Something was wrong. Kagome could feel it in the air. Before she could figure out what it was she was feeling, she hazarded a look around. Her eyes squinted as the wind rushed against her face, caused by the speed at which Sesshomaru ran so effortlessly. It was then she saw them: soul collectors. They had to be none other than Kikyo's, yet the maiden was nowhere in sight.
Not a second later, dark magic tingled along her flesh. As if the white wraths felt the pulse of energy too, they disintegrated. Gazing behind them, it was obvious there was some sort of line drawn that they could not pass, which meant—
"Kikyo's in trouble!" Inuyasha's worried exclamation was unnecessary.
"A dark miko's magic is at work here," cautioned Sesshomaru.
Inuyasha called out to his elder brother, his comment snide and mocking. "What? Scared of a human woman, Sesshomaru?"
Unperturbed, Sesshomaru did not rise to Inuyasha's taunts. "You would be wise to tread cautiously, little brother."
"Don't call me that!" Inuyasha spat.
"Would you stop fighting?!" Kagome almost raised her voice, already fed up with the family feud neither brother seemed disinclined to lay to rest.
However, she had to give Sesshomaru credit. It was Inuyasha usually behind the antagonistic remarks, as if he was trying to start a fight. A fight that had been proven many times in the past that he was unlikely to win, unless lady luck herself was planted firmly on his shoulder.
No more was spoken, because the forest they had been travelling through opened up to a small clearing, more like an opening in the trees than a real clearing. In the center, the earth was caved in, and a scene that was all too familiar replayed itself before her eyes.
"Kikyo!" The scream that Inuyasha let out was loud, an angry denial at what his eyes told him to be true.
Kikyo was being dragged to hell.
A noticeable difference this time around was that she did not seem overly willing to relinquish the half-life she trod. Around her legs, wrapped around her waist was a heavy chain, one that glowed like hellfire. However, she did not seem to burn, even the flames of hell swirling around the gate did not touch her imitation flesh or set her clothes alight. Slowly, like quick sand, she descended. There was also a strange wind, sucking the air inwards. Kagome's hair, as did her two companions', flapped towards the hole, their clothes lightly rustling.
They were close enough even for Kagome to easily witness the terror etched upon Kikyo's face as she tried valiantly to free herself. Her arms yet free, she struck out at the chain around her body with her long bow, her holy light ineffectively lashing the restraint.
At her name, when Inuyasha screamed it a second time, her head lifted. Without hesitation, Kikyo lifted a hand towards Inuyasha beseechingly.
"Inuyasha!"
However, as soon as he took a step towards her, she yelled at him. "No! Stay back!" She hadn't been crying out for him to save her. No, she was trying to save him from acting the hero, ultimately causing both of their deaths.
Kagome climbed off of Sesshomaru's back, feeling a desperation to save the other woman. Hurt feelings and jealousy aside, she could not watch this horrific scene and do nothing!
"It is the dark miko's doing," intoned Sesshomaru.
Looking up at his face, Kagome could not detect even a glimmer of care for Kikyo's plight, or the emotional turmoil his brother surely was feeling at the sight of the one he loved most about to die again.
"You fool!" hissed Sesshomaru, a slight pinch to his features. The only sign of his displeasure as he swung his arm out in a wide arc.
A green light emerged from two pointed clawed fingers. The whip encircled Inuyasha's waist as he launched himself towards Kikyo, heedless of the danger. Kagome gasped in understanding, horrified that her friend would so easily forfeit his life, because surely he understood the ramifications of the futile attempt at pulling her from death's door.
With a jerk, Sesshomaru yanked Inuyasha backwards. The red clad figure fell to the dirt at their feet with a groan after impact.
"No! Kikyo!" hollered Inuyasha, looking at the woman in question.
Kikyo's legs where gone, enveloped in the abyss. The chain around her legs had moved, encircling her torso. Her left arm was pinned to her body, but her free arm was outstretched in the air, as if its freedom would somehow extract her from peril.
Inuyasha tried to stand and run to her, but Sesshomaru kicked him in the back. He landed face first in the dirt. Angry, his eyes wide and nearly insane from the events unfolding, he yelled at his brother.
"Don't get in my way! I have to save her!"
"She is beyond your ability to save, half-breed."
Inuyasha got to his feet, challenging Sesshomaru. "I have to try!"
"And you will die."
Bluntly put, Inuyasha's suicide mission was out in the open. There was no denying that was exactly what he was attempting to do.
"As if you care what happens to me, bastard."
Sesshomaru didn't react to the accusation. Kagome knew it was most likely true, and wasn't that sad? They were brothers, half or otherwise. Her heart breaking at the realization that Inuyasha wished to die with Kikyo, to be dragged into hell along with her, kept her mute. She allowed Sesshomaru to try and talk some sense into the other male, or at least Kagome thought that was his intention. It came as no little surprise that he even tried. But right now, she could not dwell on the whys of the matter.
"But I care," she murmured loud enough for both males to hear. Kagome lifted teary eyes to her friend, fists clenched at her sides when all she wanted to do was fling herself at him and pound on his chest and scream and cry. Instead, she controlled the mad impulse, her nails biting into her palms to ground her.
"Does that mean nothing to you, Inuyasha?"
He looked as if he'd been struck, before he glanced away and at the ground. His dog ears flattened upon his head.
Just then, Kikyo let out a shrill cry. Everyone turned to see that she was now buried to her collarbone. The chain had somehow slithered further up to encircle her uplifted arm. Eyes to the sky, she reached for it like a drowning person.
"Where is that dark miko?!" Frantically, Inuyasha looked around, as if the faceless woman hid behind a nearby tree. "She's the cause of this," he continued madly. "We kill her, we break the spell, right? Right?!"
There was no point in telling him the sad truth: that the dark priestess was most likely far from here, hidden safely away, and possibly watching them through her magic. There was no way they could find her in time to save Kikyo.
Inuyasha took the few steps to the edge of the ground where the earth caved in. Kagome held her breath. Would he jump? Would he allow himself to be dragged down with Kikyo? Her heart cried out in fierce denial. Her lips parted to cry his name, but she was cut off before her pain could be given voice.
"Stay back, Inuyasha!" Kikyo was staring at the hanyou. There was something awful about her eyes, the very expression on her face. Acceptance. There was no saving her, the woman knew. Though tears fell from her eyes, she no longer fought the inevitable.
"I am already dead. You must live. Live for me," Kikyo beseeched.
Though she was upset at Inuyasha's devotion for another, Kagome's heart ached for the pain both of them were going through.
"Can she really not be saved?" she whispered to no one, an entreaty for the kami to intervene. What was happening was beyond what her heart could bear. Such tragedy could move even mountains.
Sesshomaru stood unmoved by the events. He cared not that the imitation of a miko was being dragged where she rightfully belonged, for she was not in fact a part of the living. Nor did his heart crack at the sight of his brother's anguish. He was removed from the pain. He did not care.
However, at Kagome's forlorn question, he turned to stare at her instead of the form of his kneeling half-brother. Though he saw her face only in profile, he saw enough. Whereas he felt nothing, it was apparent Kagome felt far too much.
Why? Shouldn't she be thrilled her adversary for Inuyasha's affections was not long for this world? And yet somehow, the fact that she did in fact care came as no surprise.
Not sure if what he was about to do would actually help, Sesshomaru decided to try—for Kagome—before his fool of a brother tried to jump into the pit again. With a bend of his knees, he leapt forward, over the kneeling form of his brother, whose arm was outstretched towards the dead priestess.
Her head and arm were the only parts of her body that was yet free. Unsheathing Tenseiga, he cut the chains around her arm. Before he passed over her head, he grabbed her arm and yanked. Stopping his forward motion by hovering in the air with his youki cloud, he kept hold of the dead woman, pulling her up, while he swiped at the chains holding her waist.
Because they were hell's restraints, his sword of heaven cut through the links easily. With a clatter as if they were made of metal from this world, the chain fell from Kikyo's body. Another yank and she was in his arms, pressed securely against his chest.
Victim lost, the gates of hell began to close. The eerie wind that had been sucking the air into the depths of hell began to abate.
Kikyo was not the woman he desired within his arms, so he moved swiftly through the air, but not before securing his free arm—after sheathing his sword at his side—around Kagome's waist. Both women secured, he raced to where the ghostly creatures hung back in worry for their mistress.
It was unlikely safe to deposit the undead miko upon the ground the dark witch had enchanted, so he kept a hold on her until they reached her soul collectors. He wasted no time releasing the dead woman when their feet touched the earth, but he kept Kagome at his side. Looking down at her, he thought perhaps he should release her, until Inuyasha erupted through the trees, screaming at him for taking Kikyo.
Upon seeing her safe, Inuyasha grabbed Kikyo and held onto her after retreating a few feet away from his brother. Sesshomaru doubted the boy was even aware he still held his companion. Most likely, she had been forgotten, but not by him. Again he looked down at the girl's bent head. Should he let her go?
As soon as the thought reentered his mind, the girl edged closer to him. Though he could not see her face, there was no doubt in his mind that she was hurting from Inuyasha's neglect and love for the undead. Did she feel regret that the other yet lived now that the tragedy had passed?
In a move almost considered violent, Kagome suddenly scrubbed her face with her arm. The salt of her sorrow reached his senses. She wept. He had no idea how to stop her pain. Her heart bled but not in a physical way that he could try to staunch the bleeding. It was all emotional.
His arm was already held loosely around her waist. Should he tighten his hold in a semblance of an embrace? Before he could decide what he should do in a clumsy excuse as aid, she spoke.
"I'm happy for them. Truly… I am."
Kagome tipped her head back to meet his gaze. She tried to smile, but her lips did not quite complete the gesture. Her attempt was more pitiful than reassuring. She must have realized it, for she dropped the charade, as well as her head so he could no longer see her expression.
More salt, signaling a floodgate of tears. Just because he could not see them did not mean he was unaware.
"You must think I'm horrid… for crying. You must think I wanted her to die by how I'm reacting." She sniffled. She looked up at him, eyes conflicted. "The truth is… I don't know."
Admitting to something she obviously felt was a heinous crime seemed to crush her, for Kagome buried her face in her hands. Though she was mostly silently, other than ragged breaths, her shoulders shook violently.
On reflex, Sesshomaru lifted his other arm, intending to turn the girl into his body to give the comfort she undoubtedly needed; however, Inuyasha's brash voice halted him.
"Hey, Sesshomaru. What did you do to Kagome?!"
And there he stood, anger in his eyes, and a snarl curving one side of his lips. Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's arm and yanked her against his chest. She stumbled with a small cry of surprise, but the boy caught her easily, and moved them a few steps back, away from Sesshomaru.
To say Sesshomaru was instantly angered by Inuyasha's audacity was putting it mildly. But what was he to do when the girl did not fight his brother's hold? Still she cried, sheltered in the other man's arms. Seeing her there filled Sesshomaru with a strange feeling in the pit of his gut.
Though he seemed to comfort the girl with an arm around her waist, Inuyasha held the hilt of his sword in silent warning towards Sesshomaru to keep his distance. Not that he was worried about the half-breed's threat.
"If you've hurt her—"
Angered anew, Sesshomaru interrupted him. "It is not I who has caused the miko distress but you, Inuyasha."
Confused, Inuyasha dropped his gaze to Kagome's bent head. At the attention brought onto her, she jerked away from Inuyasha, and refused to look at either male. Understanding flashed in the boy's eyes, before those ridiculous dog ears, proof of his half-blood, flattened upon his skull, and he, too, looked away. Perhaps ashamed. Sesshomaru wasn't sure, but he sensed the undercurrents of confusion and hurt between the two.
Silence reigned for long minutes.
"Where's Kikyo?" whispered Kagome.
Inuyasha glanced at her, then away again. "Ah…gone. She's gone."
Kagome was silent a moment longer, as if waiting for an explanation, but none was forthcoming. "Then we should go find the others. They may need our help."
"Right," murmured Inuyasha, though his eyes landed on Kagome in what seemed a hopeless manner.
Knowing the brat meant to offer Kagome a ride upon his back when Inuyasha began to bend his knees, Sesshomaru intercepted. Stepping forward to gain Kagome's attention before she noticed Inuyasha's movement, since her gaze was still averted for the time being, Sesshomaru wordlessly offered his back first. Kagome climbed aboard, her weight insignificant. Before Inuyasha could voice a protest, he ran towards Kaede's village, intending to track the humans' scents from there.