No Such Thing as Fate

by Silver Phoenix7

Kagome has made the critical decision to leave the group after stumbling over Kikyou and Inuyasha one to many times. Now growing stronger in the feudal era and making it on her own with a fox kit and lessons learned on the way, life just got interesting.

25. Soul's Burden

Everyone, I've done a horrible thing. My brain did it before I could stop this monstrosity from making it to paper.

This chapter deserves a warning, Ahem:

This chapter contains, blood, gore, and other bodily fluids. It is violent! This is not for people who are faint of heart, Kikyou and Inuyasha lovers, or those who simply can't handle long horrible scrap fights (because this was hardly a battle by any definition I know).

Chapter 25: All Changes Come With Time: Soul's Burden

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Kagome felt her heart drop upon coming face to face with her old friend turned enemy.

"Inuyasha?"

"You know him!" Sin hissed. He tugged at her arm, hoping to pull her away but Kagome refused to budge.

"Yes I know him," Kagome murmured her face twisting into a scowl, "and her."

Kagome met her incarnation's brown gaze and nearly sneered.

"Kikyou."

The undead miko appeared from behind Inuyasha, dragging a hand down his free shoulder lovingly. She smirked and gave a purr that made the hair on Sin's neck stand on end.

"Kagome."

Inuyasha stepped forward, a strange expression on his face. Kagome looked away as familiar golden eyes turned on her.

"Inuyasha."

He looked at her strangely, "Who the hell are you!"

Kagome felt cold horror settle in her gut, "It's me Kagome! You've forgotten me have you?"

Sin stepped away warily.

Inuyasha squinted at her, "Kagome…?" He stared long and hard but seemed unable to make sense of what he was seeing. "Kagome?" he tried again, this time skeptical instead of completely rejecting the possibility.

"It's me Inuyasha! I traveled with you to find the Shikon Shards, I brought you Ramen, how can you not remember me," She demanded.

Kikyou seemed equally interested to find Inuyasha struggling to remember his ex-packmate. She smiled suddenly and Kagome stepped back in alarm. Kikyou lifted her bow and arrow without hesitation and fired. Kagome jumped back and Sin met her at a safe distance, stumbling as he landed.

Inuyasha looked to Kikyou alarmed. The undead woman's face twisted into a scowl as she prepared another arrow.

"You fool, those are demons. That female looking creature is a shape shifter using the jewel shards. She couldn't even steal that girl's appearance properly!"

Kikyou fired another arrow as Inuyasha turned on Sin and Kagome looking outraged.

"We're in deep shit, that's the real Inuyasha isn't it?" Sin laughed nervously. Kagome glanced at him shortly.

"Yes, its Inuyasha, is there another?" she asked irritably.

"It's just…"

Inuyasha was a legend. He was Lord Sesshomaru's estranged younger brother and like all rebellious children, Sin had liked him because he was the outcast hero like something out of a fairytale. Anybody who was anybody knew who Inuyasha was. His name circulated among the young warriors of every clan, more so when he finished an epic battle against the evil hanyou Naraku. Naraku who had touched everyone's lives in one way or another and was generally hated in all levels of society; so, anyone that could stand against him repeatedly like Inuyasha had was going to be the object of hero-worship whether they wished it or not.

Inuyasha was that person everyone wanted to be. It was like a phase all young boys passed through before they tried to be like their dads - or better yet like the ruling Lords, feared and respected warriors. Later they all moved on to wanting to be like Lord Sesshomaru once indoctrinated into adult society; it was just the way things were.

Being such a big influence on children in clans, the leaders of said clans hated Inuyasha passionately and hated it even more when the young boys mimicked him, trying to live up to an ideal they had only heard about. However, they had all realized that their children could be copying someone much worse. 'Lower class scum' was something nobody could ever label Inuyasha without first offending his older half-brother by relation; he was a prince with excellent breeding despite his human parentage. He'd been cast out because of human blood and nothing more. It was let the boys idolize Inuyasha or idolize Naraku, and most adults logically preferred the hanyou prince.

Inuyasha wasn't the only staggering super power that they closely watched, his whole group were the stuff of legends. The last of the Tajiya and her pet cat were a force to be reckoned with. She was a human woman that could fling a bone boomerang twice her size, so of course people were ogling. The perverted monk was well known for his Kazanna that could suck in demons of any size and power level. The fox child that traveled with them assured children that the group was kind to children despite rumors circulating among the adults that said otherwise.

Then of course there were rumors of the Shikon Miko, her arrows had pierced the hardest hide, had given Naraku pause; she'd stood against Lord Sesshomaru confidently only to walk away from the skirmish without casualties on either side, and through all of her hard times she somehow kept that cursed jewel pure. She was the head of the group and kept Inuyasha in line because, according to the adults, hanyou's weren't very smart and had to be watched or they ran wild. They were the juggernaut of a group that opposed the dwarfing evil Naraku.

The reality before Sin hurt a lot; there was Inuyasha with a strange woman practically reeking of dark power. The miko across from him made Sin's skin crawl, much more than the normal run in with a miko would. If that was the Shikon Miko, Sin felt the world was a cruel and horrible place.

But then, Kagome knew Inuyasha and claimed to have traveled with him? Something weird was going on here or his name wasn't Sin.

"Kagome, we can't fight him."

While a lot of the rumor's Sin had heard were being torn down with a spiked sledgehammer, he wasn't willing to find out if Inuyasha's staggering fighting prowess was one of those false rumors.

"I don't think he's going to give us a choice," she grunted.

She yanked the chain from around her neck and Sin looked impressed as the weapon appeared in her hand, metal gleaming in the light. Inuyasha only managed to look gleeful as he raced forward into battle. Kagome raced out to meet him knowing Inuyasha's abilities better than anyone else. If he swung Tetsuaiga, the forest would be gone and she and Sin would be splatters somewhere a few miles away.

Inuyasha grunted, startled by her speed but he slid to a stop as a scythe appeared from her weapon. The metal of her scythe screeched as it met Tetsuaiga violently. Kagome gripped her weapon with both hands, fighting against Inuyasha's inhuman strength. The youki she shoved into the staff had given just what she needed to hold off Inuyasha's one-handed swing but that burst of strength wasn't lasting.

Inuyasha huffed and pushed at her weapon. Kagome's feet slid in the soil but she held her ground, a frantic look in her eyes.

"Why are you attacking us Inuyasha, you know me!"

"I don't know you bitch!" He clawed at her and Kagome jumped back, faltering in alarm.

"You stole Kagome's form. The dumb bitch went and got herself killed and you take her form of all people. I'll never forgive you!" he sneered, "You couldn't even do that right," He spat.

Kagome had no time to move because Inuyasha pulled a Sesshomaru move on her. He spun to pick up the speed he had lost by her block and unleashed a Kaze no Kizu in her direction. She gasped shoving her staff into the ground. The metal spread slowly as if to mock her and Kagome realized it wouldn't form a shield quickly enough. Arms wrapped around her waist and Kagome felt like scalding hot coffee had been poured into her veins. The staff reacted too, sparking violently with youki. The shield expanded to block the Kaze no Kizu but she was still nearly thrown when the attack hit. Kagome shoved at the staff, trying to keep her shield upright.

Behind her, Sin dropped to his knees shaking and threatening to be blown away. Kagome reached back and grabbed hold of his top pulling him flush against her backside. He grabbed hold of her leg but the attack ended as quickly as it began and they were spared.

Kagome panted, sweat dripping from her brow. Inuyasha was not a joke. She'd never thought so and she didn't think so now. This was the same boy who'd lopped off Sesshomaru's arm and was still alive to tell the tale. He was trying to kill her and she didn't think that the both of them would walk from the battle if they truly faced off.

He wasn't being logical, as usual, and he saw her as a nastier than usual enemy because apparently she'd 'stolen' her appearance. She realized then that she was quite screwed. Her strength wasn't anywhere near what it'd been when she'd left the Temple of Light and she hadn't been eating enough Eyan either.

Kagome moved her shield aside, realizing it would get her killed if she couldn't see what was happening.

Inuyasha stood staring with an irritated look on his face.

"Where are the Shikon Shard's bitch, hand them over and I might kill you quickly. Your little friend looks about ready to kill over."

Kagome didn't glance back but she clutched at Sin's top. She felt his hot breath at the small of her back and when she tried to pull him to his feet, he only groaned.

"Shit," she grumbled.

This fight struck her as odd though. Inuyasha was still skeptical about her identity, the fact he was giving her a chance to hand over the shards instead of hacking her to pieces said a lot.

Okay, so he was thinking and being a dick at the same time. She was not upset about that at all. Maybe he'd come to his senses before this situation got out of hand.

She took in his form, very aware she hadn't been able to see this well in a while. She could make out the strands of hair floating in the breeze, the stitching of his clothes, the dark brown of his prayer beads–she knew for a fact his prayer beads weren't long enough to wrap around twice so why did he have two sets of beads?

Liquid fire raced up her neck and her forehead ached sharply. Kagome's hand shot up to defend and Kikyou's arrow connected with the shield. Once again, she held her ground as the arrow struggled to get through her guard. With a jerk, Kagome knocked projectile aside. It hit the ground and Kagome grunted as red sparks jumped up her arm and danced across the metal of her weapon.

"Youki?"

She glanced shortly to Sin, he looked up at her blurrily, his chin resting on the curve of her behind.

"You needed help," he offered in way of explanation, "I tried pushing some energy toward the shield but."

'I took too much,' she realized horrified.

She reached for his face, trying to think of a way to give him back his power boost but he jerked his head away, "You need it. That's Inuyasha, he'll kill you."

She couldn't deny that truth.

"I'll be okay," He swore.

Kagome frowned in displeasure.

"Give me the shards," Inuyasha yelled angrily, eyes flashing behind his white bangs.

Sin made a strange sound and kneeled over, a hand covering his face as if he would throw up.

Kagome glanced at him alarmed and immediately noticed the deathly brown grass where Kikyou's arrow had fallen. There was the horrid smell of rot spreading from the arrow, killing the blades of grass in its path.

"Oh!" She whispered horrified. "Get up, you have to run," Kagome snapped at Sin. He obeyed, getting to his feet uncertainly.

"I can't leave you!"

"You can barely see straight, I'll use the energy you gave me before I have to release it. Go get help Sin."

He looked ready to protest but Inuyasha's patience was at its end.

"Bakuryuha!"

Kagome put the shield back in place and Sin ducked behind her. They both slid as the ground beneath them seemed to be lifting. Kagome flinched as a blade of wind cut into her arm that hung a little too close to the edge of the shield. The wind stopped and Kagome sensed the danger before she saw it. She reached in blind terror for the dagger at her hip but Inuyasha was upon them.

He swung Tetsuaiga where he smelled blood. She paused in horror but a fist and hilt appeared in her face. There was the clang of metal meeting metal and the back of a sword pressed into the gash up her arm. Sin grunted but was able to stop Tetsuaiga from going any further with his own sword. Inuyasha's gaze jerked to Sin's, hatred in his eyes.

Kagome's gaze focused on the prayer beads around his neck. One pair of beads appeared simple enough; worn, battered, and familiar. They were the one's Kaede had put around the unruly hanyou but the other one's she didn't recognize. They were a deep blue color and gleamed with a dark purple aura. They were dangerous but Kagome wasn't sure just how dangerous just yet.

She knew that when Inuyasha caught footing on the ground they were so screwed. She needed a second to think damnit! Still, this was a battle and if she wanted anything, she had to make it so.

Inuyasha hadn't touched the ground again since his lunge and she didn't intend to let him while he was so close. Kagome lunged forward and took her dagger to his face. He yelped in surprise as she dropped the shield for better reach. Blood flew between them splattering her face. He didn't land on his feet as planned because not a split second later she shoved the top of her shield into his gut. He reeled, sent flying back.

Kagome grabbed Sin and ran for her life.

Inuyasha let out a cry of pain and a glance back revealed him already on his knees, clutching at his bloody face. Kagome made note of Kikyou's red clad backside as the undead woman rushed away. Inuyasha was on his feet not a second later, swinging that damned sword of his like a two-by-four.

The flare of youki had both Kagome and Sin glancing back in alarm to face a Bakuryuha.

It could only be described as a rage filled entity made by the torrents of debris and soil it picked up and its creators rage. Kagome looked into a dog's maw that appeared in the wind. Quiet and terror surrounded her.

'God's, he means to kill us. He really doesn't recognize me.'

She closed her eyes feeling tears burn behind her eyelids. She might have felt hatred toward Inuyasha at some point but they had built a relationship, they had been friends at some point, they had fought and suffered together. She'd never dreamed of killing him but he obviously didn't feel the same. There was no restraint…

Sin grabbed hold of her, trying to protect her from the attack and she glanced up at him.

'That's right, if I die, Sin dies. I can't allow that.'

And it seemed she couldn't show restraint either. One of them had to go down and she would be damned if she just rolled over and let Inuyasha have his way.

They were being lifted and the wind cut into their huddled bodies. She forced a torrent of youki into the staff and the metal spread out further; thinning as the shield stretched to its maximum, the veins of metal that slid into her arm for energy bulged widening the wounds.

"Jump!"

Sin didn't have time to disobey because when she leapt, he was inadvertently swept off his feet. The beast of an attack slammed into the shield full force. They shot like bullets toward the forest, sent up, and made airborne. She'd used the shield well and they'd survived a sure death blow.

Sin looked back groggily at the wave of air that slammed into a wall of trees, thankfully without them caught between the two.

He looked to Kagome and electric blue eyes caught his gaze.

"That was so cool," he said quietly into the wind.

Kagome's eyes widened, "You word thief" She whispered, eyes gleaming in amusement.

That screech of mind numbing danger stole their moment. Kagome shoved Sin away as an arrow passed right through where his head had been. His eyes widened in horror and their moment of freedom was over.

They were dropping toward the trees at an alarming rate. Kagome screamed, realizing her massive shield caused her to drop much faster. She drew back in her power and the veins in her arm shrank spurting more blood into the wind. Kagome sputtered when blood splattered across her face.

She twirled head over heels, suddenly dizzy and disoriented.

"Kagome!"

Sin dropped toward her and managed to catch hold of her arm. Kagome blinked as they slowed in the air. Sin pulled her up and smiled uncertainly.

"You can fly," She sputtered.

"Of course I can, I'm a bird," He huffed indignantly even as he swayed and struggled with his ability.

Another arrow flew at them and Sin was the first to see this one. He cried out and an attempt to dodge broke his concentration. They both yelped, dropping the short distance into the canopy of a tree. The branches so high up couldn't support them and made plenty of noise as branch after branch snapped under their weight. Kagome caught hold of a sturdy old branch and looked up in time to see Sin drop past her like a ton of bricks.

He broke a few more branches but eventually caught hold of a decent bough.

"Sin!" Kagome called with a groan, her body throbbing painfully.

She saw him lift his head but he didn't respond. Kagome took a second and closed her eyes, searching. Inuyasha was a short distance away but it would take him a second to sniff them out. She couldn't sense Kikyou and that worried her more than the Inu-hanyou's eventual appearance. Kikyou had hidden somewhere and was taking cheap shots at every chance.

"Sin!" Kagome stuffed her staff between her top and the pelt tied on her shoulders, hoping it wouldn't slip free. She dangled by her hands and swung her legs a few times before taking a mighty leap. Her arms caught the branch Sin had landed on and she scrambled frantically to pull herself up. She managed to get a leg over the branch. With a huff, she hopped to her feet, took a second to balance herself as she'd learned in monk training, before she moved quickly toward Sin.

He looked up at her and managed a weak smiled.

Kagome sighed in relief. He was okay, just tired. Offering her hand it wasn't long before she pulled Sin to his feet. They stood in frightened silence listening to the forest. It was deathly quiet but they heard nothing other than their own panting and wheeze's of pain.

"They're monsters," He announced firmly.

Kagome put a hand to his chest, "I know" she agreed, "Go Sin. They want me, not you."

"I can't leave you to fight them." He whispered harshly. Swallowing thickly, he used his sleeve to wipe the splashes of blood from her face. At the sight of red when he pulled back, she remembered their wounds.

"They're kicking our ass," she admitted eyeing Sin's bloody clothing where he'd been sliced up; he was dirty, starting to bruise, and tense with uncertainty. She looked just as bad, she could see her reflection in Sin's gaze. Kagome pet her back to make sure the staff was still there and when she found it, she checked the wounds of her arm. The limb was a dripping filthy mess.

"God's," Sin whispered reaching for the wounded limb. Kagome jerked away, "They'll track you down if you smell like my blood, and you're already in bad enough shape to attract attention by yourself. Go get help, please Sin. They don't want you."

Sin knew better than to argue. His parents and his older brother had no shame in slapping him for arguing with them in dire situations and he didn't fancy being slapped by Kagome. Sin decided that he was hurt enough and getting the older males back at camp would help them immensely, "Only if you take my blood to heal yourself."

Kagome gapped at him, "No!"

"It's obvious that you can use it, you have a demon weapon. I have youki in my blood you can use the extra energy to fight or something."

"You've given me enough energy, you need to go get help. Leave now!"

He made an ugly face but turned and dropped into another group of trees obediently.

A red blur appeared in the distance and Kagome focused in on Inuyasha's face.

His left eye was gone and an ugly bloody wound curved from his cheek up over his eye, toward his temple. His face was a gory bloody mess and currently twisted in the most hateful expression. She did not regret what she had done the same way he didn't seem to regret hurting her.

The Inu-hanyou gave a smile that would have made Naraku squeal in glee.

Kagome could swear she saw her life flash before her eyes.

"Bakuryuha!"

She put the shield between her and the attack, jumped, and rode the wind knowing she would be hurt more if she stayed put. Kagome held on tightly as she was launched a good distance away into another tree.

There was a deafening snap and Kagome grabbed hold of a branch a distance away and held on as the wind began to die. The tree's swayed with the force of the attack but one tree had suffered the most. The tree she'd just been in was currently kissing its own roots, hovering in a state of shock. Kagome gasped in horror as the tree slid down its own side and shook the earth when its canopy finally hit the ground. Two bundles of sharp broken bark that should never been separated were revealed, yellow and healthy, now dead.

Inuyasha was upon her. Kagome yanked the staff forward and let go of the branch she held onto when Inuyasha swung tetsusaiga at her torso, intending to cut her in half. She blocked with her shield and the blow knocked her back into another tree. She landed on her feet but an arrow flew from nowhere and embedded itself in Kagome's side. She staggered and glanced at it but had no time to register what it meant.

She yanked the shaft from her side, and tossed the arrow aside. The metal probes slid back into her arm as the scythe appeared. She grinned, completely disregarding her own wounds as Inuyasha lunged.

"Sit Boy!"

A look of horror crossed his face just before he plummeted toward the ground. Kagome back flipped from her tree with a peel of laughter.

The ground was the safest place for a human. If Inuyasha fell from a tree, he would be getting back up ready to rip someone's face off in moments, If Kagome fell from a tree, she was down for the count and probably dead. Of course, she preferred it if the hanyou hit the ground before he got the chance to knock her from her tree. She leapt from branch to branch, making her way toward the ground as Inuyasha screamed in his hole.

Kagome drew her dagger as she landed beside him and took a fist full of his hair. She lifted his head. Inuyasha's eye was wide and frantic.

"Kagome!" he cried.

She paused stunned he'd called to her.

"Kagome, please!"

She hesitated, she'd never imagined having Inuyasha beg before her. "Kagome let me up, let me up, It's you, it's you!"

No way in hell she was letting him up.

She looked at the bloody hanyou in disgust, "You'll kill me, do I look stupid to you?"

"No I won't I just want the shards. I'll leave you alone," He swore.

Kagome's face twisted in rage and she let his face fall back into its imprint.

"What, are you going to give them to that dead bitch? The shards are my responsibility. I'll never give them to you," she spat in rage.

Inuyasha moaned in his hole.

Nearly seven years of fighting and crying and struggling and this was what she'd coveted for? Inuyasha was pitiful; she felt pitiful for having done so much to outdo the hanyou, to prove herself better. She was better, she'd been better even before her journey, it had just taken her years to realize so.

Kagome's vision blurred and she stared at the red clad beast that had ruined her life - the boy she had let ruin her life. The tears flowed, washing away streaks of dirt and blood from her face.

Inuyasha had gone still in his hole.

Kagome turned to walk away.

"I never want to see you again Inuyasha. Attack me one more time and I'll make you regret it."

Kagome staggered away. The staff withdrew its probes and Kagome pressed a healing hand to her arm as the youki in her blood calmed. Her side was one big red stain and it hurt worse than any other wound on her body but her arm was more useful to heal at the second. She felt so ill and she couldn't help wondering how everything had come rushing to this point.

A sound made her pause.

She glanced back quickly only for a fist to catch her square in the stomach. Kagome gasped and immediately stopped breathing as the edges of her vision darkened. She held a hand to her stomach as Inuyasha withdrew his fist. Her mind was trying to shut down but the pain somehow kept her on the edge of consciousness. She saw his fist coming but she couldn't see straight let alone think about dodging.

Kagome hit the ground dazed the blow knocking breath back into her lungs. Kagome rolled over immediately and vomited before collapsed with a pitiful whimper, holding her stomach. The sound of Inuyasha's footsteps echoed like drums in her ears and gave her strength to move. She rolled over, and was scrambling away on her ass before she realized. Blood dribbled from her mouth and ran down her neck into her shirt. Inuyasha was free of his subjugation, it hadn't held him nearly as long as it used to. She regretted not killing her old friend now because he most certainly was going to kill her.

So much for compassion, there was no place for her kind in this era.

Inuyasha was on her in seconds, delivering another blow to stun. "You bitch, I'll kill you and take the shards!"

There was no recognition in his wild eyes and Kagome realized belatedly she'd been deceived. He didn't remember her and it only left her numb.

Inuyasha grabbed at her neck tightly and some part of her wondered why he didn't snap her neck there and put her out of her misery. Well, whatever his reason, he would regret it.

'I can't forgive you.'

Her hand shot out glowing with fiery yellow energy as she pressed it to his chest and dug broken human nails into Inuyasha's collarbone. The hanyou unleashed a mighty howl but Kagome felt a frightening steadiness of mind and body at that moment. She watched him scream dispassionately before sharply lifting her knee. Inuyasha spat up, his eye widening in pain and his body locking up in alarm. He didn't resist as she pushed him off her body.

Inuyasha curled on the ground. Kagome rolled away from him just as an arrow buried itself in the soil. Kagome panted, liquids smearing her face and plastering her hair to her face. It wasn't hard to guess where the arrow had come from, Kikyou had revealed herself this time. Kagome stood with a sway and a snarl, spitting a few teeth and a glob of blood from her mouth.

She snatched up her forgotten staff and raced for the trees. She couldn't sense Kikyou's miko energy but so close she could make out the miko's twisted and frightened aura.

Kagome scaled the tree in seconds and leapt through the branches. She felt good at the thought of catching Kikyou. It may have been the youki in her body, it could have been the blood loss; it was more likely madness rushing to the surface in her defense, because right now she had every intention of ripping Kikyou's dry and crumbling heart from her chest and trying to eat it.

Kagome caught a glimpse of Kikyou's bright red pants in the trees. She was in no condition to speed up but she was content in following the terrified swirling aura ahead. Kagome gave a bloody grin high off adrenaline.

'Is this what it feels like to hunt? Delightful.'

Kagome's head snapped to the side and she darted to a branch on her left. She gripped her staff tightly and took a swing just as she emerged from behind a tree to land on its branch. Kikyou shrieked when she landed on a branch at the same time and her face connected with Kagome's staff for a home run. The older woman plummeted toward the ground.

Kagome tsked. Kikyou's head had been about a foot from the blade of her staff, she'd badly miscalculated when the cursed miko had doubled back.

Kikyou's training kicked in and Kagome found herself mildly impressed when the undead miko landed on her feet. When Kikyou looked up she automatically fired back at Kagome, having already prepared her weapon mid fall.

Kagome side stepped the arrow but paused when a cough wretched itself from her throat. She swallowed uncertainly tasting iron and what could only be described as a shit-like flavor, not oblivious to the dark blood now staining her sleeve. Her mouth, her gums where teeth had been knocked out, and her whole body hurt something fierce but she was numbed with the promise of revenge. She would fight until her body collapsed if she had to.

Kikyou raced away toward Inuyasha, nursing her broken nose.

Inuyasha was struggling back to his feet, lips nearly blue at the assault on his being. "Get up Inuyasha" Kikyou screamed, "That demon is going to kill me!" She sobbed, her tears stained black with ashes.

Kikyou was truly scared of her and the thought just tickled Kagome pink.

Laughter bubbled up from Kagome's throat and she was sure that when Inuyasha looked up at her she looked more like a demon than ever before. If he'd been considering she might have been 'his Kagome' before, that thought was long gone.

Kagome could have cared less; she'd never been so free.

Inuyasha glanced to the pitiful little sword lying forgotten between Kagome's tree and his reach. He didn't know when he'd lost it but he knew he was going to die if he didn't get it back. He lunged forward despite the pain; Kagome jumped from the tree; Kikyou frantically prepared a bow and arrow.

There was a sharp thud and Inuyasha's shout of pain. Kagome landed, surprised by the arrow pinning Inuyasha's hand inches from Tetsuaiga's hilt. She followed the trail of the arrow and was stunned stupid to see Koji standing firmly in a tree about thirty feet away, another arrow notched and ready to go. He fired at Kikyou and, by the gods, it flew true. Kikyou staggered with a cry when it caught her in the leg.

Wailing frantically, the undead miko hobbled into the forest.

"Koji!" Kagome shouted as Inuyasha ripped the arrow from his hand and took up Tetsuaiga. Koji took the hint and leapt from his tree. Kagome heard the cry of a horse as Inuyasha stood.

"Bakuryuha!" Kagome lunged and dragged Inuyasha's arm from its arch. Inuyasha looked at Kagome alarmed, she only grinned with wild abandon

"Shit!" He roared as Kagome's crazed laughter rang out.

Kikyou glanced back when an explosion blew debris skyward.

"Idiot," She screamed angrily, struggling toward an open space. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Kagome wasn't supposed to be this strong and Inuyasha certainly wasn't supposed to be getting his ass handed to him by her. Kikyou had planned to get the jewel from Kagome, kill the girl to get her soul back and move on with her life. It was very simple, nothing outrageous or extreme but of course, with Kagome involved it had gone to the extreme and beyond.

Everything about the girl had been extreme from day one, her existence in another time was extreme of the ridiculous kind; but the girls clothing to the way she talked had spoken of what type of events would surround her. Kikyou felt rather foolish. She should have prepared for the worst-case scenario –for the extreme - with a little twit like Kagome in the mess and an incompetent Inu-hanyou to add stupidity to the mix.

"Kikyou!"

…or not.

Kikyou turned and was surprised at the state Inuyasha was in, he was a filthy bloody mess but he was her savior right then. He held a bloody hand to his chest, just below his heart and Kikyou realized Kagome had stabbed him.

"Inuyasha!"

He stumbled to a stop blinked rapidly in a way that suggested he had a bad headache.

"Where's Kagome!" She demanded.

Inuyasha opened his mouth to answer, paused, thought about it, and frowned at her.

Kikyou looked away toward the forests as if searching for danger.

She'd messed up and dense for balls was actually paying attention.

"Kagome? You said that was a demoness!"

"It is a demoness" Kikyou snapped.

"Kagome's not a demoness, she's a human." He told her sternly forgetting the battle he'd just finished against her.

Kikyou made a face at him. Inuyasha wasn't sure who Kagome was anymore. Of course, he had a vague notion of what she was like, or supposed to be like. Being faced against the powerful woman she had become in his absence was certainly throwing his imagination for a loop. She was no long little Kagome that had been a key figure of the Inu-tachi. Now she was Kagome, a fierce and accomplished warrior. All he knew was that Sango and Miroku complained about missing her but it seemed like he remembered nothing more about the current Shikon Miko other than what he was told.

That was…frightening.

There was noise in the forest. "It's her, we have to move so we can plan," Kikyou insisted.

Inuyasha grunted and pulled her onto his back realizing Kikyou's logic was sound. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as he took off.

XXXXXXXXX

"Kagome-sama!"

Minawo rushed forward frantically as Kagome sat up shrugging a sheet of dirt off her body.

"Gods! Milady you must be still," He demanded kneeling beside her.

She glanced up, head swaying and her gaze blurry. He'd never seen a conscious human in such a state but of course his mistress was the exception to the rule.

Kagome considered the gathered soldiers, all staring at her shocked. Koji came forward with bandages he'd dragged from a horse's pouch but Kagome shook her head. For some reason it had never occurred to her that her advisors would be skilled in battle. It certainly hadn't occurred to her that her advisors were more than grumpy old men who'd been born into good families and had ended up at Taishi's side.

Koji had stood about thirty feet away, in a tree, in a dense forest, and had hit a moving hanyou target in the hand as he'd reached for everyone's death. Kagome now had her proof that her advisors had probably been the monsters behind the ruler. Every lord of this time seemed to find them amongst the crowd and a lord that could pick the best of the best, the exceptions to the rule, usually lived longer.

Minawo and Koji were oblivious to her thoughts panicking as she dripped blood and filth before them.

"My lady!"

She coughed, blood coming up dark and smelling of rot. Minawo barked orders for the soldiers to turn away and guard the clearing. Koji was speaking to her and she struggled to understand.

"…it off to see the wounds. Forgive me my lady."

He reached forward Kagome started as he pulled her shirt over her head. She had bound her breast with bandages and that seemed to satisfy Koji enough so that he didn't feel so ashamed. He paused taking in her damaged body, twisting one of the bandages he held in alarm. She was one bloody bruise and if her wounds didn't become infected he swore to himself that he would call her lady goddess from then on.

He pressed a hand to the green splotch of skin dribbling yellow liquid and blood from her side. He'd never seen anything like it. Kagome put a hand over the arrow wound from Kikyou.

"Milady?"

Kagome managed a weak smile that appeared ghastly to her advisor. Her mouth was bloody and a handful of her teeth were missing. Her face was gory, sticky, and sweaty. He nearly cried out but she cut in, "I have to go and finish this fight," She said gently.

His hand trembled and he looked so young right then, "There is internal bleeding, you'll die."

She blinked, as if startled by the reply before her smile became tinged with fear. "If I don't stop them, you all may be killed. I can't let that happen."

Nobody could find the state of mind to fight with her.

"I need a bow, arrows, and a sword." She demanded glancing at her dagger. She stuffed the small blade back in its sheath.

Minawo swallowed nervously before passing her the sword from his sash. Kagome stood slowly begging her body to hold out a little longer.

Koji stood with her, his bow hanging about his shoulder, "I'll be your bow and arrows milady. Let me go with you."

She considered him a long moment then finally nodded. He rushed away and grabbed hold of his horse. Kagome limped after him uncertainly and watched as he swung himself up onto the saddle.

"Milady, we should hurry. The faster we finish the faster we can see about your treatment." Kagome stared at his offered hand before smirking, "Well Koji, you're turning out to be an interesting person."

He smirked and hefted her up onto the saddle. She settled in front of him and he gave her the horse reins.

"We will follow you milady," Minawo called holding her forgotten shirt out to her. Kagome nodded, grabbed her top to use as a face rag, before tossing it back to the ground. Minawo picked up the top watching as she directed the horse into the forest.

Minawo raced to his own horse as they vanished into greenery, "Hurry, we must follow!" He bellowed to the soldiers as he stuffed her forgotten shirt in a pouch on his own horse.

Ahead, Koji prepared a bow and arrow while Kagome directed the horse through the brush. She hissed quietly, a hand to the spot where Inuyasha had punched her.

"Do you know where they are?" Koji asked over the roar of the wind.

He eyed the girl, no, woman before him. She was one of the fiercest women he'd ever seen and he felt no shame in thanking the gods that she was on his side. Despite her bruises, despite her wounds, despite the pain that made her squint at the forest ahead, she was beautiful. His fierce warrior princess. Whoever married this woman would have to be a man among men. He would allow her nothing less but the best because she was the best of the best.

People could sniff at him and his princess, put her down and say she was but a woman, tell him he was an idiot, but he wondered if those people judging had ever met a princess like Kagome.

She nodded, oblivious to his inner thoughts, "Yes, I can sense Inuyasha. I haven't been able to sense Kikyou for some reason but there are spells and wards to hide one's presence. Kikyou was a miko of impressive power while she lived."

"While she lived," Koji repeated sounding horrified.

"Hai, Kikyou is not alive. Her body is made of grave soil"

Kagome heard Koji gasp.

"An undead miko and a hanyou, you know such people."

Kagome grinned in amusement.

"Of course."

"Well our lives are never boring with you here my lady."

Kagome chuckled, "glad that I could entertain," She glanced back shortly, "How did you find us?"

Koji smacked an obtrusive branch aside, "That demon, Sin, he came rushing back to us wounded. He was searching for your jiji-demon and his own father but they hadn't returned. He went to find them."

Kagome grumbled but nodded.

They broke through the tree line and Kagome spotted bright red in the distance.

"There they are. Impress me more Koji," She purred, kicking at the horses sides to move the beast of burden faster.

Koji actually moved away from her and Kagome glanced back in gleeful fascination as he stood on the saddle, "Keep the horse steady milady."

Kagome nodded as Koji balanced himself.

Seconds later Kagome saw the arrow take off and she couldn't help but stare. Her sharp gaze focused in as Koji's arrow caught Kikyou in the back and the Miko arched in pain.

Koji hopped back into his seat on the saddle as Kagome decided to stretch her lungs.

"Inuyasha Sit!"

Inuyasha immediately did a sliding face plant.

Kagome stopped the horse and looked at the struggling couple on the ground. She looked back at Koji, "You actually hit them."

He carried himself with pride but dismissed her exclamation as if it were nothing important, "I am the finest archer in your service my lady."

Kagome nodded, "I'll remember that." She glanced at Kikyou and Inuyasha, "Inuyasha is mine," she announced hauntingly.

"Hai," Koji agreed as she slid off the saddle.

Kikyou staggered to her feet and looked back at Kagome with a frightened expression.

"Inuyasha, get up!" She demanded tugging at the hanyou's raggedy sleeve.

"He is stuck, he's not getting up for another minute at least," Kagome called, drawing her staff and the borrowed sword.

"Get up you fool!" Kikyou took hold of his collar frantically and when that didn't budge him, she grabbed at brown prayer beads about his neck.

Inuyasha jerked and began to rise with Kikyou's tugging.

Kagome heard the hanyou cough and a glob of mud fell to the ground. "He's mine, you're pathetic subjugation spell is useless." Kikyou laughed maniacally, her eyes wide with terror.

Kagome flinched when she felt a shift in Inuyasha's aura. Kikyou felt it too because she jerked and looked to the Inu-hanyou.

"Inuyasha?"

He looked at Kikyou with blood red eyes, his face marked with proof of his lineage. Kagome took a step back, suddenly losing about a fourth of her confidence especially when Kikyou released him and stepped back uncertainly.

"Koji," She called to her advisor in warning.

He knew she was telling him to run for it but he couldn't bring himself to move. Kagome snorted at him but didn't warn him again.

The sound drew Inutaisho's attention. He looked between the two miko's considering who was more dangerous. Kagome held weapons, Kikyou stood there looking stupid…

Without a second thought, he started toward Kagome. Her eyes widened and some part of her brain demanded that she drop her weapons and run for dear life but that would only hasten her path to the afterlife. She immediately regretted that decision not to flee when she saw a very active Tetsuaiga gripped in Inuyasha's hand. His lip lifted in a snarl as he stalked toward her.

Kagome stuffed the sword she held back in its sheath and rushed Inuyasha gripping the staff with two hands. If she gave him the chance to rush her, she knew she would lose the power struggle but at least this way she had a chance.

Inuyasha let out a fierce snarl when her scythe-less staff met Tetsuaiga. A blade was more of a threat but this way a mindless demon didn't see her as much of a danger. Her theory was proven correct when she clubbed Inuyasha across the face. He didn't stagger but it did make him angrier. She immediately pulled the scythe out. She'd been correct about his sense of danger but what good was that when he had an impossible pain threshold.

Inuyasha roared and charged.

Kagome's body was in no condition to play peek-a-boo-dodge with an angry Inu-hanyou, she took a violent swing at his side but he caught staff and tried to yank it from her. He tried once, then twice, whipping her about, but the third time she released it. He stumbled and she lunged with glowing hands.

Her fist found his chest. His eyes widened in pain and he spit up blood. He dropped her weapon and tried to use Tetsuaiga on her but she was in his face almost instantly…well her foot was.

Inuyasha jerked to the side holding his still decent right eye. Kagome put her feet firmly on the ground and huffed. That sword was going to be the death of her and so she charged with the intent to take it from him. He howled when her glowing hand caught his wrist. She dug her nails into whatever flesh she could reach knowing she couldn't just yank it away though she badly wanted too. Inuyasha's free hand raced out and caught her by her throat. She faltered and instinctively began to panic but she caught herself and dug her glowing fingers into this wrist also.

It came suddenly, the feel of power building quickly.

She dug her chin into his hand and pile-drived his arm with her own elbow.

He dropped her in surprise but she released him too and ran away.

Inuyasha looked up at an outraged shriek. A bird, only about the size of Sesshomaru's head when in his true form, hovered at the tree line. It was a magnificent beast, a hawk, currently holding a ball of wildly glowing energy in its beak. It released its attack that hit the ground so fast Kagome only had enough to time to drag Koji off his horse and hit the ground before it exploded. Kagome flinched at the horse's shriek as it was blown off its feet, she glanced up nonetheless. Inuyasha had dodged and was staring up at the bird in annoyance as he was buffeted by the wind. The attack ended as quickly as it'd started. The hawk fluttered uncertainly, bleeding from its mouth as it tried to fly away.

"Sin?" Kagome gasped, recognizing his unique eyes and aura.

Koji cried out in alarm as Inuyasha threatened to swing Tetsuaiga at their savior.

Kagome shrieked at the top of her lungs, "Sit Inuyasha!"

The Inu-hanyou face planted and Koji stopped panicking enough to gap.

Kikyou rushed over, yanking the forgotten arrow from her back. Inuyasha needed to get up or they would both die. The undead miko refused to let that happen.

"Inuyasha!" She once again grabbed at his prayer beads, dispelling Kagome's subjugation. Inuyasha stumbled to his feet in a rage. His red eyes turned on her and Kagome felt bad for Kikyou at that instant.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm not your enemy, they are!" She hissed in his face. "Kill them!" She demanded hysterically.

He growled at her but she seemed determined to make him heel.

"Inuya-"

The hanyou swung at her and Kagome heard a distinct snap as Kikyou went flying far and high.

It could have happened in slow motion because Kagome stared in horror as Inuyasha's prayer beads snapped and the individual beads gleamed in the light as they went flying from their owner. Mockingly, one bead landed before Kagome and Koji on the grass. Kagome gapped in horror and Koji picked up the unassuming bead.

"That's bad isn't it," he asked weakly.

"Fuck us…" Kagome grumbled her head bobbing in exhaustion.

They both watched Kikyou's arch through the air. The forest shook and all was eerily silent before it all exploded outward. A massive black wolf lunged from the cloud of debris, drooling in rage, eyes glowing red, and maw wide open.

Kikyou shrieked and Kagome gasped in horror as the newly arrived beast caught Kikyou in its teeth and tossed her skyward. Kikyou dropped back into the wolf's mouth and there was silence. The beast snarled and stalked toward Inuyasha, its fur playing in the wind.

Kagome struggled to keep her eyes open as the creature came closer…then suddenly stopped. The beast blinked rapidly and sat down. Inuyasha stared stupidly as the building sized dog twisted awkwardly and began to frantically gnaw at its own belly. It whimpered in confusion before standing once more.

"It's gonna throw up," Koji announced in fascination as the beast began to gag. Seconds later, the dog vomited yellow mush. It paused to sniff at the contents of its stomach, bewildered as said contents moved a bit. Kikyou lay unconscious, vomit covered, and missing an arm, on the ground; the dog was too disgusted to try eating her again. He snorted at her before turning back to Inuyasha baring his teeth angrily.

"Jiji?" Kagome whispered uncertainly. Her chin hit the ground, she started, tried to lift her head only to face plant when basic needs won over adrenaline and whatever else she had in her system. Koji didn't cry out, only covered her head and tried to make them as small as targets could get.

Jiji lunged and Inuyasha charged. He swung and Jiji turned like lightening. Inuyasha yelped as two tails demanded that he eat dirt and he did so quite viciously.

Inuyasha wasn't subjugated and so he was able to leap away from his ditch as a pair of vicious claws tore into the ground where he'd just lay. Jiji sniffed and launched himself after the hanyou with an eager bark. An attempt to swing Tetsuaiga got the sword caught in his new enemies jaws and he snarled at that shit-eating grin on the old wolf's face. Those damned tails of his came around again and Inuyasha was smacked into the ground but able to snatch his sword free before becoming one with the earth. Jiji made sure to drag him through the ground before lifting his tails away.

The wolf sniffed as Inuyasha hopped right back up. It was like trying to kill a roach and he was starting to get annoyed. Inuyasha leapt away, panting heavily.

"Bakuryuha!"

The attack hit Jiji head on and he yelped but held his ground instead of trying to dodge. Jiji opened his mouth and spat a torrent of water at Inuyasha that tore straight through his wind attack. The Inu Hanyou dodged watching as the bigger male staggered from his wounds. Jiji sniffed rubbing a paw across the gashes on his face, his growl making the area shake violently.

Inuyasha rushed the beast, preparing another attack. Jiji snarled angrily and raced forward to meet him.

"Hiraikotsu!"

Inuyasha slid to a stop sensing danger. The bone white boomerang ripped into the ground and got stuck. The shout stopped the wolf youkai too.

Koji glanced up at the flying cat.

Sango peered down at the human samurai rushing toward two figures laying in the grass.

"Sango," Miroku murmured.

"I know houshi-sama" The fight had moved away from them but it probably wouldn't stay that way. "Kirara!" She ordered.

The demoness gave a roar and galloped toward the human group. They landed and Sango hopped off her partner's back.

"Go, you're in danger!" She yelled.

The two men in charge knelt beside the figure stretched out on the ground.

"Our lady, she needs help."

Sango rushed over and knelt as they rolled their mistress onto her back.

Sango felt her heart still glancing at the shirtless and beaten woman on the ground.

"Kagome?" She gasped near tears.

Kagome opened her eyes and stared ahead blurrily. Sango took her hand frantically, "Kagome!" She shrieked.

Kagome glanced at her friend as Miroku rushed over too.

"Sango, Miroku, what are you doing here," She whispered.

"Don't worry about that," Miroku snapped kneeling beside her. He trailed a hand up her torso, feeling at her wounds, "What happened!"

"That white haired demon attacked her. Milady may be full hardy but she wouldn't start a fight for no good reason," Minawo crowed in her defense.

Sango and Miroku stared dumbly at the Samurai. An explosion in the distance startled them into reality. They looked back to find Inuyasha and the wolf demon had started battling again.

Kagome groaned and they stared horrified as she began to push herself up.

"We have to help Jiji," She announced. "He's trying to defend me."

Sango looked back at the wolf demon and didn't question Kagome's ability to find strange allies.

Kagome rolled to her hands and knees, confused as everything swayed.

"Kagome you're dying!" Sango cried horrified by her condition.

"I don't care. I can't let Inuyasha kill Jiji. He's just an old demon living peacefully in his cave. At least if I die I know he'll take care of Shippou!" Kagome said with a firm conviction.

There was a pause before Kagome looked to Koji, "Give me your bow and arrows?"

She looked at her raggedy samurai and noted none of them had that particular weapon on them. "Forgive me milady, I lost my weapons when I was dragged off my horse."

Koji bowed with his face to the ground. Kagome only glanced away, thinking frantically of a way to stop this fight.

The gleam of metal caught her gaze and she crawled to her staff on unsteady legs.

"Kagome!"

She ignored the cries as she dragged Jiji's gift into her arms. The staff hummed, recognizing its mistress. She glanced ahead as Inuyasha released another Bakuryuha and Jiji dodged, now knowing the damage that attack caused.

"Kagome!" She only swayed when Sango firmly took her shoulders.

"Take me behind Jiji," She asked.

"No!" Sango cried.

"Take me behind Jiji or I'll walk there and probably die on the way."

Sango paled, flushed with anger, and then agreed. Kirara was there to take them both. The flight closer to the battle was filled with silent anxiety. Kirara landed as promised and Kagome hopped off only to stagger and fall to her knees.

"Get away!" She demanded. Before Sango could protest, Kirara was back in the air racing away obediently.

Kagome forced herself to stand and walked forward with the last of her strength. The two males were only growling at one another but Jiji was strangely still sensing her beneath his body and knowing she would be killed should he move.

Kagome smiled only able to make it to his back leg before she was too tired to go forward. She pet Jiji's luxurious black fur fondly.

"Thank you for this gift Jiji."

Steel slid into her veins once more and with her free hand, Kagome reached up and undid one of the seals in her ear. Energy burst from her body and Jiji's fur stood up in alarm. He let out a sharp whine, startled by the sudden burst of power. Inuyasha was howling the name of another attack and Jiji's instincts made a decision for him. He popped into the air like a startled cat. Kagome was revealed, her form glowing with miko energy but sparkling with the red of youki.

It burned, it burned like hell, but she had no choice.

Inuyasha had turned to watch Jiji land from his leap.

She shoved her fingers into the metal bird nestled in her staff and pulled back quickly. The metal followed her fingers eagerly and Kagome dropped the wood of the staff as the metal warped itself into the bow she so badly wanted. Glowing energy became her string and bow.

She looked head on into the attack he'd previously unleashed.

"Inuyasha!"

Kikyou pulled herself up to watch, numb in disbelief.

He turned and Kagome fired.

'Don't look back Inuyasha!'

It dispelled his attack and flew straight on into Inuyasha's heart. He flew back full force and hit ragged tree bark.

She saw the confused look in his eyes as they faded from red to beautiful amber. Shock registered in his gaze when he saw the arrow buried in his chest. He looked up at her before his eyes slid closed and his form relaxed against the tree.

Kagome lowered her bow.

XXXXXXXXXX

(7/28/12)