He sighed while sitting on a rock, golden eyes narrowed at the dirt below his cursed feet. The feet that, despite their hardest efforts, gave him no aid in the battle freshly escaped. It was his fault, all of it. And he knew it, but he couldn't accept it. He couldn't accept that it was his fault his friends were now dead, now eternally resting in the realm of the gods. Why did it have to happen that way, though? He was powerless to do anything, for his sword, supposedly the protector of man, couldn't help him save the ones he loved. In fact...it would have been him who had slaughtered them if he had used it.

It was a while before the sun had set, the hanyou's eyes closing while he made himself comfortable in that little hut, the one who belonged to Kikyou's sister Kaede in the territory of Musashi. He was so tired, but at the same time he could not bring himself to sleep. No, all he could think about was that horrid, horrid event, the one that affected him so. Miroku, Sango, Shippou, Kirara...all of them were gone. And then...Kagome and Kikyou, both of them had perished as well! How could he possibly have let that happen! However, the demon's exhaustion finally overcame him, and soon enough he had drifted off into slumber. It wasn't a peaceful rest however, for he had dreams that replayed the events in his mind.

"Inuyasha..." The name echoed in his mind as he hurried past several shadowed trees in the treacherous miasma. He could her calls, the calls of the one he had loved fifty years ago. Also, silvery-white ears twitched to pick up the sounds of voices behind, the voices of his friends. This would be their final confrontation with Naraku, the one that would at last destroy the menace who had affected so many. Then, Kikyou could finally rest in peace, Miroku would have a normal right hand, and Sango would be reunited with her lost brother Kohaku! Not to mention that he'd have his revenge on the bastardous baboon-pelted freak for what he had done so long ago to the elder priestess and himself.

"Kikyou!" The hanyou finally reached the battle sight, although the scene that took his eyes was not at all pleasant. It was a loud cry of his name that made the dog-like appendages twitch once more, followed by the sound of his own footsteps rushing to the nearby cliff side. It was the priestess, plummeting down the cliff and towards the rocks and crashing waves. He was about to have her town away, the last word out of her mouth was a desperate cry of his name, followed by words that should have been spoken so long ago.

"Inuyasha...I love you..."

Soon after the sickening crack of her body hitting the rocks, that very body sank into the ocean below, leaving her blood to litter the waters with crimson. Not only did the blood litter the waters, but it also littered the only remain of her ever existing that managed to come to the surface. Her bow. "Kik-you..." The name escaped his lips as an almost-white veil of silver hid wide, golden eyes, ears perking once more at the sadistic laughter of the one who did this and at the cries of his friends fighting that very demon.

Eyes narrowing, Inuyasha pulled the Tetsusaiga from its sheath and charged at the demon that had done all of these horrid things, a curse of the word 'bastard' leaving him as he prepared himself to strike. However, the hanyou's golden pools widened at the sight before him. All five of his companions had been captured by the main body, all of their weapons on the ground and their bodies being held close to Naraku's vessel.

"What will you do now, Inuyasha?" Smirking at the one before him, the branches pressed and tightened around the captives, causing each one in turn to sound their individual screams. "All of your friends are in my grasp. You could kill me now using that Wind Scar of yours, but...you wouldn't risk their lives, would you?"

This prompted a growl from the dog-eared demon, which caused a chuckle to come from his enemy. Just then, rather suddenly...

Shippo. Sango. Miroku. Kirara. All four had been torn to shreds by the branches that had been restraining them, leaving only Kagome living in the monster's grasp. "Inuyasha! Help me!" The girl cried out for the hanyou's assistance, though her cry escalated into a scream, she managed to stop screaming to speak out three vital words, the three that would be her last, just as Kikyou had spoken.

"I love you."

That was it. She was dead. Remains of her tattered clothing and flesh were surrounding Naraku, along with those of his other companions. "No..." An immense pressure began to build up in Inuyasha's chest; it took all of his effort to hold back a choking sob. He had just lost everyone important to him, and here was Naraku, chuckling darkly as he collected the fallen shards of the Shikon no Tama effortlessly.

"Always the fool, Inuyasha. You should have killed me, rather than stalling for Kikyou. All you did was witness her death, something you couldn't do fifty years ago."

Inuyasha, however, had been fighting back his emotions to glare at Naraku, right before giving out a mighty cry, "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" His words shone out as he aimed his attack for Naraku, although easily he was hit by a flailing branch and sent flying into a tree.

"Inuyasha, I shall let you live for today. After all, you are broken. I shall kill you physically once you see my full demon form, the thing I have achieved. Your loved ones failed to stop me, and you are honored enough to witness that failure."

It was midnight when he woke back up, the red-clad demon sitting up and heaving for breath. It was a dream; the concept almost brought a smile to Inuyasha's lips as he raced around the village, hoping to see those familiar faces. However... heart fallen at the fact that the event did indeed happen and that his kimono was still covered in their blood, he ended up racing away from the village. Nothing could bring them back, and it was entirely his fault!

At long last, he collapsed in the middle of the clearing where the bone-eater's well resided. Soon enough he was on all fours, pounding his fist into the ground, a curse of 'Damn it!' with each punch. The force was enough to make nearby birds go flying, but not only that...it was enough to shake tears from his tightly shut eyes. Why did it have to happen...? Why did he have to lose everything just because of someone else's lust for the Shikon no Tama!

"Inu-yasha..."

Freezing at the hesitant voice behind him, the demon stood up and cast his gaze to the ground, not bothering to turn to the man who had spoken his name. He knew who it was, after all. "Come to kill me because I couldn't protect Kagome, Kouga? I should have suspected as much," He said with great bitterness, though this was not directed towards the said wolf. No, it was directed at himself, he wanted to die.

"You really are an idiot if you're saying that," Kouga growled out, approaching Inuyasha until he was in front of said red-clad demon, using a clawed hand to forcefully tilt his chin up to a scornful face, "Kagome would have wanted you to finish the job, grieving and wishing yourself dead won't help anyone. Or are you really so worthless that you won't even try anymore?"

"Shut up!" Hissing, Inuyasha backed away from the man before him, his right hand swiftly moving to grip the Tetsusaiga, "You couldn't protect her either, you weren't even there to help!"

"I would have been, but that damned Jakotsu was in my way!"

"That's a typical excuse, fleabag! You still didn't do squat!"

"Why you damned mutt-face! Get outta my face before I change my mind about murdering you!"

"That's fine with me!" That being said, Inuyasha began to walk calmly towards the nearby lake, intending to bathe and to get the blood out of his clothing. Still...part of that comment Kouga had said hurt him. The hanyou didn't know why, it just did. He let out a sigh as he shed his clothing, eyes capturing the sunlight rather well. A day already since they had died...

Soon enough he allowed the cold waters to wash over his form, shuddering as it affected his entire body. But, it was the only way he could get clean, and get the stench of blood off of him. It was beginning to make him feel light-headed now. Although, his bath would have to wait, for he froze upon hearing a twig cracking. Standing and stark naked, Inuyasha got down onto all fours, sniffing out the intruder as he approached the area where the sound had come from.

Victory pummeled through his system as the sound of a body creeping away could be heard, but that wasn't enough for him. No, he had to scare the poor person who had decided to come and bother him now. However, what he had seen startled Inuyasha into silence, his lithe form tense and not moving. It was Kouga, pressed against a tree, wide-eyed and blush plastered onto his cheeks.

Almost eternity to Inuyasha passed while his face heated a terrible amount, right before he shook and ran, diving straight back into the water. Had Kouga been spying on him while he was bathing?