Humans are ridiculously easy creatures to mislead.
Perhaps that was why InuYashsa did not truly believe he would die when he fell,
or rather jumped down the well in the Higurashi shrine. Part of him, his demon half, wanted to wanted to follow Kagome-and fall to the same demise. But his other half, his human half knew that even though Kagome had despised him in her very last moments she would never wish such a death upon him.

She was too selfless, she was too caring.

She just was.
There was nothing else to it. Even when pretended that Kagome had never entered his life in the feudal era, he just couldn't forget. It seemed as if even the simplest breeze through the trees was because of her. The sound of the stream splashing into the hotsprings reminded him too much of their journeys. Even the well had smelled like her.

At times InuYasha had wondered if perhaps, she was by the well thinking of him as well.
But then he remembered her abrupt disappearence after the harsh words that were spewed in anger.

Yes, he knew that she hated him. She had even told him so. But, being oblivious to her ways he chose not to listen to her words. Her last words that had been spoken to him.

(Flashbacks are in italics)

InuYasha laid lazily on a thick branch of a tree, just enjoying the traquility.

"InuYasha!" he heard Kagome yell from a distance. He chose to ignore her. After all, Naraku was gone, and for once in a long time he was enjoying his peace.

"InuYasha," she ground out frustratedly, he was being so lazy and there were things to do before the sun set.

"What!" he yelled back at her as he sat up against the trunk of the tree.

"Oh, well I-" Kagome muttered meekly as InuYasha glared at her.

"Out with it!" InuYasha didn't have time for her useless bumbling today, all he wanted to do was relax.
Thinking she had walked away he laid back down and closed his eyes contently.

He heard her slight intake of breath, but like before, he cose to ignore her presence. In a tiny voice she whispered "sit, boy".

Without a moments hesitation, what InuYasha deemed as a curse, he crashed to the ground in a pile of red and silver.

"What was that for, wench?" he growled, baring his teeth angrily.

Kagome flushed angrily, a light tint of pink tinting her cheeks, "I just wanted you to do something for me, baka!"

Inuyasha jumped and stood in one fluid motion. "You want ME to do something for YOU! How about you do something for me for once? How about you pass over that the Shikon Jewel?"

For the first time in a long time, InuYasha felt the desire to be a full demon. It crawled up and nestled itself in his brain.
If he was a full demon, he wouldn't be stuck here being badgered by Kagome. He could be out doing what he wanted.
Maybe pick a fight with Kouga, or do something even remotely interesting.

A faint whisper came to the fore front of his mind. 'I like you as a half demon...' Inuyasha shook his head, what that wench thought didn't matter. She didn't matter. Infact, he would tell her so.

"Well I Apologize!" she yelled poking him in the chest. "I thought we had been over this. I thought we got over this, together."
Kagome ended her rant with a sad smile.

InuYasha stared at her steadily, his topaze gaze unwavering. "Together? I don't need you! You mean nothing to me." he muttered angrily.

Kagome looked away, to not let InuYasha see her cry. But he had smelt her tears anyway. "What are you crying for wench?"

She wouldn't look at him. She just walked away whispering three words that would forever embed themselves in his mind.

"I hate you."