InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Two Months to Live ❯ Kikyou's Proposition and a Monk's Vow ( Chapter 2 )

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Chapter 2: Kikyou's Proposition and a Monk's Vow

The walking pile of dirt, ashes, and stolen souls emerged from the woods at Kagome's right. A very unfortunate position.

"YOU!" Kagome snarled, leaping at once to her feet and launching herself at the undead miko. Her speed astonished even herself, and she was mere inches from striking when she felt the familiar sensation over her mark that stopped her and pulled her back, sending her falling on her butt. 'Dammit, Inuyasha!' she snapped, rising to her feet and dusting off her pants.

Inuyasha turned his attention to Kikyou, however. "What do you want, Kikyou? I doubt that you came here just to let Kagome kill you. Because let me assure you, she'd be more than happy to oblige."

Kikyou smiled a smile that didn't seem to reach any farther than her mouth. "Inuyasha. I am glad to see that you are well." She turned her cold eyes on Kagome. "You have made this girl your mate? Ah, yes, the mark, I see now. Well, Inuyasha, I am still willing to love you despite your...bad decisions."

Inuyasha's features hardened. "Don't you dare insult me or my mate, Kikyou. You are dead. Get it through your head and accept it. I can no longer love you."

Kikyou looked for a moment as if he had slapped her, then said, "And yet you can love this little child? I doubt if she could ever love you like I could."

Kagome opened her mouth, fists clenched. Before she could speak, however, Kikyou had addressed Miroku, who barely seemed to notice her presence. "Houshi. Do you wish to find Naraku and preserve your life?"

Miroku looked at her dumbly for a second, then nodded, Sango's arm clutching his waist in support.

"Well, I happen to know where he is hiding. He has invited me to join him at his castle. I declined, of course. I much more enjoy your company, Inuyasha."

Every time Inuyasha's name came out of the dead bitch's mouth, Kagome felt Inuyasha's hold on her weaken. He was getting angry...and anger meant that he was more likely to let her go...

'Inuyasha! Let me at her!'

'Not yet. If she really knows where Naraku is, we can't afford to lose that information. We'll see what she has to say first.'

Kagome lowered her eyes and glowered. Inuyasha spoke up next. "Why are you willing to help us, Kikyou?"

Sango unhooked herself from Miroku and stood. "Yes, we all know that you wouldn't do anything like this unless there's something in it for you. What do you have planned?"

Kikyou laughed, and it once again didn't reach past her mouth. "I knew you weren't all dense..." Casting a withering look at Kagome, who threw it right back, she continued. "I do have a favor to ask." Seeing the looks on everyone's faces, she quickly added, "I do not wish to kill anyone, nor do I wish for Inuyasha's love. I just want my life returned to me."

"You cannot completely restore the dead to life with the sort of power that we possess," Miroku said quietly, glancing up at Kikyou.

Kikyou pointed to Kagome. "She can. My youkai told me of her powers." One of said youkai curled around her torso and she petted it as she went on. "The event with the Siaku powder left her weakened, but she has regained much more strength than she lost."

"You've been...WATCHING me?" Kagome exclaimed incredulously, looking at Kikyou with horror and disgust on her face.

"I told you, not me. My youkai."

"What makes you think that Kagome has the power to do this?" Inuyasha asked, looking between the two mikos.

"I have heard of her strength. I have even heard that she is capable of fire-conjuring."

Everyone's eyes snapped to Kagome and she clapped her hands to her mouth. Fire-conjuring was a very advanced power that only the most skilled mikos were fit to learn. Possessing such power corrupted them, and usually they went mad and killed their own kind. It was a very untrustworthy ability, and Kagome instantly began wishing that she'd told them about it sooner.

Miroku picked up the conversation after the awkward silence. "Let's say that Kagome can do this. Why do you want her to?"

For a moment, Kikyou looked as if she wouldn't answer. Then, her lips parted and she spoke: "Quite a while ago, I took up residence in a small village. I made very good friends with the children and I taught them of healing herbs. One girl, Sayo, became very dear to me. She even referred to me as 'Sister Kikyou'. The monks of the village were on to me, however, and knew that I was no ordinary person. They confronted me while I was soul- gathering and attempted to seal me with a dragon binding spell. In freeing myself, I killed one of the monks by sending a dragon claw directly into his throat. This was not overly horrible. The grim circumstances were that Sayo saw the whole thing. I was compelled to leave the village with her disappointment on my heels." Kikyou had not looked at anyone during this whole speech. Now, she raised her eyes beseechingly to Inuyasha. "I wish to live again, completely, so that I may dwell among humans once more. I am growing to despise this semblance of life. I don't mind venting my anger on others, but I do mind dumping that anger on small children that are completely undeserving of such punishment."

When Kikyou fell silent, Kagome lifted her head to stare at her. To Inuyasha, she said, 'I think she's telling the truth.'

"WHAT?!?!" Inuyasha blurted out, forgetting to keep the thought in his head. Kagome was happy that he'd forgotten, however, or she'd have one monster migraine. Everyone except for Kagome looked confused because they hadn't heard her statement. It became clear the next time he spoke, however. "How can you believe her? She tried to kill both of us numerous times!"

"She can tell." Kikyou said. "Ask her to probe my aura."

Once again, everybody's eyes snapped to Kagome. 'Chikuso!' she thought. 'She might as well tell them my bra, pants, and shoe size while she's at it! I WAS going to tell them myself...' To Kikyou, she said. "Okay, I'll do it." Concentrating, Kagome brought into view the dirty pink aura that surrounded the miko. "Say it."

Kikyou complied. "If you were to return me to life, I promise that I would never trouble you all again, never kill again. I would live as a peaceful miko for my remaining days.'

Kagome dropped her concentration. There had been no fluctuations in her aura, no telltale yellow streaks that indicated falsehoods. And, no matter how skilled Kikyou was, Kagome knew that there was no way that she could mask her true aura. In barely a whisper, Kagome said, "She's not lying."

The group stared. They stared even harder when Sango spoke. "Like it or not, she's the only lead that we have. If Kagome says the she's telling the truth, then I believe her. However, Kikyou, I think you'd understand if we postpone the fulfillment of your side of the deal until after Naraku is dead?"

Kikyou nodded, then looked around at the others. "So, will you all accept my help in locating Naraku? I know that the monk has only two months, and it would take you that long to find the place, much longer to actually breach the entrance."

One by one, everyone nodded, Inuyasha and Kagome conversing silently before giving their assent.

Kikyou beckoned to the sky, and an instant later, dozens of her youkai came and coiled around her body. She pointed northwest and said, "Travel in that direction for about a week. You will reach a village that goes by the name of Senpai. The people there will most likely give you information on a youkai that is rumored to live in the mountains. If you follow their directions, you will reach not a mountain, but a black forest. I will meet you again there." With these words, Kikyou's youkai began to lift her out of sight.

Inuyasha looked up, dumbfounded. "Hey! Kikyou! Those were pretty vague directions, don't you think? 'Black forests' are pretty common! Kikyou!" But she was gone.

For what seemed like the millionth time, no one knew what to say. Then, Ninsei, who hadn't spoken for a while (not knowing the situation with Kikyou), turned to Kagome and posed a question. "Can you really fire- conjure, Lady Kagome?"

Kagome nodded. Feeling as if she might as well do the thing properly, she clasped her hands in front of her in a praying position. Instantly, her body erupted in an aura that strongly resembled flames. As the 'flames' licked at her body, she slowly pulled her hands apart, forming a sphere of fire in between them. Turning to Sango and putting the fireball in her right hand, she asked, "What would you like to see?"

Sango faltered. "Um, Kirara?" The fire-cat looked up, annoyed at being summoned when her master wanted nothing.

Kagome focused once more on the fire sphere. It began to twist and mold itself, forming a shape that was very feline. The entire cat fit in the palm of her hand. Once the details had filled in, Kagome relaxed the aura and the flames melted into Kirara's colors, leaving fire only at her tail and paws, like the real fire-cat. Sango gasped in shock and awe, and the guys were speechless.

The miniature Kirara marched across Kagome's hand and stretched, yawning wide enough for everyone to see perfectly detailed fangs in her mouth. Kagome lifted her arm and the mini-cat leapt into the sky, fading to nothing just when it reached the treetops. Kagome allowed her focus to drop completely and sat down, feeling light-headed. Sango began to exclaim about how marvelous the talent was. Ninsei and Miroku admitted that it was very impressive. And Inuyasha....

"Where in the HELL did you learn THAT, bitch? People just don't wake up knowing how to do THAT, and you haven't even been taking any kind of lessons!"

Kagome grinned nervously. "Actually, I *did* kind of wake up knowing how to do it..."

****Flashback: Dream Scene****

Kagome sat in a black chair in an expansive white room. The walls, ceiling, and floor were such a pure white that there was no way to figure out the room's dimensions.

As she sat there, a glowing sphere descended from the sky and hovered in front of her. Then, in the blink of an eye, it turned into a young woman. Her long hair was braided back from her lovely face and her bright green eyes twinkled.

Kagome stared, then realized that this person seemed very familiar. "Ayako?"

The woman nodded her head serenely. "I have returned to pass on what I know. When the Siaku Powder stripped me of my miko powers, they had to go somewhere. I ensured that, when I died, my soul would be able to find a suitable person to learn my skills."

"And you picked me?"

"Correct, Higurashi Kagome. You have been chosen. So stand and prepare for your lesson."

Kagome stood, but still asked one more question. "When will your reincarnation join us?"

"Soon," Ayako replied. "In an upper-class village there is a girl who is very near death. Her soul has nearly departed. I will infuse myself within her, and she will remember me as a past life and be recreated into a miko. I haven't the power left for a full reincarnation, and it would take at least twelve years before the person would be anywhere near ready to fight alongside you all. I will leave to do this task after I complete your training." Ayako clapped her hands and the room went dark.

"First lesson: Fire-conjuring..."

****End Flashback: Dream Scene****

"...So she's been teaching me in my sleep ever since I got back here. About a week and a half ago, she said that my training was complete. I assume she left to ready her reincarnation to meet us. She knows about Naraku. Maybe she can help us."

Ninsei stepped forward. "Lady Kagome, I would be honored if you all would allow me to accompany you on your quest. Perhaps afterward, we can sort out the problem of the Northern Lands. I understand that your companion's life is a pressing matter."

Inuyasha scoffed. "You really don't look like the type for a lot of fighting, Ninsei."

Ninsei looked as if he was biting back a smart remark, but instead said, "Well, I can be of some help..." Raising his staff into the air, he slammed it back to earth with a dull thud.

Suddenly, everyone was sitting about three inches lower when Ninsei's wave disintegrated the ground under their feet. Kagome stared. "Um...I think we would all be honored if you'd join us," she said, and the others nodded in approval. "But, do you have a human form? It would be kind of hard to travel through villages with us looking so intimidating."

For a moment, Ninsei looked disgusted before he said, "Hai. Sometimes I pass as a monk." Casting an amused look at Miroku, his body underwent a drastic change. The fur all over his body vanished and his head, feet, and hands instantly took on a human shape. It was all over in barely five seconds. Before them stood a young man with spiky black hair, a mature yet boyishly handsome face, and three gold earrings in his right ear.

Kagome looked on in awe. He was obviously very talented. She stared in admiration for at least three seconds until Inuyasha activated her mark and averted her eyes...

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Only a few hours into the northwest trek, the group could hear screaming coming from a clearing to their right. Instantly, Kagome and Inuyasha took to the trees while the others ran toward the sounds. The hanyous were the first to reach the scene, and they were momentarily stunned by what they saw.

It was only a spider youkai. A huge spider youkai. VERY huge. Did I mention enormous? Its fangs were about three times as long as Kagome was tall. It was even larger than the one that they had faced before, and that one was pretty big itself. In its claws, it held a young girl and a man who looked as if he was her father. People were swarming toward the youkai, but cries of, "Let them go!" weren't very effective.

Inuyasha pulled Tetsusaiga from its sheath, then said, 'Kagome. If you sense a shard, then come in to remove it. If you don't...I won't need help.' That said, he leapt from the tree and began to slice at the youkai, distracting it and causing it to release the humans to face the new challenge.

'Ok, is there a shard?' Kagome asked herself, trying her best to focus. Suddenly, she caught a pinkish glint. 'Inuyasha! It's in its leg!'

'Which one, wench?!?' he yelled back.

Kagome realized that the spider's legs were moving much too quickly for her to determine which one held the Shikon no Kakera. Making up her mind, she drew the Sora-Ki and joined the fray.

This was the scene that the others arrived to. Seeing them, Kagome leapt to the group and said, "It has a Shikon shard, but it's in the leg and I'll never get to it the way it's moving around." She turned to Ninsei. "Can you produce a stronger version of that wave that you showed us earlier to flip it onto its back?"

Ninsei nodded. "But I will need a diversion."

Sango and Miroku shared a glance before Miroku said, "I guess that's us..." Running forward, Sango launched her Hiraikotsu before jumping backward, luring the youkai so that its back would be to Ninsei. Inuyasha instantly caught the objective and began to taunt it, moving backward so that he was beside Sango. Miroku was playing defense, blocking the occasional needle spray or web mass that emerged from the spider's mouth. Shippou and Kirara had decided to sit this one out, so they stood behind Ninsei, watching the action. Kagome sat in a tree, waiting for Ninsei to get his chance.

Finally, he did. When the youkai's back was directly to him, he raised his staff into the air. A coil of scarlet energy wrapped around it, and he brought it back to earth. The ground split where the staff made contact, and this crack raced toward the spider, widening as it went along. It passed directly under its left feet, sending it sprawling onto its back. "Now, Lady Kagome!"

Kagome looked closely, and was able to tell that the shard was in the spider's third right leg. Brandishing the Sora-Ki, it began to drip with the acid green aura. Leaping from the tree, she severed the leg and dropped gracefully to her feet among the others. With a disgusted look on her face, she sank her blade into it and pried out the jewel, purifying it and pressing it to the piece at her neck, sighing in relief when it fused into place.

Miroku grabbed hold of his prayer beads with his left hand. "I'll finish it up," he said, opening the kazaana and directing it at the youkai. It took quite a while to absorb the whole thing, but it was fairly quick work. When Miroku tried to close it, however, the leg that Kagome had dropped at her feet after extracting the jewel gave a kick, as if in defiance, and caught him in the back of his knee. Horrified, Miroku lost his balance and fell, the kazaana still open. Everyone scattered, knowing the consequences of getting in the way. However, a scream issued from the woods directly in front of the kazaana, and as they watched, the girl from before was being slowly drawn toward Miroku.

Everyone gasped in alarm. Miroku froze up, terrified at this development. Luckily, Inuyasha kept his head and sprang at Miroku, snatching the prayer beads from his left hand and using them to seal the kazaana. The girl dropped to the ground a hair's breadth from where Miroku's right hand was a second ago, bawling. Inuyasha lifted himself from the ground and extended a hand to Miroku, who ignored him. The monk's eyes were still fixed on the crying girl, and silent tears began to roll down his face.

Sango stepped forward. "Miroku-sama?" She knelt before him and pulled him into her arms, trying to comfort him.

Miroku seemed to suddenly regain his voice, and whispered, "I almost killed her. I really almost killed her."

"But you didn't, Miroku-sama. She's fine. It'll all be okay."

Miroku shoved away from her quite rudely and rose to his feet. "No. It will never be okay." He stared at his right hand as if he wished that it would drop off and scuttle away. Turning to the group, he said, "Zettai. Never again. I'll never use the kazaana again."

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