This is a short chapter, and it was fun and easy to write. I had even more fun editing! I've finally had a breakthrough, so I hope you readers are happy.

Disclaimer: If I did own it, Kagome would in actual truth be falling for Sesshoumaru or anyone but Inu-Yasha. I'm really tired of him...

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Losing Grace

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" Inu-Yasha!"

Silence as the wind picked up. Kagome pouted. " Inu-Yasha! Would you stop ignoring me!"

The usual 'feh' and he jumped down from a branch among the tree.

" I'm not ignoring you wench, I just don't want to talk to you."

" It's been two weeks since Sesshoumaru left. Your not still mad?"

" Whatever."

" Then let's talk." She waited for him to begin. He only glared, so she started, " What were you going to tell me before Treotha appeared?"

The half-demon took awhile to form his words. " I want to use the jewel."

" I can't-"

He pressed clawed fingers against her lips, looking at her with a tender and unguarded expression. Kagome's breath caught. She still wasn't used to these situations with his golden eyes looking so intently at her.

" I will become human."

Her eyes widened a great deal as Sesshoumaru entered her brain. The demon lord had warned her not to let his younger brother use the jewel, but she had her own reasons as to why she wouldn't.

" Inu-Yasha," Slowly she pulled his hand away from her face, " Why do you want to do that?"

The half-demon was taken aback. " I want to become human for you Kagome."

She couldn't help it, tears came to her eyes. Although, they were tiny pools of sorrow.

" I wouldn't ask you to change for me."

" But I will."

She shook her head. " Inu-Yasha, who wants you to be full human?"

Frustrated, he paused.

" Who wants you to change?" Kagome was sad and angry at the same time.

" Please stop crying Kagome." He attempted to pull her into a hug, but she pushed away.

" Answer me!"

Gritting his teeth, Inu-Yasha looked away. " I thought you wanted this. I would do it for you."

" No. You're not doing this for me, your doing it for her, for Kikyo!" Understanding finally dawned on her and Kagome trembled with rage.

Indirectly, Sesshoumaru had made her realize. The young woman asked herself how she managed to think of that demon with Inu-Yasha standing right there before her.

Speaking of Inu-Yasha, he was gawking at her tear-streaked face in total shock. " How can you say that?"

Unexpectedly, her face softened. " Because Inu-Yasha, I love you for who you are, I wouldn't want you to change."

" Kagome."

This time her fingers came to rest against his mouth. She cocked her head as a rueful kind of smile covered her features. " But me, I'll always be Kikyo to you. Even if you forget that mass of mud and bones, you'll still see me as her."

It hurt. More than losing her other life and family and friends, it hurt to realize. Inu-Yasha would return only Kikyo's love, but she wasn't Kikyo and she would never be.

She closed her eyes as a few tears fell, and willed the pain away.

Opening them, she saw Inu-Yasha shaking his head, his eyes large. " But I love you Kagome."

" You can't forget."

" Of course I can't."

" It's so strong, that she's always there, every time you look at me."

" No, Kagome-"

" I can't waste my life being someone else. I'm sorry."

He turned away. He'd been so sure she loved him; she'd even said so, but then why had she said those things? If she loved him why did she keep thinking of Kikyo?

Then again, why did he?

His eyes expanded in realization. Kagome was right.

He couldn't choose anymore than he could give up Tetsusiga to his half- brother.

Kikyo didn't hold anything but hate for him, yet he still loved her so much it hurt. And if he choose Kagome, he loved her for her, that out going personality and for the way she always seemed to care, but he always saw her as Kikyo. There was no way he could forget his first love when he stared straight into the face of her reincarnation everyday.

Silently he wondered if he was cursed forever to feel this ache, of betrayal, of confusion.

So he ran. Ran away to seclusion. He wouldn't let himself take out his sorrow or rage on Kagome.

Eyes still filled with tears, she watched him leave and winced at the strangled sound he made.

She felt guilty, for making him face the truth, but she had to as well. It hurt so bad that she choked back a sob and turned away.

After a while, she began to walk.

Her mind was blank, she didn't want to think. Trees and small creatures passed by her form unnoticed. In time the bone-eaters well entered her sight.

She sat down with a loud sigh, leaned against it, and traced her finger across the grains in the wooden planks.

" I was never meant to be here." Shaking, she watched a drop of salt-water fall near her hand. The same hand clenched and came down on the well forcefully. " Then why can't I return?"

" You might injure your weak body if you're not careful."

She hadn't detected Sesshoumaru's presence.

" What do you care?" The girl's anger was unbroken from earlier.

He was silent for a long time. Then, he drew in a breath. " I shouldn't."

Swift as lightning she faced him, the question written in her eyes.

" Don't get the wrong idea human." The great lord stepped forward even as he said it.

Her face went neutral. Some small part of the girl's mind noticed her crying had ended because of the terrible demon Lord of the West. She wanted to smile from the irony. Instead she looked away, exhaling softly. " Can you take me away?"

Sesshoumaru blinked.

Kagome went on impervious, " I need to get away from everything. I can't go home, and I don't want to be here."

He began to leave. There was no reason for him to stay in the company of such a needy individual.

" Wait!" She yelled whilst standing, " Don't go without me!"

" I, Sesshoumaru, have no time for your human wants."

She grabbed the sleeve of his kimono and forced him to look into her pleading blue orbs." What if I try to get Tetsusiga for you?"

In a split second his claws were pressed against her small neck. " Don't lie to me wench."

She huffed. " I said try, I didn't say I could."

He stopped, even while he was tempted to close his hand around her jugular. This human was pushing the boundaries. Although deep down he found himself fascinated by her determination.

In one swift motion he'd pulled her elfin body onto his back.

" W-what are you doing?!" she stuttered while fisting her hands in his red and white collar.

" Taking you away."

The girl paused furrowing her eyebrows, but she quickly made up her mind about whatever, wrapping her fragile limbs around his body. Not for the first time, he recognized how accustomed to this position she was.

Easily he leapt high above the treetops and fought a surfacing smirk at the young woman's squeal of fright. Under the darkening sky, they disappeared into the blazing horizon.

*

Plenty of chances for Kagome/Sesshomaru interactions and I'd better live up to the possibilities. Heh^-^