"You left," she accused, avoiding the subject. "I begged you to take me with you, and you just left."
"I had thought to spare you from harm. From him."
"Well, you thought wrong."
He winced again. "I am aware."
"You seem to be aware of a lot of things!" she snapped, hands balling into fists. "But you purposely kept me in the dark! I could've helped!" Kagome couldn't decide what angered her more—being left behind or left out. Either way, she could feel the icy burn of her powers in the pit of her stomach, the shards screaming to be let out.
"Do not give in," he said, voice low. "Naraku planned to taint your power from the beginning. The webs were proof of that. Do not let him win."
She wanted to tell him that she would do whatever she wanted, but even as her fury rose, she couldn't find it in herself to hurt him. "You can walk through my barrier," she said finally, crossing her arms to keep the reiki from pooling around her fingers.
"I can."
"Because we're twin flames?"
He regarded her for a moment, hand sitting on the hilt of his blade before he looked away. "I do not believe in fate."
Kagome raised an eyebrow. "Then why did you return to the cottage? Or send the flowers? Or rescue me here? You could've just waited until you were healed and then vanished." Had Naraku been right? Had he only been after her power? Despair took root in her heart, the loneliness she'd felt after his departure swiftly returning—only to dissipate when the tips of his ears turned pink.