Disclaimer: I don't own ANYTHING! I don't own the computer I'm using right now. I don't own the house I live in. So if you sue, you get NOTHING! I'm just 13...jeez… why would you wanna sue a little kid anyway? It's bad publicity. I don't even own this series…

Author's Notes: Hi! Chibi again… Yes. I'm aware that it's been like… two months… but I absolutely hated the last Prologue I did so I've decided to start totally from scratch now! ^^ I hope you guys aren't TOO upset with me! I'd hate that! ;_;

Diverted Fate

Prologue

Some Things Just Are

Inuyasha headed toward the bone-eaters well with a resolved look on his face. He knew he couldn't ask her to come back… that would be cruel. He was actually going to have to say goodbye this time, he'd never see her again. If he didn't… how could he move on?

As he walked out from the forest, the intense change in sunlight made him wince. When he opened his eyes he found Kagome sitting on the edge of the well. She was sitting to his side. Her gaze rested upon her lap while her hair blew slightly in the gentle breeze. He stared at her a moment, transfixed.

She turned to face him, her eyes sad, depressed… and she stood up.

"I went back to my time… wondering about you… Kikyo… a-and me…" Kagome began. Her eyes slid from his to the ground then off to the side.

"Kagome. I'm so ---"

"It's ok Inuyasha… I-I understand how you feel. I convinced myself that I couldn't come back because of it." Kagome gracefully sat back down on the well side and stared ahead of her.

"Kagome… before I met you, I didn't trust anyone. But then… I saw you cry for me, and how no matter what happened, you were always right there at my side. Whenever I'm with you, I feel at ease and happy. I began to think that is would always be that way. But I'm not supposed to feel that way. Kikyo… Kikyo gave her life coming after me. It's only right that I repay her sacrifice with my own."

Kagome turned back to face him and nodded slightly.

"Mm-hmm. I can't compete with Kikyo… because I'm still alive." She paused to choose her words in her mind before she went on. "I thought a lot about Kikyo and I realized, she and I are entirely different. Everyone's been saying that I'm her reincarnation. Even if I am, I'm not her. I'm me…Kagome. I have my own heart. The thing is, I do understand one feeling Kikyo has… because it's one I share with her. We both wanted to be with you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha looked slightly taken aback when Kagome said this. She simple turned to him with a small smile on her face.

"It's actually funny you know? As soon as it struck me that we share this mutual feeling… I felt a little better. That's how I managed to summon the courage to come see you…"

The weak smile that had rested itself upon her features suddenly slid away, as though she had come to an unpleasant decision in her mind. She stood up and slowly made her way toward him, not daring to meet his eyes.

"But now... I can't. I want you to be happy, Inuyasha. I can't keep playing second place to Kikyo. If you want to go with her… I'm not going to stop you… I-I won't get in your way anymore." Kagome chanced a darting glance at his expression. He seemed resigned to something… almost sad... but not quite.

"Kagome…"

She found herself at a sudden loss for words. She choked back a sob and fought against the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks… She knew he hated it when she cried…

Inuyasha impulsively pulled her shaking frame into a tight embrace. Unfortunately, instead of having the desired effect --- to make her stop crying --- she began sobbing harder on his shoulder. He just held her there. When her legs seemed to fail her and she began to fall to the ground, her crouched down beside her, refusing to let go.

When Kagome pulled back, she still wouldn't meet his eyes.

"I'm sorry…" whispered Kagome.

"Wha---? Why are you---?"

Instead of answering his question, she abruptly stood up and viciously scrubbed the tears from her eyes. Completely forgetting the Shikon shards she still carried with her, she broke into a run, beginning to feel suffocated in his presence.

Stunned for a moment, Inuyasha stood, gazing after her until he came to his senses. He nearly slapped himself. He chased after her. There was no way he was going to let her leave like that… He'd known she probably would have left… but he didn't want her to go like this…

The fact that she was crying, and that he was the cause of it was at the foremost part of his mind, gnawing at his conscience.

"Kagome! Wait!"

She chose to ignore him and simply ran faster, knowing all the while that it was futile. He was much faster than she was. Sure enough, in no time at all, he was behind her. He grabbed her shoulders and forced her around to face him.

"Inuyasha… just let me go…"

"I'm not going to let you leave like that! Kagome… don't just leave m--- everyone like this…" He had wanted to say

"me". He didn't want her to leave him. Although he knew he was probably being selfish… still…

Kagome finally looked at him and what he saw nearly broke him. Kagome was crying, but this time she wasn't crying for him… she was crying because of him. Her expression was so pained…

Kagome wrenched free from his grip but made no move to run. She dropped her head again and stared to the side.

"Inuyasha… sit." It barely came out as a whisper.

"Damn it Kag---!" Inuyasha's voice was cut off as he slammed into the ground. Kagome shot off, determined to get out of there. She didn't exactly have an idea as to where she was going at the moment… She just knew she had to get away from him…

Author's Notes: THANK GOD FOR SPELLING CHECK!!! ^^ Well, have to go now! Byeness!