Disclaimer:  Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi.  "Black Clouds," © Papa Roach.  Story and plot © Sabre.

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ж Breaking Point ж

Scroll One: Breakdown

Kagome sighed and looked out the door of Kaede's hut from where she lay on the floor.  Rain beat against the small building in torrents as lightning flashed, illuminating the small room.  All but her were asleep.  Sango slept as far away from Miroku as she could, one hand resting on her boomerang.  Shippô was curled up against Sango's back.  Miroku was across from her, resting next to the fire.  Inuyasha was sleeping in a dark corner of the room, but his ears still twitched every once in a while. 

Her head was pounding, and the pain seemed to escalate every time thunder crashed above.  She grabbed her pack and searched until she found the painkillers.  She swallowed two and turned over so she was on her stomach and resting her head on her arms.  The reason for her headache and lack of sleep came back to her.  So many mixed thoughts were running through her mind.

The shards.

Naraku.

And Kikyo.

She shuddered at that last name.  Memories of yesterday came rushing back to her, making her bite her lip in anger and hurt.

After making camp, Kagome had decided to go look for the hot spring Miroku had said was near the campsite.  Inuyasha had disappeared a while before her, running off into the forest.  He always disappeared when it was the new moon, since he preferred to be alone while human.

She trekked carefully down the forest path, until a chill ran through her spine, caused by an evil aura.  Following the aura, she found herself in a clearing. 

Not a hundred yards from where she was stood Kikyo and another person.  Kagome's heart stopped when she realized it was Inuyasha – now human.  He was holding Kikyo and appeared to be talking to her softly. 

She bit back a sob and ducked behind a tree.  She rested her back against the trunk and closed her eyes.  Turning back around to again watch the scene unfolding before her, she saw Kikyo nod reluctantly at something Inuyasha had said.  She turned away and slumped against the tree trunk.  Tears pricked at her eyes and she hurriedly wiped them away before moving back to camp, leaving the couple alone in the clearing.

Back at camp, Miroku and Sango had asked what was wrong, but Kagome plastered a fake smile on her face and told them that she was just tired.

This morning Inuyasha had acted like nothing had happened.  That was what had bothered her the most.  She had remained silent most of the way back to Kaede's.  The rest of the day was similar.

She crawled out of her sleeping bag and pulled on her jeans and a long-sleeved shirt.  Packing up her sleeping bag, she then slung her pack over her shoulder.  She had to get away, even if just for a few days.  And with Inuyasha asleep, she didn't have to worry about him trying to stop her. 

She stopped at the door and lifted up the mat, then turned and looked at her sleeping friends.  Her free hand touched the Shikon shard hanging from the chain around her neck. 

Kagome let her storm-blue eyes wander over the forms of her friends for another moment, then ducked under the mat and disappeared into the rain.

Unknown to her, a pair of narrowed amber-gold eyes watched the whole procedure.

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This is making me crazy

These black clouds following me

So I look for signs of life

But rarely I see them

Kagome made her way to the well, ignoring the rain drops that stung against her face and neck.  Her clothes were soaked and her raven-colored hair hung limply down her back, while her bangs clung to her wet forehead. 

She shifted her pack to the other shoulder and brushed her hair out of her face.  Squinting her eyes to see through the pouring rain, she could barely make out the shape of the Bone Eater's Well ahead of her.  To her right loomed the Goshimboku tree, towering above all the rest of the others. 

I return to my shelter

And I crawl in a bottle

I'm losing my will for this

So over emotional

She was not ten yards away from the well when a red-clad figure landed between her and the well.  Kagome glared at the figure.

"Inuyasha…let me go."  She growled.  He shook his head and simply returned her glare before replying. 

"Feh…now you're trying to escape at night.  What's eating you this time?"

Black clouds

They rain down but

They can't kill the sun

Kagome could feel her emotions about to break through.  She closed her eyes and answered in a flat monotone voice.

"You just don't understand…do you?"  Her eyes opened and Inuyasha was shocked at the fire that burned in her gaze.  He growled when she moved closer to the well.

"What is there to understand?  You're not going home, wench.  Kikyo wouldn't stop looking for the shards just to go home." 

Snap.

Confession of depression

This life I'm second-guessing

Like ashes to ashes

I always seem to fall down

Inuyasha instantly knew he had gone to far. 

Kagome's head was bowed, her bangs hiding her eyes from view. Her whole body was shaking with rage, and her fists were clenched tightly at her sides.  A few drops of blood dripped from her hands where her nails had dug into the soft flesh of her palms.  She was gritting her teeth, and the flashing lightning illuminated her rigid body.

"That….IT!!!!"  She screamed.  He took a few steps back when she exploded.

"I AM FUCKING SICK OF BEING COMPARED TO HER!!  FELLING LIKE NOTHING BUT YOUR DAMN SHARD DETECTOR!!"

I'm tired of running

It's time to face my demons

Confession of depression

This life I'm second-guessing

Kagome was seething.  Her eyes flashed dangerously as she yanked at the Shikon shard, causing the fragile chain to snap.  She clutched it in her hand, the sharp edges cutting into her palm, adding more blood to the crimson flow that her nails had already brought forth.

When she spoke again, her voice was deadly calm, but it was laced with malice.

"Take the fucking shard….go become human for Kikyo and let her take you to hell.  I don't care anymore…because it's obvious you don't either." 

My emotions are storming

And tears fall just like rain

Pain strikes like lightning

Despair is becoming my friend

She tossed the shard at the stunned hanyou.  It landed in the mud at his feet, glowing faintly.  Kagome pushed past him and stood on the lip of the well.  Inuyasha turned to her, his eyes wide.  She cast once last pain-filled gaze back at him.

Tears ran down her cheeks, mixing with the raindrops that already stained her face.

"Sayonara Inuyasha….forever." With those whispered words, she dove into the well.

I'm pushing myself to a point of self-destruction

Kagome leaned against the side of the well once in her time.  The tears still continued to fall, and she buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

She stumbled out of the well house and sunk down to her knees in front of the Goshimboku tree.  Her hands clutched her sides as she hugged herself, trying to gain some semblance of comfort.  The rain mercilessly beat down on her vulnerable form.

Black clouds

They rain down but

They can't kill the sun inside

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Yeah, I re-vamped the first chapter.   The original was really crappy since I wrote it when I was depressed and angry.  Besides, this fits the future plot better. ^^

Please R/R!