"Inuyasha."

Jerked so suddenly from his thoughts, the half-demon frowned and turned his glowing yellow gaze to the woman standing in front of him.

"Inuyasha, you seem... distracted this night," Kikyou murmured. She shrugged one slim pale shoulder slightly, allowing the heavy white silk of her kimono to slide down her arm, baring the faintest hint of cleavage. "Is there something on your mind?"

Silence spread out between them like a thick winter blanket and the dead priestess, longing to fill both the quiet and the emptiness inside herself, reached out her slender hands and grasped her lover's haori, pulling it open to expose his chest. Cold fingers caressed his warm skin and Inuyasha shuddered slightly at the icy chill in her touch.

"Inuyasha," she said again, dark brows furrowing, "is something bothering you?"

A gruff "Hn" was her only response and Inuyasha turned his head away, his gaze on the trees at the edge of the clearing, over her head. His expression told her that wherever his mind was, it was thousands of miles away from their rendezvous point.

Kikyou's already grave face grew more somber.

Across the forest

"Miko," the deep baritone purred in her ear, making her shiver with a mixture of want and apprehension. "Miko, you are distracted."

Kagome turned her head, looking away from the golden eyes the so resembled his... but they were colder, frostier than those she had come to know and love.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, brown eyes staring at the dirt. "It's just... I mean... I know he's... he's with her right now, but..." The high school girl sighed and lifted her head to pin the demon prince with a tortured gaze. "It still hurts, you know? And... I feel like I'm betraying him."

The ice king quirked one pale brow and the corners of his lips twitched, as though he were stifling a smile. He seemed surprised.

"Betraying him?" he echoed, a hint of confusion in his tone. "Tell me, miko, how you could possibly be betraying someone who has proven, time and again, that he is unworthy of your care."

Kagome sighed. "I don't think you'll understand, Sesshoumaru."

Sesshoumaru frowned, pulling away slightly to glare at her. "Do not presume to insult this one with such a flimsy excuse, woman. Now tell me... how are you betraying him?"

She suddenly wished the ground would swallow her up and she looked anywhere but at his face.

"Well... I mean... I know he's with Kikyou and they're probably, um... getting intimate, but... I still shouldn't be here. She was his first love and it's wrong of me to try to come between them, even if she does want to drag him to hell with her." She knew she was babbling, but once the words had started coming out, she couldn't seem to get them to stop. "And I know I'm just a replacement for her, but I still... I shouldn't be here with Inuyasha's worst enemy after Naraku, letting... this sort of thing happen."

Sesshoumaru moved forward then, his arms entrapping the woman in front of him. He leaned down, craning his neck as he breathed in the sweet lavender scent of her hair.

"Ka-go-me," he intoned softly, his voice a quiet sing-song, "he has betrayed you more than once. He has left you unprotected while he rushes off to rut with the walking clay pot. Given a choice, he would save her life before he would save yours. And you still give and give to him. Tell me, priestess, will you give to someone so unworthy until you are a well run dry? Until you grow old and frail and realize that you have squandered your life, giving to someone who will never give back? Or will you seize the opportunity to take from someone who gives willingly... someone to whom you can also give without fear of being robbed blind?"

Kagome turned her head as the dog demon prince leaned in and nuzzled her neck; her expression was full of consternation.

Was he right?


"Nevermind, I'll find
someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you two
Don't forget me, I beg
I remember you said
'Sometimes it lasts in love
but sometimes it hurts instead'"

-------------------------------------

Just a random idea that popped into my head while I was listening to "Someone Like You" from Adele.

The lyrics at the end aren't mine. They are the copyright of Adele. Inuyasha and co. are the copyright of Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Media.

So don't sue, 'cause I'm not making money off this.

Hope you enjoy!