Chapter 8
Inuyasha and Sango looked at the curtain barrier operating the modest hut from the outside and struggled to get up as Shippo shouted and screamed. At that moment, one of Kikyo's soul collectors appeared, looked at Inuyasha, and flew through the wall to the outside. Several more of the demons repeated the action. "Let me go you stupid demon," they heard Shippo shout. Both of the wounded warriors gained their feet, Kerala was hissing and ran outside, clearly angry at what was happening. "Sango, I need to go see Kikyo. I have to know if Naraku was telling the truth." The look Sango gave him was icy. "Inuyasha, you can't defend yourself, f you go she may kill you." Inuyasha shook his head, and replied, "The fact her soul collectors are here shows she knows exactly where we are hiding. If she was going to attack us, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now." Sango lowered her eyes, acknowledging the half demon's logic. "Let's go then," she said. She gasped as Inuyasha pulled her into a hug, his chest bare save for the blood stained bandages. He rested his chin on top of her head, smelling in the sent of her hair. The slayer returned the embrace. "I need to go alone. I don't know how she would react if she saw me come with one of you guys, and you need to rest. I'll be back soon." He could feel her shaking her head no. "I'm coming, she won't see me. We are supposed to protect one another in case you've forgotten." She disengaged herself and picked up her sword. Inuyasha watched and knew he couldn't make the stubborn woman listen, so he turned and walked outside, Sango in tow. Shippo was wrapped up by a collector, and he started shouting at his two friends to stay, to not go. "Kiralla, stay here and guard Shippo," Sango called to her faithful feline companion.
The two slowly followed the collectors into a small stand of trees. Sango stayed just outside the tree ring, and knelt behind some bushes. Her body was wracked with pain, and was grateful for the stop, her mind however was alert to her surroundings and she waited and watched as Inuyasha followed the collectors to a large oak. Out of the thin air, Kikyo's artificial body faded into view among the branches.
"Inuyasha," the undead priestess purred. "You're alive I see. I'm glad." "Kikyo," Inuyasha shouted. "Did you give Naraku the shards you stole from Kagome?" Kikyo smiled. "Yes, I did. Of my own free will." Sango watched as Inuyasha's shoulders slumped at the confession. "Why Kikyo. Do you hate me that much?" Kikyo laughed, but there was no joy in the sound. "Why you ask? Very well, I will tell you. I will use the Sacred Jewel to destroy Naraku, even as I use Naraku to destroy your so called friends. You, a half demon, are an unnatural perversion just as I, an undead woman am. We have no place in this world. We both violate nature's laws by our very existence. When I was alive I wanted you to use the jewel to become human, to atone for your blighted and unnatural existence. Then I could also become and normal woman, and love you as a human man. However that chance was stollen from me when Naraku stole my life. Thus it is, that when all the joy you have in this life becomes ashes, everyone you care about is buried in the ground and the sorrow and despair consume you, you will come to me. And I will take you with me, to the underworld where we will be together for all time. Your life belongs to me. I will never let Naraku slay you. However, your so called friends must be removed. Every connection you have to this world will be cut. And then," the dead woman said, her gaze intense. "And then, your perverted existence in this world will end, and you will be mine. Eternally embraced by sorry and darkness." Kikyo's body then slowly faded away from the branches.
Inuyasha stood there, looking at the tree, looking at where the thing that looked so much like the woman he loved was. He jumped slightly when he felt Sango take his hand. "Inuyasha…". He looked at Sango, his eyes shining with unshed tears. Sango had no words to offer him. She simply held his hand. After a while she said, "Inuyasha, lets go to the spring." He looked at the slayer, her eyes were downcast but he could see a slight blush on her cheeks. "We could both use a bath. And I want you to know Kikyo is wrong. You have a place in this world. With me. Let's go." Slowly they walked towards the nearby hot spring they knew of.
Once they arrived at the shoreline Inuyasha turned his back to Sango. "Go ahead and get in Sango, I'll keep an eye out. I promise not to look." His keen ears heard the sound of Sango's kimono fall to the ground. "Inuyasha," she replied softly. "I want you to look." He blushed as he felt her hands go to his shoulders. Sango gently turned him around, facing her now nude body. She looked into his golden eyes and reached up to kiss him. "I love you, Inuyasha," she said after the kiss, her body pressed up against his. "Kikyo was wrong. You have a place in this world. With me. If you will have me." Inuyasha looked into the deep brown eyes of the woman holding him. At that moment, the fears, pain, and doubts he had carried with him all his life fell away. He put his arms around Sango, and kissed her, the hot spring forgotten by both of them.
