The next day the group wasted no time in continuing their search for jewel shards. Some of the villagers were worried that the demon would attack again, but Inuyasha assured them they were safe. A few even begged for them to stay one more day. Of course that did nothing and in the end they left.

Their journey was surprisingly peaceful. Inuyasha and Miroku walked in front while the girls were behind them, talking and joking around. For Hikari, it had been too long since she had a good time with friends. She was only fooling herself it could last.

Even if I did tell them the truth, nothing will matter in the end. Hikari thought.

"Hikari.".

Hikari looked up and saw that everyone was looking at her. She hadn't realized she had stopped walking.

"Are you all right?" Inuyasha asked.

Hikari smiled. "I'm fine. Nothing to worry about." She continued walking.

Inuyasha just shrugged it off, but the others weren't convinced. No one pushed the subject though.

They walked for a few more hours until they came to a village. Miroku glanced around then headed to a nice looking hut; the others followed. There was an older man sweeping the porch.

"Excuse me sir." Mirko said; the man looked at him. "I don't mean to disturb you, but I sense an evil presence in this house."

The man look frightened. "Really? I had no idea. Can you do something?"

"But I don't-" Hikari started to say, but Miroku quickly covered her mouth.

"Of course I can do something and all I request in return is a place to stay and some food."

"Sure, sure. Anything just as long as you get rid of whatever evil there is."

Miroku nodded and while still covering Hikari's mouth, entered the house. Once inside, Hikari pushed Miroku away.

"Why did you do that? There's nothing here."

"Of course there's nothing here." Inuyasha said.

"Miroku tends to make it up so we have a nice place to stay with decent food." Kagome explained.

Hikari looked at Miroku. "And you call yourself a monk?"

Miroku shrugged. Then he went around pretending to cleanse the house while Hikari mumbled something about dishonesty.

"Why are you so annoyed by it?" Inuyasha asked. "It's not like he's hurting anyone."

"Because he's lying just to benefit himself."

"Again, why are you so annoyed? This kind of stuff wouldn't usually bother you."

Hikari sighed. "Just forget it."

Despite Hikari being irritated with what Miroku did, she did eat the food for their 'payment.' For awhile they were all joking around and having a good time, but then the conversation turned serious when they started wondering where the other jewel shards could be and where Naraku was hiding. Naraku had the most shards so the others had to get the rest before he did and figure out a way to stop him.

"We would probably have to get rid of his reincarnations first." Hikari said. "He sends them out to fight for him. Kagura is such a pain to fight."

"Hikari, I thought you haven't met Naraku or his reincarnations before?" Kagome asked.

"I…haven't. I just assumed she was a pain to fight after hearing you guys talk about her. I'm going to go for a walk." She then stood up and left.

"She's hiding something."

"Do you think she's lying about knowing Naraku?" Sango asked.

"Why would she lie about that?" Inuyasha asked.

"There wouldn't be any reason for her to lie." Shippo said. "Would there?"

Outside, Hikari sat under a tree. So many times she had wished she was younger again. Things seemed to be easier. Sure, the towns people never did like her or her brother because they were half demons, but she never faced the problems she had now.

Many times she had dreamed of her mother, wishing she was there to help with her with her problems. She sometimes found herself crying after the dreams. Of course she never told Inuyasha about it. She didn't want to appear weak especially in front of him.

Her mind soon drifted off to a day long ago. A day that she always regretted and wished so many times that she could change it.

Hikari sat at the top of the hill, looking down at her brother and the priestess Kikyo. She was happy for them really, but she had a feeling it would never last. The couple talked for a few more minutes than Kikyo went off somewhere. Inuyasha glanced up and, noticing his sister, went and sat by her.

"It's decided." He said.

"That's what you truly want?" Hikari asked, staring at the ground.

"It is. Listen Hikari, no matter what happens you're still going to be my sister."

"The thing with humans are that they eventually die." Hikari looked at Inuyasha. "You become human and I will lose you."

Inuyasha was silent for a moment before he said, "You will still have another sibling."

Hikari laughed. "You know how Sesshomaru is. Even if we are his siblings, he doesn't care about us. You are the only family I have."

"Maybe the jewel is powerful enough to make you human too."

"Why would I want to be human?"

"You would be able to fit in."

"Is that why you're doing this? To fit in? If people can't accept me for who I am then I don't need them and I don't need to change who I am just to please people."

"I'm doing it for Kikyo. I love her."

Hikari rolled her eyes. "Of course."

"Don't start that again. You can't understand because you've never been in love before."

Hikari stood up and glared. "I understand perfectly. You're just like her servant, willing to do anything for her without question."

Inuyasha also stood. "You're just jealous."

"Jealous of what? Being in love with a human? Or lowering myself to their level?"

"Lowing yourself to their level? Now you're starting to sound like Shessomaru."

"If you want to become human and die like one then go right ahead. Don't come crawling to me in your old age saying you made a mistake."

"I won't. This is what I want and I won't change my mind."

"You choose her over your own sister? Once you become human you are no longer my brother." She then took off running.

Hikari didn't stop until she was far from the village. In anger, she punched a tree. She felt betrayed. How could he choose to be human? Hikari never was keen on the idea of Inuyasha becoming full demon, but if he did then at least she still would have her brother.

She spent a few days travelling around with no destination in mind. As she travelled, she calmed down and soon realized she was wrong and Inuyasha was right; she hated that. Inuyasha was right when he said she was jealous. She was jealous of both him and Kikyo because they were in love, something Hikari had never felt before.

Sighing, she knew what she had to do. She started heading back to the village to apologize to Inuyasha and to wish him and Kikyo the best.

As she made her way closer she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She kept thinking that someone was following her, but when she would look around she didn't see anyone. She also didn't sense anyone around so she figured she was just making it up. She was nervous on how Inuyasha was going to greet her.

Soon Hikari came to a sight that made her heart stop. Pinned to a tree was her brother. She went up to her and tried shaking him awake, but nothing happened. She also tried taking the arrow out, but of course she couldn't. Hikari knew only one person who could do this.

"Where is she?" Hikari asked when she walked into the village. "Where's Kikyo?"

No one said anything.

"Answer me."

"Hikari."

Hikari turned around and saw Kaede who had a sad look. Hikari knew something was wrong.

"Kikyo…she's gone."

"What?"

"It happened earlier today. Inuyasha attacked Kikyo and tried to make off with the Shikon jewel. Kikyo pinned him to the tree."

"That doesn't make any sense. Inuyasha would never."

"Demons and half demons are all the same." One villager said. "They can't be trusted and shouldn't be allowed to live with humans."

Hikari glared at him. "Maybe we would be nicer if humans didn't treat us so differently. Not all of us are bad."

Later that day, they held a funeral for Kikyo. Hikari still couldn't believe what happened. She knew how much Inuyasha loved Kikyo. He would never hurt her.

"What are you going to do now?" Kaede asked.

Hikari watched the flames for a while before she spoke. "I don't know, but I can't stay here."

After Kikyo's ashes were buried, Hikari said good bye to Kaede then headed off. She couldn't stay any longer. As she passed by Inuyasha, she glanced at him. He looked so peaceful like he was sleeping.

"Don't worry, Inuyasha, I'm going to make things right."

Hikari had tried to set things right, but to no avail. She blamed herself for what had happened. Maybe if she came back sooner she could have done something. Or maybe if she didn't have that fight with Inuyasha and she had stayed. Hikari didn't know for sure and there was no use trying to change what happened in the past. All she knew was she had to make amends now.

The breeze picked up and with it came the scent of a demon. She stood as she looked around. She saw nothing at first, but when she turned around she saw a man in a baboon outfit. Hikari prepared for whatever was about to happen.