Falling Around Me by Destiny

Even Heroes Fall

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters.

Falling Around Me

Chapter 1: Even Heroes Fall

When I was younger I believed in all the bull that most young girls of five and below do. My parents were recently married and I was dreaming of the best, two parents finally together, that happily ever after and the gold at the end of the rainbow. To say my hopes were broken is not even all of the statement. No. My hopes were destroyed, built back up, and so easily torn down again.

They fought a lot.

I cried even more. Tried as hard as four-year-old can to fix it. But mommy was always mad and used all her pain as a reason to hurt me; busted lips and missed days of school, black eyes, and beatings that usually left some noticeable scar. Daddy had joined the military a bit after the wedding and was constantly out to sea. No one left to care and mommy really didn't mean to hurt me so I attempted to push past it. Never once did I complain to a soul.

Never once had I given up on hope.

Christmas was one of the easier times for us. A little less confusion and hurt and maybe even the family we could be. And hope was even stronger then. But when I was six Hope threw me for another loop as Santa ignored wishes for a better home life. Things had gotten worse. I think that was the year I realized Santa Claus didn't really exist at all.

I was seven when I met him.

Inuyasha.

He was always so ready to forget and move on as most young children do. He was adventurous, always dragging me along on some crazy outing possibly to look for buried treasure or to find a jungle. He was protective, almost selfish with me. The children in the playground, they weren't allowed to speak to me, or was it I to them? If his mother spent a moment of her time fretting over me he would throw a fit and drag me away. It wasn't a thing I was quite used to but at the time it was what I needed though I may not have realized it then of course. He brought back the naïve side of me and the belief in hope that I'd given up on, what seemed lifetimes ago, was stronger then it had ever been.

Our seventh grade year I'd had the hugest crush on him. I guess you could say it caused problems. I wanted to be with him in ways he couldn't understand. He wasn't ready for that type of commitment. Still too wrapped up in immaturity to care about what I was trying to say and it lead to fights and long arguments that seemed to have no end or point at that matter. We were both so very selfish and too confused to care.

Our freshman year my dream came true. Our small group of friends back then (Miroku, Sango, Jakotsu, and Bankostu) said we were made for each other. He was a bit controlling about the relationship and I never did anything to stop it but maybe I should have. He was one of the few people who knew about the family problems and cared. He held me, though he usually wasn't so affectionate, when I needed a moment to not be the strong one and cry. So I guess you could say we were perfect. Things continued on this way all throughout high school until that summer. And that's when I found out how truly ignorant I was willing to be. I had noticed the signs long ago and chose to ignore them. It's crazy how a few words can change an outlook so fast.

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We were headed to god knows where. Everyone piled into Bankostu's "shaggy van". Back then it was so easy just to pick up and go. But I guess that's how it is when you're young. Inuyasha sat in the front with Bankotsu while the rest of us lounged in the back.

Miroku threw a smile at me and some light conversation came from Jakotsu and Sango. "How was the movie the other day? I saw you and Inuyasha at the theaters," the question seemed to almost appear out of nowhere, not even having any actual relation to the current conversation, "I never got a chance to say hey though. You all seemed a bit rushed." Leave it to Jakotsu to bring up something that no one would think to be mentioned.

I looked a moment at the back of Inuyasha's white head, which only moments before had been bobbing along unconsciously to the music. Now he sat with a stillness that almost fascinated me. I had this strange urge to just study him. Curious if he would say anything to me. If there would be any change at all. Or would we just continue on as if nothing happened. I think I may have let it go if he hadn't cleared his throat and tried to carry on a conversation with Bankotsu. If only he would have been silent and hung his head in shame. But he didn't. So long to us being fate.

"You son of a bitch." My voice seemed to make things grow even quieter though I couldn't have been above a whisper. "You were with Kikyo weren't you?" I could feel the tears burning behind my eyes. I didn't want to cry. Not in front of him. Not in front of anyone. Ever again. This was just one too many times to be hurt.

He turned his head to look at me. Those amber orbs pleading to except a lie. "She was in town and I thought..."

I held my hand up to silence him. I didn't want to hear a twist of the truth. How many other times had he lied to me? "You thought what Inuyasha? I don't want to hear the bullshit I'm not up for it."

"Damnit Kagome! I am telling the truth! Why can't you just accept that?" I don't know when my fingers curled up or my arm pulled back but I do remember the loud crack that sounded off from his jaw. Don't know when I got out the car and started walking down the road to no where but I do remember the honking of horns as they beeped me out of the way. I don't remember how I got to my door step so fast but I do recall the warmth of my mother's arms for the first time in a life time. But most of all I remember the tears and that aching gap where my heart used to be.

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I can't deny I loved him with all the honesty that a trusting girl can give. In my mind he was the entire universe, my rock inside this fucked up place that we call life. That is until he took my heart and crushed it as though it was some useless thing. It's almost funny now how much I trusted and believed in him. But he taught me one lesson I'll never be able to forget.

Even heroes' fall.