A/N: Now after that EVIL chapter, we need to set a few things straight. Kags and Inu still love each other, its just that the evil dude wanted them to think that they couldn't be together for…various reasons. They both love each other, and they know the other loves them, they just think that they might be in a lose/lose situation wit their so called "forbidden" love. (It's a bunch of BS. It's what the bad guy WANTS them to think.)

Chapter 20: A Rift

The rain drizzled down as Kagome walked towards Goshinboku. She didn't care that she was getting wet. She just needed to go somewhere. To get out.

Things between her and Inuyasha hadn't exactly been the best. It was worse than fighting…it was life a rift was developing between them. No longer could they look at one another and instantly tell what the other was thinking. Kagome didn't know when the last time Inuyasha had told her he loved her. It was like they were becoming strangers, rather than mates.

Inuyasha…please…I wish it wasn't this way…

She closed her eyes as a tear came down her cheek. I feel so guilty…I never wanted to have these dreams…and now…he's mad at me because of them…

Why is it that right after we finally settle down…everything bad happens? Why can't we just live in peace?

Her mind threw an answer at her. Hanyous and humans cannot be together…

NO! she thought. No, I can't believe that…There's nothing wrong with us being together!

But there is…A nasty voice said in the back of her brain. You know there is. Hanyous are half youkai…they have no business being with humans…

BUT WHAT DOES IT MATTER IF IT'S LOVE! She cried in her brain. Holding her head down, she ran towards Goshinboku.

As she parted the bushes, and looked up at the great tree, she thought of how many memories it held. This is where she met Inuyasha…where it all began. Where he proposed to her…Where she was the day Kuro was born. It was a place she could go for comfort, but now she felt sick.

She walked up to it, and placed her hand on the spot where Inuyasha was sealed. Thw wood was wet with the light drizzle. Inuyasha…I can remember the day we met so well…You looked so peaceful…I thought you were sleeping…And it was here…in my time…that I found out I was in love with you…

But…

In my dream…I sealed Inuyasha to Goshinboku…like Kikyou sealed Inuyasha to this tree…But…Kikyou has nothing to do with it! She is dead, at peace…How could what happened to her have any significance with me?

You are her reincarnation. A voice in the back of her brain said. You came here because you are her reincarnation. You fell in love with Inuyasha because you are her reincarnation. And that is why you cannot be with him.

"No…No…I won't believe it!" she said, through teary eyes. "That doesn't matter! It doesn't matter…"

But it does…and you know it…Not because of Kikyou…but because he's a hanyou…But why does him being a hanyou have to matter? Why does it?

Because that's the way it is?

She covered her face with her hands. "Inuyasha…why does it have to be with way?"

"Be what way?" A familiar voice asked.

Kagome gasped and looked up. Inuyasha was sitting in the branches of Goshinboku, and she wondered how she had not noticed him being there. His hair and clothes were soaked, so it was obvious he had been there a long time. "Inu…yasha…"

He jumped down, causing her to step back a bit. "Were you…were you there the whole time?" she asked.

The hanyou paused. "Yes." He answered. He paused. "Where's Kuro?"

Kagome looked down at the muddy ground. "He's taking a nap. Shippou-chan's watching him."

"Good." He said. There was another silence.

He…he must have heard that…"Inuyasha…I…"

"It doesn't matter, I understand." He said, turning away.

"No, wait, Inuyasha!" she begged. She wasn't exactly sure what to say, but she didn't want him to leave.

He turned back at her, and a moment of silence passed between them. "We…we need to talk…" she said.

"We do." He agreed.

She sighed. It was hard to find the right words. What she wanted to do was to run up to him and hug him, and beg for his forgiveness. "Inuyasha…I don't know what to say…but…"

She looked into his amber eyes, but she found no comfort there. He looked at her sadly. Sad…because I've been dreaming about him…

"Inuyasha…I'm sorry."

He blinked. "For what?"

Tears flooded her eyes, making it hard to see with the rain. "For…those dreams…for everything… I'm sorry!"

He stared. "Kagome…you still think I'm mad at you?"

"Aren't you?" she cried. "You haven't spoken to me since last night…"

That's…all she thinks is wrong! "Kagome…that's all?"

"What?" she asked. "What do you mean, 'that's all'?"

"That's what's been bothering you?"

She sniffed, wiping away a tear. "Yes…but it's the truth, isn't it?"

Maybe it was the rain…maybe it wasn't. But for some reason, Inuyasha felt even worse. "No…Kagome, you don't understand…"

"Inuyasha…" she cried. "I'm really, really sorry! I don't want to have these nightmares, I really don't! I don't think you'd ever do anything to hurt me, or Kuro, or anybody, but…I'm sorry!"

He heard enough. He forcefully grabbed her by the shoulders. "Kagome…I know that. I know you know I'd never hurt you, or anyone else as a hanyou…But…what about youkai?"

She looked into his eyes, which were shining from behind his soaked silver bangs. "W-what do you mean?"

He paused. "I mean…what do you think…about me…as a youkai?"

Kagome suddenly couldn't meet his eyes. "Inuyasha…you know I love you, but—"

"Tell me." He demanded, as a clap of thunder came from behind them.

"Inuyasha…I…I…" she said. I don't even know…his youkai side…am I really afraid of it?

Her silence was all he needed. He let go of her. "Keh. Fine." He started walking away.

"No…Inuyasha, please—!" she begged.

"It's doesn't matter!" he said, through the thunder and the loud rain. "It doesn't matter if a part of me disgusts you—"

"It doesn't disgust me!" she cried. "Inuyasha…how could you think that? You know I'd never—"

"Never what Kagome?" he demanded. "Never be afraid of me? Never wake up and realize you made a mistake? Never realize that maybe I'm not worthy of you?"

What? Where did this come from? "Inuyasha…you're…no! Inuyasha, I don't think like that!"

"Then why are you acting like it? What's wrong?" he said, in a slightly harsh tone.

"Inuyasha…I…" she paused, and looked away. "Do you love me?"

He stared. "Where did this come from?"

Kagome turned back at him, with tears shining in her fierce eyes. "DO YOU LOVE ME OR NOT?"

Oh no…now she thinks that…He walked closer. "Kagome…I…"

She didn't look at him. "Inuyasha…if you love me, tell me."

"What? Kagome, what's gotten into you?" He demanded.

"Fine, then! If you don't love me and never did, then DON'T SAY ANYTHING!"

That got him mad. "Kagome, what is your problem? If I didn't love you, don't you think I would have made it obvious a long time ago?"

Before she knew it, words she never expected to say came from her mouth. "How do I know that? How do I know that it hasn't all been a lie, that you didn't just be with me so you could get laid—!"

Before Inuyasha knew what he was doing, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pinned her against a tree, making the back of her yukata soaked. "Listen, you! Whatever's been going on in those dreams, it DOESN'T mean that! How many times do I have to say, "I love you" before you get it?"

She couldn't quite be relieved. "Inuyasha!" she yelled. "Then if you love me and you aren't mad at me, then what's bothering you?"

His eyes suddenly became cold. He released her. "Keh. It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does!" she said. "Inuyasha, please, I'm here to help, what's wrong?"

He clenched his hands into fists. "You think you can understand what's wrong? You can't. You won't ever be able to understand, Kagome."

"Oh really? Try me then!"

He yelled, "I'm a hanyou Kagome! And hanyous don't have anyone! Hanyous aren't supposed to have trust, mates, or children! We have nothing! We are nothing! Not worthy of anything! I'm not even worthy to be here talking to you!"

She stepped back. He…doesn't think he's good enough for me? "Inuyasha…" she said.

"And you! Look what I've done to you! You're so young and you already have to look after a child! It's not supposed to be this way! You don't belong here! You're supposed to be in your world, with a human for you, going to that 'school' instead of being stuck here, as a hanyou's mate! YOU BELONG IN YOUR OWN TIME!"

With that, a hand flew to her mouth, suppressing a gasp. He…he doesn't want me here… "Inu…yasha…" A tear fell down her face.

He realized what he had done. "No…wait…I didn't mean…Kagome…"

She shut her eyes tightly and turned. "Wait…" he said, reaching out his hand. "Kagome!" But she had already gone.

He closed his eyes and leaned his head on Goshinboku, wishing he hadn't said that.

Miles away, the Manipulator of the Shadows laughed. And now…it is time…

A/N: I hated writing this chapter. It just killed me to write. (Oh, the whole "Do you love me or not" thing was because she thought that's what was bothering him. She didn't actually think that. But after he told her she was better off in her time, however...you don't know...) It also killed me Because in the series for so long, they have this great trust in one another, and I'm breaking it...sorta...I feel so...evil...