AN: OMFG, I am so SO sorry I haven't updated in like seven months! T-T Homework and finals were killing ma computer time.. but now that it's summer, I hope to get more chappies up sooner. I also hope you can forgive me for my computer dying on me and me being a master of procrastination. --;;; I'm really trying hard to think up the rest of the plot for you guys. -chanting- Gomen, gomen, gomen nasai.

((...)): author's note

Chapter 2: This Should End

Kagome briskly walked back through the forest, consumed in her thoughts. 'I don't give a damn what Inuyasha says. I've made up my mind. I'll tell him tonight. Even if he is absolutey disgusted and my heart is wretched out and stepped on, I have to tell him.'

Inuyasha was in his tree, his mind still consumed with Kagome's confession.

--Flashback--

"Inuyasha," speaking to an imaginary image of him. "This is where I first laid eyes on you. This is where you first broke my heart." Her eyes were glazed, her voice slightly quivering.

"And yet... this is where I first realized I loved you. I care about you so much, Inuyasha."

Tears began to overcome her normally bright, loving eyes.

"I need you to know that I love you, Inuyasha. With all my heart and soul. My soul, not Kikyou's."

Kagome softly dropped to her knees.

"I want you, but I know I can't have you. Why must you be promised to Kikyou? I wish you were promised to me as I am to you!" She began to yell and dug her nails into the ground, her head down and tears quietly streaking down her soft pale cheeks.

"Since I met you, there has been no other man who's even threatened to catch my interest, not even Koga. You're the only man in my life!" Her voice dwindled down to a loud whisper. "Why can't I be the only woman in your life?"

--end--

"I guess it's only right to tell her, since she inaverdently told me," Inuyasha sighed to himself.

His mind began to drift. 'Kagome, I... uh... I,' He shook his head, becoming agitated with himself. 'Fuck! I can't think straight! If I can't say it here, how the hell am I suppose to tell Kagome?'

He was concentrating so vigorously on his own thoughts, he almost missed the snake-like youkai flying across the flawless blue sky.

His gold eyes darted up, sensing their demonic aura, then widened. "Those are Kikyou's soul collectors."

His head lowered slightly and said to the soft wind, "I... I'm so sorry Kikyou. This should end."

With that firmly in his mind, Inuyasha lept out of the tree and ran swiftly, following Kikyou's youkai to her.

After only minutes of following, Inuyasha came upon a clearing in the forest. Specifically, the same clearing where the Bone Eater's Well stood. Sensing her presence, Inuyasha's powerful, golden gaze darted towards the old well.

Sitting on the lip of the well, the deathly pale, resurrected miko stared at the grass before her with emotionless brown eyes.

He took not but three steps towards her when she spoke in a voice as if she were on her death bed.

"I was certain you would come, Inuyasha." Raising herself from the well, her head rose and her cold stare pierced through him like a dagger. "Have you come to your decision?" she asked, her cold stare not faltering.

"Decision? What are you--," he began, but she cut him off.

"Do you wish to follow me and be with me in hell or to remain here with that wench, Kagome?" she said in the same monotonous tone, though her cold stare now turned to one of dangerous determination.

"Listen, Kikyou," he said, keeping his temper down from her wench remark, as a new found confidence showered him. "I... I did make a decision. I've decided... that I want to stay happy... to stay free... to stay... alive."

Kikyou smoothly stepped towards him and touched his warm cheek with her cold palm. "Inuyasha. You will be happy and free with me. You will be alive with me as we live together in hell."

"Damn it, Kikyou, you don't get it," Inuyasha said, getting slightly annoyed at her persistence.

"Shh... don't speak anymore," she whispered, wrapping an arm around his neck. Closing her eyes, she lifted her head and gently pressed her cold, soft lips to Inuyasha's.

Eventually, Kagome returned to the village, Inuyasha still consuming her thoughts. She noticed that the village was just as quiet as when she left early that morning.

She quietly stepped into Kaede's hut where she left Inuyasha. Almost immediately, her dark cinnamon eyes darted to his sleeping spot. He wasn't there.

"Damn! Now where in the hell did he get to?" she said softly, with obviousfrustration in her voice.

She let go a heavy sigh and sat herself down, her elbow on her smooth leg with her head resting on her palm. She tilted her head to get a better look out the window at the crystal clear sky.

Then she saw them. They were hard to make out from her position, but they looked like glowing, pale lines across the sky. She stood up and walked out of the hut to get a clearer view of the youkai. Immediately as she stepped out and had a better view, her heart suddenly plummeted into to her stomach.

"Ki- Kikyou's soul collectors," she softly choked out, her heart now burning with wretching pain. She raised her hand to her chest to check if her heart was still beating. Feeling the beats accelerate every second, a realization fell into her thoughts.

"If she's here," she spoke to herself quietly, her voice slightly quivering, "then... Inuyasha!"

Yelling the hanyou's name, Kagome ran back into the hut, carelessly picking up her bow and quiver of arrows, and returned outside and started to run after the demonic beings.

He remained paralyzed for a moment, his brain desperately trying to catch up with this. Just then, his eyes flashed a crimson red and he carefully but sternly forced her off him.

Holding her shoulders at arm's length, Inuyasha looked deep into her eyes and whispered, "This should end."

"What do you mean, Inuyasha?" Kikyou questioned as if nothing was wrong.

"Kikyou," 'Stay calm, Inuyasha. Just stay fucking calm.' "I can't keep running back to you. I can't be with you anymore."

He looked into her eyes as they filled with disappointment... and anger.

"What? You must be fooling," she seethed softly. "Kagome is only a clueless young wench, who doesn't belong in this era. You two are not destined to be together."

Inuyasha stiffened as Kikyou said these degrating words. "Even... even if that's true, I-I still... want... to be with her."

A flare of anger and hurt flowed through Kikyou's clay being. Her eyes flashing with hatred and betrayal once more because of him; this same hanyou.

"Inuyasha, if you wish to betray me once more, I'll see to it you never find your place in this world again!" Arching her bow at the young hanyou, she was determined. Determined to leave this hanyou to the depths of hell.

Inuyasha's expression changed to one of shock and anger. He stepped back, waiting for her arrow to pierce him once again. 'I can't die. I can't leave Kagome all alone. She'll fucking kill me if I do!' (( O.o ;;))

Kikyou immediately released her arrow. Inuyasha began to think of all his recent memories... until another arrow intervened Kikyou's.

Both Kikyou and Inuyasha turned to the direction of the arrow's origin. Slowly, Kagome emerged from behind the thick shrubbery, her bow in hand, ready for a fight.

Gomen nasai for this chappie being so short.. it's not really fair to ma reviewerswho've beenhaving to wait so very long. But I guess it's better than nothing.. --;; I really need to supress ma goddamn procrastination and work harder. Mind you, I do have marching band practice every week, and I'm going on vacation and to band camp later this summer.. unfortunately I do have a life away from ma computer.. --;;;

Well ja ne!

Love,

Yume