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The Breakup
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It wasn't running away….not really. More like…taking an extended leave of absence from home to warn your friends that some creepy woman who smelled like death was asking questions and pretending to know them. They'd want to know, right? And yeah, maybe there was added benefit that she was far, far away from that woman and maybe she felt bad about only leaving a note saying 'I'll be back soon' for her mother but she didn't want to risk the chance that the woman would be able to figure out where she'd gone, although her creepiness might suggest that she'd probably follow her anyway thus the leaving in the dead of night. She was more than capable of outrunning a human and of protecting herself. She may seem meek and mild mannered but she'd been working to be just as strong and capable as the half-demon who'd saved her. It never even crossed her mind to try to do anything other than just get by and fit in but that was before. Before he came and showed her that her demonic traits weren't weaknesses at all, but could be used to protect her friends and family. That it wasn't necessary to hide and take abuse if she could fight back – obviously not killing for sport or because it was easier, he'd taught her that you should and could spare innocent lives and to identify real threats. Like that woman who smelled like…like…well, there weren't even words to describe how bad that so called priestess smelled honestly.
They needed to know something was going on.
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"So, how've you been?" Kagome asked awkwardly as she riffled through her monstrosity of a backpack and began extracting a few cups of ramen, "I…uh, brought some ramen back for you."
Giving her a strained yet appreciatively smile, the demon's crimson eyes seemed much sadder than the last time she was here. Pausing for a moment, she slowly put down the Styrofoam cup and moved to sit beside him as she rubbed his arm affectionately, "Hey, what's wrong?"
Straightening up and giving her a slightly more genuine half-grin, he shook his head and lied lamely, "It's nothing. Just…just, uh, worried about the jewel and…stuff."
Grimacing at his turn of phrase, the demon swallowed thickly before getting up and stretching his arms over his head, "So, uh, you…uh, want any meat or something? I think there's some game in the area I could find…if…if you wanted me to."
Sighing heavily, Kagome resisted the urge to burying her face in her hands and instead merely shook her head as she declined his offer sweetly, again feeling completely confused when he deflated slightly and sat down beside her once more, morosely picking up one of the cups of ramen and peeling the lid off.
"Let me bowl some water," Kagome offered kindly and as she made to get up, she suddenly felt a strong yet gentle grip on her wrist as a gruff voice whispered softly, "Do…do you like him better than me? I mean, not that it matters just I can…I can hunt and…and stuff and I could…uh…you, um, you…know what? Never mind. It's stupid. Yeah, just…um, boil some water would you? Thanks."
As he released her wrist and averted his eyes while his face morphed into one of complete embarrassment and dejection, Kagome felt her heart break a little and with a heavy sigh, she scooted over and rested her head on his shoulder, smiling softly when she heard his shaky exhale as he rested his cheek atop her head. She felt the muscles in her cheek move slightly and knew he was smiling but her heart broke. Every time she tried to envision that soft grin all she could see is the Inuyasha she used to know. Against her will, those beautiful amber gold eyes that she would probably never see again were all that she could imagine and the one thing she wanted more than anything to see once more. Biting back tears, Kagome was jolted back into a sitting position when the demon smelled the evidence and gently lifted her chin to look at him. For a second their eyes met and Kagome had to gasp at the depth of emotion in those strange ominous looking red eyes – sadness, love, regret, confusion, worry and…and…what almost looked like defeat. When she opened her mouth to ask him about it, he seemed to snap himself quickly got up with a murmured apology as he sprinted off into the tree line without giving her a chance to say whatever it was she was about to say.
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Leaning against a tree a short distance into the forest, Inuyasha desperately tried to get himself back under control. That had to be the most humiliating thing he'd ever done and he'd done a lot of really, really stupid things in his life. What was that?! "I can hunt and stuff"?! Did he actually say that!? If only the earth was kind enough to reach up and swallow him whole. Trying to take a steadying breath, he slid down the tree and groaned. He didn't know how he was going to be able to face her again. Even in full demon form, he was a freaking coward when it came to telling her how he really felt and it didn't help that his human heart had no problems saying exactly how he felt about her. That was the first thing that came flying out his mouth! Sighing, he got to his feet and in his frustration, spun on the spot and landed a kick with his full might against the offending tree cutting it in half and sending it crashing to the ground…really, really loudly.
So lost in his own self-loathing and so loud was the din of the falling tree, Inuyasha wasn't able to realize there was a giant red ball of light heading towards him until it collided with his chest.
