Chapter 12: I'll Never Leave You Again, I Promise!
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted after him.
"Miroku!" Koga leaped over and sucked him up into a cyclone just as the shadowy jaws turned toward him.
"Ha, those jaws won't go away until a sacrifice is taken!" Kadosai laughed as he began to make his escape. Sesshomaru was on his heels.
"Giving it you should do then!" Sesshomaru struck down Kadosai with his poisonous finger whip. Kadosai recovered and landed on his feet.
"Mistake. A big mistake." Kadosai transformed into a large purple dragon-like demon. He stood taller than the trees. His clothes ripped off to his new size. His tail whipped around, knocking down rotted tree trunks. "You shall face the fury of Kadosai!" The shadow jaws turned for Sesshomaru's back as Kadosai vomited fire to his front. Sesshomaru smiled.
"True, a big mistake..." Sesshomaru's body pulsated, deflecting the flames. He whipped his hand back, sending the shadow jaws flying into the dirt. Sesshomaru's human form began to contort. His eye glowed red and purple. Just as the sun finally disappeared, Sesshomaru exploded into his true form. The dog demon stood over Kadosai by 15 feet. His drooled dripped to the ground, causing acidic pot holes.
"Who are you?!" Kadosai demanded. He glared at Sesshomaru's true form with familiarity. "I've never seen any other dog demon than the one who defeated my father Ryūkotsusei."
"Did he say his father was Ryūkotsusei?!" Miroku shouted.
"Inuyasha had to fight and defeat him with the Backlash Wave." Sango added.
"Oh shit." Koga muttered.
"This can't be good." Miroku frowned.
"Sesshomaru can handle Kadosai! We need to go get Inuyasha!" Kagome ran off toward the shrine.
"Hold on Kagome!" Miroku and Sango flew after her on Kirara. Koga followed her on foot.
"Oh you are Inu no Taishō's son... How perfect..." Kadosai taunted. "I'm guessing the small, dumb one somehow managed to defeat my father. A pity. Seems I need to kill you both to have my father's title as the strongest demon in the lands. I would have been by sooner to defeat you both, but I was trapped in that dome by that retched Odasa. But I will thank your brother for setting me free... Before I devour his body." The two great demons growled at each other with intent to kill.
"This will be fun."
The sanctuary was dark and old. The wood creaked as Inuyasha entered. The pews were a rusted red. Ants trailed along one, carrying bits of what looked like charcoal. The windows were dim, not allowing the last of the sun's setting rays in. The roof and ceiling seemed unlikely to continue holding itself up. Inuyasha walked down the aisle slowly toward Kikyo. Her soul loomed over top of her body as it laid along the steps of the alter. She slowly walked around it, inspecting it. She started to kneel down to possess her new body.
"Kikyo wait..." Inuyasha's face was covered in tears. He couldn't stop shaking his head. "You said I was the sacrifice? Why?" Inuyasha couldn't process the situation. Flashbacks of them together and happy were replaying through his head. "I thought you wanted to be with me, like we were..."
"Shut up, Inuyasha! Things will never be the same! You just can't pretend that things didn't happen! I can't pretend like you didn't protect me! I can't take any of it anymore! I am so sick and tired of hearing the same thing, sacrificing everything FOR NOTHING!"
"I love you Ki-"
"Onigumo loved me too and look at everything that happened! I shall not be maimed in the name of love no longer. I HATE LOVE!" Kikyo shouted angrily, her voice shaking the walls. "AND I HATE YOU!"
"Kikyo..." Inuyasha's human form began to come forth. The moon light dimly pushed through the foggy windows. His hair turned black and his strength was gone. He dropped to his knees completely defeated. Mentally and emotionally. Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Koga, and Kirara kicked through the doors.
"Inuyasha?!" Kagome shouted.
"He's human now, the full moon is out." Miroku slowly tried to approach Inuyasha.
"GET OUT!" Kikyo raised her hand, sending out a lavender force. Miroku, Sango, Koga, and Kirara flew out of the sanctuary. "I said GET. OUT!" Kagome stood unaffected.
"I'm not leaving without Inuyasha!" Kagome felt her body heat up with anger.
"How dare you, you impostor-"
"Impostor?! I may be a descendant of yours, have the same powers as you, bore the sacred jewel, and even look like you... But I am no impostor! You are!" Kagome was furious as her fist clinched and shook. "Inuyasha may not know it, but you're an impostor! You are not the Kikyo he remembers! You are not the Kikyo the villagers loved. You are not the Kikyo who the children looked up to!... You're just a bitter woman who can't accept love because she is AFRAID! You're right, love should NEVER be abusive! Love should never make you sacrifice like you have! Love should never be cold! But aren't you forgetting something? It wasn't Inuyasha who slayed you, it was Naraku! Inuyasha was waiting for you at your meeting place! You cannot blame him for not protecting you, he didn't know!"
"You don't know anything!"
"I know fear when I see it!"
"I fear NOTHING!"
"Then why can't you love Inuyasha?!"
"That's not what I want!" Kikyo's soul disappeared into her new body with a indigo glowed. Her lungs suddenly swelled with oxygen as her eyes shot open. She slowly sat up with a smile. "This is what I want." She whispered.
"Kikyo that body was left here by Naraku! Let go of it before your soul becomes attached!"
"Naraku has no such power to make a living body, yet alone one that looks like mine. You are trying to deceive me! How petty." Kikyo stood to her feet. She opened her hands and closed them, enjoying feeling of skin. She then caressed her face. Her face was warm. She was so surprised, a tear slid down her cheek. It rolled down to the corner of her soft lips. She smiled. "Inuyasha." She walked toward him.
"Kikyo?" Inuyasha was still on his knees, looking up at the beauty in front of him.
"I am alive." She touched his cheek. Inuyasha's heart stopped at the heat radiating from her palm. Her skin was soft. "Don't take this away from me... Stay here so I may live..." She said sweetly.
"No, Inuyasha! This is JUST. LIKE. THE. LAST. TIME!" Kagome shouted. "She wants you to sacrifice yourself for her stupid body, even though you had nothing to do with her death!"
"I didn't protect her, Kagome." Inuyasha muttered.
"You didn't even know she was in danger!" Kagome rolled her eyes frustrated.
"He owes me this much!" Kikyo spat at Kagome.
"Oh yeah?! Then why isn't Naraku here? Why didn't you seduce him?! He still has Onigumo's heart! You could have gotten him here as the sacrifice. I mean HE WAS THE ONE WHO MURDERED YOU!"
"I am tired of you-"
"Kikyo your skin..." Inuyasha interrupted her. Her skin was glowing, an unnatural glow. It radiated from her body brightly, lighting up the entire sanctuary.
"What is happening!" Kikyo screamed as the glow became blinding.
Sesshomaru and Kadosai went at each other viciously! Kadosai breathed fire at Sesshomaru. He dodged and took a swipe at Kadosai. He flew upward and shot an energy blast from his fist. The earth collapsed into craters as Sesshomaru swiftly dodged the orbs of destruction. Sesshomaru then flew forward and bit down onto Kadosai's shoulder. He roared in pain as the acid started to sink into his skin. Sesshomaru released his grip. Kadosai dropped to his knees weakly.
"You are strong. A worthy opponent." Kadosai grumbled. He stood weakly and transformed back to his human form. His right shoulder sizzled. It fizzled and spewed foam. "We shall continue our battle another time Sesshomaru." Kadosai turned away. "10 years trapped in a dome has made me soft."
"You are retreating?! How embarrassing for your father." Sesshomaru also transformed back, still on guard.
"You should flee as well. That baboon Naraku said that no one should be nearby when she possessed that body. I don't know why, but I want to fight you again, so don't get slain here." Kadosai smiled and walked down the trail, away from the Forbidden Castle. Sesshomaru then looked at the sanctuary. It began to glow. He flew closer and saw Sango, Koga, and Miroku unconscious. Kirara shook herself steady and blink in confusion as she stood to her feet again.
"Kirara. Carry them to safety. Get far away from this place. Now!" Sesshomaru placed the three of them on her back. Kirara hesitated to take off. " I'll get the others, now go!" Kirara finally took off. Sesshomaru entered the sanctuary just as the ceiling blew off. A bright vortex began to swirl. Sesshomaru shielded his eyes. "Kagome!"
"Sesshomaru!" Kagome was trying to pull Inuyasha away from the source of the light. Kikyo's body was beginning to suck inward, like the wind tunnel. Her once soft hand was piercing hot with light. Inuyasha grabbed her hand without hesitation.
"KIKYO!" He started to pull against the force. He felt her hand tighten.
"INUYASHA!" Kikyo screamed back. The explosion of light began to split down the middle. Inuyasha squinted to see Kikyo. Her body warped into a black hole and her soul was stuck inside of it. Her torso was slowly sinking into the abyss with extreme suction.
"INUYASHA LET HER GO!" Sesshomaru roared as he gripped Kagome around her waist. Kagome still had Inuyasha's shirt clasped in her hands.
"Inuyasha PLEASE! You need to let her go! You don't owe her anything!" Kagome shouted.
"No, Inuyasha save me!" Kikyo screamed as she grabbed his wrist with both hands. "I'm sorry. INUYASHA I'M SORRY!" Kikyo had tears coming down her face. Inuyasha looked into her eyes.
"It's ok."
Kirara circled the sky at a safe distance. Sango was resting along the back of her head. Miroku laid against her back with Koga on his. Miroku slowly sat upward in a confused state. As he sat up, he felt Koga slid off his back. He quickly reached back and caught him from falling off Kirara. He pulled him back on board with a bit of regret. I should have let him fall. His eyes fixated on the bright lights. It was a blue-ish white dome of light bursting from the shrine. His eyes widened with fear. It can't be... This light... It... Can't... Miroku swallowed hard and watched in awe. It's the same light from when my father was swallowed up into the Wind Tunnel. How is it here now?! Did I do this?! Miroku looked at his hand. It was still sealed and covered properly. Naraku...
"It's ok." Inuyasha pulled toward her and hugged Kikyo. "I'll never leave you again." Kikyo clamped onto him tightly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Kikyo's eye opened and glared at Kagome.
"Oh Inuyasha!" Kikyo's voice didn't match her expression.
"NO! Let him go Kikyo!" Kagome tugged harder with one arm. "Sesshomaru! I need both hands to save him!"
"NO!" Sesshomaru yelled as he gripped her waist and arm tighter.
"Sesshomaru, I just need my other hand!" She wiggled it free and grabbed Inuyasha's waist. Kikyo began to slowly pull into the black whole. Inuyasha submitted to her and had his head and shoulders inside the hole. He rested his chin in her shoulder. He could smell her hair as if time hadn't flown 50 years later. Her skin was still warm. He smiled to himself. He imagined them together at the lake where Kikyo fell into his arms getting out of the boat. He saw how red the sunset was. The heat of a summer evening. Inuyasha's forehead began to sweat as he smiled down into Kikyo's eyes. His feet went cold and could feel a slight tugging on his back. The tug was pulling him from Kikyo. Inuyasha began to sweat harder as he was being ripped from Kikyo's arms.
"INUYASHA OPEN YOUR EYES!" Kagome's voice shocked Inuyasha's eye open. There was no lake. There was no boat. There was no summer sunset. Inuyasha was being pulled into the pit of Hell by Kikyo. She gripped him tighter and began to pull him in along with the suction.
"You said you'll never leave me Inuyasha! I plan on making you keep that promise!" Kikyo whispered to him. Inuyasha was stunned. Nothing was real except the demons lurking at the bottom of the pit. Fire and lava spewed around as typhoons of heat whipped around. The smell of rotting hot corpses and fire suddenly ran into his nose. It all smelled like fire and Kikyo's old body. Death.
"I should have let you go." Inuyasha began to sweep deeply. His guilt and sudden realization of Kikyo's feeling left him completely powerless. He didn't try to fight Kikyo. He deserved to fall into Hell for not letting go of her. Inuyasha, in his human form, gave up.
"INUYASHA!" Kagome's hands glowed a bright pure lavender. She reached forward, and with all her might, pulled Inuyasha back toward her. Sesshomaru reached forward and clawed at Kikyo's hands. Her arms released him. Kagome pulled harder with Sesshomaru holding onto her with support. "I SAID COME BACK INUYASHA!" Kagome's words echoed as she touched the very entrance of the black hole leading to Hell. Her hands glowed even brighter as she pulled it open farther. The suction had reduced as the hole stretched open. Inuyasha felt the light shining on his back and began to give a small smile.
"Thanks Kagome." He whispered. Kikyo reached upward trying to pull him in still. Inuyasha looked at her one last time. "Goodbye Kikyo." He slapped her hands away as she finally began to fall into the depths of the inferno. Demons left and right took swipes at her as she fell.
"I'll NEVER forgive you Inuyasha!" Kikyo's last words as she fell into the lake of fire. Inuyasha closed his eyes and looked away. He could bear to watch her burn.
"I know..." Inuyasha was suddenly pushed. A man, a human man shoved him outward. Kagome gave one final yank as Inuyasha, herself, and Sesshomaru flew backwards. The black hole swallowed up the shrine and the remains of the castle and closed itself up. Dark clouds rolled across the midnight sky as the moon beamed at its peak.
"Inuyasha?! Kagome! Sesshomaru!" Miroku shouted as Kirara landed. He quickly ran up to them. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru sat up quickly.
"Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru said somehow coldly.
"Yeah." Inuyasha looked away from him as he slightly blushed.
"Kagome?!" Miroku cradled her head. The brothers quickly looked at her conscienceless body. She was barely breathing.
"KAGOME!" Sesshomaru quickly knelled next to her and looked at her closely. Her face was flushed and exhausted.
"We have to take her home!" Miroku instructed. Sango and Koga began to open their eyes. Sango climbed off of Kirara slowly. Koga weakly looked around confused.
"What the hell?!" Koga's eyes fell upon Kagome's body surrounded by Miroku, Sesshomaru, and Inuyasha. Sango gasped as her eyes bubbled up with tears.
"WHAT HAPPENED!" Sango screamed.
"We have to go now!" Sesshomaru scooped her up and took off. Miroku hopped up off the ground in a rush as he climbed onto Kirara.
"I'll explain on the way. Right now, Kagome needs medical help. LET'S GO!" Miroku yelled. Sango climbed onto Kirara with a face full of tears. They took off toward the well. Koga looked back at Inuyasha as he stood very still.
"This is my fault." Inuyasha mumbled.
"Yeah! It is! Here's your two options: Stay here and sulk alone OR GO BE THERE FOR HER WHILE SHE RECOVERS!" Koga raged.
"Recov-"
"YEAH RECOVER!" Koga started to walk away. "Kagome wouldn't die like this! You and I both know that! Now do want a piggyback ride or not?! I highly doubt you'd be able to catch up in your human form." Koga folded his arm impatiently. "Well?"
"...Let's go..."
Kikyo is now trapped in Hell and it seems Inuyasha has finally let her go. Although Kagome is unconscious from saving his life. Inuyasha is getting a piggyback ride from Koga, and who the hell was that guy who pushed Inuyasha out of Hell?! Find out in the next episode of Dragonball Z...
