Reflection

Ch. 1

Have you ever looked upon a story you knew so well, and wondered what it would be like if one thing changed? If you had dropped one minuscule pebble in the stream of time and diverted its path, changing the story you thought you knew forever? Soon we are going to explore this.

This world I present to you now is much different from the one you know, its exact opposite if you will. For this world is merely a reflection of what is, a world in which time had other plans in mind.

(P.O.V Kikyo)

I regretted it, every single second longer that I stared at his sleeping form now brought me pain. It felt like so long ago, and yet it was only seconds ago that I had pinned him to the tree. The only person I had ever felt close to aside from my own sister, and I had sealed him into endless torment without a single thought. Did I truly think that he would betray me after all we'd seen together? I could see the wind blowing through his silver hair, the hair id always secretly adored. His eyes, those pools of molten amber and gold that id once gazed into longingly, those eyes now shut themselves to the world. The last thing I had seen in those orbs of his were betrayal, not love, nor fear, nor pride. This was the thing that haunted me most in these final moments

Even as I thought all of this I kept silent and stoic, none of the villagers must be allowed to see my pain. For it was a luxury I was not able to have, not anymore at least. Cautiously I moved to the side of the tree where my former lover laid pinned in its branches, and pulled him from the tree itself the arrow still lodged in his side. I don't pretend I didn't know what the looks of the villagers meant as they passed. Their looks spoke of such things as pity, confusion, and from some even looks of betrayal. I hobbled through the streets, my shoulder bleeding, and myself being inches from the grasp of a reaper. I was limping as well, that was for certain as I had already found myself without the use of my right leg.

By the time I had reached my destination, I was caked in my own sweat and covered in mounds of dirt. Slowly but surely, I climbed the steps of the shrine. Eventually Id find myself at its entrance. The room before me was a small open room with wooden floors and many objects, each carried its own glimmer or shine as if begging me to take it up and use it for what I'm about to do, and yet I had none of these in mind. Instead I ventured to the back of the shrine were upon I found a small chest. Opening it I dug through its contents of empty vials, chipped bowls and old scrolls whose words have long since faded. Until I found what I had searched for, inside old wrappings laid an old mirror my own mother had given to me as a girl before she passed.

It simply looked to be an odd circular piece of glass with a large chip at its side where a piece had broken off, and a half finished decorative rim. I laid it upon the floor alongside Inuyasha, I was prepared to do as I must, and Yet I was silent. If I wanted to do this, I had to at least give him one last goodbye. So, I spoke, and for the first time…I spoke from the Heart.

"Inuyasha, there are so many things I could say. We were so different, just as night differs from day. I will forever envy how your able to express so freely. It's strange really, our souls…did it feel the same to you? As if our fates are one. Because of you, for the first time in my life I have experienced true freedom…and true love." I began to speak, and for the first time in ages…I began to cry, barely managing to wipe away the tears now streaking down my cheeks. My façade now truly broken "however I can see now that in this life…our love is not to exist. For what the world demands of us in this time is far from what we desire. To you however I now make this vow, in this life we could not be together but in the next I give you my heart and I am yours as you are mine" these words held power over my very being and I knew it to be so. I knew because suddenly I felt rather warm…as if he was embracing me once more.

When my eyes landed once more upon his face, I couldn't help myself as I drew my hand across his cheek which still felt warm to the touch. I was brought out of my trance when a small hand grabbed my own and placed it over his heart, near where my arrow had pierced his side. When I looked up, I was met with the face of my sister Kaede who being the innocent girl she is, moved her hands to his face and proceeded to scrunch up his features to make him look disgruntled. Then she spoke softly, her voice the final reassurance of my fallowing actions.

"There…now he could be sleeping" they were such simple words, and yet so soothing. So, with all the courage I could muster…with all the love left in my heart to give I placed my hand upon the mirror. It began to glow faintly with my remaining power. I knew this would be the last incantation I'd ever cast, but in truth I had long accepted this as my final hour. So I poured every last bit of power into the mirror I could and could only watch as Inuyasha…the man I loved…faded. Forever trapped, until my soul had once again found him. Maybe then we could be together.

With my power gone, I fell to my knees…vaguely I could hear my sister calling out to me, and begging for me to awaken. Though we both knew that was not meant to be, and slowly, with my power gone… and my body broken beyond repair, I gave myself over to the welcoming warm embrace of death. Who by now, was a good friend