Disclaimer: The song is Breaking the Habit performed by Linkin Park, so it doesn't belong to me. I guess that means that Inuyasha doesn't, either. sigh

Part Two: Confusion

Memories consume

Like opening the wound

I'm picking me apart again

"Oh, so what? Your gonna cry now? You really are pathetic! At least when Kikyo was around I didn't have to deal with bawling humans all the damn time! Why don't you just go home, if you can't handle it anymore?"

That had been the last straw, and Kagome stared at him, dumbfounded. How could he? She turned then, fleeing into the Forest of Inuyasha, running toward the Well and away from the hanyou who had just shredded her bleeding heart and thrown it back in her face.

Inuyasha stared at the retreating form of the girl as she ran. What had just happened? He knew it was his fault that the scent of salty tears drifted heavily on the evening breeze, but he had no clue as to how the argument had gotten out of hand. Every part of him screamed to go after her, to tell her that he was sorry. But the pride that ruled his troubled heart forced him to simply stand there until the young miko was gone.

His golden eyes glowed in the faint light as he stared at the spot where Kagome had been just moments ago. Why did she wander off by herself in the first place? Didn't she know that it just wasn't safe? Or was she willing to risk her own safety just to get away from him?

You all assume

I'm safe here in my room

Unless I try to start again

With one fluid motion, the hanyou leaped onto a high branch in the old tree. It was odd, how his former prison had become his santuary, he thought as he settled onto the thick, leafy limb. But even the old tree failed to offer him comfort now as he stared down at the ground below. Two glowing, golden orbs focused on the spot that he and Kagome had just occupied, and a low growl emerged from deep within his throat. How does that damn girl manage to get under my skin like that? Inuyasha let the frustration course through his body, the lean muscles of his arms rippling as he unknowingly tightened his grip on the perch. All he had asked was that she stay near Keade's hut, so that he could watch over her...so that he could protect her. But she had taken off anyway. And then he had gone after her, following the soft scent of roses and spring rain until he reached the Goshinboku. After finding her, he had yelled at her for stealing away, wandering into a dangerous forest filled with demons that would give anything to make an evening snack out of her.

But he had said more than that, hadn't he? He'd also said something about demons stealing her soul...it had been added on as an after-thought, and he hadn't even given it a second thought until now.

I don't want to be the one

the battles always choose

'Cause inside I realize

that I'm the one confused.

"I'm not the one who almost lost their soul, Inuyasha! Or did you forget what happened a few days ago? Your demon side almost consumed you, and there wasn't anything I could do to help you!"

Oh shit, he thought as he pushed a lock of unruly silver hair from his eyes. That's where things had gone wrong. She must still be upset about that whole Gatenmaru thing...how could I have been so stupid? A slight shifting of his weight left him sitting back on his haunches, his clawed hands grasping the branch at his feet for added support. He had been so wrapped up in his own warring emotions that he had missed the tell-tale signs. She was worried about me, and I threw it back in her face!

I don't know what's worth fighting for

or why I have to scream.

I don't know why I instigate

and say what I don't mean.

I don't know how I got this way

I know it's not all right

So I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

Tonight.

The urge to go and apoligize swept over him once more, but he pushed it back, refusing to give in. Why should he say he was sorry? It wasn't like he KNEW that she was going to cry. Besides, he didn't care if she was upset or not, he thought as he tore his eyes from the ground below. Well, maybe he did, but it was only because he hated the sounds humans made when they were sad. They sounded so pathetic, so lost and helpless...and Kagome was no exception. It was always obvious when she was ready to cry. Her eyes would get that bright look to them, and her bottom lip would quiver just a little bit.

Clutching my cure

I tightly lock the door

I try to catch my breath again

The hanyou closed his eyes, trying to dispell the image of the girl. Why can't I get her out of my head? Right then, he wanted nothing more than to forget about women and all of their damn emotions, but it seemed as though that would be impossible. An image of the young miko's face hung suspended on the insides of his eyelids, her brown eyes warm and filled with a kindness that seemed alien to the lonely hanyou. With a vilolent shake of his head, Inuyasha finally managed to dispell the vision. A grunt escaped his lips as he brought his thoughts back to the aftermath of the incident with Gatenmaru. Kagome had stayed with him, when any other person would have run in fear.He had always known that Kagome cared deeply for him, and that she was the only one that had ever come close to understanding him. Even Kikyo, his first love, the woman that he had sworn his life and soul to, had failed to make him feel so complete.

I hurt much more

Than any time before

I had no options left again

What would Kikyo have done if she had seen me in my demon form? The idea of the dead priestess's reaction saddened him. She wouldn't have hestitated, he thought. She would have killed me. He knew in his heart that Kagome would never hurt him. Even if it meant risking her own life, she would not leave his side. And Inuyasha knew that Kagome would give up everything to stay with him, simply because...

Because she loved him.

I don't want to be the one

the battles always choose

'Cause inside I realize

That I'm the one confused.

So I guess the only question is, how do I feel about her?

Well, some part of him cared, obviously. Otherwise he would not feel so protective of her. Even when she was safe in her own time, he still sat by the edge of the well, silently praying that she was all right. So why did his head keep telling him to push her away?

I don't know what's worth fighting for

or why I have to scream

I don't know why I instigate

and say what I don't mean

I don't know how I got this way

I'll never be all right

So I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

Tonight.

Inuyasha sighed, confused. There were so many questions, but he had no answers for any of them. The contrasting voices of his head and his heart continued to battle as he leaned into the thick trunk of the Sacred Tree, and eventually his eyes grew heavy with sleep. It was as though someone had wrapped a warm blanket around his shoulders, leaving him with a feeling of safety and security that he hadn't felt since his early childhood. The hanyou tried to blink the sleep from his eyes, fighting the warmth as it spread to his tired muscles. But the mysterious drowsiness won out, and a pair of soft lids slid closed over the piercing eyes of the half demon.

"Kagome, wait!" Inuyasha called after the girl, but she either couldn't hear him or chose to ignore him. She continued to run, her long, dark hair trailing behind her as she widened the distance between them.

Inuyasha ran after her, refusing to let her go this time. When he finally caught sight of her, he drew back in suprise. Where there should have been grassy earth between them, there was now a deep, black chasm. When did that get there...? The thought was there and gone, as the hanyou brought his eyes up to meet those of the young miko. Her brown eyes were filled with tears, and an infinate sadness seemed to swirl in their depths. "Kagome..."

The girl remained silent. A long moment passed, and still she did not speak or move. Panic began to wind itself around the hanyou's heart, and he called out to her again. "Kagome!"

His voice seemed to stir something within the miko, and she lowered her head until her bangs conceled her eyes. Her arms grew tense as her hands tightened into fists, but still she remained silent. Another moment passed, and the tension continued to mount as the half demon waited for some kind of response. Why wasn't she saying anything? What was she waiting for?

Suddenly the chasm below began to glow, and Inuyasha tore his gaze from Kagome. Where was that light coming from? he wondered as he watched the glow rise from the bottomless depths. His question was answered soon enough as the light ascended to eye level, where it remained, suspended, in the air. After a moment the light dissapated, leaving in its place a lone figure.

"Kikyo...what are you doing here?"

The priestess stared at him with cold, emotionless eyes. They had once held some measure of warmth, but even that had seemed closed off, even guarded. Kagome's eyes, on the other hand, were always warm, allowing anyone who cared to look a window straight into her soul.

The priestess began to move, and the action tore Inuyasha from his thoughts. She glided across the air, her moves slow and measured as she closed the distance between her and the edge of the chasm. But she did not move toward the hanyou...instead, she was headed toward the other side, toward Kagome...

"Kikyo! What are you doing?" He reached out to her, his heart pained at the thought of her turning away from him. At the same time, he also grew worried; what if she was after Kagome? The mixed emotions warred against each other as he stood there, helpless. Then he watched as Kikyo came to a halt next to her reincarnation. What was she going to do?

He did not have to wait long to find out. The older priestess grabbed the younger miko by the shoulders, and then raised her dark eyes to the hanyou who waited on the other side.

'Choose' she seemed to say as she glanced at the gaping hole between them. 'You must choose between your past and your future.'

"But...I can't choose! I still love you, Kikyo! But I...I also..."

'Choose now, hanyou. Who will it be?'

"I...I..."

'You were always a fool, Inuyasha. Now your indecision will cost you everything...'

"Kikyo, wait!"

The priestess tightened her grip on the younger girl's shoulders before pushing her forward toward the lip of the chasm. Kagome fell, her body limp like that of a rag doll, and only her eyes revealde the betrayal that screamed inside of her.

"Kagome!"

He watched as she tumbled forward into the black abyss.

"No! I won't lose you! KAGOME!"

"Hang on!" Inuyasha dove to the ground and stretched his arm out as far as he could. His fingers barely brushed her hand, and the hanyou forced his arm to stretch farther. He could feel the limb pull from the socket, but he did not care. He had to save Kagome.

Her mouth moved, but he could not make out the words even as he managed to get a firm grip on her arm. "Kagome, I've got you!"

Still her lips formed words, and Inuyasha was finally able to understand. He locked eyes with her, refusing to accept what she was trying to tell him. But her eyes only confirmed what her voice could not seem to say. She wanted him to let her go.

"No...no, Kagome. I can't! I won't!" His voice was growing desparate, and the pain in his arm grew worse the longer he held onto her. "Kagome...why?"

But he knew why. He had betrayed her. He had turned her away time and time again, and now he was paying the final price. "No...Kagome...I can't lose you..."

'Why?' Her eyes seemed to cry out. 'Why can't you let me go?'

"Because, Kagome...because...I love you..."

Inuyasha woke with a start as a stray beam of sunlight slipped through the heavy boughs of the tree. Where am I? he thought as he ran a shaky hand through his silver hair. Then the previous night came back to him, and he remember everything, including the strange dream. I'm such a baka! I keep letting my pride get in the way, and now I may have lost her for good. I have to find her before it's too late.

I'll paint it on the walls

'Cause I'm the one at fault

I'll never fight again

And this is how it ends.

The hanyou leapt from the tree, landing in a dead run. He had to reach the well and find Kagome before his courage failed him again. And this time, he wouldn't let her go.

I don't know what's worth fighting for

or why I have to scream

But now I have some clarity

to show you what I mean

I don't know how I got this way

I'll never be all right

So I' breaking the habot

I'm beaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

Tonight.

But as the hanyou raced toward the Bone-Eater's Well, leaving the clearing of the Goshinboku empty once more, he failed to notice the twin points of fire that shone through the leafy bushes in the early morning light.

A/N: Well, I hope you guys like this. Inuyasha is a LOT harder to write for in this type of setting than I first thought. Anywho, I'm not getting a whole lot of feedback on this one, or on Castle for that matter, but to everyone who IS reviewing, THANK YOU!! :-) Also, I hope everyone had a happy holiday!