A/N: *blink* *blink* Wow. I have to post on Sunday night more often, if that's the kind of response I get. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and made me feel so loved. And encouraged, which is why you get this chapter after less than six weeks :-D

Disclaimer: I think the fact that this site is called fanfiction.net speaks for itself.


Hello

A half-moon rose slowly into the sky, gently illuminating a small clearing where a white haired figure rocked and wept, cradling a pile of dirt and ashes to his chest.

Playground school bell rings again
Rainclouds come to play again
Has no one told you she's not breathing?

"I'm sorry, Kikyou, I had to do it." Inuyasha's voice was much less certain than the words it spoke. "I had to." Who was he trying to convince, he asked himself even as he repeated the words once more. Who was there to hear him? Maybe ...

Maybe Kikyou could hear him from wherever she existed now, he thought hopefully. He needed to ask her forgiveness, needed to hear that she could forgive him for this betrayal.

"Do you understand, Kikyou?" he asked, his voice pleading for an answer that would never come. "Please tell me you understand. I couldn't let you kill her. I couldn't be responsible for that. Please forgive me."

A rustling in the bushes brought his head up with a snap, and he stared frantically around him. A shadow drew his attention. Could it be?

"Kikyou?" he asked, and thought he saw the shadow smile.

Inuyasha.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." A new wave of tears poured down his face as he tried desperately to apologize, but he refused to hide them. She deserved to see him suffer after all, for what he had done to her. "I had to. Please, Kikyou, I couldn't let you kill her."

Hello
I'm your mind
Giving you someone to talk to
Hello

But you could kill me? Again?

"I didn't kill you last time!" he growled, his old familiar rage springing to life in the face of her unforgiving words. "It was Naraku, you know that."

Was it? I died because you attacked my village, and I was forced to defend it. So you killed me then too, Inuyasha.

"No! If you hadn't attacked me ..."

But I didn't.

"No, you didn't..." his voice trailed off pensively.

If I smile and don't believe
Soon I know I'll wake
From this dream

"This isn't you!" Inuyasha screamed suddenly, lunging towards the shadow. "Come out Naraku! I'm not falling for your tricks again!" His claws found only leaves and branches, shredding them as though they were air. "Dammit! where are you you stupid demon! Show yourself."

Silence. Stillness.

Shadows.

Inuyasha looked around, confused.

Don't try to fix me I'm not broken

"Where'd you go, Kikyou?" he asked in a small voice.

Hello
I'm the lie
Living for you so you can hide
Don't cry

I'm still here, Inuyasha. But I have to go soon.

Inuyasha paused, suddenly uncertain.

"To hell?" he asked faintly.

Of course. Isn't that why you killed me? So I'd have to go to hell alone?

"No! You tried to kill Kagome!

So you love my reincarnation more than me?

"No! It's just..." his voice trailed off again. "Dammit Kikyou!" he exploded. "Why'd ya have to do it? Why'd you have to try to kill Kagome? As long as it was just me you were after, it was OK. I didn't mind, I deserve it. But Kagome ..."

What does deserving have to do with anything?

Suddenly I know I'm not sleeping

Inuyasha was opening his mouth to respond when the sound of a distant battle snapped him back to an awareness of his responsibilites to his companions, and he sprang towards the camp he had abandoned hours before.

"Dammit!" he spit out as he moved, and then he paused to risk a brief glance over his shoulder.

"We're not done here yet Kikyou, don't go anywhere. I'll be back!" he promised.

I'll be waiting.

At the reassurance, he turned his mind to the battle ahead of him. Kagome he thought, terrified, as he ran, hold on, Kagome, I'm coming!

Hello I'm still here
All that's left of yesterday

He broke into the clearing, Tetsusaiga in hand, ready for anything but what he saw.

The lizard beast stood on the opposite side of the camp, facing off against Sango, who was keeping it at bay while Miroku unwrapped the rosary beads restraining the Air Rip. But that wasn't what froze him in his tracks.

Behind them, he could see a white figure rapidly approaching through the trees, and he knew that it was Sesshoumaru. But that wasn't what stopped him in his tracks either.

It was Kagome.

Staring down at her hand as she pulled it away from her stomach.

Her blood-covered stomach.

He could hear Kikyou laughing.

***

A/N: Poor Inu. He kills one girlfriend to save the other, and now it looks like he's nuts and Kagome's dying anyway. *sniff* It's so tragic.