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Unfortunate Life Decisions

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A very defeated looking Shippo sat on the lip of the well with a jewel shard in his palm. Inuyasha had left them with Kaede before leaving – giving no explanation as to why Kagome wasn't accompanying him or any information regarding where he was going.

It had only been a day. Just a day.

Yet that was all it took for everything to be ruined.

Kagome should've returned by now. At first the kit thought it was obvious that Inuyasha conceded except…except Kagome never came back and once he left, Inuyasha hadn't returned either. He wasn't the only one concerned. The villagers routinely had search parties out looking for them. They seemed to have come to the same conclusion that something had gone terribly, terribly wrong. Despite how he'd acted, the villagers still cared for him and as it turned out, once the news of his disappearance had spread several other villages began doing the same. Everyone wanted to find Inuyasha, Kagome or both and no one had seen heads nor tail of either of them in three months.

So Shippo had done the only thing he could think of to do. He got a jewel shard and hopped into the well. He didn't know why he thought that might work but the disappointment and grief he felt in that moment made him regret even considering it. How could they just leave him behind? Didn't they care about him at all?

Sniffling, Shippo fought back the tears that desperately wanted to break free as he hopped down from the well and headed back towards the village – completely unaware of the onlooker hiding amongst the trees.

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Once he was out of sight, Kikyo walked out towards the well and looked down into it's depths. The Bone Eater's well looked just as it always had yet why would that small child be jumping down into it with a jewel shard? It was indeed curious as well that Inuyasha had said he would destroy her way home to her family – as though the way was a very tangible item capable of destruction. Surely, then, this well must be a portal of some kind. It would make sense. Bones disappeared into it so why not a girl? It seemed that a jewel shard of some kind was necessary and luckily, in the absence of her reincarnation, Kikyo had taken to continuing the search since Inuyasha seemed unwilling to do much more than wallow in self-pity.

Taking a single shard from her pocket, Kikyo held it tightly against her chest as she sat on the lip and swung her legs over the side. Perhaps…perhaps since they shared the same soul, she could cross over where the small kit could not. There was only one way to find out. Clenching her eyes shut, Kikyo took a leap of faith and leapt into the depths of the well.

A small flash of blue was the only sign she had ever been there in the first place.

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'Okay so calculus then history and then I can get ready for that date,' Kagome sighed mentally as she went over her to do list. After so many months of being behind, she was finally getting caught up she had decided to actually give poor Hojo a chance. It wasn't like there was any reason not to anymore. If he actually cared about her – even the slightest bit – he would've come to get her by now. But no, he probably just teamed up with…with…

As the saying goes, speak of the devil and he will appear. Kagome blinked rapidly at what she initially believed was a hallucination until she finally found her voice.

"Kikyo?! What the hell are you doing here?" Kagome gasped incredulously as the undead miko continued – incredibly – to actually be standing awkwardly in front of her home.

Giving Kagome a relieved smile, Kikyo approached slowly with her hands up in clear surrender, "You need to come with me. Inuyasha needs you to return."

"Does he now?" Kagome scoffed as she glanced around pointedly and set her jaw, "Why didn't he come get me his damn self and how'd you even get here?"

"What do you remember of that night?" Kikyo asked suddenly as she gave Kagome a concerned once over, "Do you remember anything at all?"

"Last thing I remember, he was being a total dick and threatened to kill me so pardon me if he's the last person on earth I want to see," Kagome spat back acidly, "Now tell me how you got here!"

"Inuyasha did not come get you because he is dying slowly of an illness of his own making," Kikyo answered quietly, "As for what you clearly do not remember, you almost died after a serpent demon sunk his fang into your shoulder. In exchange for helping you, he promised to give me whatever I wanted and indeed, he saved you by sucking out the venom and flushing out the infection orally. A quite disgusting and noble gesture honestly."

"Why would he do that for me?" Kagome gasped before adding in a terrified and incredulous tone, "He's killing himself? Why?"

"Because he loves you," Kikyo replied earnestly as she took a tentative step forward, "And while you were unconscious, you would talk in your sleep and wished for his death. He believes you hate him. Truly hate him."

"Inuyasha wouldn't kill himself over that," Kagome chuckled nervously, "Inuyasha would never give up. Not the Inuyasha I knew."

"He's not the Inuyasha you knew," Kikyo replied quietly, "He's quite broken. Please come with me. I think you're the only one who can save him. Don't you still care for him?"

"I…I…" Kagome stuttered for a moment before tears welled in the corners of her eyes and she nodded, "Yes I still care about him. Very much."

Kikyo gave her a sad smile and nodded in understanding, "He is very remorseful. I believe he said something about kicking his own ass to the continent for how he behaved if I remember correctly."

Chuckling darkly, Kagome sighed in defeat and shook her head, "The well doesn't work for me anymore. I tried it every day for three weeks. Multiple times."

"Do you possess any jewel shards?" Kikyo asked quietly before sighing in relief when Kagome shook her head, "That is the problem then. I have several. Come quickly. Please. There isn't much time."

"Why do you care whether he lives or not?" Kagome asked skeptically, "It's not like you were singing his praises a few months ago."

"Indeed I was not," Kikyo laughed bitterly before offering her an apologetic smile, "I lost my way and allowed myself to be consumed by misguided anger. After extensive meditation I came to the realization that my actions were misguided at best. I am much changed since then."

"How can I trust this isn't a trap?" Kagome asked then, "How do I know you're even really Kikyo?"

"You can't and you don't," Kikyo replied with a heavy sigh, "Just know this. If you do not return with me, there is a chance that you'll truly lose him forever and believe me, that isn't a feeling you should ever desire."

Cocking her head to the side, Kagome stared at the undead priestess with a calculating look before nodding once as she made to move towards the house, "Let me grab my bow and some supplies and I'll be right out, alright?"

Nodding, Kikyo visibly sagged in relief and smiled softly, "I'll wait here."

"Okay then…" Kagome responded – still trying to get over the shock of seeing Kikyo – of all people – standing in her courtyard as though it was the most natural thing in the world, "I'll be right back."

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Inuyasha lay on the filthy dirt floor of the cave, struggling to breathe as his heart fluttered in his chest. Every once in a while his body would twitch grotesquely as his vision blurred and darkness threatened to envelop his mind. Strange things happen to a dying man it seemed – even one who welcomed death as a release from his own personal hell. Unwanted tears began collecting in the corners of his eyes as Kagome's scent suddenly wafted into his nose and as he closed his heavy eyelids, he swore he could even hear her. A soft hand on his face was all it took for his emotional dam to break as tears began streaming down his face and he leaned into her touch. Did most people experience such realistic hallucinations as this during their final moments? No wonder so many died in peace.

"What did you do?" Kagome's shaky voice suddenly whispered as her dainty fingers brushed a few stray hairs off his face. That sensation alone had his forced his eyelids to open as he tried to focus his hazy vision on the very much there Kagome. As his heart lurched unpleasantly, Inuyasha couldn't repress the relieved, loving smile that bloomed on his face.

"You found a way to come back," Inuyasha panted as the pain in his chest increased exponentially, "but...I..I took the jewel shards. How?"

"Kikyo came to get me with jewel shards for us to use," Kagome replied shakily, "She told me everything. I...I never hated you. I could never hate you."

Inuyasha lost the battle to keep his eyelids open as he used his remaining strength to gently reach over to rub his thumb against her leg as he whispered hoarsely, "I'm so sorry, Kagome. For everything."

"I forgive you," Kagome sighed as she bit back tears and gently moved to cradle his head in her lap, "We're going to get you some help, okay? Just stay with me."

"No, I'm not gunna need help," Inuyasha mumbled weakly as he arm trembled from the effort of keeping his hand on her leg "You came back. That's all I needed."

"Why did you do this?" Kagome whispered tearfully, "A simple apology would've been good enough. You're being a little dramatic don't you think?"

"I dunno," the hanyou slurred with a soft smile on his face before his body spasmed as his heart lurched once more leaving him panting heavily,"I am really sorry you know."

"I know," Kagome sighed as she gave him a watery smile, "But you can make it up to me by taking care of yourself."

"S'not that..."

As those final words trailed off, Inuyasha's body went limp and his chest went stock still as his final breath escaped his partially open lips.