InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sacrifices ❯ What will you do ( Chapter 13 )

Hello hello minna-sama!! Waa! Another chappy! Well, I don't own any of the Inuyasha characters showed here, that's a given. (*sighs*) Enjoy!

Chapter13: What will you do

Inside the hut, Miroku and Sango were in silence, holding concerned and saddened expressions as they watched the little kitsune attending the wound on his tiny wrist; the wound he'd gotten from Kagome's harsh treatment. Sango had offered to help him, but he declined it. Sure his whole body was aching, but he just didn't care; all he wanted was to get Kagome back. The thought of her being controlled by Kikyo only made him angrier, made him wanna make Kikyo pay for all her actions.

Sango stared at the little fox demon as he rubbed his wrist with some of the medicine left in Kagome's first aid kit. His little eyes were not saddened as she thought they would be; they were angry. "Shippo... you know that she didn't..." she spoke softly but was quickly interrupted.

"Hai, I know..." Shippo stated, not taking his eyes off of his hurt wrist. He tightened the bandage around it and then stared at the floor. "Why is she doing this?... Kagome's not done anything to her, has she?..."

"No she hasn't... I have no idea why Kikyo's doing this, but we sure are going to find out..." Miroku stated with a serious look on his face.

"Houshi-sama... what do you think Inuyasha will do now..."

"I don't know... he sure is confused now... and angry at us for not telling him about what was going on... I don't blame him though, by keeping this to ourselves we may have complicated things even more..." Silence filled the room for a brief moment before Sango spoke.

"I don't think so..." she stated with a serious expression. Miroku's gaze turned towards her."If we had told him I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have believed us anyway... when it comes about Kikyo he doesn't listen and shuts everyone out... besides, we werent sure about her being the one behind all of this... he had to see it for himself...but I never expected he'd find out this way..." Sango stated and stared at the floor with concerned and angry eyes.

As Shippo listened to her, he started shaking in anger while clutching his fingers on his clothes. "Baka!!" he he yelled in anger, Miroku and Sango turned towards him in surprise. "Inuyasha's a baka!!... I don't know why he cares so much about Kikyo!..." his eyes started to get teary as he continued, though he still held his angry expression. "She hates him! And now she's toying with Kagome!!... I hate her! I hate her!!!..."

They suddenly turned towards the door when they heard someone come in. Inuyasha stood in the entrance with an angry expression as he stared back at them. Shippo stared in surprise at him at first, but then his eyes narrowed and he quickly turned his gaze away from his.

An awkward silence fell between them and then, without saying anything, the hanyou turned around and started to walk away.

"Inuyasha!" yelled Miroku as he got to his feet with a serious expression, Sango and Shippo doing the same. The kistune youkai ran after him and stood in front of Miroku and Sango with an angry expression on his face.

"Inuyasha!!Are you just gonna walk away!!..." no answer was head from the walking hanyou. Shippo's fist started to shake. " 'He's leaving!! He's not gonna do anything for Kagome!!'" he thought to himself as he clenched his eyes and lowered his face. "BAKA!!!" Shippo yelled at the top of his lungs.

The hanyou stopped. "Let's go..." he stated in a serious tone of voice.

Shippo quickly lifted his face in surprise as he heard him talk. "Eh??... what... where..."

Without turning around, Inuyasha replied. "I'm going to rescue Kagome you little brat! Now, are you gonna stay there trashing me or are you gonna come and help??!"

Shippo's eyes widened in surprise; behind him, Miroku and Sango stood with smirks on their faces.

"Kagome's waiting... Ikuso!" he finally yelled as he started walking once again.

"H-hai!!..." replied Shippo as he started running after him.

"Well... you heard him..." Miroku stated with a smirk on his face. He turned towards Sango and noticed her serious expression. "What's wrong..."

"I wonder what's gonna happen now... Inuyasha wont be able to do anything to Kikyo..."

"Maybe he wont need to..."

"I don't know... When the time arrives and he's forced to choose between them..."

"It'll be hard I know... but he'll make the right decision... we'll just have to trust him on it..." Miroku stated as he stared at the hanyou's back.

"Hai..."

Darkness surrounded the woods in which Kikyo stood, next to a motionless Kagome laying on the floor;her soul snatchers flying around her.

"It wont be long until he shows up..." she stated coldly as she glared at Kagome from the corner of her eyes. "Get up..."

In one sudden move, Kagome was back on her feet, her eyes dull and empty. Kikyo narrowed her eyes as she turned towards her. Kagome's vision was flurry and out of focus; she could hardly see anything from the darkness that surrounded the place.

Kikyo stared at her as she notcied how little by little her eyes got back to normal. She also noticed the confusion and frustration on her face as she begun to 'wake up'.

"K-Kikyo?..." Kagome muttered in confusion.

"Get ready... he's coming here..." Kikyo stated coldly as she turned around once again and gave her back to her.

Kagome's eyes widened in surprise when she heard Kikyo's words. "Inu...!!"

"That's right... he'll be here in no time... your scent is gonna drive him right here..."

Kagome's eyes showed anger and resentment for the first time since she lost her memory."Why am I here?? What..." her eyes showed surprise and disbelief as she stared at the smirking miko. "You... you were the one controling my mind..."

"That's right... I brought you here..." Kikyo stated still with that evil smile on her face.

"Why?? What are you planning to..."

"Your souls belong to me remember?... I can do whatever I please with them..."

"What... no you cant... You don't own me! Why have you brought me here! What do you want with me!?..." Kikyo smirked evilly once again but didn't say anything. "Answer Kikyo!... Why did you bring me here? Are you trying to make Inu-san..."

"Inu-san?..." Kikyo said while turning towards her; Kagome stood frozen by her stare. She was angry and somehow seemed disgusted. "What kind of stupid name is that... I cant believe he could actually bear having you around, calling him that way... how stupid..."

At first, Kagome was taken back by her words, but she quickly focused on what was most important, why she had done this. "Are you using me to get him here?..."

"Use you... that's right... I'm using you just like everyone else..." she turned away and faced the dark road in front of her. "I'm finally going to get him..."

Kagome's eyes widened in surprise as she stared at the miko's back. "You're going to... Why? Why do you want to hurt him??..."

"Who said anything about me hurting him..." the miko glared at Kagome from the corner of her eye. "I'm not gonna do anything to him... you are..."

Kagome was shocked. Was she really gonna use her to hurt Inuyasha?Why?Several questions appeared on her mind as she found herself speechless, with nothing to say to her. What could she do, she didn't want to hurt Inuyasha, she would never, but now she wasn't in control. Now Kikyo had the power to make her do whatever she wanted, and that was to hurt Inuyasha. Kagome shook her head quickly and stared at the miko with angry eyes.

"No you wont! I'll never hurt him! I'm never gonna..." Kagome stopped as she met Kikyo's angry stare. Her whole body was frozen, she couldn't move, she couldn't even speak now.

"It's time for you to understand there's nothing you can do... you're my reincarnation and you're destined to go through the same things I went through... Inuyasha belongs to me, and if it wasn't because of you..." Kagome tried to say something to her, but it was useless; no words came out of her mouth.

" 'Inuyasha...'" she cried softly to herself as her vision started getting flurry once again.

Dull eyes replaced the once bright chocolaty eyes Kagome used to have. The miko stood in front of her with her eyes on the road. After a few seconds, her eyes narrowed. "It's time..." she whispered softly as some noises were heard on the distance.

Miroku, Sango and Shippo rode on top of Kirara while Inuyasha ran full speed next to them.

"Inuyasha!! Are you sure this is the right way!??" yelled Shippo.

"Shut it little brat! This is the right way!!"

Shippo pouted at his comment. Ok, it might have been a stupid question, since Inuyasha had a keen sense for these things, especially when it came to Kagome, but it had been several minutes since they started heading towards the woods and there was still no sign of her. It was worse since everyone just stayed quiet and didn't talk.

"Inuyasha!..." Miroku yelled with a serious expression as Kikyo's soul snatchers were able to be seen in the distance. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes.

"Let's go!!... what??!"

Everyone got serious expressions as they saw a bunch of demons coming their way.

"Youkai!..." yelled Miroku as he got ready to use his Kazaana.

"Get out of my way!! KAZE NO KIZU!!!" Inuyasha quickly unsheathed Tessaiga and launched his attack agaisnt them. They all stopped and Miroku jumped off Kirara as they watched the demons vanishing in front of them.

"What the hell were those demons doing here..." asked a serious looking Inuyasha. Miroku walked up to him, also with a serious look on his face.

"I think we better..."

"Houshi-sama! Look out!!..."

Miroku turned around just in time to see another bunch of demons coming their way at high speed. Inuyasha and the monk jumped back just in time to avoid their attacks.

"KAZAANA!!" Miroku yelled as he held his hand in front of him.

"KAZE NO KIZU!!!..."

Demons ashes floated around them, but their fight was far to be over; as soon as they got rid of the first bunch of youkai, a second bunch would be right behind it, ready to attack.

"What the hell??..." Inuyasha was about to use Tessaiga once again, but was stopped by Miroku. Sango and Shippo jumped off Kirara and rushed towards them.

"Don't Inuyasha... these demons are here as a distraction... you go get Kagome, we'll take care of them..."

Inuyasha nodded and started running towards the place were Kagome and Kikyo were supposed to be.

"Inuyasha!! Don't let anything happen to Kagome!!..." yelled Shippo from behind.

"I wont!!... Get out of my way damn it!!" he yelled as he once again used Tessaiga to get rid of the demons in front of him. The rest stayed behind watching as Inuyasha disappeared in the distance.

"We better get ready, there are more coming this way..." stated Miroku while holding his hand.

"Houshi-sama... miko's don't have the power to control demons, do they?..."

Miroku narrowed his eyes with a serious expression. "No... but then again, they're not supposed to control minds and look at the situation before us..."

"Stop talking!! There are more youkais coming right at us!!" yelled Shippo as he stood on top of Kirara. The battle had begun.

Inuyasha ran thorugh the dark woods with a serious expression reflected on his face. Now that he knew Kikyo was the one behind all of this, he wasn't quite sure what would happen next; all sorst of mixed feelings rushed through the hanyou's heart. Could he be able to rescue Kagome? Or would he be blinded by the doubt that was clouding his heart and mind. Kikyo was responsible for all of Kagome's suffering. Kikyo was hurting Kagome. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at the thought of this.

" 'Damn it Kikyo!!... Why are you doing this?..." he thought to himself. A few seconds later he found himself standing in the middle of a darker spot in the woods. A shocked expression was instantly placed on his face as he saw the girl standing in front of him."Kagome..."

There she was, standing in front of him holding her bow. The same empty eyes he'd seen before pierced his heart. They were so cold, so lifeless; this ceirtanly couldn't be Kagome. It was amazing how she looked so much like Kikyo now; her facial expression, the way she stood in front of him, they way she stared at him.

Inuyasha clenched his eyes tightly and then opened them again, showing anger and determination at the same time. "Kagome!!"

"She cant hear you..." replied a female voice. Inuyasha's eyes widened when he saw Kikyo stepping out of the shadows behind Kagome.

"Kikyo..." he whispered softly as he watched her walking towards them. Another pair of cold eyes stared at him, making him feel even more uncomfortable and frustrated.

"We meet again Inuyasha..."

The hanyou's golden eyes got serious as he stared back at the miko. " Why are you doing this Kikyo??"

She lowered her head and closed her eyes with a smirk on her face to Inuyasha's surprise. "I'm tired of your stupid questions... listen carefully Inuyasha because I'm not saying this twice... I'm tired..." Kikyo stated before she lifted her face and looked at the surprised hanyou.

"You're... tired?..." Inuyasha asked in a softer tone of voice.

"Yes... I'm tired of wandering around like a homeless dog... I'm tired of having to live only so I can see you die someday... I'm tired of all that... I'm tired of you..." Inuyasha remained silent for a while.

" 'I know Kikyo... but...'" he thought to himself before gazing at her with a serious look. "I know! But if what you wanted was for this to end then you should've killed me when I ran into you in the woods!! Why did you have to get Kagome involved in all of this!!? She doesn't have anything to do with us!..."

"Fool..." Kikyo stated coldly. " Do you think she doesn't have anything to do with us?, well you're wrong...Who broke the spell that sealed your soul? Who brought you back to life huh? Wasn't it her?... It wasn't just because of you that I was brought back to life... it's her fault also... if it wasn't for her then I wouldn't be here on the first place..."

"You're wrong Kikyo! You cant blame her for what happened..."

Kikyo narrowed her eyes in anger. "That is also why I want this whole thing to end... I cant stand the fact that you've already forgotten about us..." Inuyasha stared at her with a softened expression.

"That's... that's not true..." he stated while looking away.

"Hesitation?... that's a sign that proves what I've said is true... Everything you've done so far is protect her... you made the same promise to her that you made to me... but so far... I've not seen you keeping your promise... to either one of us..."

"I swore I would protect you and I will!!..."

"Is that so?... then can you tell me what you're gonna do right now?" Inuyasha widened his eyes at her comment. "In order to protect the two of us... one of us will have to suffer the consequences... who will you choose Inuyasha?... Will it be me or her?..."

Inuyasha stared at Kagome and then back at Kikyo. What she said was true. If he wanted to rescue Kagome then he had to confront Kikyo; and if he wanted to convince Kikyo that this wasn't the only way out, then he had to confront Kagome, because he knew Kikyo would just manipulate her and made her fight him. Inuyasha's fist begun shaking in anger and desperation, for he couldn't find a way to solve this problem without the need to confront them. He was about to say something when he was suddenly interrupted by the miko.

"Do you love her?..." Kikyo stated coldly as she stared at the shocked hanyou.

"What..."

"Do you love her?..." the miko asked once again. Inuyasha lowered his head with a saddned expression. Silence took over the place for a while as a soft breeze blew by, then Kikyo smirked.

"Hesitaion again..." the hanyou looked up at her in surprise while Kikyo glanced at Kagome from the corner of her eyes. "That must be hard for you... ne?..."

Inuyasha quickly turned his gaze towards Kagome and widened his eyes at the scene. She still held that emotionless expression on her face, but this time, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

"Kagome!..." Inuyasha took a step closer but was stopped by Kikyo.

"Don't even think about it..." she stated coldly as she started to walk towards the girl. " I bet you already knew this was gonna happen..." she said while stopping right beside her. "But it still hurts... doesn't it..."

Inuyasha stood in surprise when he noticed her nodding in response. "Kagome!!..." he said as he started running towards them with an angry expression.

" Then you should just get this over with..." Kikyo stated and then narrowed her eyes.

Inuyasha widened his eyes in surprise and then jumped back as he saw Kagome's angry expression. She quickly took an arrow and placed it in front of her, aiming for the hanyou's heart.

" 'Good bye Inuyasha...'" thought Kikyo to herself as she saw the arrow being shot.

Sango and Shippo were riding on Kirara while Miroku ran next to them. Lots of demons blood and parts were laying on the ground behind them as they rushed to meet Inuyasha.

"Houshi-sama!"

"I know! We're getting closer!!..."

"Faster Kirara!!" yelled Shippo with a serious face. After a few seconds they suddenly stopped when they reached the place Inuyasha had rushed to before. Widened eyes and shocked expressions quickly appeared on their faces as they saw the hanyou holding Tessaiga in front of him, with lots of cuts on his clothes and thin lines of blood dripping from his cheek. but what shocked them the most was to see Kagome holding her bow aming for his heart and with Kikyo standing behind her.

"Kagome!!" Shippo yelled from behind. Inuyasha turned his gaze towards them and after a few seconds felt a sharp pain coming from his leg.

"Inuyasha!..." yelled Miroku with a serious expression on his face as he saw Inuyasha kneeling.

"You better not get distracted..." stated Kikyo.

" 'Kuso!!... I cant do anything to her!... damn it! What can I do then??... argh!!'" Inuyasha thought to himself while pulling out the arrow encrusted on his leg.

"Kikyo!!..." Sango yelld with an angry expression on her face as she took a step forwards and held her Hiraikotsu, ready to launch her attack. Kikyo narrowed her eyes.

"Sango wait!..." Miroku yelled, but it was too late, Sango stood in front of her with a menacing look on her face.

" How could you play with Kagome like that!! I'll never forgive you!..." she suddenly stopped and widened her eyes in surprise as she saw Inuyasha standing in the middle with his back to them.

"I'll take care of this Sango... stay away!" he yelled with a serious and angry expression.

Sango narrowed her eyes in anger. How could he be doing this? Kikyo was guilty for all that had happened to her friend yet still he was protecting her? Sango was really angry now.

" 'What the hell is he thinking?? I'm not going to...'" her thoughts were interrupted when a ceritan miko spoke.

"You're only interrupting..." she stated with a serious face as she narrowed her eyes. Suddenly, a group of youkai started coming out of nowhere and begun attacking them.

"Houshi-sama! Shippo!!" the taijiya yelled as she rushed towards them. Inuyasha turned around with a shocked expression.

"Miroku, Sango, Shippo!!..." he was about to use Tessaiga when an arrow flew right from behind him, adding another cut on his cheek. He turned his gaze towards the girl standing behind him and stared at her in a serious way.

"Shippo!!" yelled Sango as she took the little kitsune youkai by his collar and picked him up. Now the three of them were riding on Kirara as they watched the demons from the air.

"We cant get near Inuyasha or Kagome... Kikyo will just keep sending more demons to attack..." Miroku stated with a serious look on his face.

"Houshi-sama this is too strange... how can she manipulate demons to her will?..."

"I've got no idea... look out!!" Kirara avoided one of the demon's attack by a hair.

"We cant do anything!! We cant help Kagome!" cried a concerned looking Shippo while staring at Inuyasha and Kagome.

"KAZE NO KIZU!!..." yelled Inuyasha while swinging Tessaiga. Demon's ashes floated in the air after he performed his attack.

"This is it!!..." yelled Miroku. "Let's get there before more youkais appear!..."

"Hai!!... Kirara go!!..." the tiger youkai followed her command and rushed towards them at high speed. But what was their surprise when they found themselves being thrown away, repelled by the strong barrier the miko had created.

"A barrier!..." Miroku stated as his eyes got angrier while looking at the scene.

Inside the barrier, Inuyasha looked around only to see the glow coming from the barrior that kept his friends from coming near. He turned towards Kikyo, holding Tessaiga in one hand;Kagome took another arrow and placed it on the bow.

"Have you made up your mind?..." Kikyo asked coldly as she narrowed her eyes. "It is time for you to decide..."

The hanyou stayed silent for a while and then gazed at Kagome. His expression softened as he turned his gaze back at Kikyo. " 'I don't know what else I can do... I could never hurt Kikyo... and I would never do anything that could hurt Kagome...'" he thought to himself. Then he turned towards Kagome and stared at her dull empty eyes. A slight smile appeared on his face. " 'Those eyes arent yours... but I'm sure deep inside you're still Kagome... you're going through so much right now... gomen...'"

Kikyo stared at the hanyou with angry eyes as she waited for his answer. Then, Inuyasha turned his gaze towards her.

"You know I cant hurt you... I would be able to... but I couldn't hurt her either... never..." The miko's eyes kept their usual cold stare as she wathched Inuyasha letting go of Tessaiga. A dry sound was heard when the sword hit the ground, right next to his owner.

"What is he doing!!??" yelled Shippo as he and the rest watched with shocked expressions at the action the hanyou had just made.

"Inuyasha... he's finally made up his mind..." stated a serious Miroku. Sango and shippo turned towards him with shocked expressions.

Kagome stood in front of the hanyou aiming at him. Her eyes were dull, but she was able to see things clearly though everything appeared to be in slow motion. Inuyasha's soft eyes as he spoke to Kikyo reminded her of all the times he'd given her that look. She felt an incredible pain coming from her heart; it was breaking. It wasn't because he was talking to her or giving her that loving look. But because she could see the blood and all the cuts on his kimono.

Those cuts that were made by her arrows, by her. She had tried many times to get off Kikyo's control, but she was just too strong. Or maybe it was her the one being too weak. She didn't know, but it didn't matter anymore. There she was, standing in front of her dear hanyou, ready to seal his heart.

" 'Shoot...'" Kikyo's command kept tormenting her thoughts. " 'Shoot and get rid of the pain...'"

Kagome started crying. But no tears rolled down her cheeks; she was crying inside. She was aware of everything that was happening and she hated herself for not being able to do anything.

" 'I cant!!... I wont!!... Inu-san... I wont!!'" she yelled inside her mind.

" 'Get rid of the sadness... get rid of it once and for all... he'll never love you anyway...'"

" 'I don't care!!... I wont hurt him!!...'" Kagome's tears burned her cheeks. Those tears were full of sadness and regret. Regret for not telling him how she felt, not that it seemed she was about to seal his heart forever. Then she started remembering. Flashbacks of the short time they had spent together.

*Flashbacks*

*standing near the cliff, after her first outburst*

Kagome had ran up to him and embraced him tightly as she burried her face on his chest crying. Inuyasha was taken back by her sudden action, he stayed still for a few seconds before his face softened and drew a slight smile.

Inuyasha started caressing her soft silky hair as he held her close to him, trying to comfort her in some way. His eyes reflected all his frustration for not being able to put an end to her suffering.

" Daijoubu... I know you didn't mean to... it's all right Kagome, it wasn't your fault..."

"It was my fault, I said those horrible things didn't I?... I don't want to become a burden for you! What if I..."

"Enough!..." Kagome was interrupted by Inuyasha. He held her even tighter than before. "You could never become a burden for me you understand! Stop saying those things and stop apologizing!... Cant you undersntand I cant forgive you because you havent done anything to me?..." he stated that last part in a soft tone of voice. "You havent done anything wrong Kagome, that's why you don't need to apologize..."

...

"Leave me alone!!... Get your hands off me you idiot!"

"No..." Inuyasha replied in a soft tone of voice while tightening his grip. His eyes were closed as he embraced Kagome in sweet way, making sure his hold was not hard enough to hurt her, but hard enough for her not to let go. " You can say anything you want... but I wont let go of you..."

"Just leave me!!"

"I said no... Kagome I know you can hear me... and I know you're tired, you've fought this thing that is controlling you and I know your strength is almost gone... that's why you can let go now... it's my turn to fight it, don't worry I'm here..." ...

"I wont leave you... not because I'm forced to stay here, but because I want to..." Inuyasha slowly opened his eyes and lowered his head.

*Sitting by the lake, staring at the sunset*

...

Kagome turned her gaze towards the lake once again. " I don't know if I'm being selfish here... but the reason why I'm not scared is because I trust you Inu-san..." Inuyasha widened his eyes. Kagome turned towards him smiling once again. " You are my boat Inu-san..." Inuyasha blushed.

"I'm... your boat?..." he asked not knowing what else to say.

"Hai" replied a smiling Kagome. "Just like the fisherman, I trust you... I trust you Inu-san... you are my boat... you saved me from the storm, remember?"

Inuyasha was deeply blushed now. He only smiled at her. "Wakatta..."

*Sitting by the well, the day he told her he chose Kikyo*

Inuyasha stared at the ground with a softened and sad expression, then Kagome spoke.

"...when I started thinking about how kikyo and I shared the same feeling, I felt relieved... I mean, we both want to stay with you... that's why I got the courage to come and see you Inuyasha... all I want is to stay with you... I cant forget about you..."

*End of flashbacks*

Kagome widened her eyes when she remembered that last scene. This hadnt happened just now. No, it must have been when she still had all her memories.

" 'All I want... is to stay with him...'" she thought. Then, that voice came back.

" 'Get rid of the pain... shoot...'"

Tears begun rolling down Kagome's cheeks. " 'No!! I wont!! I wont hurt him!!'"

" 'Why... he'll never love you... never...'"

" 'I don't care!... All I want... All I want is to stay with him...'"

Kikyo stared at the hanyou with angry and cold eyes as always. "You're a fool Inuyasha..."

The hanyou didn't answer.He just stared at her with soft and saddened eyes.

"Shoot..." Kikyo stated, not taking her gaze away from him. Inuyasha widened his eyes and turned towards Kagome. Same empty eyes stared back at him as she aimed for his heart.

" 'Inuyasha...'" Kagome thought to herself.

" 'Shoot!...'" the voice said in anger.

"Inuyasha..." Kagome whispered softly as her body started to tremble.

"Kagome!" the hanyou yelled at the sight of this. Kagome pulled the arrow back, ready to shoot.

Suddenly, her teary eyes got back to normal. "INUYASHA!!..." she yelled at the top of her lungs as she made the shot.

Everyone stood with widened shocked eyes as they stared at Kagome. Breathing heavily and with tears rolling down her face she lifted her face and stared at the shocked hanyou. There he stood, frozen for what had just happened. The arrow had missed him by inches only and it was now stucked on a tree behind him.

"Kagome..." he whispered softly still not believing what she'd done. She'd used all the strength she had left inside her and managed to deflect the arrow's direction. Kagome had been fighting all this time and all he did was give up on her. His eyes widened even more when he saw her smiling sweetly at her, just like she usually did.

"Inuyasha..." she started saying with a soft tone of voice. "Choose her..."

"What..." the hanyou asked in disbilief.

"Kikyo... she loves you deeply..." she stated with her eyelids half closed and still holding a sweet smile on her face. "All she wants is to stay with you Inuyasha..."

"Kagome!" the hanyou yelled; his eyes widened and watery.

"All she wants is to stay with you... just like me... I... I want you to be happy, I've known that from the start... even when I... when I cant remember everything we went through... I..."

Inuyasha's eyes widened as he saw her fragile figure drop to the ground. "KAGOME!!!" he yelled at the top of his lungs as he stared rushing towards her.

"Kirara!!" Sango yelled once again; the tiger youkai tried to break the barrier one more time, but they got repelled by the strong power. "Damn it!!"

"Kagome!!" Shippo yelled with tears on his eyes.

"One more time Sango!!" Miroku yelled with a serious expression on his face.

Inside the barrier, Inuyasha stood in front of the two girls. Kikyo had used her power again and now Kagome was standing in front of him again; her motionless figure just hanging like a puppet.

"Kikyo!!" Inuyasha yelled in anger, only getting a cold stare in response.

"Hn... I never thought she'd do something as stupid as that..."

"What??"

Kikyo stared at the hanyou with angry eyes, then she smirked. "I'm not planning to make this easy on you... I'll give you a second chance to choose..."

"What?? What are you talking about??..."

Kikyo smirked once again and suddenly one of her soul snatchers appeared next to her. It was the same soul snatcher she'd stare at whenever she came back from checking on them.

"This..." she started saying. "Is the soul from your little friend here..." Inuyasha widened his eyes in shock. "This bright soul you see here belongs to her... it's the part of her that's missing... the part of her that remembers everything..."

Inuyasha was completely shocked and frozen as he stared at the bright soul next to Kikyo.

"Now... you've got two options... the first one is you try and get it back from me... that means you'll have to fight me and defeat me in order to get it..." Inuyasha narrowed his eyes in anger as she continued. "The second one... is that you let me keep this soul... and live with her memories..."

"What did you say?..." he asked in disbelieve of what he'd just heard.

"You heard me... either you fight me to death and get her soul back... or you let me keep her soul and live with her memories... after all she's my reincarnation... and technically, this is my soul... think about it, we could live together, we could be happy together..."

Inuyasha lowered his head and let his hair cover his eyes. " 'Damn it!... I cant fight her! And I cant let Kagome like this either!!'" he thought to himself.

" 'All I want is to stay with you...'" the hanyou lifted his face as he remembered her words. He then softened his expression and stared at the motionless girl.

"Well... what will it be Inuyasha..."

Inuyasha turned his soft gaze towards the cold miko and stared at her in silence. "I..."

Suddenly, everyone got surprised and shocked. Kikyo widened her eyes as she felt the burning feeling coming from her cheek. She touched it and blood was what she found when she stared back at her hand. The barrier was gone and little sparks floated all around them.

Inuyasha slowly turned around with widenned shocked eyes and stared at the silhouette in the distance. "What??!..."

Author's note: Waa!!! (*avoids sharp objects, tomatoes, chairs, rocks, etc.*) I know!! (*puppy teary eyes*) Gomen nasai!!! Waa, I know it was a long chappy too... Anyways, Who's that?? Ooo... guess you'll have to find out next week!! I'm sorry if the characters seemed a little OOC, but I promise you'll find out in the next chappy (*saddly the last one!*) yeah... (*dries tears*) It's about to end! ... or is it? Wa! (*avoids huge rock thrown at her*) Wahahahaha!! (*nervous laugh*) Gomen ne? Ja ne!