Not All Love Hurts by Tsurara-hime

Betrayal

'It hurts..'

'I can't take it anymore! Inuyasha... how could you?' Kagome's mind screamed in frustration, doubling in anger when she heard no replies whatsoever to her question. Running through the forest with her just her bow and arrows to rely on is not really a good idea at all. Tears streamed down to her cheeks from her puffy eyes. A while ago when she was watching Inuyasha kissing Kikyou in front of the Goshinboku tree, she felt her heart fell.

Inuyasha had told Kikyou that he didn't stop thinking of her every single day and that he always imagines her face even when she's not by his side. Now that she is beside him, he would not let her go and promised to protect her forever.

'I thought he said that I'm the one whom he will protect forever. I guess his heart was lying that time, maybe he thought that I was Kikyou.' She cried even harder. 'Why can't he realize that she is only a walking corpse filled with dead souls, she will never be the same Kikyou that he had known before. Why can't he love me instead? I know I'm not like her, but at least I have a beating heart and a living mind.' She closed her eyes, not looking where she was going. Thousands of emotion bubbled up inside her and all threatened to burst inside of her. All she wanted was to get far away from the place where she saw them kissing, how she wished to die.

She kept flashing the events that had happened last week. 'I should have believed what he was saying that time, that once he sees Kikyou, his attention will be hers. But he promised... he promised not to hurt me anymore...'

"Inuyasha? What are you doing?" Kagome asked curiously while walking towards the sulking hanyou, he had been silent all afternoon; he didn't even talk while eating dinner. Normally he would start bickering with Shippou and create chaos that seems to lighten up the mood of everyone.

"Huh? Um... nothing." he answered silently; eyes remained glued to the blazing fire in front of him, making his amber eyes glow eerily.

"Inuyasha... you can tell me what is bothering you, maybe I can help." She offered genuinely. She was beginning to worry; never had she seen Inuyasha like this - he look so troubled.

"No, nothing is bothering me Kagome, go to sleep." He said calmly, his tone making no room for further discussion. Kagome raised an eyebrow, 'That's a surprise, he didn't call me wench!'

He wanted to be left alone, but somehow, he likes to be with Kagome for her presence makes him feel warm inside. He had been thinking all day. 'How should I deal with this! I love Kikyou but I also love Kagome, a little. I can't just leave her; she's the one who makes me feel whole again after what had happened 50 years ago. Her scent, her movements, even a sigh could bring him into his senses, so why is he contemplating? A large part of him kept reminding him of his promise to his deceased lover, yet he could bear to see her pained eyes strained at his being. 'Better to tell her now than never.'

"Are you sure? You look so troubled, maybe you should tell me, I promise I won't tell anyone." She held up her right hand and made a sign, of course he wouldn't know what it meant. Inuyasha stared directly into her serious eyes, without the scent of deceit, he nodded.

"All right I will tell you, but before that can I asked a question? It's about a friend of mine." Inuyasha said, hoping she will fall into it.

"Sure! What's about your friend?" she asked happily and because of that Inuyasha agreed to tell her what's bothering him after the question.

He took a deep breath. "It's because he loves two women, the one is from the past but came back and the other is the one who he recently travel with and develop feelings with her, and he thinks that the recent girl also have feelings for him. But the mind of the guy is saying that he loves the past girl more and he can't control that even if he says that he loves the recent girl. Once he sees the past girl, his attention will be on the past girl once more and his love for the recent girl will cease to exist. Should he tell the recent girl that he loves her before it's too late even if that will hurt her feelings?" he asked seriously, practically gnawing his lips and puncturing his hand with his claws.

"Ouch! That was a tough question; well then, ummm... let's see..." She's tapping her fingers on her forehead as she thinks. 'It is almost similar to what's happening between me, Inuyasha and Kikyou. But one thing is different though, Inuyasha doesn't love me, he only protects me because I can see the Shikon shards.' She shook her head from the thought and looked at Inuyasha whose attention was now all over the fire again.

"Well, I think that the guy should be honest to his feelings even if he will hurt the recent girl, but in that way, the recent girl should accept the truth, but still, the guy should still control himself not to hurt the recent girl again, because in my opinion, the girl will run far away and never wish to see the guy again," she answered intelligently.

'Well since that is her answer, maybe I should tell her, but then, I should be careful not to hurt her again.'' he took three deep breaths and stared at Kagome's eyes, careful not to miss one reaction from her.

"Um...Kagome...um...I...need to tell you about... um..." Inuyasha can't help himself; he didn't want to hurt her feelings like this. This is not supposed to happen.

"Yes Inuyasha, what are you going to tell me?" she asked nervously, the look Inuyasha gave her made her think that this is going to be a bad conversation.

"Well...you see...um... arrgggh!" Inuyasha scratched his head painfully to recover from his speech.

"Hey calm down, it is still not the end of the world, right? Just take a deep breath and tell me. Relax...relax." She held out a hand and placed it on Inuyasha's shoulder, to calm him down. Then he took another deep breath and removed Kagome's hand off his shoulder and placed it on his chest.

"Kagome, I know you'll hate me for this, but the story that I had told you just now is about us. You, Kikyou and me. You told me that I should be honest to my feelings and tell you the truth; part of my mind said that I love you but a larger part of it says that I love Kikyou more than you. I don't know what will happen in the future, but one thing I know, I'm meant to follow Kikyou." He settled Kagome on his lap; while Kagome was shocked at the explanation.

'He loves both of us?' Tears fell from her eyes. Inuyasha saw this and began to hug her, and then he turned Kagome's face towards him and wiped out the tears with his thumb. "Don't cry Kagome. You know I hate to see you crying," He whispered silently to her right ear. 'Please don't hate me Kagome, please... I never wanted to hurt your feelings; one day you will find a guy who will be perfect for you and you will forget what happened between us.' He mentally noted.

"Don't worry Kagome, I promise not hurt you anymore, I promise." He vowed silently and buried his face in her hair. "One day, you will find a guy better than me."

"He broke his promise to me... I shouldn't have believed that he will not hurt me anymore..." she cried in despair, all seems to fall apart before her. His promises to her were meaningless compared to his promises to the dead priestess, while hers are being broken; the other woman had the loyalty of his blind heart.

She sobbed harder and kneeled where she was standing. "I'm alone again! Why did it had to be me? Why?"

And again, she was greeted with silence.

She finally stood up on her wobbly legs, walking aimlessly towards a large tree nearby and sat down, her knees in front of her chest and weapons discarded carelessly. She rested her forehead on top of her knees, not knowing where she was.

'I didn't love anyone like I love you, Inuyasha. But I can't do what I told you, I can't accept the truth.'

"Sesshoumaru-sama! Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin called with glee, "Rin picked these for you!"

The young girl made a happy squeal and latched her stubby hands on the taiyoukai's hakama. Behind her was the poor old retainer, muttering curses and wildly swinging his staff of heads trying to catch up.

Sesshoumaru wordlessly took the flowers and gave a gratifying nod, although for outsiders it might seem to be a bit rude, the kid was beaming brightly at it. Smiling yet again, she bounded to his opposite direction and outrunning Jaken.

The old toad croaked when his bulging yellow eyes caught sight of his charge's checkered kimono sailing through the air. Abruptly turning around and tripping on his own footing, he cursed under his breath yet once more.

"Rin! Come back here you little-"

Rin's head turned towards his direction and giggled, bouncing towards him in full speed. She hastily stopped in front of him, making the toad eat dirt. He sputtered curses and opened his mouth to reprimand the child.

"Gomen ne Jaken-sama!" she gasped and kneeled in front of the muddy youkai. Using her sleeve, she gently wiped his face, clearing his vision. The toad squawked uncomfortably and huffed, shooing the kid away.

"Away you go brat!"

"Jaken-sama?"

"What now?"

"Why are you red?"

His eyes could have bugle out even further if its sockets would allow. "What are you implying you puny little human!" Of course that won't be true right? Why would he, of all youkai, be blushing? 'No, the nuisance is only playing with this loyal retainer! I couldn't possibly be-' raising his eyes to meet his lord's amber ones for help.

His lordship was smirking.

Eyes rolled back and the poor toad fainted, succeeding in burying his face on the mud once more. Rin grimaced and fled away, her wavy locks bouncing behind her. The taiyoukai stared amusedly at his companions, 'Such foolishness.'

A familiar scent reached his sensitive nose, wrinkling in distaste as he remembered the woman his brother travel with. 'So, the hanyou is here.' Yet the once enticing strawberry scent was marred with salty tears. His eyebrows rose, 'Perhaps the fool had gone to see his corpse bride again.'

He followed the scent's direction and stepped on the sprawled toad, standing on the poor retainer and being ignorant of the cries beneath him.

"Rin, Jaken, I will leave for a while." Rin's brightened smile turned into a slight frown.

"Can Rin come with Sesshoumaru-sama?" she asked, eyeing the squeaking youkai beneath the lord's foot.

"No, you are to stay with Jaken at all times. Understand?" his voice left no room for further discussion. Rin nodded solemnly and stared at her muddy foot.

"Hai, Rin understands. Will Sesshoumaru-sama be back?" again, Sesshoumaru couldn't help but be amused at the sight she made, the child always ask that silly question after all.

"I will be back before midnight." With additional ruffles on her head, she finally swallowed her fear and launched herself to his legs, further adding the weight on the forgotten living floor mat.

"Hai! Come along Jaken-sama! Let's dig worms!" she knelt down and poke the bottle green head with a stick, he grunted and Rin clapped her hands together, happy that her living torture plaything is still breathing.

"Jaken, don't let anything happen to Rin." There was this underlying threat that didn't need to be said out loud. Without waiting for an answer, Sesshoumaru bended his knees in a stance where he took off onto the sky elegantly, smirking at the sickening crack of Jaken's spine and his cries of pain.

'I'm near.'

As he walked nearer, he saw that the woman curled up in a fetal position, sobs racking her obviously shivering figure. It had started showering a while ago, he scented the sky.

'A storm is fast approaching.'

And the following thing that crossed his mind was to find a shelter for the miko, feeling disgusted of his sudden thought, he turned away and walked towards the opposite direction.

"Who's there?"

The downpour had toughened by the passing minute, suiting her mood. Perhaps the Gods had their meeting on how to make her more miserable, 'Well, thank you.' She thought sarcastically, eyeing the squirrel that scampered past her obviously finding a suitable shelter.

A swift movement caught her eyes and fleeting silver shimmered under the moonlight. 'Inuyasha? No, it can't be. He's with Kikyou...'

"Who's there?" she heard herself calling out, stopping the stranger on its tracks and amber orbs met her cerulean ones.

"I would suggest you to leave my lands before I make you do so." His emotionless voice pierced the sound of thunder that boomed up ahead. Kagome immediately stiffened in respond, 'That voice!'

"Se-Sesshoumaru! What are you doing here?" she eyed her bows lying on the corner, cursing herself for not discarding it where she could just grab it. Sesshoumaru raised an elegant eye brow.

"I should be the one asking you that question, woman." His eyes narrowed at her direction, noting how her right hand twitched at the direction of her weapons. He growled low and in a matter of a second, had his deadly claws on her throat, cutting her air supply.

She gasped in fear and coughed violently, trying to get some oxygen to her lungs, but the claws dug further and all she could muster now is a pathetic whimper.

"I can't- br-breath-" she manage to cough out, his hand didn't lessen its hold on her fragile neck, he was not convinced. "I'll ex-plane af-der you l-let go!" Sesshoumaru inclined his head and unceremoniously drop his hold on her, making her land on her bottom painfully.

She coughed harshly and grunted 'thanks'. Sesshoumaru growled low and examined his claws, flicking invisible dirt that lay underneath his sharp nails. First she promised explanation and now she just sat there wasting his precious time. Kagome gulped the lump on her throat.

"I'm deeply sorry to trespass your territory, it didn't occur to me that I was away from Inuyasha's forest." She was rewarded with an indignant huff.

"It is unwise for a woman to travel in these woods unaccompanied. Come." He abruptly turned away from her and started to lead the way, not caring whether she follows or not.

"Wait! Why are you helping me?" Kagome couldn't help but ask, after all, it isn't everyday the taiyoukai spares a life and volunteers the way out, right?

"I wouldn't want bloodshed in my territory, and certainly not yours."

"Maa maa!" Kagome laughed nervously, not knowing if that was supposed to be a compliment or a distasteful spat. Scratching the back of her neck, she decided to follow his lead, what else can she do?

All of a sudden, a violent howl resounded and frantic movements of the bushes made her raise her bow ready for attack. Sesshoumaru remained impassive but his striped hand reached for Toukijin's hilt.

Jaken and Rin came out of the bushes, several parts of their kimono torn and tattered. Jaken looked up and caught sight of the startled miko and the obviously pissed master.

"I told you to take care of Rin." He growled out, eyeing the fear clouded eyes of his ward. Jaken opened his mouth to explain but was interrupted with Rin's high pitch scream.

"Help Rin Sesshoumaru-sama!" it's mildly amusing to see the child screaming for help and still referring herself as third person. The ogre youkai, the size of a 3 storey building, towered over them with Rin on his claws.

"Rin!" Sesshoumaru and Kagome both shouted at the same time. Sesshoumaru readied out his sword to slash it to the youkai's arm, but the youkai just simply smacked the blade out from his hold and it fell directly towards Kagome. Kagome dodge the impact but went flying over Jaken's head. His head become flat as a paper but recover within a few seconds murmuring curses about lowly humans.

"Sorry Jaken." Kagome muttered apologetically. She drew an arrow from the quiver and focused her priestess powers onto the sharp edge of the wood.

"Sesshoumaru! Get ready to catch Rin!" She didn't even wait for his reply because she knew Sesshoumaru heard her even when she was meters away from him with his good hearing. Sesshoumaru yelled something at her, but she didn't hear him because of the noises the creature was making. What happened was, when Kagome told him that, it distracted him enough that the youkai found an opening. It had shot him with its poison and left him immobile.

She concentrated in aiming the arrow in the youkai's arm, but halted when she felt a Shikon shard pulse in the youkai's forehead. She switched her direction of aiming from the arm towards the forehead, and then finally released the arrow with purifying powers with it. It hit the youkai straight where the shards were located, within a second, the youkai was purified and that left Rin falling back down the ground.

All she heard was Rin's cries for help and Sesshoumaru nowhere to be seen near the falling child. She threw her weapons aside and cursed the irresponsible dog demon.

"Rin! Hang on!" She didn't know where Sesshoumaru was, but one thing she knew. She has to save Rin before she breaks her bones from the fall even if it meant breaking hers instead. She ran towards her direction that would have easily outrun a demon child and stop where Rin would fall.

'Oh my god.'