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Chapter 1: The wish

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K-POV:

The sun was high in the afternoon, and yet again Inuyasha had run off to go find Kikyo. When was that dog going to realize that all she wanted was her revenge and ultimately his death? She was dead for goodness sake! But I was also at fault. I loved him, even when he seemed to care about me as much as one cares for the very ground they step on.

"Kagome, are you alright?" Sango, always the caring friend asked me.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you Sango." I gave her a meek smile for good measure, but even I knew it wouldn't fool anyone.

And that's when the air changed. it was a sudden drop in temperature that even I felt. I stood instantly from my spot on the grass, grabbing my bow ready to protect my friends with it and my life. Lights that clearly belonged to lost wandering souls rose from behind the trees east of us.

"Kikyo!" We all said at once. Of course, why else would all those souls go to one spot like that? We all began to run towards the lights.

"Wait, Kagome, what if it's a trap like last time. You know how clever and devious Kikyo can be when she wants something." Miroku voiced

"But what if Inuyasha's in trouble? We must go and see."

"You're right, but we mustn't be blind and impulsive like Inuyasha is."

I glared at the trees hoping Kikyo could feel it burn a hole into her skin. My hand tightened around my bow, as my vision blurred and the scene changed. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo were no longer in front of me, soul collectors surrounded me. My hand was out stretched to pet them as they drop souls into my awaiting hands. But the souls refused to enter my hungered and needing body. I was seeing what Kikyo was seeing! It wasn't my body but hers. But what did this mean? Why was I seeing this?

"I'm becoming weaker and weaker as the days go on, Kagome. Your soul leaves me for good. I have only mere hours left on this earth and there is something you must do for me Kagome! You must do it for Inuyasha!"

"K-kikyo?"

"Listen to me Kagome. The jewel is almost complete. The last shard lies within my body. You were not able to sense it for I have hid it from you." I clutched the jewel around my neck; it had only one shard left. Naraku was sure to show up once we put the jewel back together. But we had to find a way to destroy it before he got a hold of it.

"What must I do?"

"You must wish for the jewel to disappear. It is the only way of destroying the shikon no tama without bringing a destructive fate for anyone."

"How will this help Inuyasha? How do I know you're not lying to me Kikyo?"

"You must trust me Kagome. Now come, go through the barrier and meet me, together we will destroy the jewel."

I blinked rapidly as the scene changed back to Miroku and the others. Without a second glance back and with the shouts of my dear friends to return, I ran through the barrier just beyond the break of some trees. The air inside the forest seemed thick almost a liquid as it seeped into my lungs. I cursed my weakness. She's dead and yet she can create this barrier, while I find myself overwhelmed with the spiritual power surrounding me. The deeper I got into the forest the harder it was for me to move, to breathe, and to think. In what seemed like hours I soon came to a stop as I spotted her. It wasn't quite like looking into a mirror, being her reincarnation it was expected, but she looked more aged, wiser, and stronger. She had a woman's body, charm, and attitude. And as if to add more to insult, she was powerful, for a dead person.

"You came." she smirked. I looked at her warily trying to keep my ragged breaths down. "Do you remember our time, in that cave I mean?" I simply nodded remembering how fragile she looked and how much I wanted to help her, for Inuyasha's sake, and her own as well.

"Since then the part of your soul that allows me to roam this earth as a living person has become less mine as time goes on. No longer do the lost souls of those who were once living keep me here. I need them to survive but it seems my purpose as the jewel's protector is closely nearing it's end. And with that I know I can destroy the jewel before anyone get's their hands on it." Those were the most words I have ever heard from her in a single response.

"Kikyo, why do you need me?"

"Haven't you been listening. I'm dead. The only way to destroy the Shikon no Tama is to wish something upon it. But it could only grant death, power, or destruction. Not life."

"Is that truly your wish? To live? For what purpose." I knew her purpose, but I needed to hear it. Inuyasha.

"Do you love him?"

"I…"

"That's it I don't have a purpose. Kagome don't you see that all I ever wanted was a normal woman's life. I didn't chose this. It chose me. I wanted to live in the village with Inuyasha. I wanted to wash his clothes, cook his meals, make his futon, heat his bath, I wanted to be his wife and mother to his children. And when the opportunity seized itself I fell for it deeply. He was going to become human for me he said. He was going to give me the life I wanted. The life of a normal ordinary woman. And I suppose you know the rest. After that day when he left my side to go save you I realized that even after death I was to always be the jewels protector and nothing more. But what I'm asking is that you help destroy the jewel, and I know you love him maybe even more than me. And what I need you to do will be hard but Kagome, I promise you I will make things right."

She then explained to me of what was to happen. And as if to pain me more she told me that Inuyasha did love me, I had to smile through my tears, of course he wouldn't show it, not to me, but yet everyone else saw it… snapping out of my thoughts and still trying to concentrate and breathe I asked her to go on. The last bit of information was what pained me the most.

"Do you trust me, Kagome?" she offered her hand to me. And with a nod I took it gently. Her touch was cold as I had learned awhile back but even so it still took me off guard.

"Yes."

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I-POV

"Kagome!" I cursed under my breath. I leave for awhile and when I come back she's gone! That baka! Didn't I tell her to stay near Miroku or Sango? Oh I'm going to give her a piece of my mind! I sighed out loud, who was I kidding I wasn't really angry as I was worried. What if she's hurt or something? Knowing her clumsy ass she probably tripped over a rock or something and bumped her head! Or maybe worse, what if a demon was creeping up behind her and being the space head that she can be sometimes she didn't notice until it was too late! Or maybe even worse! what if Naraku or that bastard of Hakudoshi….

"Kagome! KAGOME!" A low growl escaped me, taking out my tetsusaiga I used it to cut the trees ahead of me in anger. "Where are you Kagome" I frowned. Sniffing the air I paused. There was two new scents in the air all of the sudden. I knew that scent! It was Kagome! But the other scent hit me…. Graveyard soil.

"Kikyo" I ran as fast as I could towards them. Just beyond a few brush I found them. A bile rose up my throat and I saw red. Kikyo had Kagome pinned to a tree, Kagome looked paler than usual her eyes half closed and she had tears running down her discolored cheeks. "Kikyo!" I roared to my once beloved now enemy since the day she tried to kill me. "Let her go!"

"Now, now Inuyasha I'm not hurting her. I'm actually keeping her alive at the moment. All I want to do is help"

It made sense now. It was the part of Kagome's soul that was helping her.

"What do you say I kill you? I'm sure you would help then!"

"Why do you speak to me in such an ill manner, Inuyasha? Have you forgotten me completely? Have I truly been replaced\?" I looked away in anger

"Of course not, I will always remember you Kikyo, but I can't just stand here knowing that you are hurting Kagome! Now move before I destroy that clay body of yours"

"Do you hate me now?"

"Yes." Her laughing response was cold.

"I fear your hate will only grow larger as time goes on"

"What do you mean?"

It all happened so quickly I couldn't register how I hadn't noticed. Naraku came out just ahead of where we were. Without any words he attacked. Kikyo told me the jewel was complete and that if I wanted Kagome to live I was to keep Naraku away and kill him. Kanna came out of the shadows holding an infant. Could that be his heart? Of course, it had to be, that's what he wanted. More power and he needed his whole body to do that including his heart. In his now usual form Naraku attacked me his long demon arms and tentacles shot out towards Kagome and Kikyo. Using my Wind Scar I blocked his attack. Jumping up I slashed at him. I cut him in half but he then reassembled his body laughing and taunting me. As usual he was all show. And I was about to prove that to him. Running towards him once again I was going to attack when from behind me one of his arms grabbed me. Then another and another. Until I was bound. Dammit all to hell! I won't let him win!

"Hiraikotsu!" Sango's familiar boomerang cut me free. Miroku was with her o Kirara's back.

"Thanks Sango, quick. Take care of Naraku! I'll get the infant."

"Kanna!" Naraku ordered she then gently put the infant down and turned to me with her mirror.

"Ha! I know what that mirror does! You aren't taking my soul Kanna so surrender now!"

"Is this truly what you want? Wouldn't you prefer to be dead and feel nothing, just like me." her child's voice and monotone sound chilled me. "The priestess will soon be gone. Your friends will also die and eventually so will Kagome. And you a poor immortal fool will live all alone for the rest of your existence. So tell me hanyou, is that what you want?"

"Shut-up and I'll kill you quickly!" I pointed my sword towards her. What was she talking about?

"Killing me will not change the future Inuyasha."

"Just because you sound stupid right now does not mean I'll spare you, so cut the crap already!" I roared and lunged towards her. Tetsusaiga clashed against her mirror and it glowed brightly and soon I heard a crack. I watched as the small mirror broke in half and she also seemed to shatter with it. I smiled in small satisfaction.

"You will soon wish death Inuyasha." she whispered and closed her eyes. She almost looked angelic then. I turned to the infant.

"Do you have any last words Naraku's heart?"

"My, my Inuyasha. I see love conquers all, is a shameful lie." the baby laughed silently. "But I wonder if you will have the strength and nerve to go on." he giggled.

"Keh! Just cause you're a baby does not mean I won't kill you."

"So naive."

"Inuyasha!" I turned and saw Sango and Miroku still trying to keep Naraku down. I growled feeling wary leaving the infant here. So I picked the akago up and he then laid his head against me and began to laugh. I placed him near Kikyo and Kagome looking at Kagome. I frowned. This is going to end. It has too.

With every attack we countered he had another thing up his sleeve. "Give up Naraku! We have your heart, it's over!" Miroku shouted. I knew he wanted to use his wind tunnel but the simeosho were there and there was no way we were letting him do that to himself, I knew he was doing this for his father and his father's father, who died because of the curse Naraku had placed on them, the Wind Tunnel. I looked over at Sango. She was fighting her hardest I could tell her little brother was in her mind set. I remember, she wouldn't eat or speak, for days after he had been killed by Naraku. But then one day as we were all surrounding a small fire one night she then stood up with a look of determination. She was going to make sure Naraku was dead, even if it was the last thing she did. And I had the memories of the betrayal, he had made me think Kikyo was behind. I had lost the only person I loved, and by her own hands I was sealed with an arrow to my chest upon that sacred tree, and she, by the hands of my greatest enemy, had died still protecting the jewel as it was burned with her body. Then, came Kagome, Kikyo's reincarnation, the girl who came through the well who started all this and who captivated me. And now because of Naraku she was in danger.

Just as I was going to block another attack from Naraku, he froze and I hesitated as well. Slowly he turned towards Kikyo and Kagome my eyes shifted towards them as well, still trying to keep an eye on him.

"You wench!" he glared and began to move forward. My eyes widened as I saw what was happening. Kikyo was holding Kagome from behind. Her arms keeping her up right as they both pointed an arrow to the infant.

"Don't come closer Naraku! The jewel is complete now and all that's left to do is wish it to disappear. And in doing so also killing you." Kikyo said.

With what seemed the greatest rage he lunged forward ready to take the jewel and their lives. Kikyo whispered something to Kagome who still looked weak and she nodded. I didn't think as I went after Naraku trying to stop him from whatever he was planning on doing. Kikyo shouted to Kagome to do it and the same bursts of light that had occurred when the jewel was shattered lit the sky. Kikyo then pushed Kagome aside quickly taking the bow and killed the akabo. And just like that Naraku was dead and the jewel was gone.

"Kagome!" I ran towards her but stopped in my tracks. "Kagome?"

"Inuyasha, she's gone." Kikyo whispered. She was all of a sudden aged, looking older than her sister. Her heart also had a beat.

"What? What's going on" I demanded.

"The wish she made, was that the jewel never existed."

"What does that have to do with her being gone?"

"Listen Inuyasha, the jewel never existing meant that I never had to be it's protector, I never died, you never got sealed upon that tree, you never met your friends" I looked behind me and they were gone. Everything was gone we were in Kadea's village. in front of the sacred tree "Meaning Kagome never came through that well, you never met her. She's gone now. It's only you and me."

"No!" I shouted and ran away towards the well. No! No, no! When the well came to view I instantly jumped in. I landed at the bottom, and disappointment crushed me like a boulder. I clawed at the ground in thinking it would get me to her. Get me to five-hundred years into her time.

"She knew, this would happen." I looked up to Kikyo. "But she still decided to go on with it, all to keep you safe." That baka! She shouldn't have! I could have taken care of myself! Kagome! Why? "But, she told me to tell you that she….." a grim smile appeared on her lips. "That she loves you."

"Why? Why would she… I could have…"

"You couldn't have. It was the only way to let this end. Inuyasha, I truly love you and I know I must let you go so that you can be happy, with her, with Kagome. So listen to me closely Inuyasha." I nodded. "You, will, see her again, it will just take time. All you have to do is not forget her. Remember her Inuyasha. She sacrificed all her memories of your times together in hopes that you loved her the same and would go to her. And all you have to do is-"

"Forget? How could I? I could never! Stop saying such stupid things!"

"I hope you don't Inuyasha. I really hope you don't"

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A/N: That was my attempt at a fighting scene! I know not the best but I tried. It might be the last one because this is a romance story. (: Be honest? I promise it'll get better!