InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome's Realization ❯ Chapter 26 ( Chapter 31 )

Chapter 26

Keade lying sleeping on her cot. It wasn't a peaceful sleep but it was sleep nonetheless. When she had returned, with Kirara following her, the villagers immediately informed her that Miroku and Sango had borrowed two horses and that there was some sort of accident concerning Kagome. She had been back two days and still they had not returned. She voiced her concerns to a friend, that it had been two days and she hadn't seen them, she was told that they all had been waiting nearly six days for them to return. Not only because they were concerned for all involved, especially Kagome, but Miroku had taken the two best horses in the village and they were needed.

So again that night, she prepared dinner and waited for their return. They did not return; and like she did every night she prepared for bed. She prayed for their safe return and that the worry in her heart was unfounded. It took some tossing and turning but eventually she fell asleep. All was quite and serene, not demon lurking in the shadows waiting to pounce.

When the sound of her door being slide opened and closed pierced her conscious Keade's eye popped open but she didn't move. She let her scenes take over and she soon discovered that the intruder was still standing by the door to her hut.

"I hope that you have not come here thinking you could rob me." Keade said still laying on her cot.

"We've never had anything worth taking." Answered a familiar voice.

"Only the Shikon no Tama, Onee-sama." Keade said sitting up to see her sister standing by the doorway.

Kikyo took the few steps needed to reach Keade and sat down. "You had fifty years of peace with the Shikon no Tama gone."

"If you wish to call war and starvation peace." Keade countered.

"They will be here soon." Kikyo said changing the subject so quickly Keade wasn't sure who they were.

"Who?" Keade asked her brow furrowed.

"Inuyasha and his friends." Kikyo answered.

"You saw them? When?" Keade asked quickly.

"We parted ways almost three days ago."

"I was told there was an accident concerning Kagome. Is she okay?" Worry was written all over Keade's features.

Kikyo shook her head no then said, "She's dead."

"No." Keade said shaking her head fighting back tears.

"She died in her time and Inuyasha brought her here to revive her. It didn't work." Kikyo said observing Keade's increasing agitation.

"Who did Inuyasha take her too?" Keade asked rising.

"Masimato Yunigie." Kikyo answered keeping her place, watching her sister pace.

"He hasn't revived anyone in many years." Keade said ringing her hands.

"Nearly eighty." Kikyo supplied.

"So he said no, is that it? He wouldn't revive Kagome?" Keade stopped pacing and went to stand in front of her sister.

"Masimato Yunigie could not bring Kagome's soul back because it is still a living force in this world."

"Her soul reincarnated?" Keade asked complete astonished.

"No, not exactly. I have her soul."

Keade was speechless. The only thing she could do was stand there and stare at her sister in complete shock. It was then, even with only the light from the moon, Keade saw subtle changes in Kikyo since the last time she had seen her. She didn't look as pale and her hair seemed shinier, she looked almost like she did when she saw her last as a child.

"How did you get Kagome's soul?" Keade asked finally sounding out of breath.

"A shinidama brought it to me, but the soul was looking for me."

"Looking for you?" Keade asked.

"She died in her time. When Kagome died her soul should have crossed over but it didn't. Her soul should not have been wondering in this time." Kikyo answered.

The realization that Kagome's soul sought out Kikyo because Kikyo was in possession of part of it hit Keade hard.

"Inuyasha would never be able to murder me and steal my soul. Despite the fact that it reincarnated into Kagome it is still mine. He asked me for it." Kikyo said staring at nothing as the events replayed in her memory.

"He did?" Keade whispered feeling her knees about to give out on her she sat down next to her sister again.

"Only after being harassed by the kitsune that travels with them."

"Because he knew your answer was no?" Keade half asked half stated.

"Yes." Kikyo said staring Keade straight in her eye.

Despite how much she loves her sister Keade couldn't help but feel the strong unfairness of the situation. For everyone involved.

"I should have." Kikyo's whispered words snapped Keade from her thoughts. "My time has come and gone, as brief as it was. I was brought back for the soul purpose of finding and fixing the Shikon no Tama."

Keade watched in wonder as her sister poured her heart out to her. Hopefully healing it in the process.

"I remember feeling and knowing nothing when Urasue first revived me. When I saw Kagome I knew she was a part of me. I didn't know how but I knew. Then I saw Inuyasha and I knew I hated him. I couldn't feel the hatred but I knew I had felt it. If he spoke my name, even though I myself didn't know it, I knew everything inside me would unleash, so I willed him not to speak."

"But he did, I remember he said your name." Kikyo said remembering that day as well.

"Yes he did. What was me was unleashed and my soul called. Such betrayal and anger I felt. And it was all because of Inuyasha. How dare he be alive! my mind shouted to me. I would have killed him again but Kagome's will proved to be stronger than mine. She will not allow any harm to come to him."

"Kagome has proved that many times."

"Fearing what would happen if she took all of her soul back I ran. I didn't make it far before I stumbled and fell over the edge of the mountain when Inuyasha saved me, but instead of letting him pull me up I tried to take him with me." Kikyo said.

"I did not know this." Keade said.

"Inuyasha is not one for speaking of personal matters with others." Kikyo smiled softly before sobering again and she continued. "I fell but did not die. I was found and taken in by a small village that I grew to love. It felt so wonderful to love but I could not help feeling that I was cursed. Cursed to live a shell of a person. I was free, for the first time in my life, I was free, but I could not feel joy from it. I could not truly live the life I wanted. Never have a family of my own and to grow old. When I found out about Naraku I felt I had a purpose. That maybe that was the real reason I was allowed to survive. I was needed to defeat Naraku."

"But you could have killed him already. Inuyasha told me that he had kidnapped you, why did you not kill him then? Why, instead, did you steal Kagome's shards and give them to him?" Keade asked she had always wondered about it.

"Because I am no longer the person I once was. I've become selfish and spiteful; I'm full of hatred. Aiding Naraku has never been my intention. I took Kagome's shards from her because she was immune to the spell that Naraku had cast on the others. I knew her fear would be me and Inuyasha together and I wanted her to realize it." Kikyo paused waiting for her sister to question her.

"Why?" Keade asked suspiciously.

"Because along with everything else I hate Kagome. She has taken my place in Inuyasha's heart. She has healed his wounded soul in ways that I never could. His strongest emotion for me is that of protector. He won't let Naraku harm me again. They pity me and I hate them for it."

"Kagome is a very compassionate person." Keade urged.

"I have no need for her compassion. I have no need for her and it was that fact alone that kept me from killing her that night. I saw no point in killing her, it would only make Inuyasha hate me and that is not what I've wanted."

"What is it that you want from Inuyasha?" Keade asked grasping her sister's hands, they felt warm.

"For him to fulfill his promise to be mine." Kikyo answered.

"And now that Kagome is gone you plan on the two of you defeating Naraku? Then having a life together?"

"No."

"No?"

"Inuyasha will not want to travel with me to look for the shards."

"Why not?" Keade asked.

"Because it would be too painful for him to be with me. He will not be asking me to help him. I have Kagome's soul, he is no longer able to look me in the eye." Kikyo lowered her head.

Keade felt a tear slide down her cheek and swiped it angrily away. "Why do you tell me this?"

"Because I need your help and understanding. I need for you to know the truth and tell me that you still love me."

"I shall always love you Onee-sama. I have always tried to be like you." And for the first time in fifty years Keade heard her sisters laugh.

"You are a better person than I, Keade. Since I've been back I've done everything my way. I've let the freedom of carrying such anger and jealousy guide me."

"You have my understand and my love. What help is it that you want from me?" Keade asked remember what her sister had said.

"I need your help to do the right thing." Kikyo answered.

"And what is the right thing, Kikyo?" Keade asked. It was on a rare occasion, indeed, that she called her sister by her given name.

"To give Kagome back her life. And to give Inuyasha back his heart." Kikyo answered tightening her grip on her sister's hands.

Author's Note: I was a writing fool with this chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it.