Bunkai Ichi:
Omoide
Kikyou lay her head back against the rough sides of a massive boulder. The mild autumn's night breeze cooling her face and blowing her ebony hair around her face. Her perfect face reflected the moonlight into the still pond beside her. Her gaze fell toward her dirty priestess clothes. She was tired of wearing the same traditional colors of red and white. Kikyou dared let out a sigh of relief as she let her mind wonder, back to the past and dig into the forgotten memories she locked up long ago. Far back she remembered. 50 years to be precise……
In that time her love belonged to a half- dog akuma called Inuyasha. But as a priestess and her own principles, she despised akuma, also known as demons, and their nature. Thus her love for Inuyasha was demolishing. Being born into the life of a Hateshiganai Yotogi Nisou priestess, it was her duty to protect and guard the Shikon no Tama. The jewel was able to heighten the abilities of any akuma to their full extent. Or, in the case in Inuyasha, change him into either a full-fledged akuma or a mortal human. The Shikon no Tama could only be used once, as it would be wished upon. Kikyou desired to use the sacred jewel to change Inuyasha into a human so their love could be completed and she could love him without guilt or remorse. But his pride was far too great for wanting to become mortal.
His denial destroyed Kikyou. She despised him for the pain he unknowingly caused her……
Inuyasha walked down a rugged road toward the village. His long crimson robes flowing in the wind, and his silver hair blowing in his face. Although his hair was colored so, his face was that of a human in his 21st summer. His dog-ears perked up when he heard laughter, but realized it was only children playing by the pond. His strong masculine features usually shone bright with anticipation, but being engrossed thought dulled them. He knew he hurt Kikyou with his denial, but he had no intention of becoming a mere mortal. The very thought of it sickened him. He despised humans and how they treated him. Besides, he thought to him self, how could we be together if I'm human? She may love me in that form, but will she have to sit by and watch me die of old age while she lives on! I would be a mere sacrifice for our love! In a quieter tone he thought, she is a priestess, and I am a pathetic half demon. If I truly love her, I won't cause her any more pain… I must make her hate me, curse my name……I must steal the Shikon no Tama; her life's pledge. Only then will she be free of me.
The brisk night air never cooled the beads of sweat falling down his face. He peered over the rooftop closest to the temple of the Shikon no Tama. With the stealth of the dog he was, he leapt up higher than any human could have, and landed softly on the roof of the temple. He watched as the patrolling guards made a turn around the corner, then he climbed down from the roof. His mind raced with the consequences of his actions, but he suppressed them with them thoughts of Kikyou. "Kikyou" he said aloud," I beg to the gods that you will despise me for what I am about to do." He paused. "My Kikyou." With his last breath of freedom, he stepped into the holy temple. In the back of the room, he saw it. An unnatural aura surrounded the air of the Shikon no Tama. He stepped forward, watching his every move as to not make a sound.
The candle light of the temple held no comparison to the colored mist of the jewel. He knelt down in front of the jewel. A single tear fell down off his face and landed on the floor with a dull thump echoing in the still air of the shrine. "Kikyou" was the only word that escaped his lips. The word burned in his throat as the memories came flooding back. He quickly bit back his emotions. There's no time for this, he groaned in his mind, the guard will be back soon. He tried to reassure himself, but it quickly failed.
With the last burst of adrenaline pumped through his body, he reached out for the jewel with his hand. A whistle flew threw the air. An arrow was protruding out of the wall nearly an inch way from Inuyasha's face. Already knowing who was there, he slowly turned toward his attacker. Her black hair put the night's emptiness to shame. Her gaze cut through him with such a look of hate it made him shudder. For the first time in Inuyasha's life, he hated Kikyou. He just glared back at her with the same loathsome expression.
His heightened sense felt the approach of guards. With out a warning from his mind, his hand firmly grasped the jewel and he flung him self from another one of Kikyou's sacred arrows. What the hell? He thought. She has never missed a target before. Why now? He had no time to think of a reason as now the guards had been informed of an intruder. But as they entered the temple they had no time to react, for Inuyasha had already bound past them. He flew threw the streets with all his might, just to put that horrible place and memories behind him.
As his pace quickened, another sacred arrow flew past his head. He spun around ready to fight. But instead, there stood Kikyou. She no longer had an expression of hatred, but of pain and sorrow. Guilt hit Inuyasha hard. He didn't know how to react. But before a word could be spoken, the guards had caught up and surrounded him. He quickly glanced back to where Kikyou once stood, but she was now gone. His thoughts were the exact thing the guards needed. "Damnit!" he yelled as one of the guard's arrows shot past his head. He jumped up to the nearest roof top and glanced back one last time to see if she was anywhere to be seen. "Kikyou" was the only word. With a sigh, he leapt from rooftop to rooftop, until he was free from the guards and the village, shortening the distance between him and the forest.
Earlier that night, Kikyou walked along through the empty village. She gazed up at the stars the shone so bright. The rare feeling of contempt filled her being. While smiling up at the stars above, a pulse of urgency ran threw her. Something was wrong.
She ran back to the temple of the Shikon no Tama. The wind ripped around her face as flew around the corners. I prey I get there in time. was the only thought that consumed her mind, nothing else mattered. Her breath quickened as she reached the entrance to the giant temple. "Kikyou." She let out a silent gasp as someone spoke her name. Slowly, she crept toward the corner without being heard nor seen to witness who had spoken her name. "I beg to the gods that you will despise me for what I'm about to do." another gasp escaped her lips. That was Inuyasha's voice. "My Kikyou." He spoke again. No Inuyasha, don't do this please. Don't make me choose…I beg of you! Tears started to come down her eyes, flowing down her face.
She listened as he stepped into the temple. If this is how you want it to be, she spoke with determination, then you must die you demon bastard! Furry broke through her. All the pain and floating guilt was gone. She moved closer to the window, as she heard him draw near the shrine. Silently, she pulled out her bow and strung it with one of her sacred arrows. "Kikyou." He spoke again to no one. Her rage and blood began to boil. All love for him she once had, was gone, replaced by a sense of duty. She took a deep breath and stepped into the light. The arrow left her bow as it searched for its target like a hawk for its prey. She knew she would not hit him, but end up missing. Heart would never let her body kill the man who had once engulfed her life. She quickly drew up another arrow and pointed it at Inuyasha' s head. She would not miss again. He had frozen in the possession of a near grasp, stunned by what he had seen. As his gaze turned toward her, her blood ran cold as he glared right back at her. But in his glare had so much love and pain. But she didn't see the hate he wanted her to see, but she never let the tension lessen on her bow.
She watched as he reached out and grabbed the Shikon no Tama. Kikyou released another arrow, but she missed yet again. What is wrong with me! She snarled at the place were he once knelt. She watched as he easy maneuvered past the guards. She went to go after him, but her mind and body had frozen as realty came crashing down. She fell down on her knees. Tears streaming down her face. How could he cause me such pain? How could he make me do this? When she got control over her body again, she raced after the guards and Inuyasha, determined to get to him before the foolish guards.
Kikyou easily out paced the guards and reached Inuyasha in time. She released one last arrow, saying "Goodbye Inuyasha," and it flew past his head and hit a bird. He spun around and his expression changed from furry so sorrow. She knew her expression hadn't changed since she was hit with the reality of it all, but Kikyou stared him down anyway. She wanted to speak to him, but no words came out. Before he could say anything to her, the guards came from all sides and surrounded him. It was just the distraction she needed. She leapt away in to the shadow of the village. She knew the guards wouldn't hold him for long. With a sudden thought, she bolted away, through the maze of homes, to the edge of the village and toward the forest. Kikyou knew Inuyasha well enough to know the path he would use to escape. There, she would await him. I swear to the gods, Inuyasha, you shall die by my hand, and my hand alone!
Inuyasha gasped for breath as he put a greater distance between him and the village. Even with akuma blood running through his veins, he still had human limits. After a moments rest, he surveyed his surrounds. The still air showed his warm breath reach up into the sky. The moon shone brightly through the clouds adding an eerie atmosphere to the, already, disturbing mood of the dense forest. Neither wind nor animals could be hear or sensed. With a tired sigh, he started off again, with a weight in his heart. The only sound heard by any was the sounds of Inuyasha running on the dew filled earth. Nothing moved through out the forest as he maneuvered through the trees and the under bush. His ears perked up as he heard something accompanying the sound of his flight. There was something else in the forest; keeping pace with his movement. It can't be one of the guards, but who else could it be? His question was soon answered as a figure stepped out in front of him. "Kikyou!" he gasped. The look of distaste had replaced her earlier expression of pained sorrow. Inuyasha knew that this time she would not miss.
"Die Inuyasha!" Her words burned into his heart and mind, leaving a scar with her expression. With lightning fast reflexes, she strung her bow. Without hesitation, thunder erupted in the air as the arrow was released. Timed slowed to a crawl as Inuyasha's heart ripped in two.
Kikyou awoke to the light of her kyaccha- kontan bringing her the souls of the living. Elegantly, they swam through the air towards her with ease, flowing in the warm up draft. After she died 50 years ago, she was re-incarnated into a young woman from another era called Kagome. After trapping Inuyasha by her sacred arrow to a tree for 50 years, this, Kagome, was the one who released him. Kikyou couldn't bring herself to kill him. It was the only way she could remove him from her life. Apparently her soul had betrayed her. Part of her still loved him and longed for him. She spent many years suppressing her emotions, hiding behind a mask. Being born again into a clay-body-image of herself from 50 years ago, she watches him; gazes as he follows his own person tasks. Kikyou flinched as her memories came flooding back, paining her as acid in her mind. Regaining from the sting of emotions, she gazed up towards the blackened sky with loathing. She was bound to stay with her oath. "He will die by my hand." She hissed through her teeth. The kyaccha- kontan cocked their heads confused at the mistress' statement. "Such pain I feel." Her eyes fell back toward the ground from which she came. She aloud the memories fall back into her mind.
After the Shikon no Tama was accidentally shattered, the shards were scattered everywhere. Akuma of these places gathered them to grow their power. Many akuma and mortals had placed quests to gather all of the shards to remake the Shikon no Tama. For the first time in years, Kikyou laughed out loud at their ignorance. She planned to wait for one of them to finish their task. After words, before they could use the Shikon no Tama's full power, she would condemn both the collector and the jewel to Hell where they belong. Her laugh grew, as her plan remained unnoticed. Realizing she was being watched, she gazed at her kyaccha- kontan who were staring at her with bewildered eyes. She had to admit her moods were getting worse. I must banish him from my mind from this time forth. I cannot be distracted. One mistake and I could be discovered.
A gust of wind disturbed Kikyou from her day dreaming. "Come to me." She ordered her kyaccha- kontan weakly. Instantly, they released the souls they were carrying. The glowing orbs floated blissfully toward her and were absorbed into her body. "Thank you my beloved kyaccha- kontan. That will be enough for my escape." She stood up with ease, dusting off her clothes. Another rush of wind blew past her face. Her gaze stiffened as her eyes settled on a twisting path ahead of her. He's coming. Her eyes hardened as she stared at no one and nothing, her eyes covered by her recollected thoughts. Him and his five companions………
Among his journeys, he came across many, and befriended less. The one girl who released him, and the one who shares his affection, Kikyou's re-incarnation, Kagome. After battling the Thunder Brothers, the duo met up with a sweet little fox akuma called Shippo. A promiscuous monk called Miroku was their next acquaintance. Cursed by a devilish half- akuma named Naraku, he only has a few more years until his Wind Tunnel in his right hand, that destroys anything in its path, swallows him up, as it did his father, and his father before him. It explains why he is so anxious to have a child, so one-day, Naraku would be destroyed. Lastly, are Sango and her fire akuma cat Kirara. Sango joined Inuyasha because Naraku forced her watch as he murdered her father and her little brother Kohaku. Thus started their own personal quests that happened to involve one another.
Kikyou gazed towards the taunting path. The wind drifted past her with his fragrance. I will miss you, Inuyasha. Lifting her right hand up to the heavens, she called down her kyaccha- kontan. They gracefully floated down from above, swirling around her weakening body. If I keep delaying, I will be too weak to escape. She sighed, relaxing her muscles. While tightening around her figure, they rouse up into the night sky, leaving behind her pained memories.