembered the strong urge he had to protect her.

He also remembered how his heart stopped when she fell off the cliff, the sickening crunch of her lithe form as it connected with the jagged edges of the cliff, the fear and sorrow in her eyes that haunted him, and the scream of anguish that tore through those rosy lips.

I growled in frustration.

If you didn't notice, boy, you mean everything.
Quickly I'm learning to love again,
All I know is I'm gon' be okay

[Chorus:]
Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too, ooh yeah
(It'll all get better in time)
And even though I really love you,
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to
It'll all get better in time

I guess she really is... No. But...

No.

I have to keep going, and complete my mission to destroy Naraku. Maybe if she really did live, then I will find her. It's been three days and I've wasted more than enough time. I have to get over her and focus on my duty. Maybe then I'll find her and settle this between us.

I take one last glance at the place where she fell, the place where I lost her.

And I swore I would get her back.


Inuyasha's POV

It's been three days since Kagome and Sango left, and for some odd reason I can't stop missing her. Sometimes I even wish she would come back just to sit me.

Even when I'm with Kikyo I can't help but think of Kagome. I can't stop myself from comparing the two.

Kikyo is serene and quiet, whereas Kagome was always joyful and bubbly.

Kikyo's hair maybe silky, but Kagome's hair was curly, and had a wilder look to it.

Kikyo's eyes barely showed any emotion, but you could always tell how Kagome felt if you looked in her eyes.

I couldn't turn on the TV,
Without something there that would remind me
It wasn't all that easy
To just put aside your feelings.
If I'm dreaming, don't wanna lie,
Hurt my feelings

Kikyo still smelled a bit of graveyard soil but from time to time her peach scented fragrance made it's way to my nose. Kagome's scent was mouth-watering, and her scent was so sweet I don't even know how to describe it.

Kikyo was so... cold, Kagome was so full of warmth.

I looked down at the beauty sleeping in my arms, and the strong scent of graveyard soil made my head spin.

I stared at her face and couldn't help but think of someone else.

But that's the path

I believe in,
And I know that time will heal it
If you didn't notice, well
You mean everything.
Quickly I'm learning to love again,
All I know is I'm gon' be okay


Sango's POV

I knew something happened to Kagome three nights ago, but for the life of me I couldn't figure it out. When she returned to Edo covered in dirt and bruises I almost had a heart attack. I asked her what happened but she simply brushed me off and said that she fell, and it wasn't that serious.

I knew she wasn't telling the whole truth, but I decided to wait for her to tell me about it later.

Since the moment we got here she has been training, and I'm impressed with the amount of improvement she made in such a short time.

During the early hours of the morning she practiced her forms with a katana, and in the afternoon she focused on meditating to strengthen her spiritual powers.

She was so quiet, and I'm starting to worry about her.

Inuyasha... Oh my kami, if he wasn't one of my closest friends I would chop him up and feed him to Kirara for breakfast. Sometimes I wonder how that hanyou can be so stupid...

[Chorus:]
Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too, ooh yeah
(It'll all get better in time)
And even though I really love you,
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to, ooooooh
It'll all get better in time

"Alright Kagome, now it's sparring time." I say.

She nodded, and went to retrieve two wooden swords from the shed where our tools and weapons were stored. I studied her face closely, and it seemed to me that Kagome might never be the same after what Inuyasha did to her.

Since there's no more you and me (no more you and me)
It's time I let you go so I can be free
And live my life how it should be.
No matter how hard it is,
I'll be fine without you, Yes I will.

Out of everyone in the group Kagome probably suffered the most. The well closed, trapping her in this time, and the love of her life chose someone else over her. Kagome was constantly in heartbreak, and in a lot of ways we were shared the same pain, but now the houshi and I have finally settled down. We are to get married a week after I return from training Kagome, and I sincerely hope that all goes well.

Kagome returned with a blank look on her face and I just couldn't take it anymore.

"Kagome, are you feeling alright? You don't seem yourself."

"I'm fine Sango," she said as she tossed me a practice sword. "I just have a lot on my mind."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I'm alright, I just need to sort out my thoughts." she raised her sword.

"Alright."

Then she surprised me by attacking first.

[Chorus:]

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too ohhhh
It'll all get better in time ooooh
And even though I really love you
I wanna smile cause I deserve to (yes I do)
It'll all get better in time, woah

Thought I couldn't live without you
It's gonna hurt when it heals too, yeahh
It'll all get better in time
And even though I really love you
I'm gonna smile cause I deserve to