Three Days

A/N: I don't own Inuyasha—I'm sure we all know who owns it. A forever cherished woman in Japan that brought us a bad boy half-demon with cute puppy dog-ears. Because this story is insanely long in length for each chapter I decided to cut them up depending on pages per chapter. Although there were like eight chapters after this was done, some of the pages ran way over 12 pages so I split them up as evenly as possible. Usually after a certain scene.

Chapter Two: Broken Up Inside

"Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside.

We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us.

But hatred is a curved blade. And the harms we do, we do to ourselves."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried out over the winds. She soon gave up calling him knowing the winds were interfering. Her voice had grown hoarse now and she knew by the winds that there was going to be a blizzard soon.

Inuyasha where are you? Tonight's the new moon, have you forgotten? Snow or no snow, you'll soon become human. What could be so important that you'd risk—

The young woman caught sight of Inuyasha and Kikyo looking quite intently at each other. Kagome clenched her fists. You'd risk your life just so you could see her? Inuyasha…y-you're such a fool.

Or…am I the fool? Kagome thought bitterly. She looked away from the all too familiar scene that greeted her.

Kikyo hugged Inuyasha, shocking the half-demon. "Hold me once more, Inuyasha. Let me at least cherish this memory before I go. In this I will remember you by as we part."

Are you watching, girl? Kikyo thought to herself. For this time you shall not interfere. I shall not only break your bond to him but break your heart as well. I've waited too long for you to meddle in my affairs. The time has come for Inuyasha to uphold his promise. I will not be denied.

Inuyasha nodded somewhat. "No matter what, I will always protect you, Kikyo."

But I must draw the line with joining you in Hell. Inuyasha added to himself. How can I when I have people who love me and care about me? And now I've finally been accepted by Kagome, her family, the others and at least among most of the village.

Inuyasha thought of Kagome and the others. A warm feeling filled his heart. A feeling that became normal to him. Something that he was sure was a natural thing to those who had someone to care about them.

I even have a family of my own (Kagome, Shippou, Sango, Miroku, etc…). Acceptance, love, want. How can you ask me to give up what I've longed for? How can you be so…selfish? Inuyasha thought.

Despite his words Inuyasha continued to refuse to hold Kikyo at all cost. He knew the last time he had she'd tried, unsuccessfully thanks to Kagome, to drag him to Hell with her.

Still you resist me. No matter. Kikyo smiled. She realized that she was actually enjoying this, well just a little. However, she didn't realize she was becoming more like the man she was seeking vengeance from.

In other words: Naraku.

"I know you will. And you were right, Inuyasha. I need not worry. That girl will not interfere; she only wants your happiness, right? After all, she is nothing more than an inadequate copy of me."

Why do these words leave a bitter taste in my mouth? Kikyo thought. What a horrid time for my conscious to revive itself.

"Kag—" Inuyasha was about to protest when his eyes grew dark and unfocused. He realized somehow he'd become a victim of Kikyo's spell once more. What the—I can't move my body. Kikyo, what did you…?

Kikyo smirked to herself. Perfect. I will break the ties that hold you here among the living, Inuyasha. The strongest of them, being that of this girl, will soon be broken. And the others will soon follow. With no one to care for you where else will you turn, but to me of course. You will have no choice but to come with me.

I know this sounds mean, Inuyasha but it's what you deserve. You were destined to be alone. We were destined to burn in the pits of the under realm! When I think of it this way, I somehow feel better. It's strange but I should be feeling some guilt but I feel not this emotion…why is that? Am I truly no longer human? Have I become what I hate?

"But no worries, in Hell, we won't have such a bothersome girl to ruin things." Kikyo said, luring him further into her trap while attacking her reincarnation. "I must say the girl is quite taken with you. Perhaps even loves you. It's such a pity you don't feel the same, Inuyasha."

Take that back, Kikyo! Damn it, how the hell did I fall for such a stupid trick? Why are you doing this Kikyo? Tell me! Inuyasha thought angrily but knew he couldn't speak nor move his body. Why was Kikyo saying all of this crap? What was wrong with her?

"Kikyo why…"Inuyasha managed to say but it came no louder than a whisper before his mind started to shut off completely and his lips grew still.

It has been done…Kikyo glanced up, an 'innocent' expression plastered on her face. She could not ruin it by being understanding. Not now. "Kagome, you can come out of hiding now."

K-Kagome? Inuyasha heard shuffling of leaves and bushes and then Kagome's scent filled him. Smelling her had been like a punch to his gut. How could he have not have notice it before?

Seeing her reincarnation looking at them the way she did. Never did Kikyo see such a broken spirit—and soul. A soul that will soon return to me once more….

Gone were the girl's once cheerful eyes, eyes Kikyo longed to possess in life and especially in death, for now they were cold and filled with doubt. Now with these impassive eyes filed with pain and paling skin, she looked nearly identical to the woman who had caused the great damage. She was a shell of the woman she had been hours before, much to Kikyo's joy.

Funny. I should be feelings some remorse, to have broken an innocent in my path for vengeance. But again I feel not this emotion. Is it because I wish not to acknowledge it or is it because it's so great that it overpowers my great senses? The dead priestess wondered.

A part of Kikyo held sympathy for the girl, but the other felt justice. And so second part of her overruled her sympathy until there was little to none left. She'd finally get her revenge against Inuyasha and she wasn't about to let some guilt ruin it.

Kikyo just looked at the girl, her other self with great resentment. Even so, I have suffered long enough; it's time someone else bore my weight. At last, her spirit has been broken…forgive me…Kikyo was unsure if she meant those two last words or if they were just said to lessen her guilt, an emotion she felt suddenly flood into her.

Kagome couldn't help standing there frozen in her spot. She never meant to come here, to see this. She told herself if this ever happened again, she'd just leave. But she just stayed rooted to the ground.

I-I wish… I never—I shouldn't have come… I will not cry. I won't cry! But damn you Inuyasha. How could you? If you never cared for me as I hoped you one day would, couldn't you've at least told me?

Seeing Inuyasha with that dead woman, only served to both anger and depress her. The baby had been right. Time after time, Inuyasha would always choose Kikyo over her. This proved it.

At least then it wouldn't hurt as much. At least then I would hear it from you one-on-one and not hear it from a private conversation—and certainly not from that woman. Is this what it feels to be heartbroken? No one ever said it would hurt so badly.

She had had enough of this. No more. Kagome shook her head and covered her eyes with her bangs. Feeling her heart breaking, she clutched her blanket tighter and willed herself not to be weak. She backed away, much to Kikyo's satisfaction, and ran away from the woods.

I need to get away… c-can't stay…You can go to Hell if that is your desire. This time, I won't stop you. Those were Kagome's last thoughts before she disappeared into the forest.

That poor girl…. Kikyo's softening eyes harden instantly as she remembered what she was about. Kagome was finally out of the picture. Pleased, she looked at Inuyasha who was still in her trace. Well her lost is my gain. I'll find a way to dispose of her soon enough. But first—

"K-Ka…go…me?" Inuyasha whispered, trying to fight against the sleepy haze that fell over him.

Slowly the half-demon began to gain a bit more control. Life began to come back into his golden eyes. His lips moved once more, "Ka—"

Kikyo stiffened and noticed she was losing control. She clung tightly onto Inuyasha, enforcing her spell. She would not lose, not to a woman who was not her. "Do not strain yourself, my love. Forget her. You belong to me You promised me. Your ties to this world have now been broken with that girl's departure. Please…come with me. Come and join me in Hell, Inuyasha."

Suddenly great warmth built around Kikyo and Inuyasha as Hell's gates slowly began open up to them. Kikyo smiled to herself, thinking that finally she would have what she desired. At long last, I shall have your life, Inuyasha. And no meddlesome reincarnation to come between us, no more running from destiny and no guilt to stop me! The time has come, Inuyasha!

"Kikyo…" Inuyasha whispered as his eyes began to become unfocused.

"I'm here." Kikyo said in a slightly approving manner. That's better. Let go, Inuyasha. Let go of this dreadful world and come to my world were we shall at last find our peace.

Kikyo felt Inuyasha sag against her as she closed her eyes and tried to keep the gates of Hell open. "We're almost there, Inuyasha. I can feel your soul lea—"

"Kikyo…l-l-let go of me."

Kikyo gasped as Inuyasha pulled away, breaking her spell and closing Hell's gates. Eyes of anger and loath glanced at Kikyo's shocked face. Never had she in a million years would've guessed the hanyou could've broken her spell.

How did he—but it makes no sense! "No. Inuyasha, please wait."

Against his better judgment, Inuyasha paused and clenched his fists. "What is it, Kikyo?"

So many unanswered questions roamed through the betrayed half-demon's mind as he awaited her explanation. But he was sure it wouldn't be worth it. Why did you trick me? Why did you…I can never trust you, can I. It's not because I don't want to but you won't let me. You never gave me a reason to. Perhaps it's because I never wanted to trust you?

Kikyo felt disgusted with herself. She had promised him she wouldn't take him to hell against his will. She knew that he had given up on going with her, she knew that but she couldn't accept it. No longer is there even the smallest reminder of feelings between us. It seems I have betrayed you once again, Inuyasha, yet you listen. But is it more from pity than want?

The dead priestess gave him her usual impassive expression as she spoke. "So it is as I always believed. You are willing to leave me for that girl? Is she more important to you than your promise to me? You promised to protect me, remember? Or have you…forgotten?"

Kikyo heard Inuyasha scoff, which made her stiffened. After hearing Kikyo's words in the last few minutes, he felt less sympathy and more annoyance. Why did she want protection when all she wanted was for him die and go to Hell with her, he was unsure. At that very moment, a part of him wondered how he'd felt anything more than friendship for Kikyo.

How he'd been blinded by the emotions she had carefully hidden away in those seventeen years of her life. The woman she was and the one now…though they were different yet the same. Her words sounded like that of the old Kikyo, words only her eyes spoke. How he'd been foolish to have thought that she could ever…

Inuyasha turned to leave. He had had enough.

"I promised to protect you, nothing more. I always keep my word yet you always seem to think it's not enough, Kikyo. I promised to protect Kagome too. And protect her I will. I won't endanger my friends' lives anymore. Too much is at stake now. You can take care of yourself for now, you said as much. And besides, you never did have faith in my words—or in me before Kikyo."

Both began to remember when she'd foolishly met up with Naruku on her own and how she'd have easily met her demise if it weren't for Kagome's kind heart. And the other times before and after that incident and especially the 'betrayal' fifty years ago.

"But why the sudden change, Kikyo?" Inuyasha questioned in an almost scornful sort of tone.

I will not have the tables turned on me. Kikyo glanced at him bitterly and past hatred rose within her. "Do not make me look that the liar here. Does your word mean nothing? A promise is a promise, Inuyasha. You promised me. Or is your promise as empty as your heart?"

The half-demon sighed out loud and shook his head. "You don't understand…you never really did. But I intend to keep my promise—both of them. I'm trying to avenge you so you can rest in peace, back to where you originally wanted to go, three years ago. I want to know why you keep demanding my life when I wasn't the one that truly betrayed you. But that's not good enough, you want to kill me but I wonder what good that will that do, huh Kikyo?"

Again Kikyo found herself on the defense. "You speak so forwardly to me now, Inuyasha. It would seem you too have begun to change in these years. How…interesting…."

"No, you listen to me." Kagome brushed his forelocks back and smiled at him. He blushed even more as she suddenly hugged him. Her voice was gentle and oh so soothing. "Your life is your own, Inuyasha, and no one else's. If you don't remember anything else, please, just remember that."

"Don't you see? I don't owe you my life, Kikyo. I never did. You can't have it. I'm sorry you did die but killing me won't bring you back. I want you to go back to your rest, to where you won't feel pain. I will protect you from Naruku until then that I promise you…b-but I can't…go with you. I have so much to live for Kikyo…Things I never thought I could ever have."

Things to live for. Kikyo stood there, hearing his words over and over again. And she knew she was not one of those things.

Inuyasha glanced at the ground, not sure if he could look at her now. "Don't you see?"

After an extended moment of silence, Kikyo laughed haughtily. It was possibly the closest thing to a laugh the priestess ever had in life and death for she never did seem happy in any of those times of her life. And even now she sounded almost…cynical.

"Oh I can see, Inuyasha. I can see how easily you were bewitched by a mere slip of a girl that you've forgotten—"

"She didn't bewitch me. Kikyo, I want to know why you did what you did. Is it because I wouldn't really come with you to Hell willing? I know there's more to it than that? What is it? I want to know the truth—all of it."

The dead priestess didn't answer. Kikyo smiled but it was an empty smile to be exact. "Don't be foolish. It had to be done, you know that. Come to Hell with me. What's more to be said?"

"There's plenty."

Kikyo tilted her head to the side and spoke with an uncharacteristically lighthearted tone. Her eyes looked colder than ever before. "Inuyasha, I died because there was nothing left for me after you betrayed me. I couldn't possible stay in a world were I was unhappy. I thought to bring you with me to reveal you of your pain."

Inuyasha stepped back; his eyes darken from mistrust and anger when he could smell the lies radiating off of her. Her eyes remained as dark as was her aura.

Kikyo neared him and said in a pleading tone, "Don't you see? I did this for both you and me."

"No, you did this for yourself."

xXx…xXx

And when you say,

it doesn't matter,

Well it does,

Run, Kagome and don't look back. Kagome told herself.

The winds were picking up and her vision was limited now but she could almost make out the well. It was closer than traveling back to the village and she doubt there was a coming blizzard in Modern Japan right now.


A part of me doesn't want to return. What if he's finally chosen Kikyo…again? Can I truly bring myself to return knowing this even though I promised to stay with you forever; can my heart take such a beating?

Inuyasha…you're the only one in the world that can cause me so much pain. Are you aware of this? Probably not...but I won't let you hurt me again, Inuyasha. I won't.

Kagome finally reached the well and grabbed onto the edge for support. For a moment, she just stared down and looked into the black depths.

Is it really possibly to cut off your love for someone so easily? Think about it. A little voice in the back of her head questioned.

Kagome grunted to herself, dismissing the thought. "If Kikyo can do it then so can I! I am, after all, her…reincarnation." She said this bitterly.

Afterwards, Kagome made a face. How she'd grown tried of being called that and how she grew to despise the very word. Reincarnation this, reincarnation that. Who cared? Not her.

Why do you keep putting yourself down? You're more than her reincarnation, Kagome. The voice said.

Kagome scowled. She never truly felt like that. Maybe she did once in a while, but truthfully she never did. And being called that word or being mistaken for the dead priestess was unnerving. It wasn't a compliment. It was like being compared to an 'older sibling' and never being congratulated for doing things without it being said ' can do this why can't you?'

I'm sick of Kikyo and Naruku. I'm tried of being called 'Kikyo's reincarnation.' I maybe her reincarnation but I am still Kagome, why can't they all understand that? If Inuyasha cannot see me for more than that…then how can I hope we'll have a future together? But how can we in the first place when he's still hung up on Kikyo…he's still in love with her.

Or so you think.

Don't give me that! Of course it must be true! I saw them…I always do. He's not too discreet is he? He always runs to her—

—and always returns to you.

That maybe so but I don't want false hope…not anymore. I can't take it! She sighed. You know what? Maybe a day or two away from here will do me some good. Without everything being so raw and newly wounded, I'll think more clearly. Yes…I'm sure. They won't even notice.

Kagome nodded and hopped into the well.

And all it takes is a mistake to eat your words,

Just one more time I think

I'll drive on home tonight...

xXx…xXx

Kagome… I've got to find her.

Inuyasha made it to the hut. The first time Kagome had seen him with Kikyo, he had gone after her to explain but she didn't listen. The second time, it had been more of his fault that caused her to leave. But this time he'd be damned if he didn't make her listen. He didn't care how he'd do it but she'd listen.

With that in mind, he entered the hut but to his dismay found that she wasn't there. Her sleeping bag was being occupied by Shippou and Kirara, who were both sleeping. Miroku, Sango and Kaede were also asleep. There was no Kagome anywhere, he scent was faint.

Inuyasha bit back a curse. Great, just fucking great. There went all his hopes.

Inuyasha took off to the bridge between their two worlds, knowing—or rather hoping—Kagome had made it safely to the well and back to her own time.

Inuyasha snorted.

Kagome was way too stubborn to die, that was one thing he liked about her. Her will to live.

The half-demon sniffed at the air and frowned. Her scent began to become fainter and fainter instead of growing stronger. He felt himself growing slower too.

That's strange—

His body pulsed.

Aww, shit. Not now! Not tonight!

His body pulsed again—and he became human.

Shit.

Preview of Chapter Three

(Randomized scenes)

He's the possessive and jealous guy with the name that means dog-demon? He could be in a gang—or a serial killer—and Kagome doesn't know! Yuka thought.

—Possessive guy. He's a two-timer as well. Kami, Kagome can sure pick 'em! Eri thought, shaking her head in a disapproving manner.

Kagome and I need to talk! The two girls nodded to themselves.

Think Kagome. Think! "Uhm…" Oh that's brilliant—not! "He—we…"

"Got into another lover's tiff?" Ayumi supplied, looking not too surprised, as she peered at Kagome.

"What?" The young woman before her just fell over.

"Tiff?" Eri and Yuka questioned and looked at Ayumi as if she was crazy.

Has Ayumi and mom been discussing my love life together or something? Kagome thought, not sure if she should put it past them.

…

"Huh?" Souta opened the door. "Who are you?"

"Keh, Inuyasha."

Souta blinked. "You've got to be kidding me. Inuyasha's a demon with silver hair, golden-amber eyes, dog ears, fangs and claws." He nodded. "But you got the attitude part right. Are you related or something?"

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. He liked the kid, he really did, but this wasn't the time. "I don't have time for this. Where's Kagome?"

"Why?" Souta asked suspiciously. "How do you know my sister? What do you want? Just who are you?"

"Because I want to see her, that's why! I know her because I'm Inuyasha!"

He's really got that attitude down! "You could at least dye your hair pal. I don't think—"

"—never mind. Move out of the way." He slightly pushed Souta out of the way. He headed for the stairs and to Kagome's room.

"Souta, what's wrong?" Kagome asked. Her brother was stuttering about 'wild man' 'bad attitude' and 'Inuyasha.'

…

Grandpa closed his eyes and frowned. A serious expression was on his face. "I sense a demonic aura."

Souta and his mother looked skeptical.

"Well…I do!" The old man grunted and folded his arms. "People these days no appreciation whatsoever for their elders."

A/N: Oh worry not about the 'what is become overused scene.' Please this story will get a whole lot better everyone. That long—long—scene is just setting the stage for what is to come. Don't judge a book by its cover, don't cha know.