Disclaimer: You know the drill: I don't own em, ok? Grumble, grumble, grumble

A/N What can I say? You all inspire me! I'm on a roll, and I just can't stop!

He had lost her. His life, his love, his home. His reason for waking up in the morning, for breathing in and out. Until that moment, he had never really realized how much he needed her love, depended on her smile to keep him going. That special smile that she only gave to him. It finally occurred to him that he had long since stopped caring about collecting shards for the Jewel's completion and the ultimate wish it would grant him. Instead, it had become the reason to keep her with him. And now...she might as well have aimed her arrow straight at his heart, because like the Shikon no Tama, it had shattered into hundreds of shards. Inside he felt nothing but excruciating pain and gnawing emptiness.

She had chosen that mortal boy. He watched in horrified silence as she hungrily took the boy's kisses, and eagerly returned them with her own. He felt an overwhelming need to release the pain. He couldn't leap down and kill the boy; Kagome had chosen him. And he would rather die a thousand deaths at the hand of his brother than hurt Kagome, so he did the only other thing his instincts told him to do. He threw his head back and yowled a long, heart-wrenching howl of pure anguish.

Souta witnessed this scene with amazement. He watched his hero go from jealous bravado to absolute despair in less than 3 minutes. He gazed down at his sister, and muttered, "Wow, I didn't think she liked him that much."

At the sound of Souta's voice, Inuyasha quieted and turned to face the boy. He couldn't bring himself to look back down at the dancefloor or it's occupants. He took the boy by his waist and leapt off into the night, back toward the shrine and the passage back to his time.

Neither said a word on the way back home. When Inuyasha set down in front of the Higurashi home, he stood at the door with the boy, still not speaking. He didn't trust his voice yet.

It was Souta who broke the silence, "Ano...I'm sorry Inuyasha. I ...she... The little boy launched himself at his broken hero, and hugged him tightly. He just felt his friend needed it.

Inuyasha was surprised at the contact, though he supposed he shouldn't have been. That would have been what Kagome would have done to try and ease his pain any other time. It made sense that her brother would do the same. He took the boy's warmth and returned the hug.

"Uh, Inuyasha?" the boy began quietly. "Could you tuck me in, please?"

"Hmm?" Inuyasha thought, 'tuck in?' Then he remembered his mother, tucking the blankets around his small body, singing softly to him, telling him a story about his great father, kissing him on his forhead. Of course. Just because he was heartbroken didn't mean this kid had to be. After all, he had tried to help him by showing him where his sister was. He nodded, "Hai."

While the little boy bathed and brushed his teeth, Inuyasha crept into Kagome's room and looked around. He wondered if he would be able to face her again. His mind just wouldn't let go of the images of her kissing that...human!

He saw some more photographs scattered about the room; one of her family, one of her with those friends of hers, one of Souta in some kind of sports uniform, a group photo of her classmates, smiling and holding their fingers in a V sign.

His eye caught a flash of red, and he looked over at her dressing table mirror. Tucked into the frame was a series of 5 pictures ~ one of herself with Shippo in her lap, Kagome making that silly V sign, the next one of Sango and Miroku; judging from Sango's expression, probably just before Miroku received a whack from her boomerang. The next one was of everyone together, a little off center, because Kagome had set the kam-oo-rah on the fence, pressed a button, and than ran back to join himself, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kaede. They were all smiling, even himself. There was one of himself that she hadn't shown him before, a curious sort of half smile played on his face. That was probably the shot she got of him when she first took the little metal box out and pointed it in his direction.

The last photo must have been taken by Miroku. It looked as if it had been handled more than the othes, the edges beginning to curl a little. It was himself and Kagome. He was leaned against a tree, eyes gazing down and Kagome's sleeping face. Her head on his shoulder, cheek against his chest, eyes closed in sleep, a small smile on her lips. Her lips.... He took the picture and examined it closely, and felt his heartache renewed. He held the piece of paper to his chest and closed his eyes, willing that day back.

Souta called his name, and he jumped. He hurriedly tucked the photo into the front of his Kimono, and went to tuck the child in for the night.

Souta was surprised at how good Inuyasha was at putting a child to bed. He knelt next to the bed and brought the blankets up to the boy's chin, and asked him if he wanted a story. The boy was a little surprised by the question, but wasn't about to turn down that chance. So, Inuyasha recalled a funny story concerning Shippo and a skunk. When he finished, he said, "I'm sorry, I don't know many songs, and I don't sing much, so can we skip that part for tonight?"

Another surprise for Kagome's young brother. He nodded that it was ok. Inuyasha blushed and turned his head away, "Do you need a kiss on the forhead?" Souta giggled and shook his head. "Ok, then, have happy dreams." He patted the child's head and started to leave, but then he paused. "Souta, make me a promise. Don't tell your sister I was here tonight, ok?"

Souta was disappointed. He wanted to tell his sister how stupid she had been to kiss that dumb guy. How much cooler Inuyasha was. How nice he had been to keep him safe and tuck him into his bed. But Inuyasha had asked for his confidence, and he had to give it. After all, broken or not, he was his hero.

"Promise?" Inuyasha prodded.

"Hai," Souta responded sadly.

The hanyou turned to leave the room, but was stopped once more by a small voice, "Inuyasha?"

"Hai?"

"Do you love my sister?"

A long silence. Then "Hai." And he was gone.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~

Kagome sat at her desk, trying desperately to focus on the book in front of her. She had unplugged the phone and ignored the periodic peals of the doorbell. Her head ached and her eyes stung with tears she was refusing to shed. She had cried herself to sleep ~ that was enough! Why must her heart continually betray her????? And as if it weren't bad enough that she was hurting, but now she had hurt a really nice guy, too.

Why couldn't she like him like he deserved to be liked by a girl. He was so kind, so gallant? She could still see his face from the night before, all concern and self-loathing, apologizing all over himself for taking advantage of her, for "forcing himself on her." And all she could do was cry.

Why did she care so much for that stupid, arrogant Hanyou? Why couldn't her heart accept the fact that he had made his choice and it wasn't her. 'Oh, gods, what a sap I am! To swear to stay by his side always! Why? It's not as if he wants me there! According to him, I'm weak, useless, ugly and putrid! I'll outlast my usefulness when we complete this silly Jewel, and then give it to him, and he'll tell me to go home where I belong.'

Last night might have been the start of something good, too. She'd had a lovely dinner, lots of fun dancing, and a really nice kiss. Ok, technically she wasn't kissing Houjo, but he didn't have to know that. Why had the sound of some hound baying at the moon stopped her? It was just a dog, doing what dogs do! 'But why was it so dismal? Why did it chill the core of my being? Noone else seemed to even notice.' She remembered the crash outside the courtyard that she had been ready to investigate. 'Was it....surely not. He wouldn't! Why would he?'

The doorbell shrilled again. She glanced quickly out her window and saw 4 black heads standing at her front gate. Oh, gods! I do not want to answer their barrage of questions right now. And I will never get anything done here. I've got to get out of here! But where? Not through the well. Although she could really use the soothing presence of her friend Sango, and Kaede's words of wisdom, she just wasn't ready to face Inuyasha yet. She groaned. It's not as if she could escape any of them. She would have to go to school tomorrow. She had an exam she absolutely had to take. The one she should be studying for right now.

She thought back to the night before, when Houjo brought her home. Standing on her doorstep, he had been so sweet. "Kagome-sama, I am sooo sorry. I can't believe I forced myself on you. Please forgive me." And on and on, acting as if he had defiled her rather than just giving her a sweet kiss. And all she could do was cry. Her heart ached for him too. He didn't deserve to feel guilty. He deserved a girl who really wanted to kiss him that way. Not some girl who couldn't get over a half demon who had chosen to love the lifeless shell of a dead woman!

When she finally found her voice, she tried to tell him it wasn't his fault. "Houjo-kun, I'm the one who's sorry. How could you know? I'm just not ready for this. I've had my heart broken, and I just can't seem to get over it. Please forgive me."

"Who could break your heart, Kagome-sama?" he asked in awe. Who would want anything more than this beautiful girl? "Do you want me to take care of the jerk?"

"No, no, Houjo-kun. It's not his fault, either. Really." 'What is it with guys? They think they can fix everything with physical confrontation.' She thought wryly. Though maybe a session with some boxing gloves and a heavy bag would do her some good. Or maybe a couple of hours with her bow and arrows might help. It was worth a try.

"I understand. I'm sorry I pushed you. I will be happy to just be your friend for now, Kagome-sama. You let me know when, if ever, you are ready for anything more." And with that, he picked up her hand, kissed the back of it, squeezed it once more, and was gone.

She winced at the memory. She wished he had stayed long enough for her to tell him to forget her. That she was hopelessly in love with a half demon from the Feudal era, and always would be. Then he could have checked her into a nice quiet mental hospital with padded walls and no telephones, and she would never have to worry about shards or demons or meddling, matchmaking friends again.

She grabbed her bow and arrows and headed for the door. She checked herself and left the enchanted arrows, deciding it would be better to buy some normal ones when she got to the range. She then looked around carefully, making sure there was no one to block her escape, and seeing no one, fled to the bus stop.

A/N For those of you who are in a complete panic, I hate to give away my story lines. I do! But here's a hint. Go back to the first chapter, and read the Author Notes before the chapter begins. Go on! Read them, then breathe! It'll be ok. Promise. I happen to have an in with the author, so I should know!

Thanks again for all your inspiration. I wouldn't bother to do this without your encouragement!