Author's Notes- I'm glad to all that have been reading this story so far. It's meant a lot to me, because for some reason this story is my favorite of my personal fics. Anyway this chapter features a somewhat nasty shock. I think a lot of people are going to be thrown by where I choose to go with this plot, but I assure you I had many other ideas for places to go with it- including complete and total resolution. I like this one best because I think it's the one that exploits our favorite couple's raw emotion and shows their characters the best. I also like dramatic irony. :)

Anyway- this is part three of four- so read, review, and enjoy.

UPDATE 04-05- Revision on this one as well. This chapter has the most changes.

Japanese guide-

Kikyou-oneesan- Older sister Kikyou (What Kaede refers to Kikyou as.)

"In Order to Break Me"

Part Three

Truth and Comfort

By Kelly O'Connor

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Callused bare feet ran across the forest ground at a pace most human beings would find impossible to achieve. But Inuyasha- even in his human form - was no weakling, and to add to that, the safety of the one person who managed to get his endurance up no matter the situation was at risk. Kagome… Inuyasha thought to himself as he continued his urgent quest back to Kaede's village, ignoring the fact that darkness was creeping across the sky- night beginning to shroud the forests and trees of the Sengoku Jidai.

Shit, how could I have been so stupid to run in the barrier like that! Inuyasha paused mid thought, but if I hadn't… would it have hurt Kagome more than it did? The notion made the teenage boy shudder involuntarily. Ignoring the occasional sharp twig or rock that painfully prodded his feet; Inuyasha sped up a bit, despite the fact that his breath was becoming slightly haggard. He knew he was almost to the village, and the thought comforted him. However- he had no idea how we was going to get Kaede back to Shokubai's village quickly and efficiently

Sighing in relief once he'd reached the village, Inuyasha felt a light smile tug at his lips when he noticed the families of the village outside their huts enjoying the light breezes of the early summer night. However, upon making a realization, he frowned. He didn't want to deal with people questioning his human form, and considering how often he was in the small village- someone was sure to recognize him. But that thought quickly pushed itself to the back of his mind when he realized why he had to come here.

The dark haired boy winced slightly as he recalled the experience of that day- something that was still cutting into him, causing him to consider the worst possible outcomes, and filling him with an enormous amount of guilt. Kagome's safety was more important than avoiding questions.

Ironic, Inuyasha thought to himself as he entered to the village- the stares and whispers he expected following, Ironic that… in this village he received more negative attention when he wasn't a hanyou. Ignoring the villagers, Inuyasha quickly sped to Kaede's hut and tugged the flap on the door a bit."Oi, Kaede-baba, you there?" he inquired.

"I'm here, Inuyasha, Kagome?" The elderly miko called as she stood up and walked over to push open the flap. Her expression became bewildered upon seeing Inuyasha. "Inuyasha… wasn't your human night the new moon?" she asked, slightly perplexed as her gaze shifted to the crescent moon in the night sky. Inuyasha stepped inside the hut and nodded.

"Yah… it is," He leaned up against the wall of the small home and closed his eyes in exasperation.

"Care to explain what happened then? Something tells me that this doesn't have anything to do with the moon." Kaede sat down by the small fire pit in the middle of the hut. Inuyasha exhaled.

"Kaede-baba, you know all the details as to why that jiji was here right?"

"He wanted Kagome to check a barrier cast by Kikyou-oneesan before her death, I know." Kaede paused, "Where is Kagome?"

"Keh- she's back at the village still, and… well… were you there when she cast the barrier?"

"I was very young, Inuyasha, but I do remember it. I wasn't there though; Kikyou-oneesan could rarely take me on any missions with her. It was just too dangerous," Kaede took a sip of tea from a cup she'd placed by the fire. Inuyasha looked down and lowered his voice a bit.

"Kagome was trying to check the barrier and… for some reason it shocked her," The teenage boy paused, "It was like lightning, and so I leapt in the barrier to pull her away and see if she was okay. The barrier is supposed to kill youkai upon impact and let humans in freely. But… I'm not human and I'm not youkai so it," Inuyasha took a deep breath, "It let me through, but it… split me."

"Inuyasha… do you mean?" Kaede asked in a panicked tone.

"I mean, what I have of a human and what I have of a youkai."

"When your youkai blood took over, I was never there," Kaede began, "But Kagome told me about it as much as she could. Considering that your heart, mind, and conscience are obviously human… is that what your youkai half is like?" Inuyasha nodded.

"Yah, and Kagome set up a barrier to hold him," Inuyasha continued, "She had to stay so she could reinforce the barrier but, we both knew that you were the only one who'd have any idea how to fix this damn problem." Kaede visually flinched.

"So you wish me to go to the village to see if I can figure out a way to return you to your hanyou form… to merge your other side with you again?" The now human boy crossed his arms.

"Pretty much, Kagome can't hold that barrier up forever- it's hell enough as is for her."

"I see," The elderly miko said, somewhat solemnly, "Well then… perhaps we should quickly get going." Inuyasha looked towards her.

"Kaede-baba," the dark haired boy said, a tone of resigned realism in his voice, "Do you… think there is any way to fix this?" Kaede rubbed her hand across her forehead and closed her eyes.

"I don't know Inuyasha… I simply don't know."

Kagome sighed deeply as she glanced to the wound on her arm, "I hope Inuyasha gets back here soon, casting this barrier is exhausting," She stretched her arms and yawned. A bit earlier, Shokubai had come out with a bowl of stew for Kagome to eat. She'd thankfully taken it and used it to replenish her energy. In return for the meal, Kagome had voluntarily explained the whole situation with Inuyasha and the barrier to the village elder. In understanding he'd gone back to his home, promising to keep the villagers inside until the ordeal was over.

The night was growing darker and Kagome half wished to herself that her companion still had his normal hanyou speed. Don't be selfish, the miko quickly berated herself for that thought. He's the one suffering here. All I have is a cut on my arm. She reached over to stroke the gauze he'd wrapped around her injury. Inuyasha… please hurry back. I want… everything back to normal.

Her gaze shifted outside the barrier and she concentrated on the barrier spell a bit so she could see what was going on inside. The silver haired youkai paced back and forth in the barrier, and flashed her a feral look when she made eye contact with him. Kagome shuddered and quickly willed the barrier to conceal him once again. I'm his target now too. Even if we figure out how we can merge Inuyasha's two halves again, how would we get them close enough?

Kagome broke herself out of her thoughts when she saw two approaching figures. She couldn't help but grin lightly at the sight of Inuyasha carrying the elderly miko Kaede on his back. "Inuyasha- Kaede-baachan!" Kagome waved as they entered the barrier. Inuyasha gave the schoolgirl a weak smile as Kaede slid off his back.

"Kagome," Inuyasha began, "Is your arm okay?"

"Uhh yah, it is," She rubbed the wound a bit. "I told you it was nothing major… how are you?"

"Keh- fine, I got Kaede-baba so she can tell us what the hell we can do." Kagome nodded, and Kaede cleared her throat.

"Kikyou-oneesan was incredibly powerful, and as you probably sensed Kagome… this was no ordinary barrier she set up here." Kagome nodded and Kaede continued. "This barrier wasn't meant to be tested in such ways, Inuyasha. Although my miko powers are fairly weak, I can tell that this barrier is every bit as strong as it was when it was first cast. I was not there when oneesan created it, but I visited this town many times in the days of my youth."

"Baba, what are you trying to tell us," Inuyasha crossed his arms and sat down next to Kagome.

"Inuyasha… Kikyou's barriers weren't meant to undo the damage they've created." Kaede looked grim, "When a youkai is killed by the barrier, there's no going back. When that barrier split you, Inuyasha… it's just as strong as it was then." Kagome and Inuyasha's eyes both widened in worry of Kaede confirming their worst fears. "Inuyasha… I'm sorry."

"Hmph- baba, are you saying I'm stuck like this?" Inuyasha asked, masking the frightened look in his eyes with the anger in his voice. Kaede nodded gravely.

"There is no way to undo what the barrier had done," she confirmed sadly. Kagome gaped silently, but then reached over to clasp Inuyasha's hand, which was currently clenched in a tight fist.

"I'm so very sorry, Inuyasha… Kagome, and I'm sure Kikyou-oneesan would have been as well."

"SHIT!" Inuyasha ground out, infuriated- his other fist smashing into the ground with as much force as he could muster. The elderly miko sighed and stood up.

"You two wish to be alone do you not?" Kaede inquired. Inuyasha didn't say anything, but Kagome nodded in her direction. "Very well, I'll stay in the home of the village elder then tonight- it's too late for me to head back and I know him quite well anyway."

"Thank you Kaede-baachan… I'm sorry you had to get involved in this." Kaede gave the miko and her companion a gentle smile.

"Kagome… you and Inuyasha are very important to me," The older woman reached down to place her hands on the two teenager's shoulders. Kagome gave her a surprised look, and even Inuyasha's expression faded from the angered one he'd worn a moment before. "I've watched you two grow up for quite a while now," and watched you mature and fall in love… she added in her thoughts, "As long as this old body still allows me to, I'll always be willing, and always wanting to assist you in whatever way I can."

"Kaede-baachan," Kagome smiled and wrapped the older woman in a warm embrace. Inuyasha felt a smile tug at the corner of his lips and sighed.

"…Thanks baba," he said as politely as he could. Kaede chuckled.

"Good luck you two, I think I've done all I can here." The miko began to walk away, "But you have all you need to get through this," She glanced back over her shoulder, "You have each other." Inuyasha "keh-ed" lightly, but calmed down when Kagome slipped her hand back into his.

Inuyasha and Kagome watched at the elderly woman wandered towards the hut. An awkward silence fell over them before Kagome cleared her throat in a gentle manner.

"She's right, Inuyasha, but… how are we going to…"

"Kagome, your arrow is the only thing that can defeat my other half," Inuyasha interrupted her. The schoolgirl covered her mouth and shook her head vehemently in the negative.

"No… Inuyasha, I couldn't do that!"

"Why not?"

"Because… it's you!" Kagome grabbed onto the front of his fire rat coat with her other hand.

"No it's not!" Inuyasha retorted, "Shit, Kagome, I'm stuck like this, no ifs ands or buts- so just shoot my damn other half with an arrow and get this the hell over with!"

"I could never hurt anything that looked like you it would…" she stopped when she felt tears well up in her eyes.

"Why the hell not- I AM ME! You aren't hurting me!" he gestured wildly with his free hand.

"You're the last person I could ever bring myself to hurt Inuyasha…. I'd give my life for you… I'd risk every--thing for… you, I could never hurt you! So even if it… looks like you," She stuttered, choking out tears.

Inuyasha's eyes widened and a gentle smile played across his lips.

"Kagome…" He whispered and pulled her to his chest in a tight embrace. "Kagome, you know that I would do all the same for you, right?" The dark haired boy lightly ran his fingers through her tangled hair as he felt the wetness from her tears stain his clothing.

Kagome nodded.

"But Kagome… if you'd do anything for me, then… there's no going back now. You have to fire that arrow, and… I'll be there. I don't want to spend the rest of my life like this, but I don't have a choice. Even if that youkai inside the barrier may resemble me in some ways, it's not me."

He paused and pulled Kagome away from him, tilting her chin up to look him in the face, "I'm right here." He gave her a lopsided slight grin. "And you know I hate it when you cry, so stop it."

Kagome's mouth tugged up in a light smile.

"I… I can try, Inuyasha."

"I know you can do it… Kagome, you're the strongest girl I know," Inuyasha continued, hand still holding her chin up.

"I am?" Kagome asked in slight surprise.

"Keh- of course you are!" The teenage boy looked her in the face, "So stop crying now, because I know you can… and I don't want to see it."

He looked away for a moment. "Kagome, this is making both of us suffer and… I can't stand that."

"What?" The miko asked.

"If anyone has to suffer here it should be me--- and I hate seeing you have to suffer along with me." He stuttered a bit, awkwardly trying to form his words. "Even if there was a way… to fix all this shit and to get everything back to normal… if it meant seeing you hurt like this Kagome…" He lowered his voice to a whisper, "I wouldn't do it."

Kagome's expression brightened and she wiped away a tear.

"What did you say?" She inquired somewhat rhetorically.

"Keh," was his only answer as he unintentionally locked gazes with her. Kagome reached up and put her hands on his shoulder.

"Do I… mean that much to you?" She asked in a tentative manner. Inuyasha fidgeted a moment before replying.

"Oi- Of course, you know that!" His answer was vague, and hidden behind a tough façade. Kagome knew what he meant though.

"Inuyasha, I…" A deep blush spread across her cheeks as she scooted a bit closer to her companion. Inuyasha gulped loudly, his own blush appearing.

"Kagome…"

"I--- then I hope you know what I mean to you as well," She leaned upwards more so and paused, as if second-guessing the action she was about to perform. In the end though, her emotions and need to display her feelings overpowered that.

And she captured the surprised boy's lips in a chaste kiss.

Inuyasha's eyes widened before he closed them and wrapped his arms around Kagome's waist. Inexperienced and unsure of his motions, he followed Kagome's lead. The warmth of their lips meeting in such a manner a new and unfamiliar, although comforting sensation.

A few moments later, a crimson-cheeked Kagome pulled away and let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry…" She looked away for a moment. Inuyasha shook his head and pulled her back to face him, the bright red stain never leaving his own cheeks.

"Don't be," the dark haired boy replied huskily as he locked gazes with her once more. Kagome nodded and leaned forward, pressing her forehead against Inuyasha's.

"We'll make it…" Kagome felt herself smile, and the last remnants of her tears disappeared.

"Together," Inuyasha finished for her- and they knew… they could.

Next chapter- Kagome and Inuyasha face the most heart wrenching battle of their lives- and they'll find even more so that despite all their troubles- what matters the most- is what they have with each other.(And that will be the end of the fic. ;)