Inuyasha stood up. The beautiful woman smiled at him. Her face showed relief. He slowly walked to her.

"Kikyo," He whispered. She extended her arms and the half demon fell into them. He inhaled her scent, she smelled of fresh earth. They stayed clutching each other for sometime before the woman pulled away.

"I missed you, Inuyasha. We have a lot to talk about." He nodded and took her hand. They walked outof the forest, away from the village she had grown up in.

They walked for hours. Inuyasha felt transported back in time. Before Onigumo, before the tragedy that left him pinned to the tree and Kikyo dead.

"How are you here? They said you died the same day I was pinned to the tree." She nodded. "I did, Naraku made sure I paid for what I did to you and Onigumo." There was the awkward silence.

"Why did you do that? I thought we were going to get married Kikyo. I thought you loved me, only me." Inuyasha pulled away from the cold woman. For the first time he realized her skin was as cold as ice.

"I was under a spell. Inuyasha Onigumo was no ordinary bandit. He was able to perform spells that would blind his victims. When I was with him, I forgot about everyone. Kaede, my mother, even you. I only saw him. Once I would leave, the veil was once again lifted and my love for you returned. Everytime. I even forgot about what he was doing. When you walked into the cave I had no real idea what I was doing. What I was doing to you."

She turned to Inuyasha and tried for his hand. "You are the one I wanted to wed. The one I still want to be with." The man hurried into her arms. Embracing the past, wanting her as much as he did the day he was trapped on that tree. After a long moment he pulled away from her shoulder. He stood up straight and looked down into her beautiful eyes. The image of Kagome flashed behind his eyes. He flinched for a moment, but leaned forward and kissed the preistess.

The sun began to set. Kikyo became uneasy. They had spent the entire day in each others arms. Not talking much.

"What is it? Are you cold, you feel freezing." Inuyasha began to take of his Robe, but she shook her head.

"Inuyasha, I must leave before the sun sets." She looked at the ground in sadness, a tear escaping her eye and running down her cheek. Inuyasha wiped it away with his kiss.

"No you don't. Just stay here. Stay with me, it doesn't matter anymore." He tried to wrap his arms around her but she leaned away.

"You don't understand. Inuyasha, I have been resurrected. I was made whole again in all ways but one. My soul is missing. I must live on the souls or other women who have passed until I can have mine returned to me. Those are the serpents that have been gathering around. They are my souls."

Inuyasha looked around, he had forgotten about them when he found Kikyo. They were all over. Surrounding them, going in circles around them over and over. With that realization came the other one. He knew exactly where Kikyos soul was. He had a choice right then.

He had all but forgotten the young girl from the well. The girl who was Kikyos equal in beauty but was so different in all other ways. Ways that he was beginning to like. Kikyo took his silence for the end of their conversation.

"I must save my energy for the evening when the souls come plenty. I will miss you, my Inuyasha. Please forgive me." She stood up and walked towards the forest. He nodded and sat there awhile longer.

Kagome woke up and looked around. Only to discover he had not come back. She tried to go about her morning, but all she could think about was what he was doing. Shippo asked her at breakfast if she would like to pick flowers with him afterwards so she figured it was something to keep her busy.

"What are we picking the flowers for Shippo?" Kagome asked as she held a small bouquet. Shippo had all sorts of flowers in a huge basket.

"For my father. I want to visit today." He said and continued on picking. She shrugged and helped. After the basket and their hands were overflowing the young Fox demon decided that was enough and told Kagome to follow him.

She obliged and hurried on. They spent the entire afternoon walking. They finally came upon a boneyard. Kagome gasped, the entire village had been burned to the ground. Bones lay scattered everywhere as did large mounds she realized were graves.

Shippo hopped alond the rundown path laying flowers everywhere. Kagome wandered slowly, dropping a flower here and there. At the end of the path there was the young fox demon. He was sitting in front of a huge handmade gravemarker. There were flowers everywhere. Some dead, some wilting, some fresh.

"Shippo," was all Kagome could say. Shippo turned to her with tears in his eyes.

"Naraku." was all he could say.