DISCLAIMER: I do not own Inuyasha or any of it's characters. They all belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
Meanwhile, Kagome was in a strange place.
- Where in the world am I?
There was a river, like the one she had seen a few minutes ago, but it was not as beautiful; it was muddy and refilled in red. Even the landscape was different, more rough and sad, all in colors of red and brown. She was standing on the border of the riverbank in front of a boat, an old one. Inside there were many empty seats, and starring at her was a demon. He was inside the boat, and he was calling her name, repeatedly.
But, was it really the demon? That voice… seemed different… like she knew the owner… could it be…
She glanced around.
- Inuyasha? – she asked, afraid of the question. Then she saw her.
Behind her, a few yards away, was Kikyo, starring at her while walking in her direction.
-Kagome. – she said.
-Kikyo? Is that you? – said Kagome, stepping away from the boat, and going in her direction. The demon at the boat growled behind her, in disappointment.
As soon as she approached Kikyo, both of them stopped, and she noticed something was different.
- Kikyo? Is it really you?
- Yes, it's me.
- What are you doing here?
- I'm dead, Kagome…
- Yes, I know that… but this you seem more real… more solid…
Kikyo sadly smiled.
- That's right. I'm about to cross over… forever…
- Are you alone, here? Does Inuyasha know where you are? He went looking for you two days ago…
- You can't remember anything, can you, Kagome?
- What? Should I be remembering something? – she asked, in surprise. – By the way, do you know where we are? I mean, I want to get out as soon as possible, you know? I don't want to interrupt nothing between Inuyasha and you… I really don't want to see him, right now…
- Kagome… - Kikyo said, in a calm voice. – Naraku attacked you. This is the passage way for the dead to the border between the worlds. That is the boat who will take me to the other side.
Kagome's eyes were wide open.
- You mean… you mean… I'm dead?
- No, you're not dead. You are still struggling… because your time is not now…
- Hum? What do you mean, not now?
- Can't you hear him? How he pleads for you to wake up…
- You… you're not talking about… about Inuyasha, are you?
Kikyo smiled. A sad smile.
- Kagome, I did send out word for Inuyasha to find me… but there was a reason to do that…
- A reason I definitely don't wanna hear, ok? – said Kagome, turning around from her. She was sure that when she heard it, she would break down, and into tears, in front of the only person she didn't wish to see right now.
- Kagome… I wanted to say goodbye… to him…
She turned around again. Kikyo was starring at her seriously.
- My time in this world had ended when Naraku attacked me, to try and take the Jewel of Four Souls. I died then, but Urasue, the witch, brought me back to life, in a mere shell. There were no more feelings left… only hate… and despair… then you came… Suddenly, my place in Inuyasha's heart was being replaced… I was even angrier… I wanted to go back in time, after I get to know the truth about Naraku… wanting to go back to the way things were… when I was with him and there was no you…
Kagome was listening, amazed by the situation. Kikyo was opening her heart to her.
- But then, when I wanted to get Inuyasha's heart back, you were already there. In the place that had been mine, that was supposed to be mine. And even when I tried with all my strength to remove you from there, I couldn't… you were still there. And then I realized… that I couldn't replace you…
- What do you mean...? – Kagome asked, scared of the answer. – What are you trying to say, Kikyo?
- Inuyasha loves you, Kagome… he has been in love with you for a long time, now…
- That's not true…
- What?
- That's not true… you're the one Inuyasha loves… you are always in his mind…
- Kagome, have you never heard about "more than what meets the eye"?
- Hum…yes, I know the saying… but…
- You only see what you want to see… you don't dare to see further because you're afraid you'll get hurt, is that not true? You don't have to be so scared…
Kagome remained silence. Even though she still didn't want to believe her… something there made sense…
Her name was said again, like it was said far away, from a long distance. There was more than just one voice, she could tell. But there was one that she could easily see that was more impatient than the others.
Kagome looked at Kikyo. She was staring at the boat.
- I've been called. I must go. The boat doesn't wait for no one… and they are also calling you, can't you hear?
- Kikyo…
The dead priestess looked at her and said, smiling softly:
- Kagome, you've made a miracle out of Inuyasha. You were able to love him, and understand him in a way I never could… Please, never let go of him. Because you loved him by what and who he is, he was also able to love you… don't make the same mistakes I've made… don't try to change him… When I first met you, I believed faith was giving me another chance to correct my mistakes… but that wasn't true at all. You were given the chance of meeting him, knowing him and falling in love with him, accepting him by who he is. You love the good and the bad about him, and that's what makes you so special to him…
Kagome and Kikyo locked hands, in a final goodbye. Kagome was feeling herself being pulled apart from Kikyo. The voices were getting stronger and closer to her as she went up…
- I'm scared… I know I've hurt him … how can I face him? … - Kagome said, in a scared voice.
- You can do it. – Kikyo said, smiling. Kagome was floating in the space, the only bond between them were their hands. – If it's you, I'm sure you can… take the chance, ok?...
- Kikyo, thank you for everything…
- Just remember to tell Inuyasha I'm grateful for the place he chose… and that I'm sorry, for all the things I've done… goodbye, Kagome… be happy, for me, with Inuyasha…
- It's not goodbye, Kikyo… - Kagome said, with tears in her eyes, surprising the dead priestess. – We will definitely see each other again so… I'll see you later…
Kikyo smiled, also crying, touched by Kagome's words. She was forgiving her.
- Yes… see you later…