To those I couldn't respond to:

rossgirl1997: I know, I know … Shippo's death was a hard decision on my part, but I had to kill off one of the characters. Otherwise it wouldn't be very realistic now would it? Hopefully you're still reading, as you reviewed chapter 16. If I haven't scared you off yet, let me know what you think of the story so far. Thanks for reviewing!

Vanessa: I'm glad you enjoyed it. As for if Inuyasha and Kagome will be together, you'll just have to keep reading to find out, now won't you? Let me know what you think.

erica: I have been hiding under the mounds of school work that won't leave me alone. So it's not entirely my fault. Although, it doesn't help that I'm a bit of a procrastinator, does it? I'll try to get back to your email sometime soon. I don't think I've replied to it yet … As far as you know, Inuyasha and Kagome will not end up together. But who knows, I may have one last twist in store for them. And again, thanks for all the compliments. I hope you find some of my other stories in the future worthy of your reviews. ;b

InuKag: Thanks a bunch for the compliment! I know, I threw in some last minute conflict before the story ends. I may have a final twist in store for our favorite couple, so keep your eyes open. Glad you're enjoying it so far.

InuyashaKagome: Honestly, I sometimes felt as if Kagome was out of character or not acting how she should be. But thanks for letting me know that I was right on the mark. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story, and I hope to give it a good ending where everyone wins.

Somewhere Beyond This

Chapter 22: A Girl and Her Heartbroken World

A cold wind swept over the grounds of the Sunset Shrine, causing me to shiver beneath my winter coat. A cotton hat adorned my dark tresses and mittens covered my hands. I sniffled and continued sweeping fresh-fallen snow off the stone path. The night would bring freezing rain. I had to clear the courtyard; otherwise it could be a sheet of ice tomorrow.

Just as my nose was becoming numb to the frigid air, the sound of footsteps caught my attention. I looked up to spy a young boy my age, bowing his head against the cold. His odd-colored hair flew freely from a red cap, and his tired expression spoke of a long night.

"Hey, there," I called out to him, noting the way he only shuffled by and stood in front of the Sacred Tree. "What'cha doin'?"

He didn't seem to hear me, so I dropped my broom and walked over to him, stuffing my hands into the pockets of my coat. My shoes crunched against the snow, but the boy made no motion to acknowledge my presence.

My curiosity turned to concern once I was close enough to see the dried tear tracks on his cheeks and the redness that rimmed his eyes. "Hey, are you okay?" I asked in a softer tone, furrowing my brows.

He didn't answer. He kept his gaze on the bare branches of the tree and licked his chapped lips. It was obvious he had been wandering around outside for some time. His cheeks were pink and the tips of his fingers were a faint tint of blue. Not to mention that his shoes appeared totally soaked from the snow.

I sighed. "You know, this tree has been here for generations," I mumbled quietly, following his gaze. "It's always watched over us."

My words hung in the air as a few minutes passed in silence. The boy didn't respond, but he didn't move away either. So I kept talking.

"When I was little," I began with a small smile. "I thought it was so tall. I even believed that its branches could reach heaven. I talked to the Sacred Tree, hoping my dad was listening."

The wind howled around us as a few snowflakes fell from the sky. It was getting late. Soon it would be completely dark and the cold would intensify ten-fold. I nibbled my lip. I really should return to my chores before the sunset. Otherwise, gramps would be upset with me. I took a step forward to return to the abandoned broom, but halted in my tracks.

"Does it ever stop?" the boy spoke, his voice a mere whisper that I had to strain to hear.

I furrowed my brows with confusion and looked over at him. "What?"

He bowed his head, tearing his eyes away from the tree. "The hurt. Does it ever go away?"

I still didn't understand what exactly he was talking about, but given the circumstances, I had to guess he recently lost someone close to him.

"No," I replied with a slow shake of my head. "But … every day it gets a little easier to deal with. And as time passes, you'll find you don't need to cry anymore."

For the first time, he turned his eyes to look at me. Such a beautiful shade of amber, wrought with despair. I could almost feel my heart breaking. Not because of how pained he looked, but because what I saw in his eyes was something I felt the night my father had passed.

"What's your name?" I asked quietly, not understanding why I needed to know.

He appeared guarded at first, and took his time in responding. But finally, in a grumbled whisper, he said, "Inuyasha."

"Inuyasha …" I repeated, as if to save it in my memory. I smiled. "I'm Kagome."

X.x.X.x.X.x.X

I didn't really understand where I had gone or where I had been. I just knew the darkness. I desired it. When it consumed me, I didn't have to think about anything. I would only drift, allowing it to bring me wherever it wished. Sometimes it brought memories, other times just dreams I couldn't explain. Mostly it brought me comfort.

It was so warm. I snuggled further into it, even as I felt it pull away slightly. I didn't want it to go. When it wasn't there, I was forced to face the pain. It was something I didn't want to cope with. I knew I would have to one day. But not today.

A sigh escaped my lips. It was obviously a losing battle. Rays of sunlight snuck through slits in my blinds, trying to rouse me from sleep. I pulled my blanket over my head. I didn't want to get up yet. What was the point?

Slowly, I squinted my eyes and peered over the blanket. My room was still shrouded in semi-darkness, save for the small beam of light. My clock blinked midnight over and over again. I broke it on purpose. That way I couldn't keep track of the time. I had no clue how many days had passed since my return, or even if it had been months. The only semblance of time I had was from my need to consume food and use the bathroom.

I blearily closed my eyes and hid beneath the covers once more. I impatiently waited for the darkness, for the numbness to take effect. Then there would be no pain.

X.x.X.x.X.x.X

"You're an idiot," I said while trying to muffle a giggle.

Inuyasha walked beside me, his brows furrowed in annoyance and a scowl on his face. In his hand was an ice cream cone – or what was left of it anyways. The chocolate ice cream had landed on the pavement after I had given him a playful shove.

"This is all your fault," he grumbled, turning to glare at me.

I happily licked my vanilla ice cream. "Nope. I believe you were the one who insulted me first."

"You didn't have to shove me!"

"You deserved it," I replied with a shrug. I smiled. "You have to know how to treat a lady."

"Keh," he scoffed with a roll of his eyes. He muttered a few words under his breath before dumping the remainder of his dessert in a nearby trash can.

For a few minutes, the walk home was unusually quiet. Inuyasha had clammed up, shoving his hands in the pockets of his school uniform and keeping his head down. I was a bit curious about his behavior. He was never one to stay quiet, or think deeply. It was kind of unsettling.

"Hey, are we still on for hanging out Friday night?" I asked him, hoping to pull him out of whatever funk he was in. "Miroku wants us to meet this girl he's been gushing about."

He seemed to snap out of his train of thought and turned to look at me. "Huh? Oh, yeah, sure. Whatever." Then he was back to being distant. And if I wasn't mistaken, was he blushing?

I finished my ice cream and heaved my back pack higher on my shoulders. If something was on his mind, he would tell me when he was ready. I never liked to pry, especially when it came to him. He wasn't exactly the kind of person to express his thoughts openly.

The remainder of the walk was rather silent, with only the sound of passing cars as our companion. I didn't mind too much. It gave me a chance to dive into my thoughts, which had become rather troublesome lately. They mostly consisted of the boy walking beside me, and with our history, it wasn't exactly easy to deal with.

We had known each other for years, and slowly became good friends. Recently, however, things were beginning to change. I could feel it. The way his eyes looked at me and the color of his hair when it shined in the sun. My heart beat faster when he was near and his touch made my skin burn with desire. I couldn't exactly explain it clearly.

By the time we reached the steps of my shrine, the sun had already begun to set.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Inuyasha," I said.

He was so deep in thought; I guess he didn't realize we had already reached our parting point. He looked surprised and took a moment to get his bearings.

"Yeah," he mumbled distractedly. "Sure."

I frowned. "Alright, then," I replied slowly. "See you later." I turned to begin the climb up the long flight of steps, only to halt in my tracks.

"Kagome, wait," he called after me.

I looked over my shoulder with a curious expression. "Is everything okay?"

He appeared very nervous about something. He clenched and unclenched his hands, his eyes looked everywhere but me, and he swallowed slowly. "Well … It's just …"

My heart began beating faster and my mouth ran dry. Maybe it was hope, or maybe it was fear, but somehow I knew what he was going to say. "What is it?"

Inuyasha rubbed the back of his neck nervously before squinting his eyes and mumbling something I couldn't understand.

I cocked my head with confusion. "I'm sorry, what'd you say?"

He scowled and looked me straight in the eye. "I said, would you wanna grab dinner with me sometime?"

I blinked. Did I hear right? I blinked again. Yes, I think I did.

His face was the shade of scarlet. "Never mind, this was stupid." He turned to walk away.

"Yes," I called after him. He turned around and looked at me with wide eyes. "Thursday night?"

It took a moment, but then it was like a switch had been flipped. The confidence came back into his eyes and his infamous smirk fell upon his lips. "It's a date."

I smiled, trying to ignore my shortness of breath and my hammering heart. "It's a date."

X.x.X.x.X.x.X

I could see it now – all the differences between Kikyo and me.

My hair was too wavy and my eyes too wide. My figure was too curvy and my lips too full. It was no wonder Inuyasha chose her over me. She was so beautiful and was everything he wanted.

Everything I could never be for him.

While I was clumsy and stubborn, Kikyo walked with grace and poise. She was the definition of perfection, minus the few times in which she threw a snide comment my way. It was obvious why he chose her. I could see that now.

With a dejected sigh, I turned away from the mirror. It was sunset. The sky was a beautiful shade of purple and blue, with the last ray of sunlight peaking just over the horizon. Like the last ray of hope, being swallowed up by the darkness. I frowned. I was becoming quite the pessimistic.

I briefly glanced at my phone to check my messages. It had been on silent for days now. I had eleven voicemails, thirty-four missed calls, and fifty-one text messages. I scrolled through them, seeing all the names of those I cared about.

All except one.

X.x.X.x.X.x.X

A flurry of stars twinkled brightly above us as Inuyasha walked us home for the night. He carried me on his back (although I protested loudly against it) and didn't seem to have any trouble keeping a steady stride. I tightened my hand into his shirt and closed my eyes.

I listened to the sounds around us. I could faintly hear traffic coming from the city, and nocturnal animals spoke in hushed whispers. A gentle breeze kissed my cheek and Inuyasha's shallow breathing calmed my heart.

It was nights like these where I felt at peace. The world around us seemed quiet and nothing mattered except the two of us. I smiled. It just felt so … right.

We came to the steps of the shrine and he effortlessly carried both of us up the long flight of stairs.

"Inuyasha," I murmured into his hair, which glinted softly in the moonlight.

"What is it, Kagome?"

"I don't want to go in yet," I whispered, gently playing with the ends of his hair.

He was quiet for a moment. "We don't have to."

I smiled softly. My world had slowly begun to revolve around the silver-haired boy. He was childish and stubborn from time to time, but he made me feel complete. As if he was the other half of my soul. It wasn't anything I could begin to explain.

Without a word, Inuyasha walked over to the Sacred Tree. It was the one place I found myself drawn to again and again for the serenity it brought.

I slipped off his back as he came to a stop, and straightened out my shirt. With a smile, I took a few steps forward and reached out with my hand, gently running it over the large scar upon the Sacred Tree. It was said to be from a war that waged centuries ago between mythical creatures. I lightly shook my head. My gramps was always coming up with such stories.

I suddenly felt arms wrap around my stomach as Inuyasha nuzzled my neck. I bit my lip and closed my eyes, feeling a delightful shiver run down my spine. My heart rate increased as he kissed my skin lightly, almost teasing me.

I tilted my head to the side. "I had a really good time tonight," I mumbled. "Thank you."

"Keh," was his response, as he spun me around in his arms. "It was just dinner and a movie."

I smiled and rolled my eyes. "Maybe, but it was with you."

The darkness covered the faint blush on his cheeks, and he responded by tenderly kissing me on the lips. I didn't need sweet words as Romeo spoke to Juliet. I didn't need flowers and chocolates delivered to me every day of the week. I didn't even need a proclamation of love to love in return.

What Inuyasha did for me, whether he knew it or not, was enough. He held me when I cried, made me laugh when I didn't want to smile, and almost understood my every thought. Sure, he picked petty fights, but he always made them up.

The way he looked at me with a small smile and brushed his fingers against my hand; it made me realize that his feelings for me went beyond just a crush. There was more to it than that. I wasn't sure if it went so far as love, but I did know one thing.

I was in love with him.

X.x.X.x.X.x.X

I swiped my hand across the fogged mirror. Again I scrutinized my reflection. This time, however, I wasn't looking for all the ways I wasn't like Kikyo. Instead, I was looking at a different image, who had cut off all connection with the girl.

The day before, I had managed to gather enough strength to visit the salon, and my hair was now cropped short around my ears. It was going to be hard to get used to, but with the mental state I was in, seeing my long, wavy hair would do nothing for my recovery.

I began wearing different clothing as well. No longer did I dress in simple jeans and a t-shirt. Instead, I found tank tops and skirts to hug my curves nicely, and accessorized with simple jewelry. It was definitely a whole new me, but I knew that I needed the change.

With a sigh, I finished up in the bathroom and headed downstairs for breakfast. Over the past couple of days, I had slowly begun immersing myself back within my family. I learned that my brother was doing quite well with the psychiatrist he was seeing. It was good to hear, considering Shippo's death hit him pretty hard.

"Good morning, Kagome," my mother greeted me as I came downstairs.

I smiled and nodded my head in return. I could faintly hear my grandfather arguing in the next room with Souta, probably over some video game. The old man never understood them.

My mom placed a plate of food down in front of me as soon as I took my seat. She took her place across from me and we ate in silence for a while. I didn't rush or try and think. I just savored the meal and stared out the window, watching the trees bloom with fresh buds.

"Have you been keeping up with your assignments?" my mother asked me.

I nodded. "Yeah, I already emailed all my work back to my professors. It's not like I have much else to do."

It was a poor attempt at dry humor, I'll admit. But I wasn't exactly in the laughing mood. I had decided to finish the semester from the comfort of my home. I didn't have the strength to return to the classroom, especially Biology. There was just too much that had happened since I had last stepped foot in there. Eri was gone, my friend was dating my ex, and the love of my life didn't love me in return. It was just easier if I didn't put myself through that.

A girl's heart could only take so much.

X.x.X.x.X.x.X

I pushed through the massive crowd of people who seemed to become a brick wall. Smoke hovered thickly in the air, and it smelled of sweat and alcohol. I mentally cursed Inuyasha for bringing us to this party in the first place. It was originally supposed to be a small group of people we knew from school, but as word spread, so did the invitations.

Sometime in the last twenty minutes, while I was occupied with some slurred conversation that a drunken girl was trying to have with me, I had lost Inuyasha. One moment he was standing right beside me, looking rather anxious, and the next he was gone. I figured he must have had to use the bathroom or something, but when he didn't return, I began to worry.

I knew he could take care of himself. It was me I was more concerned with. I felt safe when he was around, and seeing as how there were way too many people and a large percent of them were not in the right state of mind due to the alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs, I worried for myself. I wasn't exactly the strongest person, so one drunken guy could get at me with no problem.

I furrowed my brows. This was way out of the ordinary for Inuyasha. Most times he wouldn't allow me to leave his sight, and that meant public places like the park or the mall. But we were at a high school party with people we didn't even know. I would expect him to have his guard up full-force and be watching everyone with steely eyes.

Panic began to set in.

I could have sworn I looked over every inch of the downstairs. Inuyasha, with his strange colored hair, wasn't exactly easy to lose. I had already been pawed by numerous hands, and I could feel a cold shiver running down my spine with each glance sent my way.

I hurried upstairs, careful not to trip over the group of girls passed out drunk, and opened the first door on my left. I stepped into the pitch-black room and pressed myself up against the wall. I need to take a breather, to recollect my thoughts and figure things out.

I had already tried calling Inuyasha's phone, but he didn't answer. Miroku and Sango were on a movie date and I didn't want to interrupt them with one of my silly freak-outs. I mean, Inuyasha was obviously here somewhere. He wouldn't have left without me. I just had to find him.

For the first time since I stepped into the room, I heard the faint sound of people moving. I covered my hand with my mouth. I hadn't even thought of the possibility that the room could be occupied. I felt heat in my cheeks. If the soft moans I heard were any indication, then I was absolutely mortified.

I turned to leave the room, hoping they were too busy to realize that I had entered, when I stopped. The man was calling out the girl's name, who was unfamiliar to me. But his voice – his deep soothing voice that had comforted me one too many times – that was familiar to me.

I could have sworn my heart skipped a beat and a shiver raced down my spine. My mouth felt dry and a lump stuck in my throat. I knew I shouldn't turn the light on, that it was rude, inconsiderate, and downright embarrassing. But a large part of me needed to know. I needed to either confirm my worst fears or humiliate myself for even thinking such a thing. I just … I had to know.

With trembling hands, I flipped on the switch. The man cursed and the woman shrieked, but the only thing I heard was a heart breaking – a heart, I regretted to say, that belonged to me.

There, tangled up in the bed sheets, was a silver-haired boy with eyes the color of amber. His face had drained of color when he saw me, but his hazy eyes didn't plead for forgiveness. Instead, they only stared right through me, as if I wasn't there at all.

I felt the tears welling in my eyes, but I wouldn't let them fall. I refused to allow him to see the burning anguish my heart was in.

Instead, I threw open the door and ran out into the hallway. I pushed passed what seemed like hundreds of people. I somehow found the front door and ran out into the humid summer air, barely keeping my balance as I stumbled down the lawn. I pushed my legs to move faster, trying in vain to distance myself from the pain.

But even as I ran down the street and into the night, around several corners and into the public park, my chest still constricted with heartbreak.

As I fell to the ground with a cry and allowed the tears to flow freely down my cheeks, I realized something. Inuyasha's eyes had widened with realization and his face had turned a ghostly pale, but not once did he say my name, not even as I ran away from him.

I cried a lot that night. I released my heartache and tears of sorrow, wearing myself down to the point where exhaustion crept up on me. I felt my eyelids become heavy as the sun crested over the horizon and a final thought came to me just before I found comfort in sleep.

He never came after me.

X.x.X.x.X.x.X

"Kagome, Sango's here!" my mother called from downstairs.

I pulled a brush through my hair a final time, tucked my cell phone in my pocket, and turned to look out the window at the brilliant blue sky. It was the last day of school before summer break began. I had finished up my exams hours ago and had already printed out my class schedule for the following semester.

I heard my bedroom door click open and turned around to smile at my best friend. "Hey, Sango." A lump lodged in my throat, but I forced it down. It was the first time we had seen each other since being rescued. We had only spoken over the phone since then.

"Kagome, is that you?" she called out, her eyes widening. "Your hair … it's short!"

I self-consciously ran a hand through it. "Do you like it?"

"Like it?" She shook her head and walked over to me, twirling the ends in her hand. "I love it! You look great!"

I giggled. "You look great, too."

"Please," she replied with a roll of her eyes. She flung herself across my bed and sighed. "I just spent the last five hours taking exams. I'm exhausted and want nothing to do but sleep right now."

I crossed the room and sat beside her. "So why don't you go home then? I'm sure yourbed would like you more than mine."

Sango narrowed her eyes playfully. "And leave my best friend to wallow in her misery for another day? I think not!" She suddenly stood up with vigor. "Summer vacation has just begun and I refuse to let you stay inside the entire time, thinking about things you shouldn't be thinking about."

I smiled. "I appreciate your concern, Sango, but I'm fine. I'm betting Miroku is wishing for your company right about now."

She waved my comment aside. "That lecher is fine on his own for a few hours. If he doesn't behave, he knows the consequences."

I giggled, knowing she was right. Sango was the only woman to ever put Miroku in his place.

"Besides," she continued in a gentler tone. "Miroku understands that my best friend needs me right now."

"Sango –" I began, but she cut me off with a shake of her head.

"Listen to me, Kagome. I know that things have been pretty rough on you, and I want you to know that I'm here for you. I'm not going to let you hurt alone, okay?"

I smiled, touched by her words of comfort. It was nice to know that at least one person wasn't going to let me down. "Thanks, Sango. That means a lot."

She squeezed my hand with affection. "Now, we have a long summer ahead of us, and I'm not letting you spend it alone. Tell me what you want to do, and I'll make it happen."

I wiped away the tears that had begun building in my eyes and glanced out the window. "I want to go away, Sango," I whispered. "Far away where it doesn't hurt anymore."

Her arm wrapped around my shoulders and she leaned her head against mine. "I don't know if I can do that for you, Kagome." She sighed and held my hand tighter. "But I'll take you as far away as I can. I only hope it's enough."

I nodded mutely and tried to ignore the tears that ran down my cheeks. Sango pulled me to her chest and ran her fingers through my hair, allowing me to share my burdens with her – the burden of heartache, of betrayal, and of wanting something I couldn't have.

I closed my eyes in acceptance and let go.

A/N: Long time, no update, huh? I'm really sorry its taken me so long. These last couple of months have been crazy busy with work, school, and the occasional social life. But I managed to crank out the rest of this chapter in two sittings, and I have to say I'm rather happy with the way it turned out. Unfortunately, though, this story will be coming to a close. There is only one more chapter left, that is more of an epilogue, and I'm wondering how you guys would like it to end. Give me your thoughts and ideas. Although I know how I want it to end, you may be able to sway my decision. By the way, it would be awesome if we could get the reviews up to 300 before the end. *wink wink* ;)