InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny ❯ The Tainted Wish And The Ressurected Miko ( Chapter 12 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Inuyashas kagome 
Sesshoumaru wishes to release Inuyasha from his duty to Kikyo but that means her death.
In his rush to stop him Inuyasha inadvertantly makes a selfish wish on the jewel with some devastating consequences.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 04.01.2004 | Updated On: 08.20.2006 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 396 | Status: Work In Progress
Sesshoumaru wishes to release Inuyasha from his duty to Kikyo but that means her death.
In his rush to stop him Inuyasha inadvertantly makes a selfish wish on the jewel with some devastating consequences.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 04.01.2004 | Updated On: 08.20.2006 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 396 | Status: Work In Progress
A.N
(Dodges projectiles from angry readers)
Gomen ne, sorry for being so bad about updating minna-san.
For anyone still checking on this, sorry to raise your hopes but this isn't a new chapter. I noticed some errors in this one and wanted to correct them before I get underway with rewriting what I have of the next chapter.
For anyone still checking on this, sorry to raise your hopes but this isn't a new chapter. I noticed some errors in this one and wanted to correct them before I get underway with rewriting what I have of the next chapter.
Disclaimer
Rumiko Takahashi owns Inuyasha sadly I do not. But if she's okay with it I sure would love to borrow him!
Destiny - Chapter 12 - The Tainted Wish And The Ressurected Miko
Sesshoumaru stood still as stone at the foot of the goshinboku tree, a blazing figure of white against the darkness that surrounded him. He turned his head upwards following the delicate tendrils of the dead miko's scent that hung heavy in the air around him. The branches cast moving shadows upon his face as they swayed gently in the breeze, his flowing mane of silver, shining brilliantly in the patches of moonlight, matched their soft rhythm. His eyes glinted in the soft light, usually hard and cold they now blazed a molten gold, feral and fierce in nature, oddly showing the demon lords emotions. His usually stoic face bore a cruel smile as he thought of what the coming night held.
Stopping to ensure Rin's safety had cost him some time in his pursuit of the undead Priestess and for a moment he felt a pang of irritation at having been delayed for such a reason. His gaze lowered to fall upon a worn area of bark on the tree's trunk, his excellent eyesight catching the hole of an arrow in the poor light. His amber eyes narrowed in understanding. He had often heard of his brother's place of enchanted rest, but had never taken it upon himself to seek it out. It had never seemed important enough to waste his time before.
'No wonder her scent is so strong here, she is drawn to this place. The place she betrayed Inuyasha, no doubt she will return here to try and claim his life.'
Sesshoumaru contemplated waiting at the tree for her to return, but felt compelled to seek her out, to discover what could have made her leave a place of such importance to her. Besides a hunt was much more interesting to a demon such as himself, waiting simply wasn't his style. And the fact remained that the sooner the world was rid of her the better. The longer she remained the higher the chance his idiot brother would be persuaded to honor his promise to her. His thoughts rested on his brother, whom he had once wished to kill with every fiber of his being.
He had wanted to erase his existence, erase the remaining memory that existed of his father's love for a pitiful human. To ease the shame of being entrusted with the Tensaiga when Tetsusaiga should have been his. When had he stopped feeling such a way? Had it been once Rin had become a part of his life? Yes he supposed it had. Rin had served to show him the emptiness of his life, and power and revenge hadn't seemed as important as they once had. Besides what had it brought him but trouble, and got him mixed up in the dealings of that disgusting hanyou Naraku. Sesshoumaru had seldom felt foolish in his life, at least not since he had been scolded by his father as a young pup. But even he couldn't deny getting mixed up with Naraku had been a costly mistake. Naraku had manipulated him by using the anger and hatred he felt towards Inuyasha, feelings he once thought could only have worked to his advantage. In the end keeping everyone away, having no one he could trust had only served to hurt him. And slowly he had begun to think, that rather than being a hindrance to his brother, the band of friends that followed the hanyou were his saviors, particularly the human miko. And so slowly he had begun to lose interest in killing his brother, but rather wished to understand him, and one day perhaps, he could call on him to fight by his side. Sesshoumaru found that once he had come to this conclusion his encounters with Inuyasha had started to become one of the few moments in his life he actually looked forward to. With each fight he could see Inuyasha gain in strength and skill and now he was past the hate, it almost made him proud that they shared blood. Maybe one day he would tell the silly little pup that he had managed to impress him. Sesshoumaru's dry laugh drifted on the night's cool breeze as he once again looked to the sky.
"Father, you are still teaching me lessons so long after your death. You knew that only together could Inuyasha and I be strong enough to overcome our enemies. Alone we are weak, the bonds of family are our strength not our weakness. This is the lesson you have tried to impart to me for so long. Perhaps it is time to forgive you for the past, and I will gain your forgiveness in the only way I can. Brother I could not save you from your fate all those years ago. My pride and arrogance kept me from this, but I vow to do so now."
The wind picked up, blowing his hair wildly around him as if in some silent acceptance of his vow. Kikyo's scent filled his senses more fully and a thin smile crept across his lips as he determined its direction. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Sesshoumaru stood still as stone at the foot of the goshinboku tree, a blazing figure of white against the darkness that surrounded him. He turned his head upwards following the delicate tendrils of the dead miko's scent that hung heavy in the air around him. The branches cast moving shadows upon his face as they swayed gently in the breeze, his flowing mane of silver, shining brilliantly in the patches of moonlight, matched their soft rhythm. His eyes glinted in the soft light, usually hard and cold they now blazed a molten gold, feral and fierce in nature, oddly showing the demon lords emotions. His usually stoic face bore a cruel smile as he thought of what the coming night held.
Stopping to ensure Rin's safety had cost him some time in his pursuit of the undead Priestess and for a moment he felt a pang of irritation at having been delayed for such a reason. His gaze lowered to fall upon a worn area of bark on the tree's trunk, his excellent eyesight catching the hole of an arrow in the poor light. His amber eyes narrowed in understanding. He had often heard of his brother's place of enchanted rest, but had never taken it upon himself to seek it out. It had never seemed important enough to waste his time before.
'No wonder her scent is so strong here, she is drawn to this place. The place she betrayed Inuyasha, no doubt she will return here to try and claim his life.'
Sesshoumaru contemplated waiting at the tree for her to return, but felt compelled to seek her out, to discover what could have made her leave a place of such importance to her. Besides a hunt was much more interesting to a demon such as himself, waiting simply wasn't his style. And the fact remained that the sooner the world was rid of her the better. The longer she remained the higher the chance his idiot brother would be persuaded to honor his promise to her. His thoughts rested on his brother, whom he had once wished to kill with every fiber of his being.
He had wanted to erase his existence, erase the remaining memory that existed of his father's love for a pitiful human. To ease the shame of being entrusted with the Tensaiga when Tetsusaiga should have been his. When had he stopped feeling such a way? Had it been once Rin had become a part of his life? Yes he supposed it had. Rin had served to show him the emptiness of his life, and power and revenge hadn't seemed as important as they once had. Besides what had it brought him but trouble, and got him mixed up in the dealings of that disgusting hanyou Naraku. Sesshoumaru had seldom felt foolish in his life, at least not since he had been scolded by his father as a young pup. But even he couldn't deny getting mixed up with Naraku had been a costly mistake. Naraku had manipulated him by using the anger and hatred he felt towards Inuyasha, feelings he once thought could only have worked to his advantage. In the end keeping everyone away, having no one he could trust had only served to hurt him. And slowly he had begun to think, that rather than being a hindrance to his brother, the band of friends that followed the hanyou were his saviors, particularly the human miko. And so slowly he had begun to lose interest in killing his brother, but rather wished to understand him, and one day perhaps, he could call on him to fight by his side. Sesshoumaru found that once he had come to this conclusion his encounters with Inuyasha had started to become one of the few moments in his life he actually looked forward to. With each fight he could see Inuyasha gain in strength and skill and now he was past the hate, it almost made him proud that they shared blood. Maybe one day he would tell the silly little pup that he had managed to impress him. Sesshoumaru's dry laugh drifted on the night's cool breeze as he once again looked to the sky.
"Father, you are still teaching me lessons so long after your death. You knew that only together could Inuyasha and I be strong enough to overcome our enemies. Alone we are weak, the bonds of family are our strength not our weakness. This is the lesson you have tried to impart to me for so long. Perhaps it is time to forgive you for the past, and I will gain your forgiveness in the only way I can. Brother I could not save you from your fate all those years ago. My pride and arrogance kept me from this, but I vow to do so now."
The wind picked up, blowing his hair wildly around him as if in some silent acceptance of his vow. Kikyo's scent filled his senses more fully and a thin smile crept across his lips as he determined its direction. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Kikyo stepped gracefully to the ground and stared at the scene before her, she shivered involuntarily at the aura of evil that still lingered in the air. She looked to the ground in disgust, disgust at what surrounded her and disgust with herself for being so foolish. Her dull brown eyes resonated with anger and her cool deep voice carried loudly on the wind as she spoke.
"I allowed myself to believe your destruction was complete, that despite the fact the jewel had not been purified from this world I could be content in the knowledge that you had been. I should not have been so foolish, I should have come here sooner to see for myself that what remained for me to do in this world truly was done."
She viewed the devastation before her once more, technically yes Naraku was dead, what remained of him, littered the once beautiful field. His decaying remains scorched the once lush greenery beneath them. But for his destruction to be complete, he had to be erased completely, his entire being purified. If even a little part of him remained there was always the chance he could be resurrected. Her reincarnate had begun the process, but in her weakened state had not been able to complete it. She thought back to the battle and realized what must have happened in the chaos of the final moments. 'My arrow did not connect with your body, it must have connected with a piece already separated from you, this is why you remain here still, slowly decaying instead of completely purified.'
Kikyo sighed even with her powers it would take many souls to sustain her through this, but with the aid of her reincarnation it could be done much sooner. She grimaced at the thought of her, "Kagome" the name rolled off the tongue so easily. Her dull brown eyes came to life and they flickered with pain as she remembered the sight of Inuyasha's mark upon the girl's neck. In the fleeting moments of the battle she had watched him cradle her tenderly love, determination and fear flashing in his amber eyes. She remembered that they had once held love and devotion for her in their amber depths. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to rid herself of the memories that came flooding back of a time long past. But the images wouldn't subside, she saw what could have been, but those dreams couldn't be and hadn't been possible for many years. They were merely memories of a love that was no longer hers, a love she couldn't seem to let go of.
Inuyasha had made peace with the past, he had found love once again and that fact hurt her greatly. To know that she had been forgotten in his heart, fueled her hatred and kept her bound to this world. Her eyes shone with fury as she thought of the betrayal. "But my betrayal came first" Her soul felt lighter at that confession. It was true his life belonged to her, but Inuyasha was right, hers belonged to him. She hadn't been the only one wronged, hadn't she too betrayed Inuyasha? In those last moments believing him to be her murderer she had struck with love and hatred in her heart, after all didn't such a thin thread separate the two emotions? Only because she loved him so much could she hate him with so much passion. She had bound him to that tree, denying him the honor of being with her in death. She hadn't been able to bring herself to kill him, but neither would she give him eternal peace. She laughed at the irony,'and now my desire is to have you for all eternity.
Perhaps my sister Kaede was right, you have already paid the debt you owe for your betrayal of me. I robbed you of your life for 50 years Inuyasha, because I didn't trust you, what happened was as much my fault as it was your own. But even knowing that, I don't think I can let you go...'
Her eyes flickered open as her senses picked up the aura of demon heading her way. They widened in surprise as Sesshoumaru seemingly materialized in front of her. Both stood silent for a moment, each carefully sizing up the other. His eyes that on arrival had seemed liquid with emotion, now looked as cool as glass as they looked into her own cold, dark depths. Their hair swayed in the breeze, their garments rippling in the wind making the only sound. In the moonlight both looked almost magical, silent statues in the moonlight before Kikyo finally broke the spell and spoke.
"You have come for my life." She spoke simply not asking but stating.
Sesshoumaru showed no emotion at her words but regarded her carefully for a few moments before replying. Her forwardness didn't surprise him, Kikyo was many things, but was no fool. The most logical reason for him to seek her out would be her death.
"If that it was it takes to free Inuyasha."
Kikyo raised a quizzical eyebrow at his response, her mind raced, why would Sesshoumaru wish to save Inuyasha? She decided to press the demon lord further on the matter.
"So that you may kill him yourself? Would it not serve your needs better to allow me to take him to hell."
"You who have betrayed him, are not worthy to take his life, and this Sesshoumaru will not allow it. His death serves no purpose to me, the hanyou is more use to me alive." His voice was cold and calm almost bored, but Kikyo didn't miss the small flicker of emotion his eyes.
She was exactly as he had expected her to be and Sesshoumaru felt a little disappointed that so far she had proven no challenge. Perhaps she would provide more entertainment in battle. Not that Sesshoumaru took great pleasure in killing. For the most part it was a necessity of being who he was, a chore that was required to maintain order and his position as ruler of the Western Lands. But her death would give him great pleasure. If Inuyasha would not exact vengeance for her betrayal of him, then Sesshoumaru would gladly do so on his behalf.
Kikyo smiled thoughtfully, 'So he has come to accept Inuyasha, even if he still cannot openly express his emotions.' Inwardly she laughed, 'How like Inuyasha he is in that respect. Outwardly he projects the image of the cold ruler of the Western Lands, but his eyes betrayed the compassion he now holds for his brother. He feels not love for Inuyasha but he does feel some measure of emotion for him, at least enough to build a relationship upon. But he will never get that chance will he?' Kikyo frowned at the thought that came to the forefront of her mind. She would take Inuyasha away before he got that chance, did he truly deserve that? She silently cursed Kaede and her words, for conflicting her mind over what had once seemed so simple. 'His life is yours to do with what you will Kikyo, you have a choice set him free...' Silent tears fell from Kikyo's eyes and she gazed firmly but solemnly at Sesshoumaru.
"So be it." She reached round to untie her hair and once freed, it blew around her form more wildly than before. She knelt down to place her bow on the floor before straightening to look him in the eye once again. The confusion in his eyes made her smile once again as the molten pools of amber reminded her so much of Inuyasha.
To say Sesshoumaru was confused was an understatement; he had fully expected her to put up a great fight in order to have her vengeance against Inuyasha, now here she was practically begging him to kill her.
"You wish to give up your desire for Inuyasha's life?" Sesshoumaru was curious and made no attempt to hide it, he wished to know why she was making it so easy for him.
"I wish to be free but to take Inuyasha to hell would be victory for Naraku. For me to give in to my anger at Inuyasha's betrayal would please Naraku, I would deny him this pleasure with my life. Inuyasha has forgiven me, it is my wish to do the same."
She stared at the demon lord's impassive face, as he gave no indication he had heard or cared for her words. Sesshoumaru gazed back at her, there was more she wanted to say but he didn't care to listen. He wanted her gone and she wanted her pitiful life to end, death he would gladly bring her but he would not listen to her woes. He reached down to grasp Toukijin and raised an eyebrow when she raised a hand to stop him, was he going to get his battle after all?
"Before you free me from this world, you must pass on a message to Inuyasha's mate."
Now this surprised the demon lord and he paused to listen to her. What could she possibly have to say to a person she held such hatred for?
"Naraku lies here in pieces but he is still a threat, his remains must all be purified in order to make certain he will not be resurrected. As soon as she is able she must be brought here to do this, Naraku's evil will not lay dormant for long. As for Inuyasha, tell him he is free and that I have forgiven him as he has forgiven me."
She dropped her hand and looked Sesshoumaru straight in the eye and nodded. He nodded in response and drew Toukijin; raising the sword he held it aloft briefly before bringing it downwards in a slashing arc. Kikyo braced herself for the impact but it never came. The blade hovered deathly still, mere inches from her and she looked up to see her confusion mirrored in Sesshoumaru's eyes. He looked at her body as it started to glow with a soft pinkish light.
"I allowed myself to believe your destruction was complete, that despite the fact the jewel had not been purified from this world I could be content in the knowledge that you had been. I should not have been so foolish, I should have come here sooner to see for myself that what remained for me to do in this world truly was done."
She viewed the devastation before her once more, technically yes Naraku was dead, what remained of him, littered the once beautiful field. His decaying remains scorched the once lush greenery beneath them. But for his destruction to be complete, he had to be erased completely, his entire being purified. If even a little part of him remained there was always the chance he could be resurrected. Her reincarnate had begun the process, but in her weakened state had not been able to complete it. She thought back to the battle and realized what must have happened in the chaos of the final moments. 'My arrow did not connect with your body, it must have connected with a piece already separated from you, this is why you remain here still, slowly decaying instead of completely purified.'
Kikyo sighed even with her powers it would take many souls to sustain her through this, but with the aid of her reincarnation it could be done much sooner. She grimaced at the thought of her, "Kagome" the name rolled off the tongue so easily. Her dull brown eyes came to life and they flickered with pain as she remembered the sight of Inuyasha's mark upon the girl's neck. In the fleeting moments of the battle she had watched him cradle her tenderly love, determination and fear flashing in his amber eyes. She remembered that they had once held love and devotion for her in their amber depths. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to rid herself of the memories that came flooding back of a time long past. But the images wouldn't subside, she saw what could have been, but those dreams couldn't be and hadn't been possible for many years. They were merely memories of a love that was no longer hers, a love she couldn't seem to let go of.
Inuyasha had made peace with the past, he had found love once again and that fact hurt her greatly. To know that she had been forgotten in his heart, fueled her hatred and kept her bound to this world. Her eyes shone with fury as she thought of the betrayal. "But my betrayal came first" Her soul felt lighter at that confession. It was true his life belonged to her, but Inuyasha was right, hers belonged to him. She hadn't been the only one wronged, hadn't she too betrayed Inuyasha? In those last moments believing him to be her murderer she had struck with love and hatred in her heart, after all didn't such a thin thread separate the two emotions? Only because she loved him so much could she hate him with so much passion. She had bound him to that tree, denying him the honor of being with her in death. She hadn't been able to bring herself to kill him, but neither would she give him eternal peace. She laughed at the irony,'and now my desire is to have you for all eternity.
Perhaps my sister Kaede was right, you have already paid the debt you owe for your betrayal of me. I robbed you of your life for 50 years Inuyasha, because I didn't trust you, what happened was as much my fault as it was your own. But even knowing that, I don't think I can let you go...'
Her eyes flickered open as her senses picked up the aura of demon heading her way. They widened in surprise as Sesshoumaru seemingly materialized in front of her. Both stood silent for a moment, each carefully sizing up the other. His eyes that on arrival had seemed liquid with emotion, now looked as cool as glass as they looked into her own cold, dark depths. Their hair swayed in the breeze, their garments rippling in the wind making the only sound. In the moonlight both looked almost magical, silent statues in the moonlight before Kikyo finally broke the spell and spoke.
"You have come for my life." She spoke simply not asking but stating.
Sesshoumaru showed no emotion at her words but regarded her carefully for a few moments before replying. Her forwardness didn't surprise him, Kikyo was many things, but was no fool. The most logical reason for him to seek her out would be her death.
"If that it was it takes to free Inuyasha."
Kikyo raised a quizzical eyebrow at his response, her mind raced, why would Sesshoumaru wish to save Inuyasha? She decided to press the demon lord further on the matter.
"So that you may kill him yourself? Would it not serve your needs better to allow me to take him to hell."
"You who have betrayed him, are not worthy to take his life, and this Sesshoumaru will not allow it. His death serves no purpose to me, the hanyou is more use to me alive." His voice was cold and calm almost bored, but Kikyo didn't miss the small flicker of emotion his eyes.
She was exactly as he had expected her to be and Sesshoumaru felt a little disappointed that so far she had proven no challenge. Perhaps she would provide more entertainment in battle. Not that Sesshoumaru took great pleasure in killing. For the most part it was a necessity of being who he was, a chore that was required to maintain order and his position as ruler of the Western Lands. But her death would give him great pleasure. If Inuyasha would not exact vengeance for her betrayal of him, then Sesshoumaru would gladly do so on his behalf.
Kikyo smiled thoughtfully, 'So he has come to accept Inuyasha, even if he still cannot openly express his emotions.' Inwardly she laughed, 'How like Inuyasha he is in that respect. Outwardly he projects the image of the cold ruler of the Western Lands, but his eyes betrayed the compassion he now holds for his brother. He feels not love for Inuyasha but he does feel some measure of emotion for him, at least enough to build a relationship upon. But he will never get that chance will he?' Kikyo frowned at the thought that came to the forefront of her mind. She would take Inuyasha away before he got that chance, did he truly deserve that? She silently cursed Kaede and her words, for conflicting her mind over what had once seemed so simple. 'His life is yours to do with what you will Kikyo, you have a choice set him free...' Silent tears fell from Kikyo's eyes and she gazed firmly but solemnly at Sesshoumaru.
"So be it." She reached round to untie her hair and once freed, it blew around her form more wildly than before. She knelt down to place her bow on the floor before straightening to look him in the eye once again. The confusion in his eyes made her smile once again as the molten pools of amber reminded her so much of Inuyasha.
To say Sesshoumaru was confused was an understatement; he had fully expected her to put up a great fight in order to have her vengeance against Inuyasha, now here she was practically begging him to kill her.
"You wish to give up your desire for Inuyasha's life?" Sesshoumaru was curious and made no attempt to hide it, he wished to know why she was making it so easy for him.
"I wish to be free but to take Inuyasha to hell would be victory for Naraku. For me to give in to my anger at Inuyasha's betrayal would please Naraku, I would deny him this pleasure with my life. Inuyasha has forgiven me, it is my wish to do the same."
She stared at the demon lord's impassive face, as he gave no indication he had heard or cared for her words. Sesshoumaru gazed back at her, there was more she wanted to say but he didn't care to listen. He wanted her gone and she wanted her pitiful life to end, death he would gladly bring her but he would not listen to her woes. He reached down to grasp Toukijin and raised an eyebrow when she raised a hand to stop him, was he going to get his battle after all?
"Before you free me from this world, you must pass on a message to Inuyasha's mate."
Now this surprised the demon lord and he paused to listen to her. What could she possibly have to say to a person she held such hatred for?
"Naraku lies here in pieces but he is still a threat, his remains must all be purified in order to make certain he will not be resurrected. As soon as she is able she must be brought here to do this, Naraku's evil will not lay dormant for long. As for Inuyasha, tell him he is free and that I have forgiven him as he has forgiven me."
She dropped her hand and looked Sesshoumaru straight in the eye and nodded. He nodded in response and drew Toukijin; raising the sword he held it aloft briefly before bringing it downwards in a slashing arc. Kikyo braced herself for the impact but it never came. The blade hovered deathly still, mere inches from her and she looked up to see her confusion mirrored in Sesshoumaru's eyes. He looked at her body as it started to glow with a soft pinkish light.
Inuyasha tore through the forest, leaving broken branches and crunched leaves underfoot as he raced to save Kikyo. His heart hammered in his chest as he thought of what would happen if he were to make it too late. He pushed the thoughts away, 'you died once because of me Kikyo, I will not let it happen again. I will protect you this time.' He pushed himself harder, he had to make it to the battlefield, his acute sense of smell had told him Sesshoumaru had headed this way, no doubt following Kikyo's scent. He was puzzled as to why she would have headed there; he knew it wasn't because Sesshoumaru had chased her, because Kikyo's scent was a lot older than his brothers.
Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha wasn't sure what to make of his brothers actions. For a long time it had seemed all Sesshoumaru cared about was killing him and getting the Tetsusaiga. But for a while now it had looked as if that this was no longer his brother's desire. Hell he didn't even seem to want to kill him anymore. If Inuyasha didn't know any better he'd actually say that he thought Sesshoumaru was beginning to enjoy their little spats. Inuyasha growled, that would be right, his brother was just toying with him no doubt. It would be just like Sesshoumaru to look upon him as an insignificant little plaything he could fight just to amuse himself. That would be just like the arrogant lord of the western lands. But then Sesshoumaru had fought alongside him to defeat Naraku and now wasn't he going to kill Kikyo for his sake? Or was he just doing it to make sure he would be the only one to take his life? Inuyasha shook his head as he ran, no he was sure Sesshoumaru no longer intended to kill him but then why kill Kikyo? Could he really be trying to protect him after all these years? Inuyasha clenched a fist, brotherly protection or not, if he hurt Kikyo, he would make him pay. He had promised her he would protect her, and now that was all he could give her, he would not fail her again. His head tilted up as the scents of his brother and Kikyo got stronger, and he saw two figures in the distance standing as if in conversation. He grunted as he strained every muscle to get there faster, to hear what they were saying. He began to despair slightly, thinking of how unfair the whole situation was. 'If only you were still alive Kikyo, then none of this would be happening, you wouldn't want to drag me to hell. But, that, that would mean there would be no Kagome. I don't want that, I love Kagome, I need her, but still I wish you were alive Kikyo.'
Time seemed to stop, Inuyasha cried out as he arrived to se Toukijin come slashing down in a deadly arc towards Kikyo, but the deathblow never came. He felt a warm glow coming from the folds of his haori; he briefly remembered grabbing it in his rush to get to Kikyo, he removed the shikon jewel and stared at it as it glowed brightly. He looked from the jewel to Kikyo and his eyes widened in amazement as she was enveloped in a soft pink glow. Her body rose into the air gently and she softly moaned as if in pain. The light died down and she collapsed to the ground clutching her chest. Inuyasha ran to her side cradling her body close as she collapsed tiredly against him. The jewel that had been clutched tightly in his hands fell forgotten to the floor.
"Inuyasha what have you done?"
"What have I done?" He echoed, speaking mostly to himself rather than replying to her. But the second he held her he knew. He felt the warmth of her body as he clutched her close to him. Her once lifeless brown eyes now sparkled and shone with life. This wasn't the resurrected shell created by Urasue, this was his Kikyo, and she was alive! Inuyasha felt more torn than ever before, here she was alive in his arms, something he thought would never be possible again. His heart raced with memories of the past and the promises made between two people in love. And suddenly his heart was filled with dread, if Kikyo was here alive, what did that mean for Kagome? Inuyasha closed his eyes, beginning to feel disgusted with himself. His mate lay back at the village recovering from her wounds, she had put her full trust in him and here he was again, harboring thoughts of Kikyo.
Inuyasha looked up in surprise to hear a low growl emanating from Sesshoumaru, he followed the direction of his brother's gaze and responded with a growl of his own.
"Naraku!"
"Ku ku ku, what you have done is to give me that which I desired from the beginning. Ah the jewel in indeed more beautiful when sullied, you see what power it is capable of, why it can even bring back the dead! Kikyo is alive, reborn from my flesh she now lives!"
Sesshoumaru gazed silently at Naraku, the only clue to his feelings the hatred burning in his eyes of liquid fire. He silently cursed his brother for his stupidity as he realized the fool must have inadvertently wished upon the jewel. An unpure wish, if he could hazard a guess, Inuyasha had come to his senses and desired to stay with his mate. But in doing so he must have wished to no longer be burdened with Kikyo thus tainting the purified jewel as his wish was born from selfishness, its dark powers reviving Naraku in the process. And the jewel had fulfilled his wish, Kikyo had been revived, but the taint of the wish had remade her from Naraku's flesh. Sesshoumaru could smell his scent emanating from her in sickly waves, she reeked of decay, even though she was very much alive.. Inuyasha was more than likely too wrapped up in the fact she was alive to have realized this. Would this mean she would go back on her recent wishes? Would she once again desire to kill Inuyasha?
Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha wasn't sure what to make of his brothers actions. For a long time it had seemed all Sesshoumaru cared about was killing him and getting the Tetsusaiga. But for a while now it had looked as if that this was no longer his brother's desire. Hell he didn't even seem to want to kill him anymore. If Inuyasha didn't know any better he'd actually say that he thought Sesshoumaru was beginning to enjoy their little spats. Inuyasha growled, that would be right, his brother was just toying with him no doubt. It would be just like Sesshoumaru to look upon him as an insignificant little plaything he could fight just to amuse himself. That would be just like the arrogant lord of the western lands. But then Sesshoumaru had fought alongside him to defeat Naraku and now wasn't he going to kill Kikyo for his sake? Or was he just doing it to make sure he would be the only one to take his life? Inuyasha shook his head as he ran, no he was sure Sesshoumaru no longer intended to kill him but then why kill Kikyo? Could he really be trying to protect him after all these years? Inuyasha clenched a fist, brotherly protection or not, if he hurt Kikyo, he would make him pay. He had promised her he would protect her, and now that was all he could give her, he would not fail her again. His head tilted up as the scents of his brother and Kikyo got stronger, and he saw two figures in the distance standing as if in conversation. He grunted as he strained every muscle to get there faster, to hear what they were saying. He began to despair slightly, thinking of how unfair the whole situation was. 'If only you were still alive Kikyo, then none of this would be happening, you wouldn't want to drag me to hell. But, that, that would mean there would be no Kagome. I don't want that, I love Kagome, I need her, but still I wish you were alive Kikyo.'
Time seemed to stop, Inuyasha cried out as he arrived to se Toukijin come slashing down in a deadly arc towards Kikyo, but the deathblow never came. He felt a warm glow coming from the folds of his haori; he briefly remembered grabbing it in his rush to get to Kikyo, he removed the shikon jewel and stared at it as it glowed brightly. He looked from the jewel to Kikyo and his eyes widened in amazement as she was enveloped in a soft pink glow. Her body rose into the air gently and she softly moaned as if in pain. The light died down and she collapsed to the ground clutching her chest. Inuyasha ran to her side cradling her body close as she collapsed tiredly against him. The jewel that had been clutched tightly in his hands fell forgotten to the floor.
"Inuyasha what have you done?"
"What have I done?" He echoed, speaking mostly to himself rather than replying to her. But the second he held her he knew. He felt the warmth of her body as he clutched her close to him. Her once lifeless brown eyes now sparkled and shone with life. This wasn't the resurrected shell created by Urasue, this was his Kikyo, and she was alive! Inuyasha felt more torn than ever before, here she was alive in his arms, something he thought would never be possible again. His heart raced with memories of the past and the promises made between two people in love. And suddenly his heart was filled with dread, if Kikyo was here alive, what did that mean for Kagome? Inuyasha closed his eyes, beginning to feel disgusted with himself. His mate lay back at the village recovering from her wounds, she had put her full trust in him and here he was again, harboring thoughts of Kikyo.
Inuyasha looked up in surprise to hear a low growl emanating from Sesshoumaru, he followed the direction of his brother's gaze and responded with a growl of his own.
"Naraku!"
"Ku ku ku, what you have done is to give me that which I desired from the beginning. Ah the jewel in indeed more beautiful when sullied, you see what power it is capable of, why it can even bring back the dead! Kikyo is alive, reborn from my flesh she now lives!"
Sesshoumaru gazed silently at Naraku, the only clue to his feelings the hatred burning in his eyes of liquid fire. He silently cursed his brother for his stupidity as he realized the fool must have inadvertently wished upon the jewel. An unpure wish, if he could hazard a guess, Inuyasha had come to his senses and desired to stay with his mate. But in doing so he must have wished to no longer be burdened with Kikyo thus tainting the purified jewel as his wish was born from selfishness, its dark powers reviving Naraku in the process. And the jewel had fulfilled his wish, Kikyo had been revived, but the taint of the wish had remade her from Naraku's flesh. Sesshoumaru could smell his scent emanating from her in sickly waves, she reeked of decay, even though she was very much alive.. Inuyasha was more than likely too wrapped up in the fact she was alive to have realized this. Would this mean she would go back on her recent wishes? Would she once again desire to kill Inuyasha?
Miroku woke up in terror; at first he had thought the familiar itching feeling to be a dream but upon waking had realized that his situation was deadly real. His eyes widened with fear and he bit down on his lip to suppress the growing pain as the kazanna in his hand began to once again open. He closed his hand as tightly as possible, running out of the hut he grabbed the beads that had kept them sealed for so long, thankful he had kept them as a memento of a life he had thought was now over. He collapsed to the ground clutching his afflicted hand with the other.
"No!!!!!!!!!!!! You were dead, this was over..." He stopped screaming once he felt the reassuring weight of Sango's hand upon his shoulder. He turned to face her, his shoulders slumped as he looked at her; she frowned worriedly at the defeated expression on his face.
"He has returned Sango, I do not know how he did it, but he has come back." Sango flinched as he punched the dirt hard, he bared his teeth almost growling as he spoke.
"Bastard! Why can't you just die?" He continued to punch away at the dirt, repeating the same words over and over until his voice began to break and he broke down into violent sobs. Sango wrapped her arms around him tightly shushing his cries.
Her heart ached to see him in such pain and Sango wished desperately that she could stop him from suffering as he did. When they had first met she hadn't thought much of him and his perverted ways had done little to change her impression of him. But the more time she had spent traveling with him and the others the more glimpses she had gotten into what lay beneath the surface.
Naraku had murdered her kin and had used her brother as a puppet until his demise at the despicable monsters hand. Sango had so much pain of her own, that it was often easy to forget that Miroku had suffered at the hands of Naraku himself. 'How would I cope?' she wondered. 'How does it feel to wake up every day knowing that you could be sucked into oblivion by your own hand?' Did Miroku go to sleep every night thinking that tomorrow he might wake up to such a thing happening? It was so easy to forget that behind that lecherous grin, was a man so close to death. For one night he'd experienced freedom only to have it ripped from him again.
Sango held Miroku tighter rubbing a hand gently up and down his back in a soothing motion.
"He will die." Sango's voice was soft but hard-edged and prompted Miroku to finally pull away from her embrace so he could look her in the eye. Sango's eyes began to burn with anger at the look of defeat that still haunted his eyes; she would not let him give up.
"I lost my brother to him Miroku, I will not lose you. Would you give up so easily? After all the promises you have made me of a future together, you would give up now and break your word to me?"
Miroku felt lost at her words, he wanted to be with Sango more than anything but how could he?
"I don't want to Sango, but how can I when I cannot give you any of those things. Who knows how long I have left. Am I back to the beginning in regards to the curse? Have I regained it from where it left off? We thought we had killed Naraku and now he has returned again. I cannot expect you to live your life this way. Waiting around day after day for the inevitability of my death. For so long I wanted a child to continue my line. Remember when I told you I wanted to be with you after I was free from the curse?" He paused briefly continuing once Sango nodded in affirmation. "It was because I had come to the realization of how selfish that wish was, that I wished to wait until I was free from the kazanna. I live this every day, I cannot escape my curse and yet I would selfishly bestow it upon those who would follow me? No I decided then that I would not allow Naraku to destroy another of my line with this void of death. I will never be free of him and so it will end with me."
"Then we will have to make sure he is dead before our child is born won't we?"
Miroku looked at Sango in surprise, his violet eyes widening in shock as he felt her soft lips gently brush his own. His eyelids closed as he let himself get lost in her kiss. He smiled against her lips feeling her shyness, how he loved his sweet, innocent Sango. He gently pushed her away and his eyes fluttered open to gaze into her beautiful chocolate eyes, sparkling with confusion.
"No Sango, this can wait until you are ready, until Naraku has been defeated." He smiled determinedly at her and grinned to see her respond with a radiant smile of happiness.
Sango's heart leapt to see Miroku's resolve back. She saw the dullness leave his dark violet eyes and smiled to see them sparkle once again with life. In this moment Sango knew without a doubt that she loved him, that he loved her in return and that she could trust him with her battered heart. She looked down towards the ground, the bangs of her soft, silky hair hiding her eyes and she smiled mischievously. She raised her head to grin at him and putting a finger to his lips she leaned over to whisper as seductively as she could muster into his ear.
"Naraku can wait, I am ready now."
Miroku tingled at the warmth of her breath tickling his skin. He trembled with anticipation; he had wanted this for so long but yet couldn't bring himself to give in.
"Sango what about the others? Shouldn't we warn them?"
Sango sighed in disappointment, why was he turning her down? Wasn't this what he had been hoping for all this time?
"I doubt very much that Naraku would make a move so soon after such a battle. Even he would have to regain his strength and he is not likely to make a direct attack anyway. No he would need to take some time to plan out one of his wicked schemes. I am sure that the others are fine and are more than likely just as aware of his return. Besides, it is not like we are in a condition to fight anyone right now. His time will come Miroku, he will pay for everything he has done to all of us." She paused to place a hand upon his chest, cupping his cheek softly with the other.
"I no longer wish to live my life in fear Miroku, I do not want to waste the chance Kohaku gave me. I have spent our time traveling together afraid of many things. Afraid of my own feelings, afraid that yours were not genuine."
"Sango!" Miroku interrupted her loudly, upset that she could think such a thing. He hung his head his face feeling hot with shame. 'Of course she would think that, what else could she think given how he had behaved on their travels?'
Sango smiled brightly and dipped her head to catch his gaze again.
"Miroku I said I had given up on living my life in fear. My fear has kept me from letting myself be happy. I know you love me as I love you."
Miroku couldn't help but grin, 'she loves me, she actually loves me, well of course she loves me...'
Sango grinned at the goofy look that had crossed Miroku's face at her admission of love for him and allowed him to revel in it for a moment. Once the far away look left his eyes and found her own once again she continued to speak.
"In all our time traveling I always thought Inuyasha and Kagome to be foolish to not admit to one another how they felt. Yet they went into battle mated, knowing that even if they died they were loved and they had expressed that love. Miroku, I wish to... I mean... I want to... express our love, I want to know how it feels before we battle Naraku again."
Sango looked to the ground her face flushed with embarrassment and her knuckles white as she nervously clenched her fists tightly in her nervousness. Her heart hammered in her chest and its pounding was all she could hear in her ears.
Miroku hooked a finger under her chin raising her head to look at him, his amythest eyes shining brightly and Sango found they mesmerized her. She saw no mockery in their crystal clear depths, only love and adoration and she smiled softly at him. He cupped her cheek in his hand gently stroking her lips with the pad of his thumb before moving his head closer to rest softly against her own.
"I want you too Sango." She trailed a hand down towards his hand once again adorned in beads and clasped it tightly as Miroku claimed her lips with his own and they lost themselves in one another.
"No!!!!!!!!!!!! You were dead, this was over..." He stopped screaming once he felt the reassuring weight of Sango's hand upon his shoulder. He turned to face her, his shoulders slumped as he looked at her; she frowned worriedly at the defeated expression on his face.
"He has returned Sango, I do not know how he did it, but he has come back." Sango flinched as he punched the dirt hard, he bared his teeth almost growling as he spoke.
"Bastard! Why can't you just die?" He continued to punch away at the dirt, repeating the same words over and over until his voice began to break and he broke down into violent sobs. Sango wrapped her arms around him tightly shushing his cries.
Her heart ached to see him in such pain and Sango wished desperately that she could stop him from suffering as he did. When they had first met she hadn't thought much of him and his perverted ways had done little to change her impression of him. But the more time she had spent traveling with him and the others the more glimpses she had gotten into what lay beneath the surface.
Naraku had murdered her kin and had used her brother as a puppet until his demise at the despicable monsters hand. Sango had so much pain of her own, that it was often easy to forget that Miroku had suffered at the hands of Naraku himself. 'How would I cope?' she wondered. 'How does it feel to wake up every day knowing that you could be sucked into oblivion by your own hand?' Did Miroku go to sleep every night thinking that tomorrow he might wake up to such a thing happening? It was so easy to forget that behind that lecherous grin, was a man so close to death. For one night he'd experienced freedom only to have it ripped from him again.
Sango held Miroku tighter rubbing a hand gently up and down his back in a soothing motion.
"He will die." Sango's voice was soft but hard-edged and prompted Miroku to finally pull away from her embrace so he could look her in the eye. Sango's eyes began to burn with anger at the look of defeat that still haunted his eyes; she would not let him give up.
"I lost my brother to him Miroku, I will not lose you. Would you give up so easily? After all the promises you have made me of a future together, you would give up now and break your word to me?"
Miroku felt lost at her words, he wanted to be with Sango more than anything but how could he?
"I don't want to Sango, but how can I when I cannot give you any of those things. Who knows how long I have left. Am I back to the beginning in regards to the curse? Have I regained it from where it left off? We thought we had killed Naraku and now he has returned again. I cannot expect you to live your life this way. Waiting around day after day for the inevitability of my death. For so long I wanted a child to continue my line. Remember when I told you I wanted to be with you after I was free from the curse?" He paused briefly continuing once Sango nodded in affirmation. "It was because I had come to the realization of how selfish that wish was, that I wished to wait until I was free from the kazanna. I live this every day, I cannot escape my curse and yet I would selfishly bestow it upon those who would follow me? No I decided then that I would not allow Naraku to destroy another of my line with this void of death. I will never be free of him and so it will end with me."
"Then we will have to make sure he is dead before our child is born won't we?"
Miroku looked at Sango in surprise, his violet eyes widening in shock as he felt her soft lips gently brush his own. His eyelids closed as he let himself get lost in her kiss. He smiled against her lips feeling her shyness, how he loved his sweet, innocent Sango. He gently pushed her away and his eyes fluttered open to gaze into her beautiful chocolate eyes, sparkling with confusion.
"No Sango, this can wait until you are ready, until Naraku has been defeated." He smiled determinedly at her and grinned to see her respond with a radiant smile of happiness.
Sango's heart leapt to see Miroku's resolve back. She saw the dullness leave his dark violet eyes and smiled to see them sparkle once again with life. In this moment Sango knew without a doubt that she loved him, that he loved her in return and that she could trust him with her battered heart. She looked down towards the ground, the bangs of her soft, silky hair hiding her eyes and she smiled mischievously. She raised her head to grin at him and putting a finger to his lips she leaned over to whisper as seductively as she could muster into his ear.
"Naraku can wait, I am ready now."
Miroku tingled at the warmth of her breath tickling his skin. He trembled with anticipation; he had wanted this for so long but yet couldn't bring himself to give in.
"Sango what about the others? Shouldn't we warn them?"
Sango sighed in disappointment, why was he turning her down? Wasn't this what he had been hoping for all this time?
"I doubt very much that Naraku would make a move so soon after such a battle. Even he would have to regain his strength and he is not likely to make a direct attack anyway. No he would need to take some time to plan out one of his wicked schemes. I am sure that the others are fine and are more than likely just as aware of his return. Besides, it is not like we are in a condition to fight anyone right now. His time will come Miroku, he will pay for everything he has done to all of us." She paused to place a hand upon his chest, cupping his cheek softly with the other.
"I no longer wish to live my life in fear Miroku, I do not want to waste the chance Kohaku gave me. I have spent our time traveling together afraid of many things. Afraid of my own feelings, afraid that yours were not genuine."
"Sango!" Miroku interrupted her loudly, upset that she could think such a thing. He hung his head his face feeling hot with shame. 'Of course she would think that, what else could she think given how he had behaved on their travels?'
Sango smiled brightly and dipped her head to catch his gaze again.
"Miroku I said I had given up on living my life in fear. My fear has kept me from letting myself be happy. I know you love me as I love you."
Miroku couldn't help but grin, 'she loves me, she actually loves me, well of course she loves me...'
Sango grinned at the goofy look that had crossed Miroku's face at her admission of love for him and allowed him to revel in it for a moment. Once the far away look left his eyes and found her own once again she continued to speak.
"In all our time traveling I always thought Inuyasha and Kagome to be foolish to not admit to one another how they felt. Yet they went into battle mated, knowing that even if they died they were loved and they had expressed that love. Miroku, I wish to... I mean... I want to... express our love, I want to know how it feels before we battle Naraku again."
Sango looked to the ground her face flushed with embarrassment and her knuckles white as she nervously clenched her fists tightly in her nervousness. Her heart hammered in her chest and its pounding was all she could hear in her ears.
Miroku hooked a finger under her chin raising her head to look at him, his amythest eyes shining brightly and Sango found they mesmerized her. She saw no mockery in their crystal clear depths, only love and adoration and she smiled softly at him. He cupped her cheek in his hand gently stroking her lips with the pad of his thumb before moving his head closer to rest softly against her own.
"I want you too Sango." She trailed a hand down towards his hand once again adorned in beads and clasped it tightly as Miroku claimed her lips with his own and they lost themselves in one another.
Kaede stepped out of the hut, no longer able to watch the heartbreaking sight that she had left inside it. She could no longer watch Shippo who sat hunched over the still form of Kagome, his little body trembling as he sobbed uncontrollably over her. The girl lay close to death, Kaede could feel it, her soul had been stolen from her once again just as Urasue had done when she had resurrected Kikyo. Was her sister behind this? She closed her eyes and prayed, hoping that wherever Inuyasha was, he would be in time to save Kagome.