A/N: This is a 2017-revised chapter. Aside from changes in the writing style, the content has also been edited to reflect changes in the overall plotline of the story. Thanks for reading.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Fukai Mori
21. Ara-mitama
Kagura rode the wind in the deep night. The rain had stopped and the skies cleared to reveal the silver moon. It was calm and peaceful. She liked it like this. If only this ride could last forever, she would not have minded. The only regret was the hollowness in her left chest. She would've liked to feel the crisp winter air, even if she would've been cold. What would it be like to be cold? The living might not understand why she craved an unpleasant sensation, but that was because they never experienced having no sensation at all.
The freedom she craved was a simple one. She did not desire riches and fame to go with it. She just wanted her heart, so she could wander…anywhere.
Kagome's call for Inuyasha to sit had just barely made the Tessaiga miss Sesshoumaru, grazing only his cheek. But now that Inuyasha was exposed, the jewel's youkai flocked after him. A-Un blasted them apart before they could reach his back. This left Kikyou completely open. Hakudoushi zoomed down towards her, but Sango's Hiraikotsu deflected his naginata.
"We won't let you die, Kikyou."
Kikyou could hear Kagome's voice in her heart. She caught Kagome's smile in the distance as Kirara charged Hakudoushi once more.
"Do you not feel hatred towards me, Kagome?" She asked in turn. Kagome hesitated a moment.
"I would be lying if I said I didn't. I have wondered if it would be better if you would just die."
"Then why?"
"Because of the way you are fighting now."
Kikyou notched an arrow to her new bow and tried to aim for Midoriko's heart embedded in the Tessaiga. Her injury made her arrow shake though. "Here, let me," Rin said, steadying both her hands.
Seeing what they were about to do, Kagome called to Miroku and Kouga. "Cover for us!" She said. Kirara turned so Kagome faced Inuyasha. She, too, notched an arrow.
"I thought I was trying to save you because Inuyasha would be sad if you died," Kagome said in her mind, knowing Kikyou could hear her. "But watching the way you are fighting makes me realize that I, by my own will, want to save you."
"The way I am fighting?"
"Before, you had nothing to lose. You clung to life only for revenge. You fought alone in hopes of taking Naraku with you in death. But now, it's different." Kikyou saw Kagome glance to Rin in front of her. Kagome continued. "You now have a new meaning in life, a meaning shared with others. You are no longer fighting for revenge, but for protecting those you care against Naraku. I can't let you die when you have such a noble goal, right?"
"Are you not the same? This is not your time, yet you are fighting for all of us."
Kagome grinned. "I suppose I can't just sit back and let you all play the hero. Besides, I too have people to protect."
Kikyou knew who Kagome referred to. She was not jealous. In fact, she was glad to see Kagome's glance lie on Inuyasha, who was coming to a stand. Kagome took aim of the Tessaiga.
"I am happy he now has you, Kagome."
Kikyou and Rin adjusted their final aim too. Kagome held back her surprise and nodded. "Let's beat Naraku together," she said in her mind. The three women shot together, two violet arrows aiming for the same spot.
"Not so quick!" Hakudoushi called while slamming his naginata into Miroku's staff. The jewel youkai all darted towards the arrows as though drawn by its aura, only to be shredded to pieces while protecting Inuyasha. Fully standing now, Inuyasha turned to Kirara and A-Un and unleashed the Kaze no Kizu…
What is it like to fight for someone else's sake?
Kagura wondered when she arrived at Midoriko's cave. Everyone was fighting not solely for themselves, even Sesshoumaru, who she had always thought would understand her most. Sesshoumaru had only cared for his own strength, right? Then why? Why was he dodging in front of the miko…
She found herself moving in front of him, taking the hit in his stead. There was a voice in her head. Naraku's.
"Are you betraying me?"
Kagura smiled. "Yeah, I guess so."
The Kaze no Kizu struck Kagura in the left chest. There was blood pulsing out her wound.
"I know this is the only way you would give back my heart. Ah…I don't regret it. This feeling…is it warmth?"
The warmth of the dying heart Naraku had given back to her at the last moment, but there was also something else…
The power of the Shikon-no-tama.
Connected to Naraku, Kagura had always felt the jewel's energy whenever he held it, as he probably did now. Its energy had felt powerful, but dark like the night. Any speck of light was too bright that it hurt Kagura to look at it. But now, she felt warmth in the light. This speck of purity would kill her, but she didn't care anymore. She reached out for it.
She reached out for the Tessaiga still lodged in her body, past the spider threads that controlled it, past the barrier Naraku had erected from the Shikon's power, guided by Midoriko's heart.
She touched it and it turned pink. The purity radiated out in cracks that enveloped the entire sword. With a clean, crystalline sound, the Tessaiga shattered.
"Thank you for freeing me." Kagura heard a voice. She had never met this person, but she intuitively knew it was Midoriko.
"I just wanted to free myself," she whispered, falling.
Sesshoumaru came into her view. He fingered the hilt of the Tenseiga, but it would be useless. Her body was being purified by Midoriko's power, and even if that weren't the case, Kagura would still die when Naraku perished. Sesshoumaru's action made her smile though.
"Would you remember me?" She asked him. The moonlight softened the golden glint in his eyes. He stared at her, his silver hair flowing in her last wind.
"Is that what you want to be? A mere memory?"
Good question, but she was too tired to think long on it. The moon above was turning blurry. She could hardly feel her fingers anymore.
"This light…I never realized it is so beautiful. I want to be it. I want to be a light, your light. Because we are the same. We want to be free. I can't do it in the end, but maybe…if I'm your light, at least I can see freedom through your eyes…"
It was a nice thought. She never heard Sesshoumaru's answer. It did not matter. She was at peace with her final decision.
Kagura's body dissolved into dots of light that flew into the skies. Only a remnant remained behind – her ara-mitama, the soul of courage.
It entered Kikyou's body. Naraku had commanded her to kill Kikyou – instead, she gave Kikyou life. She left Kikyou her last words.
"The jewel has started consuming Naraku's heart. Purify it, and he shall die."
End of Chapter - reviews appreciated