A/N: I know that in the last chapter, there was some confusion, but Kagome is NOT Kikyo now and she will never become Kikyo. Kagome merely became acquainted with the part of Kikyo that was in her soul. Kagome only said that she was Kikyo to come to terms with being Kikyo's re-incarnate. I hope that this cleared it all up for everyone. However, I need some reviews because I am not sure what direction I want to take the whole Kagome/Inuyasha relationship. Read on!
Chapter 2: Kagome's dream.
Kagome was walking in a field of the most beautiful flowers, but when she turned around and saw a tree too big to be real, she realized that she was only dreaming. 'This is all too real for a dream though' thought Kagome. Kagome began to wonder if she was seeing or re-living something from Kikyo's past. When Kagome turned back to face the flowers, Kikyo was there. Kikyo waved to Kagome and then said, "Come see for yourself how Inuyasha betrayed me."
Kagome followed her to the place where Inuyasha attacked Kikyo more than 50 years ago, when he stole the Shikon jewel. Kagome watched as the events from that day so long ago replayed before her eyes. Kagome looked at the person who attacked Kikyo and even though he resembled Inuyasha, there was something strange about the attacker, 'he just looks strange, this is not the Inuyasha that I know. Has he really changed that much?' .then Kagome realized "Inuyasha has silver hair, and the person who attacked you had white hair, so he couldn't have attacked you. It just simply wasn't him, it wasn't Inuyasha."
Kikyo turned around and faced Kagome "so Inuyasha never really betrayed me after all?"
Kagome just shook her head.
"I'm so glad that I didn't kill him" Kikyo said her eyes welling with tears, "he was innocent and I tried to kill him." Kikyo walked over to the large tree and sat in the shade underneath. Kagome went over and sat with her.
"Kikyo do you think its weird that you and I share the same soul?"
Kikyo looked up at her with a startled expression " not really because the soul is a reincarnate, meaning I passed on before you were even born, the only way a reincarnation goes wrong is when your soul is reincarnated before it has passed on and made peace. I'm sorry but I just can't stop thinking of the prophesy" Kikyo said turning to face Kagome, "in the shrine in my village, there is a tile on the floor that has the names of the people who built it. Lift it and you will find a scroll of the prophesy. The prophesy tells of a Hanyou and a Miko who would restore peace to the feudal era and stop the evil demons who wish to destroy the earth." Kikyo looked down at her lap a look of shame spreading across her face ."I only gave into Inuyasha because I thought it was me in the prophesy, but I know now that it is you. You are the miko and Inuyasha is the Hanyou. I never before understood why if it were me it portrayed a miko not a priestess, but you must be the fabled one."
"What does that mean?" Kagome asked.
"It means that you can restore peace to this land and stop all the evil taking over and corrupting this peaceful world, and in turn release Inuyasha from his commitments to me. I don't even think I ever really loved him." Kikyo said turning away from Kagome. Kagome laid her hand on Kikyo's shoulder
"It's alright Kikyo"
"But I thought I had to be with him, I understand now that I was not the one, at least not in my lifetime."
"What commitments do you mean Kikyo?"
"Inuyasha promised that he would always be there for me, that he would follow me into hell if I so desired. When you are strong enough to, release me and in doing so release Inuyasha."
After a long pause, Kagome asked, "what do I have to do?"
"Go to my sister Kaede and obtain my arrows, then pierce the heart of the empty shell of my body that still walks the earth. Destroy my body, and then set it on fire. When you burn my body a small object will form, it will look similar to a jewel shard. When you have taken it from my ashes, place it under the skin of your left hand and you will gain all my archery skills. Once you have taken in a part of me I will no longer be whole, meaning no one can resurrect me from my ashes. Then my remains would be safe in the gravesite my sister had made. When my ashes are returned to my grave for my sister to care for, I will release Inuyasha."
Kagome nodded then asked, "Did Inuyasha love you?"
"Like he loved his mother," Kikyo said taking a deep breath "he told me he loved me and that he wanted to spend an eternity with me. Inuyasha said all those things but he never had any desire to mate or marry me or anything like that. He loved me but it was the love of comrades or friends not the kind of feelings that he would hold for a lover."
"Mate you? What does that mean?" Kagome said leaning forward to see Kikyo's face.
"Inuyasha said once that when he found the right woman instead of getting married, he would mate her. He said that it was like the way his animal brethren would. He said that he would mark his woman and she would be his, forever. You can never remove the mark of a demon the only release is death. Apparently, it is similar to being married but there is no exit for either party, you know no divorce. There was some love there but not the kind I wished for." Kikyo stood and began to walk into the depths of the forest "love him Kagome, and know when he dreams, he may say my name but he sees your face."
"Why?" Kagome said jumping up.
Kikyo turned around at the edge of the clearing "Kagome, he was allowed to love me. If someone came after me, it was my responsibility to protect myself. If Inuyasha admits to the world that he loves you, you will become a target. Inuyasha has made it his duty to protect you. When you have taken in a part of me and you gain my skills, go to my sister and have her train you."
"What will training do?"
"you will learn to protect yourself, then not only will you be a worthwhile mate, you will be more valuable in the search for the shards of the shikon jewel then anyone ever thought you could be." then Kikyo disappeared into the woods.
"But Kikyo I have so many questions left to be answered!" Kagome shouted as she fell to her knees.
Next chapter: the rebirth of Inuyasha.