Trigger warnings: violence, injuries, emotional turmoil...
ANGST.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or its characters. All rights to Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter 19: Back to the Beginning, Part II
Kai was cooking breakfast in the kitchen when familiar arms wrapped around him from behind.
"Hi," Kikyo murmured against the skin of his neck. She stood a few inches taller than him, but it never seemed to disrupt the kisses they shared the previous evening.
"Hi," he replied as he turned his head to kiss her quickly. "I hope you're hungry." Kikyo hummed and pressed one more kiss against his neck before grabbing plates and forks.
As Kai finished cooking, he wondered if Kikyo had anything specific in mind for their new goal of purifying the jewel, but he figured it could wait until after breakfast.
Kikyo quickly set the table before going to wake up Kaede to start the day, leaving Kai in the kitchen alone for a few moments.
Kaede entered the kitchen by herself, greeting Kai as she sat down at the table.
"Kikyo's in the bathroom," Kaede informed before yawning. "She'll be out in a minute."
Kai brought the plate of freshly-cooked food to the table and set it in the middle. "We'll eat when she gets back in here," he said.
Kaede licked her lips. "That looks great, Kai," she exclaimed. "It's so nice to get to have breakfast every morning without Kikyo having to run off right after." Kai was confused.
"What do you mean?" he asked. Kaede almost seemed to shudder.
"There used to be an injured man in a cave outside of town," she explained. "Kikyo found him one day and used to take him food and water every morning. Sometimes I would have to do it, and it was terrible. He was so creepy."
Kai frowned. "Did he harm you?" Kaede shook her head.
"No," she replied. "He was always too injured to move. All you could see were his eyes...it was scary. I'm glad he's gone now."
"When did he leave?" Kai asked. Kaede shrugged.
"Before Kikyo left to find you," she replied. "He just...disappeared. She went one morning a few days before she left and he was gone. That was it."
There was something odd about that situation; it didn't sit right with Kai.
Why do I feel like there's something off about that? he wondered. Something...significant.
"Thanks for waiting," Kikyo said as she entered the kitchen. "Are you all ready to eat?"
Kaede nodded excitedly before piling food on her plate.
Kikyo gave Kai a concerned look, picking up on his unease. He smiled reassuringly at her and picked up a serving spoon to start putting food on her plate.
"Itadakimasu," she said as usual.
After breakfast, Kaede offered to wash the dishes. Kikyo turned to Kai after smiling her gratitude at Kaede.
"Are you ready to get back to work?" Kikyo asked Kai. The ningyo nodded, but couldn't help the clench in his stomach. He had some ideas of his own on how to purify the jewel, but he was uncertain of just how much he wanted to do it.
It's for the good of the world, he reminded himself. We all have to make sacrifices.
Shortly after, Kikyo and Kai went to their usual place in the forest to work with the jewel.
"So," Kai began when they sat down in the grass, "do you have any ideas on how to completely purify the jewel?"
Kikyo smiled and nodded. "Yes. I think if I try to purify it like usual, we should be able to take it a step further. If you focus your youkai aura into the jewel as I focus my spiritual power during the purification process, that should work."
Kai nodded as Kikyo removed the jewel from around her neck. She pulled out a few holy items from inside her kimono. Once she'd put the items around the jewel, she put her hands together and began the purification ritual.
After a few moments, she nodded at Kai. "Okay, go ahead and channel your youkai aura into the jewel."
Kai did as she said and soon felt the immense power of their combined auras surrounding the jewel.
"It's working!" Kikyo exclaimed as she added a little more power. Kai's eyes widened as the jewel began to glow brightly.
She's right! It's working!
Then all at once, their power dissolved and the jewel's light disappeared.
"What happened?" Kai asked. Kikyo huffed.
"It didn't work," she replied. "We have to do it another way...but I don't know how else." Her shoulders sagged, her aura radiating defeat.
Kai hesitated, but finally took her hand.
"I have an idea," he said. "I think it'll work." Kikyo looked up at him, eyes hopeful.
"What is it?" she asked. Kai bit his lip.
"Well," he began, "what if we somehow managed to purify the jewel by using it?" Kikyo seemed confused.
"The jewel is only used for power," Kikyo countered. "It can be used for a wish, but only the correct wish. I've never heard of anyone using it, let alone using it for a purification."
Kai shook his head. "We could use it to purify my youkai half. It could purify my human aura of my youkai aura, and once it's purified, the jewel might cease to exist."
Kikyo's eyes widened. "What? No, Kai, we can't do that. That's asking you to give up half of who you are. We can't."
Kai shook his head and reached out to cup Kikyo's cheeks in his hands.
"This is a sacrifice I'm willing to make," he assured her gently. "If it means saving the world from darkness, I want to."
Kikyo didn't speak for a moment; she just looked at him in awe.
"Kai," she began, "if you're sure you want to take that risk, then we can try. But only if you're absolutely certain." Kai nodded. He'd been thinking about it since Kikyo had suggested the purification idea. He was certain.
Kikyo looked at him a moment more before clutching the jewel tightly in her hands.
"Okay," she accepted as she circled her hands over the jewel. "Put your hands over mine." Kai nodded and did as she said.
Kikyo closed her eyes for a moment as she focused her power on the jewel.
The jewel's power erupted and surrounded them, a bright light glowing from the small orb.
Kai closed his eyes, waiting for his youkai power to be pulled from his body.
As quickly as the light had come, it was disappearing and Kikyo was shrieking in pain.
She dropped the jewel to the ground and clutched her hands to her chest. Kai smelled the salty scent of tears coming from her.
"Kikyo?" he said, his tone leaking worry as he reached out to touch her shoulders. "What happened?"
Kikyo looked up and held out her hands for him to see.
Thick burns covered her palms where she'd been holding the jewel.
"Are you alright?" he asked. Kikyo nodded.
"The burns aren't that bad," she replied. "But you're still youkai and the jewel is still here...this means it didn't work. The jewel rejected our auras. We can't purify it."
Kai's eyes widened. "What? Why?"
Kikyo shook her head. "I think...I think it means we're not the ones from the prophecy."
Kai frowned. "Then why would the prophecy come to you if you're not the miko from it?" Kikyo sighed.
"I don't know," she confessed. "None of this makes any sense." They fell into silence for a moment as Kikyo's words sank in.
Maybe she's right, Kai realized. Maybe we aren't the ones from the prophecy.
"Maybe it came to you," Kai began, "because you'll meet the miko and the hanyo from the prophecy. Maybe they aren't meant to hear it because they haven't met you yet." Kikyo wiped her eyes and looked at him.
"You really think so?" she asked hopefully. Kai nodded.
"Yes," he assured her. "I really do."
They were quiet for a moment until Kikyo spoke again.
"So...what will you do now?" Her voice sounded uncertain and almost...nervous.
Kai looked at her, knowing full well he didn't want to leave her, but...would it be okay if he said that?
When her blue eyes locked with his green ones, Kai knew he couldn't leave her.
Kai reached out and took her hands gently, being mindful of the burns on her palms.
"Kikyo," he began, "we're not the ones from the prophecy. We can't get rid of the jewel, but…I don't want to be apart from you." Kikyo's eyes widened.
"Really?" she asked hopefully. "I don't want to be apart from you either."
Kai smiled. "We've spent every day together for the last two weeks, and that's all it took for me to fall in love with you. I can't imagine ever meeting anyone I love as much as you, Kikyo."
"You love me?" Kikyo asked in a wavering voice. At Kai's affirmative nod, Kikyo finally smiled. "I love you, too."
"Is it too soon to ask you to marry me?" Kai blurted.
Kikyo's jaw dropped.
o.O.o
Kikyo and Kai were married a week later.
It was fast and sudden, but Kai found he didn't care. I'm not one to question destiny...
The day after the wedding, Kai got a letter prepared.
"What are you doing, husband?" Kikyo asked from where she was still curled up in their bed.
"I have to send a letter to the daiyoukai, wife," he replied with a smile. "He always needs to know when a youkai gets married for the census records."
Kikyo got up and began to get dressed as Kai explained.
"I see," she replied. "Even though I'm a human?" Kai nodded.
"Yes," he explained. "Lord Sesshomaru will come to meet us and get our names, the date of our marriage, and a portrait. It's customary for youkai."
Kikyo smiled as she pulled on her miko clothing. "What's the daiyoukai like? Is he scary?"
Kai laughed. "He's a little daunting at first, but once you get used to his rather standoffish demeanor, he's not so bad. All youkai have met him at some point or another. When he took over as daiyoukai after his father, he made a point to meet with each youkai clan throughout the country."
"He sounds nice," Kikyo commented as she finished getting dressed. "I'm looking forward to meeting him."
"He has a half-brother, too," Kai added. "I doubt he'll be with him, though. He disappeared a while back and apparently hasn't been at the castle recently so no one knows where he is. I don't even remember what his name is."
Kikyo hummed. "Well, I'll be pleased to meet the daiyoukai." She paused. "Do you think he'll still come despite the attacks?" There had been several more attacks, and tensions were starting to rise between humans and youkai. Fighting had begun, and Kikyo wondered if they would be faced with an all-out war sooner rather than later.
"Yes," Kai affirmed. "Lord Sesshomaru will still come. We should tell him about the prophecy when he arrives."
Kikyo hesitated, but nodded. "Okay," she replied. "We'll fill him in."
o.O.o
The daiyoukai arrived a week later, and Kai could tell that Kikyo was in sheer awe of him.
Sesshomaru remained in the nearby forest with a few of his noblemen. Kai figured he would avoid the town, so he'd been expecting to meet him in the forest.
When Kai led Kikyo to him, his wife had barely been able to stifle a gasp.
"Hello, my lord," Kai greeted politely as he bowed to Sesshomaru. Kikyo bowed as well.
"Thank you for gracing us with your presence," she added.
Sesshomaru didn't speak; instead, he just looked at Kikyo. Kai frowned, uncertain of his intense gaze.
"You are Kikyo," Sesshomaru finally said. Kikyo's eyes widened.
"Um, yes, I am," she replied. "Have we...have we met? I'm most certain I would remember you."
Sesshomaru shook his head. "The prophecy came to me in a recent dream. Have you all been able to accomplish it?"
"No, my lord," Kikyo replied, surprised. "I found Kaito shortly after the youkai attacks began and we gave every attempt to fulfill it, but nothing worked for us. We came to the conclusion that we are not the miko and the hanyo from the prophecy. We believe that we are meant to bring guidance to the destined miko and hanyo, but we know it is not us."
Sesshomaru hummed. "I see. Well, I wish you luck in finding the correct pair. As for right now, I need to add your marriage to the youkai records."
One of his noblemen provided a paper to Kikyo and Kai for them to sign and date.
"I would ask that you be still for a few moments," the nobleman said. "I must paint a quick portrait. You may stand as you would like."
Kai came to stand slightly behind Kikyo, his arms wrapped around her waist. It only took about five minutes for the nobleman to finish. He quickly wrote their names and wedding date on the bottom before holding it up to show them.
"That looks wonderful," Kikyo said. Kai nodded his agreement.
"Thank you, my lord," the ningyo said.
Sesshomaru paused for a moment. "Do you know of anyone else that could be from the prophecy?" he asked. "Perhaps another miko and another hanyo?"
Kikyo shook her head. "I have a sister, but she's only thirteen, my lord. She is not a fully-trained miko yet. There are others, but..."
The daiyoukai nodded. "But you were given the prophecy," he finished for her. "I agree with you, miko. You must have some sort of relationship with the miko and hanyo from the prophecy, but as of right now, perhaps you should begin some sort of search. We are running out of time."
Kai frowned. "Are the attacks that bad?" Sesshomaru nodded.
"Yes," he confirmed. "I have been unable to find the youkai responsible. We are on the brink of an all-out war between humans and youkai, and I fear the darkness from the prophecy is now upon us. Humans are attacking youkai almost on the spot simply because they are youkai. It has all gotten to be very bad."
Kai saw Kikyo wince at the difficult news.
"What can we do?" Kai asked. "Can we help somehow?" Sesshomaru paused for a moment.
"Not currently," he replied. "Once we track down the youkai responsible, I will inform you. Until then, enjoy your new marriage for a little while. I will be in touch. Soon, I believe."
Kikyo and Kai nodded before bidding Sesshomaru goodbye.
When the daiyoukai and his noblemen were gone, Kikyo turned to Kai.
"I'm worried," she admitted. "Something isn't adding up. I think if there's fighting going on, we need to be there and help bring peace back. Even if we can't fulfill the prophecy, we can still help until we find who can."
Kai nodded. "When do you want to leave?" Kikyo hesitated.
"I don't know," she replied. "I don't want to just up and leave Kaede...I'll need to make arrangements for where she'll stay. We don't know how long we could be gone, and I need to prepare her for that. I know Lord Sesshomaru said we could wait for him to contact us, but..."
Kai wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "I understand. It kind of feels like we'd be abandoning something important, right?" At Kikyo's nod, Kai sighed. "I feel that way, too. But we'll do what we can. We might even find the miko and the hanyo from the prophecy. That's very possible. We'll leave when Kaede is settled, okay?"
Resolve set, they stayed in the forest a while longer, wrapped in each other's arms.
O.o.O.o.O
They stayed in the town only one week more.
It took a week to get everything prepared for their departure. Kaede was heartbroken, which Kikyo had known would happen.
On the day she and Kai left, Kikyo held Kaede close to her, unable to keep the tears from falling.
"I love you, Kaede," she murmured. "I'll see you soon."
Kaede cried into her chest. "I love you, sister. Don't get hurt while you're gone, okay?"
Kai hugged Kaede quickly before he and Kikyo left the town.
Kikyo had to wipe her eyes every so often, the sorrow of leaving Kaede leaving her heart ragged. Kai took her hand as they walked and held it tightly, lending her silent support through his touch.
"Where should we go first?" he asked gently.
Kikyo wiped her eyes a final time, mentally telling herself to get it together.
"Let's look at previous attack sites," she suggested. "Maybe we can find some clues."
o.O.o
They traveled for two months, tracking different youkai attacks and trying to bring peace to troubled areas.
They learned that humans had managed to develop new weapons that easily overpowered youkai, so Kai had to be extra careful as they travelled. Kikyo loved how he looked, but his youkai features were too prominent to ignore.
Blue skin and webbed hands weren't exactly common in humans.
Kikyo tried her hardest to end the fighting wherever they went, but they were having very little luck. The connections between humans and youkai were becoming very strained, and they soon began to find more youkai carcasses than human corpses.
The humans are winning these fights, Kikyo realized at one of the attack sites. What will happen to the youkai when all this fighting is over?
Humans had begun instigating fights with youkai rather than solely defending from the attacks, so there was constant fighting whenever their paths crossed. It was unsettling, and Kikyo could barely sleep at night for fear that they would be ambushed and her husband would be taken.
During their third month of travel, Kikyo fell ill. She suspected what it could be, but wasn't entirely certain.
But when she vomited soon after waking up for the seventh day in a row, she and Kai knew her suspicions were true.
Although it was a dangerous and terrifying time, Kikyo and Kai were overjoyed at the pregnancy.
Months passed with little success at dissolving the conflict or finding the pair from the prophecy. Kikyo's pregnancy soon made it too difficult to travel, so they decided to return home.
Kaede was ecstatic that they were home, and she was even happier to find out Kikyo was pregnant.
Kikyo spent the first night back curled up with Kaede in the younger girl's bed. Kaede ran her hand over Kikyo's swollen stomach and smiled.
"Do you have a name yet?" she asked. Kikyo shook her head and set her hand over Kaede's.
"We're waiting until the baby is born," Kikyo replied. "Mother and Father waited to name you and me until we were born, so that's what Kai and I have decided to do."
Kaede snuggled closer to Kikyo and nodded. "Sounds good to me."
The happiness of the pregnancy soon became overpowered by the increasing amount of youkai attacks as well as human and youkai battles.
Kikyo was soon bed-ridden, the pregnancy taking a toll on her body as it joined the ever-present concern about the world around them.
Kai was by her side the whole time, constantly reassuring her that, somehow, things would be okay.
When Kikyo's water broke, Kai sent Kaede for the town's midwife, whom they'd known before the youkai attacks had gotten bad and was accepting of Kai, before he settled Kikyo on the mat they'd laid out on the floor of their bedroom. He gathered all of the necessary items, enacting the birthing plan they'd made weeks earlier.
The midwife arrived in time for a safe delivery, and at the newborn's first cries, tears streamed down Kikyo's cheeks, already loving the child more than her own life.
Kai carefully took the baby from the midwife before bringing her over to rest in Kikyo's arms.
The baby cried, her blue eyes squeezed shut as she wailed against Kikyo.
"She has your hair, Kai," Kikyo said in awe. The baby already had a full head of hair that was sticking out every which way, and Kikyo could tell it wasn't just from the afterbirth.
"I told you it's the ningyo curse," Kai replied as he kissed Kikyo's forehead. "You were amazing, my love. She's beautiful."
The midwife smiled at the family as she cleaned up. "Do you all have a name?"
Kai looked at Kikyo expectantly, silently asking if she had a name picked out.
Kikyo looked down at the newborn, admiring the way the child's blue eyes were already so full of life, so full of the intricacies of whatever her destiny would wind up being.
"Kagome," Kikyo murmured. "Her name is Kagome."
Kai wrapped his arms around them and smiled. "Our little Kagome," he repeated.
o.O.o
As the days went by, Kikyo began to feel more and more guilty. As she enjoyed watching Kagome smile for the first time or be hugged by her Aunt Kaede, a dread settled in Kikyo's heart as well.
"We need to get back out there," Kikyo whispered to Kai one night as she was burping Kagome after nursing. "Things are getting worse, and I just...I feel like we need to go back and help."
Kai nodded. "I've been thinking the same thing. But we have Kagome now and...I don't think I can bear to leave her alone yet."
Kikyo curled up closer to Kai as they lay in their bed. "Me neither."
"We tried our best, my darling," Kai said quietly. "Our lives have changed drastically so maybe it's time we stop. We fought as best as we could, tried as hard as we could, but in the end, maybe we just weren't meant to do it."
They were quiet for a moment until Kagome started to fuss.
"Shh, baby," Kikyo comforted quietly. "It's okay." Kai gently ran his hand over Kagome's head, further messing up the wild hair she already had.
Kai began to sing, his voice soft and clear as he sang the first notes of a lullaby.
"By the light of the moon we sing,
Our eyes dark but our quiet voices ring.
I hold you close and you do the same,
Your voice is soft as you whisper my name.
That stars shine brightly above us,
Beckoning us quietly,
darling, so hush.
I'll be here in the morning,
Holding you close in the warming
Embrace of my arms.
For I am yours,
And you are mine."
Kagome was fast asleep when Kai finished singing.
"That was beautiful," Kikyo murmured. Kai smiled at her.
"It's an old youkai lullaby," he replied. "My parents sang it to me when I was a child."
Kikyo leaned her head against his chest. "It's lovely." Kai kissed the top of her head.
They were quiet for the rest of the night.
O.o.O.o.O
Two years later, the fighting had turned into an all-out war.
Sesshomaru had sent official letters out to every remaining youkai officially mandating them to go into hiding. The world had become too dangerous, the humans had become too strong, and the youkai population had dwindled down too much.
Kagome had just taken her first steps when they received the mandate from one of Sesshomaru's guards.
"I need to go," Kikyo said immediately. "I have to go back and do what I can to help end this war."
Kai set a hand on her shoulder. "I'll go with you. We'll do this together."
Kikyo shook her head. "You and Kagome have to stay in hiding. This town is safe for you to stay in because very few townspeople know your heritage. Follow Lord Sesshomaru's mandate and just keep in the house. Stay safe."
"I don't want you to go!" Kaede argued. Kikyo sighed and walked over to hug Kaede tightly.
"Everything will be okay," Kikyo said. "You'll stay here with Kai and Kagome, alright?"
Kaede immediately began to argue, but Kikyo could only shake her head.
"Kaede," she cut in, "we need to do this to keep safe, okay?" She turned to Kai. "Okay?" Kai looked away from her but nodded, setting his gaze on Kagome.
"Mama?" Kagome babbled as she teetered over to Kikyo. Kikyo smiled down at her and picked her up. She planted a kiss on her head before nodding firmly at Kai.
Kai just looked away. He hated everything about this plan.
But it was still time to move.
O.o.O.o.O
Kikyo prepared her things to leave the next day. It was a quiet and somber affair as she packed up the last of her things.
Kaede was in Kikyo's room with her, just watching as the older miko gathered everything into a bag. Kikyo kept the jewel on its chain around her neck, tucked carefully under her haori.
Kikyo was planning to leave that night, choosing to travel under the cover of night to stay inconspicuous as she sought out any youkai she could help.
And if she were being honest, she wanted to be able to tuck Kagome into bed one more time before she left.
When the time came, Kikyo had to choke back her tears as she settled the covers over Kagome as she lay in her bed.
"Good night, Kagome," Kikyo said as she kissed the top of the child's head. "I'll see you when I get home."
Kagome wrapped her arms around Kikyo's neck, keeping her close. "Mama won't be home in the morning?" Kikyo lay down in Kagome's bed next to her, hugging her tightly.
"No, baby," Kikyo replied. "I don't know when I'll be home. Some people really need my help, so I'll be home when things are safe."
Kagome sniffled. "I don't want Mama to leave. Stay with Kagome?"
The miko couldn't stop the tears from falling down her cheeks. "I'll be home as soon as I can. I promise." Kikyo hugged Kagome tightly a moment more before kissing her cheek and getting up.
"I love you, Kagome," Kikyo said, her heart clenching. "I'll see you when I get home."
Kagome settled herself under the blanket and closed her eyes. "I love you, too, Mama. See you when you get home." Her breathing evened out a moment later, her face softening in slumber.
Kikyo smiled once more at the child before wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Good night, baby."
Kikyo left the room and tried to pull herself together before walking to the living room where Kai and Kaede were waiting.
"Kagome's asleep," she announced quietly. "I should go now."
Kaede got up from the couch, a sob escaping her mouth as she ran into Kikyo's arms.
Kikyo wrapped her in a tight embrace as she lay her cheek on the top of Kaede's head.
"I love you, Kaede," Kikyo murmured. "I'm proud of you. Keep practicing your archery while I'm gone, okay? I want to see how much you've improved when I get home." Kaede nodded.
"I love you, Kikyo," she said as she pulled away. "Be safe."
Kikyo smiled at her once more before turning to Kai.
Her husband's eyes were filled with sorrow, the dread of the Kikyo leaving weighing heavily on him.
He raised his arms as Kikyo walked immediately into his waiting embrace.
"I love you, Kaito, my Kai," she murmured in his ear. "Meeting you...having Kagome...I couldn't have asked for anything better."
Kai pulled back to look up into her eyes. "I love you, my darling. I love you so much." He pulled her down to kiss her, his sadness evident in the contact.
When they pulled away, Kikyo leaned her forehead against Kai's before letting go.
It was a somber affair, having to say goodbye to them. Kikyo knew how dangerous it could be, especially with the ever-increasing tensions between humans and youkai.
I just need to be brave...I have to do my part in ending this war.
After the absolute bliss she'd had with her small family, Kikyo was going to miss the togetherness she got to have every day.
She left soon after, turning back once to wave at Kai and Kaede as they watched from the front door of the house.
Kikyo wiped the last of her tears away and prepared herself for the journey.
The miko had only been walking for ten minutes when she heard a loud boom from behind her.
Turning around, she found a massive youkai, lumbering at the size of two large houses with dozens of tentacles shooting form its body.
Its eyes were locked on Kikyo as it stomped toward her.
Eyes wide, Kikyo grabbed an arrow from her quiver and sent it flying, but it didn't do much to slow it down.
"Finally," he hissed. "I've found you." Kikyo frowned as she nocked another arrow.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "What do you want with me?"
The youkai laughed. "You mean you don't recognize me?" he taunted. "Well, it's been a few years, so let me jog your memory."
In a flash, the youkai had transformed into a smaller version of itself. It lay on the ground in the size of a human, with bandages wrapped all over its body.
Kikyo gasped. "You're the injured man from the cave."
"I am Naraku," the youkai announced as it transformed back into its larger form. "Once Onigumo, the foolish human that desired you as his own. I have been trying to come to you, but with all of these demons in my mind, it was quite tricky to get them to focus on finding you rather than destroying everything in their wake. "
Kikyo's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Naraku moved closer to her, his red eyes blinking slowly.
"That fool Onigumo," he began, "sold his soul to some restless youkai. He wanted power, a body, and you. After the soul belonged to the new horde of youkai, I was taken over by their will. They were vengeful, some of the few youkai with such negative feelings toward humans, and we became one, destroying whatever lay in our way." He laughed. "Now we've finally managed to make it to you. What an absolute joy. Your ningyo husband can't save you now, but don't worry. I'll be after him next."
Kikyo's eyes filled with tears as she looked up at the disgusting youkai. She couldn't believe Naraku was once the injured man she'd helped.
"So you started the war?" Kikyo asked. Naraku nodded and brought two of his tentacles up to his face before morphing them into sharp claws.
"Indeed," he replied. "Again, that was not my intention, but the youkai in my body were antsy, so they did what they needed." He smiled evilly. "No matter. I'm here now. I've been watching you, Kikyo, and I want to kill you and I want the jewel. Even from where I was physically with the youkai, my eyes have always been on you. I've seen you fight, seen you become a mother, seen you try to carry out the prophecy. You're not the miko from the prophecy, but your daughter…" He smirked. "Well, I will be paying her a visit once I've killed you and your husband. Can't have any loose ends I'll need to tie up later, right?"
"Why are you doing this?" Kikyo asked. "I helped you! Why would you want to kill me and my family?"
Naraku laughed. "I can never have you, Kikyo, and if I can't have you…" The mirth disappeared from his face. "...no one can."
He lunged one of his sharp tentacles at her, catching her on her shoulder before she could duck away. Kikyo hissed in pain and clutched the ripped skin, her hand growing warm with blood.
"Kikyo!"
Kikyo looked up to see Kaede running toward her, a shawl in her hand and a look of pure terror on her face.
"Kaede, run!" she screamed. "Go home!"
Kaede didn't run; instead, she ran straight toward Kikyo and grabbed her bow, quickly nocking an arrow.
"I'm not leaving you, Kikyo!" The young miko released the arrow, but Naraku moved too quickly.
Before Kaede could react, Naraku caught her arrow out of the air and threw it back at Kaede.
The arrow hit her straight in the eye, lodging itself and knocking Kaede down. She screamed in pain.
"Kaede, no!" Kikyo shouted before glaring at Naraku. "Naraku, take me and leave her alone! Don't harm her anymore!"
Kaede moaned in pain as she tried to grip the arrow that was still lodged in her eye.
Kikyo stood up and ignored the shooting pain in her arm. She grabbed the bow again and nocked three arrows on her bow, putting all of her spiritual energy in them. She collapsed, the power and the pain overpowering her.
It did some damage to Naraku, but it didn't kill him.
"Your spiritual powers have weakened, it seems," Naraku commented as he wiped up some of the purple blood oozing from his tentacles. "It will be much easier to kill you now."
Naraku lunged at her again; Kikyo closed her eyes, knowing this was the end for her.
An echoing boom surrounded her instead of a piercing tentacle. Kikyo opened her eyes to find Kaede standing before her, a barrier erected around the two of them.
"Kaede?" she said incredulously.
Kaede glanced at her, one of her eye sockets empty and gushing blood. Kikyo gasped.
Kaede had pulled the arrow out, eyeball and all.
"Kikyo, we have to get out of here!" she said urgently. Kikyo shook her head.
"No, you do," Kikyo argued as she took the jewel from around her neck. "Go find Kai and Kagome. Give him the jewel...I think Kagome is the miko from the prophecy. I need you to tell Kai and give the jewel to Kagome. The jewel is now under her guardianship."
Kaede shook her head. "Stop talking like that! We'll go find Kai together!" Naraku lunged at the barrier, and Kikyo could tell Kaede wouldn't be able to hold it much longer.
"Kaede, do as I say!" Kikyo commanded. "Take the jewel and find Kai! Please, Kaede!"
Kaede turned to look at Kikyo, tears streaming from her good eye as she took the jewel.
"I love you, Kikyo," she whispered.
"I love you, too," Kikyo replied. "When I count to three, dissolve the barrier and run, okay?"
A sob escaped Kaede's mouth as she nodded. Kikyo looked up at Naraku and waited for him to pull his tentacle back to strike again.
"One…
"Two…
"Three!"
Kaede dissolved the barrier and ran in the opposite direction. Kikyo took her place, allowing Naraku's tentacles to pierce her body.
She gasped in pain and felt what must have been a poisonous miasma enter her body.
"Kikyo, you've allowed your sister to live?" Naraku taunted. "How touching. I'll kill her next."
Kikyo glared at him once more before drawing all of her power into her body.
I have one more shot, she realized. If I can stun him enough, Kaede should have enough time to get away.
Kikyo closed her eyes, the image of her family warming her heart for a final time.
Power erupted through her body as she called every ounce of spiritual energy into her hands. She lay her palms on Naraku's tentacles and shot him with her spiritual power.
Naraku yelled in pain and released her. Kikyo fell to the ground, unable to move. She looked up at Naraku and watched as his body began to glow.
"How dare you!" he bellowed. "You will die, Kikyo, but I will not!" Naraku's tentacles began to fall off as he shrank into a smaller form. He was weak, but he wasn't dead.
He wouldn't die today, but Kikyo knew she would.
Naraku disappeared a moment later, vanishing in the air. Kikyo closed her eyes and felt her heartbeat start to slow. Her breathing felt ragged and she was suddenly so exhausted.
She managed to roll onto her back, her gaze now set on the night sky above her.
The stars were shining brightly, but the moon was nowhere to be seen.
A new moon, Kagome realized. A new era...a new world. Her eyes drifted closed as a few tears escaped and fell to the ground.
Her final thought was a prayer of safety for her family.
O.o.O.o.O
Kaede ran faster than she'd ever run before.
She ripped one of the sleeves off her kimono as she ran. The young miko ignored the blinding pain of her eye as she wrapped the cloth of the sleeve around her head.
She glanced behind her and gasped at the sight.
Kikyo had been cut down by that awful youkai.
She called him Naraku...but why would he be after her? Why would he want to kill her?
Her heart was screaming at her to go back, but she couldn't. She had to find Kai and Kagome. They had to get out of there.
She didn't allow her pace to slow as she bolted back to the town.
"Kai!" she screamed when her house came into view. "Kaito!"
The door opened a moment later to reveal a concerned Kai. His eyes widened in horror when he saw Kaede.
"Kaede!" he exclaimed when he saw her. "What happened? You're bleeding!" He rushed her inside and helped her lay down on the couch. "Wait here and I'll get some bandages."
Kaede lay on the couch, her body going numb. She couldn't tell if it was from blood loss or grief.
She'd gone to take Kikyo a shawl in case she was gone into the colder months.
She'd never expected this to happen.
Kai returned with bandages, a washrag, and a bin of water a moment later. He quickly began mopping up the blood.
"What happened, Kaede?"
The young girl dissolved into tears. "I caught up to Kikyo...but now she's dead."
Kaede knew in that moment that she would never forget the look on Kai's face when she told him that. His ocean-tinted skin faded into a ghostly pale.
His hands never faltered as he cleaned up her wound.
"How...how did it happen?" he asked again, his voice strained.
Kaede launched into the story, sparing no details as she told him exactly what had happened with Naraku.
"I don't know what he wanted with her," she continued. "But now I have the jewel. It has to be under Kagome's guardianship now. She's the miko from the prophecy."
Kai wrapped Kaede's newly-cleaned, empty eye socket in a pile of bandages before dropping his head into his hands for a moment.
"We have to go somewhere else," Kai finally said a moment later. "We need to go into hiding. We have to leave this town and just...hide." Kaede nodded and waited on the couch while Kai got up to get Kagome ready to leave.
As she sat alone in the dark room, her head throbbing, she wondered how she would be able to get through life without her sister, with a deranged youkai now after her family and her niece's jewel.
As time went on, they adapted. They found places to hide and eventually live until they caught word of Naraku's whereabouts.
Kaede hadn't been home when Naraku ambushed Kagome and Kai at their house years later.
When she'd gotten home, they were both gone, missing from the house.
Kagome returned a few years later, confirming her father's death and explaining her new role of captain of a ship and hellbent on getting her jewel back from Naraku.
Kaede and Kai never told Kagome that Naraku was a youkai, believing that the prophecy was already too heavy of a burden for such a young girl. Having a youkai tracking them down...they didn't want that to be something else Kagome worried about. They didn't go into much detail about Naraku at all, giving her other excuses for why they had to move so often. They never told her Naraku was the one to kill Kikyo, and Kaede never regretted that omission, even once Kagome got older.
To have killed her father for the jewel was evil enough; knowing Naraku killed her mother would have been too much.
Kagome had grown up to be an incredible and strong woman, and Kaede was prouder than she could ever express when Kagome eventually came to her house with a hanyo in tow.
And when Bankotsu killed Kaede after trying to torture information out of her, information she would never give him no matter what he did to her, she felt that overwhelming pride for Kagome.
As she lay dying, covered in blood and completely alone, all she felt was pride for her niece, love for her, and peace knowing she would soon meet her sister after all that time.
I believe in you, Kagome. You will bring light back to this world.
To be continued...
Gah. Yikes. What a ride.
We will now be returning to our main story. Maybe I'll even put some extra fluff in to make up for this mess.
Love you guys.
Much love.