Inu-yasha chooses to go to hell with Kikyou, but not after confessing his love for Kagome. They part, and Kagome is broken hearted. When she returns to school, there are two new kids. "Did you see his hair?!" "How'd he get it that color?!" "And his eyes?" "I'm sure they're contacts." Kagome's unkempt head rose from her frail arms. Could it be? How could he be here?

I am defeated.

Completely torn apart.

How kindly I was treated

by the one who broke my heart.

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I am defeated. Completely torn apart. How could the most important person in my life betray me? How could the one person that made it all ok, leave me? My life is incomplete without his face. My world is inside out from where it needs to be. I need him. And he needs me.

Kagome buried her face in her skinny hands. It had been nearly a week now, but time went by so slowly without him on her windowsill. Her mother and brother were so worried about their Kagome, who hadn't eaten in days. Her hair had long lost it's gleam, and her limbs were as fragile as ever.

Kagome's eyes sunk into her sockets that had turned a dark blue from exhaustion. Her delicately structured nose jutted out painfully from skin that was stretched too tight over bone. Kagome, the once angel of innocence, was now a miserable wretch, wallowing in her own misery over a selfish man.

"A selfish man who loved me." She murmured. For the countless time that day, she revisited her little world where it happened, where she was torn mercilessly from her happiness.

,,'',,'',,'',,'',,'',,'',,'',,'',,'',,'',,

"Kagome, I really have to tell you something..." Inu-yasha pleaded with the nearly seventeen year old girl. "It's really important."

"If it's about Kikyou, I've heard enough." Kagome said stubbornly. Why was he so persistent today anyway?

"It's about her, but it's also about you." He muttered. This was going to take more courage than he thought. Inu-yasha really didn't want to leave her. She'd be so upset, but he had made a promise to Kikyou. He had promised.

"I'm listening." She said with her back to him.

"I'm going away... for good. Now that the jewel is complete, and in safe hands, I have to fulfill-" he stopped, for she had spun around, and the look on her face was heart-wrenching.

"You... You're leaving...?" Tears began spill from her eyes. She couldn't hold them back. After all they had been through together, he was just going to leave her? Just like that?

"Kagome, I have no choice...!" He said pleadingly, trying to prevent an onslaught of 'sit's. "If I hadn't made the promise, I'd stay here... I..." The moment had come, and his courage was failing him. Just say it, you're never going to see her again.

"But..." She whimpered, bringing a hand to her mouth. "What about..."

"Kagome, I need to say it! I love you! I've loved you since... since... I can't remember, but it's there. Please don't do anything stupid while I'm gone. Be happy!"

"But how can I be happy?!" Kagome screamed to the forest. "I need you." (A/N: bold, I know, but she is PISSED.)

"Kagome, I..."

"Just go away. Leave already. You're just making it hurt worse." She cried into her hands, slumping to the ground at the base of the tree.

He sat beside her, and took a deep breath. He was going to try something so bold, that even he was doubting it would work. Inu-yasha picked up her chin, and kissed her.

,,'',,'',,'',,'',,'',,'',,'',,'',,'',,''

It had been too short. I was shocked out of my wits when I felt his lips upon mine. I couldn't move, not with the sparks shooting down my spine to my toes. How I regretted not kissing him back, for when I did not respond, he quickly got up and left me. That was the last time I ever saw him. Now, when I think back to how we were, I can't help but shed a bitter tear. My sorrow is beyond crying now. It's pointless to cry when no one will hear you.

I remember sitting up in the sacred wood, talking endlessly about battles to come. How I watched his lips move as they formed each sound of fluent Japanese. I remember those golden eyes that pierced me so deep, I felt he was gazing into my soul. And most of all, I remember the feeling of that one kiss. Most of the girls say how kisses are supposed to be soft and sweet as the lips glide over yours.

To me, Inu-yasha's last farewell was rough, his chapped lips held the wildness that he was. The rough soul of his being. I wish I could remember it so well that I could visit that moment forever. That moment that I had been waiting for. That one kiss that made my life whole, but at the same time empty as the sky that stretches beyond our searching eyes.

Someone has come to disturb me. I hope it's not mom. Her worried looks make me so sick.

"Kagome? Kagome, dinner's ready." Her mother said gently through the locked door. She had been a fool to let Kagome have a lock.

Don't they know that I'm not hungry? I don't get hungry anymore. And yet, as I think this, the aroma of food awakens the hunger. I will eat. He told me to be happy. I will be happy... for him.

"I'll be right out, mum." Kagome managed out of her dry mouth. She hadn't had water in days as well.

Miss Higurashi sighed in relief. The missing hanyou was concerning her as well. She had no idea why her daughter was acting so strangely. It had something to do with the demon that she traveled with. Usually in a matter of days, he would be stomping through her living room demanding where Kagome was. What on earth happened?

Kagome slipped on a sweater to hide her self-inflicted bruises and cuts, and walked shakily down the stairs that led to the dining room. Souta and jiijii were silently eating, and only the sharp clicks of chopsticks could be heard. For the first time in ages, Kagome ate. She loaded up her bowls and plates, and ate like she hadn't eaten in weeks. Miss Higurashi was overjoyed.

"Kagome, I know you are upset, but it's worrying us. We don't know what happened. If you're not ready, it's all right." She said with a smile.

"Mum..." Kagome muttered, suddenly stopping her rapid inhalation of the edibles. "I... He... He went away. With Kikyou." She said slowly, feeling the familiar lump in her throat. 'I'll never see him again.'

Miss Higurashi gave her poor daughter a sympathetic look, and turned back to the miso soup. "I'm so sorry, dear. I wish there was something I could do to help. I know how you were so attached to that boy."

"I wish there was something we all could do." Kagome muttered, sipping down some tea. It burnt, even though it was only warm. "I'm finished. Mom? I want to go back to school."

"You don't have to..." Miss Higurashi said in wonder. Why would her daughter want to go back...?

"I want to mum. I want to forget about him." 'How could I ever forget him?' "I want to lead a normal life." 'Nothing's going to be normal from now on.'

"I understand."

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All right, that was the opening for the plot. I'm SO sorry about all the other ones that I have yet to complete, but I can't help it when an idea pops in my head.

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