A/N: Oh, boy. Here we go. Now we're really getting into the story. I know these past few chapters have been short, but you've gotta admit, they have been pretty intense. This one is no different. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: You know, I really shouldn't have thought about making Ziploc baggies. Now I really want to...

Breaking Up

-Monday-

Monday was... Well, we all know what Monday's are like. The first of five days where you get to wake up too early and stay up too late, cramming to finish what was due the week before. This particular Monday dawned dark and gloomy, with pale gray cloud rolling across the horizon, promising rain. InuYasha sighed for what felt like the billionth time that morning.

"InuYasha, are you okay?" Miroku had watched the hanyou mope around since yesterday.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he gently unwound Kikyo's arms from around his waist, backing away. "I'll see you guys later." He turned, and practically ran down the hall, desperate to see the one person on his mind. Up the stairs he went, taking a sharp right. He stepped into the English room, and quickly took his seat.

"Well, this is a surprise," his English teacher, Ms. Schamess, smiled, "To what do I owe this honor?"

InuYasha shrugged, staring out the window.

"InuYasha, are you alright?" She walked over concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he shrugged again, trying to act nonchalant.

A group of girls walked in, chatting loudly. Ms. Schamess sighed, and walked back over to her desk. The bell rang, pulling the rest of the class into the room, as if they had been waiting just outside the door. They filed in, sitting throughout the room.

"Okay, today, we're starting a new book!" Ms. Schamess began with a smile.

InuYasha just stared out the window, thoughts racing, jumping from one thing to another, but always going back to her. To Kagome. 'She's dead.' He wanted to laugh. 'No, he could've killed her right then, but he didn't…' He wanted to cry. 'She's locked up somewhere.' So far, this was the most likely. 'She's in a hospital very, very far away.' Even more likely. '… That blood she coughed up… How could she possibly be okay?' He grimaced. He could still hear her screaming.

He looked down, shaking. Not here, not now. God, he needed to do something. He needed to find her, make sure she was alright. He'd figure things out from there. This was so wrong, she was in high school for fuck's sake. Why should she have to deal with someone like that? He shuddered, despite his best attempts to repress it.

The bell rang, and he quickly gathered his things, leaving before anyone could stop him. He sighed, slowing down. Kikyo was waiting for him in front of the door to the chemistry room, he knew. She always did, so why would today be any different? He only thanked the gods they weren't lb partners anymore. He stopped for a drink, walked down the stairs. He really didn't want to do this. He just wanted to know Kagome was here, in the building, alive and well.

He heard the bell ring, too loud, as always, and he picked up the pace. He wasn't sure he could face Kikyo, with all her perfection, her imperfection, her terrible beauty. InuYasha released a sigh of relief as he neared the door, no Kikyo in sight. He stepped through, took his seat. Kikyo was a few rows ahead and to the left. No chance of talking. He took out his notebook, a red spiral clearly labeled "chemistry" in a messy scrawl. He dutifully took notes throughout the class, nodding along, but never really absorbing what the teacher was saying. The class passed in a hazy blur, and InuYasha packed up just as the bell rang.

"Hey," Kikyo sidled up to him, smiling.

"Hi." He didn't smile back, didn't even glance over.

"Okay, what's going on?" Kikyo sighed, leaning against the table.

"Nothing, it's just..." InuYasha suddenly looked at her, gaze hard and probing, "Do you know where Kagome is?"

Kikyo's eyes flashed, sharp as ice, "No. Why?"

"Never mind." InuYasha shook his head, looking down. He pushed past her, slipping out into the hall. He rushed through, going through the motions of dumping his books in his locker, riding the human currents in the hall. He hurried into the cafeteria, spotting Kaede in her usual spot. "Kaede!" He called out, worry written all over his face, woven into his voice. He was going to break, he knew it.

Kaede's head snapped up from her book, as he slipped into the seat across from her. "Yes?" She said warily.

"Do you know where Kagome is?" InuYasha's gaze bore straight into Kaede's eyes, but she didn't turn away.

"No." And with that, the world, made of too-thin glass, came crashing down.