(A/N: Big fight scene coming up. Will things turn out differently this time, or will Yamikotsu still not be able to bring himself to kill Kikyou? Read and enjoy.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 11: Second Attack

Yamikotsu charged at Kikyou, wielding his scythe as if he were the Grim Reaper himself. Kikyou fired her arrow, but Yamikotsu simple jumped over it.

"You're arrows can't harm me!" he cried.

He swung his scythe. Kikyou held up her hands and created a barrier. The enormous blade made contact, but did not pass through. Yamikotsu's eyes narrowed in irritation at his failure to penetrate the barrier.

Kikyou smirked. "What's wrong, Yamikotsu? Did you think that a weapon containing demonic powers could overcome my powers? You must not have all of the Band of Seven's memories if you think an item like that will bring you victory."

She unleashed her priestess powers, throwing Yamikotsu backwards. He landed on his feet as if nothing happened. "It is clear that I have underestimated you." he said. "But you have underestimated me as well!"

He swung his scythe, unleashing the weapon's demonic energy. Red blades of light erupted from the blade, reminding Kikyou of the Wind Scar that Inuyasha used. The attack didn't go through her barrier, but it did take it down.

'He broke through my barrier!'

Yamikotsu smirked. "I told you that you underestimated me." He charged at her swinging his scythe. Kikyou held up her bow to block the attack. "I'll cut straight threw that twig!"

But even as he said this, Kikyou's bow began to glow with her priestess powers. Yamikotsu scythe made contact, but was held back by her power. Sparks flew out of the point of contact as Yamikotsu attempted to break through.

"I will not be defeated by one such as you." Kikyou insisted.

Her power exploded outward. Yamikotsu pulled back to avoid the blast. He sent out a wave of demonic power, but Kikyou's soul collectors came to her rescue, carrying her to safety.

"You're not getting away from me!" Yamikotsu declared.

He jumped up into the air, going much higher than any normal person should have been capable of jumping. He swung his scythe, cutting through one of the soul collectors. The snake-like creature made a hissing noise as its body disintegrated.

Kikyou's eyes widened. Yamikotsu had just killed one of her soul collectors. No, he had killed one of her friends. Blinding fury filled her as she struggled against the hold her remaining soul collectors had on her.

"You monsters!" she shouted.

The soul collectors refused to let her go, so she unleashed her spiritual powers on them. Not enough to hurt them, just enough to force them to let her go. She landed a short distance away from Yamikotsu, glaring at the vile creature.

"I'll never forgive you." she seethed.

"Don't get so worked up." Yamikotsu muttered. "It was just a soul collector. Even among demons, they're the lowest of the low."

"They were more than that to me." Said Kikyou. "You'll pay for its death."

Yamikotsu laughed. "If you're so upset about losing your friend, I'll reunite the two of you by sending you to the other world!"

He swung his scythe. Kikyou blocked the blow with her bow. Each time Yamikotsu attacked, Kikyou would continue to deflect the blow, her bow glowing with spiritual energy each time he struck.

"How can a bow stop my scythe?" Yamikotsu growled. "The damn thing is made of wood!"

"True." Kikyou agreed. "But I put my spiritual powers into it, and that is what's stopping your attacks."

"Spiritual energy, eh? Well lets see if you're a match for my scythe's demonic energy."

The blade on his scythe began glowing red as he swung at the priestess. Kikyou's bow began glowing pink and the two weapons crashed together. There was an explosion of power, but Kikyou managed to take control of the blast and send it all at Yamikotsu.

When the smoke and dust began to clear, a large crater could be seen in front of Kikyou. She used the momentary pause in the fight to string another arrow and she waited. She knew that Yamikotsu would pop out of the smoke at any moment and surprise her. She was proven right as Yamikotsu leapt out of the crater launching another attack from his scythe. Kikyou fired her arrow. It tore straight through the beams of demonic energy, striking the scythe and knocking the giant weapon out of his hands.

Yamikotsu growled. "Damn you!"

He made an attempt to retrieve his weapon, but Kikyou fired another arrow in his path. He jumped aside to avoid the blast of spiritual energy. Her gave Kikyou a look of hatred.

"Miserable bitch!"

He picked up a large boulder that had been blasted out of the ground from the explosion and threw it at Kikyou. Kanna appeared in front of her, holding up her mirror. The boulder, which was big enough to crush the girl, froze in mid-air and flew back at the thrower.

Yamikotsu grunted as the boulder knocked him off his feet. Clutching his stomach, he forced himself to stand up and made a run for his scythe. But before he could reach it, one of Kikyou's arrows buried into his back. He cried out in pain and collapsed.

Kikyou carefully approached him, making sure to keep a distance. He had fooled her once before, but he wouldn't do it again. Or so she thought. Yamikotsu's hand shot out, grabbing his scythe. He swung the weapon at Kikyou, who may have been out of his arm reach, but not far away enough to avoid his scythe.

Barely able to put a barrier up in time, the force of impact knocked Kikyou off her feet. Yamikotsu cried out triumphantly as he jumped through the air, bringing his scythe down. Kikyou shut her eyes, waiting for the inevitable blow. But something happened. At the last moment, Yamikotsu had moved his scythe to the side. The blade slammed into the ground, right next to Kikyou's head.

"What?" Yamikotsu gasped.

He growled angrily at his miss, which he couldn't believe he had allowed to happen, and grabbed Kikyou's hair, jerking her head up violently. Kikyou cried out painfully as he wrapped his large hand over her face, nearly crushing her head.

"Wench, I'll break your neck." And he was about to, when his hands suddenly released her against his will. Yamikotsu roared in fury. "Again?"

Kikyou didn't hesitate. She placed her hand on his chest and blasted him off her. Yamikotsu flew backwards a good fifty feet before landing painfully on his back. His chest was smoking, a burn hole clearly visible in his shirt. Groaning, he forced himself to sit up.

"How… do you… keep… doing… that?" he demanded.

"I am not doing anything." she told him. "But it seems as if when the chance comes for you to take my life, you are unable to do so."

"I can see that!" he shouted. "How are you doing it?"

"I told you, I am not doing anything. However, one thing is certain. You can't bring yourself to kill me, even though you want to."

Growling, Yamikotsu picked up his scythe. "I don't know if you're lying for not, but I will figure this out. I will kill you."

And with that, he was gone, disappearing into the forest. Kikyou wanted to go after him, but she needed to stay here and help the villagers. There were fires to be put out and people that needed to be healed; here spiritual powers would be needed.

"I will be waiting." She said to the retreating figure.

(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)

Yamikotsu was furious. How could that blasted woman beat him twice? And why couldn't he bring himself to kill her? This was a real problem.

Kneeling down by a creek, he scooped up a handful of water and splashed it over his chest where Kikyou had burned him with her spiritual powers. He winced as the cold water made contact with his burned chest.

"That bitch." He growled. "I am so going to kill her." He looked at his hand, the one he had grabbed her face with, and made a fist. "Once I find out just what the hell is wrong with me."

An evil laugh came from behind him. "Perhaps I can be of assistance."

Yamikotsu was on his feet in a second, holding up his scythe, ready to strike. "Who the hell are you?"

The demoness chuckled. "That depends. I could be a friend, or I could be a foe. It all depends on who I'm dealing with, what's in it for me, and what kind of mood I'm in." She laughed at the scowl Yamikotsu gave her. "My, my, someone is in a bad mood."

"Shut up!" Yamikotsu shouted. "Tell me what you want before I kill you."

The demoness laughed again. "So impatient. Very well. I have been watching you. I've know who and what you are. I even knew your father. In fact, I helped him give you life."

Yamikotsu narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

The demoness shrugged. "Why not?" Yamikotsu growled in irritation, which the demoness found amusing. "If you must know, it was for several reasons. The two biggest ones were to test Kikyou, and for my own amusement."

"Amusement?" Yamikotsu repeated. "What are you talking about? And why are you testing that bitch?"

"I have my reasons. One of them being that I want Kikyou dead. But you're not doing you're job properly."

Yamikotsu's grip on his scythe tightened. "Why you-"

"Relax." The demoness interrupted. "It's of no fault of your own. But you're still worthless if you can't kill Kikyou. I can help you there."

Yamikotsu's anger was replaced with curiosity. "You know what my problem is?"

The demoness nodded. "And I can help you get rid of it."

Yamikotsu raised an eyebrow. "What's in it for you?"

The demoness smiled. "The pleasure of watching you tear Kikyou to pieces."

Yamikotsu considered her offer. "Very well, I'll accept your help."

The demoness' ruby red lips curled into an evil smile. "Good choice. I promise you that you'll feel much better after this."

She placed her hand on his chest and healed the burn mark. Yamikotsu gave her a curious look. "What's you're name?"

The demoness smiled. "Call me Lucerne."

(A/N: Well, the demoness' identity has been revealed. Sort of. And she knows what Yamikotsu's problem is. What does this mean for Kikyou? And why does this mysterious Lucerne want her dead? All questions shall be answered in time. So review for me and I'll write for you.)