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((Ni Ayamari-At Fault))
Inuyasha somberly flapped the shoji door open and walked past Sango and Kaede like a shadow, disturbing some drapes, hanging over the window. Sango jumped up and snatched at the hanyou's red kimono, looking at him with the slightest bit of suspicion, and raising a thin eyebrow.
"Where have you been? And where is Kagome?" She forced, pulling on his flaming garment with each word.
Inuyasha threw her offending hand from his clothes and snarled at her threateningly. She wasn't going to go prying into his life with her incommoding questions and actions.
"Where I've been is none of your business...as for Kagome...I haven't an idea." He scowled, low and dangerous, "Now if you don't mind I'll be on with my day."
Sango stumbled backwards to the floor in shock. Usually Inuyasha did not like to speak of his problems...but he was never like this, he was commonly stubborn, but never did he just, be so calm and collected about it. He only acted like this when he was with Kikyou...
Sango gasped, "Inuyasha! How could you! You were with that dried up mud cake again weren't you!" She shouted pointedly.
'Sango...that was not wise child...you know of the remaining love for my younger sister that Inuyasha has...' Kaede thought, reflecting on the past.
Inuyasha's eyes got larger and his skin seemed to boil. He suddenly found himself gripping Sango's shirt in unsuppressed rage. He began to shake her and verbally abuse her in ways that even Sesshomaru himself would cower before him.
"Don't you EVER talk about Kikyou like that, in my presence AGAIN, do you understand me? I will personally take your throat out and feast on it! GET IT?" Inuyasha gasped at his own words...he unceremoniously plopped Sango on the tarnished hardwood floor as he poured his body onto the smooth surface, "Sango---I--I'm sorry. I didn't mean it..don't know what came over me..." he somberly mumbled.
Sango wiped the angry tears from her eyes and stood up, confidant that her feelings wouldn't cave in. She glared at the hanyou and brushed the wrinkles from her clothing.
"Inuyasha...why did you have to do that to Kagome? Have you lost your senses...you told her you loved her!" she began, calmly, still straightening the stubborn creases, "Oh great look now you've made a tear!" she fumed.
Inuyasha flinched and stared disbelieving at her.
"You knew?" he questioned timidly, blushing a furious shade of red.
Sango threw her arms out, "Do you think she would keep her love secret? Kagome loves you more than life itself! And what do you do? You were caught with that...thing..Kikyou. I'm sorry Inuyasha, hate to break it to you but, she's dead. She stopped loving you fifty years ago. Kagome will never stop loving you!" She stopped abruptly in pain for her best friend.
"Sh-She did love me? But I thought the reason she didn't answer my question was because she didn't want to be my mate." he clamped his mouth shut with his hand, 'Please...tell me she didn't hear that! Kuso!' he took a breath and held it.
"Wh-what? You asked her to be your mate! And then you went with Kikyou! Kami! You're even more repulsive than I thought, you mule!---" she shrilled.
But the thoughts of Inuyasha drifted to just a few hours ago..Kagome...
The pain in her eyes when she saw him and Kikyou together..if only she knew what he was trying to do...comparing them? Was that it? He didn't want to think about it..he was being repulsive. It killed him to think that Kagome was somewhere out there, because of him. He wondered where she was..if she was alright. He brought his hand up slowly to his marred cheek that now...had a good size bruise on it.
'Kuso, she can throw...' he winced, as Sango went on with her rambling and shouting about how much of a pig that Inuyasha is.
"HEY! Are you even listening to me!" She scoffed her annoyance.
Inuyasha smirked evilly, "Actually..no." He tucked his arms in the sleeves of his kimono. It was then, after her anger subsided, that Sango noticed the puncture.
"What happened there?" she leaned down and attempted to brush her thumb over to feel it, but her hand was instantly thrown away.
"Don't touch it you idiot!" he roared, covering his scrape with his hand.
Sango arched her eyebrow and considered her question again. This time with more vigor and sweetness.
"It's none of your business wench!" Lately, nothing was nobody's business. It was just the way it was, though. There was nothing important about the scratch and certainly wasn't anything to brag about. Actually, it was kind of embarrassing, being injured, even the slightest, by a woman. He blushed.
"What is it with you!" Sango tossed her arms in utter frustration.
'Kagome...where are you? What have I done?' He held the tiny half of the jewel in the palm of his hand and sighed, 'I'll make it up to you...I promise.'
"And, don't call me a wench, I was simply asking Inuyas--" Inuyasha clamped a clawed hand over her running mouth, "Do you ever SHUTUP?" he hissed.
The tai-jya huffed and went to retrieve her neko-youkai from the next room.
'Baka, Inuyasha!' she fumed.
"Keh!" He lept out of the hut and into the nearest tree, folding his kimono sleeves over his hands, sulking.
"Why am I sitting here worrying over Kagome? Kikyou never got into any kind of trouble, and if she did, she always got out of it by herself." he mumbled to himself, thinking that no one heard him.
Sango continued to stroke her cat and spoke to Kaede without looking up.
"Will Inuyasha ever follow his heart instead of breaking others?" she pondered somberly.
Kaede sipped a weak measure from her tea before replying, "When Inuyasha learns not to toil with a woman's heart, I do not know. All I know is he needs to---"
"He won't get the chance..." Miroku stroked the straw door open, tears falling even still, on his red, puffy cheeks. He found him a seat on the floor and slumped to the ground.
"What do you mean, houshi? What happened to you?" A concerned Sango declared, running to his side.
Kaede calmly wandered over to Miroku with a slight knowing in her eyes, "And what has happened to the child, Kagome?"
Miroku took a deep, longing, shaky breath before finally getting the bearings to speak, "Kagome..she had a conflict with Inuyasha, though I don't know exactly what happened, I do know that it had something to do with Kikyou..she's never been this desperate.." He bowed his head in remorse, "She will not be mortified any longer.." He hesitated to wipe his head. He felt so childish to feel this way about a loved one passing to the next life. But whatever god watched over the dead, he hoped Kagome was being taken to a better place. Far away from this horrible world.
Kaede's eyes widened visibly, "Young monk, you don't mean..?"
He curled his head into his hands and rubbed his face in grief, and guilt, "Hai, Lady Kagome..has fallen to her death. Sumimasen..." (I am sorry)
The heart of the room stopped as he spoke those words. Gasps and sputters from Sango and the rustling of tree limbs and the soft "thump" of padded feet on the soft earth were heard around the foundation.
"WHAT? Tell me monk, that you were bantering with me! PLEASE!" He disorderly began to search through the house screaming her name and throwing objects.
The red-eyed monk slowly turned to peer at the pain-stricken hanyou. Why should he feel remorse? He was the one that caused it! He found himself unconsciously walking to Inuyasha with a look that would make a volcano erupt, "You have ears you filthy dog. Your so-called love for her didn't last very long did it? Did you want to hurt her? Does it make you feel better about losing Kikyou? Well, while you were out there somewhere with the priestess, she was thinking about you! Kagome found you with Kikyou again! Give it up Inuyasha, Kikyou stopped loving anyone when she died. She just wants someone to rot in hell with her. To share her undying misery! She is USING you Inuyasha! And still you care more for her than for the one who truly loves you!" He spat viciously at Inuyasha.
"I-I didn't know.." He hoarsly whispered.
Miroku glowered dangerously at him, "Well now you do! There's a lesson learned here Inuyasha! Perhaps, you were too selfish and childish to see!" He gripped, white knuckled, at Inuyasha's fire rat kimono and shook him violently, "Why hurt Kagome as you do? Why Kikyou! She's dead, Inuyasha, and now, so is Kagome! BASTARD!" Miroku jammed a fist into Inuyasha's face, making sure to catch him with his prayer beads. Continuously beating his face in, until a frightened Sango pulled him off, wiping fresh tears from her eyes.
"Miroku! Stop!" she pleaded with vigor, until he finally pulled himself off of Inuyasha, reluctantly.
"I don't know WHAT she saw in you Inuyasha!" He scoffed, straightening the cloth that covered his cursed hand, and placing his beads correctly, "But whatever it was, she was the most trusting, patient, and kind person I had ever known. She stood by your side, fought with you, and she always came back from her time to see you. She wondered for your safety when you were away. She cried for you when you were hurt, or sick when you were human. And she showed the best of patience when you being a jerk..But it's when she understood when you went to Kikyou, that perplexed me most..but now I understand! If you love something, you have to let it go, no matter what. She loved you! She waited for you to come back! She waited!" he shuddered and fell to the grass.
"Miroku--" Sango whispered.
"Shhh child." Kaede placed a wise hand on Sango's shoulder. If indeed, Miroku had all of this anger dwelling inside of him, then it needed to be resolved. Though she wondered if the group would still be friends after this.
"Why could you not accept her?..." he limply let his arms fall to his sides, "I would have.." He whispered lowly, keeping his eyes focused on the green grass below him.
Inuyasha's sensitive ears twitched, "Miroku, I didn't know that you had feelings for Kagome.." the hanyou threw at him.
The enraged houshi snapped his head to Inuyasha and shot him a malicious glare, "I mourn for my best friend...And you have the mind to give me sarcasm about her..you despicable beast!" he said deadly calm.
"Keh!" He spat blood on the ground and wiped his blood trickling nose.
Sango fumed jealously, 'How dare he say that...' Her face reddened and she launched her entire being at him, "Inuyasha...Kagome...SHE'S DEAD!" as she made an attempt to strike him, tears flowing from her eyes, blurring her vision. He simply held her arms and controlled her hands and feet, "Sango..listen to me...WAH!..." He dodged a swinging leg, "NO! I don't want to listen to a word you say Inuyasha! Kagome's dead! She's dead! And it's all your fault! Your...fault." She fell onto the chest of the hanyou in emptied strength, "She's...gone." she began to wail and sob, uncontrollably.
Inuyasha wrapped a comforting arm around his friend and sat up. Sango pulled away and wiped her tears away, but unfortunately, they just never halted, so she ceased her attempts. She couldn't think of a time when she would stop crying over her friend. It depressed her.
"Inuyasha, she's gone..my best friend, my sister for life, she is gone because of your selfish desires." she stuttered and hiccuped, "It's all your fault."
Inuyasha had, had, enough, "LISTEN! I'm sorry, so sorry! If I could change it, without a second thought, I would. I would change my actions, love her unconditionally, and not jump to foolish conclusions. But most of all, I would have not betrayed her so...I know I can't change it, Miroku, Sango," he paused to glance at his friends, "but I can promise everyone one thing." He softly compromised, feeling a sharp lump rise in his throat.
Sango and Miroku, both, looked at him intently, waiting silently. It wasn't everyday that Inuyasha suddenly decided to accept, and admit to his failures.
They witnessed as he ran his tongue over his lips, softly swiping the crimson liquid from them, and then wiping his stinging face with the kimono sleeves, turning the cloth a darker shade of red in the spots that it streaked across, "I can promise both of you, and the whole village, that I will never love again as I have loved Kagome. Not Kikyou, not ever." He slowly but surely switched his gaze to the onlooking couple.
Sango wasn't swayed so easily, as she folded her arms in front her, "How can I trust you?" she raised an eyebrow and tapped her foot.
Inuyasha was taken aback, "HEY! I am a man of my word! Especially when it comes to Kagome." He pouted.
"Do you so solemnly swear?" Miroku implied, looking up from the ground, one arm resting on his bended knee, one arm behind him, supporting the rest of his body.
Inuyasha nodded in agreement, "I promise."
They sat there watching each other for a while, glaring icicles into each other's brains.
'He's lying.' Miroku concocted.
'I bet he thinks I'm lying!' Inuyasha differed, looking at the working face of Miroku.
"You're lying, Inuyasha!"
"I'M NOT LYING!" They both said their lines at the same time, jumping up from the ground, staring, lightning sparking between them.
"I bet the first chance you get, you're going to go running to Kikyou!"
"Am not!"
Miroku backed from Inuyasha and raised his hands, "Fine, you're ruining the last chance you have at loving someone."
"WHA? Listen MIROKU, If you knew the first thing about me is that I don't go snooping around," he pointed accusingly at the unimpressed houshi, "unlike a certain MONK I know!"
"EH?" he gripped the front of Inuyasha's garb and fisted it, "Don't SAY that! You and I both know that I love---" He choked on his words.
Inuyasha smirked brilliantly, "So monk, you've finally fessed up, hmm? Keh! I knew it...you both are nothing but sorry saps." he sighed, laughing heartily.
Sango, by then, had put her fingers on her forehead in amusement, 'Men..' she cleared her throat loudly, putting her hands on her hips, she walked over to the conflicting boys and grabbed Miroku and Inuyasha by the ears, "Inuyasha, I don't exactly know when I won't be mad at you, but I know it will take a while, so please, keep the memory of our Kagome alive with us, please. It will do the whole hut some good." she said, dragging Miroku along to the hut. Inuyasha nodded and sighed deeply turning from the hut.
"I need a walk." He murmured, waving to them slightly before heading down the path that lead throughout the village.
As he walked by a house, there stood a woman. She was tending to the fields, while talking to her son. He pretended not to be interested in what they were saying..but he listened intently as he strolled by..
"Hey mommy! There's Inuyasha...hmmm..where's the pretty lady that's always with him?" The small boy exclaimed, pointing at the hanyou passing by.
"No, no honey, it's not polite to point! I don't know Kagome is, dear, but I bet she is in Lady Kaede's hut." the woman affirmed, plucking a pestering weed from the ground.
"Oooo! Mommy! Mommy! Can I go see her? Can I?" the young boy declared excitedly.
Inuyasha's heart stopped. Kagome was the Older Sister to all of the village children, it would kill them to know that she was gone. Forever...but there would come a time when the news would spread throughout the village and soon, all of Japan.
"No dear, you need to help me pick these...WEEDS.." she grunted as she pulled, with much effort, a stubborn stalk of milkweed from her prized crop.
"Awww...ok..." he pouted, bending next to his mother and placing each of his feet next to the plant, on either side, and tugging.
That was the last that he heard, for he went around the corner, to face the sea and shining horizon, as the sight of the retreating sun was his eyesight. This brought him back, to the place...the place where he asked Kagome to be his life mate..and then shoved it in her face. He scoffed himself. The hanyou would have to live the rest of his life knowing that he broke his love's heart, so bad it killed her...inside and out.
"Kagome...I know you probably can't hear me...but I'm sorry..and I love you..and I'll love you forever." He allowed hidden tears to flow softly down his toned, emotionless face. But his deep golden eyes told anyone what kind of pain he was enduring..and would endure for the rest of his life, until he joined Kagome in the skies.
((End Chapter))
AWW poor Inuyasha!
YAY! A new chapter completed! And longer! Yay! don't worry! Everything will be explained and told of the whereabouts of Kagome in the next chappie! Hehe! But until then plz review! (huggle)
Kagome-Inuyasha09