InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Phoenix ❯ Hell Hath No Fury ( Chapter 6 )

A/N: Ha! I've finally got this up! It certainly took long enough. I wanted to get this up on Sunday, August 21, since that was my sixteenth birthday, but it didn't work out quite like I had hoped. Then school started up and that's kept me ridiculously busy...damn them! Anyway, I'll babble at the end of the chapter, but for now, just enjoy the 7,300 plus words and get really pissed off at me.

Disclaimer: I own this really cool paperclip that looks like a guitar, and even the new laptop I'm using to write this story, but I don't own InuYasha or Yu Yu Hakusho.

 

 

//The Phoenix\\

§Hell Hath No Fury§

 

 

“There's another reason why you should love your enemies, and that is because hate distorts the personality of the hater. We usually think of what hate does for the individual hated or the individuals hated or the groups hated. But it is even more tragic, it is even more ruinous and injurious to the individual who hates. ... For the person who hates, the true becomes false and the false becomes true. That's what hate does.”

--Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

 

“I'd hate to disappoint you, but I've been threatened by youkai before,” the onna whispered, but with the heavy silence that enshrouded the shrine, she might as well have screamed it to the world. In return for her insolence, Hiei tightened his grip on her shoulders.

 

Before she popped in on the shrine, he had been enjoying a rare sense of contentment standing by the big tree with the patch of bark missing. Fox was looking at it with some signs of interest, but for the most part was concerned for the Grim Reaper. The tree itself was radiating a very protective, soothing aura that seemed to lull him to standing close to it. It also felt mourning, but as soon as the onna set the barrier around the shrine and revealed herself, it seemed quite happy. Of course, disturbing his peace was a point off in her favor, but the strength of her barrier almost made up for it.

 

He was left mildly disheartened and slightly impressed that she hadn't quivered under his patented glare, but that didn't keep him from doing it. The neko was hissing and spitting angrily at him, but a quick gesture from the onna kept it from attacking. He smirked coldly, “Answer the question.”

 

This time, instead of a comeback, a look of deep pain and emotional turmoil seeped thick into her startlingly sapphire-gray eyes before her head faced the ground. A bite of guilt nipped at the edge of his forsaken heart when he sensed that the feeling was strong and genuine. His grip slackened slightly, ready to tighten again should she try to run away, but he was further surprised when she made no move for freedom. Instead, she merely reached into one of her pockets and pulled out a tattered piece of cloth covered in what he could tell to be blood—Keiko's, if the scent on it was anything to go by.

 

“She didn't make it to the precinct,” the onna mumbled before tossing the sleeve over to Yusuke. The detective's face was a mixture of shock and horror as he examined the bloody material. Then slowly, a ferocious anger swept away the other emotions, and, as his power levels rose, the markings of his demonic heritage formed onto his skin and his hair grew past his knees. The miko in his hands stepped gently away; walking carefully towards the Toushin, and—when she was sure that she wouldn't get immediately lashed out at—wrapped her arms around his waist.

 

Hiei's first thought was that the miko was committing suicide, as not many people who enjoy life dare to touch an enraged demon, but he was surprised to see that the hostility and blood-lust in Yusuke's aura was slowly dissipating, though the dark blue markings still remained, sharply contrasting against the tan skin. The aura that she previously held under tight guard released slightly to where he knew she held it normally, soothing out the aggression in Yusuke. The curious thought of what and how much she was hiding beneath those veils came before he banished them to the back of his mind for later pondering.

 

§

 

“The pure are soiled,

And the soiled are purified.

What is good is evil,

And what is evil is good.

To live is to die,

And to die is to live…”

 

“Is there a point to you singing or are you going to tell us why the fuck we're here?” Shizuru asked irritably from her place on the tree. She couldn't see any trace of her kidnapper, didn't even know what the woman looked like to be perfectly honest, but she really didn't care at this point. Her friends were hurt, something she didn't take lightly, and the woman didn't even have the decency to come out of the safety of the trees or explain what the hell they were doing here.

 

A rustling in the brush to her left brought her attention to the silhouette of a fairly tall female draped in shadow, making her features indistinguishable. “You are very rude. Though, honestly, I didn't expect much less from the friend and relative of those damn Reikai dogs,” the woman spat in disgust. Groaning alerted her to the fact that Shiori and Keiko finally awoke, and Yukina regained consciousness once more. “Good,” the woman said with bitterness. “The more the merrier, right?”

 

Shizuru and Keiko gasped as the woman finally stepped into the light. “You…you look…” Keiko's voice trailed, lost for words. The woman glared coldly with dark brown eyes, a hearty contrast from the vibrant blue-grey they were familiar with, and angrily pushed a stray forelock behind her ear before dusting off some dirt from her red hakamas and black haori. A bow and a quiver of arrows were fastened to her back and a mirror was held between the woman's hip and the tie holding up her pants.

 

“Don't be so foolish, little girl. It is not I who looks like your Kagome; it is she who looks like me. You really have no knowledge of what she is, do you?” the woman asked, not really expecting an answer.

 

“Who…who are you?” the timid voice of Shiori asked, completely bewildered by this turn of events. “What do you want with us? What did we ever do to you?”

 

The woman sent them a chilling smirk. “My name is Kikyo, and I happen to be a little dead right now, but that won't last very long.”

 

“Dead?” Shiori asked, and Shizuru could tell she was feeling slightly sick to her stomach.

 

“Yes, dead. I died approximately five hundred and fifty-three years ago, when I was killed by a despicable demon that lusted after me and my power. I was cremated after my death.” Kikyo walked around the clearing, idly looking at her captives.

 

Shizuru glared at the woman in disgust. “So you're here to take it out on us? That's real mature of a woman who is over five hundred years old,” she said sarcastically. She quickly fell prey to those empty brown eyes.

 

“Actually, you are nothing more than bait and hopefully some sustenance for me. You see, in order to continue this wretched existence, I must utilize the souls of dead women. Youkai souls aren't quite as nice as human, not as filling either, so I come here every fifty years for the Harvest. But this year…this year will be special.”

 

Just as Shizuru was going to ask why, Shiori inadvertently cut her off. “Youkai? Youkai really exist?”

 

Shizuru froze and raised her eyes to meet Keiko's, who had likewise stilled. How could they have forgotten that Shiori didn't know anything about the Makai or the fact that her own son harbors the soul of a legendary youkai thief? Kikyo's dark chuckling interrupted their shock. “That's right! I almost overlooked the fact that you really haven't a clue as to why you're bait in the first place!” Kikyo admitted, actually seeming to be happy about something. After she calmed a bit, she turned to a frightened Shiori and continued. “Have you not ever wondered at the odd maturity that your son exhibited at such a young age? Or the fact that sometimes he can be gone from time to time at random intervals? Well, I'll let you in on his big little secret…”

 

“Don't you dare!” Yukina cried, hiruiseki falling from her eyes as the tears gave way. “Don't you dare twist the truth into some disgusting lies! Kurama loves his mother more than life itself, and has proven so many, many times! He's done everything he ever could to ensure her safety, to protect her from beings like you! He loves her like any good son wou-”

 

“Silence, you dirty youkai!” Kikyo commanded, interrupting a rare outburst from the Ice Maiden. Kikyo seemed all too eager in making the branches holding the Koorime tighten in warning.

 

“Kurama…?” Shiori asked, more to herself than to anyone else.

 

“Yes,” Kikyo answered, “Kurama is your son's alias, and is used by those who know of his secrets. You see, your precious Shuuichi is hardly human anymore. Before your son's birth, a rather legendarily ruthless spirit fox thief was killed by a demon hunter, and take a guess as to who this kitsune chose to vessel his soul?” Before the shocked mother could say a single word, Kikyo took the liberty of answering for her. “Exactly, your son. Tell me, does it hurt to know that your `perfect' son isn't so perfect?”

 

For one long moment, everyone who was awake watched as the shock slowly faded into indecision before finally settling on what was very clearly determination. Shiori looked up into Kikyo's face and stated with no doubt, “I love my son.”

 

“Even though, by all means, the only part of him that is human is his soul?” Kikyo asked, a thin frown forming on her lips.

 

“I love my son.” It was stated with such conviction, and such truth, that Shizuru relaxed in the knowledge that, no matter what happens, Kurama can rest safe knowing that his mother loves him as he is.

 

Kikyo scowled. “He's a thief! He had to work for Reikai as Community Service when he and his associates robbed one of the most heavily guarded vaults of the Three Dark Treasures!”

 

At this, Shizuru had to interrupt, “He did that to save her life!” Kikyo glared at her and the branches around her neck constricted tightly before letting go. A small silence ensued after that, but the warning was still clear enough.

 

As though nothing had been said, Kikyo continued. “The blood of many demons lay on his hands. He is a youkai! He's a thief! Hundreds have fallen before him, and hundreds more will follow! He is a creature of darkness! He's tainted and deserves to die!”

 

“I love my son! He is my son, and I have loved him and I will continue to love him! Nothing you say will change it, because I know my son, and I know he loves me, too. So you can stop trying to make me disown him! I am a mother who loves her son!” Shiori screamed, tears of emotion spilling from her eyes.

 

Kikyo pouted slightly. “That's such a pity. If you had denounced him then maybe you could have lived…” Shizuru and the others watched in horror as an arrow quickly imbedded itself in Shiori's heart.

 

The mother's last words before life drained quickly from her body was, “I love my son.”

 

The only sound left in the clearing was the echoing twang of the bow and the light thump of tear gems as they hit the mossy ground from Yukina's silent cries.

 

§

 

Kagome's arms strengthened around Yusuke's waist. Myouga certainly wasn't lying when he said that Yusuke had power, and the fact that he was so furious—and was well within his right to be—made it all the more difficult. Speaking of Myouga, he had conveniently disappeared when the black-garbed youkai grabbed her. Once a coward…

 

She focused on reducing the lust for revenge in Yusuke's soul, sending him soothing vibes through the physical contact she had with him. Slowly, but surely, he relaxed into a solid state of mind…or, at least, as solid as he had been before. When she was certain that he would be okay, she let go and backed out of the embrace. His eyes had closed at one point, and when she left him they opened again, a soft chocolate seeking comfort and reassurance.

 

“I promise, Yusuke, when this is all over, everyone will be all right. No one is going to be dead if I have any say in it,” Kagome swore, and she knew at that moment she had to look older than she was. “This is my burden,” she continued, turning away—breaking all eye contact—and walking over to the woman lying on the bench. All conscious eyes followed her, but only Kirara dared to move and stand beside her. “This is my fault.”

 

Her voice didn't tremble to represent that her heart ached so fully that her pain was physical, and weighed down every one of her steps until finally she was kneeling next to the prone figure of the pretty blue-haired…ferry-girl? Somehow, it didn't surprise her in the least. She could easily see the dark energy reinforcing the wounds and rendering them useless to traditional healing methods. The curse on her eyes was also brushing against her as she raised her hand above them, but it was unable to harm her. After assessing the problem, she carefully laid a hand on the woman's cheek and allowed her violet healing energy to seep out of her and into the other woman. The curse was easy enough to break through, only requiring a little bit of her purification power, and the rest was almost child's play. Either Kikyo wasn't really thinking when she was doing this, or she was hoping that Kagome would interfere. Kagome was putting her money on the latter.

 

The woman still laid unconscious, which was to be expected since her purification had to be used and curses themselves tend to be rather draining on the victim—something she knew of firsthand. Doing another quick scan, she determined that the woman would most likely awake in twelve or so hours. Kagome stood, stretching out any kinks before bending and laying a soft kiss on top of the woman's forehead. “I'm sorry…I'm so sorry,” Kagome whispered, a lonely tear escaping the confines of her eyelids.

 

“You mustn't blame yourself for this, Kagome-sama,” she heard Myouga say from her shoulder. The Reikai Tantei focused in on the tiny youkai, a small look of realization flashing in their eyes as to the concerns of where the disembodied voice came. She allowed the question of where he was hiding before escape her.

 

“Why not? The way I see it, this is my fault. I should have been strong enough to stop this before it got so out of control. No matter how you twist it, or try to pin it on someone else, it all comes back to me,” the miko rationalized. “I might as well have cursed whoever this is,” she gestured to the ferry-girl, “with my own hand, and attacked Keiko in that ally.”

 

None of the beings there, human or otherwise, voiced any of their thoughts—Kagome could understand why. She could tell through reading their auras that the Tantei were confused, some more so than others. The kitsune avatar by the ferry-girl was curious as to what she had to do with it, while the youkai in black was suspicious of her words. Kagome welcomed the silence from them, not much in the mood for dealing with their questions.

 

It took some time before Myouga was able to compose an argument. “I've been with you for almost three years now, Lady Kagome, and I know things that others can only dream of knowing about you. The fact that your heart is blind to such things as blood and parentage is truly such a rare quality that some might kill you because of it. It is that heart—that soul—which is pure, untainted by what you know and what you've seen. It is also that heart which has borne the brunt of many brutal attacks. Tell me, Lady Kagome, is it really fair to have to make it feel guilt over something that it—that you—had no control over? There are many more important things to deal with right now, and you know what we're up against better than anyone,” Myouga declared.

 

Kagome suddenly felt as though she were a child being scolded by a grandparent, but she couldn't deny the logic behind what Myouga said. `When did he grow up?'

 

“Wait a second,” Yusuke interjected, moving in closer to Kagome. He stood before her, fierce determination laden in his eyes. “You know what's going on? Tell me who's behind this!” he demanded harshly. “Who hurt Keiko?”

 

Hiei glared at the onna again, his hand poised to unsheathe his sword. If she really played a hand in this, he would kill her after getting what information they needed. `Pure-heart' crap behind, if this onna was as guilty as she thought she was then death would ensue. Though, if she ignores blood…

 

Ridiculous, I need no one, he thought bitterly. His glare hardened at the woman for influencing such ludicrous thoughts without even meaning to do so. Sparing a glance to Kurama, he noted that the fox was curious as to what the onna knew of the situation, and somewhere deep down he was as well. Of course, he would never admit it aloud, but how would a ningen know about something that started before her time, and why would she feel guilty over such a thing? Hiei growled mentally: that was the second time that onna deviated his thoughts from the objective mission and she was just standing there.

 

“It's not like I wanted this to happen!” the onna yelled right back at the detective, her power spiking in time with her rage. A flare of fire seemed to spark in her eyes before it diminished. “To her, I'm nothing! My life is pointless to the universe, and hindering to her `happiness', or whatever the hell she's trying to pull. Come on, Yusuke, you should know how the old saying goes: hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!”

 

There was a brutal silence as Hiei quickly noted the change in the atmosphere. Everything—the tree with the odd aura, the wind, the sword strapped to her waist, something in the small shack off to the side of the shrine and something underneath the ground at the odd tree, everything!—seemed to try and soothe the onna. It wasn't normal, not for a youkai, and certainly not for a human.

 

So what does that make her?

 

§

 

Kikyo smirked at the dead body of the mother. She disliked her in particular because of the similarities that could be found with her reincarnation. Both of them were kind-hearted, and both of them had a kitsune son—though granted her reincarnate's was adopted.

 

The Koorime stayed mute, staring dazedly at the corpse of the loving mother. She was grieved, though it was obvious that the two hadn't had any heart-felt conversations like from the others in this little circle. Kikyo stared at the Ice Maiden: she would be the next to die—her similarity to Kagome's purity, a purity Kikyo had long-since lost, needed to be exterminated.

 

The crimson eyes of the Koorime shifted to look at the old woman. Genkai would die last. Her legendary exorcisms against youkai were honorable, thus granted her a better longevity.

 

A shinidamachuu took the kitsune's mother's soul and it settled in her pseudo-body. It warranted a sense of brief fulfillment before going back to the stagnant emptiness.

 

Suddenly, she felt something within her disappear. “It seems that the fool managed to break the curse of that ferry-girl friend of yours,” she said aloud, gaining the attention of those present.

 

“You attacked Botan, too?” Keiko whispered, apparently scandalized.

 

A gentle look of surprise highlighted her face. “So her name was Botan? Oh well, it's of no matter to me. She has served her purpose. It is now definitely clear to my incarnate that I am indeed here for what I have come for,” Kikyo said.

 

“And what do you want with Kagome?” Shizuru asked in aggravation.

 

Kikyo glared at the impudent woman. “She has something I want.”

 

“Funny, she doesn't strike me as someone who would steal. However, since you happened to kidnap us, I could definitely imagine that from you,” Shizuru said.

 

Kikyo pointed her index finger at the area of the tree above Shizuru's head. The tip of the finger glowed a black-violet light and the spot on the tree exploded. “Don't test me; I can be rather impatient.” She looked to the sun to determine the time. “I trust you can keep yourself entertained.” She left the clearing, her shinidamachuu lifting her up and vanishing into the sky.

 

She should be there soon.

 

§

 

“Wait,” Kazuma interrupted, “we're dealing with a woman?”

 

Kagome turned her eyes to him. “Well…yeah. Didn't you realize that she's attacking all the women you guys care for?”

 

Once again, the atmosphere grew tense. The kitsune whipped out a cell phone and dialed a number, waited for someone to pick up the line. Apparently, no one did. He hung up and tried another number. This one, at least, seemed successful. “Is Hatanaka Shiori there?” A pause ensued. “Oh, thank you anyway, miss.” He hung up and put the mobile away. His viridian eyes screamed unease. “Mother hasn't returned from her lunch-break yet, and that was a few hours ago,” he said.

 

“Kurama…” Yusuke said, trying to offer comfort but unable find the consolidating words. Kagome watched the one named Kurama with empathy, her own mother completely and utterly dead, already cremated and buried at the graveyard by the shrine.

 

Kazuma had already pulled out his cell and dialed. The fact that no one answered was condemning. “Shizuru isn't picking up her cell phone, and she always has that thing on,” he murmured. Kagome felt the Kiseki-Jihi pulse, and the distant callings of both the Shinkirou and the Tetsusaiga, react in response to her grieving. Shizuru…not Shizuru…

 

Yusuke stole Kazuma's cell and dialed another number. Again, there was no answer. “What are the odds that my mother is just piss-ass drunk?” he asked, handing the phone back over to Kazuma. Kagome sighed, better to get this over with now than later.

 

“Kikyo is a very tragic woman,” she began in monotone. Her voice caught the attention of all who were conscious. “A very long time ago, she used to be a priestess, and wouldn't attack a holy place unless there was an impurity there.”

 

As soon as the statement had been said, the Reikai Tantei suddenly disappeared. She was caught by surprise, something that didn't happen much anymore. She blinked.

 

They were still gone.

 

Blink.

 

They haven't come back yet.

 

Blink. Blink.

 

…Still gone.

 

She rolled her eyes.

 

Men!

 

“I believe that I forgot to tell you that Yusuke's sensei in the spiritual field lives at a temple, as well as Hiei's sister, Yukina. He was the one that threatened you,” Myouga said, sitting cross-legged at his perch on her shoulder.

 

“Maybe you should have told me that before I decided to enlighten them on the enemy. If they meet Kikyo there, the chances of getting out unscratched are slim to none,” Kagome responded with mild sarcasm. She knelt in front of the Goshinboku, laying a comforting hand on the tree before focusing on the earth at its roots. Combining her energy with the dirt, she Willed it to the side.

 

She could feel the Tessaiga pulsing to meet with her from an ebony box. Carefully, she removed the lid, and a small black pearl floated out, swaying in the air merrily before plummeting painfully into her right eye.

 

Kagome release a small scream: it felt like her eye was being ripped apart. However, as soon as the pain arrived it ended, leaving only a small feeling of irritation. Her eyes watered, and it was something she allowed, since things are not supposed to go in your eye like that. “Myouga…was that what I think it was?” Kagome asked slowly while taking out the battered looking Tessaiga. She stood and adjusted Kiseki-Jihi to her right side and slid the other sword where it was.

 

“Well, Kagome-sama, if you think that what just made itself at home in your eye was the Tomb of Inu no Taisho, then yes, that was what you thought it was,” the flea answered with no small amount of humor. “It was another thing that you have inherited, and you need it to use Tessaiga to the fullest extent.” Kagome sighed as she headed to the well-house. The door slid open easily for her and she summoned her Shinkirou to her hand.

 

Housed in a sheath made from a branch of the Goshinboku, the blade was sharpened to perfection and so silver that it seemed to be white. The hilt was a dark crimson, and the grip was a black that shone blue in the light. The pommel at the bottom of the grip matched the blade's color, but curled in half at its center, almost like an upside-down heart. It was a sign of her accomplishment as a sword smith, and indirectly a physical representation of herself: beautiful, but deadly and very sharp.

 

She placed Shinkirou next to Tessaiga on her left side, easily accessible in case of a battle. “Who was Yusuke's sensei?” Kagome asked, forgoing any of her usual battle attire since she was already late and those guys move ridiculously fast. She Willed the air currents under the ferry-girl and moved her to the cushioned reclining chair under the patio, hoping to offer some comfort with the circumstances as they were.

 

“Master Genkai has trained Yusuke since he was fourteen. Her shrine is quite well-known to those who seek guidance in controlling their sixth sense. Kirara knows the way,” Myouga answered. Perking at her name, Kirara transformed into her battle mode and Kagome hopped on her.

 

Kirara took off as soon as Kagome was settled and placed an invisibility barrier on them.

 

Myouga disappeared before they even took off.

 

…Once a coward…

 

§

 

Sesshoumaru almost felt the frown in his companion's aura. “You're worried for her,” he stated. “You feel it, too, I take it.”

 

Mukuro paused before answering. “It's like being stuck in a dark box and I can't get out. I want to help her, but this is her fight. She would forgive me, because she's like that, but she'd never be able to forgive herself, or answer the questions she needs the answers to.” Sesshoumaru heard her sigh. “Too many people have said that she is Kikyo because of her soul and her appearance. It's disorienting to be told such things so many times.”

 

Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement. “It took too long for people to notice that her eyes were blue,” he said, his voice hinting at sadness.

 

Of course, he wasn't really talking about just her eye color when he said that, and he knew Mukuro knew that. The people who meant the most to Kagome had such a hard time accepting that she wasn't Kikyo. InuYasha had difficulties with it at first, but he was stubborn and resented the resemblance she had to the woman who killed him yet at the same time was pained by it as well. However, he was one of the first to also see her as herself. Kaede was the hardest though, and only really changed when Kikyo was revived.

 

It made sense to Sesshoumaru why Shippou had been so important to the miko. He was the first one to truly see Kagome as Kagome, and Kikyo as another completely different person. The relationship was comparable to what he and Rin once had. Rin didn't see him as a Lord, or even a youkai, but as someone who had needed help, and who protected her. She respected him because of that, not because his father had been powerful or that he could kill her if he so saw fit.

 

Speaking of those who called him Lord, Jaken was waiting by the barrier on his instructions, and had been ordered to report when Kikyo left for Ningenkai. Even after five centuries, the imp was loyal almost to a fault.

 

“All things considered, I'm glad to be able to see her again,” Mukuro said.

 

Sesshoumaru just nodded in agreement.

 

§

 

The temple was in ruins. Blood was all around, and charred wood and broken structures littered the ground. The struggle was obvious, as was the outcome. Genkai and Yukina were long-since gone.

 

“Dammit,” Kurama heard Hiei curse. They had made it here before Yusuke and Kuwabara, but the sight of the carnage and battle wasn't quite what was expected. He knew Hiei was resisting the urge to burn, maim, and destroy everything in the way to find Yukina.

 

“Oh no…” Yusuke's voice sounded, announcing his and Kuwabara's presence. Kuwabara was in shock, too stunned to speak. “This can't be happening.”

 

“Oh,” a voice in the darkness of the forest said, “but it can and it will.” It was a woman, and that was all Kurama needed to know that this was their enemy. The Rose Whip was out immediately.

 

A powerful blast of the Rei Gun flew past Kurama, and he dodged away a little to avoid being hit by the edges. Yusuke was angry; at least two people, maybe three, that Yusuke directly cared for were taken by this woman.

 

There was a bright flash before the bullet was sent back to its master, knocking Yusuke back hard enough to send him impacting into one of the trees.

 

The woman, Kikyo he remembered her name to be, laughed. “Like master like student, it seems. Genkai pulled a move like that, before she lost consciousness,” she taunted.

 

The sky had been growing cloudy and dark for the past few hours, and the scent of threatening rain was upon them. It was odd, the weather reports had not claimed there to be a storm, but one was definitely brewing. Kurama had to wonder if Kikyo was behind it.

 

Despite the lack of sun, when Kikyo stepped out with her hands behind her back, he could see her clearly. Both he and Youko had to stop the gasp that wanted to come. However, it was Kuwabara who voiced Kurama's thoughts.

 

“You…look like…” Kuwabara's voice trailed, but Kikyo was quick to interrupt.

 

“Fool! It is she who looks like me,” the kuromiko exclaimed, and just with that one statement Kurama was able to understand the situation a little better.

 

“I see why Kagome feels so responsible,” he said slowly. “She's your reincarnation, but…that means that you're not alive.”

 

Kikyo looked at him for a moment, her expression a mix of expectations gratified and utter disgust. “Yes, you live up to your reputation. It's just such a shame that your mother will never be able to see it.”

 

The atmosphere grew immensely tense after that statement, and for a moment all Kurama could hear was his own lungs expanding and contracting. His widened eyes saw nothing of the concerned looks of his comrades, or the satisfaction of his enemy.

 

His mother…dead?

 

For the first time in a long time, Kurama lost his control.

 

His world was hazed in red as his gaze focus on the cause of this pain. “You…bitch!” he growled, his weapon almost too fast to stop.

 

Almost.

 

Kikyo pulled her hands in front of her and revealed a mirror. To his amazement, when the tip of the Rose Whip hit the surface, it seemed to pass through before coming back to him. His shock held him only long enough to move out of the way of a fatal blow, and his weapon imbedded into his stomach before it could do the same to his head.

 

The action caused everyone to lose concentration on their surroundings. Kurama fell to his knees and his whip transformed into its rose appearance. He felt something coil around his arms, torso, and legs and no sooner than he recognized this they all were pulled back into a tree by some eel-like creatures, which then morphed into vines that held them in place. Kurama was the only one who didn't struggle. His emotional and physical pain was enough to keep him still.

 

“It's pointless to do that, you know,” Kikyo said, as though she were trying to help. “Nothing you do is going to get you out of my shinidamachuu. They only listen to me.” She stretched her arms out, flexing her fingers. “Now, let us finish this little rendezvous, shall we?”

 

Her brown eyes traveled around them, trying to pick which one of them was to die first. Kurama's sensitive ears picked up her mutterings. “Such choices, such choices; should I kill the Forbidden Child…? No, I want him to die after the Fox. Or maybe the oaf, she knows him the best. He's the one who spoiled my plans the first time.” She stared at him, and a small smirk formed on her face.

 

“You,” she decided. Kurama felt his body tense, and his breath stilled in his burning lungs. “Another kitsune in Kagome's life to die; granted I don't think that you would ever be as dear to her as that little brat was…Oh well, waste not, want not.”

 

Kikyo lifted one arm up in the air, pointing her index finger at his heart. He felt her ki levels rise to such high levels that it was uncomfortable. Just how strong was this woman? Her extended fingertip was surrounded in a sphere of condense miko-ki, enough to easily vaporize him and his youkai body. This was really it; he was really going to die.

 

“Goodbye,” Kikyo whispered. The sphere disappeared from her finger, and exploded right in his face.

 

…But he could still hear the desperate cries of his friends, and there was no pain. `Are we dead?' he asked Youko, who had been quite silent since Botan was discovered.

 

“Holy shit…” was the fox spirit's only reply.

 

`What is it?'

 

“Red, open your eyes,” Youko whispered in his head.

 

Kurama's green eyes opened to the sight of dust surrounding his otherwise fine body. At the base of his feet lay a dark smudge in the dirt-mist that covered the air. The wind blew, clearing his eyes to the sight of Kagome struggling to stand up. Keiko's old blouse disintegrated in the force of the blast, revealing the extensive bandages that hid Kagome's back and torso completely from view. There was dried blood on her back, but it seemed that whatever wounds were there had healed. Four puncture scars were on the back of each of her upper arms and above that on her right arm was a vertical scar, as though she was cut by a blade.

 

She had three swords strapped to her waist, one on the right and two on the left, and they all were far from normal. One in particular looked as though one could snap it in half without even trying.

 

Finally, she managed a kneeling position, one hand on her abdomen and the other was keeping her balance on the ground. Panting, she raised her head and chuckled. “Fancy meeting you here, eh, Kikyo?”

 

 

Kagome closed her eyes as she forced herself to her feet, her body swaying dangerously on its own two feet. She didn't put a barrier around her in case it caused the blast to reflect towards one of the Reikai Tantei. It would be fatal to them, but she could handle the dark purification without much trouble. The force of the attack pained her more than the energy behind it.

 

After steadying her ground, she opened her eyes again to look at Kikyo. Kanna's mirror was held in one hand, but the other was free. A bow and a quiver of arrows were strapped to her back, just itching to be used again. Her incarnate's aura was much darker than it was the last time, and stronger as well.

 

Good thing I've gotten stronger as well, Kagome thought to herself.

 

“Though it has been a long time, incarnate, I can't say I'm happy to see you,” Kikyo stated with a chill in her voice. “On the other hand, I am glad to see that you still have the rest of my soul safe in your body.”

 

“Yes, I've been meaning to speak to you about that,” Kagome replied.

 

“I'm not giving what pieces of my soul I have back to you, reincarnate. It was mine before yours and your claim came too late,” Kikyo interrupted.

 

Kagome bristled at that. “You're dead, Kikyo, and you're acting like a child. You lost your soul when you lost your life over five-hundred years ago. Too many people have been hurt because of this. You know you don't belong here, so why are you? What's driving you to do this?”

 

Kikyo's eyes showed a glimmer of despair before she glared stonily at her. “He died,” was the kuromiko's answer.

 

Kagome looked away. It was still a touchy subject for her. Kikyo had wanted to bring InuYasha to hell, but he died before that could happen. This was more than getting Kagome's soul, this was revenge. With Naraku dead, all Kikyo could do was kill the one who killed the one she tried to kill. “You want more than my soul, you want my life. Is that it?”

 

Kikyo gave a vindictively soft smile. “I knew you were smart. You are responsible, so you get the death he should have taken. I'm going to defeat you, take my soul, and we'll go to hell together,” she responded.

 

Kagome looked at Kikyo, a deep sadness encrusted in the blue-gray of her eyes. “I can't do that, Kikyo. You know that,” she said softly.

 

That one little statement was enough to incite a furious rage in Kikyo's heart. The kuromiko grabbed her bow and put the Mirror of the Void away at her hip. Instead of grabbing an arrow though, Kikyo charged forward and used the bow like Miroku would use his staff. She swung it at Kagome's head, but Kagome ducked.

 

“Give me my soul back, you whore!” Kikyo shrieked. The assault continued in rash progression, but Kagome didn't draw any of her swords. If she went to do so, it would leave her open to an attack, and her stomach was still in pain from before.

 

A roar sounded from the left and Kirara pounced on top of Kikyo. Kagome watched in horror as her opponent tried to purify her friend. The fire-neko was transformed back into her kitten appearance and hurled to the sidelines of the battle. “No, Kirara!” Kagome called, running to her friend.

 

Blood poured from a burn on the neko's chest, tainting the creamy fur. The four tails moved limply in reply to her mistress's concern, silently telling Kagome to stay fighting and she'd be fine.

 

“I believe that the ningens nowadays call this deja vu,” Kikyo said, drawing an arrow and stringing it into her bow. Kagome carefully set Kirara down, her bangs shadowing her eyes. “But this,” Kikyo gestured to the loaded weapon, “is what I call `just desserts'. Do you have any idea how hard you are to kill? And how many people I had to go through just to get you here?

 

“First was your family. It took a lot of energy to steal that truck-driver's soul for a long enough period of time for him to crash into your family's car.” Kagome tensed.

 

Kikyo…Kikyo was responsible for…but then…it was…she… A notch of her control slipped. The wind began to pick up, gusting her hair about her face. Thunder bellowed in the cloudy sky, answering her internal bewilderment, and even though it was the wrong season to do so, the leaves in the nearby trees fell around her. Tears began forming in her eyes.

 

Despite the obscurely obvious warning, Kikyo continued. “Then, and this didn't even have anything to do with me really, your second family—the people who you gave three years of your life to—”

 

Don't lose control, Kagome.

 

“—are brutally murdered in a viscous attack by the same bastard that killed me. Both times you were there to see your families die, and both times you did nothing!”

 

Don't let her get to you, Kagome!'

 

“Your friends were dying around you, the people you loved the most, and you sat there mourning for some pathetic fox child!”

 

KAGOME! Don't…let…

 

Lightning crashed down to the ground, and hail pounded the soft earth. The wind whistled wildly, but Kagome couldn't feel it. The only thing she could feel was her power thrashing to break free of the bind she had on it, the itch it wanted to scratch. She had to try to keep the glamour held on her markings in place. No matter what, she didn't want the Reikai Tantei to know that she was the Jun-Namida no Miko: too much, too fast, too soon, for them and for her. She was still trying to comprehend it all, so how could she just spring this on four unsuspecting people? In the very least, Kazuma and Yusuke deserved more than that.

 

Still, Kikyo continued, just as lost in her anger as Kagome was. “Everything I've done, all that hard work and you still don't die. You're like a god-damn cockroach!”

 

Kagome took a deep, calming breath. She couldn't lose control, or all will be lost. The Reikai Tantei—or at least the youkai members—might die in the purifying waves, and if she obliterated Kikyo now, they may never find Shizuru or Keiko or anyone else. She could sense Kikyo like the kuromiko was a jewel shard, since Kikyo held a shard of her soul, but the barrier Kikyo probably set up would be next to impossible to locate if it was hidden as well as she thought it was. At last, she was calm enough to say something, and even salvaged a laugh without humor. “I'm a cockroach, eh? Isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black, Kikyo?” she asked, standing once more to face her incarnate.

 

Her opponent's brown eyes hardened, and the arrow was released, bathed in the dark purification generated by Kikyo's anger at the implied insult to her existence. The arrow was caught by the shaft between the index and middle finger of Kagome's left hand while her right drew the Shinkirou forward. Kikyo's arrow disintegrated on contact with her skin, and the other miko's eyes widened.

 

“I see you've finally learned some control,” Kikyo commented with a calmness Kagome knew she did not feel.

 

“You don't know the half of it,” Kagome replied. She placed Shinkirou in an offensive position and charged. The sword arched downward and impacted on Kikyo's right shoulder, sinking in a few centimeters. “What were you saying about deja vu?”

 

It was true; the wound in Kikyo's shoulder was very reminiscent of the one she received with her first death. At last, Kikyo seemed really angry.

 

The kuromiko delivered a sucker-punch to the tender skin of Kagome's stomach, knocking the wind out of her and throwing her back a few steps before attacking her with another blast of ki.

 

 

The Reikai Tantei heard Kagome scream in pain, but couldn't see anything with the dust and debris cluttering the air. Footsteps could be heard, and the thud of what could be assumed was a sword against a bow. The sounds continued before Kikyo screamed, but whether in pain or aggravation, they couldn't tell. Another blast of dark ki unsettled the earth again, perpetuating the time until they could see what was going on. More sounds of a struggle, and the sound of an arrow being removed from a quiver, and a sword slicing through something. There was a shattering, as though a piece of pottery had just been broken, and a twang of a bow string being released, a whoosh and a thud as whatever had been whooshing hit its target.

 

The hail that was beating down on them changed rapidly into rain, quickly soaking anything that wasn't sheltered and clearing the dirt from the air. The battlefield was revealed to apparently have no victor.

 

On one side, with both legs gone and a hole in her abdomen was Kikyo, her false body not bleeding with the blood it didn't have. Her eyes were closed.

 

On the other side was Kagome. The sword she had been using was held in a loose grip in her right hand, relaxed and unresponsive. Her eyes were closed as well, and it seemed almost like she was asleep.

 

But she wasn't asleep, and it was a fact that tore at Kuwabara and Yusuke's already damaged souls. She couldn't be asleep, because no one can simply be asleep if she is hanging from a tree with an arrow imbedded in her heart.

 

§§§§§

 

A/N: Ha ha! Cliffhangers are so much fun! I think I should do them for every chapter...

Anyway, I'd hate to have to say this, but please people, come on! Review! It's not that hard, and I know that there are more than forty people who read this story. Actually, it's more like six hundred. Now, I'm not asking for six hundred reviews because I do have a soul and I don't feel like waiting fifty years until I update. However, I will ask that you at least review this chapter. Who knows, maybe you might like it? The more reviews I get, the better the chapter will be because I know that people want to see it. I won't say "I want at least six hundred reviews before I update" because I don't want to force you into doing it. I will ask though.

Review, please!