They were gone a long time.
The moon was at its zenith when InuYasha pushed the reed mat aside and ushered Kagome in. Both were solemn, unspeaking.
Kagome seated herself next to Sango, her face calm and expressionless. InuYasha shocked them all when he took his place behind the young woman, close against her back, his knee drawn up beside her, his arm carelessly thrown over it.
His golden eyes warned against untoward comments. No one said a word.
Clearly something had changed between them. The overt possessiveness of the hanyou, coupled with the quiet acceptance of the young miko, made this plain.
Kaede made to speak, but InuYasha beat her to it.
Fixing a cool glare on Kikyo he asked, "We left questions unanswered. I want them, now. Start talking."
No one had ever heard him take that tone with the undead miko before. But tonight had tipped the scales of many situations, and how each would play out remained to be seen.
Kikyo did not miss the signals he was sending. She saw beyond the casual pose he held. His raised knee was between her and Kagome, and the arm that dangled carelessly thereon bore lethal claws, glinting in the firelight. It was a subtle, staged effect. Quiet, yet it screamed with warning. Kikyo was on the other side, now.
Well, it's too late for pride and posturing; she thought and gave him a respectful nod. "Miroku and Kaede are correct. Traveling together is the best plan to complete your training quickly and thoroughly."
She held up a hand at the question the slayer started. "I don't know how long that will be. That's up to Kagome and InuYasha, and how the shard hunt goes."
Sango narrowed her eyes at the cutoff, but subsided.
"Do you intend to remain with us after their training is complete?" Miroku asked.
InuYasha hissed in warning. Kikyo was quick to answer. "I have no intention of interfering beyond my purpose as mentor. The hunt is yours, and I will gladly cede it to you."
"There is a deeper concern," Kaede intoned. She looked firmly from the hanyou to Kagome, ensuring they understood the seriousness of her words before turning to Kikyo. "Kagome is missing part of her soul, sister. A part that you hold. I wonder that she will attain her full power without it."
And there it was. The unspoken question everyone wanted to know. When would she die and let Kagome be whole again? Once, she might have raged at the injustice of it all. But she had finally come to terms with her purpose and responsibilities, and had learned to accept fault for her failings.
Kikyo sat straight and tall and met InuYasha eye for eye. "When your training has progressed to the point that you have both mastered the techniques you need I will release this bit of soul back to Kagome. I state this as my vow."
"Won't…won't that mean you'll die?" Shippo asked, curious about the answer but fearful of angering the inu hanyou that remained silent and watchful.
Kikyo sighed. "Yes, it does. But I am ready to be done with this half-life. Perhaps the next will prove better. It-it is clear that I have a long way to go."
She waited then, for InuYasha to accept or reject her proposal. He looked fierce enough to demand she return Kagome's soul now, and damned with the training.
Kagome took that moment to shift subtly. Just a small turn of her head towards his shoulder, eyes downcast. But it was enough. The hanyou bared a fang in deadly promise to the undead miko even as he gave a single, sharp nod.
There would be no backing out. She would return the soul as promised, or he would take it by force. Of that Kikyo had no doubt.
XXXXXXXXXXxx
It was done. Far faster than Kikyo had imagined, and with far more powerful results as well. Whatever had passed between the hanyou and Kagome that night had made the difference, of that she was sure.
They were focused, attentive and completely determined to let nothing stop them from their goal. And now, she had taught them all she knew, and it was time.
From here on out, they were on their own. But Naraku had an ugly surprise waiting for him when he finally moved against the tachi. There was only one thing left to do.
Late on a beautiful fall morning Kikyo and Kagome removed themselves a little away from the others. They sat across from one another in a bright meadow surrounded by the season's deepening colors. The younger miko had been instructed on what to do and to expect, although there was no sure answer about the latter.
Kikyo had enjoyed one last sunrise, watched the light sparkling off the water in a tiny brook, and watched a doe and her suitor wander through the very meadow she now sat in. It was a good day to say goodbye.
The night previous, she had said her final words to InuYasha, and he to her. There had been remarkably few of them. They had worked through a lot in the weeks previous, and parted on good terms. Even now, the hanyou perched in a tree within easy leaping distance. Keeping watch, protecting. But it was no longer Kikyo to whom he was devoted.
They would be fine, she had no doubt. The outcome was certain. This was their story after all, what they had been born to do. Her vision had shown her true, and it was time for the next step. She was ready.
She held out her hands, and Kagome laid her own in them. Kikyo shared one last reassuring smile with her reincarnation, and gladly let go. It was done, and each moved on towards their futures.
XXXXXXXXXXXxx
And this concludes my Trust my Betrayal series. I'm so sorry it took over two years to finish, but I hope it was worth the wait.
If you're wondering if you missed a chapter (or if I did) the answer is NO. Betrayal is complete in the order posted. Are you wondering about that secret conversation between InuYasha and Kagome?
Well, you'll have to wait a bit to find out. I'm working on it (among other things) and will post it once it's done. Be sure to follow me as an author so you'll get the update for it (I intend to post it as a separate one shot, not connected with the Betrayal chapters).
I also have three InuYasha AU (modern) stories finished and ready to post. Look for the first chapter of the first one next Friday.
Don't forget to review!
