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The Breakup

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When the slayer and monk arrived back at the village, they were aghast to hear of what had occurred both to Shiori's village and what demon Inuyasha had done. Sango flat out ordered him to leave, which he had refused, and Miroku couldn't stand the sight of him, refusing to stay in any room with him.

As for Inuyasha, he regretted his rash decision. Rage had clouded his judgment but...while there was probably a bandit or someone less innocent he should've grabbed, he didn't regret teaching Shiori how to kill. They wouldn't see it, couldn't even begin to understand how evil man could really be. They had never seen that side of humanity he was sure. Hell, they should've known how people felt about half-demons. They had all tried to kill him at first and they would've felt no remorse whatsoever so why was it so wrong to teach her to be prepared for the type of life she'd have to lead? Shiori was feeling more confident in her abilities to defend herself and while it did bother her that she'd done what she did, she almost seemed relieved that she'd actually gone through with it. No, he felt his actions were justified, if not a little poorly executed. Still, despite his conviction, if Kagome didn't love his demon half before, there was no chance in hell she'd ever love him now - even if he were somehow to put himself back together again. Kagome had insisted on going home immediately upon returning and he knew in his heart she had no intention of coming back.

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"Kagome! Welcome back, dear," Mama enthused happily before she saw the look on her face, "What's the matter?"

"Where is he?" she sighed wearly, "We need to talk."

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"Wait, you want me to do what now?" the human squeaked. After explaining what had occurred, Kagome had asked him to come back with her and recall his soul.

"He's too dangerous," she whispered, grief plain as day on her face, "You didn't see...he just...he didn't care at all about what he did."

Giving her a sympathetic look, Inuyasha ran his fingers anxiously through his short ebony locks before sighing heavily, "I won't do it. I'm sorry but he's right. I mean, he shouldn't have killed a human, especially a kid, but Kagome she does need to know what it'll really take to survive. Surely you understand that."

Deflating visibly, Kagome flopped down on her twin bed and stared at the ceiling, tears welling in the corners of her blue eyes, "I miss you. Not you and him but you. When you were whole. I don't know you, either of you. You both are the same but...but you're not."

Sitting down beside her, Inuyasha rubbed her arm soothingly and nodded in acceptance as he whispered quietly, "You're never going to give either of us a chance are you?"

Biting back the sob that desperately wanted to break free, Kagome clenched her eyes shut and shook her head.

"I don't think I can, not anymore."

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Mournful crimson eyes watched the well from the sanctity of the Sacred Tree. As much as he relished in his freedom, as much as it was everything he had hoped it would be and more…none of it was worth a damn if she wasn't going to be part of his life any longer. That look of hatred - pure unadulterated hatred - from not just her but from all of them was more than he could bare. What was the point of being free if it meant he'd be alone again. Sure, Shiori would probably join him if he were to truly leave the group. Where else did she really have to go? Perhaps he could merely become a collector of other small half-demons. He could form a new pack, a strong pack but…nothing was worth losing the one he already had. Nothing. Even if he left, Kikyo and those demons would kill every last soul in that village and that was not an option.

What a funny thing life was. Only a few months ago, he would've given anything to have been in full control. While, yeah, he intended for Kagome to become his mate and, yeah, he would've hoped she'd still loved him, he never in a million years would've imagined how deeply the loss of her bothered him. She couldn't even look at him anymore, not that he blamed her. Even Koga – as much as he hated his rival in love – had stopped killing humans because it bothered the beloved miko and yet what had he done? Ordered a child to kill another child in cold blood.

Sighing heavily, he leaned his head back against the bark of the Sacred Tree and groaned. Of all the stupid shit he'd done in his life, that had to be the worst…and the most evil. Everyone was right. He was a monster, through and through. Only a monster would've done what he had done. Killing humans had never bothered him. Never. Yet that one child's death weighed heavily on his soul, if only for the fact that their death meant that his pack would never look at him the same again.

The scent of graveyard soil – still a distance away – had reached his sensitive nose hours ago yet he'd still waited – hoping and praying that he'd be able to at least apologize and say goodbye before he left but…he didn't want Kikyo to get too close to the village, especially with the army of bat demons she'd brought with her. Maybe…just maybe if he merely turned himself over to her and did what she asked she'd leave everyone the fuck alone. Kagome wasn't coming back. It was a fool's hope. Casting one last mournful glance at the well, he jumped down from his branch and rushed to intercept the damn corpse that had caused all of this bullshit.

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Kikyo could've laughed at the scene before her. Without so much as stepping foot in the village, the demon had come to meet her, looking defeated, tired and weary.

"What do you want me to do," he asked coldly, "Just name whatever it'll take for you and those bat demons to leave and never come back."

"Bring me the girl and Inuyasha," she ordered, smirking at how he flinched when she purposefully referred to the human half by name.

"I won't bring you Kagome," he hissed angrily before delating slightly and adding, "But I'll bring him."

"I guess I must admit I'm not surprised," she answered simply, "Fine, the human will do and I swear we shall leave the village and your friends in peace."

"Done," he responded coldly. Straightening up, he narrowed his crimson eyes before turning away to head towards the well. Pausing, he glanced over his shoulder and whispered morosely, "Wait here."

Watching until she was sure he was out of range, Kikyo smirked and spoke to seemingly no one, "Kill them all and once the human returns, bring me his head."

"It will be done," a gruff voice answered as dozens of bat demons suddenly shimmered into existence. As they took off into the night, Kikyo smirked and sat down beside the leader who had stayed behind. Glancing at the burly looking demon beside her, she let out a short laugh and sighed, "What a pity that this couldn't have been worked out diplomatically don't you think? All they would've needed to do was give me the human but those pathetic mortals couldn't even do that."

"It worked out in our interest," the demon answered simply, "Our tribe will be avenged. Your petty actions hold no meaning for us but I cannot say it was a pity."