Inu Yasha turned his back on the Miko. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, meanwhile feeling the cold desperate stare of his dead lover searing the flesh between his shoulder blades.
"What does this mean, my love?" said her monotone voice.
"What it means" began Inu Yasha. What I mean is you torture me eternally; I want with you what I know I can never have, and every time I grasp at it I hurt the one who deserves the world. He wanted to yell this at Kikyou. He wanted to shriek profanities at her for ruining his life at every opportunity. But, he realized, it was not her fault. In fact, none of this was her fault. "I'm no longer your lover, Kikyou. I now only pray that you can pass on and leave both our tortured souls in peace."
"You say tortured as though you have been through what I have been through, felt what I have felt. I feel no more. I am numb to the passing of time on the mortal plain. You act as though you have been to Hell. You know nothing of Hell." Kikyou's bitter voice cut his dignity to ribbons. "As long as you live, I will hold you to your promise."
Oh, how he resented that promise, his promise to return to Hell with Kikyou. As long as he walked this Earth and did not lie beneath it he would be haunted by her presence. All his happiness in life would be shadowed by her sorrow.
Grief and indecision rolled off him in waves, and his voice cracked with tears. "Please…please, just understand this. I loved you for so long…ever so long…but…I can't waste my life like I did our love. Please understand me, Kikyou."
Kikyou's solemn voice was laced with wistfulness. "I long so much for the love you share with my reincarnate. I yearn to give you the pure love that only an untainted soul can convey. Mine has been poisoned with death and hate. Protect her innocence and cherish her love as you could not for me." With this Kikyou knelt on the ground and placed her hand on the dirt. Her haori began to wear away, and her ivory skin turned ashen. "Live Inu Yasha, the way I was forbidden." Her form dissolved into ash and souls, and the summer breeze blew through the clearing, scattering them into the forest and sky. "Live."
She had freed him from his promise. He was free. Free to do what he would with his life. Free from guilt. She had brought up feelings he never knew he had for his dear Kagome.
Kagome's scent of thunderstorms and poppy fields flew past his nose on the whimsical gust of wind. For once he was grateful she had stumbled in on one of his encounters with Kikyou. His last.
Joyful tears leaked down her face. She had seen everything. She burst through the foliage and threw herself into his arms.
"Thank you so much" she whispered.
He embraced her, and then stepped back. "I'm sorry for all those times-" she put a finger to his lips.
"I love you Inu Yasha."
He was shocked by her statement. But slowly his expression turned from surprise into utter and complete happiness.
"I think…I know I love you too." She kissed him lightly, and he laughed at her blush.
"Let us walk to Kaede-Baba's house." He said.
"Yes, let's." she agreed.
They walked the rest of the way to Kaede's hut holding hands and laughing. But just after they left the confines of Inu Yasha's forest he turned his head to stare up at the tree which had held his imprisoned soul for 50 years.
"Thank you, Kikyou." Was all he said, and they walked on.