Ch. 6

me: ok, I have to announce a really bad thing. But first, I have to say that I do not own InuYasha. So there...

Kikyo: heh, I never would have guessed...

me: grrr...shut up. Anyways, the bad thing is... I messed up. Really bad. Very very bad. I'm currently in the process of writing a fanfic w/Sesshomauru in it. And it was really late when I was writing ch. 5 of Never Again, so I guess I messed up. Cause Sesshomauru is NOT supposed to be in this story. I repeat: Sesshomauru is NOT in Never Again. I edited the chapter, and cut him out. Once again, im sooooorry!!

So I'll say it one more time: Sesshomauru is NOT in Never Again. It was a mistake!! Sorry!

"Grrr...InuYasha, where are you?" Kagome muttered to herself. She had been searching for what felt like forever. Leaves and sticks decorated her hair, and her usually white uniform top was stained with mud. She sat down heavily on a rock, pulling the forest debris out of her hair. "If I can't find him in the next hour, I'm going home..." Kagome started to rise again, but a scratching sound made her stop and turn. She walked cautiously to the next tree, and peeked into the clearing behind it.

There knelt InuYasha, digging into a small patch of dirt. Kikyo's bones lay next to him, and the arrow Kagome had used was stuck into the ground. Kagome suddenly realized what he was doing...he was going to bury Kikyo...

"Houshi-sama, are you sure we're going the right way?" Sango asked, her eyes on the young monk. "We've been around and around this forest, and there's still no sign of him."

"Yeah, Miroku... do you even know where you're going?" Shippo asked testily. He was quite tired, and not used to walking so much...after all, Kagome used to carry him everywhere.

"Sango, Sango, Sango..." He said tiredly. "I am merely following my instinct..."

"That means we're lost..." Sango muttered.

"What?"

"Oh...nothing. Keep going, Houshi-sama."

"Uh...Miroku...I hear something...." Shippo said quietly. The group stopped, listening intently. Sango walked forward, her footsteps falling softly. She pushed back a few leaves, and peeked into the sunlit clearing. Miroku and Shippo quickly followed Sango, lifting leaves and branches so they could see. It was InuYasha, digging into the ground. The group realized what he was doing, and Sango sighed sadly. She and Miroku watched InuYasha continue to dig the grave, but Shippo grew tired of standing. He sat down quietly in the grass, taking in his surroundings. The snap of a twig nearby made him jump; he looked left and right for the culprit. A flash of raven black hair caught his aquamarine eyes. Was that...?

Kagome bit her lip. She knew that Shippo-chan had seen her. He, Sango and Miroku were spying on InuYasha as well as she was. She needed to talk to the half demon, and sitting here watching him wasn't going to help at all. Kagome pushed through the brush, making a loud rustling sound, and startling everyone present, including InuYasha. He turned quickly. The woeful look in his eyes vanished as he spotted her; now they were angry and dark.

"Kagome, what are you doing here?" He asked coldly. "I thought I told you to leave."

"I did leave, InuYasha...but I had to come back and see you...I needed to talk to you."

"There's nothing to talk about,"

"Yes there is! You weren't even conscious when I...well, when it happened. Don't you think you should know the whole story before you blame me?"

"Who else is there to blame?! You were there, you murdered her, and then you gave me some sob story about how it wasn't your fault!!"

"InuYasha, I never said that! I take full blame; after all, it was me shooting the arrow. But-"

"You just said it yourself, Kagome! You did it!"

"She was dragging you to hell! Don't you remember what happened before you blacked out?"

"I already told you, I wanted to go! There is nothing for me here, except pain and suffering!"

"He wanted to go?" Sango said, horrified. She fell back upon her heels, her eyes wide. "But I thought..."

"You thought he was in love with Kagome..." Miroku finished for her. "So did I..."

"But Miroku...that means she did have a reason for shooting that arrow..." Sango whispered hoarsely. "She didn't just do it out of jealously, she needed to protect InuYasha! Oh god, Miroku! That means what we said to her..."

"So...she didn't just do it for no reason?" Shippo asked quizzically. "Does that mean we were wrong?"

"Yes, Shippo.." Miroku said sadly. "We were very wrong..."

"Pain and suffering?" Kagome whispered. "What about your friends? What about Miroku, Sango, Shippo? And what about me?" Her eyes darted to the place where Miroku and Sango hid.

"Feh. As if humans could keep me tied to this world."

"Kikyo's human! And you still love her, don't you?"

"I-" InuYasha didn't seem to know what to say. He did love Kikyo, right? But...there was still Kagome.... he'd have to leave her behind, too. And she was so... unlike Kikyo. He looked into Kagome's eyes. This wasn't fair to her, dodging this question all the time.

"Kagome..."

Sango and Miroku watched him excitedly. This was it! He was finally going to admit his love to Kagome... Shippo grinned, his fox tail waving in happiness.

"I think I'm in love with Kikyo."