InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Daughter of the West ❯ The Coming of Kikyo ( Chapter 24 )

[A/N: Thank you all for your compliments. And aqua angelz (at least I think…the person who submitted a review as Wouldn't you like to know?) I actually do plan to pursue a writing career. And, yes, Usagi is dead. (I never really like her anyway ^_^). And so, I hope you all like this chapter as much as you have the others!]

Daughter of the West

Chapter 24: The Coming of Kikyo

Only a few minutes later, the group had headed off. They were going in the direction that Sesshomaru had suggested, and of course, Inu-Yasha put of quite a fight about it. After a large argument and a sit, he finally had to follow along. Kagome had noticed that Kimi was having trouble walking, but since the proud cat demon didn't complain, she didn't bring it up. Another reason she didn't bother to say anything was because she was deep in thought. She had seen the way Kimi clung to Sesshomaru. She had also heard the things he had said.

Sesshomaru put an arm around the now crying Kimi. "I'll never let this happen to you again, Kimi," he said gently. Kimi sighed slightly, a few tears falling from her eyes. "No, Sesshomaru, I was the one who ran off," she replied. Sesshomaru closed his eyes for a moment. "Don't worry, Kimi. I'll never let you go. Never again," he said. A second later, he pulled her into a gentle kiss. When they parted, they gazed into each other's eyes. Kimi sank back against his chest, and Sesshomaru whispered a simple sentence into her ear. "I love you."

Kagome had never seen two people as deep n love as those two. Sure, maybe in soap operas or paperback novels…but someone would always end up dieing, or one of them would cheat on the other. But this was something unheard of. She had so many questions to ask Kimi, but just couldn't work up the courage to do so. And who was this Aya person? Sesshomaru apparently knew a lot about her, and Kimi certainly had means to fight with her. This was becoming more and more confusing…

Inu-Yasha glanced over at Kagome and noticed that she was off somewhere in la la land. He snapped his fingers in her face, bringing her back to reality. "What was that about?" she demanded. "You were daydreaming again. What's so important that you have to faze out all the time?" he asked. "Oh…uh, nothing, just thinking about my homework. There's this one problem that I just can't figure out," she said. Inu-Yasha shook his head a little, as if disappointed some how. "You need to focus on the jewel shards, stupid. What's more important you getting into a good…what it's called…school, or defeating Naraku?" he asked. Kagome didn't listen. She had become very good at hearing selectively, a trait that was a very important factor in putting up with Inu-Yasha.

Jaken smacked his hand against his forehead. As soon as they had gotten up, Shippô and Rin had been at play. The poor toad demon had been unofficially put in charge of watching the two, and Kirara had unofficially put in charge of making sure that he didn't bludgeon himself to death with his Staff of Heads. He hadn't seen in master act like he had been in years. Clinging to Kimi like a pirate guards his treasure. He had never favored his master's wife, but he had to put up with her. It was his duty as a retainer. But of course, he would rather deal with Kimi any day then have to watch Rin. That little human girl was such an annoyance it was amazing.

As he obliviously walked along, Rin came up behind him and bopped him on the back of the head. "You're it, Jaken-sama!" she yelled. The little green demon spun around, looking as though he would set the little girl ablaze. Sesshomaru turned slightly and shot the toad demon a savagely stern look, scaring him back into a mind-your-own-business state. Rin kept walking next to him. "Jaken-sama, why aren't you trying to get someone? You're it," she said. Jaken cocked his head slightly. "What is this 'it'?" he asked. The little girl sighed a little. "It means you have to make someone else it. Rin was it and tagged you, so you have to tag someone else," she said. Before Jaken could give a reply, the sky went black. Everyone stopped in their tracks, however, no one knew what the reason behind the phenomenon was.

Inu-Yasha looked around, already reaching down for his sword. He had felt a sense of showing of every time he drew it since his elder brother had started hanging around with them, but this was no time to think of such things. A few moments later, a blue light appeared, and a second later, Kikyo's souls skimmers flew past them. But they were carrying no souls. It was as if they were looking for their master.

"Those are Kikyo's…" Kagome said, trailing off. Kimi gave her a strange look, releasing her grip on Sesshomaru's hand. A second later, she hobbled over to Kagome. "Who is this Kikyo?" she asked. "It's kind of hard to explain," Kagome replied. Shippô hopped up onto her shoulder. "Kagome…is it Kikyo again?" he asked, sounding slightly afraid. Kagome looked around at all of the soul skimmers. "I think so," she said. Not a minute after she stopped speaking, there was a sound in the air, one that sounded like a voice. Kikyo's voice.

Come to me, Inu-Yasha…

Inu-Yasha gaped a little. Kagome could tell that Sesshomaru had also picked it up. Kikyo, Inu-Yasha thought, Could it really be you? But why have you come here? And why would you call to me? He gave a slight growl. "I'm going ahead. And don't come after me," he said. With that, he ran off, a determined look on his face. Don't worry, Kikyo!! I'm coming! I'll save you!!!

Kimi noticed that there was quite a frustrated look on Kagome's face. "Are you alright?" she asked gently. Kagome glanced at her, and seeing the maternal, slightly worried expression on her face, gave a simple reply. "Oh, sure. I'm fine," she said. A second later, her bow gripped tightly in her hand, she stormed after Inu-Yasha. And of course, Miroku, Sango, and Kirara followed after her.

As Kimi watched them all run off, she sighed slightly and shook her head. "Teenagers…" she sighed, walking over next to Sesshomaru, who had sat down next to a tree. Kimi sat down next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Should we go after them?" Kimi asked. Sesshomaru shook his head slightly. "Nah. Why bother? Aya's not involved. Jut some pertinent wench who sealed Inu-Yasha to a tree fifty years ago," he said blandly. Kimi chewed on her lower lip for a moment. "I just have this feeling," she said.

Inu-Yasha ran as fast as he could, following after the speeding soul skimmers. He kept going until he came to a ledge, nearly falling over the edge. But when he came close to falling, he saw something. Something red and white. He looked back down, and saw Kikyo, her hair billowing around her, clung to a tiny rock outcropping. "Inu…Yasha…! Please…help me," she pleaded. Then he saw the blood, trickling down the side of her face from a wound on her head, and blood seeping through her blouse. "Please…"

Hesitantly, Inu-Yasha got down and extended a hand. Kikyo grabbed onto it. First with one, then with the other. When Inu-Yasha started to pull the injured priestess up, she released a wave of her holy powers, attacking Inu-Yasha. She pulled down with all of her weight, and the half demon began to slip. "Kikyo…what are you doing?!" he demanded angrily. A sinister grin grew on the priestess's face. "You were always foolish, Inu-Yasha," she said. As she spoke, the blood disappeared and her wounds sealed, and her hair tied itself around Inu-Yasha. She continued attacking him with her powers, but relased one of her hands. When she did that, she slammed it against the ground below him, utterly destroying it. As Inu-Yasha and Kikyo fell, the priestess began to disintegrate into mud and dirt, until only the clothing and a jewel fragment was left. She was only…an illusion!? Inu-Yasha swiped the jewel shard, but it was already too late. He was already being hurdled towards the ground, and all that was there to cushion him were sharp rocks and hard ground.