Disclaimer: I'm only going to say this in the beginning of this chapter so listen up. I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters that appear in the shows, movies or manga. That honor goes to Rumiko Takahashi. Any charaters that you see that are not in the shows, movies or manga are my own creations.

Chapter 1: Goodbye Inuyasha

The air was growing colder as the sun had set on Kagome. She was lying on the hard forest floor. She had done this every night for the last two months. The search for the shards of the shikon no tama was taking up more and more of her time. She sorely wished to visit her family. Inuyasha had been pushing the group to their limits. He had also been pushing himself too hard.

'You would think that he would have eased up a little now that the band of seven is gone..' Kagome sighed to herself.

She turned her eyes to Inuyasha who was at present sitting on a high tree branch, staring at the moon. Something was bothering him. She felt as her heart went out to him and could no longer lay down and watch him. She slowly stood up and walked to him. He was too distracted to notice her approaching.

"Inuyasha?" She said, being sure not to wake the others.

"Go back to sleep." was his grumbled answer.

Kagome rolled her eyes. This was the typical beginning to almost all their conversations. Kagome would try to start a conversation and he would shoot it down. She stepped closer, determined to speak with him. She never took her eyes off him.

"Nothing is wrong. Stop fussin." He said still staring at the moon.

Kagome huffed. "I am not fussing! Something is on your mind now spill it!"

Inuyasha had been through much in the last few days. Between the final battle against Bankotsu until this moment he had faced more than he should have had to. He sighed and began to relay to her what is was that was bothing him.

FLASHBACK

Inuyasha was walking through the forest. He had seen Kikyo's soul collectors and was following them to her. He found her standing in front of the sacred tree he had been sealed to many years ago. Her face wore a pained expression as she ran a finger slowly down the tree's scar where Inuyasha had been.

"Kikyo.." Inuyasha whispered taking a step forward.

"You have come." She said, masking her emotions.

Inuyasha slowly came closer to her as she turned to face him. Once the distance between them had been closed Inuyasha reached his arms out and pulled her into his embrace.

"I was worried about you. I haven't seen you since the fight at mount hakurei." He whispered into her ear.

He glanced down to see her face when he saw something he had not seen in her since she was alive. She looked as though she were ready to cry. He pulled away and looked her in the eyes, asking what was wrong.

"Inuyasha..." she began, fumbling with her words. "I am sorry."

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at her. "For what?"

Kikyo walked away from him and sat, leaning against the tree. He followed and sat in front of her on the ground.

"When I was on mount Hakurei I came across the mummied saint Hakushein. When Naraku raised his spirit from the dead into his body, he was filled with hatred and contempt. I spoke with him and he allowed me to free his soul from the hard feelings he held towards those who he had died for. I came to the realization that I too am harbouring such feelings towards you. Until I clear my conscious of these ill feelings, I will not be able to move on to the next world. I will be forever trapped to walk a world where time stands still for me." She paused a moment seeing comprehension flash through Inuyasha's eyes.

"I realize now that you never betrayed me. It was Naraku's doing. Forgive me for holding such feelings towards you."

"Kikyo..." He said softly before replying. "I forgive you."

Kikyo smiled. Those were the magic words she needed to hear. "Thank you. Now I will release you from your promise to protect me. I can move on to the next life Do not try to stop me. I have already over stayed my welcome in this world." At this she rose to her feet and stepped away from him. She drew an arrow and sent her energy into it. Inuyasha jumped to his feet to, expecting her to fire it at him. To his shock, she turned the arrow on herself, not to fire it, but to stab it straight through her heart.

"NOO!" He yelled as he watched her actions.

"Goodbye Inuyasha. Never forget me." She said, smiling to him before stabbing it through her heart, purifying her body and freeing her soul.

END FLASHBACK

Inuyasha looked down to Kagome, emotion shining in his eyes. He hadn't had the courage to speak of it to anyone until now. He couldn't bring himself to it.

Kagome was crying. She had known that Kikyo had passed away because she had felt her soul once again become whole, but she had not known the circumstances.

"Inuyasha..." She whispered, lowering her eyes to the ground. "I.." She could think of nothing else to say. She heard Inuyasha jump down from the tree and he came to stand in front of her. She lifted her eyes to his and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Inuyasha came down to her and when she embraced him, he returned the affection. Somehow, this felt so right and so wrong at the same time. He loved Kagome. He loved Kikyo. Kikyo was dead, yet somehow he felt he was betraying her by loving another. 'I promise Kikyo, I will never forget you..'. He brought Kagome closer to him and nuzzled his nose into her hair.

"Thank you Kagome..." He said, before quickly pulling away and turning from her.

Kagome was confused by his actions. She had had a brief glimpse of his soft side before he turned cold and pulled away. She assumed that it was because he felt like he was going against Kikyo's will by hugging her and it hurt her greatly, but she didn't take it personally. She knew he just needed to figure out his feelings. She turned and walked away herself, heading back to her blankets. Tomorrow she would wake and deal with this. When she could think more clearly. She yawned, stretched and lay herself down on the ground. She stole one more glance at Inuyasha who had retreated to her tree before closing her eyes to sleep. It would be a long night if she didn't.

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Eri: Ok, this is gonna kinda be a weird story. It's an Sess/Kag/Inu story. It starts off as Inu/Kag and turns into Sess/Kag. bear with me. I'm trying something different. Well, please review my chapter so far and lemme know what you think.