Not meant to Be

Kagome walked behind Inuyasha exhausted from walking all day as her feet felt like lead. She sharply looked up as she felt a demonic aura, above the tree tops Kikyo's soul collectors were circling.

"We'll make camp now" Inuyasha said, abruptly halting. He then walked off into the forest and found an abandoned cave where he left the rest of the group. Kagome watched as he took to the trees.

'He's going to see Kikyo again' she thought sadly.

Sango and Miroku watched Kagome sigh in sadness and return to rummaging through her yellow bag.

"Do you think she'll be alright?" Sango whispered to Miroku.

"I really don't know Sango, she has always been cheerful but now she looks like a whole other person" Miroku sighed.

"I know and it's all Inuyasha's fault" Sango said, anger evident in her voice.

"Yes and I have a feeling that Inuyasha don't have a clue as to what he is doing to her."

"I'm going to give him a piece of my mind when he returns!"

"Hey guys, Shippo and I are going to get us some more water," Kagome said as her and Shippo walked to the cave entrance.

"Be careful!" Sango shouted at their retreating forms.

"Kagome? Inuyasha and Kikyo are at the river" Shippo whispered in her ear, as he smelled the scent of decaying dirt and bones.

"Maybe we should go back" she said turning to leave.

"But we need water Kagome."

"Ok, maybe they are gone now" she said hopefully as she turned back around and began walking towards the stream. She moved the branches of a bush aside as she heard voices. Inuyasha was standing with Kikyo in his embrace just as he had held her three nights ago.

"Do you love my reincarnate?" Kikyo asked turning around and facing Kikyo.

"No, she is only a jewel detector. I love only you Kikyo."

"Is she more beautiful than I?" Kikyo asked knowing Kagome was watching.

"No, that would be like comparing a rose to a stone, you are a much more beautiful person and wiser woman than she could ever be" he said as pulling her back into his arms.

"Will you retrieve the rest of my soul so that I may live again?"

"Soon, after the rest of the jewel shards are collected."

"Why not tonight? I can sense the jewel fragments, be rid of her tonight."

"I..I don't know Kikyo..."

Kagome slowly crept back, her eyes wide with fear and sadness.

"Kagome?" Shippo whispered.

"Shippo, I-I must leave, go back and tell Sango and Miroku."

"Will I ever see you again?" Shippo asked with tears in his eyes.

"I don't know my son, now run" Kagome set Shippo on the ground then watched as he ran back to the cave. Kagome could hear that Inuyasha and Kikyo were departing, making her even more frightened that Inuyasha could find her. She ran once again through the dark forest dropping her backpack and tripping over logs and tree roots. When she could run no more she collapsed against a tree gasping for air until she regained her breath. Her fear and sadness finally consumed her heart and mind as she wept silently in the night.

'I'm going home, I can't come back here ever again.'

'So you're running away?' her conscious asked.

'Yes.'

'What about the remaining Jewel shards?'

'Inuyasha and Kikyo will find them.'

'It's your duty, your responsibility.'

'I don't care anymore.'

'You do, stay here and find them.'

'No, Inuyasha will kill me.'

'Don't go back to him.'

'Leave! I don't want to hear it!'

'Stay here!'

"Leave me alone!" Kagome screamed out loud. She slowly got up on her feet and began walking east towards the bone eater's well.