The Miko and the Demon (Sesshomaru x Kagome)

Decision made

Notes: thinking is in italics , bold is a demon's inner beast
Bold and italics at the beginning and end of the chapter is an author note by me
PS: Sesshomaru only comes in at the next part or part three, I'll try to update soon!

No one's pov:
Kagome sat at the fire, making some stew using the meat from the deer Inuyasha brought back. She stood up, "Inuyasha!" She walked around, trying to sense his presence, but failing. Miroku and Sango were in a tent, setting the bedding and sleeping bags for the night, so they wouldn't have to if they were too sleepy after dinner.

"Miroku, Sango! You can go eat now, the food's all done!" Kagome called back.
"All right." Sango laid her weapon down next to her tent.

Kagome wandered around the nearby trees, wanting to call Inuyasha back before the food got cold. She heard a slight noise, that could have been the wind, but went to check it out anyway. Kagome walked around a clump of bushes and heard someone whisper something.

"I love you." Inuyasha. Kagome's stomach lurched, and she was filled with an overwhelming sense of dread. The person he was addressing....had to be Kikyo.

"Even more than that slutty reincarnation of mine?" A smooth, nearly emotionless voice replied. That bitch! Why does everyone assume I'm a slut because my skirt doesn't sweep the floor?!
"Of course! I would drop her in a moment to be with you. She's just your copy, Kikyo. We needed her to detect the shards, That's all. If you would just join us, I'd never bother with her again. You're the one I really love," Inuyasha insisted. Kagome stood there, throat dry and eyes blank, trying to process what she had just heard.

He could be under a spell.....but Kikyo is looking back at me with that snug expression, as if she's won something. She would only do that if Inuyasha truly meant what he said, and she didn't pull any tricks to cause it. So that means......Her heart sunk once she realized what this meant. Inuyasha had called her names before and done a few mean things, but she'd never anything heard anything as horrible as what had just come out of his mouth. She was devastated.

She did the only thing she could think of; she ran. Kagome sprinted randomly into the forest, without a care about where she was headed. The decision was made: she was going to leave the group. Crouched under a tree, she cried for hours, lamenting the loss of her closest friends. When she had calmed down a bit, she ambled back to camp. Apparently, Kikyo had decided to invite herself to the dinner that took Kagome hours to prepare. Inuyasha sat inches beside the undead priestess, murmuring something in her ear.

Kagome didn't spare even a glance for the couple. Yay. She came over for dinner. Wonderful. Miroku and Sango sensed that something was wrong, and exchanged concerned glances.

Miroku pulled her aside, speaking in a low tone. "Lady Kagome, are you...alright?"
"Yeah, Everything's fine." Kagome avoided his eyes. What an overused line, she thought.

She returned to her tent early and wrote a letter to her friends. Knowing that the old woman would understand her situation and stay silent, Kagome gave the letter to Kaede. Hopefully, the old woman would listen to her and not open the letter until three days had passed.

Kagome knew it was Inuyasha's human night, so she could escape easily once the sleeping pill she put in his food took effect. She took a bare minimum of her things (as it would weigh her down) and put them in a small black bag. The big yellow one was way too visible. A few different changes of clothes, a very small kettle for boiling water, a matchbox, a torch, canned foods, a can opener, some pencils and paper, a few mini school waterproof textbooks (which she had acquired after she kept ruining books in battles with demons), a towel, a compressed sleeping bag, a small amout of feudal era money that she had saved up, a hair brush, and hair bands were all she took with her.

She thought about her letter one more time.

Dear friends and Inuyasha,

I have decided not to put up with Inuyasha's betrayals anymore. I am sick of his insults, and he has caused me too much pain and heartbreak. I am not just a share detector, and I'm more than just a copy of Kikyo. And henceforth, I will not tolerate anyone who says or thinks otherwise. I am leaving the group to hunt for shards on my own, since it is still my responsibility to restore the Shikon Jewel.

Sango: I have always thought of you as a dear sister, and I'm sorry if my leaving causes you any sorrow. I will be back one day. Also, don't keep pushing Miroku away, you know he loves you.
Miroku: Try to pursue Sango without lecherous thoughts or actions ; you might see a difference. You were like a brother to me, and always cheered me up when I was down.
Kaede: Thank you for teaching me all that you know about herbs and plants, it was a great help. You were always there for me when I needed help.
If HE is reading this, I have no words for HIM or that CLAY POT.

PS: Shippo, if you wish it, I would take you too too, but it will likely be too dangerous for you to go with me. I'm sorry, and I will probably be back. Probably. But know that I'll always love you. Goodbye everyone.

Yours Truly,
Kagome