Heart of Tensaiga

Bad News

"Inuyasha, I am glad you have come tonight," Kikyo told him as he stood before her. His ears flattened at the sound of her voice, in what she guessed was about the guilt he still felt about her death. "Though, truth be told, you shouldn't have," she stared at him coldly. She had sensed Naraku's magic in the area and had come to investigate though whatever magic was at work seemed to elude her.

At first she had thought it a trap laid out specifically for her since she did happen to be a constant thorn in Naraku's side. He really did deserve it for what he had done to her in the past. She had wandered into the trap knowingly, willing to risk it for just a chance to catch Naraku and perhaps destroy him or at the very least foil whatever plan he had.

Kikyo could see that her words had stung the half demon in front of her and she wasn't sure if she felt bad for it or if she was elated. For so long she had believed he deserved to suffer as much as she had for the betrayal that had befallen her. It took some time to figure out that Inuyasha had not been behind her death. She had been manipulated by someone that she had been helping. Kikyo would never forgive herself for being the cause of so much of the trouble that happened. Had she noticed the cruelty and darkness in the human Onigumo's heart, or even had a little more faith that Inuyasha would never have hurt her, than perhaps things would have turned out differently.

Inuyasha stared at her as his ears went flat against his head in as a sign of guilt. "How could I not come to you Kikyo? I had to know that you were alright," he stated hoping that he did not sound as touchy feely as words like those tended to sound. He really wasn't into all that emotional stuff and avoided it whenever he could. It was just so confusing, the situation between Kikyo and Kagome. Yes, he knew Kikyo was dead and that someday she would have to return her soul to Kagome; but, deep down he wasn't sure how he felt about that.

He also knew Kagome bore the brunt of his indecision. He had promised Kikyo that he would go to hell with her when the time came and he had promised to protect Kagome. He knew sooner or later he would have to choose which promise was more important for him to keep. Inuyasha stared at the clay body of his dead love and wondered if he would ever be able to get over his feelings for her and move on. It was her speaking that brought him out of his thoughts about the two most important women in his life.

"Naraku is up to something though I have not been able to guess what. His aura has dissipated recently during my search so I am guessing he already has what he came for," Kikyo informed him. So he was not after me or Inuyasha. Could he have been after another member of his group? Naraku was rather manipulative like that. He could have lured me out here and in hopes that Inuyasha would come and leave his group unprotected during the night…he could have attacked them instead. Though they would still have had the numbers to fight him long enough for Inuyasha to simply run back and destroy whatever it was that had been sent after them. She knew that whatever the plan it could not be a good thing that Inuyasha was here and not under any kind of attack. "I recommend that you check upon your group. They may have faired the brunt of this plot."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Kikyo mentally sighed at the denseness of her former love. She had forgotten in all this time just how short sighted he could really be when it came to traps and the like. "Inuyasha, I came here because of Naraku. I could sense him in the area and I think perhaps he used me to lure you away from your group," she explained as plainly as she thought she could. "Go to them," she whispered with her cold voice.

With that Inuyasha watched as she turned around and started to walk away from him, into the trees to disappear from sight. He sighed at the thought that she would be leaving for some time again, though quickly started to rush back. His thoughts once again raced between the two women in his life as he ran. He had found after a time just how different the two of them were.

Kagome was bright and cheerful, a kind person to human and demon alike as long as their heart was good. She could see the silver lining in any situation and she was always there when a friend was in need. Even more importantly, she always stood at his side no matter how much he seemed to mess things up. She always trusted him to get her out of whatever situation they had gotten themselves into. It was her faith in him that touched him the most.

Then there was Kikyo who was so quiet and reserved. She had been kind in her own right, helping the children collect various herbs and villagers against the demons that would attack. Sure it had taken her time to warm up to Inuyasha due to her prejudices against demons but she could hardly be blamed for that. That's simply how she was raised to think and from all past experiences it was to be expected. He always wondered why she never had the faith to know that he would never have hurt her in the matter that Naraku did.

Shaking his head, his thoughts returned to the group and getting there as quickly as his feet could carry him.

(A/N) Alright, another long chapter up! Hopefully you guys like my portrayal of Kikyo.