Separation

"Inu-Yasha! You're not being fair. I want to return to my own time."

"Keh."

Kagome diverted her eyes from him. She told herself she was too mad at Inu-Yasha to cry, but she felt the tears welling up.

"Oi, Kagome…"

At the sound of her name, she closed her eyes and diverted her head further from him. Tears squeezed past her tightly closed eyes and streamed down her face.

Inu-Yasha sighed. I hate it when she cries.

"Fine, go" Inu-Yasha caved.

"What?" Kagome questioned Inu-Yasha. He caved?

"Go on." Inu-Yasha repeated himself before he mumbled beneath his breath "You know I hate it when you cry."

"I wouldn't cry if you'd just let me go home every now and then."

"I'd let you go but you don't come back."

"Maybe I don't want to come back!" Kagome snapped.

Inu-Yasha closed his mouth slowly after her accusation. Her comment hurt. She doesn't want to spend time with me? He released a low, barely audible growl to let her know he wasn't happy.

"…And don't follow me!" Kagome stormed off.

Inu-Yasha wanted to run after her and hold her in his time until she explained her bad mood or at least changed her mind. He couldn't move; she'd told him not to. Instead, he simply balled up his hands into tight fists digging his claws into his palms. He felt his own blood run through his fingers.

"Wow Inu-Yasha, Kagome looks really mad. What'd you say?"

"Nothing." Inu-Yasha snapped Miroku.

"Well… Where's she going?" Miroku asked.

"Home" Inu-Yasha stated in a defeated tone.

Inu-Yasha forcefully removed his sharp claws from his soft flesh. He couldn't believe how defeated he felt. One sentence was all it took. The only thing that could've hurt worse would have been 'I hate you.' …She'd meant what she'd said.

He walked off into the woods. He knew he needed to calm down and then …go after her.

"Wow… What happened?" Shippo asked creeping up behind Miroku.

"Kagome wanted to go home for awhile." Miroku stated calmly to the kid.

"That's not what I'm talking about." Shippo rephrased. "I've never seen Inu-Yasha that upset. He dug his claws deep into his hands. I was afraid he'd kill me if I said anything."

Kagome leapt through the well mumbling her rage to herself. "Stupid Dog-Demon. I should have sat him while I had the chance. I can't believe his nerve."

"Kagome, you're home!" Her mother announced racing out to meet her.

"Yeah." Kagome replied being embraced by her mother.

"And how long are you staying this time?" Her mother stated stroking Kagome's hair.

"Awhile, I suppose. I'm sure Inu-Yasha won't want me to come back anytime soon." Kagome diverted her head shamefully. "I …bit his head off."

Inu-Yasha sat up in his favorite tree on his favorite branch. He curled up in a ball tucking his knees beneath his chin. He turned his bloody hand over glancing at the healing wound. He'd dug his claws deeper into his palms than he'd originally thought. His short-temper had gotten the better of him and now his hands would take awhile to heal. '…How does Kagome always manage to push my buttons like that? She definitely has my demon temperament. If I didn't know her better, I would have swore she was at least quarter demon.' He licked his pointer finger cleaning off the blood. His hands were covered in the sticky crimson liquid and it was drying so he quickly cleaned them off as well. His wounds were still fresh but at least they weren't pouring blood like before. He decided if his hands were healing than it was time to heal his and Kagome's relationship. He fell from the tree.

Landing in a crouched ball, he noticed his so called friends. Miroku and Shippo were waiting for him at the bottom; neither one said a word. Inu-Yasha ignored them and casually walked to the well while Miroku and Shippo cautiously followed him. Placing one hand on the edge, Inu-Yasha eased himself over to the other side. He disappeared into the well leaving behind only a bloody handprint.

"Inu-Yasha didn't care that we watched him go after Kagome?" Shippo asked puzzled.

Miroku answered. "I don't think Inu-Yasha is to blame for Kagome wanting to leave."

"Well what about his hand?" Shippo asked pointing out the bloody handprint on the edge of the well.

"Kagome will figure it out soon enough. Let's get back to Kaede's."

"Kagome!" Someone else yelled across the yard.

Kagome spun around to come face to face with some guy in a black outfit as the two golden eyes peered suspiciously from the well house.

Kagome spun around coming face to face with Hojou.

"Hello Hojou. What are you doing here?"

"I heard you were sick again and I brought you a few things. They're supposed to help."

"Well…thank you, but you didn't have to…"

"Nonsense. You're ill so I will care for you. Now why don't we go inside? You really shouldn't be out …being this ill…"

Kagome gave a brief smile. She WAS tired from fighting with Inu-Yasha all day and she didn't have the energy to fight him as well.

The well house door shut softly. Inu-Yasha backed against the well then sat down leaning against it for the support. The well had always been kind to him, even when fate had not. Maybe she meant what she said and …doesn't want to come back. Kagome…I'm …I'm sorry for upsetting you …and following you… BUT I …I must hear you tell me to 'leave'…once and for all.
Kagome hurried inside her house and shoed Hojou off. If Inu-Yasha did follow her then she didn't want to endanger Hojou.

Kagome was beginning to feel guilty about yelling at Inu-Yasha. She didn't mean to bite his head off. She just needed some time apart. "Momma… When Inu-Yasha and I fought today it was over traveling home through the well. He said I was slow and wouldn't come back so I told him that maybe I didn't want to come back. I didn't mean it. I was angry with him. Momma, what do I do?"

"Well Kagome, that was rude of you."

Kagome whispered. "I know Momma. What do I do?"

"Be your loveable self." Her mother answered wrapping her arms around her daughter.

Kagome sighed.

She went to her room, bathed and changed, then reported back downstairs for dinner.

Meanwhile, Inu-Yasha sat in the well house thinking of all the things he'd done 'wrong' in her presence. The more he thought, the more it tore him up inside. He clinched his fists consequently grazing his claws against the scabbing flesh of his palms. He realized that he'd just blamed himself and his palms were now paying for that.

He missed her already but was afraid to find out the truth about her departure. What if she has had enough of me?

Her words came back to him 'maybe I don't want to return.'

What if she really didn't want to return? What would happen then?

Inu-Yasha impulsively bound through her window. It's empty. Where is she? Her scent's fresh. Obviously she'd just been there. Where could she have gone? And when is she coming back? Inu-Yasha was disappointed with her absence, but strangely relieved, now he had time to think about what he was going to say when he ran into her again.

Time passed and Inu-Yasha got bored. He thought about going back to the feudal era but his insecurity of her return weighed heavily on his mind. At the thought of her not coming back, Inu-Yasha curled up into a safe little ball and drifted off.

"Good night Souta. Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite."

"I'm not little anymore, Kagome. I can take care of myself." Souta stated proudly banging his right fist against his chest.

"Okay" Kagome stated with a smile. "Do you want me to tuck you in?"

"Would you?"

"Sure" Kagome concluded following Souta to his room.