PART 5 KOKORO

The forest thinned out an hour later and Inuyasha and the others found themselves near a slow running stream. "I think we're getting close to a village," Miroku said looking toward the treeline. He saw smoke rising and and heard the slight sound of oxen.

"A village," Sango said. "I didn't know there was a village around here."

"There are villages scattered all over the place," Aijou told them leaning down to look at her reflection in the water. "Some of the villages are so remote you can only find them if you are looking for them."

"And how would you know?" Inuyasha asked her.

The girl looked over her shoulder at him and smiled slightly. "Remember, father, I am a traveling miko. I have the ways of finding places."

"Hmm," Inuyasha looked around himself. "If you know so much about invisable villages why don't you tell us who and what lives there as well."

She smiled at him. "Of course, that's simple," she said. "People and animals."

Inuyasha fell over. "That isn't what I ment and you know it!" he shouted getting back up.

She grinned at him. "It might not be but the answer was true enough," she looked toward the smoke. "Another Priestess lives in that village. Her name is Mako. She and I are best friends and we recently exersized a praying mantis demon out of a small child. I haven't seen her in a few weeks, though, but maybe she can help us find more jewel shards."

"That sounds like a plan," Miroku told her.

"I'm sure it is," she told him taking a step away from him to keep him from trying to grope her butt. "But I must remind you now, monk. Mako probably won't like you groping her. She might just kill you before you can even think of trying it."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked her.

Aijou stared at him ominously. "Mako can see into the future."

Miroku got the message and took a step back. "I'll remember to keep my distance," he said wearily.

Meanwhile, while Aijou and Miroku were talking Inuyasah noticed a familiar scent in the air. Hmmm? he thought looking around. What is that smell and why is it so familiar? Where have I smelled this before?

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, looking at him curiously. "What are you doing? What is it?"

"I don't know," he told her. "But I smell someone familiar..."

"Is it Naraku?" she asked.

"No, I..." suddenly he saw something behind some trees. It was only a fleeting glimpse so he wasn't sure what it was but he had an idea. Kikyo..?

The image appeared again. This time it was closer and clearer. He clearly saw someone in miko robes standing amoung the trees. It is Kikyo!

Suddenly two of Kikyo's soul collectors appeared out of the trees.

"Look!" Sango exclaimed pointing at them.

"Those are Kikyo's!" Inuyasah exclaimed.

Aijou stared at the little flying dragon snakes in wonderment. Soul Collcetors? she thought. Why would Mother want soul collectors? Is there something I don't know after all?

Just then Inuyasha jumped over the stream and ran toward the woods. "Inuyasha, where are you going?" Sango called after him.

"If these demons are here that means Kikyo is here too!" he called over his shoulder at them.

Kagome froze. Kikyo? Here? she looked over at Aijou who was still staring at the demons. Aijou's Mother?

Father... the girl thought. Where are you going now? She wasn't sure but she was going to find out. With a flying leap she cleared the stream and went after him. Are you going to see Mother? Why? Is it because of me? Are you going to ask her about me?

Kagome watched Aijou follow Inuyasah into the woods and made a descition of her own. She ran toward the stream and jumped over it as well but not as gracefully as Aijou or her father. She slipped on a stone and almost fell in.

"Kagome!" Shippo called after her. "Where are you going?"

"I have to find out what's going on with those two," she called to them. "Wait here until I get back! I won't be long."

Before the others could protest she ran into the woods and disappeared. Aijou and Inuyasha must have the same thing in mind. she thought as she ran. They are both going to see Kikyo. If they do what's going to happen to me? To Inuyasha? To "Us"?

Kikyo lay in the branches of a tree waiting for Inuyasha to come. She knew he would because he always did. I wonder what he'll say to me if I ask him about her... she wondered.

Just then Kikyo's soul collectors arrived and hovered around her. She sat up to hear them better. "So he'll be here soon," she said looking around herself at the forest. "Good."

A minute later Inuyasha came out of the trees. Kikyo looked down at him and smiled slightly. He came...

Inuyasha looked up at her, panting. "K.. Kikyo," he said.

"So, Inuyasha," she said sitting up and turning her body to face him. "I hear you ran into a girl that claims to be our daughter."

He stared at her. "How do you know that?" he asked.

Kikyo looked away from him as she said. "I have ways of finding out." Then she jumped out of the tree and landed in front of him. "Inuyasha, let me ask you something. Why is it that when I told you fifty years ago that I was having a child you seemed so happy about it but now that you realize that maybe that child could still be alive you refuse to accept that fact?"

Inuyasha folded his arms. "I was told she died after you gave birth to her!"

Kikyo stared at him. Who told him that? Did Kaede and if so, why? "Why would you think that, Inuyasha?" she wanted to know. "When there is a small chance that our child, the one we made together, could still be living you have to go and refuse to let that fact and hope live?" she put her hands on her chest. "Is it because in your heart you don't wish it to be so? Koishii? (Beloved)"

"Kikyo..." he said suddenly saddened. "It's not like that at all."

"Then why?" she demanded looking into his golden eyes. "Why would you deny something that could be true? What makes you deny it? What makes you hesitent?"

Inuyasha looked away.

"Oh, I see," she said, suddenly figuring it out. "It's because of that girl isn't it?"

"Don't drag Kagome into this!" he ordered.

"Of course not," she said. "But if she weren't around.. would you still deny it?"

Inuyasha stopped and looked away.

Kikyo realized something just then. Inuyasha wasn't ready to be told the truth. Only when he came to her without any other thoughts in his soul could she tell him everything. Until then he would be unable to know.

"Kokoro..." she whispered. Until his heart becomes unfrozen from the past he will never admit it or be ready to consider it. Kokoro...

"Kikyo." She heard his voice calling her. It sounded sad.

"Hmmm?" she asked looking up sat him. "What is it?"

"What are you thinking about?"

She looked away. "I was just thinking about... nothing." she walked over to him. "Just consider it. Who knows. It might be true." she put her hands on his face and leaned forward. "Kokoro..." Then she kissed him.

Aijou reached the spot the same time Kikyo kissed Inuyasha. Not wanting to ruin it for them she hid behind and tree and peeked out from behind it. Mother... Father... she thought as she watched them. I wonder what they were talking about? Me? Themselves? Why they both had to died fifty years ago?

Just then she heard the sound of someone crashing through the woods behind her and turned around. When she saw who it was her eyes narrowed in dislike. Her! What is she doing here?

Kagome.

When the girl reached the spot where Aijou stood, the demon priestess blocked her way. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"I saw Kikyo's soul collectors and..." she began.

"And what?" Aijou demanded folding her arms. "You thought you'd follow my father and spy on him and Kikyo to make sure they didn't do anything? I think not. I'm not going to let you ruin their moment together."

Kagome's face turned slightly angry. "So they are together?" she asked her eyes narrowing. Two timer!

"Yes," the other girl replied. "You got a problem with that?"

Kagome bit back a remark. There was no use in fighting with Aijou.

"Let me tell you something, baka," Aijou said. "You stay away from my father. You have absolutely no right to come here and think just because you woke him up he has to stay with you and what's more you have no right to abuse the power of that rosery like you do. You're a control freak you know that?"

"I am not!" she protested.

"Yes you are," Aijou insisted. "If he makes you mad you use that power over him. That's not the way the world works."

Kagome looked like she wanted to argue but Aijou said. "I think we'd better be heading back to the others. When Inuyasha is done he'll come back." before Kagome could protest Aijou grabbed her arm and drug her back the way they had come. I won't let you ruin it for them. the demon miko thought glancing over her shoulder at her parents. Not now or ever!

Kikyo broke the kiss off and took a step back. "I think I should be going now," she said.

He stared sadly at her. He didn't want her to go. Not yet. "Now?" he asked.

She nodded. She didn't want to go either but she knew now wasn't the time for them to get back together yet. "When the time is right I'll return," she said.

He reached his hand out. She put her own n his palm. "Do you promise?" he asked.

She put her other hand over his. "Yes, I promise."

Then her soul collectors wrapped around her body and took her away. Inuyasha watched them go feeling a great weight on his heart. He wished she didn't have to go but there was no way he could stop her. Besides she promised to be back. Inuyasha sighed and turned around. It was time to get back to the others and face Kagome's wrath... but then again that Aijou would probably make sure that didn't happen. Inuyasha chuckled. I wonder how that scene will play out?

A/N

There was some fluff not a lot but some. FORGIVE ME! Don't worry she'll come back but it might take awhile. Now I have to do something with other people like Naraku or Sesshoumaru. :shrug: I hope you liked the chapter. Sorry I took so long to update. I hope you weren't disappointed.