Chapter One

The Sorrow of the Soul

Today had been a difficult day for everyone. Kagome alone had been basically transported into a different dimension that was Mount Asuza, battled with an extremely evil version of her romantic rival, nearly fell off a cliff, fell from the sky out of nowhere (and, luckily, was caught before she smacked into the stone steps that led up to the mountain entrance), battled Naraku, and failed to protect the only person she had the power to save.

The others weren't much better off. Koga was nearly killed by Naraku and had his prized shards ripped violently from his flesh. Inuyasha once again failed to defeat Naraku and was forced to watch his first love begin to die. Miroku used his windtunnel to save Koga, which caused him to exacerbate his injury. Sango had to watch the love of her life damage himself even more. Worst of all, all of them had to watch as Naraku escaped them unscathed and victorious once again.

They ventured to a hill that had a beautiful view of the blood red sunset. Inuyasha, with Kikyo cradled in his arms, slowed his pace and asked his companions to leave them alone. Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Koga obediently fell back and sat further back on said hill. It was good that everyone chose to sit because Kagome's legs were wobbling and would probably give out at any second. She was in shock. She was in pain. She was desperate to change the fate of the woman whom she had failed to defend.

She watched with a heart of lead as Kikyo lay dying in Inuyasha's arms. She watched as Kikyo told Inuyasha that he had come for her, and that it had been enough. She watched as his face contorted into an expression she had never seen him make before. She listened as Miroku confessed his guilt over not killing Naraku when he had the chance and therefore partially caused Kikyo's death. She heard Sango, for the first time, praise Kikyo and say that she was a good person.

Kagome's thoughts drifted to her own mistakes and misconceptions about Kikyo. She felt an immense amount of guilt over perceiving Kikyo as the phantom that she had battled on Mount Asuza, and she felt even more guilt over the fact that her spiritual power was not enough to save the dying woman. She watched as tears began to flow down Inuyasha's grief-stricken face and heard his devastated cries before he pulled Kikyo into a tender kiss. It was odd, she felt no jealousy or anger. She just felt anguish. So much, in fact, that she wished she could let the kiss go on forever. It was in that moment Kagome made a choice, and she knew she could never take back. However, she had never been so sure about anything in her short life. She would give her soul to Kikyo to save her. Without a moment of hesitation, Kagome Higurashi gave up her soul to ensure that the love of her life would be happy for the rest of his life.

As she drew her final breath she heard a shard gasp quickly followed by a weak whisper from Kikyo.

"No Kagome. Please!"

But it was too late. Kagome allowed her soul to drift away from her. She watched it flow like a gentle stream towards the woman in Inuyasha's arms. It was a beautiful way to go, really, and Kagome was satisfied that the last thing she laid eyes on was the beautiful soul that she shared with the woman who would keep Inuyasha happy for the rest of his life. She knew that at least, in this way, she would always be connected to Inuyasha and the feudal era that she had grown so fond of.

"Please, be happy, and bring him happiness," was the last thought that fluttered through Kagome's mind.

Looking back on it, Inuyasha probably should've known that Kagome was going to do something drastic. She had already risked her life for Kikyo minutes before when she threw herself over her as Naraku attempted to impale her with his tentacles. Once they had gotten to the hill, he smelled her tears and heard her express remorse about not being able to save her. He could sense her pain, but he did not pay any attention. He was too focused on the woman he thought was dying that it never occurred to him Kagome may die instead.

When Kikyo spoke to Kagome Inuyasha had barely flinched. He thought she was running off and he certainly didn't blame her for it, but then all of a sudden he felt so warm. It was as though Kagome was embracing him in that loving way that she sometimes did, but he felt no arms around him. He didn't want to take his eyes off of Kikyo, but he knew that he should see what was going on. Before he could peel his eyes away from her dying form, he heard screams from Miroku, Sango, and Shippo. He stood up and spun around just to be confronted with a fluid blue light. Momentarily stunned by the sheer beauty of the glowing river of her soul, he realized far too late what was going on. He couldn't speak. He couldn't move. He could only watch helplessly as the last of Kagome's soul entered Kikyo's body.

The others didn't seem to be as paralyzed as Inuyasha. Sango was violently shaking Kagome's lifeless body and pleading through her tears for her to come back. Miroku was vigorously scribbling something onto his sacred sutra paper and chanting as he wrote. Shippo sat at Kagome's feet, shaking the only part of her body that Sango wasn't affecting and crying even harder than the desperate girl. Koga was obviously confused and was running around the group trying to get someone to tell him what the hell was going on. Even Kikyo sprang into action, running full force toward Kagome's body and pushing Sango out of the way. Some small part of Inuyasha registered that Kikyo was healed, but he didn't have the strength to say anything. Or do anything. Or think anything. In fact, it wasn't until he was screamed at and shaken roughly by Kikyo that he even moved his eyes from Kagome. Rather than listening to Kikyo's panicked pleas, Inuyasha instead chose to drop to his knees and continue staring at his companion's motionless body.

"INUYASHA," Kikyo screamed once again, "we need to move quickly! Snap out of it! I NEED YOUR HELP! WE MAY BE ABLE TO SAVE HER IF YOU WOULD JUST MOVE!"

It was surprising to hear Kikyo panicked and yelling. It was so unlike her. Even after hearing her, it took him a few moments to process what she had said.

"WHAT? What even happened?! What can we do to save her?!" He shouted, quite literally jumping to attention.

"HELLO?! THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN ASKING THIS WHOLE FUCKING TIME," yelled Koga, who was clearly panicked and near hyperventilating.

"Shut up you stupid fucking wolf! You were sitting right next to her! Why didn't you do something?! Why didn't you stop her?!" Inuyasha cried. He was once again tempted to fall to the ground but resisted in favor of being productive.

"How the hell was I supposed to know what was going on?! I STILL don't know what's going on!" He shouted desperately.

Inuyasha whirled on Sango and Miroku. "Then what about you two?! Surely you could see what was happening! Surely you idiots knew what she was doing." He gritted out through clenched teeth.

"Inuyasha," Kikyo said so gently and quietly Inuyasha almost didn't hear her, "now is not the time to be placing blame on anyone. Now is the time for action. Miroku is attempting to contact Kagome in the afterlife, though it is an extremely difficult task and is unlikely to work. We need to help him. If he does not succeed we need to begin preserving her body so that if we do find a way to get her back here, she has somewhere to go! We can't afford for you have a meltdown right now!"

Inuyasha growled but knew that he absolutely had to keep it together.

"Just tell me what I need to do." He whispered in a broken voice as he tried to stop the steady flow of tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Drawing off of yours and Koga's demonic energy will give Miroku more power, and will aid him in making contact with Kagome. However, it is dangerous for y-"

"Well let's do it then! I don't care if it is dangerous! We have to get her! We have to." Koga interrupted before Kikyo could finish. Inuyasha nodded in agreement and Kikyo led them to Kagome's body.

"I'll do anything for her. I'll do anything to save her." Inuyasha thought as he approached her.

"Anything."