Once again I'm working on some late-night story writing. It's almost 4 in the morning and I'm still not tired. Anywho, I'm also working on a story with one of my internet pals. It's called Unspoken Whispers. So far, it's turning out really good. I guess Tiffany says that if it turns out okay, she might send it in and it may become published. That's a very, VERY, slim chance, but if it does happen to make it, keep an eye out for it. Now, onward to chapter two!

Chapter 2: Goodbye Kagome, Hello Kikyo

"Inuyasha, wait up!" Kagome demanded as she ran to him.

Inuyasha kept on going. It hurt to even hear Kagome's voice. Who knows what he will feel like if conversation initiated. Finally, he turned around to confront her. Kagome almost ran right into him, but stopped herself just in time.

"Kagome! I waited forever for you! Why couldn't you have done the same?!" he asked.

Kagome held herself with a saddened expression. She knew he was right. He could've gone to Kikyo at anytime, but decided to wait. He really did love her. Even through tough times, he waited.

"Well? Aren't you going to speak to me?!" he asked angrily.

"Inuyasha," Kagome began, "I love you SO much. If only you could understand how much. But I really needed support from someone. I'm sorry I betrayed you, but I couldn't help it."

"Feh, it wouldn't do much good. Besides, I marked you when we made love eighteen years ago," Inuyasha replied. He pulled down Kagome's shirt and pointed to a little red scar above her collar bone. So, that would mean that no matter what, Kagome was his own. His mate. Forever…

Kagome gasped. She always wondered where that mark came from. She then felt Inuyasha pull the shirt lower and lower. Kagome got angry and smacked his hand away. He was becoming a bit of a lecher himself. But then again, he was in love with her, and wanted to make love again. Even so, Kagome did not feel the same way anymore.

"Maybe I really don't love you anymore, Inuyasha," Kagome admitted. "Not like I thought…" This was the way she truly felt now. She'd been away from him for so long when Kasumi was gone, she had nothing to remind her of him, and slowly drifted away.

"Fine," was Inuyasha's final word. He then disappeared into the forest with a leap.

Once again, Kagome called out his name. Nothing…

Maybe I was too harsh on him, she thought.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Inuyasha made his way to find Kikyo. This was his chance. Now he didn't have to choose between the two. He finally knew who was right for him. He found her scent. She was close…

He landed on the ground; panting. He waited for Kikyo to take notice of him herself. And she did.

"Inuyasha," she said; surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Inuyasha walked up to her and grasped her shoulders. His face drifted closer and closer to hers until their lips met. He pressed them harder and harder until he heard Kikyo moan. She broke the kiss.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing?" she asked.

"Kikyo, I love you. I love you more than anything," he replied, looking deep into her eyes.

Kikyo was astonished. She always figured he loved Kagome more.

Inuyasha took a deep breath and said, "I'm ready to die with you."

"Are you serious?!"

"Yes… I want to be with you for forever."

Kikyo was glad Inuyasha finally saw it her way. She gathered together the last of her Soul Collectors and strength, opening the gates of Hell. She began to pull Inuyasha into it. But something, or someone rather, prevented that from happening. A rock was thrown at Kikyo and Inuyasha. She looked back angrily to see who it was.

A young woman tossed another rock repeatedly in the air as she said, "I thought I smelled a dead rat…"

"Well, it's Inuyasha's little girl," Kikyo said. She tried to pull Inuyasha further into her spell.

Kasumi got a closer look at her father and realized he was unconscious. She threw the other rock at his head hoping he'd get back to his senses. His eyes cracked open a bit and caught a fuzzy glimpse of Kasumi.

"Don't come any closer!" He warned. "I don't want you ending up here, too!"

"Dad! Stop! I can't lose you," Kasumi replied. "Not now!"

Kikyo broke into the argument and said, "Face it, Kasumi. Your father is in love with me and he's willing to die with me."

"You don't understand, Kikyo! I need him!" she cried. "He's my Daddy!"

Inuyasha then started to feel guilt. Kasumi traveled all this way to find him in her condition and had to see him die.

"With every birth, there is a death," Kikyo replied. She seemed to know about Kasumi's child.

The guilt was rising higher than Inuyasha had expected, but it was too late. He was already dragged into the pits of Hell. The last thing he remembers, was his daughter's screams.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

In Hell, Kikyo sat next to Inuyasha, dabbing his forehead with a wet towel. He looked around and noticed no angst, horror, or pain. It looked like he was still in Feudal Japan. But Kikyo reassured him that he was in Hell.

"This can't be Hell," said Inuyasha. "This feels more like Heaven."

Kikyo replied sadly, "Believe me, Inuyasha. We are indeed in Hell. We are trapped in this image for the rest of time."

Inuyasha sat up and cupped Kikyo's cheeks in his hands. He said, "At least it's with you."

Inuyasha kissed her lips once more. He wretched on the inside realizing how good she tasted. But he also realized she tasted almost exactly like Kagome. Kagome?!

"Oh no…" he said aloud. "What have I done?"

Kikyo tilted her head in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Inuyasha turned to his side and rested his head on his arm. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but Kikyo, everything you do, say, or anything like that, makes me think of Kagome."

Kikyo's dead soul flared with anger. "Don't tell me you miss her! Inuyasha, we are in love. I finally fulfilled my mission, and now you say you must go back?!"

"I'm sorry Kikyo…" Inuyasha said solemnly as he stood up. "But I love Kagome. She's my mate for life."

Kikyo stood up as well and grabbed his kimono as she replied, "But you're dead, Inuyasha! She's not your mate anymore!"

Inuyasha looked at her. Kikyo saw the heartbreak in his eyes. She hated to admit it, but he really did love Kagome. She is his daughter's mother. Kikyo had to do the right thing.

"If you must, Inuyasha, then go back to Kagome," she said sadly.

Inuyasha gave a final kiss goodbye before Kikyo sent him on his way. This time, Kikyo would not be able to walk the Earth again since she fulfilled what she needed to do, even though it was for a short period of time.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

For some odd reason, Inuyasha woke back up pinned to the God Tree again. Although he could not figure out why. He looked down at his chest. No arrow. There were only vines around him like when Kagome first found him.

"Kagome…" he said aloud.

Then he heard a familiar voice saying, "I may not be Mom, but, you'll live."

Kasumi was tearing at the vines to release him. After his feet met the ground, he met up with Kasumi. He could see the anger in her eyes.

"So, how'd it go with you and Kikyo?" she asked turning her back to him.

"Hey, at least I came back!" Inuyasha argued.

Kasumi turned back around and yelled, "How long did it take you to decide you wanted to come back?! You've been stuck on the tree, unconscious, for almost two weeks!"

Inuyasha got a confused look on his features. "Two weeks? But I swear I was only there for not even five minutes."

"Uh huh, sure," Kasumi replied. She wasn't convinced that he was telling the truth. "Dad, Mom still loves you. It's just she's all about principles. Yeah, she loves Hojo too, but now you know what it feels like to love someone knowing they love someone else."

"Your mom was really upset about that, wasn't she?" he asked.

Kasumi felt sympathy kick in. She walked up to him, setting her hand on his shoulder, and replied, "Yeah, but hey, that's life. I know that Koga still loves Ayame, but he's with me. Mom knows she loves you, and I can't see why she won't stay with you. You love Kikyo, but decide it be best to stay with Mom."

Inuyasha had to admit, she was right. She was wise beyond her years, but was also a smart-ass. There weren't too many times in which she could be serious about serious subjects. She was just like him…

"Koga didn't mark you, did he?" Inuyasha asked.

Kasumi's face flushed red. She pulled her shirt down and revealed a red mark below her collar bone. With Kagome, it was above.

"I know, it's different than you, but wolves and dogs are different," she pointed out.

That answered a few questions drifting through Inuyasha's mind.

"So tell me," she said guiding Inuyasha back to the hut, "what's Hell like?"

"Ask later. Where's the kid?" Inuyasha asked back.

Kasumi replied, "With the father parental unit. He's gonna show our boy the ropes. Well, trees rather, but, ya know."

Inuyasha chuckled and playfully shoved Kasumi. She shoved him back until Inuyasha grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder. Of course, he was careful with her, but even so, it had to two laughing the entire way back home.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

(( hiss!!!!!!! )) I hate Kikyo!!!! Thank God in my fan-fiction, she's dead and now stays dead! But this comes in handy for one of my later chapters. Heh, I pretty much have everything figured out already. This story isn't going to be as long as the other hopefully, but yeah. Well, it's 6:00 in the morning, the sun's coming up, and I still have a big day. I better get some sleep. 'Night! Oh, by the way, I hope I did not offend anyone by my disliking Kikyo. Ja ne!