InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Together Forever ❯ An Encounter with Kikyo and Someone new ( Chapter 9 )

Shippo bounded in from the garden and snuggled into Kagome's lap. Dinner arrived and they ate, the girls talking to each other of this and that while the boys ate with healthy appetites. Soon it was time for bed and they all settled down, even Inuyasha as much as he always would; sitting against a wall with the Tetsusaiga close by his hand and his ears alert only letting himself dose lightly.

~Kagome was once again falling through the air. She tried to move yet found she was unable to. She slowed and was turned by an unseen force, making her land on her feet. She looked down and was surprised to see her reflection in the water. Wait…water? She thought and with a sudden jolt of understanding she realized she was walking on water. "Kagome, come to me, please come here to me Kagome." She heard the voice call to her and she took off in its direction.

Within a few minutes she reached the voice's location and gasped. Once again a woman wrapped in pure white robes was there, only this time she was sitting on a small stool under a sakura tree in a moonlit garden. She couldn't see the girls face and it irked her a little. "Kagome, please sit down." The girl said motioning with a hand to a stool that had just appeared out of thin air. Kagome sat and looked at the girl. She took time to note everything she could about her.

She had sakura color hair; that she remembered that from the last time she dreamed, it slid down over her shoulders though the girl wore a hooded cloak over her robes. What skin she could see was pure moonflower white. An elegant hand with long finely rounded nails rested lightly on one knee while the other was wrapped around her side. She noticed her wedding ring finger was occupied by a gold band with a diamond that seemed to have other bits of different colored gems inside of it.

"Kagome, I need to tell you something." The girl said and Kagome listened intently hoping that whatever the girl had to say was good and not bad. "What is it...? Kagome asked but remembered she didn't know the girls name. "When this dream is done you shall awaken. When you do take your bow and arrows and go to the pond in the garden. There you shall meet Kikyo, the undead miko who you seem to dislike for the fact that she still holds a piece of the hanyou's heart, correct?" Kagome nodded at this and almost scowled at the thought of Kikyo. She had tried to be nice and understanding about Inuyasha and Kikyo at first but now, she was not so forgiving about her trying to drag him to hell and Inuyasha's attitude when it came to the undead miko.

"When you see her she will talk to you. When she asks you about yours and Inuyasha's relationship, tell her the truth. You may fight but if you do keep in mind that you will be fighting for Inuyasha, the man you love. If Kikyo runs, follow her. If you are in any sort of danger and can't save yourself on your own call out the name Ares." The girl said her tone was one of finality. Letting Kagome know she must do as she was told or risk dying.

"Very well, I understand arigato for all of your help." She replied with a small bow. "No problem. Do you trust me now?" the girl asked amusement evident in her voice. "Hai, I do, but I wonder, if I can't know your real name, may I call you something else?" The girl pondered this for a moment then smiled. "Hai, you may call me Sakura, if you wish." The girl, now known as Sakura answered. "Ok, is there anything else I should know, Sakura?" Kagome asked and when Sakura shook her head "no" she realized that everything was fading away into darkness. Closing her eyes she sighed and waited till her physical body awoke. ~

Kagome's eyes fluttered open and she carefully sat up, making sure not to wake Shippo or the sleeping Inuyasha. She grabbed her bow and arrows and headed out the door as soon as her shoes were on. When she neared the garden pond she felt the all too familiar presence of Kikyo. She came to the pond and Kikyo who was standing at the waters edge turned and gave her an icy glare. "What are you doing here, girl? I wish to see Inuyasha, not you." She spat out and Kagome had to suppress a sudden urge to tackle and mangle the walking corpse of a miko.

"Kikyo, your life ended fifty years ago, you have no claim on Inuyasha. I will never let you take him to hell. I have tried to be fair about this but now that you keep trying to drag him off to hell I shall no longer stand and watch. Leave here and go, or else keep coming around and I will end your life. This isn't a game we're playing. The stakes are too high. I will not let a pathetic bitch made of clay and bones take away the man I love." Kagome said and Kikyo's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"The man you love, eh? Well the man you love is still in love with me!" Kikyo said, hoping to make Kagome's faith in Inuyasha falter. "He feels badly for what happened but he and I shall be married in the human way and I shall be bound to him in the way of the youkai too." Kagome said and before Kikyo could make a move, shot an arrow that the undead woman could barely dodge it. Kikyo shot Kagome an icy glare and fired an arrow at her then ran out of the garden, through the village and into the woods. Kagome let out a string of curses she picked up from Inuyasha when the arrow came at her. She managed to dodge and scream to Kikyo that she was a coward and then she ran as fast as she could, following the undead woman into the forest.

Inuyasha and the others' had awoken to Kagome's cry of coward and they hurriedly went after the two women. They reached a small clearing in the forest in time to see Kagome and Kikyo facing each other, bow strings taunt and arrows ready to fly. "Kagome...Kikyo...stop!" Inuyasha shouted angrily but Kagome's temper had snapped and she spit back at Inuyasha, "No, we won't stop! She should be dead not trying to drag you off to hell! We're bound Inuyasha, it's either me or her." "Hai, which one shall you, chose Inuyasha?" Kikyo asked with a glare at Kagome.

Inuyasha was torn. He was with Kagome and he would always choose her but he felt somewhat responsible for Kikyo's death, he only wished for her to rest in piece. Before Inuyasha could give his answer they were surrounded by youkai, no one moved, saved Kikyo who moved into the shadows and fled after calling to Inuyasha, "I shall be back. Tell me your choice then." With that the youkai attacked. Kagome let out an almost animalistic snarl and fired her arrow at the nearest youkai and with a flash of light the youkai and two beside it were dead. Inuyasha used the Kaze no Kizu, yet more youkai kept coming. Sango and Miroku fought as best as they may and even Kirara and Shippo pitched in but the youkai soon had them all back to back in a small circle; trapped and ready to be struck down.

"If you are in any sort of danger and can't save yourself call out the name Ares." Sakura's words suddenly rang in her mind. Taking a deep breath she called out with all her might, "Ares!!!" The next thing the group knew a fire engulfed all the offending youkai and they were killed instantly. Everyone turned and began to make sure each other was all right until they heard a voice behind them say, "Lady Kagome, I am Ares, since you have called my name I shall join you and lead you were you need to go." A girl in black robes, now know to them as Ares, said in a soft pure voice. "Please follow me back to the inn and I shall explain." She said and the group shrugged and followed but was sure to keep an eye one her at all times.

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Chars: JA!