Drifting

DISCLAIMER! I DON'T OWN INUYASHA!

"Inuyasha!" I spun around to lock eyes with the woman I didn't expect, and didn't want to see now, Kikyo. I noticed there was blood on her kimono but I paid no mind to it.

I never doubted you......

Then I turned and continued with my escape route, then I heard the sound of an arrow leaving a bow, only to be connected to the Goshinboku moments later, gasping as I released the Shikon no Tama and watched it fall to the ground.

I watched as Kikyo limped over to the jewel and collapsed to her knees, young little Kaede running to her side.

Am I going to die like this?

I spared one last look at Kikyo, speaking to her sister so softly I couldn't understand any of it.

Oh well, Kikyo even after all that's happened I still love....

Then all went black.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am drifting, my mind is free but my soul is trapped. I can hear but cannot move, I smell and feel but can't speak or see. I am trapped in my own body.

I see the many horrid memories of my childhood and the many deaths I caused and witnessed. But mostly, I was haunted by Kikyo's betrayal. The coldness of her voice, the icy look in her stare, almost as if it wasn't her.

I still refuse to believe that Kikyo loved me, all she did was take the small confidence and trust I had in myself and used it to toy with my heart. How could a woman like her do such a thing, even to a pathetic hanyou like me?

How had she pretended so well, how did she pull it off? How in any way was she able to not feel a thing, not even friendship? But, I was so sure that she wanted the life of an ordinary woman!

Wait! Her scent! It seemed to have changed when she arrived. She seemed different than in the forest, she looked, broken.

"Someone! Any one please! Help me!!!!!!!!!"

I feel my heart pound inside my chest, I feel my ability to move my hand, I pull it up and slowly open my eyes to look at the night sky around me. An evil grin appears on my still young face.

"This scent, the blood of the woman who killed me and it's getting closer," I look and see the arrow that pins me to this blasted tree, I reach for it but a pure barrier erects around it. I snarl, Damn you Kikyo!

I hear a feminine scream and then a young woman comes flying through the air and landed right at my feet. I gasp inwardly at the scent, Kikyo....

"Blaming the bugs now are we Kikyo?" Kikyo looked up at me and arched an eyebrow, I growl as she gets into a stupid kneeling position, "What are you waiting for? The Kikyo I know wouldn't waste time, just do her in like you did me."

I see a fire in her eyes as she stands up, "That does it, Kikyo, Kikyo whoever she is she's not me because my name is-"

I avert my eyes forward, "She's here," I see the Mistress Centipede attacking this girl, the villagers seemed to think she needs protection. I see her on the ground, "What is that thing?"

I scoff, "You're pathetic Kikyo," I see the same fire in her eyes again, "I'm not Kikyo!" she then stands, "Look I'm telling you, I'm not her, whoever she is!"

She then begins to walk up the root and stares right into my face, the fire in her eyes is now the flames of Hell.

"Well I'm telling ya you got to be her 'cause if you're not there's no way you could smell so," then I sniff once more, "You're not her."

I see a satisfied look cross her face for but a moment, "I know, my name is Kagome! Ka-go-me!"

I look away and become lost in my thoughts, "You're right, Kikyo was cuter, much cuter."

I see a look of anger and hurt cross her face before, "Ahh!" I hear her scream as Mistress Centipede grabs her shoulders. Unfortunately, she is using my forelocks as a grip on reality.

"AH! LET GO OF ME!" I hear this Kagome scream, only to be drowned out with my, "Ow! OW! You let go!"

Then I hear Mistress Centipede scream towards the girl, "Give me the Shikon no Tama!"

The Shikon no Tama!

"Stop it!" I see Kagome throw her hand at the demon, a pink light emanates from her palm throwing back the demon. She falls to the ground and mumbles to herself while looking at her hand.

Then a glow starts from her side, I am very curious about this girl now. I gasped quietly as I see centipede throw her into the air, I smell her blood as it splatters everywhere and then I spot something flying next to her, I gasp.

The Shikon no Tama! She has it!

She continues to fall until she comes to a rest at my feet and so does the jewel, "Give me the jewel, quick!" she looks at me confused, "Hurry!"

I then see the demon's body wrap around us and pulls Kagome to the tree against me.

"I heard some hanyou spawn was trying to get it's filthy hands on the Shikon no Tama, it's you isn't it?!" I feel a rage swarm inside me but I don't show it.

"That's all I need to kick you're scaly hide, anything more than that would be a waste of my time."

Kagome pulls back a little, "Listen, you can talk big but can you back it up?" I stared down at her, completely confused, "Can you or not?!" I then turn and glare at the demon, "With that arrow through your chest you are powerless to stop me."

I feel disgusted as I watch her swallow the jewel, "Don't you dare!" Her body becomes strong yet uglier, if possible. I feel Kagome's grip tighten on my haori's sleeve, a sort of protective need kicks in that I push back.

I feel a quick surge of panic as the grip on us tightens, pulling the girl down lower as she cries out. Then a thought comes to me, "Hey can you, pull out this arrow?"

I see her look up and stare at the arrow that binds me to this Kami forsaken tree, "Look can you pull out this arrow or not?!" I see her reach for the arrow, "I-I don't know."

I see the old village hag dismount her horse, "Nay child, once the arrow is removed, then Inuyasha will be free to destroy us all!" I feel hatred towards the hag, she was ruining my plans!

"Don't be stupid you old hag! At least with me you have a chance! Where as that thing's going to eat you!" Then I looked down at Kagome, "And what about you? Are you ready to die yet?" I added unconsciously softer.

She stared up at the arrow, then reached up and grasped it, "Given the choice I choose to, live!" she screamed. The arrow glowed pink before disappearing. I felt all my powers flow through me, my love for my mother, my hate for Kikyo, and my unknown need to protect this girl flowed through me.

I no longer drifted, I was free.

OWARI