Chapter 17

"Inuyasha, do you want any fish?" Miroku called. He hasn't moved from that tree for hours. He really isn't going to be alright without her, is he? Inuyasha scowled.

"Keh! I'm fine. I ain't hungry!" he replied. Miroku sighed.

"Inuyasha, you will have to come down eventually to eat. You cannot sit up there forever, sulking at the loss of a friend." Inuyasha glared at him.

"FRIEND! FRIEND! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING YOU LOUSY MONK! GO EAT YOUR FISH AND LEAVE ME ALONE!" he roared. Miroku simply shook his head.

"So you are... not friends, with Kagome? If you aren't, then why are you so upse- oh, my. Oh, my. I'm... i'm so sorry, Inuyasha. I realized that Lady Kagome had feelings for you... I did not realize that you returned them. My apologies." Miroku bowed. Inuyasha snarled, baring a fang.

"Keh! As if, monk." he said. I can't let them know how I feel about her. They'll only see how weak I am... and... since she's gone... there's not point. So she'll never love anyone else, huh? I... I... I don't think I will either. Ironic, I suppose. I'm in love with the reincarnation of the woman who I thought was my love at first.

"Okay, Inuyasha. You win. I won't talk about Lady Kagome anymore." Miroku frowned. I knew it! He does have feelings for her. This... this must be really hard for him. I... I still can't believe that he laid Kikyo to rest, though. He... he really loves Kagome.

Inuyasha had gradually fallen asleep up in a high branch of the God's tree. He had finally given in to the sorrow that drowned his soul, and let a few tears fall for the sake of losing Kagome. He had never cried for Kikyo, and Kikyo had never cried for him. Somehow, Kagome was able to cry for him... and... as much as he hated to admit it, he was finally able to let the tears fall down from his eyes as he sobbed for Kagome. His shoulders shook, and he cried himself into a deep sleep; one that only comes to those who are exhausted. His dreams played on his emotions, causing the poor hanyou to whimper in his sleep.

"Inuyasha... " Kagome called sweetly. "Inuyaaashaaaa..."

"Hm? What is it?" he asked dazily.

"I love you. You know that, right?" she blushed.

"Y-yeah... I know... I... I love you too..." he stammered. Kagome smiled and walked towards him.

"I'm so happy, Inuyasha!" she cried as she threw her arms around his neck.

"I am too, Kagome." he said as he pulled her closer. "I am too."

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked sleepily.

"Yeah?" he asked. Kagome moved her head from his shoulder and looked deeply into his amber eyes. Inuyasha could feel himself moving closer, and closer, until they were merely an inch apart.

"I'm sorry, I have to leave you." she whispered. Inuyasha whined as he tried to keep his hold on her, but her form was disappearing.

"No! Don't go! You can't!" he cried. "I can't lose you!"

"I'm so sorry, Inuyasha... there is no other choice I can make." she replied. Inuyasha jumped at the transparent form in front of him, and fell through to the other side.

"Kagome!" he called, but the girl did not answer. Instead, he watched as she simply faded away from his life right before his eyes.

"KAGOOOOMMMEEE!"

"KAGOOOOOMMMEEEE!" Inuyasha cried as he jolted awake. As soon as he woke, he slammed a fist into the side of the tree. "Why! Why does this have to happen? Why couldn't I have stayed with her?" Inuyasha yelled, unaware that he was being watched. "Why... why couldn't I have realized how I felt sooner?" he whispered. "I love her..."

-----------------------------------------------------------

They could hear the loud rants from the hanyou as he woke up.

"Hm. You sure he said he didn't have feelings for her?" Shippou whined. Miroku just sighed.

"Yes, but you know, Shippou- this is Inuyasha we're talking about. He won't just admit his feelings that easily."

"I suppose you're right." Shippou sighed. "Still, it's kind of sad. He should at least act a bit more mature about it." Shippou's ears twitched, trying to catch what Inuyasha had whispered. Even in only a few months, his skills had increased greatly. His eyes widened with mischief.

"What is it, Shippou?" Sango asked. Shippou laughed.

"I was able to hear what Inuyasha was whispering up there!" he said, proudly puffing out his chest.

"What did he say?" Sango pressed.

"Well, if you must know, he was saying that he wish that he could have figured out that he loved Kagome sooner than he had." Shippou replied. Sango and Miroku just stood there.

"So... he truly does love her." Miroku muttered. Sango just stared at the kitsune in disbelief.

"Wow..."

"YOU KNOW, I CAN HEAR YOU ALL DOWN THERE! MY HEARING'S BETTER THAN THAT STUPID KIT'S! SO SHUT UP AND QUIT LISTENING IN ON ME!" Inuyasha bellowed.

"Come on, Shippou. Let's go get some food." Sango suggested as Miroku and her began to walk back into Kaede's hut. Shippou nodded, and ran into the hut as fast as he could so as to avoid many unwanted bruises.

------------------------------------------------------

Keh! It's none of their business what I feel! Inuyasha's fist connected with the tree again. Kagome... Kagome, I want to see you... Inuyasha looked up from his perch and sniffed the air. Kouga...

"Oi, mutt! Where's Kagome, and when is she comin' back? I can't have my soon-to-be missing all the time!" Kouga yelled. Inuyasha just rolled his eyes.

"What's the matter, wolf? You going all soft?" Inuyasha chuckled. "Kagome ain't coming back! You know that, you stupid wolf. Kagome's sealed the well from her side so that demons like you can't get through to her."

"Liar!" Kouga growled.

"As if! What would I have to gain by lying to you? Other than personal satisfaction... but no, she's not coming back." Inuyasha frowned. "She's... just when we... she's gone."

"Just when you what? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!" Kouga roared.

"NOTHING!" Inuyasha hollared. "The only thing that happened between us was the fact that we both admitted that we... that we..." Inuyasha trailed off.

"THAT YOU WHAT, MUTT!"

"THAT WE LOVE EACH OTHER! OKAY! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL! GO BACK TO AYAME AND LEAVE ME ALONE!" Inuyasha confessed. Kouga simply shut his eyes.

"I see. So... but how... how could she love a half-breed like you?" Kouga taunted.

"She said that she loves me because i'm a half-breed, you half-wit." Inuyasha spat. Kouga snarled.

"Whatever! I'll be back, mutt! This isn't over yet!" Kouga yelled as he ran away at an average speed. Since Naraku had taken his shards, his legs didn't quite move as fast. Inuyasha sighed. Why can't that stupid wolf just leave well enough alone? Inuyasha snorted. He could still smell that stupid wolf. As the smell of Kouga dispersed from the air, a new scent filled its place. This scent... it's... it's...

It's Kagome's!