InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Haunted ❯ Kikyou's Request ( Chapter 23 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 23: Kikyou's Request

Naraku slammed his fist into the wall, feral fury locking his face into a rictus of pained rage. Not only had he lost his newest incarnation to that woman, but also Kanna.

Where the hell is her power coming from? I have most of the jewel, so it can't be that! All this time I have worried about Kikyou - maybe I was wrong. It seems that it is this Miko that is the danger.

He clenched his fist harder, turning away from the wall, he slumped down against it. Now that all his incarnations were gone, he'd have to figure something else out.

Now he was vulnerable, and he knew that all his enemies were gathering like vultures around a corpse.

How appropos. A corpse, hmmm? That gives me an idea. Maybe it is time to utilize the full power of the shards that I do have. This will probably take every bit of the power in them, too. But it will be fully worth it when the Sons of the Inu no Taisho face their worst nightmare...

Sesshoumaru, you wanted to fight your father... I think I'll give you that chance.

---cCc---

Sango slumped over in her seat on Kirara's back. She still wasn't feeling too well, and was glad that her friend was always so willing to carry her.

They were on their way back to Kaede's village, after deciding that it would make a good place for a council of war. Sesshoumaru was traveling with them, and she glanced over at the taiyoukai. He was definitely more comfortable to have as an ally. That thought made her pause, then chuckle a little. There was nothing comfortable about him, enemy or ally, that had not been the correct word to use.

It was... interesting, certainly, having him with them and not fighting.

She looked down towards the ground, watching as Inuyasha leaped upwards again, Kagome smiling against his back. It seemed that Kagome herself was the only one easy with the youkai lord's company. Of course, Kagome could find something to like in just about anybody, except Naraku.

Smiling a bit at that thought, she asked Kirara to take her down, she really wanted to be on the ground right now. She motioned Inuyasha over as soon as they touched down, trying to fight off the slight dizziness that had hit her, it was a good thing that Miroku was holding her right now, or she'd probably have fallen off hours back.

"Inuyasha, how much farther are we from the village? Could we make it tonight?"

He glanced over at her. "Yeah, we're not that far, we could make it if we keep traveling after dark, maybe the third hour after sunset. Why?"

"I feel awful, but I just can't face another night out in the open - can we travel on through, then, instead of stopping?" She looked anxiously at him. "As long as everyone's okay to keep traveling, I don't want to tire anyone out over me."

"Keh. It's no big deal, Sango. We can keep going, I don't mind, and my bastard of a brother can keep it to himself if he doesn't like it."

She looked grateful. "Thanks, Inuyasha. I really don't want to stay in an outdoors camp if I can help it."

Miroku had remained silent 'til now, but spoke up before Inuyasha could pick the pace back up. "Can we stop for a moment? Sango's fever has gotten higher and I'd like to get some of those herbs that Kagome carries to help bring it back down."

They all stopped, Kagome dropping off Inuyasha's back and pulling her bag off her shoulder. It only took a moment to find the aspirin, and hand her friend a bottle of water. Then she handed her some chips.

"Thanks, Kagome." She frowned at the chips. "I don't think I can eat right now, though."

"You don't have a choice, Sango. You have to. Those herbs are harsh on the stomach, and if they're taken when you haven't eaten, it can make you sick. I wish I had something else to give you, but I'm running low on supplies, so...."

Sango wrinkled her nose, then sighed. "Okay. I'll eat them."

"Good." She climbed back onto Inuyasha, adjusting herself, trying to get comfortable for the last leg of the journey.

"Keh. Let's get moving. The sooner we do, the sooner we get back to Kaede's." He leapt off again, gaining height with each jump, until he was once again going from treetop to treetop.

Sesshoumaru had not stopped, and was already long gone, not that Inuyasha minded that a bit. Stuck up bastard anyway. He kept his eyes trained ahead, as it got darker, he'd have to come down from the treetops, and travel at a slower pace on the ground.

And that is why he spotted the glowing forms of kikyou's soul collectors a few miles south of where they were. They glowed in the deepening twilight, casting an eerie radiance around them.

"Fuck!" He dropped down, once again heading for the ground, motioning for Kagome to slide off his back. As Sango and Miroku landed next to them, he waved them closer. "You two keep going, get Sango back to Kaede's. I'll handle this." They nodded and took off again, glad not to have to be witness to this meeting. It probably wouldn't be pleasant.

What the fuck is she doing here? I told her already that she needed to stay away from us! Dammit!

"Inuyasha, just stop cursing for a moment." Shaking her head at her mate, she continued. "She wouldn't have come if it weren't important, you know that - not after last time. So maybe we should hear her out, okay?"

He glared at her. "Have you forgotten, Kagome, just why I don't want her around? She's a danger to you, and I don't like it."

She sighed. "Inuyasha... she's no threat. Have you forgotten already what I'm capable of now? I can easily shield against any attack she cares to make, if she even tries! Come on, baka, let's go find her. I'd like to get this over with, so we can get back to the village. I'm tired, you know." Turning, she moved off in the direction they'd seen Kikyou's soul collectors in.

Looking back over her shoulder, she grinned at his sulky look. "Move it, baka. Weak hanyou, always so slow!" She shrieked and ran off, laughing at the death glare he gave her before charging after her.

Crazy wench! Get back here woman, you're gonna pay for that!

'No way, bakayasha, you're gonna have to catch me!'

Growling, he caught up with the fleeing woman, and pounced on her, grinning when she shrieked again. "Caught ya, wench - so what do I get as a reward, hmmm?"

Pulling away suddenly, he turned around, carefully keeping Kagome behind him.

Kikyou had entered the clearing.

"Inuyasha. Kagome." A slight smile graced her lips for a moment. "Enjoying yourselves?" She sighed, then, at his narrow-eyed stare. "I'm sorry I interrupted, but I need to speak to you, Kagome," she said, meeting her gaze. She smiled at Inuyasha's growl.

"Stop that. I have no intention of causing her any harm, in fact," she said, wryly, "I highly doubt I could harm her anymore."

"Keh. You're right about that, anyway."

"Yes, well, be that as it may, I still do have powers of my own... don't think I'm helpless, Inuyasha." She looked back at her reincarnation. "I... need your help, Kagome." At Inuyasha's start of surprise, she smiled again, this time with real amusement. "Yes, I am asking for help. Amazing, is it not?"

She sobered, then, and they could both see the weariness within her. "I am tired. It is as simple as that. But I am also afraid - I do not want to go to hell again, I want peace. That is all I crave now. Just peace. I can have that, but only with your help, Kagome. You must decide if you can forgive me enough to do so."

Kagome quietly considered the woman in front of her, wondering what the older miko could possibly need from her. Not that it mattered, whatever it was, she would help her. It was the right thing to do.

"What do you need from me, Kikyou?"

"You will help me, then?"

"I will."

"Kagome, shouldn't you wait to find out what she wants from you before you just agree, baka wench? She might be wanting your soul, ya know!" Inuyasha turned his head, staring at his mate. She was just too giving, and forgiving, for her own damn good.

She looked at Inuyasha. "I mean no harm to your mate, Inuyasha, let me reiterate that again." Shaking her head, she smiled wryly at her reincarnation. "Tell me, Kagome, how do you put up with it? He goes so over the top, it must drive you crazy!"

Kagome laughed. "You have no idea!" She shook her head and laughed again at the face he made at her.

Kikyou sobered again, gesturing at the road. "Why don't we walk as we speak? You are heading for Kaede's, are you not? This way, you don't lose as much time."

"Feh. You two are humans, so you walk so slow that it won't mean much, anyway."

"Inuyasha..."

"Shit! Alright already! We'll walk!"

"Thank you!" Turning her head, she ignored Inuyasha, and spoke to Kikyou. "So. Tell me what it is you need."

Kikyou shook her head in amusement at the byplay between the two, before turning a serious look on her.

"The battle with Naraku is coming, I'm sure you have felt it." At Kagome's nod, she continued. "I will stick around and help with that fight... I have as much reason to do so as anyone else, as I'm sure you agree, Inuyasha," he gave her a guilty look, "and I want to leave this life with the knowledge that he has been destroyed. After that....." she looked at Kagome, suddenly deadly serious.

"I want you to purify our soul, so that I can find peace in the afterlife, Kagome."

Kagome's eyes widened, and Inuyasha snapped his head around to stare at her. "How did you find out that she could do that, Kikyou?"

"Kaede told me. It gave me hope," she said, looking away tiredly. "I want to sleep, but I do not want to go to hell again," she glanced back at him, "especially not alone."

He gave her a sad look, before glancing at Kagome. She appeared to be deep in thought, not really listening to them.

"Kikyou... I'm sorry, I know I said I would go to hell with you, but - I just couldn't." He looked down for a moment, before looking back up at her. "I'm glad that you asked this, you know, I'd... rather see you happy and at peace than miserable in hell."

She smiled at him, a smile he hadn't seen in fifty-three years, and his heart ached for just a moment for the past that had died. She had always had a beautiful smile, even if she didn't use it often.

"Thank you, Inuyasha. I'm glad to know that we can part at peace with each other, at least." She looked back over at Kagome. "Is something wrong, Kagome?"

Kagome started at the sound of her name. "What? Oh - no. I was just.. remembering something. Just caught in a memory, that's all. So anyway, that's all you want? Me to purify our soul?"

She nodded gently. "Yes. That's all I want."

"Okay. Will you come back to the village with us?"

She shook her head in the negative. "No. I have already seen my sister and said my goodbyes. I do not want to drag this out, so I will wait out here in the forest until it is time." At their sad looks, she smiled again.

"Don't worry... I've gotten used to being alone, and I wouldn't be comfortable back in the village." She stopped then, waiting until they had also stopped, she spoke again. "I'll know when it's time, and I'll find you, Kagome, don't worry." Nodding, she moved off. "Until then... thank you for agreeing."

She disappeared under the trees, leaving behind two rather bemused people. That had definitely been a completely different meeting than the last one.

Both people left behind in the clearing were very glad of that, and for similar reasons. Finally, they could be at peace with the past.

That left only the future.

Once Naraku was dead and the jewel was gone, of course.