Chapter 4
(Four days since Kagome left)
Kagome left the well to see the sun going down over the horizon and a light rain falling. She looked around, then began to walk forward, heading towards the campsite they had been at when she left. 'I've got a bad feeling about this…..' the miko thought.
When she came upon the site she found it deserted. Footprints in the mud led to the west and Kagome began to follow them when she recognized the prints of Shippo and Miroku. Sango's followed theirs as well. Inuyasha's were nowhere to be seen.
Sighing heavily Kagome continued forward. 'What have I done?'
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"Inuyasha, please." Sango pleaded with the hanyou. Inuyasha sat up against a tree, his eyes open and watching the demon-huntress. He was unresponsive to anything she said however, only sitting and watching her silently.
Sango sighed, going back to sit beside Miroku. "He won't eat?" the monk asked.
Sango shook her head. "He won't eat, sleep, talk, nothing. Since Kagome left he's been like this."
At the sound of Kagome's name Inuyasha's ears flattened and he whimpered, covering his eyes with his silver bangs.
Sango rose again and went back to the half-demon's side, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Inuyasha, at least talk to me. Tell me why you're feeling like this."
She heard another small whimper, then Inuyasha's soft voice issued forth, small and wavering. "All this time I've been her protector. There was never anything I felt I couldn't save her from. I thought she liked me. She hates me." There was a sniff, then the hesitant voice continued. "She called me, a," he paused, then started again painfully. "She called me a mutt. She said she didn't want me. All this time I thought I could protect her. But in truth she needed protection from me."
Sango was silent throughout this small speech. "Inuyasha, I never knew."
The hanyou laid his forehead on his knees, which he had tucked up to his chest. He said no more, and Sango could not get him to move.
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(With Kagome)
"Sango! Miroku! Shippo! Inuyasha!" Kagome cried, her hands cupped around her mouth. 'Great,' she thought. 'It's been a whole day since I got here and I still haven't found them!'
Sighing the girl continued on. 'At least I'm wearing jeans and a sweater,' she thought on a high note.
"Kagome!" a small voice called suddenly said close by her.
Kagome looked up. "Shippo!" She caught the kitsune in a hug. "It's so good to see you!"
"We sure missed you Kagome!" Shippo looked down for a moment. "Especially Inuyasha. I'm worried about him Kagome. He doesn't do anything anymore. He just, sits there.
He doesn't even fight with me anymore, even when I pulled his ears by accident."
Kagome's eyes widened. "That's not like him at all. Are they close by?"
Shippo nodded. "They're this way, come on!" The small fox raced off, Kagome following after him. They burst out into a clearing to see Sango and Miroku sitting around a fire.
"Kagome, you're back!" Sango said, standing and going to the girl.
"Where's Inuyasha?" Kagome said instantly. Sango stepped to the side, and there stood Inuyasha. His face was pale, golden eyes wide. His legs were shaking visibly as he made his way to Kagome.
"Kagome?" he whispered. "I-I thought you didn't want me anymore."
Kagome smiled, a few tears slipping down her cheeks. "Of course I want you Inuyasha. I love you."
If possible Inuyasha's eyes widened. "You, you," He suddenly gasped as his hair faded to black, his claws and fangs shrinking. He looked at Kagome, his violet eyes surprised. Then his eyes slid shut and he fell forward, Kagome catching him before he hit the ground.
"Inuyasha? Inuyasha!"
