What Relationship?

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Note: Inuyasha is not mine and belongs to the respective copyright holders. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

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Chapter 8: Unacceptance

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"Kikyou, what are you saying?" Inuyasha asked.

"As long as Kagome views me as competition, her powers won't grow. Her jealousy is holding her back." Kikyou explained.

"You don't even view this as a real problem. You don't view me as a person with real feelings. You just think this is a way to defeat Naraku." Kagome responded.

"We must defeat Naraku at all costs." Kikyou answered.

"But you can't just tell Inuyasha to not love you anymore and expect to him to come to me! It doesn't work like that!" Kagome shouted back.

"Kikyou, I..." Inuyasha hesitated to speak after Kagome's words but found himself muttering.

Kikyou sighed. She seemed resolute in her decision to end her relationship with Inuyasha. She finally responded. "This isn't easy for me either. But I am dead. I cannot remain in this world. I wish to see Naraku defeated before I go and I really do wish for your happiness, Inuyasha." Kikyou responded.

Inuyasha couldn't say anything. Kagome instantly recognized how hurt Kikyou's words had been for him to hear. His face said it all. It pained Kagome deeply to see Inuyasha so tormented. After a long and awkward silence, Kagome responded. "Inuyasha, this day had to come at some point. Kikyou couldn't stay in this realm forever."

"Inuyasha, you must learn to accept this. You cannot put this off." Kikyou responded.

"Hee, I know that. I've thought about this for so long. But I always dreaded this day. I've tried to put it off for so long. Not to hurt Kagome, but to spare myself from the pain of losing Kikyou." Inuyasha responded in a voice so low that it came off as a whisper.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome said.

Inuyasha walked out of the house and towards the Sacred Tree. Kikyou and Kagome followed him as he stopped in front of the tree. "This is where I was sealed for fifty years." Inuyasha stated. He seemed to want to say more but the words wouldn't come.

"I know. Naraku tricked us. He destroyed our love. We can never go back to that time. It can never be undone." Kikyou responded in a very pained voice.

Kagome realized that this was just as hard for Kikyou as it was for Inuyasha. Kagome felt guilty that she was happy that Inuyasha and Kikyou were finally breaking up. She remembered what Hakudoushi had once said to her and she couldn't bear to admit to herself just how selfish she really was. Kagome realized that while Kikyou and Inuyasha were through, that didn't mean she could have Inuyasha all to herself.

To Be Continued...