InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Redemption ❯ Soul Redemption ( Chapter 1 )

 

 

Soul Redemption

Kirameki Izumi

(Continuation of "Deadly Pact With Naraku.")

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kikyo was walking through a dark forest. The canopy was so thick that only a rare few rays of moonlight shone on the ground in front of her. "So she was able to brake through the spell. She's stronger than I expected." Kikyo finally emerged from the forest and into a brightly moonlight valley. "That girl somehow broke the spellbound arrow I had placed on Inuyasha. How? I don't understand." Kikyo snapped out of her deep thoughts and turned to look behind her. "There's something approaching." Kikyo looked up and peered through the ebony sky. There was a demonic aura hanging heavily in the northern sky. Kikyo recognized it immediately. " Naraku! But why would he be coming for me unless…he had planned to kill me all along?" Kikyo felt panic rush through her body as she turned and began to run for her life. "No! I won't die! Not again! I don't want to feel that horrible pain again!"

 

All of the companions were asleep. That is, all the companions except for one. The campfire that had been blazing had almost lost all of its life. Only a few glowing embers remained, serving as a sad momentum of the once bright and lively flames that had danced upon the firewood. Inuyasha was sitting in his usual spot in the boughs of a large tree. He attentively looked down upon Kagome's sleeping form. He wouldn't let his guard down for a second. He had promised himself that he would never let Kagome come into harms way again. He couldn't stand the thought of not having her warm smiling face to greet him every day. Kagome stirred and looked up at him from her sleeping bag.

"Aren't you going to get any sleep?"

"I'm fine."

"You don't have to watch over me all night you know."

"I'm not taking any chances," he said quietly. Kagome smiled.

"Thank you Inuyasha. For being concerned."

"It's no big deal. You don't have to thank me or anything," he said while turning a bright crimson.

"Okay. Good night."

"Night." But before Kagome could rest her head back down she felt a sudden pulse.

"I sense a sacred jewel shard."

"What?"

"A large one."

"It has to be Naraku! Let's go, Kagome!"

Inuyasha was carrying Kagome on his back as they weaved their way through the trees. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo were following from above the treetops on Kirara.

"How much farther?"

"We're almost there. But…I wonder why Naraku's appeared all of a sudden."

"We'll find out soon enough."

Inuyasha leapt up into the air and over the sea of green, forest leaves. Just as he did so, Kagome gasped in shock and horror. "It's Kikyo!" Kikyo was lying unconscious on the ground. Her bow was shattered and broken and Naraku was hovering over her motionless body like a vulture waiting for its victim to breath its last breath. Inuyasha pulled out his Tetsusiaga as he yelled "Wind Scar!" But the attack stopped dead in its tracks as it caused the barrier to warp and shiver.

"Damn! I can't break through the barrier."

"So Inuyasha. You've come to see the woman you love die a second time?" Naraku said in a mocking tone.

"Shut up! I'll send you to Hell you filthy bastard!"

"Take this! Wind Scar!" The wind scar hit the barrier directly, but still nothing happened. Naraku laughed as Inuyasha swore to himself.

"It's futile. You'll never touch me with inferior power like that." Naraku's smirk was wiped off as a sacred arrow shot past his ear. Naraku looked to see Kagome lowering her bow as his barrier slowly began to dissolve. A look of complete disgust was on her face.

"Damn wench. You wish to die? Well then I'll send you to Hell myself! The ground began to shake violently as it began to split, forming a great divide next to where Kikyo lay still unconscious. Naraku laughed as he escaped in a giant cloud of miasma. "Suffer Inuyasha. Suffer to the fullest extent as Kikyo and Kagome are both sucked into the depths of Hell." Just as Naraku said this, a sucking wind began to pull on Kikyo and Kagome.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha tried to run to Kagome's aid as she struggled against the wind but was stopped by a newly placed barrier.

"Damn it! Kagome! Try and break through the barrier!" Kagome nodded and struggled to pull out a new arrow. But just as Kagome was about to aim, she stopped and looked back at Kikyo. She was still unconscious and was slowly being pulled closer to the edge. Kagome stood for a few moments with uncertainty and then began to run towards Kikyo.

"What in the Hell are you doing?"

"We can't leave Kikyo behind!"

"You fool you'll be sucked in too!"

"I know that! But there's still a chance!"

"Kagome! Kagome!" But she ignored him and kept running. "I have to try. Otherwise…I'll feel like I abandoned her. I don't want to feel that guilt." Kikyo was just about to fall into the abyss when Kagome lunged forward and grasped Kikyo's hand. Kagome could feel herself being dragged as she desperately clasped onto Kikyo. Kagome took her arrow and stuck it into the ground as she held onto it for support. Kikyo slowly became conscious and looked at Kagome in confusion.

"What are you doing?"

"Grab my arm with your other hand quick!"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Never mind that! Just grab my hand!" Kikyo stared at Kagome in surprise. "Why is this girl helping me? Isn't she bitter towards me? But I don't feel any bitterness in her. Then why? Is this why Kagome's strong? Because of her compassion?"

"Grab my hand!" Kikyo turned away from her thoughts and looked up at Kagome. "Please Kikyo! Grab my hand!" Kagome yelled a second time as she strained to pull Kikyo up. "I think I understand now. Why this girl is so precious to Inuyasha. Why she was able to heal his heart." Kikyo's eyes began to fill with tears "What? How am I able to cry? I'm just made of clay." As she cried, she could feel peace enter her soul at last. The sharp, piercing pain of hatred and regret finally left her body. It was like a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. "So this is what it feels like. To be at peace with yourself." A small smile began to form on Kikyo's tear stained face as she looked up at Kagome.

"Forgive me."

"What? What are you talking about? Forgive you for what?" Kikyo's smile broadened. "She has to ask?"

"Thank you Kagome."

"What?" "What is she trying to say? Thank you for what?"

"If you don't let go you'll be sucked in too. Take care of him for me."

"What are you saying? Don't give up yet!"

"I don't belong here. I'm the living-dead. But now…I feel like I can die in peace…knowing you're with Inuyasha." Kagome stared at Kikyo in shock.

"Kikyo I…" But Kagome never got a chance to finish what she was saying. Kikyo's collected souls were flying from her body. "She's returning the dead souls." Kikyo then pulled her hand out of Kagome's grasp and began to fall.

"Kikyo!" Kagome tried to grab Kikyo's arm again but it was to late she had fallen to far. Kikyo could see Kagome's form shocked and distressed as she fell farther into darkness. "She'll take good care of him." And Kikyo closed her eyes as eternal sleep slowly fell upon her.

 

The earth beneath Kagome had returned to normal. There was no longer a sucking, black abyss. Kikyo's sacrifice had purified it. The barrier had now dissolved and the others were running towards Kagome.

"Kagome! Are you all right?" Miroku yelled with concern.

"You're not hurt are you?" Shippo said in a worried tone.

"No. I'm fine." Kagome said in a whisper. Her voice was sounding shaky.

"What the Hell were you thinking pulling a stunt like that? You could have been killed!"

"I'm sorry Inuyasha."

"Huh?"

"I tried to save her but I couldn't. I'm sorry. It's all my fault!" Kagome's breathing had become struggled and large pearly tears were running down her cheeks.

"It's all my fault!" Kagome said as she began to sob harder.

"Kagome you can't blame yourself." Sango said in a comforting tone.

"But it is my fault! If I had been stronger I could have helped her!"

"Inuyasha I think you'll have to try and comfort her." Sango whispered quietly as Kagome put her face in her hands.

"Me? I don't know what to say!" Inuyasha said in an angry whisper.

"Well I'm afraid you're the only that can. This is about Kikyo so it's your responsibility." Miroku said sternly. "Lets go." Miroku said as Sango, Shippo and Kirara followed after him.

"You're leaving?"

"Of course. This is something you have to do on your own." And they continued walking on.

"Damn it. Why do you I have to do it?" Inuyasha's face softened as he turned and looked at Kagome. She was still sitting on the ground, face in hands, as she cried in guilt. Inuyasha felt a sharp pain of guilt himself as he looked at her crumpled form. He didn't know why, but if ever Kagome cried it always felt like he was the one that caused the absence of her smile. He always felt disgusted with himself when she was like this. Inuyasha walked hesitantly towards her and sat next to her weeping figure.

"They're right you know, it's not your fault."

"But it is my fault! If I just would have…"

"Damn it! Would you be quiet all ready! I said it's not your fault so it's not your fault!" Kagome raised her face from her hands and looked at Inuyasha in surprise.

"But I…"

"No more buts! Kikyo only suffered while she was here so you shouldn't feel guilty."

"But you still could have been together. Didn't you swear to her that you wouldn't let her die alone again? That you would go with her?" Inuyasha paused in shock for a moment. He had forgotten about that. How much had Kagome heard when he said that? He suddenly began to feel lower than the scum on the bottom of a rock in the riverbed. Kagome's hands were sitting in her lap, her head lowered in shame as she stared at her knees. They were scraped up from when she had tried to help Kikyo.

"You loved her so much you were willing to die for her. And it's because of me that you're not. It's because I'm so selfish. I cared more for myself than you or Kikyo's happiness. I'm such an idiot. I…"

"Would you shut up? You know you're not like that so quit beating yourself up! Jeez! You're practically a saint." Kagome had to smile. She had said that to him once before. But her smile quickly faded away.

"No. I…"

"Damn it. How many times do I have to tell you?" Inuyasha placed his knuckle firmly under Kagome's chin and lifted her head up so she could look him in the eye. The moon was reflected in his golden eyes and it was hard to look at them they were so piercing.

"It's not your fault." He said firmly. Kagome cast her eyes down.

"But…"

"I don't care what happened! All I care about is that you're safe!"

"What do you…?" Kagome stopped mid-sentence, however, as Inuyasha pulled her into a hug.

"You'll always come first for me. And nothing is going to change that. Understand?" Kagome smiled and nodded.

"Thank you."