Chapter Eleven – Break.
Kikyo sat quietly, coldly, eyes falling on random objects lit in the sun while her senses screamed to her that a certain other miko and her party were close by. She contemplated luring Inuyasha away again, enjoying the feeling the young girl exemplified when Kikyo demonstrated how she would always be on top. A smirk brushed her lips as she remembered Kagome's face.
Although she sat patiently, waiting for this mystery to unveil itself, she could not help but question exactly what it was. Almost never did these people come for her. Could it be a coincidence? She doubted so.
Children danced in the dirt before her, laughing merrily at nothing in particular. She was so drawn to them, their representation of life itself. In their eyes was everything Kikyo was robbed of, and she fed from it. The village had needed her, the children sick and dying. Now their worries were forgotten. Her work here was done, and she felt a glimmer of pride. But a glimmer was nothing compared to how she used to feel. Being a miko was something she valued when she was alive.
Her powers were strong, her heart even stronger. But it was that same strong heart that pulsed for a child of her own, for a family. Being a powerful miko, she would not forget her obligations. The only way she could allow herself to do so was for love. And she had found it, with Inuyasha.
It seemed destined for them to meet; both of their problems would have been solved, and she had come to care deeply for him, as he did her. Her eyes narrowed again at the thought that it was all ripped away, that she was replaced by a small girl, the same small girl that held her own soul.
Anger swirled in her stomach, but the swirl was nothing if not faint compared to her old life's emotion. And this made her all the more cold.
Kagome sat next to Inuyasha, feeling his nerves drip onto her own. He was deeply disturbed, she noted. His ears were flat to his head and he had a look on his face of disgust.
"Inuyasha, are you alright?" Shippo jumped onto Kagome's shoulder and scratched his head. "You look like you're gonna be sick." Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at the fox and turned away.
"I'm fine." But Kagome knew the truth. Kagome knew that he had inner turmoil that wasn't going to go away until this was over with. So she set out, with the sun on her shoulders and warming her hair, and the somehow cool grass beneath her still bare feet.
As they entered the village, they noted the children who stopped and watched. With hesitation they circled the group, focusing on Inuyasha the most. With whispers and murmurs of doggie ears and silver hair, Inuyasha turned red.
"What are you lookin at, huh?!" He bellowed. The children jumped, startled.
"Inuyasha! Don't be so rude!" Kagome chided. "They don't understand you, that's all." And with a smile she turned back towards the shaking kids. "It's okay, Inuyasha's a little sensitive about how he looks is all."
"Inuyasha.." A voice of ice called out. It stopped everyone cold and all turned, the children with bright smiles, the group with a slightly different approach.
"Kikyo.. " Was all he could say. He wanted to walk to her, to put his arms around her and tell her that he was here, here for her. But he didn't. He knew he couldn't. Not with what was going to happen, and not with the promise he'd whispered with her successor. Her coal eyes glittered with curiosity, but the curiosity wasn't alone. A normal hatred had settled there. It was a look Inuyasha had yet to become accustomed to.
"What is it you want here?" She questioned. But before he could even open his mouth, Kagome stepped up.
"Kikyo, I've come to stop you from what you're doing." Kikyo's brow lifted slightly, and her gaze slid onto Kagome. "You're stealing countless souls Kikyo. And for what? Women are suffering to keep you alive here. You aren't supposed to be here!" She flushed, angry now that Kikyo had come back to life, had caused her sincere heartbreak over and over. Angry that Kagome had saved her life, and had tried no matter how hard it was to do so, to be her friend.
"So.. You think you can stop me, then? And what exactly is it you plan to do, child?" She asked with a hint of laughter. She turned to Inuyasha. "Do you intend to sit back and watch as I destroy her, Inuyasha?" But Inuyasha couldn't say anything.
"Remember, Kikyo." Miroku said with a fierce look. "Kagome has your soul in her. Any power you once had now belongs to her." And with that Shippo and Sango stood next to him.
"I've tried to help you, but you just won't listen! You aren't supposed to be here, and now you've gone and stolen the soul of a woman who loved a fierce man. He isn't very happy about this." Kagome pointed out.
Inuyasha turned away, shaking. The anticipation was too much to bear, and he felt sick. I can't let Kagome do this.. I can't let Kikyo hurt her. What am I gonna do?
"I'll do what I must to be on this earth, until I get what I want." Kikyo said with fire blazing in those eyes. It was the most emotion any of them had ever seen her show, aside from Inuyasha.
"And I'll do what I must. You aren't going to get what you want, Kikyo." And with that, Kagome quickly shot an arrow gleaming with pink light. It shot quickly through the air, the wind bursting. The group of children that had gathered around screamed and they ran for cover.
Inuyasha had never seen Kagome look so ferocious. She looked like a warrior, like a true miko, and he knew that no matter what, something horrible was going to happen here. He wasn't about to let Kagome get hurt, and truthfully didn't care to see Kikyo in pain either.
From the smoke that exploded as the arrow hit, they heard a laugh. Kikyo emerged, shocking them all, completely spotless with a pink light surrounding her. Her laugh intensified, and Kagome pulled out another arrow.
"Foolish girl!" She screamed. "You are nothing compared to me! I am the reason you have the powers that you do! You cannot win against me!" And with that, she put up her hand and the ground caved in from under Kagome.
Kagome screamed as soul-stealers swished past her, catching her hair here and there, nipping at her body. The ground had almost swallowed her, and she gathered up her strength to run out.
Coughing
and choking on the dust that still flew through the air, Kagome
finally pulled herself out and stood back up.
"It's gonna
take more than that to kill me!" She yelled and threw her hand
forward. But nothing happened. No blue light like the few times
before that she'd needed it. Kikyo started to laugh again as Kagome
realized she couldn't call her powers. She was too weak. But she
was determined. If she couldn't kill Kikyo with her power, she
would have to by hand. But could she? Could she really be that close
to someone, knowing that she'd ended their life? With an arrow
fired at her barely grazing her as she ducked, she knew in this case
she would have to. So she ran forward, pulling another arrow out from
behind her.
"Do not be so senseless!" Kikyo yelled. But Kagome didn't listen. She didn't care, at this point. All she could think about was Inuyasha's beautiful face, so serene when he was with just her. And the pained look he got when Kikyo was there. In her mind the words played over and over again, I've never stopped thinking about you, Kikyo! Not even for a day! And in her eyes there was an inferno.
Suddenly, hands came out of nowhere and gripped Kagome by her waist. She jolted, her breath letting out in a rush, confused and wondering what happened before it registered to her that Inuyasha was stopping her.
"Kagome! I can't let you do this!" He cried. Kikyo began to laugh again.
"You see, girl? He will never truly be on your side."
Inuyasha wanted to deny this, he wanted to run away with Kagome in his arms and try to make her understand, but he knew he couldn't. At this moment, he was with Kikyo. He owed her this, to stop death from happening again, when before he had no choice. Kagome looked up at him as the others gasped.
"Inuyasha… Is she telling the truth?" Her warm eyes searched his, begging for an answer, for a no, Kagome, it's not true at all. But he just looked away.
"I can't sit back and watch this happen, Kagome. I have a debt to Kikyo. I've tried to pretend that I could do this, but I can't. I wont!"
The dust settled, and time stood still for the both of them. Kagome knew what this meant, his silent denial of their love. His rejection. She couldn't take it, not after that night, when she'd naively believed it was her before Kikyo, for once. But it wasn't, and she knew it now. Tears gathered in her eyes as she acknowledged this. She stepped back from his grasp, and looked down. Kikyo stood still with an amused smile spread across her cheeks. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo warily watched them. Inuyasha looked away, shamed.
"Okay, Inuyasha. This is it!" She yelled as the tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks. "This is the last time you break my heart!" Then she turned to Kikyo. "And I will be back to finish you off!" And with that, she ran.