I don't own any of the InuYasha characters or the song Goodbye to you.

CHAPTER 2

How do I Say Goodbye?

Kagome rolled over onto her back and slowly opened her eyes. Raising a hand to smother a yawn she stared at the ceiling of her bedroom watching the early morning shadows dart away from the first rays of light. In those few moments she was blessed with a sweet blankness granted by her sleep logged mind. Feeling content, she rolled back over onto her side and sighed. She was toasty and warm and …..

Her eyes locked on the jewel where it lay on her desk. All the painful feelings rushed back crushing the fragile contentment she had felt. Sunlight flooded in through the window illuminating the delicate pink orb as Kagome lay staring at it feeling the heaviness possess her body once again. Groaning she closed her eyes and rolled over turning her back to the jewel.

It had been the same for the last two weeks. Every morning she would wake and see the jewel and every morning her heart broke a little more as the realisation of what she was going to have to do hit her all over again. She had thought that InuYasha would have given up waiting and come for the jewel now. It had been what he had wanted for so long. Memories of all they had gone through to gather pieces swamped her. How excited they had been each time they had found another piece. They had all worked so hard. How strange it was that the thing that had brought them all together was the very thing that would part them forever.

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed she sat up, her gaze going to the window. Would she ever look there and not see him jumping through it? Could she go on knowing he never again would? Her memories were all she would have of him, all she would have to keep her warm when this was all done. Yet it was those very memories that made every moment without him so painful. There was no where she could go that she wouldn't think of him, remember some thing he had done or said. She closed her eyes against the tears that seemed to always be so close and tried not to think of him.

Kagome's eyes flew open as suddenly the clock radio by her bed burst into song.

Of all the things I've believed in
I just want to get it over with
Tears form behind my eyes
But I do not cry
Counting the days that pass me by

I've been searching deep down in my soul
Words that I'm hearing are starting to get old
It feels like I'm starting all over again
The last three years were just pretend
And I said,

Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything that I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
The one thing that I tried to hold on to

Kagome stared at the small black box as each word of the song stabbed her heart. She reached out to switch but stopped, pulling back her hand, she pulled her knees up resting her head on them and listened to the rest of the song.


I still get lost in your eyes
And it seems that I can't live a day without you
Closing my eyes and you chase my thoughts away
To a place where I am blinded by the light
But it's not right

Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything that I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
The one thing that I tried to hold on to

And it hurts to want everything and nothing at the same time
I want what's yours and I want what's mine
I want you
But I'm not giving in this time

Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything that I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold on to
The one thing that I tried to hold on to

Kagome's lifted her hand to switch off the radio as the last words played

And when the stars fall
I will lie awake
You're my shooting star

Collecting her clothes she headed to the bathroom. Standing in front of the mirror she looked at the pitiful creature that looked back at her and cringed. Her eyes were swollen and red, her cheeks pale and her nose bright pink from too many nights of crying herself too sleep.

It had to stop. She couldn't keep going on this way. She was waiting, hoping that InuYasha would come and say that he had made a mistake, that it was her he wanted all along, that they could be together forever. Kagome sighed, or at least that he would come and be the one to finally end it once and for all. She was waiting for him to do what she was too afraid to do and it was wrong of her. She was stronger than this. No matter what she felt, no matter how much it hurt she owed everyone that she had come to call her friend a goodbye. It was her responsibility to end this. If she didn't she would never be able to go on with her life. She would always be waiting and hoping for something that could never be.

She leant over the basin and splashed her face with cold water. There would be no more delaying. She would go tonight and say her last goodbyes.

Kagome stared at the wooden door in front of her. Above her the stars twinkled merrily, mocking her pain. Raising her hand to slide the door open, she hesitated, her fingers less than an inch away. Could she? Could she go through with this? She curled her fingers into her palm and drew her hand back, clasping it to her chest with her other hand.

Standing there she tried to imagine what she could possibly say. How did she say goodbye to the ones that she had grown to love like her own family? Taking a deep breath, she raised her shaking hand and pressed it to the wood, gently sliding the door open. How did she say goodbye to the person who was her very heart?

Staring at the dark steps she willed her legs to move, each step down harder than the last. Reaching the well she placed her hands on the edge and looked into the darkness that seemed a mirror of hole inside her soul. She wanted to sink into that cool darkness and forget, to let it wrap around her and wipe her clean. She swung her legs over the edge and let herself slip into the darkness that would only ever bring her more pain not the comfort that so desperately she needed.

InuYasha stood on the hilltop and watched the last of the suns rays sink behind the mountains. In the distance he watched as Kikyo's soul stealers weaved through the air escorting their mistress through the night. 'She would be back soon' she had told him. 'There were things she had to take care of'

InuYasha sighed. He should care, should have insisted on going with her but a heavy tiredness had settled over him in these last two weeks and he didn't have the energy. It felt as if the weight of the world had settled around him, pressing in on him. He wanted to fight it, to punch and yell. He just wanted to do something, anything to stop these feelings. I f it had been a demon he would have slain it but how did he stop the pain that seemed to be eating at him from the inside out?

Looking up, he watched the first stars of the night begin to twinkle in the sky. I t wasn't like him to sit around and wait like this, not when there was something that had to be done. He cringed at the thought of going to Kagome and taking the jewel from her. He didn't want to see the pain in her eyes, to see her tears. Most of all though, he didn't want to have to deal with his own pain. Without the jewel Kagome would never again be able to pass through the well. He would never see her again. That dreaded pain started to burn deep in his chest as he thought of saying goodbye to her. Swearing he, turned and stalked into the trees. Squashing down his rising feelings he reluctantly took the path leading to well. He would end it tonight. He wasn't going to sit around any longer.

A familiar scent hit him as he neared the clearing around the well. Blue light flashed in the darkness. Standing in the dark shadows of the trees, InuYasha watched as Kagome pulled herself out of the well. Once out, she stood there for a moment before raising her head to look at the stars. The moon suddenly appeared from behind the clouds and bathed her in light. InuYasha's heart squeezed and his breath caught as he looked at the innocent beauty of her face in the moonlight.

What would have been if Kikyo had never been resurrected, he wondered. Would he have forgotten her completely and taken Kagome as his? Would they have been together right now? Would they have been happy? He shook his head dislodging the wayward thoughts. He loved Kikyo. There was no point thinking about things that could never be. Everything had turned out the way it should.

He watched as Kagome began walking in the direction of the village, he could see the jewel around her neck swaying back and forth with each step but he remained where he was. He knew Kagome needed to say goodbye to their friends. He would give her a little more time, it was the last he could do. Besides, he wanted to spend his last moments with her alone. Turning, he headed in the direction of the Genbouku.

"KAGOME!" Shippo cried, running to throw himself into her waiting arms. Kagome hugged him tightly to her and laid her cheek on his soft fur.

"Hello Shippo," she whispered barely containing the tears that wanted to burst from her.

After a moment she raised her head and looked around the hut at her friends. Miroku, Sango, Kaede, even the still recovering Kohaku, all smiled at her as she sat down in front of them. Shippo hopped from her arms to sit close by her side.

Kagome tried for her usual bright smile but it failed and she smiled sadly, knowing that she could never just pretend this was another day.

"Kagome child, what is it?" Kaede asked

Kagome opened her mouth to try to reassure the old woman but nothing came out.

"Kagome?"

Kagome lowered her eyes, unable to take the concern and love she saw shining in her friends eyes. She didn't know how she could possibly do this.

"Kagome---," Sango stopped as Kagome held out her hand. In her palm lay the last shikon shard. There was silence as they all stared at the jewel and understood.

"How….?" Miroku's question faded as Kagome shook her head, dropping the jewel back into her pocket.

"It doesn't matter," she said quietly. There was silence again.

"So does this mean you're leaving? Forever?" Kohaku asked sadly, breaking the silence.

Not trusting her voice Kagome just nodded.

"NO!" Shippo cried grasping her arm, his big eyes full of tears "Why do you have to go? Why can't you stay here with us forever?"

"Shippo I…..." I would have…If he had asked me. She felt the weight of that thought in her chest and gathered the little fox back into her arms and rested her head on top of his.. "You know I can't," was all she whispered, unable to say anymore.

There was silence but for the sound of Shippo's soft sobs smothered against Kagome's chest. The others sat staring at the girl who had become of their lives, each remembering all the adventures they had had together. Sorrow filled them at the thought of never seeing Kagome again but they knew this was the way it had to be. She would have stayed if she had been asked. InuYasha must have made his decision. Tears filled each of their eyes as they thought of how much Kagome truly loved the hanyou and how hard it must be for her at this moment. One by one they each stood and came to wrap their arms around her, silent tears falling down their cheeks.

Once again Kagome walked along the path from the village to the forest. So many times had she walked it and she had never given thought to the time when she would walk it for the last time. With one heavy footstep after another she walked to the edge of the forest and stopped. She wanted to turn and take one last glance at those dear to her but she knew that would be a mistake. What strength she had had reached its limit. She wouldn't be able to hold her tears at bay if she turned not.

'Goodbye," She whispered without turning and stepped into the shadows of the trees.

Kaede, Shippo, Kohaku, Miroku and Sango all watched Kagome from the edge of the village. As soon as Kagome was out of sight Sango threw herself into Miroku's arms and sobbed.

"I thought he loved her," she said in a muffled voice as Miroku stroked her hair and pressed his lips to her head, his other arm holding her tight.

"I know," he said still watching the spot where Kagome had been "I thought he did too,"

As she walked through the darkness the jewel around her neck seemed to grow brighter and brighter, as if illuminating the way in front of her. She wasn't headed to the well; she knew he wouldn't be there. No, he would be waiting for her but not there, he would be waiting for her in the place where they had first met. Somehow she knew it. Her hand folded over the glowing jewel blocking its unearthly glow as she stepped through the last of the undergrowth.

Raising her eyes she looked at the hanyou sitting beneath the Genbouku tree his head slumped to one side and his eyes closed, looking much the same as he had when she had first seen him but this time his head lifted and his golden eyes stared straight at her.

"Kagome,"

"InuYasha," …………………….