The entire flashback of chapter will be written in Inuyasha's point of view to avoid confusion , Enjoy!

Ch9

I know that one day, you will meet someone who will care for you as much as I have. Promise me that you will never let them go!

Inuyasha raised his sword to the side of his face. It was still in its rusty form. As he got closer however; the object began to glow. It was a glow that he had never seen before but he gave little thought of it and continued with his action. Kikyo closed her eyes and awaited her fate. Twisting his body to the side, he swung the blade with everything he had.

(SLICE!)

Liquid flew into the air. In that split second, everything seemed to flash before the young demon's eyes.

Oooooooooooooooooooooo

'That is the temple, where might this priestess be,' I thought as I watched the tiny hut through the bushes, making sure to erase my presence.

"Kikyo-oneesama," I heard a child say from the stairway that led to the temple.

"What is it Kaede?" a woman replied.

I squinted slightly and saw a figure's head come above the path. Few seconds later, a child jumped up on to the final step as well.

"Why is it that you choose to protect the jewel?" the girl asked.

"Whatever do you mean Kaede?" Kikyo raised her brow at the child with amusement toward her innocence.

"Well, both mother and father died trying to protect it and now you are risking your very life to protect it as well…why? The demons want it for evil and it brings nothing but bad fortune. Why not just destroy it forever?"

"Tell me Kaede, are you willing to destroy it then?"

"I would if it was up to me."

"Then you are willing to destroy the will of your mother and father as well?"

"I…" the girl stuttered and looked confused.

"Mother and Father both sacrificed themselves so that the jewel is protected, not destroyed. Our family has protected this jewel for generations, to keep it safe. We know little to none about this jewel's true potentials but if our ancestors must have had some good reason to have kept it for so many centuries."

The small girl looked down with shame on her face. "I am sorry sister."

"You are still young, Kaede. Do not trouble your head with such thoughts. Leave the headaches for me and you enjoy your life," Kikyo smiled.

I felt something then. It was like someone had struck my heart with a taiko stick. The gentleness of her voice, the eyes of wisdom, and the smile…how beautiful it was. "Kikyo," I had whispered unintentionally.

"Who's there!" the woman brought up her bow and her smile was immediately replaced by stern focus.

I jumped away. My body simply reacted that way. My entire life was running away since I vowed never to kill another human. Each time a weapon was aimed at me, I had to run.

My feet took me a small distance. I stopped after making sure that I was not followed. 'What was that,' I thought, grabbing my chest that was still pounding like I had just ran over a mountain. Shaking my head, I decided to focus on my task.

'The jewel of four souls, said to be able to grant any wish. From what I heard, this jewel does exist and it indeed looks like it holds some power. If what that man said was true then I must have it. The priestess is skilled. Very skilled. It will not be easy if possible at all to get it without her noticing.'

As I continued to try to come up with an idea in how to obtain the jewel, my mind would constantly wander to a tangent thought. Her smile. It would always come back to me. Why? What was it about this human that stuck with me so much?

The following day, I awoke with the same thought on my mind as when I had closed my eyes the night before. I made my way back to the temple and found a new hiding spot for staking out. 'I will have to break my vow,' I thought, 'the girl must die if I am to aquire the jewel.'

She was sweeping the leaves in front of the temple. There was elegance in her posture, gentle yet warning. Had I blushed then? I probably did.

"Will you not come out?" she called out as she shifted her eyes toward my side.

'She noticed me!' I jumped startled, 'Oh no, I was too caught up by her and must have forgot to lower my presence.'

"Are you the one who was here yesterday?" she called again.

'No use in sitting here like an idiot now that she knows I'm here I guess…' I walked out cautiously, keeping my back hunched down and checking both sides for any possible ambush.

She giggled, "You're very careful aren't you. Do not worry, there are no one here."

My blush probably darkened when I saw her laugh at me. Though I was a bit embarassed, I was feeling more peace than anything.

Oooooooooooooo

(SLICE!!)

Cerberus swallowed hard, waiting for the dust to clear inside the crystal. 'Inuyasha…'

His master sighed and stood from his seat.

"Where are you going?" Cerberus asked.

"I'm expecting a guest," Hadies replied simply.

"A guest?"

"You have a good son Cerberus," the god answered to change the subject, "It has been a long time since I've seen potentials like his."

Throughout his long service to the dark lord, Cerberus has learned to not ask questions about his master's doings for he will not get an answer, but he knew that things always revealed themselves in time so he replied, "Thank you," and left things like that. Turning back to the crystal, a proud smile formed on his face.

Ooooooooooooooo

"You are a demon!" the Kikyo gasped.

'Just like all the others,' Inuyasha thought darkly, 'She should be aiming that bow she has on her back at me anytime now. It's not like I could have escaped from when she noticed my presence anyways.' Under my drawn out sleeve, I readied my claws.

"Have you come for the jewel like the others?" she asked.

"Yes," I shifted my eyes to the side slightly before turning back to her.

Silence…

I heard her broom hit the floor and jumped back a few paces and readied for an attack. To my surprise, I saw her with her back toward me. I could have killed her in 100different ways right there and then, but I didn't. Was it because I was still held back by my vow. No, it was something else. She was showing me her openings purposely.

I watched her take a seat on a stair of the tiny temple and turn back to me.

'How can she be so calm. There must be an ambush coming from somewhere!' my eyes wandered instinctively.

She laughed again. "I told you, there is no one else here."

"What are you trying to do!" I demanded.

"I just wish to talk to you, is that too much to ask?"

"So speak."

"Do not be so hostile, I mean you no harm."

"Are you not afraid that I might attack you if you keep showing me all those openings?"

"I do not believe you will. If you were planning to attack me, you would have already when I turned my back to you."

"I…"

"Now then, what's your name?"

It felt awkward. I had even planned to kill her for the jewel and thought that I was ready to break my vows. But when someone shows such lack of fighting spirit, it takes yours away too. "I'm Inuyasha," I replied to her, still keeping my guard up.

"Inuyasha huh," she smiled, "Well come closer Inuyasha so I don't have to shout my throat dry to talk with you."

Her smile made me blush again. 'Damn it! What's happening to me!' I shook my head and made my way up to her slowly.

"You are not like the other demons," she said, "Might you be a Hanyou?"

"How did you know that!" I jumped.

"Just a hunch. Those ears are no human ears but you have a completely different type of Youki from the demons I've fought."

The way she spoke to me felt so natural. It was as though chatting with a demon child was nothing out of the ordinary. "Why?" I asked.

Kikyo looked at me questioningly.

"I am a demon! How can you speak to me so calmly. Do you not think of me as just a monster?!"

"Are you? Sure you have different looking ears from mine but you look like an average boy to me. You should know yourself better than anyone else. If you don't think yourself as a monster, what rights do I have to claim you one?" she answered.

I'm a monster to them, I represant everything that is not to be.
Are you? I had always thought of you as a good kid.

She looked at my surprise and smiled.

"Sounds like something a wise old man told me long ago," I sighed and made my way up to her.

She gave me her replies with a gentle look and opened her palm to the empty side of the stair, insisting for me to take a seat beside her. I took her invitation. She felt…trustworthy. "Your eyes are so pure," she said to me.

I blushed again and quickly turned away, hitting my head against one of the support pole of the shrine in the process. She giggled to my nervousness and I began to laugh with her.

For the next few weeks, I had come to visit her every day. Soon, people around the village had began to grow familiar with me as well. Their attitude toward me were more toward, 'If the priestess says its okay then I guess it is okay,' but that was just fine by me. Our bond had been growing during this time as well. I was beginning to think about her even when I was not with her; even when I was nothing thinking about obtaining the jewel. I was in love, and that realization scared me to the cores of my every bone.

Ooooooooooo

Tears sparkled through the silent air. Kikyo's eyes were wide open as she watched the top half of her bow hit the ground. When she finally realized what had just taken place, the two halves of her weapon disappered as though it evaporated. Inches away from her left foot, the glowing tessaiga was stabbed into the ground. The flower petals cause by the hound's dash was now settling about him.

"You saved me from hell…" Inuyasha murmured before she could speak, "The pains, the agony, you gave me a way out of that endless abyss…"

Oooooooooooo

"Why Inuyasha!" Kikyo screamed. She was crying, crying for me. It pained me as much as my gratitude for her feelings. "Did all those things we went through this past 2 years mean nothing to you?!"

"Of course not! That's not it at all!" I shouted back.

"Then why! Why must you leave!? Stay here with my Inuyasha, the village needs you…I need you! I love you Inuyasha so please…(choke)…don't leave me like this."

"I have to Kikyo, I have stayed too long already," I turned my back to her.

"I don't understand!"

"Don't be like this Kikyo. I have made my decision. Your spiritual powers are great, unmatched by anyone I've ever come across. The jewel will be safe even without my help."

"No!" she ran up and embraced me from behind, "Inuyasha, you forget that before my seat as the high-priestess, I am still a girl of only 20. You cannot tell me that you never held feelings to me during this entire time because I know you did."

I felt her sobs against my back. It was a starless night and the moon was curtained by the musky overcast. A small breeze picked up the leaves and rustled it across the temple path. "I love you Kikyo," I finally spoke, "that is why I must leave you." Her head remained rested on my back but I could tell she was listening. "You may be able to see past my demon side but the rest of the world cannot. Don't you see Kikyo; if we become together you will be looked upon by everyone as a traitor to humanity. You will lose all your honor as the priestess and become looked upon with disgust. My mother, Hika-jii, people who become too close to me never have pleasant endings. I do not want to see that happen to you."

"Inuyasha," she turned me around to face her, "don't you see Inuyasha," she said and kissed me. "That is okay as long as you will stay with me."

"Kikyo…" I did not know what to say. The death of my mother and the slaughter of Hika-jii are pains I did not want to go through ever again. Love was something I forbid myself from having at all cost. 'Damn it! It wasn't possible for me to be human, is it impossible for me to become a demon as well?'

"Inuyasha," her voice was a whisper as she brought my head to her shoulder, "Even if I die tomorrow because of our love, I will have no regrets."

I felt my chest tighten. My eyes wide with confusion of what I should do.

"I'm sure your mother or Hikaragi-jiisan didn't have any regrets in their lives as well. You are who you are Inuyasha and you can't do anything to change that. Nor do I want you to change for you are who I fell in love with."

A vision flared to my eyes and tears began to flow.

Some day you will meet someone who will care for you as much as I have. When you find that person, never let her go…never.

Become strong Inuyasha. Only when you've become stronger than all others can you truly find happiness.

'So that's what they meant.' It took me nearly 10years to finally understand the true meaning to my mother and Hika-jii's words. How stupid was I. I've just been running away all this time. "Kikyo," I whispered. She was sobing against my chest, "I've decided…"

"No…" she choked and grabbed me tighter.

"I'm staying," I smiled.

She looked up in confusion.

"You heard me, I'm staying," I saw the relief in her eyes almost immediately, "Thank you Kikyo. You made me realize that I was just trying to run away from my past. Isn't that stupid, as if anyone can actually run away from their past," I chuckled, "I thought I was being strong in willing to sacrifice our love for you but that was not it. I love you Kikyo," I pulled her in, "I'll never let you go…never. I swear that I will protect you to the end of time. As long as there is a breath left in me, I won't let anything happen to you."

How ironic is it that over half a century later, I would be asked to make a decision on her life. And that I actually pondered over the answer untill moments before I swung my sword down. Thank God to the burst of old memories in desperate situations. Thank God? How ironic again…haha…

Oooooooooooo

"Did I not promise you that I would protect you to the end of time?" Inuyasha grinned as he retrieved his sword and gave it a quick swoosh in the air.

"Can I not even beg my death from you anymore Inuyasha? I still love you Inuyasha. That is why my mind will not allow you and Kagome to become happy. You want me to live the rest of eternity with the deepest of hatred to my dearest love?"

"If you will not accept matters between Kagome and I then I will just have to wait for you to accept it. I could never take your life with my hands. You guided me out of my darkness, now it's my turn to guide you out of yours. Looks like you were right about me. I guess I really didn't decide yet cause I still love you just as much as ever."

Before she could speak another word, the hanyou embraced her tightly in his arms and pressed his lips against her's. "Inuyasha…" the priestess sighed and relaxed against his chest. Taking a few steps back, she gazed into her lover's eyes, "your eyes are so pure," she said as she slid her hands down to his.

As she leaned forward and their lips came close, Inuyasha close his eyes. He felt her flinch slightly as their lips came in contact. Hiseyes opened immediately. "Kikyo!"

"Thank you Inuyasha," she smiled.

"Kikyo!!"

She had taken his hand and struck the sword through her heart with the kiss. Bright spectres of light sprayed from the wound but she did not seemed to be in any pain. The hanyou felt his limbs growing numb. The sword fell from his hand and slid out of the girl's chest to the ground. "I died 50years ago from the wound inflicted by Naraku, Inuyasha. That was when I should have left this world for good. Before I leave again, I just want you to know; I still have no regrets about us. Be happy Inuyasha. Take care of Kagome. Appologize to her for me and I guess I will see you sooner or later," she joked. With those final words, her body scattered into thousands of fragments of light. A gentle wind blew against him, wrapping his body for a short moment before gliding past and dieing in the distance. All he could do was feel her presance fade away while tears continued to roll down his face.

TBC…

I recently broke my laptop screen but I finally got a new monitor last Saturday! Sorry for the long wait guys but I hope you're all still hanging in there. I will be editing this chapter in the future to correct the grammar or typos and may or may not add some minor changes.

Reviews…

Thanks for all the reviews. I appreciate it all! The reason I put 3 parts for the flashback was because I thought having only his mother's incident isn't enough for him to leave Kikyo because his afraid she might get hurt because of him. Hika-jii was used as an extra event in his life for him to more firmly believe he cannot grow attached to anymore people.

Inugodess715: In my personal opinion, I think I could have written this chapter better so I will be taking a thorough look through it and MAYBE submit a rewritten version with the next chapter. The story is now back to its main focus now so hold tight cause the things are going to go rapidly into climax!

Wolfhowler245: Hope you enjoyed it and god I hope I didn't let anyone down. I'm actually pondering about whether I should submit this now but it's been such a long time since I uploaded anything and I don't want you guys to think I've abandoned the story.

Ichigo: I understand completely of what you mean. I try to keep my chapters around the 6pages range but if this was written as a novel, the 4 chapters will be fused to 2 with the first three as part 1 and this chapter as part2. The story is going back to its orignal focus now and I've thought of an ending that you won't wanna miss!

Sesshoukunbelongstome: By saying my reply to you last chapter, I think I sort of gave out what I was going to make him do this chapter huh haha. She still died though. Whether that's a good thing or not is up to you haha!

Inuyashalover167: Thank you, happy to see there are dedicated reviewers for my story.

Animemiko15: Yes I apologize again for making so many chapters for flashback but as I said before, I'm back on track and it's shooting straight to climax!

Thank you for all your patience and I hope this chapter was worth the wait!

Deduction