Inuvember:

Kikyo

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

She was Kikyo, the girl who had a job that she did not even ask for. Ever since she and her sister were young, they lived as orphans, and thus, Kikyo was forced to become older sister and parent to young Kaede. All too quickly, she was forced to grow up before she was even ready.

She was Kikyo, the priestess who walked a path of carnage. However, she chose to shoulder the burden, believing she could handle the task at hand. She chose to guard the Shikon Jewel, purifying it with her very touch...but the task was great, and she found herself plagued by the very burdens she chose to carry. She found herself overwhelmed and realizing that she had gotten more than she could handle...but she would not let herself admit it.

She was Kikyo, the woman who met the half-demon who wanted to steal the jewel from her...but instead, she chose to spare him. She saw that he was not like other demons and had some form of humanity inside of him. She thought that maybe she could talk to him, get him to understand her plight...and yet, she did not fully understand his own.

She was Kikyo, the woman who had made a grave error in judgment, starting with harboring the fugitive, Onigumo. Some may say that she only helped out of good intentions...but she was blinded by her own pride and decisions. In helping this brigand, she did not see the plight of others...especially that of her sister, who warned of the things that the crippled bandit had said. Unfortunately, she paid no heed to those warnings.

In doing so...she had just taken one step closer to death.

She was Kikyo, the woman who wanted to be relieved of her burdens so badly, she chose to use the jewel for her own means. She had heard about how the jewel corrupts one's wish...but surely, this wish she had was pure of heart. She would use it to make the half-demon become a human, and thus jewel should disappear. In her mind, the plan would go smoothly...but she was naïve just as she was proud.

Even if the jewel did not disappear...was there a chance she would admit her folly?

She was Kikyo, the priestess who was viciously attacked by the half-demon who loved her. Betrayed and embittered, she vowed revenge. As blood dripped from her shoulder, she headed to the village where she knew that the deceitful beast would attack, taking the jewel from the place where it was enshrined. Once she had him in her sights...the arrow flew, piercing his chest. He fell into a deep slumber...and she died, taking the jewel with her.

She was Kikyo, the priestess who was forced back to life by the dark magics of the ogress, Urasue. However, anger and hatred embodied her, and she would not see reason, even when the half-demon insisted that he did not betray her. As she was about to land the killing blow, her soul was summoned back to her by a mysterious girl...a girl that looked suspiciously like her. Stumbling away, she refused to be saved and let herself fall from the foggy cliffs.

She was Kikyo, a woman who attempted to stay free and hide amongst the living...but it was not to be. With a body of clay and graveyard, she could not sustain herself without the wayward souls of dead maidens. She was beyond saving, striking down anyone who dared to oppose her. She would not rest until Inuyasha was in hell with her...but once again, that girl got in the way.

Even after she had heard the truth...she still chose to follow this dark path she walked.

She was Kikyo, the undead who, in a way, bargained with the Devil in order to achieve her goal. She didn't care about who suffered as long as her plan came to fruition. She would be the one to defeat Naraku and no one else. He was a result of her mistakes, she would resolve them on her own without any help from anyone.

Even if the girl who she thought was trying to replace her was willing to help her.

She was Kikyo, the priestess who found herself confused. She saw the girl, her reincarnation, interacting with the half-demon...and she could only wonder. Why was it that even though she continued to try and drive her off that she chose to stay? Was she really not like her? Was she actually willing to love a half-demon and not see him as a means to an end?

She was Kikyo, the priestess who tried to correct the mistakes she made, but in her pride, she ended up pushing her luck too far. She believed that as long as Naraku held the heart of Onigumo within him, he would not dare to harm her...but she ended up underestimating her foe and it cost her dearly.

She died, once more...this time, going peacefully in the arms of the half-demon who once loved her. She saw now that she was wrong...that she shouldn't have asked him to change just to please her. She begged him to stay behind...to stay with the one who really loved him while she would watch over them both.

She was Kikyo...and she was at peace, at last.

This one was probably one of the harder ones (because I know the Yashahime girls are gonna be tough for me).

I really hope it didn't sound like I was demonizing Kikyo, because I know she's not really my favorite, but I don't wanna make her sound too much like a monster.

Review, please!