Hello guys! Suaru here. Now this is a story written by a good friend of mine. I read it and decided that a sequel must be written, so I volunteered. The first chapter is Micayasha's original story and the second is one version of the sequel. The third chapter, which is not finished, yet will be the other version. So sit back get some tissues and enjoy Micayasha's story titled "Salty Sting".

Salty Sting

By: Micayasha

My God, you guys, I actually had tears in my eyes while I was writing this. This must never happen!

R/R.

It had been a long time since he had cried.

So very long… the last time he had cried… A long time since he had felt that salty sting…

When had it been? When he was a child, surely. Perhaps when those villagers had played keep-away with his ball, leaving him with the words, "Dirty half-breed"? Or had it been when Sesshomaru had told him that Father hated him, because he was a half-demon? Maybe that time when his mother had cried for him, or when she herself had died.

Yes, Inuyasha had had a lot of sad things happen in his life… and yet…

Nothing seemed to compare to this.

He stared down at the gravestone. Had it really only been one month since her death? It seemed like so much longer. Like years, and years, even decades or centuries, had passed since she had last laughed at him, smiled that bright, cheery smile, even—Kami-sama, he even missed the feeling of cold, packed dirt slamming into his face. Missed the sound of her irritatingly shrill, "I'm going home!" Missed everything about her.

Sango had cried, Shippo had bawled his eyes out, and Miroku had shed his own tears, at night, when he believed no one was watching. He wanted to be strong—had to be strong. For Sango.

Miroku knew Sango was a strong woman, capable of taking care of herself. But she did not want to care for herself, right now. She only wanted to curl up in her betrothed's arms and cry until she was unable to cry any more.

His finger traced the simple engravings on the tombstone. He had dictated this marking… The last resting place of the great miko Higurashi Kagome, daughter, sister, friend, surrogate mother, and beloved. 1989—2004.

When Naraku had killed her, he had seen the sheen of tears in everyone's eyes, but the strangest feeling had been the sting of his own, and the trickle, almost itchy feeling, of first one tear, then another, running down his cheek to fall to the ground.

"Why did you have to leave me, Kagome?"

And he did not even have the comfort of a vow to avenge her death. No, Koga had done that. While Inuyasha had been mourning, barely able to move from grief, Koga had gone into a fit of rage and killed Naraku. Not without taking the three shards that Kagome had held in life, of course. Five shards and he had been a match for Naraku, especially on the night that Naraku had weakened his barriers, chosen as the night he lost his demonic powers.

I loved her, he thought.

His mind screamed in agony, his heart wilted, died. His whole body was numb, and he felt a warm droplet on his chin—blood. His fang had been gripping his lip. He didn't feel any pain. After all, hadn't he had punch holes through his gut? Hadn't he had slashes across his arms and legs? Bruises and burns and broken bones?

But that was not the reason he felt no pain.

Numb. He was numb, and his heart was shredded.

In a hoarse whisper, he repeated, "I loved her."

The pain of his mind was echoed by the screams that tore from his mouth and filled the night.

"And I never even got to tell her."

Yes, it had been a very long time since he had felt that salty sting in his eyes.

Hey, guys, be nice, this is my first attempt at angst… so, how did I do:'( So sad! Anyways, let me know if you want a sequel. Sarah (co-writer, Daughters of the Inu) is sitting next to me, badgering me to write a sequel with… well, I won't ruin the surprise. But let me know, OK?

Tearfully yours,

XOXO

Micayasha

So there ya go guys! The first part in a three-part story! Now go read the second chapter and try to refrain from killing us! The third part will be happier than the first two! We promise!

Also tearfully yours,

Luv and hugs!

Suaru