Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Chapter Two
Kagome continued to drag Inuyasha away from the clearing, not even sure of where she was going, but way too upset to care. How could this be? How could Inuyasha be so eager to throw his life away – throw her away – just to be a demon? Surely he wasn't really considering it, it was just the lady. What did she say she was? A kuro miko? That didn't sound very good at all.
"Kagome! Oy, Kagome, stop!"
Inuyasha yanked her had out of her grasp, making her stop in her tracks. But she couldn't turn around and face him. Not that it mattered, he apparently didn't mind yelling at her back.
"What's wrong with you Kagome! Why'd you freak out like that? Didn't you hear what she said? She can turn me into a demon!"
His voice carried too much enthusiasm. It was something she couldn't respond to. What could she say anyway? She knew why he'd be eager for this anyway. After years and years of torment and ridicule for being a hanyou, why wouldn't he want to become a full demon when presented an easier way out. Wasn't that why he wanted the jewel in the first place?
But jeez, didn't he hear the rest of that woman's tale? His life as he knows it now would be over. Not to mention, she wouldn't remember him either. Could she really go on living without knowing Inuyasha? Would she even be able to travel to this time period anymore? Wouldn't she not only have to give him up, but Sango, Miroku and Shippo too?
And he was still yabbering on about how amazing this opportunity was. Didn't he see how selfish he was being?
Suddenly irate, she spun around, yelling: "Shut up! Just shut up Inuyasha!"
"Hey, hey, hey. What's wrong with you?"
"I don't want to hear how amazing this chance is, and how eager you are to see if you can be changed. I really don't give a fuck!" then she repeated with emphasis: "I really don't give a flying fuck!"
Inuyasha's face took on a shocked expression. Kagome was surprised to hear herself curse as well. But she was so mad, she really couldn't help it. And now, she felt unbelievably sad. She turned away from him just as she felt tears spring into her eyes.
"Kagome, whoa, are you okay?"
"No." she said plainly.
"Hey, look at me. Come on, turn around." She turned slowly, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Wait, are you about to cry?"
She looked down and sniffed loudly. "No." she murmured, her voice weak and breaking.
Inuyasha must have predicted her collapse, because when her knees buckled, instead of hitting the ground, she found herself wrapped up in his arms, face pressed against his chest. Immediately, silent tears began streaming down her cheeks, just as she buried her face into his red hitoe.
Once Inuyasha felt the water from her tears soaking through, he held onto Kagome tighter, murmuring in her ear: "Whatever it is, it will be okay."
Kagome pulled back, shaking her head. "No it won't. Don't you get it?"
Inuyasha looked at her at a loss for words. Kagome continued: "You're all excited to become this demon. But weren't you listening? Being a demon means you give up your hanyou life."
"I figured that as much." Inuyasha said with a shrug.
Kagome knew he hadn't done it to be mean, but his actions seemed so heartless, as if he really didn't care that he would be losing her forever.
"You still don't get it Inuyasha. If you do this, it would be like we never met. I wouldn't know you anymore. None of us would know each other."
"Hang on, now that's not true."
"Yes it is! Weren't you listening? Your life now would cease to exist. Well, we're all apart of your life. We're all intertwined because of you. You become a demon, you not only give us up, but let us lose each other."
"I'm sure you guys could all meet again."
Kagome's heart squeezed painfully. "Why can't you stop being such a selfish arrogant bastard for two seconds! This decision doesn't just affect you. This affects everyone. This affects me! And you were just going to jump at the chance without a care."
"I'm going to do it Kagome. Even if I didn't do it now. You don't understand. All my life I've been ridiculed, scorned, unloved because of what I am. Now I have the chance to fulfil a dream I long had."
"You aren't ridiculed, scorned or any of that now!"
"Kagome, every demon we encounter always has something to say. If I can make it go away, I'm going to make it go away."
Kagome huffed, and her bottom lip quivered. "You can't do this Inuyasha. You can't!"
Inuyasha looked at her intently, his golden eyes filled with emotion. Kagome felt herself breaking under his gaze. She wouldn't be able to keep this up any longer.
"Kagome. Listen. You wouldn't get it. You're not half something and half something else. I'm right down the middle between two hated races: humans and demons. I can't belong with either. You don't understand what's its like to have the one person that loved you, taken away from you when you were young."
"But I do understand Inuyasha! I lost my father. Here in this time, I'm not Kagome, but I have to be some dead girl's reincarnation. And you are still loved Inuyasha: I love you!"
Her last three words hung in the air for a while. Inuyasha was staring speechless at Kagome, while her vision blurred with more unshed tears. There it is, she thought. I said it. I said it out loud. I told him I loved him.
Inuyasha kept moving his mouth, as if meaning to say something, but nothing came out. Kagome stood awkwardly, almost wishing she could take back the words. But what good would that do? What's done is done.
Finally, he spoke. "Oh Kagome…I…" he paused. "I didn't know."
"You wouldn't." she said quietly.
He was silent again, then: "I...I don't know what to say to you."
"You don't have to say anything. It doesn't matter. You're going to become a demon anyway. I'll forget all of this soon enough."
And with that, she took off, letting her tears fall. She didn't look back once, leaving Inuyasha behind by himself.
---
By the time Inuyasha found his way back to the small village, it had gotten dark. He headed for Kaede's hut and entered, finding everyone but Kagome present.
Everyone single one of them glared at him darkly, but Sango was the first to speak:
"Just what the hell did you do to Kagome!"
Inuyasha could only stare blankly back at Sango, not trusting himself to speak. Shippo picked up on Sango's rant.
"She came in here bawling about going back to her own time and never coming back! This has your name written all over it Inuyasha!"
Finally Inuyasha could speak. "She said she wasn't coming back?"
"Yes." Miroku said. "And she left the jewel shards here. So I think she's pretty serious."
"You sick bastard!" Sango roared. "I don't know what you did, but you need to go back and apologize!"
"And then bring her back here!" Shippo added. "Just what did you do anyway! You weren't with Kikyo, were you?"
"No…I…" Inuyasha looked down, then slumped against the wall. He gave a great sigh. "I wasn't with Kikyo." he said in a breath.
The three of them now picked up on the fact that Inuyasha was not acting like himself. He certainly wasn't behaving how he normally did after a spat with Kagome. They put their anger behind them for a moment, so they could dig out exactly what was going on.
"So, why did you guys argue?" Miroku ventured calmly.
Inuyasha immediately plunged into the story: Kagome sensing the jewel shards, almost run in with some hideous beast, the kuro miko, Ryoko, and her proposition. He even covered the reason why he and Kagome fell out, though he tactfully left out her declaration to him.
There was a thick silence. Then to everyone's surprise, Kaede spoke up.
"Well Inuyasha, its seems ye got yourself in a bit of a predicament."
"Tell me about it." He murmured to himself.
"I know of Ryoko. She was always a dangerous little miko. But she's powerful in her powers. That I must admit to."
"So she really could turn Inuyasha into a demon?" the little kitsune asked.
"Yes. She very well could."
"But then we'd all forget each other." Sango said quietly. "Forget the life we've known for so long." Then she turned to Inuyasha, that fire back in her eyes. "You can't do this Inuyasha. Surely you aren't this selfish."
"I'm going to do this Sango." Inuyasha seethed. "None of you understand, and I'm not going to try and explain myself to you. But I'm going through with it."
"But Inuyasha–"
"Calm down Shippo." Miroku said solemnly. "Ultimately, even with our input, this is Inuyasha's choice. And it sounds like he's made a decision."
"Yes I have."
"Will ye go through with it tonight?" Kaede wanted to know.
Inuyasha hesitated only for a split second, and then said: "Yes. I will."
"Well then." Miroku said, standing up. "I bid you all farewell."
"Farewell?" Sango echoed.
"Where are you going?" Shippo asked.
"Who knows?" Miroku said. "After tonight, I'll wake up somewhere and begin a new life. Now I'm just trying to get a head start."
Sango stood up. "Miroku!"
Miroku turned around and met her gaze. He longed to say those three important words to her, longed to hear her say them back. But how could he? After this moment, they would never see or speak to each other again. He probably wouldn't even remember her. And who's to say that Sango didn't not feel the same way he did. Sure she was growing to like him more, and he could clearly see the emotion in her eyes. But was that love? No, love was something for his wildest dreams.
"My dear Sango." He said, his voice wavering. "If only we had more time."
Then with a simple nod, he disappeared through the door, and into the night.
Sango seemed frozen at the spot. Then, without warning, she crumbled to the floor, her face expressionless. Shippo was already sobbing uncontrollably, but now he turned his angry wet face to Inuyasha.
"This is all your fault! This is always your fault!" he hissed.
Inuyasha tried to resist the overwhelming emotions trying to take over him. Instead he shrugged it off, and tried to keep a straight face.
"I'll see you two around, maybe." Inuyasha said as coolly as muster. But then his eyes fell on the stone Sango. Remorse filled his heart. He spoke to her quietly. "Sango, I don't know what you want me to do. I'm sorry."
She hadn't moved a muscle. "Sango." Inuyasha said earnestly. "Please. I'm sorry."
Her head jerked in his direction. "You aren't sorry. If you were sorry, you wouldn't do this." She spat. "Just leave. Just get the fuck out of here." Her eyes were becoming moist, but she didn't break their eye contact.
"Just get out Inuyasha!" her voice was rising now. She stood up and shoved him with all her might. "Get out! You want to be a demon? Go be a fucking demon. I'll slay you. The next time I'll see you, I'll fucking slay you!"
"Sango, don't–"
"LEAVE!" she screeched. Then she turned and fell in Kaede's lap, sobbing loudly.
Inuyasha watched that strong woman shaking violently, broken beyond repair. But there was nothing he could do to fix that.
"There's nothing I can do." He murmured just before turning to go.
Author's Note: Yeah I know, I'm the nicest. Well this is how this one works. I give you the first three chapters, you all review, then I continue the story. Although I'm probably going to continue, with or without reviews, but hey!! reviews would make me smile.
See you in Chapter 3
Love!!
PS - im so bummed, I was trying to make a heart symbol next to my love in the first chapter, but it didnt come out right. stupid thing!!