Editor's note: What a FABASTIC chap! (Inside joke) Sad though! And scary! But overall enjoyable to read!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter Twenty Five

Dear Priestess

I can't let her walk away this time.

He spun around and grabbed her shoulder, about to turn her to face but she slapped his hand off.

"Kagome-"

She cut him off, without turning around and in a curt tone; she spoke, "Wakare, Inuyasha."

Baka

Baka Inuyasha...

BAKA!

Were those really the last words she would ever say to him?

No, after that, she had said something else.

Wakare.

Bitter sobs racked her weakened frame. Kuso. Why wasn't it over yet? Why didn't it just end? She had told herself yesterday that she was fine with letting him go. She had told herself that…that…damnit! None of it mattered anymore. It was over.

As long as he was happy.

As long as she could see him smile...

There lay the problem. He had left and she would never see him again.

After he had left, Kagome found a reason to justify her actions. She had been in shock when she had called Inuyasha an idiot, when she had looked at him with lifeless eyes, when she had said…

Wakare

She had done it all in disbelief.

She hadn't been able to comprehend it. It had been so surreal…The way he had said it to her. In such a calm manner, despite what she had read in his eyes. He could just leave her like that. He could just follow Kikyo. He could just overlook how she must've felt.

He could just…

He could just…

"It seems…that I've broken my promise."

He could just break her heart…

That's when the shock had worn off. And grief had flooded through her.

She remembered everything about Inuyasha. Every moment she had spent with him…Every insult she had thrown at him. Everything about him. His hair that any girl would've killed for. His smirk that never wavered. His confidence in his own fighting skills. His beautiful golden eyes…

Oh Kami…his eyes.

Even though he would shadow his eyes if he closed off, even though he would turn his eyes away when something pained him…his eyes never lied. Honest eyes.

Inuyasha's eyes.

And after she remembered his eyes, everything leading up to that moment had played like a montage in her mind.

Flash

"Watch where you're going wench!" shouted a disgruntled Inuyasha.

Flash

"My name isn't wench Takahashi! It's Kagome! Ka-go-me!"

"Why should I bother to remember that? Wench suits you perfectly fine."

Flash

Inuyasha face her and before he knew it, "Nani? You saying you wouldn't wanna be with me?"

Kagome stared at him as if he had grown wings, "You saying you want me to be with you?"

Flash

"Jelly buns! You said told me! Jelly buns in room 2-C! Inuyasha is far from a jelly bun!"

Flash

Kagome was left standing by the bus feeling a little lost by Inuyasha's sudden mood change, "Oh well… good things can't last forever," she muttered. 'There is no real reason for us to not get along… I suppose that we always just bump into each other at the wrong time. Maybe this trip will make it different, maybe it might not be so bad after all…"

Flash

He made a great running leap and heard Kagome gasp, from their height the tops of the trees as a flock of birds emerged from the branches, the river was clear enough to see the fish swimming in it and a wave of cherry blossom leaves blew under them.

During one of the jumps Kagome, feeling adventurous spoke up, "Hey… Inuyasha? Does this mean we're friends now?" she asked cautiously.

"Yeah," he answered, "I'd like that."

Flash

"Uh… hey. Listen, you shouldn't really listen to what I say most of the time. Oh crap that doesn't work. I mean. Okay listen to what I'm saying now but don't listen to what I say when I'm arguing or when I'm pissed off. I tend to let words spew out of my mouth and I say a lot of things I don't mean…" he finished still not looking at her.

Flash

"Did you just say my name?" She exclaimed shocked.

"I think I did… Why? Shouldn't I? Do you prefer wench, wench?" He sneered with a mock glint in his eye.

"Do you prefer the wrath of a miko Inuyasha? Cos' if you're being serious then I won't hesitate." She threatened returning the challenge.

"Ooo… Touché, Lady Priestess, touché…" he said giving her a joking bow.

Flash

"Do you want me to leave Inuyasha? Will that stop you shouting?" she retorted furiously.

"Yes! That could help! I never want to see your face again!"

Flash

Finally, Inuyasha looked back at her and spoke, "Do you really think that's the type of person I am?"

Kagome faced him once more, her eyes searching his face, but not his eyes, "I can't be sure..."

Flash

Kagome bit her lip and stared at a floating cherry blossom, 'Does anyone in this world have an easy life? Inuyasha… if only you knew the responsibility, the burdens that I carry. If only you knew, would you feel the same way about me?'

Flash

He heard her muffled voice say, "Don't be hurt Inuyasha. It pains me too."

Confused, he tentatively wrapped his arms around her in what he hoped was a reassuring embrace.

'Kagome…' Inuyasha thought, his eyes softening.

Flash

'Oh no.' thought Kagome, 'Please don't tell me we're going to go back to the way things were, I can deal with him not liking me back for now, but I don't want to lose this…this thing that we have! This weirdly beautiful friendship we share.'

You already lost your friendship the moment you admitted to yourself that you liked him.

Flash

"Because anyone with three brain cells would be able to see that you two fit together like candles on a birthday cake!" burst Ayame, flinging her hands up for emphasis.

"You're made for one another. No matter how stupidly cheesy that sounds." Sango said calmly, greatly contrasting Ayame's extravaganza.

Flash

"Kagome…" Inuyasha struggled to speak, but he forced himself to say it, "Arigato Kagome, for making me grin, for twisting my conscience and forcing me to think so hard my brain hurts, for giving me memories I can cherish, for listening to my unimportant babblings, for caring enough to cry…"

Flash

"You self-centered, ignorant prick! Where do you get off stringing me along like this! Make up your mind already! Because I've made up mine! Don't be so cocky Inuyasha, the truth is I don't like you anymore. For the simple reason that you can't just leave things be. I don't know what was going through my mind before and Kami knows I tried to make sense of it." Her voice softened, "I just don't think you and I would ever make it to more than just friends. We're just too much for each other…"

Flash

Inuyasha grinned, "Baka." Unexpectedly he scooped her up bridal style and stood up.

"Inuyasha! Put me down! What are you doing?" she tried to fight the blush building up in her face, she was fighting a losing battle.

Flash

He licked his lips nervously and their eyes made contact, "You look…" he fumbled for words, "You look nice." That was probably the best compliment Inuyasha's mind could come up with for the moment. In truth, he didn't know if words would justify how she looked. Simplistic beauty was close, but Inuyasha was too stubborn to say it to her face.

Flash

"Kagome…I promise I will protect you…"

Flash

There stood Inuyasha. His hair tussled, his clothes singed, his shoulder bleeding. She looked past the negative and saw Inuyasha. Eyes shining, bones intact, trademark grin evident and in his arms…

Flash

Her arms wrapped around the neck of her partner who in turn had his arms wound around her waist. He wore black slacks and a dress shirt which matched the colour of her dress. They moved together comfortably, melding together as the colours of their outfits did.

Kikyo and Inuyasha.

Flash

"I'm leaving."

They had had a routine. Fight. Make-up. Fight. Make-up. Fight. Make-up. And each time they renewed their friendship, it seemed only to get stronger. As did her feelings towards him… but this time…this time…

Fight…

He was gone.

And as much as Kagome thought that she had cried herself dry the other night, she knew it was far from over. Her tears wouldn't stop until she accepted it completely.

Inuyasha really had left her. She had told herself that she was okay with that. Okay with him being with Kikyo but she wasn't.

And he wasn't even here for her to tell him that anymore.

It was too late.

Gone.

Kagome smiled weakly through her tears.

"Gomen."

He had said it. Kagome couldn't remember Inuyasha apologizing very often before. He was never one to easily admit his mistake. Kagome had done that to him. She had stopped him from being to stubborn. Kagome had changed him.

And he had left her.

It was another two hours before Kagome stopped sobbing. Another twenty minutes before the hiccups receded. Another half hour before she had the strength to get up from her bed. Another forty minutes before she could get up again after falling back into crying upon seeing her tear soaked pillow.

Eventually Kagome managed to get up without collapsing back onto her bed. She was able to take a long hot bath which helped her immensely. It didn't completely wash away all her pain, but it helped nonetheless.

As she dried her hair after dressing, Kagome thought about what she should do.

A walk.

That's what she needed.

A long walk outside in the fresh air. Maybe she would jog or run instead. Something- anything that kept her mind occupied. She knew that she would think about Inuyasha again at some point. But for now, she had thought about him enough. She had cried over him enough. At this point in time, thoughts of the hanyou who held and crushed her heart in his hands had already worn her out enough.

Examining herself one last time in the mirror, Kagome decided that she didn't look horrible enough not to show her face in public. But the pain had taken its toll on her. Her face was a bit too pale not to mention slightly swollen. Her eyes were more than a little red rimmed.

Red eyes.

The dream…it seemed so small now, so trivial in comparison to all that she had just experienced with Inuyasha. What did a dream matter? If it wouldn't let her remember was it had been about what was the point in trying? What was the point in worrying about it? The time on her clock…coincidence. Paranoia.

With those thoughts in mind Kagome left the house unarmed and unguarded; dismissing the little voice in her head which pleaded with her: nothing is a coincidence.

She wandered aimlessly. Walking through small parks filled with small wooden playgrounds and small sandpits. She avoided the larger, well-known parks, too many people there and although Kagome wanted to keep her mind occupied, and talking with a friend would definitely accomplish that, she hadn't worked up enough willpower to pretend to be cheerful and keep conversations flowing.

This is how Kagome found herself in the middle of a secluded park. Frozen in her spot as she sensed an overwhelmingly powerful aura. One filled with so much evil Kagome wanted to be sick. Everything around suddenly felt threatening and she could hardly breath as a being of darkness materialized on the other end of the park. A figure, indistinguishable beneath a white baboon pelt and full-faced mask, revealing only his eyes.

Red Eyes.

And with that, all thoughts of the afternoon events flew from her mind.

Instinct took over Kagome as she created a shield around herself. Whoever or whatever this was, from the enormity of its power, Kagome knew what they were after.

"A wise move priestess." It spoke mockingly, "I'm afraid that won't hold up long against me however." It was a male voice and Kagome almost thought she recognized it…

"What do you want with me?" Kagome spoke defiantly, deciding to play dumb, perhaps it wasn't after…

He laughed sinisterly, "Don't fool yourself priestess. I know you possess the Jewel of Four Souls. The Shikon no Tama. Do not try to play games with me."

Kuso. So he knew. Kagome evaluated her situation. The thing in the baboon pelt obviously knew about jewel. He was also aware that she was a miko. And the way he showed up and stated what he knew was also a show of his power. He had managed to find the jewel despite her concealing spell, he knew she was a miko, he believed he had enough power to defeat her and he had managed to appear before her without her detecting him beforehand.

Shit.

She needed to stall.

"How do you know about it?" she asked roughly.

The figure paused before it responded, Kagome had the feeling that it knew she was stalling, but he answered nonetheless. Confidence and evil radiated from his very being. It was all she could do to hold up her shield and try frantically to come up with some way to escape. To get help from Taiji's that had promised to come to her aid when the time came. How could she get in contact with them?

"I've always known that the jewel had never been completely destroyed priestess." The way he addressed her, always saying priestess as if her title was a joke, he was trying to intimidate her! The thought made her want to grin in irony, despite his obvious advantages Kagome wouldn't give in. She would find a way out of this.

The masked man continued, unaware of the thought's running through the girl's mind. He knew he had the upper hand. The girl was weaponless and still weak after her breakdown earlier. Yes, he knew all about that as well. Foolish girl.

"I must admit, you have managed to hide the jewel well priestess." He drawled.

There was that word again, determination grew within her.

"At first I had no idea it was you who was given the task to protect the jewel. In fact, I thought it was another miko entirely. I believe that you know her well enough priestess. The miko named Kikyo."

Nani?

That had caught her off guard and he took his chance. In a second something whipped at her through her weakened shield and Kagome only just managed to quickly dodge it and force another barrier around herself. She watched as he retracted what seemed like a root back underneath his baboon pelt. It moved unlike anything she had ever seen before. It was not simply an oddly shaped weapon. It was more like a tentacle, like it was a part of him. Kagome fought back a shiver. He was not a human; he was a demon, worse than any other she had ever encountered.

He laughed mockingly again, "Impressive reflexes dear priestess. It seems I have missed my chance to get you in a single blow. However, I am pleased to see I have not failed completely."

Kagome observed the damage he had done in silence. A cut on her shoulder, not deep but I still hurt and it still bled. Kagome cringed inwardly, any deeper and she wouldn't have been able to use her bow. That is, if she ever got one before he completely minced her.

"Am I wrong in thinking that I will not get the chance to see you drop your guard once again dear priestess?" he was tempting her to speak, he wanted a response.

Like a big bully in the school playground. She thought wryly. I'll give you what you want for now.

She spoke calmly and eloquently but laced her voice with the faintest of quivers, just to let him believe that he was getting to her. She had noticed a change in him. "It is not likely that I will drop my guard again. Though I am curious, why did you believe it to be Kikyo and not I?"

He paused again, as if trying to detect some sort of code in her words. The quiver in her voice seem to have worked though as he continued, assured that he was getting to her. "She seemed more suited to it, dear priestess." Kagome had to bite her tongue in order not to laugh. After dodging his attack, he had taken to adding something to her title 'dear', he was definitely trying to intimidate her.

I need to get help.

Inuyasha.

Baka! He's gone and he wouldn't be any help to me if he was here anyway.

Liar.

"Kikyo," he began, startling Kagome from her thoughts, "Was a refined priestess, well respected and powerful. I analyzed her as most fitting to bear the responsibility of the jewel. I could tell that she would be able to control it. That she would be able to maintain its safety without compromising it for any of her own wants." He paused for a moment, realizing that his voice had been getting louder and angrier as he continued.

I wonder why…

"Yes, it seemed to me that she would the perfect protector of such an item. Imagine my surprise, dear priestess, that, after the task of finally penetrating her weakness, I discover that the jewel had never been left in her care at all."

The figure seemed to enjoy drawling on about his trials. Which was fine by her. It gave her time to think. Now, how could she contact someone?

Telepathy.

"No, not in Kikyo's hands, but in another young girl. You. I can see that you closely resemble Kikyo. In appearance only of course. You have not Kikyo's intelligence. Nor her sensibility. Certainly not her grace. Ha! You're a mockery of her!" he raised an arm under his pelt, gesturing at her to emphasize his point.

Kagome's temper flared. How dare he! What right did he have to-

She checked herself in time. He was trying to get her to lash out. To drop her guard again. She silently congratulated herself in not falling for his ploy. He was waiting for a response.

"You seem to have put much thought into that comparison sir." She had yet to figure out who he was, which was a great disadvantage. His voice tingled her memory but didn't reveal itself, she did not know her enemy. "I may not be like Kikyo in each and every way. But I know I am equal in her power, if not more so, how did you track me down?" Her voice hinted false anger, only to satisfy his apparent need for authority.

"I must credit you on your ability to conceal the jewel dear priestess…" He went on to drawl about the troubles he went to track down the traces of power and energy the jewel left and something or other at which point Kagome zoned out. She needed to contact Sango.

Telepathy had been an ability not commonly practiced among many miko's of the current era. Kagome had been taught the skill at a young age but had never really been good at it. She cursed herself now for neglecting to practice.

Concentrate.

She reminded herself.

Clear your head.

She kept her eyes forward, straight in the direction of the baboon pelted figure. To him, it seemed that she was staring at him, as if afraid to look away, in reality, she was looking behind him. Far off into the distance. Through streets and alleyways her mind traveled, trying to find her target. Past trees, people, homes and many other buildings.

Where the hell are you Sango?

At this point in time, the red eyed figure was now droning on about the fire which burnt down the hut and had caused Kagome to have to carry it with her everywhere. That had made his task much easier. Kagome only half-heard this, not fully comprehending what he was telling her. The figure talked still more, what he said, Kagome could not be sure because it was then that she found her friend.

Sango was in a field, practicing with Hiraikotso along with someone else Kagome did not pay attention to.

Sango!

Her friend did not hear her.

Sango! Listen!

All Kagome needed was for Sango to hear one word form her. One sound from Kagome's message to reach her ears and Kagome knew that Sango would be able to find her.

Sango help me!

The taiji turned her head, stopping in the movement of throwing Hiraikotso-

That was all Kagome had time to see before she was pulled out of her trance by the figures question.

"Would it interest you to know that Kikyo has the same weakness as you, dear priestess?"

Dun dun dun! A super-extra long chap for all my beloved readers who had to wait over a month for this chap! I hope this makes it up to you. You can all probably tell who the villain is but seeing as Kagome has never seen him in his baboon pelt it's not like she can automatically know. And yes, I know that the evil guy usually doesn't talk that much but she needs to stall!

I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH OF AN IDIOT I AM! I had actually done this chap weeks ago but I thought I had already posted it! Gomen gomen gomen! I hope you haven't lost interest!

My editor has gone on holiday (lucky her) so, sadly, we won't be hearing from her in a while.

Glossary:

Nani – What

Miko – White Magic User

Taiji – Exterminator

Kuso – Damn

Baka – Idiot/Stupid

Wakare – Farewell

Gomen – Sorry

Thanks to:

Smiley Gurl 87 – I don't think she would've listened to him even if he had yelled.

young kagome – The one thing I seem incapable of doing.

KawaiiInuyasha14841 – This time I'm the late one. I'll see how the ass kicking goes…

daydream14 – Aahh!! I don't deserve such words of praise! Thank you a thousand times over! You make an excellent poet!

Angelaine – I am not much of an InuKik fan myself but you'll have to wait and see how the story pans out.

InuGoddess715 – I don't think I would be able to stand Inuyasha at this point either but hopefully he will come to his senses, you'll see in the next chap! Or the one after that…not too sure atm.

Priestessmykala – Trust me, it was sad to write.

Punk Rock Miko2 - he will, soon enough.

DmonXtrmN8r – Inuyasha seems to have the worst sense of timing, hopefully he will be able to make up for it soon enough.

13hanyou girl13 – I'm sorry for not updating! Please keep reading anyway!

Adiosu!

SuperCat