Title: The Plan
By: Queen Beryl
@---^---
Please don't be sickened by the title. I was sitting in my car, driving to school, and I just thought Corpse Kissing... that would be a hilariously sick chapter title... and here we are. ^.^; ALSO! (uh-oh) Okay, I've been getting people hostile (lol) because there is a lack of fluff. I know, I know... but that's not exactly what Inuyasha and Kagome do, right? I mean, they won't just FLING themselves at each other, right? So, forewarning: There Will Be More Angst. I won't leave out fluff, though, so have no fear! This might be a bit of a depressing chapter... I don't know... I haven't written all of it yet.
Queen Beryl: *holds onto Inu-Yasha* But I love him! Fine, fine... I don't OWN him... I just love him. You don't want Kikyo or Kagome! You want me! ME!
Inu-Yasha: *looks around at points to Q.B.* Does she belong to anyone?

Chapter Eight: Corpse Kissing

"Inuyasha, will you come with me to Hell?" Kikyo asked, standing a foot from the strong hanyou.
"Of course I will, Kikyo. Just say when." Inuyasha nodded, stepping forward and embracing the undead female.
"When."
Inuyasha was almost taken aback. Right now? "Are you sure?"
Kikyo only nodded, pulling the hanyou closer to her body. She craved the warmth he possessed; the warmth of the living. She could feel the wind below her as the portal to Hell opened up. Her dream was becoming reality.
"I will go with you to Hell..." Inuyasha murmured just before he fell unconscious on the miko's shoulder. He was hers now.
& * &
"INUYASHA!" Kagome's voice rang out through the night air. Birds that were sleeping flew off the trees, startled by the loud, anguished noise that enveloped them.
"Kagome? What's wrong?" Shippo asked from beside her, his eyes wide with evident concern. Kagome breathed in labouredly, clutching at her chest. Cold sweat made her feel sticky and uncomfortable. She was sitting up in her sleeping bag. That means...
"It was a dream?" Kagome asked no one in particular.
"Are you okay, Kagome?" Shippo asked again.
"Oh, yes, Shippo. I'm sorry. I... it was just a nightmare. I'm alright. Go back to sleep, okay, buddy?" Kagome patted him and pulled the sleeping bag right under his chin. She laid back down too, but couldn't go back to sleep.
Shippo's soft snoring was soon heard. Kagome closed her eyes and shook her head. She gazed up to the tree she was lying near to see if she could view Inuyasha. She couldn't.
"Well, I won't be able to go to sleep until I see him." Kagome stood up resignedly. She peered up into the tree and gasped when she noticed he wasn't there at all. Her dream came flooding back to her in such a powerful wave she had to grip the tree to sustain herself. Why does it hurt so much? Why would seeing Inuyasha go to Hell with Kikyo seems so... bad? Kagome shook her head, not wanting to hear her thoughts. She walked around the base of the tree, the cold starting to get at her now, freezing the sweat droplets. So much for a warm day equaling a warm night. Figures... that would happen with Kagome's luck.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome called, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. Where is he? Suddenly, she heard whispering in the distance. She followed the sounds as quietly as she could, not knowing what to expect.
An eerie light could be seen through the trees, right where the whispers were coming from. Kagome peered around a large tree and her nightmare came flashing back like lightning. Inuyasha and Kikyo were standing there, talking about something, Kagome couldn't quite tell what it was. She inched closer to them as their voices became louder.
"... know. I just want to protect you, Kikyo." Inuyasha was saying.
"What makes you think I'll let you protect me? Am I so weak I cannot protect myself?" Kikyo asked, raising an eyebrow. Her ebony hair billowed around her, mingling with the silver of the hanyou. The black contrasted so obviously, like ebony on ivory.
"You're not weak, Kikyo. I just want to protect you. You died for me, and the least I can do is swear to protect you until I die." Inuyasha proclaimed, holding the miko by her shoulders. He suddenly pulled her forward, wrapping her into a tight, intimate embrace. Kikyo just stood there for a moment before she lifted her arms, hugging Inuyasha back almost reluctantly. It had been so long since she'd allowed herself to feel what she was right now. Happiness seemed long gone to her... and here it was, staring her in the face with amber eyes.
Kagome couldn't believe her ears. Was what they were saying real? Could it just be another dram? It had to be! But it wasn't. It was real. Kagome even pinched herself to make sure: it hurt well enough. The next action caused her to cover her hands over her mouth and cry silently.
Kikyo leaned up and kissed Inuyasha on the lips. It disgusted Kagome. How can he kiss a corpse? A walking, talking corpse!?
"There is no possible way... I didn't die because of you. I died because of Naraku's vile tricks. That's what set us against one another over fifty years ago, Inuyasha." Kikyo clarified in a clear voice after a moment the kiss ended. Even though this might make her happy now... the feeling was different. She had to do what she knew was right.
Wait! Kagome thought desperately, that means Inuyasha doesn't owe her anything! Will he catch on to that? What if he doesn't? Or worse, what if he chooses Kikyo still? Kagome couldn't take it anymore; she bolted. She had to get away from this. He was choosing Kikyo again... and she wouldn't watch it this time around She'd seen him choose her in real life and in her dreams... so many times... and it won't happen again.
"What are you saying, Kikyo?" Inuyasha stepped back, looking the woman in the eye. Apparently, Inuyasha was indeed dense.
"Inuyasha... you don't owe me anything. It wasn't your fault. I don't want you to stay with me out of a sense of duty." Inuyasha opened his mouth to respond, but Kikyo continued. "We were in love, weren't we? We had something special, you and I... but I wanted you to change who you were. That isn't fair. I was unwilling to change me, but I wanted you to become human. I was selfish... and I remained that way until now. Your heart... I've seen, doesn't belong to me anymore."
Inuyasha stood there for a moment, dumbfounded. She was letting him go? He was free to be with Kagome? Wait, Kagome? Why do I want her? Kikyo is here, she wants me, she's forgiven me... and I wanna run away to be with Kagome?
"Go to her, Inuyasha. Go tell my reincarnation that you love her. Let her know how you feel." Kikyo stated as if reading his mind. Inuyasha just stared at her.
Let her know how you feel...
How do I feel about Kagome? When I kissed her... oh, that moment could have lasted a lifetime. I would have stopped time if it would let me. Her lips were so warm and inviting. I could taste her. When I kissed Kikyo, though, it was cold... like kissing a cadaver. [A/N: That would be just SICK! And, that is what Kikyo is!!! Get it through your skull!]
"Inuyasha..." Kikyo's voice finally drifted into the hanyou's mind. "Go tell Kagome how you feel." And with that, before Inuyasha could respond, the soul-stealers lifted Kikyo away.
Go tell Kagome how you feel.
"How do I feel?" Inuyasha asked the tree in front of him. It didn't reply; stupid arrogant tree.
& * &
Kagome ran back through the trees, stumbling over roots carelessly. Her vision was blurred with tears and images of Inuyasha and Kikyo together. They wouldn't go away.
"He's chosen her for good... and I'll never see him again..." Kagome whimpered, pausing at the edge of the clearing to breathe. She looked down at Miroku, Sango, and Shippo; they were all sleeping so peacefully. Even tonight at dinner he was quiet when he came back.
& * & FLASHBACK
"Inuyasha, here's your ramen!" Kagome called, holding out a bowl. He took it hungrily and wordlessly, but still refused to make eye contact with Kagome. She began to wonder what happened when he met up with Kikyo. She was almost surprised he really did come back like Miroku said. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who noticed something was amiss.
"Inuyasha, are you okay?" Shippo asked over his bowl. Inuyasha snorted and looked away, not hindering his eating process and avoiding the question altogether.
& * & END FLASHBACK
Kagome sighed and wearily slid back into the sleeping bag. She'd think about everything tomorrow. Who knows... maybe Inuyasha would come back to say goodbye to her. Maybe he had enough respect for her to do that. Maybe....

Okay, first I'd like to say that I totally grossed myself out in this chapter... I didn't mean to... but I did... I hope you all have stomachs left.

Yeah! I was one of the winners for the AVID Write-Off Competition! *Squeals* I competed with like a whole lotta people (thousands) and I won! I put my soul into that essay, too! *WHEW* (Wait... she had a soul?) AHEM! Well, I hope you all liked this chapter and thanks everyone for the reviews!!! They help me write more!! More reviews = more chapters and quicker writing = happy reviewers = happy Queen Beryl = et cetera....