Chapter 42: A Spiritual Confliction

Inuyasha and Hige sit on the large rocks close to the waterfall that Kagome is meditating under. "Got any idea how long this take?" Inuyasha asks the father rather impatiently. Hige can tell right off the bat the boy doesn't like to wait for a long. "It depends on what she's focusing on, Inuyasha. Don't be rash." Hige serious spoke back. Inuyasha kehs and turns back to the girl.

Kagome is concentrating deep within herself to find something. Even with her eyes sealed closed, all she sees it pitch black. Making sure that her mind is clear as a whistle, she's still struggling. Inuyasha can see sweat beads blending in with the water droplets, "Don't." Hige sternly spook. That halt Inuyasha from jumping off of his spot on the rock. "Let her do her thing." Inuyasha has no choice but to do what he is told.

Soon enough, the light appears again around the girl. "She finally managed to release her spiritual powers. The dormancy was triggered when Kagome was possessed by Kikyo when she wore that locket." Hige tells the first step of the powers being release. "And I'm the one who came up with this spot." Hige adds his confession. Inuyasha turns to him. "Did you hide this from your family?" Inuyasha asks him curiously. "Only Ai knows about this. Sota. Not happening." Hige crossed his arms. "Is it because Kagome is the only one who inherits the spiritual powers from her mother?" Inuyasha asks him again. "Yes. Sota is just a kid and it's best we leave it like that." Hige explains to Inuyasha calmly. Inuyasha nods and resumes watching Kagome.

Kagome opens her eyes of her mind. Instead of the waterfall, she finds herself in a bright area. She looks around to see nothing other than herself. "Kagome." A voice spoke from nowhere. Kagome turns out to one point to see a girl who looks almost like her except her skin tone is a little paler than Kagome's peachy hue. The hair is another feature to tell them apart. Kikyo's hair is a long charcoal black with straight ends along with her bangs. Kagome's hair is more raven black, a bit shorter that Kikyo's length with her bangs a bit pointy as well as her hair's ends. "Kikyo." Kagome remains natural because she knows it's only way to keep her aura pure.

To make things a bit scary was that both of them are wearing priestess clothes. Kikyo's hair is pull back with a white hairband ties behind her head. Kagome's hair is remained down. "Are you to come to agree with my terms?" Kikyo asks her hopefully. Kagome sighs, "Kikyo, even if you take my body to confront Tsubaki, would it make you satisfied?" She asks her seriously.

Kikyo keeps her expression in place. "I first thought about that. But it's something else that has plagued me ever since my death." She responds back. "And what exactly is it?" Kagome asks her in concern. "Tsubaki's been jealous about my powers, and she did everything she could to bring me down." Kagome raises her hand to stop her. "I've been told about it. There's something you alone only know that no one else knows about." She smiles to the other girl. "To be honest with you. There is." Kikyo slightly frowns. "And what was it?" Kagome asks her suspiciously.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry for my rude comment I said to your mother at my mom's wedding. I didn't know what came over me at that time. I wish I could go back in time to prevent that from ever happen." Kikyo admits her mistake. Kagome had no idea that Kikyo had to hold that burden throughout that time. Just hearing saying it with that much sympathy had Kagome think twice about Kikyo's offer. "From what your mother told me before I left was that you wanted to protect me from releasing my spiritual powers. But I guess it didn't work in your favor." Kagome frowns with her cousin.

Kikyo nods, "And when you picked up the locket in your closet, I had to do what I could to get a hold of Inuyasha but that didn't work." Kagome nods back. "And what he told me that the locket was cursed, and I bet you knew the rest." She said to remind Kikyo for what she was going through the time since the locket incident. "I just don't want Inuyasha to choose between us. I can still tell that he isn't over your death since then." Kagome smiles sadly.

Kikyo didn't see that coming. "He still misses me?" She asks in shock. Kagome just nods for her answer. "I bet there was more than that. From what Inuyasha told me was painful on his part." Kagome explains to Kikyo for has sad Inuyasha has been since her death but managed to hide from his family and friends. "I didn't know." Kikyo spoke in murmur.

Seeing how sad Kikyo is due to Inuyasha's own sadness. "Kikyo, I'll let you possess my body on one occasion." Kagome spoke seriously now. "And was it, Kagome?" Kikyo asks her in the same manner. "You have to apologize to my mother because ever since the comment, your mother has never spoke to her in over 10 years. The least you should it to make amends to her." Kagome suggests to her cousin. Kikyo smiles. "You're absolutely right, Kagome. Aunt Ai has every right to know about my comment." She agrees with Kagome terms. "For now, release your powers and control them so you don't mess up." Kikyo advices before fading away.

Kagome opens her eyes and has her head facing down from the water panting. "Whoa." She holds her head. "Kagome!" Kagome turns to see Inuyasha coming to her. "You ok?" She nods back and is about to stand back up but looses her balance. Inuyasha catches her before she was going to hit her head on the rocks below. Instead, they end in the water's deep end. "Inuyasha! Kagome!" Hige runs to the water's edge. Inuyasha comes to the surface with Kagome in his arms. "Don't worry. She's ok." Inuyasha assures him as he gets to shore. "We needs to get her home so she can rest up." Hige suggests as they leave the spot.