AN: Wow. Only three more chapters left on this thing. Pity, too.Ah, well, here's new chappie for ya!

Everybody's Fool

She was such a fool.

All this time in the presence of the enemy, and still Kikyou could not see the truth standing in front of her. All this time, she might have been able to help him.

Now he was far beyond her reach. His eyes were blood red now, the hanyou gone from his mind. Only he remained, staring at her with such hatred and distain that she could not help but shrink back from him.

Once she would have been able to fend him off, to purify him to nothing but ashes, but not anymore. Those days were gone, thanks to the wish made on the jewel. Kagome had sacrificed what happiness she might have been able to have for her, and now the young miko would have to sacrifice again to save her friends.

She only hoped Sesshoumaru did not let her come alone. He would kill her if she did.

"Come on, Kikyou." His voice was rough, harsh, and sounding less and less like Inuyasha's with every word his spoke. A shiver ran down her spine. "You shouldn't be afraid of me. You're the one I actually like, not Kagome. I chose you after all, remember?"

"You are not Inuyasha." Kikyou spat, backing away from the advancing youkai. "Inuyasha would never have harmed Kagome. He may not have loved her the way he loved me, but he did care for her. He wouldn't have harmed her." She quckly grabbed her bow and leveled an arrow at his chest. Inuyasha froze. His eyes began flickering back and forth between red and gold.

"Kikyou," he whispered, and now his voice was beginning to sound normal. "You wouldn't – you already – please, don't!"

His voice broke, and her resolve weakened. She lowered the arrow. "I don't want to hurt you, Inuyasha." she said softly, trying to reach him. "But you have to fight him. He's the one who made you hurt Kagome. Fight him!"

"Too late." That voice was back, the one that wasn't Inuyasha. The hanyou's eyes were completely red now, and Kikyou knew she lost her chance. "If you insist on causing a struggle, I won't hesitate in killing you."

/----/

Kagome froze a moment. "Kikyou." she whispered.

Sesshoumaru turned to face her, his brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "What?"

"Kikyou's in danger." Kagome said. She sounded confident, her fear still bleeding into her voice. "We need to hurry. We're almost there." She increased her pace, almost running through the woods now. Sesshoumaru easily caught up with her and grabbed her arm, pulling her on his back. "What the devil are you doing?"

"Hold on." he warned. "We'll make better time this way." Kagome nodded and tightened her grip on his shoulders. He could sense her worry as easily as he could smell her fear. "Don't worry, imoto." he said soothingly. "We'll make it there in time."

Soon enough, the village came into sight. Kagome's eyes narrowed as she caught sight of Inuyasha standing over Kikyou's prone form, a broken bow by her side. She leapt off of Sesshoumaru's back and let her miko powers flare around her, drawing the hanyou's attention even before her unexpected shout left her mouth.

"NARAKU!"

/---/

AN: Ha ha! How's that for a cliffy! Review, please!