Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha....but if I did, I would keep him in a little box! I don't know...read the dang story....

Chapter One: Promises "You made me Promises, Promises Knowing I'd believe.... All of your promises You knew you'd never keep...." ~Don't remember singer...it wasnt me.....

Inuyasha ran through the forest towards the light in the sky. "Kikyo..." he sighed as the branches brushed his red face.
Kagome stood, watching like a prisoner waiting to be hung. She let her guard down and dropped her head, her midnight black hair blending in with her mood and seeming to form a protective barrier around her. A single tear escaped her eye, sentencing her to torment by the others. "I...I just don't want to hear it..." Her body shook with a new kind of urgency; to ruin everything.
Miroku pulled himself up from his sitting position. Much to everyones (including his) surprise, he placed his hands on Kagomes shoulders and without a word, turned her into an embrace.
Her eyes bulged, then relaxed and she let herself cry into the monks shoulder. Miroku's face reflected Kagomes anger. His eyes twitched and watched Inuyasha disappear into the trees. Sango stood and brushed the dead grass off her legs, walked over and joined the embrace. Kagome responded by crying harder. She had never before realized how deeply affected by Inuyasha she was. "I knew I loved him...but when did this love turn into anger and obsession? Inuyasha...." Just thinking his name made her moan in pain louder into Miroku's robe. Her heart and chest contracted with an emptiness that only he made her feel. Miroku glanced up into Sangos tear filled face, across the sobbing Kagome. She mouthed the words "Thats it" and suddenly her soft eyes turned sharp.
"I'll be right back Kagome." Sango somberly walked to Kirara. Instantly the cat turned deadly, and Sango leaped onto its back.
"No!"Kagome pushed herself away from Miroku and fell to her knees in front of the cat drunk with grief. "Sango...please. Its...its my problem." She stared at her hands, covered in his and her blood. They had just finished a terrifying battle with a huge centipede demon. She had a minor wound on her shoulder, but his was much more serious. She had been trying to bandage him when he saw her light. "The light of the darkness" Kagome thought. She clutched her hands into fists and stood. Calmly, quietly, she extended her hand to Sango to help her off Kirara. Sango took her hand and leaped, just as Kagome jumped onto Kiraras back.
"Kagome-sama!" Miroku turned to face her just as the cat left the ground. "Please don't! Let Sango or I handle this!""Please...."he thought,"I don't want you to hurt anymore...and if you go over there, chances are you will see something you don't want to!"
Kagome brushed a tear off her cheek and looked down at Miroku and Sangos pained faces. "At least they love me" she thought bitterly. "Go Kirara" Kagome whispered.

Inuyasha stopped suddenly as a bright light swept past him. His eyes adjusted and he gasped as she came into view. Kikyo sat up against the tree, her black hair carelessly blowing in tune with her shinmai. Her cold eyes locked onto Inuyashas golden ones the instant she sensed him. He slowly walked towards her, his hands fidgeting with his red kimono sleeve.
"What are you doing here Inuyasha?" Kikyo whispered. Her voice seemed harsher, more cold, more dead than usual. Inuyasha quickened his pace until he stood in front of her.
"Kikyo..."Inuyasha clamored for something to say.
"Is that all you can say, Inuyasha?" Kikyo gasped the words, almost as if it pained her to even breath. "Thats all you ever say to me, 'Kikyo...'. Am I supposed to swoon? Your looks don't affect me like they used to." Her face twisted for a moment as she grabbed at her chest, struggling for a breath.
"Kikyo?!" Inuyasha crouched and took her clay hands into his. "Kikyo what's wrong?"
Suddenly her hard look turned soft. Tears welled up in her eyes. She looked away from him and at the blazing moon overhead. It almost gave off a blue glow. "Im...Im dying Inuyasha. All over again." She gasped for air as another Shinmai dropped a dead soul into her. She looked up directly into his eyes. "I don't have enough soul."
"What...what do you mean by that."Inuyasha grabbed her face gently. Suddenly her expression turned cold again.
"I think she can tell you what that means."Kikyo hissed as Kagome walked out of the woods towards them. Inuyasha took a breath and tasted both women at once; a rare experience.
"You're saying that you need more of my soul to survive right Kikyo?" Kagome stumbled up behind Inuyasha. Her voice was weary, and it matched the strength of Kikyos. Inuyasha turned and looked at a very different Kagome that he had left. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. She had wiped her blood and his on her fuku and the wound in her shoulder had reopened to bleed even more.
"Kagome, are you alright?" Inuyasha stood and walked forward, brow furrowed and "genuine concern" tattooed on his face. She fiercely turned to look him in the eye.
"Don't come near me!" she screamed, more forcefully then she meant to. Inuyasha's mouth gaped open in shock but Kikyo giggled.
"Oh is the little miko having boy troubles?" Kikyo asked with a smile. She suddenly grabbed at her chest, and Inuyasha instinctively sat and wrapped his arms around her. His eyes didn't meet Kagomes, but she could see them nonetheless. They were full of fear and helplessness.
"After I do this, Im going to go home." Kagome growled as she approached the embracing couple. She didn't meet Inuyashas glance but instead stared coldly into Kikyos. There eyes met and for a moment they did feel like the same soul. "Tell me what to do Kikyo." She opened her mouth to speak and then stopped, half in shock that Kagome would actually help her. She paused and the smirk left her face. Eyes blazing, she took Kagome's hand and pressed it to her chest. She then took her hand and pressed it to Kagomes. Both girls stood with each others aid, and closed their eyes. Kikyos Shinmai paused mid flight to watch as suddenly both were surrounded by a misty light. Inuyasha released Kikyo and slowly backed away. Miroku, Sango and Shippo ran up behind him.
"What on earth is going on Inuyasha?!" Miroku demanded. Inuyasha stood in disbelief.
"Kagome...Kagome's helping Kikyo." Inuyasha whispered under his breath. Suddenly Kagome dropped to her knees and Kikyo shuddered uncontrollably. They both looked in unison at each others eyes. Kagomes eyes were tired and weary. Kikyo's shown with a newfound light, but she had a confused look on her face.
"What do you mean 'Take care of him'?" Kikyo asked with a spit to her voice. Kagome struggled to pull herself up. Inuyasha ran to her side and tried to grab her good arm to help her.
"I said don't touch me!" she hissed. Inuyasha stepped back and she stood on her own. She looked wearily at Kikyo. "You heard me. Love him and let him live. Thats all I ask in return for so much of my soul."
"Hmph" Kikyo turned, "Like I owe you anything." Sango gasped and then stepped forward.
"Kikyo, why are you so cruel hearted?!" Sango walked calmly over and stood within inches of Kikyo's face. "Don't you see that she just saved your life?! And even though it kills her to see Inuyasha with you, she loves him enough to save you for him? What the fuck is your problem?!" Sango inched even closer to Kikyo, drew back her hand, and slapped her across the face.
For a moment, everything was silent and frozen. Suddenly Inuyasha pulled Sango away from Kikyo. In one fluid motion, Miroku stepped in between them and put out his air rip hand.
"Do...not..touch...her..."he gasped through clenched teeth. Inuyasha looked at Miroku shocked and confused.
"Why have they betrayed me?" Inuyasha clamored for an answer. He turned to get some help from Kagome, but she was already aboard Kirara. "Kagome! Wait!" Inuyasha ran towards her, but she was off the ground.
"Please do as I wish Kikyo." she called. "I know it is what you want in your heart."
"What about what you want in your heart Kagome?" Kikyo called, her eyes searching for a hint of anger in her answer.
Kagome looked down at Inuyasha, who stood silent next to Miroku. His eyes pleaded for something unattainable and unexplainable. She took a deep breath.
"Kikyo, what is in my heart is obvious." she called still looking deep into Inuyasha's eyes, "And so is what is in Inuyashas. Please take care of him, I just want..."she choked back tears, and turned away. "I just want him to be happy." She glanced at her old friends. They all looked so weary and forlorn. Inuyasha especially looked depressed as his eyes glistened in the moonlight. "Don't, Kagome." she thought, "Just say goodbye and leave. Things will be easier then."
"Sango, Miroku and Shippo", she called, "I love you. All of you. Thank you for everything. You are and have been the truest and greatest friends I have ever had. And Inuyasha," she turned away, "Thank you. For all those times you saved me. Im going to leave now and Im not coming back. Please don't follow me, please just leave me alone." She started to cry a little harder. "No Kagome...just get thru this. You can cry at home!" she thought.
Inuyasha knocked himself out of his trance. "What the hell are you talking about women?! Are you running home again?"
Kagome knew that he was just playing with her to make her feel better. But she had enough. "Inuyasha! Thats enough! Do not follow me! Do not come for me. Forget about me and live your dream with Kikyo. And be happy....but I wont be your puppet any longer!" she screeched the last few words. Gasping, she leaned forward and whispered "Go Kirara...before I change my mind...".

The cat and Kagome flew towards the moon, towards the direction of the well. Inuyasha turned to Kikyo with rage in his eyes. His hands shook as he walked over to her.
"What.....what did she say to you?!" he growled. Kikyo smiled in an almost sweet matter.
"Oh nothing really. Something about how she loves you more than anything or anyone. She's a fool if you ask me." Kikyo growled back.
Inuyashas jaw dropped. For a moment they just stood, then he closed his gaping mouth and his eyes. "Kikyo..." he began, "do...do you love me? Do you want to be with me? Do you want to see me happy?"
Kikyo was taken aback by his honesty. She thought for a moment. "I did Inuyasha. I loved you. Some part of me still does. I used to want us to be happy together. And we still can be. Follow me to hell, we can be there together." She grabbed his warm hand and wrapped it in hers. Slowly she pulled him down into an embrace. He was too shocked to move, so she tilted his head down with her cold fingertips, she kissed his lips. Lightly, sweetly, but with an undertone of power over him. Inuyasha drew back suddenly and pushed her away.
"Ka...Kagome loves me?" He his eyes looked past Kikyo and seemed to be searching. "It was my fault." he thought. "I've lost her forever and it was my fault. Gods, why didn't I see it before?" His eyes looked back into Kikyos, almost analyzing her. Suddenly, a tremendous sense of guilt and hurt grabbed at his chest and he was running.
"Inuyasha!" Miroku and Sango called, but they knew where he was going.