'Kikyo.'

She raised her head slowly, and the bright red of her eyes shot through the twilight like a laser. When she saw who was daring to speak her name, she bared her fangs and hissed fiercely, but she did not move from the corner where she was huddled. 'Leave me,' she growled.

He moved slightly closer. Wincing, she moved herself out of her huddling position and used the wall to steady herself onto her feet. He let his hand fall to his side, just in case he needed to draw a weapon. 'Kikyo. You shouldn't stand in your current condition. You're just hurting yourself. Come with me, and we can make you better.'

Kikyo's eyes narrowed, and she grinned evilly. 'Make me better? Ren, you think I am sick?'

'No, Kikyo. I know you're sick. Look at you. You've hurt people. People close to you.'

'They were in the way. I am not sick. I do not need to be "fixed"'

Ren winced slightly. Kikyo was not yelling, but her tone was more terrifying than if she had been yelling. He was going to have to think fast, or else Kikyo might attack. 'Kikyo, we're not trying to change you. We're just trying to make sure you're not going to hurt anyone else. You're unstable.'

'Unstable? You treat me like an experiment. Like I am something to be used. And you say you are not trying to change me? Then what are you trying to do? This is what I truly am.' Kikyo's long black hair flowed dangerously in front of her eyes. 'You cannot cover me up for long with your enchantments and seals. No. I will always exist, even if you kill me.' She took a step towards Ren, her eyes glowing redder and redder. Her voice was beginning to get louder. 'I will no longer be used. I will no longer be put down. I will be powerful, I will be feared, and I will not be hidden any longer!'

By now, Kikyo was only about three feet away from where Ren stood, and he didn't dare to move, out of fear that she might attack. She looked extremely fierce, and Ren could tell that it was only a matter of time before she snapped. Then he got an idea. But it was risky. Oh well, risks are nothing new.

'You had better run, Kikyo. Because if the rest of the village gets their hands on you, they'll put you where you belong. Hokage's going to stick you in a room and never let you out. You'll be our tool, and you will never be fr-'

Ren didn't get the chance to finish the sentence, because Kikyo lunged at him, fangs reaching for his neck. With his heart beating a million times a second, he jumped backwards, narrowly dodging Kikyo. As she spun around and tried to lunge again, he reached into his pouch and drew a kunai, throwing it swiftly towards Kikyo. She sensed it coming towards her, but she did not sense the chakra that was attached to the end of the kunai. It wrapped around her body and smashed her into the wall behind her. As she slid to the ground, Ren did a couple of quick hand signs, binding Kikyo to the spot where she had landed.

Ren approached cautiously. 'Sorry, Kikyo. I have to.'

'Scum. You call yourself a friend? If you were a friend, you would let me go. You can be part of my empire. We can rule the Fire Country.'

'No. You're not my friend. Kikyo is my friend, but you're not her. You're someone else entirely. I'm going to seal you away, and I'm going to make sure you never, ever come out again.'

'You will not dare to try and seal me. It will kill you, and you know it. It will kill you, but it will not kill me.'

Ren's eyes began to fill with tears. 'Yes, it will kill me. No, it will not kill you. But if my life is the price for Kikyo's happiness, then so be it.'

Kikyo could tell that Ren was serious. She struggled against the chakra bonds, trying desperately to get free. She screamed and kicked, but she could not free herself. Meanwhile, Ren took of his kunai pouch and set it on the ground. His Konoha headband was next. He began to do hand signs, and Kikyo screamed louder. Her attempts at freedom began to get weaker, and a forcefield of chakra was beginning to envelope her body. 'No! You fool! Do not do this! No! No..'

Then she was silent. Ren fell to the ground, his breathing labored. He was scared to look at Kikyo, scared to see if the seal had worked. Shaking, he raised his head and looked into Kikyo's eyes. They were no longer red, but a bright silver. With his last ounce of strength, he struggled over to where Kikyo lay and put his headband in her hand. He laid down on the concrete floor and closed his eyes. 'Goodbye, Kikyo. You're my best friend.'

Three hours later, ANBU operatives swarmed into the room and immediately fell silent when they took in the sight in front of them. One of them stepped forward and picked up Kikyo. The headband fell from her hand and clattered to the floor. Another operative stepped forward. 'Is she alive, Kakashi?'

'Barely. We need to get her to Tsunade, right now.'

'I'll take her.'

Kakashi handed over Kikyo, and turned to Ren. He bent down and and turned Ren onto his back. 'Good bye, Ren. I promise she'll be safe.'