Chapter Seven: The Shell

InuYasha grinned confidently at Fukusyu now. I felt a surge of power; no demon had beaten us yet – and now, we had the great Sesshomaru on our side. It was not possible for any youkai to win.

Sango began to approach from one side, Hiraikotsu held high. Miroku positioned himself near her, one hand on the rosary, preparing to unleash the Wind Tunnel. Sesshomaru and InuYasha began to advance steadily, a deadly duo, Tetsusaiga and Tokijin raised.

"Rin, go join Jaken in the trees," Sesshomaru ordered, emotionless as ever, but I knew in that instant how much he cared for her. She nodded, backing up, but I noticed that she did not go much farther, keeping her eyes riveted on the demon lord's back.

I returned my attention to our opponent, the lovely demon. She raised her blade; eyes cool and calm, the mirror image of Sesshomaru's, except that hers were silver instead of golden. Reaching slowly behind me, I drew my arrow. Fukusyu was fast, but there was no way she could counter our group unharmed – particularly if I disarmed her.

I concentrated on a pink sparkle in the swirling oval of blood. Sango suddenly let fly: "Hiraikotsu!"

Fukusyu dodged, swinging her sword up to meet it – "Blood Path!" she screamed.

At the same moment, I loosed the arrow: "Hit the Mark!"

There was flash of red, pink, and silver. Then a sound that made me want to take back my actions it was horrible, so piercing. "YOU!" Fukusyu screeched. Her eyes were turning to red, her perfect nails aimed for my heart.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" InuYasha roared, leaping to my defense. The Fang swirled low, glinting in the light. Blood spattered, and I leapt backwards, shielding my eyes with my hands. When I lowered them, this was the sight before me: InuYasha, golden eyes narrowed, was standing near me, sword in hand. Fukusyu appeared to have dodged his blow, but Blood Blade lay on the ground, broken in two. A thick, crimson liquid I had grown fairly accustomed to since coming to the feudal era was leaking out in all directions. Grievous moaning sounds seeped from it and I drew back in horror.

"What…" I gasped, unable to find apt words to express my disgust.

"It is the blood of the people she has killed," Sesshomaru stated. "She captured it in her sword, and thus used the strength and blood of her victims to kill more. With each death, she became more powerful. Now it has finally come to an end, and the souls are at peace."

I shivered. One word resonated in my mind: Kikyo.

Shaking thoughts of the undead priestess from my mind, I scoured the ground with my eyes. Where had the Jewel fallen?

"Lady Kagome!" Miroku cried suddenly. "It's here…"

I ran to him quickly, grasping in my hands. It was crucial that Fukusyu did not regain it. If she did…if she had that power…I did not want to think what she would do with her thirst for vengeance.

"Die, girl," Fukusyu said, staring at me, hate shining so vividly in every aspect of her face. This time, she moved to quickly to be seen. I fell backwards, knowing in that instant what death felt like. I waited for her claws to gorge my skin; InuYasha was fast, but not quick enough. I waited for my life force to drain out of me, leaving me as empty as the old well. I waited for that all consuming darkness.

It did not come.

There was a clash and I felt something sweep in front of me. Opening my eyes a crack, I saw only a blur of unidentifiable colors. I propelled myself backwards and tried to pay attention until things were actually at a visible speed.

Sesshomaru stood there, Tokijin in hand. He stood there calmly, shielding me from the demon's rage.

She was panting in fury. "All I wanted was the girl…just the girl, Sesshomaru. Give me that and I will let them all be! What did you call her? …Yes, Rin. Give her to me…and you need not fight. Show that you are not weak by refusing to ally yourself with humans! Give her to me! I may even let her live."

A low growling sound escaped the taiyoukai's throat. I scooted away, so that I was observing this from a side angle, and I could see his eyes flashing red. "You will not touch what is mine," he hissed.

InuYasha was there then, in a single leap. "Or lay a hand on those I'm with."

Sango and Miroku slowly backed up. This was a battle for those two alone, and we all knew it.

InuYasha began closing in on Fukusyu's left, swinging the Fang powerfully as he approached. She ducked a dodged, face firm with concentration, completely distracted. Sesshomaru brought Tokijin down with a slash, and she only just avoided it. It was a sight I had only dreamed of; Sesshomaru and InuYasha united against an opponent. They worked together in perfect silence – it seemed that InuYasha had left taunting behind him in an attempt to impress his elder brother.

Fukusyu was losing. She had stopped attacking and was on defense, constantly swerving to avoid one blade and being forced into the path of another. I was wondering how long she could keep this up when it happened.

Sesshomaru brought Tokijin down in a complex pattern, leaving a swift cut across each of her cheeks. She staggered and with a single blast of Tetsusaiga, was sliced in half, reduced to body in a growing scarlet pool.

I stood up, feeling slightly let down. They had fought spectacularly, but I had almost hoped her to put up more of a fight. She was no match for the two brothers.

Half brothers, that is.

"Ha!" InuYasha shouted. Sesshomaru cocked an eyebrow, and his little brother shut up, glaring. I laughed out loud, and soon everyone aside from Rin and Sesshomaru had joined in.

"Kagome?" she asked timidly.

"Yes, Rin, what is it?"

"Kaede told me to give this to you…" she murmured, holding up a small cowry shell before dashing off to stand by Sesshomaru.

I glanced at her curiously before taking the small object in my hands. A strange sensation spread over me. Why can't I move? What's happening to me?

XOXOXOXOXOXO

"Kagome!" InuYasha yelled, watching her body grow rigid. A pink light emanated from the shell cupped between her palms. It surged into Kagome and she jerked like she was a puppet and someone was playing with the strings. Her arms spread wide, her head yanked backwards so that her strangely blank eyes were staring up at the sky. The cowry implanted itself in her forehead.

InuYasha lunged for her, but was thrown backwards by the enormous power of whatever was happening. Time after time it flowed off of her in waves. "Kagome," he whimpered, filled with terror.

There was a sudden flash of pink light so bright he had to shield his eyes. When it died, he was alone in a green field. No…not alone. He was gazing at a beautiful priestess…Kikyo.

Rage welled up inside him. "What have you done to Kagome?!" he yelled, surprising himself with his anger. I don't care anymore – if she's harmed Kagome in any way, I swear I will kill her. I did love her – but that was then. Kagome is now.

"Don't fear; Kagome is fine. InuYasha…I do not hate her," the priestess declared.

"What?!" InuYasha yelped. "You tried to kill her! Kikyo, if you've hurt her at all, I'll…"

"InuYasha, use your nose. Can you not tell that I am not the sham you and Kagome have encountered?"

The hanyou stopped. He inhaled deeply, his nose twitching. When he looked at her again, there were strange emotions swirling in his amber eyes. "Then how…?"

"Kaede, my sister, used much of her power to enchant the shell. When Kagome touched it, I was able to speak with her. Now she is lending me her strength so that I may talk to you as well. She knows that I am good – not driven by hatred, living on the dead. This, InuYasha, is the Kikyo that you knew fifty years ago."

"Why are you here?" InuYasha asked. Pain and grief weighed heavily in his words, settling onto his face and limbs.

"I have watched you since my death," Kikyo murmured. "I was torn in two when you met Kagome – but I was happy InuYasha, happy for you. I was glad that you'd found someone to love. Then the ogress took part of me. This part lingers on earth – what tried to kill you, and Kagome too. And I was angry. But there is only one thing that I have to tell you. Our time is limited…even Kagome cannot keep me here long by sheer force of will."

"What do you want to tell me?"

The priestess stepped up to him. She stretched out her hand, and her soft white fingers rested on his cheek as she said, "Our time is over, my love, but your life with Kagome is just beginning. Let go…I hate that trick, that mockery, that sham of me that Urasue created. Please…kill it, but whatever you do, stay with Kagome. Do not be afraid to love her."

"Kikyo…"

She was gone. The cowry shell tinkled to the ground, and he was back with Sesshomaru, Rin, Miroku, and Sango. Kagome was standing before him, but suddenly she crumpled to the ground. He scooped up the shell and knelt at her side.

"Inu…Yasha?" the girl croaked. With what seemed to be a massive effort, she sat up.

"Idiot," InuYasha choked out, holding her tight so that she wouldn't fall. "Don't try to move; you'll hurt yourself."

Kagome seemed to relax a little, allowing him to support her as she tried to speak. "Did…"

"Shut up!" he snapped, a little angry that she would be that stupid.

"Kikyo…did…"

"Lady Kagome, you mustn't overexert yourself," Miroku chided. He stepped towards her, but fell back after a warning growl from InuYasha reached his ears.

"Yes, she spoke to me," InuYasha told the girl in his arms. "Are you alright?"

"Yes…what did she…Kikyo…say?" Kagome reached up, her hand grasping his shoulder with all the strength she had left.

Miroku leaned closer – unfortunately for him, the hanyou noticed, and he was smacked between the eyes by the hilt of Tetsusaiga. Sango instantly picked up on it and dragged the monk away before he could get hurt worse; InuYasha needed to talk to Kagome alone. Sesshomaru and Rin followed in silence.

"She told me…" the half demon gulped. "She told me to let go of her…that it was okay for me to love you…and to kill the thing in her body here in this world."

A soft smile broke out on Kagome's face. "I…" her strength failed. Her grip tightened on his kimono. He held her closer as she tried again. "I love…you…InuYasha…."

"Kagome…I love you too…you know that…"

Her hand moved up to caress his cheek for a moment before her head fell back and she collapsed.

"Kagome!"

There was no response.

"Please Kagome…wake up…"

Nothing. Her chest had stopped heaving.

"Kagome!"

XOXOXOXO

Hello! Yes, I know, a short cliffie chapter – the worst kind. Sorry about that.

I know that things in this story are moving quickly. It's the way I write. If you people want, I will try to add more peaceful moments, make everything drag out longer…opinions?

Thank you so much my oh-so-wonderful reviewers!!!!!!!!! Until next time!