Departure


"You're leaving Lady Kikyo?" Rin questioned.

The miko looked down at the child. Giving Rin a small smile she said, "Yes, the others and I will likely be leaving on the morrow or this evening,"

"Oh," was all the brown eyed girl could say.

Though Kikyo patted the girl comfortingly on the head, she admitted that she would miss her company as well as Shina's. She wondered when she had gotten so used to living in a place full of demons, but thought nothing more of it. Rin was certainly content living here and that was what mattered. And the way Sesshomaru was with her, she would no doubt be well protected.

"Rin-chan! Kikyo-sama!" Shina shouted as she exuberantly rushed to their side, her reddish gold hair hitting her face as she ran.

Coming to a halt, she asked, "Is it true you are leaving Lady Kikyo?"

With a nod the girl plopped down beside her friend. "Why are you leaving?"

Asking herself how to approach the situation she asked them, "Are you aware of Raidon?"

Rin placed a small finger beneath her chin in a contemplative manner before saying, "Oh, yes! Isn't he the reason Lord Sesshomaru brought you here, Lady Kikyo?"

"Yes,"

"And you're going off to fight him?" Shina asked.

At Kikyo's nod the two girls exchanged glances before turning back to her with smiles on their faces.

"We know you and the others will win Kikyo-sama," Shina told her as Rin gave her a nod.

Giving them a smile, she patted both of them on their heads and ruffled their bangs in a loving manner. Rin and Shina then exchanged glances. Neither wanted to see the miko leave but they knew that she couldn't really live here. Though it was a sad topic to think about, the two children were smiling and dragging Kikyo along where they went.

Inuyasha watched the children drag along Kikyo and snorted. They were pulling her along like she was some sort of rag doll. Thank Kami she was no longer that fragile like before. Speaking of which… How did she become human? In truth, when he smelled the difference in her scent, he wanted to jump towards and wrap her in a fierce embrace but something inside wanted to know how precisely this had occurred.

The hanyou had been plagued by this question all day and even had the temptation to question Sesshomaru about it, since the bastard had the Tenseiga. But he knew the demon would most likely remain quiet if he did anyway.

The monk didn't even have a suitable answer making the hanyou more irritated.

A low husky laugh broke his musings and he glanced down to see Kikyo's radiant smile cast down on the children, he cheeks slightly pink with the running. Smiling down at her, he knew that he could find an answer later. Right now, he just wanted to enjoy the fact that she was alive and by his side.


Sesshomaru had indeed realized that the miko was revived. How he could not even begin to fathom but the priestess was now very much alive. The Tenseiga had begun to rattle when it felt the miko regain her soul. Contemplating how this happened, he began to question if that hanyou brother of his had something to do in her resurrection. It seemed too impossible but it made some sense. Some…


Kagome tapped the end of her finger on the edge of the window. How was it possible for Kikyo to be alive? She felt a bit happy that the priestess had once again gotten possession of her soul, but she didn't deny that she felt incomplete. Why was that?

A knock on her door made her turn her head. "Yes?"

"It's us Kagome-chan," Sango said from behind the door.

"Okay,"

The slayer and the monk entered the room at Kagome's approval and walked slowly towards her. They had their eyes warily set upon their young friend and Miroku gave her a small smile before asking, "How do you feel Kagome?"

"I'm fine," she replied casually.

The couple glanced at each other before turning back to her.

"Really?" Sango asked nervously.

The young miko let out a sigh before turning back to them and standing from her spot. "Yup no need to worry,"

"Are you sure?" the taijiya asked once more.

Kagome gave them a smile and said, "Uh-huh, there's nothing to be concerned about. Why wouldn't I be alright?"

Slightly frowning at her friend, Sango began to wonder if she was as alright as she had claimed. She knew that Inuyasha being with Kikyo upset Kagome to some degree, but why was she denying that it didn't hurt? The slayer wondered if this was how the younger girl coped; by saying that nothing was wrong when everything clearly wasn't.

Kagome watched the two for a minute, her brown orbs fixed on them and waiting for them to continue speaking. Why did they come here anyway? She thought she made it clear that she would like to be alone for a bit. But they were her friends so of course they'd be concerned. This made her smile inwardly a bit.

"So, you guys just going to stand there?" she asked suddenly startling both.

"No," Miroku said.

The young miko clasped both hands behind her back and told them, "I'm going to go look for Shippo. I haven't seen him in a while,"

"Right," Sango as she thought about the kitsune. "Where has he been anyway? None of us has seen him since last night,"

"Maybe he was eaten by some bigger demons," Miroku stated good naturedly drawing gasps and stern looks in his direction.

"Don't even say such a thing," Sango warned him.

"I was merely trying to lighten the mood,"

Sango glared at him. "You have an interesting sense of humor."

All the monk did was grin.


Raidon eyed the hanyou with a skeptical glance. Why was this half demon so interested in helping? That demon Naraku had explained to him the details of his hate towards the miko and Inu-tachi but the god was still having second thoughts.

Naraku slid his crimson orbs over to the god of death and smirked inwardly. He had plans on how to use him for is advantage; another excellent pawn.


The sun was now slowly setting and the hanyou sat next to the miko. Sliding his golden oculars over he asked her, "Ready to leave?"

At her silent nod, Inuyasha kept his eyes fixed on hers for a moment longer before turning them back to the scenery. Was she really that upset about leaving his brother's home?

Kikyo let out a small chuckle grasping his attention. "Why do you seem so worried all of a sudden Inuyasha?"

The hanyou blinked at her with a confused expression on his face. "Worried? Bout what?"

Kikyo turned her head slightly to look at him. "You have been glancing at me for quite some time now,"

Blushing he turned his head away into a different direction. "No I haven't!" he said to defend himself.

The miko let out another husky chuckle before turning her head upwards to look at the setting sun. "There's nothing to be ashamed about. So, why are you worried?"

"I'm not worried. I'm jus' wondering whether or not you'll miss being here,"

Kikyo lowered her head back down. "I suppose I'll miss it. I have grown fond of Rin and Shina but I don't think I'll be missing anything else,"

Inuyasha didn't realize that he was holding his breath in anticipation to her response and let it out slowly. Why he did that he was not quite sure. Maybe it was jealousy or something.

Footsteps from his hard left made his ears twitch, and he turned his head slightly to see who was approaching. Inuyasha's eyes widened a fraction when he saw Kagome coming down the hall. Now what? Now hunching his shoulders and tapping his foot silently on the wooden floor, he kept his eyes focused on anything else besides Kagome. Glancing at the older miko, he noticed that she was tensed up a bit but other than that, remained cool in her composure and didn't pay the other girl any attention.

The hanyou regained confidence at that so went back to watching the setting sun that was now half way down the horizon.

Kagome stood directly behind them and felt a bit hurt that they weren't acknowledging her but she knew that she wasn't that big of a part in his life anymore like before. Letting out a small inaudible sigh, the younger of the two continued on walking past them.

Once more, Inuyasha let out a breath that he was holding.

"You seem to be relieved," Kikyo stated as she heard Kagome's steps fade.

"I don't know," he said honestly. "I thought she was going to 'sit' me for sure,"

"What makes you say that?"

Inuyasha scratched the back of his head. "Just thought she would,"

"Sit!"

Inuyasha then met the ground with a hard thud and a muffled curse came from his mouth. Sitting up, he spit up a few clumps of dirt and scowled darkly over his shoulder. Kagome did leave then so all he could glare at was a wall.

Kikyo looked over her shoulder and let out a mental sigh. She knew that it wouldn't be so easy for Kagome to accept this. That just seemed to make the protector of the jewel even guiltier. But to take it out on Inuyasha wasn't really what her reincarnation should be doing.

"Inuyasha, come here,"

The hanyou came over and kneeled down before Kikyo, his eyes focused on hers. "Yeah?"

Reaching out, the miko grabbed the subjugation beads and lifted it over his head, the beads easily sliding over and completely removed without effort.

"You took it off?!" he asked in a bewildered tone.

Kikyo simply nodded. "You don't want them on do you?"

"No, I never liked the thing,"

Letting a small smile out she asked, "Then why did you seem so upset?"

"I'm not upset. I'm far from upset. I just didn't think you would remove them. That's all,"

"Well, now you are no longer bound to Kagome's word,"

The hanyou sat back down and let a grin come out. "Wow, I never thought that having that thing off would feel so great," he exclaimed as he stretched his arms. "Does this mean you trust me?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Well… Kagome kept them on because she said she didn't want me running off or anything. But deep down, I asked myself if she kept them on because she didn't trust me,"

"You have my trust Inuyasha. You always did. After all, you aren't the one who actually killed me fifty years ago now are you?"

"No," he said in low voice.

The two sat there for a while longer and enjoyed the silence when Kirara came out and jumped onto Inuyasha's shoulder.

"Hey Kirara," the hanyou said casually patting her head.

Shippo came leaping out of nowhere and slapping the half-demon behind the head.

"Stupid mutt!"

"What the hell was that for?!" he asked angrily.

The kitsune crossed his arms and puffed out his little chest. "You made Kagome upset again!"

"Here we go again. Can't you ever shut up for at least one minute?"

"Not until you apologize!"

"Please stop arguing with Inuyasha, Shippo," Miroku said calmly as he came up behind them.

Shippo turned over to the monk and glared at him. "Don't you care about Kagome at all?!"

"We are not one to decide who Inuyasha chooses to be with Shippo. I thought I explained that to you,"

All the kit did was cross his arms again and stalk off.

"Keh that kid just won't keep his mouth shut." Inuyasha snorted.

The monk let out a small nervous chuckle while the priestess merely sighed.

"So, we are leaving tomorrow correct?" Miroku asked to break the quiet.

Inuyasha nodded.

"Still, don't you think it's odd that Raidon hasn't showed up for Kikyo-sama?"

Shrugging his shoulders indifferently the half-demon replied. "Maybe he decided not to cause I'll be there to kick his ass,"

"There you go getting overconfident again," Miroku replied readily.

"Feh!"


The next morning they arose early. Inuyasha had his arms crossed as he waited beside Kikyo for the others to wake up.

"They sure take a long time to wake up when we need to leave quickly,"

Kikyo was about to calm his down when two figures rushed up to her and wrapped their arms around her legs and tugged at her hakamas.

"Morning Lady Kikyo!" Rin and Shina said simultaneously.

The miko bent down and embraced them as they jumped into her arms, both of them reminding her of the younger girl Sayo who would greet her the same way.

"Where's everyone else?" Shina asked curiously.

"They're not here yet," replied the hanyou who tapped his foot impatiently.

"Is Master Inuyasha angry?" Rin questioned.

Kikyo smiled at the question. "No he's always been like that,"

Inuyasha glanced at her and gave her a glare but Kikyo paid no mind to it. The three girls began to chat about nothing that would interest the male behind them so he decided to just wait for the others. That were taking their own sweet time getting here…

The others rounded a corner and met the couple outside on the engawa.

"Hi everyone," Rin said cheerfully.

Shippo jumped from Kagome's shoulder and bounded towards the girls who he had grown to extremely like.

"We hope you liked it here Shippo-kun," Shina told him.

"Y-yeah," Shippo told them blushing.

Kirara transformed into her giant cat form and watched the humans and her mistress begin to tell the children good-bye.

Sango then climbed on top of Kirara with Miroku mounting behind her, Shippo perching himself once more on Kagome's shoulder. Quirking his eyebrow when Kagome had not seated herself on the neko youkai, the little kit then realized why she was staring at Inuyasha so intensely. The subjugation beads had been removed.

Opening his mouth to bark at the couple, he met Kagome's stare. She shook her head then climbed up behind her companions on Kirara. How had Kikyo been able to remove the necklace? She felt like screaming her lungs off but decided that it would be best when she could ask somewhere else that was not in front of Rin and Shina.

Shina watched Kagome's cold blank stare and blinked at the warm girl's demeanor. A powerful aura from behind diverted her attention and she turned around to see her lord walking towards them.

"Oh, Lord Sesshomaru!" she said as she bowed low to him.

Rin did the same, a smile on her face. "I guess Lord Sesshomaru wanted to tell Master Inuyasha bye," she told Shina who gave her friend a smile. That could not be it. Though they didn't display it openly, she knew that the brothers couldn't stand each other.

"What do you want?" Inuyasha asked as his elder half brother came up to them.

Sesshomaru sniffed elegantly at his dimwitted brother. "Why else would I come out? Certainly not to bid you and your entourage farewell,"

"Then what are you doing here?" he asked gruffly.

The taiyoukai did not respond. Instead he merely began to levitate and take to the skies.

Everyone watched his figure fade as it flew higher.

"I suppose he's coming with us," Sango stated.

"Oh great," Inuyasha said derisively.

Kikyo got onto Inuyasha's back and couldn't help but feel that Kagome's eyes were cast on her. The neko youkai jumped into the air with Inuyasha following behind them.

The two girls waved good bye to them, their faces plastered with happy grins.

"Where's Lord Sesshomaru?" a squaking voice came from behind.

"Lord Sesshomaru already left, Master Jaken," Rin stated to him happily.

The kappa demon sighed and plopped down onto the ground. The girls shrugged their shoulders and headed inside.


A/N: This is probably what I would call 'A Blah Chapter'. Oh well, least I got rid of that stupid necklace ne? This is probably the longest chapter so far… -looks up- It is.