InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Proposition ❯ Confrontation: Inu Yasha's Decision ( Chapter 5 )

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

Confrontation: Inu Yasha's Decision

~2 months later~

Kagome heaved herself over the lip of the Bone-eaters Well and took a deep breath of the fresh forest air. Enjoying the gentle warmth of the day, she indulged in a luxuriant stretch to ease muscles fatigued by the climb out of the well. Inu Yasha hopped out of the well after her with ease even burdened as he was with Kagome's enormous pack. Much to his dismay, that had become the tradition ever since he began following her down the well during her sporadic visits to her own time period. Kagome had laughingly insisted that it was the least he could do after risking getting her in trouble with all of his late night visits.
In an instinctive gesture, his eyes instantly began to roam the area in search of any possible enemies but they were soon drawn to Kagome's stretch. Her arms were raised; her back arched gracefully stretching her entire length causing her shit to rise giving him a tantalizing glimpse of her abdomen. Inu Yasha swallowed heavily watching as each muscle flexed and strained; her whole body was left completely vulnerable to attack. Inu Yasha suppressed a grin seriously considering dragging Kagome to a more secluded spot where he could fully take advantage of that pose. However, his half formed plans were soon dashed by the sound of cheerful whistling nearby. Kagome ended her enticing stretch to take a few steps forward to investigate while Inu Yasha surreptitiously inched his hand to Tetsaiga's hilt frowning at the intrusion. The forest went dead silent, the birds hesitating in their song unsure of the noisy travelers. Then, even the whistling stopped making the silence even more profound.

THWAP!!

The birds fled the trees filling the air with the sharp beating of their wings and the hushed rustle of the leaves from whence they departed.
"I told you to stop that, Miroku!!" A feminine voice growled over the noise of the birds.
"It was an accident I assure you." A male voice replied in a reconciling tone.
"You touch me there one more time and I swear next time I'll remove your hand with my boomerang!"
"Sango, please. Such things to say to a peaceful monk." Inu Yasha released Tetsaiga's hilt with an exasperated sigh. "Does that guy ever give up?"
"I'm sure glad that he leaves me alone now but I sure feel bad for Sango." Kagome started walking toward the sound of squabbling.
"He'd better not be trying anything or I'll be doing a lot worse to him then what Sango threatens." Inu Yasha flexed his claws as he joined her side.
"I'm sure he knows that too." Kagome laughed. Miroku had been very good around Kagome ever since she and Inu Yasha became lovers. It only took a menacing look or two from Inu Yasha to keep the flirtatious monk in line. Unfortunately, that left Sango to take the brunt of Miroku's amorous advances.

It didn't take them long to run into their friends on the path, still fighting. Miroku was trying to look as complacent and innocent as possible while Sango glared daggers at him with one hand firmly gripping her boomerang. Shippo was sitting on a nearby rock watching the exchange with boredom; this happened on far too regular a basis for it to be entertaining anymore. Since the other two were otherwise occupied, it was Shippo who first saw Kagome and Inu Yasha coming along the path.
"Kagome!" Shippo cried out happily rushing over to her. Relief lit Miroku's eyes once they fell upon Kagome and Inu Yasha. Seeing his salvation, he hurriedly approached them with a bright greeting.
"Welcome back, I trust your trip was pleasant." Shippo bounded up into Kagome's arms to snuggle her,
"We missed you!" Sango temporarily cast aside her anger to greet them with a smile. Miroku's eyes slid over to Inu Yasha and a slow grin spread on his face,

"Ah, so this is where Inu Yasha has been these last few days." Miroku turned to Sango, "You owe me fifty yen." Sango sighed fishing the money from her kimono.
"I thought Inu Yasha was more of a gentlemen."
"What exactly were you taking bets on?!" Inu Yasha pushed back one sleeve fully prepared to beat Miroku senseless for his presumption.
"We were only concerned about your whereabouts. We haven't seen you in days."
"Since when has my whereabouts been any concern to you and that still doesn't explain why you're making bets about me! I could have been anywhere!"
"Could have?' Miroku arched a brow, "So you're saying that you were indeed in Kagome's time with her."

"We've heard rumors of a demon not to far from here, he may have a jewel shard." Sango interjected loudly. She may have been irritated with Miroku's wandering hands, but the clobbering that Inu Yasha was prepared to give him would take too long to heal. The mention of a jewel shard had the desired effect on Inu Yasha, he immediately forgot about Miroku and focused his attention on the business at hand.
"Kagome, do you sense anything?" He turned expectantly towards Kagome. Kagome shot Sango a thankful look then concentrated, a far away expression on her face.
"It's pretty faint but I think I can sense something in that direction." She pointed vaguely to the east.
"Alright, let's go." Inu Yasha tossed Kagome's bag on the bicycle and eagerly strode off down the path.
"Some things never change." Sango said with a laugh hurrying to catch up with Inu Yasha's eager stride.

********


The demon was surprisingly not hard to find due to its love of carnage. It was reported that the insect like being had destroyed three villages in close proximity to each other. Once in the area, Inu Yasha's keen sense of smell soon led them to the beast's den. However, just as they were bracing themselves for battle, the demon decided to return home. It came up right behind them and without any preamble attacked with its lengthy pincers. The creature was well over fourteen feet tall and despite its size it was remarkably agile and swift. Like any other small insect, it could climb on anything and its movements were jerky and hard to predict. Inu Yasha approached the matter in his usual way by unsheathing Tetsaiga and attacking ruthlessly without any notable strategy. Sango pitched in as well as she could with her boomerang but the demon's erratic movements made a hit hard to come by. The battle was made even more difficult when the demon revealed its large, filmy wings. Much like those of a bee, they fluttered at a speed that made them seem almost none existent. However, the force of the wings was very tangible, the wind nearly knocked them to the ground. The insect took to the air nulling even the minute threat of Tetsaiga. Sango followed it astride Kirara but flight only increased its speed.
"This isn't working, we need some sort of strategy!" Kagome hollered over the whine of the insect-demon's wings.
"What do you suggest? There aren't too many options here!" Inu Yasha retorted as he sent a few Iron Reever Soul Stealers at the insect. One actually managed to cut its thorax earning him a piercing cry from the demon.
"If we could injure its antenna, then it would lose its orientation and balance making it easier to fight." Kagome shot back preparing an arrow.
"That's nice in theory, but how exactly are we supposed to hit it?"
"Perhaps my wind tunnel will still it long enough for one of you to hit it. Normally, those of any strength are able to resist it for a time but the act of resisting hinders their able to dodge."
"Great idea, Miroku!" Kagome beamed.
"Alright, but let's make this quick and be sure you don't suck it and the jewel shard in!" Inu Yasha poised himself for attack focusing on a direct line in front of Miroku. Miroku in turn held out his hand removing the containment powers of his rosary beats. The force of the wind tunnel had the desired effect on the insect-demon. In response to the high velocity winds it frantically strained against it flying in the opposite direction with all the strength it possessed. Inu Yasha skirted around the area of influence until he faced the insect, he then let the pull of the wind take him from his feet sending him head long at the insect. Inu Yasha aimed for the head in general entertaining the vague hope that the wind tunnel would incapacitate it completely. However, seeing the attack the demon shifted its struggle to the right in an attempt to dodge Inu Yasha's lethal blade. Fortunately, Inu Yasha still managed to neatly slice off the tip of the antenna. The demon howled as it lost control of its balance and went spinning backwards towards the wind tunnel. Miroku quickly sealed the wind tunnel again taking a few steps back to dodge the great insect-demon that came hurtling towards him. The insect crashed heavily to the ground but it was by no means defeated. Enraged and disoriented by the loss of its antenna, it reared up even more ferocious than before.


Kagome made ready to make use of her bow but paused mid-action feeling a sudden sense of unease envelop her. The sensation was so powerful that she forgot the battle raging behind her, the roar of the monster and shouts of her friends faded to the background; even the landscape seemed somehow dimmed. Kagome closed her eyes trying to pin down the feeling. 'Okay, I'm sure it's not the demon or the jewel shard...but then what else could it be? Is there another demon nearby?...No, but it feels kind of similar...' Kagome began to hazily walk in the direction from which the feeling was emitted too entranced to remember the battle or the peril of her friends. Likewise, they were too engrossed in the battle to notice Kagome wandering off looking slightly dazed.
She wound her way deeper into the forest unheeding of the trees and plants that attempted to bar her way. She was so immersed in trying to discover its source that she almost didn't recognize the eerily glowing serpentine figure that slithered through the air. Its shrill cry brought Kagome back to herself; she stopped and stared at it recognition beginning to bloom in her mind. The feeling of unease intensified making it very plain to Kagome who was the culprit of the sensation. Kagome's lips tightened into a thin line, her eyes following the path of the spirit creature as it journeyed further into the forest. Steeled by grim determination Kagome followed after the serpent unwilling to meet with the undead priestess but at the same time knowing it was inevitable. She did not have far to go, twenty yards or so further and she could already see the light of a dozen souls loitering around the branches of a tree. Greatly dreading the oncoming confrontation but powerless to stop herself, Kagome advanced on the tree as though hypnotized. Upon reaching the ageless tree, she discovered Kikyo taking her ease amongst its sturdy branches. The souls swam about her like fireflies; corralled by the spirit serpents. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Kagome thought she could hear the cry of the maidens' souls begging for their freedom.
"Kikyo." Kagome greeted her former incarnation. Kikyo's lifeless eyes shifted dully to Kagome,
"Why do you bother me here." The disinterest in her tone made plain her disregard for Kagome's presence.
"These maidens...their souls are crying. They don't want to be here...can't you hear them?"
"Of course I can."
"Then why are you doing this? You're hurting them."
"If I do not take their souls, then I shall no longer be able to stay in this world." Kikyo sat up, her eyes becoming shrewd. "But perhaps that is exactly what you desire."
"No, Kikyo. I'd like for you to be at peace...to be happy. But I simply can't condone you hurting others. Please, let them go." She implored.
"There is only one way that I may remain in this world without the aid of other souls. The only reason that I need them at all is because I lack my entire soul. Would you care to give it up to save these maidens?" Kikyo leapt down from the branches a challenge dancing in her eyes. Kagome bit her lip anxiously, she had no answer for that kind of question. Despite her deep and earnest desire to help others, she was not yet ready to give up her own life to Kikyo. Not yet. Like Inu Yasha, she couldn't accept death until her quest was over, until she destroyed Naraku and set right all the wrongs that he had committed.
"Just as I thought, you lack the selflessness to do so." Kikyo held out her hand to a nearby serpent that was tightly holding onto one of the souls. The serpent released its prize into her hand purring in an unearthly fashion eager to please its mistress. Kagome bit back a cry of her own when she heard the soul protesting futilely lacking the strength to escape. Its struggle ended with a silent scream as Kikyo absorbed it into her own body.
"Kikyo, stop!" Kagome pleaded running to Kikyo and grasping her frigid wrist.
"Release me." Irritation flickered in Kikyo's eyes adding some friction to her words.
"No, you have to stop this! You don't have the right to take these girls' souls. If you want the rest of your soul back so badly then why don't you rejoin it in me?" Kikyo's brows frowned with displeasure,
"I have no desire to return to obscurity. Get out of my way or I shall move you myself."
"No, Kikyo." Kagome lifted her chin determinedly. "I won't let you hurt anymore people."
"I have hurt none of the living; I only require the energy of the dead. It is the least they can do for all that I have done for them."
"What about the demons?"
"Demons aren't people. Even if they are then you have been killing many people."
"Demons are people." Kagome insisted, her eyes filled with regret, "I'm sorry that I had to kill anyone. Inu Yasha is a demon, would you say that he isn't a person?" She asked quietly.
"What do you know of Inu Yasha?" Kikyo scoffed. "You are just an annoying child always needing to be rescued. How pathetic, I'm ashamed of what my soul has become."
"That's not true!" Kagome denied although she felt the pang of Kikyo's well-aimed insult. Kikyo smirked seeing the uncertainty in Kagome's eyes,
"Perhaps I should liberate the rest of my soul from such an unworthy shell." Kikyo raised a hand to the air summoning her spirit followers. They flocked to her insinuating their serpentine bodies protectively around her. "You are not worthy of my power!" Kikyo brought down her hand to point forcefully at Kagome. The beasts shrieked shrilly uncoiling themselves from their mistress to rush at the unprotected youth. Kagome spun around to flee but found her escape blocked by more of the fiends watching with empty eyes. Turning once again, Kagome found she could do little more than watch her assassins approach with frightening speed. Kagome hastily cast about for her fallen bow and arrows or any possible weapon against the onslaught.
"Looking for these?" Kagome reluctantly raised her eyes to meet Kikyo's smug expression. The bow and quiver of arrows were lying casually at her feet. "I've seen your archery, you don't deserve such fine equipment. Truly, my reincarnation is a failure in all aspects. Why don't you just go home, you neither belong here nor do you have any skills to survive. Go back home and live your easy life; you're only in everyone's way." The serpents chose that moment to attack ensnaring Kagome tightly in their many coils.
"No! I refuse to give up! I won't stop fighting until the Shikon jewel is whole! I may not be as strong as you Kikyo, but I can still help them! I won't abandon my friends." Kagome struggled futilely against her captors all the while glaring at Kikyo. Kikyo's smirk turned into cruel laughter as she watched Kagome's helpless squirming.
"Think as you wish." Her bitter gaze fell upon the weapon at her feet. Kikyo leisurely plucked them from the ground and examined them absently. "I shall make the decision for you." She drew a single arrow then slung the quiver over her shoulder.
"What do you mean?" Fear turned the blood in her veins to ice as she watched Kikyo lazily examin the arrow, then test the string on the bow.
"I will remove you from this world." Kikyo nocked the arrow to the bow and pulled it back firmly.
"Kikyo, no!" Kagome struggled even more fiercely but the serpents held unworldly strength that no mortal could hope to overcome. Kikyo took her time adjusting her aim adding to Kagome's panic. In a moment of pure terror, Kagome's mind suddenly went clear, she could feel power building in her blood in response to the threat. She same power that charged her arrows filled her being, it only needed an outlet. Kagome clenched her eyes shut trying to focus on the serpents. She heaved internally pushing the power within out. The serpents howled as the power that burned through her skin pierced them deeply, eating at their flesh. Kagome thrust all of her weight to one side seeing Kikyo release the fatal arrow. The serpents were too weakened by her assault to hold her any longer; she broke free shattering a few in the process. The arrow flew by only managing to graze her arm in the process.
Kikyo, unfazed, simply pulled another arrow from the quiver. A few droplets of blood slid down Kagome's arm warning her of the arrow's sharpness. Kagome, eyes wide with fear, spun around and bolted through the trees running as fast as her legs could carry her; the serpents did not block her this time being too fearful of her power. Somewhere behind her as she dodged through the trees she heard the sullen sound of the arrow imbedding itself into tree bark. The sound spurred on her fear giving new strength to her fatigued muscles.
Kagome didn't stop running until she reached the deserted battlefield where her friends waited.


********


Inu Yasha brought the Tetsaiga fiercely down on the shoulder of the writhing beast nearly severing its front-most right arm. The insect hissed at the pain, but in seconds the wound was well on its way to being healed. The antenna was only kept separated by Sango's quick thinking. When the antenna was severed it had begun to wriggle its way back to its body and Sango had the good fortune to notice it. She quickly directed Kirara to the antenna; upon reaching it, Kirara picked it up and held it in her strong jaws. It was all Kirara could do to keep the tough armored thing from escaping.
"How are we supposed to beat this thing if it only keeps regenerating itself?!" Inu Yasha growled in frustration flitting to a rock to rest a bit.
"We must find its weak spot. No doubt that the jewel is aiding its regenerative powers if not being entirely responsible for them. If we can take the jewel we can destroy it before it can regenerate."
"Kagome, where is it?" Inu Yasha called back still keeping his eyes on the demon.
"She's gone!" Sango cried in surprise. Inu Yasha chanced a look for himself and was filled with dread when he could see no trace of her.
"Kagome!" He yelled as loudly as possible but received no response.
"Watch out!" Miroku cried as the demon recovered itself enough to launch another attack. Inu Yasha met the strike with Tetsaiga; sparks flew as its armored skin made contact. Inu Yasha smirked,
"Bad move, you overgrown ant." Locked in the grip of Tetsaiga, the demon left itself vulnerable not only from the back but also to the windscar. Inu Yasha wasted no time in using it to slice neatly through the insect head to thorax. To force of the windscar actually left little more than a minor shower of charred flesh.
Panting heavily, Inu Yasha thrust the Tetsaiga's tip into the ground and leaned upon it. Kirara eagerly spat out the antenna that was now blissfully inanimate now that the rest of it had been so thurally destroyed. Miroku, grimacing from the rather unpleasant smell of roasted insect, began the tedious search for the jewel shard amongst the random bits of body parts.
"Ah, found it!" Miroku called cheerfully pulling out his prize from the demon's heart; or rather, what remained of its heart. For once, no one's attention was on the shard. Inu Yasha had his face to the ground sniffing intently while muttering under his breath.
"Wait, there she is!" Sango exclaimed pointed to the thick line of trees to their left. Kagome had just emerged from the trees running toward them as if the devil were at her heels. Inu Yasha was on his feet in seconds hurtling himself towards her frowning as his eyes caught sight of the gash on her arm.
Inu Yasha met her halfway, his hands immediately going to her injured arm.
"What happened?" He demanded as he began pushing up her sleeve to better see her wound.
"I...uh..." Kagome hesitated casting an uncertain glance at Inu Yasha. The moment that she had been privately dreading had finally arrived; Kikyo was nearby. How would Inu Yasha react?
"Well?" Miroku prompted. "Was it another demon?"
"No..." The wind shifted traveling instead to the east pushing gently on Kagome's back. Inu Yasha froze, his eyes widening.
"Kikyo..." Kagome winced. Unconsciously, Inu Yasha released her arm and took a few steps in the direction that Kagome had just fled from, his sensitive nose twitching. "It was Kikyo, wasn't it?" His voice was so soft that it took Kagome a moment to realize that he was speaking to her rather than to himself.
"Yes." Kagome put a lot of effort into keeping her voice even. The conflicting mix of longing and anger cast a strange flash of emotion on his face. Inu Yasha took a few more hesitant steps forward, his brows drawn into a frown. Every muscle in his body was strained leaning forward into Kikyo's scent carried by the rogue wind.
"Inu Yasha, don't." Kagome moved in front of him and seized his arms tightly, her eyes imploring. Inu Yasha jumped slightly as though he had forgotten Kagome's presence, his unfocused gaze falling down to meet her anxious eyes. "Please don't." Her voice was steadier.
"Kagome..." His eyes softened. "I have to go. I have to settle this once and for all."
"Settle in what way? What are you going to do?"
"I don't know, but I do know that I have to do something. Kikyo and I can't go on as we have been." Inu Yasha gently eased himself from her grasp.
"Are you going to make a decision?" Her voice was strained. "What if you don't come back?"
"I...I don't know, Kagome...I just don't know." Inu Yasha shook his head, guilt and confusion burning in his eyes. Without any more words he fled through the trees not looking back once. Kagome could only watch listening to the pathetic sound of her heart shattering. Cold dread settled on her chest that she would never see him again, that his love for Kikyo was greater. Unheeded tears spilled from her burning eyes, the words would not come to her. She desperately wanted to call him back, to beg him not to confront Kikyo but her traitorous voice deserted her leaving her unable to call out to him, to say anything at all. Kagome fell to her knees, all feeling leaving her body except for the jagged remains of her heart piercing her chest. The unwelcome sting of regret pulsed through her benumbed body. 'Why...why does it have to be this way? Why did I have to fall in love with him?' A broken sob escaped from her throat, her tears fell in tiny rivulets but did nothing to ease the terrible pain that consumed her. Even now drenched in her own misery consumed by doubts that all their time together could not stand up to Kikyo's memory she could not regret loving him. That was what hurt the most; she would always treasure the time she had spent with him even if it was forever laced with the bitter sting of loss.
"Inu Yasha..." She finally managed, her voice low and wobbly. "Please..." But he was too far-gone to hear her, too far to see her tears or detect her sorrow. Futile tears were her only comfort all alone trembling with the force of her anguish.

"Are you just going to let him go?" Sango asked quietly from behind her. Kagome didn't reply, but the reminder that there were other people present urged her to try to conceal her pain. She scrubbed at her eyes trying to erase the stain of tears. "Are you really going to let it end this way?"
"It's not necessarily the end," Kagome tried to inject some optimism into her dejected voice, "he didn't say he wasn't ever coming back. Besides, I can't and I won't force him to stay...not anymore." Miroku frowned taking Kagome by the shoulders,
"This is not the Kagome that I know. The Kagome I know would not give up so easily."
"Miroku-" She sighed but he would not let her continue.
"No, let me speak. You have a wonderful fighting spirit and it upsets me to see you so defeated! How is Inu Yasha to make any kind of good decision if he doesn't know how you feel?"
"But I've already told him how I feel!" She blurted out, shaking with emotion.
"Have you told him that's he's worth fighting over? I know that you have quite nobly allowed him to pursue Kikyo out of your selfless wish for his happiness. However, if you are always putting everyone else's emotions before your own, then you will be consumed by your own unhappiness. You have a right to be happy too, so fight for that happiness. If Kikyo has her way then she will kill Inu Yasha by taking him to hell with her and she doesn't always give him a choice. Are you really ready to let him die?"
"No...but-"
"No 'buts'! Go now and tell him exactly how you feel! If you don't then you will regret it forever!" To emphasize his point, Miroku spun her around and pushed her forward. "Sango," he addressed the exterminator who had been watching silently, "may Kagome borrow Kirara. Inu Yasha has had a head start so she'll need to catch up to him quickly."
"Of course." She smiled, hope in her eyes bringing Kirara forth. Kirara herself looked eager transforming with an earnest roar. Before Kagome could utter a single protest, Kirara had her on her back and was soaring through the air. Kagome looked back on her friends as Kirara gained altitude and smiled, touched by concern.
"You're right. Love is give and take and I've given too much." Firmly clutching the coarse fur on Kirara's back she faced the racing wind feeling her spirits rise even as the feline did. "I'm going to take you back, Inu Yasha!" She yelled, finding a strange sort of strength in the action. "Let's go, Kirara!"

********

Kikyo stood alone amongst the solemn trees savoring the energy from the souls her loyal servants brought to her. Like so many times in the past, Inu Yasha and Kikyo met in this way; he, drawn to her memory with an inexorable force while she indulged in her hatred as she roamed a world where she no longer belonged. Inu Yasha walked past the serpent guardians eyeing her warily. Love warred against anger as his mind switched bewteen memories of his time with Kikyo and times when Kikyo had come dangerously close to killing Kagome. It was hard for his mind to reconcile the Kikyo he knew from the past with the one before him. His heart was left in limbo stuck between two loves, two women so different yet each had such a strong tye to his heart.
"Inu Yasha, why do you come here?" Kikyo's voice was bored. "If you do not intend to follow my request, then do not bother me."
"Why did you attack Kagome?" Kikyo's eyes narrowed with displeasure.
"She got in my way. What concern is it of yours?" A cold smile lighted upon her pale lips, "Will you punish me for it? Will you kill me?" She taunted.
"Kikyo, what's happened to you? You were never like this when you were alive! When you were alive you never took such pleasure in hurting people."
"When I was alive I was nothing more than a prisoner tied to duty and responsibility. I was only a puppet fulfilling my destiny denied the emotions others were allowed. I was not allowed to hate or love or hurt or take pleasure in anything. I existed solely to guard the Shikon no Tama. The person I was so long ago was a doll, a lifeless thing. Now that I am dead and freed from the burden of destiny I can be my true self."
"This can't be your true self! The Kikyo I know was gentle; sad, but always very caring of others." Kikyo sighed impatiently.
"I'm tired of your lectures, either tell me why you're here or leave."
"I'm here because I still care about you but I also care about Kagome. I don't want you to hurt her anymore."
"What is this fascination you have for that girl? She is weak both physically and spiritually; she is nothing like me."
"She is not weak, Kikyo. Her powers may not be as strong as yours but she's emotionally stronger than anyone I know."
"So it's the strength of her spirit that binds you to her?" Kikyo arched an eyebrow.
"I love her." Inu Yasha blurted out confusion filling his eyes. Kikyo's jaw tightened but she showed no other sign of emotion. "But I love you too. Kikyo, I don't know what to think or do."
"You call this love?" Her voice grew deceptively low. "You claim to love another, you stay with her while ignoring me. That is not love. I'm tired of waiting, Inu Yasha. All you offer me are excuses. You say you love me but you have yet to prove it. This is your last chance," her features hardened, "I'm not going to wait for you any longer. Either come with me now or leave me forever."

'This is why I came...I have to decide.' Inu Yasha thought to himself. 'My indecision is just hurting Kagome; I have to make a final choice of who I want to be with.' Knowing of the choice, however, didn't make the choosing any easier. His heart still held all of the bittersweet memories of the time he had spent with Kikyo. He still remembered how wonderful it felt to find someone like himself, lost and sad looking for a place to belong. Yet...the memories of his time with Kagome rushed through his mind replacing images of Kikyo filling him with a gentle warmth like the soothing waters of a hot spring. His heart wrenched at the thought that he might never again know her delicate touch or her brilliant smile that held nothing back.
"I'm not ready to die..." He murmured to himself. He didn't want to leave Kagome or any of his friends yet. There was so much left to experience in the world, especially now that he had someone to experience it with.
"Is that your answer then?" Anger heated Kikyo's normally icy tone.
"I'm sorry." Inu Yasha bowed his head. "I loved you Kikyo and I love you still but if this coldness is your true self, if this is all that you truly are then I think it best if you return to Kagome. You can't be happy like this."
"Always with that girl!" Kikyo snarled. "You think of nothing but her, you even dare to come here to preach to me about her! You truly are a vile demon to the very core!" She spat. "How easily your affection for me has waned when you are near a pretty face. You are the traitor that I thought you were." Kikyo snatched up the bow that had been leaning against a nearby tree trunk and plucked an arrow from the quiver resting by it.
"What are you doing?" Consternation filled Inu Yasha's eyes.
"I'm going to do what I should have done when I first met you. I shall fulfill my duty one last time, I will kill you like I should have...like I was supposed to do in the first place. It was you, after all, who caused all of this. Your false love weakened my resolve making me vulnerable."
"It was not false love! I truly loved you!"
"Lies, all lies! I will listen to you no longer!" Kikyo nocked the arrow and raised the bow decisively.

"NO!" Kagome launched herself from Kirara's back throwing her body at Kikyo. Her barely controlled fall from Kirara's back succeeded in knocking the priestess to the ground causing Kikyo's delinquent arrow to miss its mark. Kagome tried her best to use her body weight to hold Kikyo pinned to the ground attempting to hold her flailing arms down. Kikyo snarled with rage shoving Kagome away with surprising strength then stood and glared maliciously at her as Kagome desperately tried to regain her footing. Kikyo kicked Kagome hard in the stomach sending her back to the ground clutching her abdomen trying to get air back in her lungs. Kikyo turned back to the stunned Inu Yasha reaching for another arrow but was stopped by Kagome flinging her arms around Kikyo's legs seeking to unbalance her.
"Foolish girl!" Kikyo thrust her outstretched palm at Kagome sending a blast of vibrant spirit energy. With her arms otherwise occupied, Kagome could not block the blow; she screamed in pain as the force of the blow knocked her back well over ten feet. Her slamming into a large tree stopped her brief flight. The air knocked out of her as well as her senses, Kagome fell bonelessly to the ground facedown, and her hair pooled wildly around her head like an ebony river, and lay there unmoving.
"Kagome!" Shocked at the battle before him, Inu Yasha had been unable to move. However, seeing his beloved so ruthlessly attacked freed him from his stupor. Inu Yasha sped over to her gingerly pulling Kagome's battered body into his arms. He carefully brushed the hair from her face and touched the various scorch marks probing them to see how serious they were.
The sound of a bowstring being pulled taut had Inu Yasha whipping his head toward the furious priestess. With a frightening expression of cold anger, she had nocked her arrow and was aiming for Kagome's heart. Inu Yasha, cradling Kagome close, agilely leapt to the side barely dodging the enchanted arrow.
"Kikyo! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" He growled shifting his body so that Kikyo could not easily target Kagome.
"She has interfered with me too many times."
"Kagome hasn't done anything to you! She's sometimes even worried about you and tries to help you. The only times that she has ever tried to stop you was when you were hurting someone."
"I knew it." Venom dripped in her tone. "I knew that you would betray me. Your affections are as fickle as the wind. How long did you wait after my death to find another? How long will you wait after hers? I was a fool to ever love you." She drew another feathered arrow firmly placing it in her bow. "I'll soon remedy my foolishness. If you won't keep your promise and come with me to hell, then I'll be sure that you'll spend the rest of eternity alone for all of your lies." She raised the bow taking deadly aim on Inu Yasha's unprotected back being used as a shield for Kagome.
"If that's what you wish." He murmured, his head lowered so that his bangs covered his eyes. "I owe you my life, I know that. However, just promise me one thing."
"What is that?" Distrust filled her empty brown eyes.
"Promise me that you'll leave Kagome alone. It's me that you want and Kagome has nothing to do with this, any of this. Let her go unharmed and you can do whatever you like with me." Kikyo lowered her bow a bit, her features were calculating.
"Don't even think it." Startled, Inu Yasha looked down at his precious cargo. Kagome smiled up at him wincing slightly from the bruises that the action agitated. "Don't you dare let it end like this after all that I've had to go through with you."
"Kagome..."
"Don't 'Kagome' me. I don't care what you think you owe her; nothing is worth your life. There is nothing on this earth that is worth anyone's life." She reached up and brushed her fingertips on his cheek. "And if she really cared for you like she says she does, then she wouldn't ask for your life in the first place." Before Inu Yasha could reply, Kagome wriggled free of his arms to face Kikyo. "If you loved him, then you would only want his happiness." She addressed Kikyo who was fuming with jealousy.
"Are you claiming to be different? Are you not standing there trying to convince him to choose you over me?"
"I am different because I've always let him pursue you without ever saying anything. I was willing to let him go even though I love him because I only want him to be happy. I love him enough to let him go even if it kills me inside. That's the difference." Kikyo raised her bow drawing back the string decisively.
"No, Kikyo! Don't!!" Time slowed making each movement seem to take an eternity. Inu Yasha plunged forward with all the strength he possessed but each step seemed to take an eternity like a bad nightmare. Kagome, determination etched into her proud face, stood ready resolute in the love that she bore not making any attempt to run or dodge the arrow. Kikyo loosed her arrow, fierce hatred burning in her dead eyes watching with triumph as her arrow sped toward Kagome's defenseless breast. Inu Yasha cried out, already the image of her bloodied body from his dream tormenting his mind. Without thought his hand sought out the Tetsaiga drawing it swiftly from its sheath. Every smile Kagome had ever given him, every kiss, every tear; they all filled his mind making his heart scream in terror at the thought of losing that simple gift, of losing her precious light. The power sang from the Tetsaiga responding to its master's fear and sorrow; the wind scar's scent filled Inu Yasha's nostrils. The power flowed forward without any prompting pouring toward the unspoken target; a deadly wave meant for only the strongest of foes.
Time sped up returning to normal, the wave easily sliced through Kikyo's arrow hitting it from a forty-five degree angle then moving past the minor obstacle. Startled, Kikyo sidestepped the blast; an easy enough feat since the attack was meant for the arrow only. Kagome blinked in shock, surprised as well by Inu Yasha's interference.
"I see how it is now. You are ready to take my life to spare hers; she is more valuable to you than I." Bitterness twisted her lips as she spoke. "I no longer have any use for you." She dismissively tossed her bow aside. "From this day we are enemies, I will have no mercy nor any compassion for you."
"Kikyo, no." Pain touched Inu Yasha's features. "Please don't let it end this way. I don't want to hurt you, I still care for you."
"You can't have it both ways, Half-Demon." She spat. "You have clearly shown whose love you value more. I will not stand by and tolerate your lies and betrayals." Kikyo turned her back to him and started walking away, her spirit lackeys flocking to her offering her souls and protection from any unwanted company.
"Kikyo, wait!" Inu Yasha took a few steps forward but she did not stop ignoring his calls. She soon faded from sight, even the scent she left behind was filled with bitter regret and hatred. "Kikyo..."


Inu Yasha stood underneath the patient moon for who knows how long with his eyes glued to where Kikyo had been. Kagome, her own heart twisting at his obvious regret, settled herself against the base of a nearby tree and watched him silently. 'My love isn't enough.' The unwanted thought slid through her mind. 'He loves her more, he wants to be with her.' She tried to push the painful notion away but the harder she fought it the more intensely it came. 'He probably wishes that he was with her right now, that I hadn't interfered and let him go to hell with Kikyo.' The back of her eyes stung with the threat of tears.
The wind turned chill biting at her exposed flesh and slipping underneath her clothing to steal the heat from there as well. 'I'm not enough.' A tear escaped her defenses to slide down her icy cheek. 'Inu Yasha...' Her heart pleaded but he did not move from his sentry position; he did not even look at her. More tears came chilling her skin, chilling her soul. Kagome did not move, not even to warm herself or to wipe away her tears.

Inu Yasha lost all time trapped in his own thoughts and regrets. He loved Kikyo, or at least, he had when she still lived. 'She's not the same...this is not the same Kikyo that I fell in love with.' He frowned trying to place what exactly was different, what had changed in her from then. Her scent had not changed nor her countenance, even her appearance was exactly the same. The only difference was that her body lacked warmth. 'Wait, it's not just her body...it's her soul. She's so cold...' For the first time he realized that the coldness of her body went down to the very core of her being. 'All of her emotions are tainted with hate and regret. She's not the same now, it's almost as if all of her positive feelings are gone only leaving a phantom unable to release her unfortunate past.' Surprised with this revelation, Inu Yasha examined the thought and found that his phantom analogy was only too accurate. Not only was she a phantom of her former self, but so too was his love for her. All this time he had been chasing a mere shadow of the emotion, refusing to notice Kikyo's change. He was only chasing an old emotion, she was no longer the woman he had fallen in love with just as he was no longer the man she had once loved.
Unbidden, images of Kagome filled his mind, images of their time together filled with fighting and laughter. She had changed him without his ever realizing it. Between her and their gangly crew of misfits, they had formed a family and Kagome was the very heart and soul of it. They had all come together under her banner with their own thoughts of revenge but it was Kagome who kept them together and kept them from being lost to their sorrow and rage. Her lighthearted attitude and bright smile always seemed to make things bearable.
'I finally belong.' Memories of that strange sensation of coming home filtered into his mind finally making sense to him. Inu Yasha fought an absurd compulsion to cry with the realization that he finally had a home, he had a place where he belonged...where he was wanted. 'Kagome is my home.' Warmth filled his chest at the thought, surprising yet it rang true. 'Kagome...' She was in many ways Kikyo's opposite. It was often hard to believe they shared the same soul. Kagome was filled with nothing but light and laughter. Those brilliant eyes never really looked upon him as anything other than a man. Her eyes didn't see the demon or the human, she took him only as himself. In her eyes, nothing else mattered.

Inu Yasha came to himself with a start catching the scent of salt water. Faintly embarrassed by his lengthy silence, he hastily faced Kagome hoping she wasn't too mad at him for spacing out for so long. The sight that greeted his troubled eyes filled him with remorse. Kagome was huddled against a tree hugging her knees while tears fell freely down her wind chafed cheeks. His heart wrenched at the blatant pain written on her face. He instantly knew that he was the cause of it and hated himself for it. His mind forced a myriad of memories in front of his eyes of all the times he had hurt Kagome to go chase Kikyo. His mind relentlessly showed him all of the heartache he had caused her by ignoring the love she so plainly showed him in favor of hunting down Kikyo.
"Kagome." He was on her in a second pulling her frozen body into his arms. Startled by his sudden show of affection, Kagome jerked her head up to look into his turbulent eyes. Misinterpreting the gentle remorse that still shone brilliantly in them, Kagome looked away trying to stifle her tears. Emotional blackmail had never been her style and the possibility that he had stayed for that reason somehow hurt her more.
"It's okay, Inu Yasha. Go with her...I...I understand." Her tears ignored her mental protest and continued to slide silently down. Kagome hung her head trying to hide the fact with her bangs.
"Kagome-"
"No, really, it's alright. You don't have to say anything." His close proximity was making her noble intentions falter. Kagome wanted nothing more than wrap herself in his embrace and forget the world around them but she could never stay by his side if his heart was still with someone else.
"Kagome." Inu Yasha put a little more force in his tone when it became clear that she wasn't going to let him elaborate.
"Don't worry about me," she plowed on not heeding him, "I just want you to be happy." She managed a tremulous smile hoping to convince him.
"Will you let me talk?" He sighed with exasperation, a bit of his old humor creeping into his voice.
"But-" Kagome's protest was halted by Inu Yasha firmly pressing his lips against hers. A slow heat began to build in her chest that more effectively warmed her than any blanket could. Inu Yasha broke the kiss to gaze earnestly into her eyes.
"Now listen to me." He pressed the tip of his index finger under her chin to ensure that she would not look away. "I don't want to go with Kikyo." He said as clearly as possible.
"But-" Inu Yasha shifted his hold on her chin so that he could press his thumb to her lips.
"Just listen. Whatever you're thinking, you're wrong. I don't want to go with Kikyo...not anymore. I won't lie to you, I loved Kikyo but the Kikyo I fell in love with is dead." Kagome's eyes swam with confusion. "I don't know what changed her so much, or if I she was always this way and I never noticed it before, but the person I loved or thought I loved is no longer in existence." He went on reading the look in her eyes. "I'll always be grateful for what Kikyo has done for me and care about what happens to her but...I don't love her anymore." Inu Yasha let his hand drop from her face, "Now will you quit with the water works already?"
"Inu Yasha!" Kagome flung her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.
"Stupid girl." Her murmured affectionately kissing the top of her head. "You never listen." He cuddled her close trying to warm her; her outfit choice was not very reasonable now that the weather was shifting to fall. Kirara, now small again, appeared at his side and chirped at Inu Yasha tapping a paw on his hand. Inu Yasha glanced at the small feline smiling. "I know, I know." He stood still holding Kagome tightly in his arms. "Let's get you back to camp before you freeze to death. I haven't gone through all the trouble of saving you just to have you die on me." Kagome looked up into his eyes, hers filled with intense vulnerability tinged with hope. Inu Yasha touched his lips lightly to her forehead, "I guess I'll have to stick around to keep you safe since you have so little sense of your own." His gentle smile became an amused grin at Kagome's indigent snort.
"Jerk." She hugged him tightly snuggling her cheek into his neck.
"Wench." He replied stopping a moment to bend his head to nuzzle her. They spent a few companionable moments like that, holding each other tightly comforted by the warmth of body and heart. "I promise." He whispered into her ear so softly that it was almost inaudible.
"Huh?" Kagome tried to pull back to question him but he started moving again at a healthy clip so it was a little hard to get a good look at his face let alone form a coherent question.

'I promise you, Kagome. I promise that I will never leave your side. This time, there will be no more misunderstandings or mistrust. I will never leave you…and I will never doubt you.' He held her as tightly to his body as possible without hindering his movement. 'My love.'


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Whew! That was a tough one but I got it out a lot quicker than I thought I would. I credit that to a great source of inspiration in the form of a music video. It's a Kagome/Inu Yasha one called Rose in the Wind. It can be found at animemusicvideos.com I highly recommend it! It's 44 mbs and a little depressing but if you have the space then it's worth the time. Every time I got stuck, I just watched that and it filled me with a great need to type.

Okay, now for all you Kill Kikyo advocates I have great news:
In the Manga, I heard that she's been killed…again. It turns out that somewhere along the way Naraku kills her…again. I don't know if it's permanent but go ahead and celebrate!

Sorry if the fight scenes and/or the attack names are either inaccurate or boring but fighting scenes aren't really my forte. Try as I might, I just couldn't avoid the damn things! Although it was pretty fun pitting Kagome against Kikyo. I've been dying for Kagome to fight back!

This is by no means the end so please stay tuned for another installment. I have at least one or two chapter ideas left in me but beyond that I'm not sure. I'm in no hurry to end this series (this is fun!!) so if you have any ideas I'd love to hear them!!! :D

Thanks for reading!!
Lady Eclipse
"Blessed be they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused."