A/N-Okay I know I said that the next chapter would be Grandpa, but when this idea fell into place I had to write it first. Thank you to ArtimisMoon, who first put it in my head to use Kikyo's point of view. All my reviewers will be thanked in the last chapter, whenever that comes. It isn't this one, though I suppose it could have been. I'm gonna keep going. The next chapter, again, might be Grandpa but no promises! Please Review Minna-san (Everyone). I love feedback!"
Oh, and I don't want to forget: Disclaimer: I don't own Inu-Yasha! He belongs to Kagome and they are so cute together that I couldn't bear to take him away. (Both of them and all the characters and aspect of the plot not original to this story are the work of Rumiko Takahashi actually)
Witness: Kikyo
Inu-Yasha…you are near. Do you sense me yet?
"Inu-Yasha! Don't be stupid! It's not like I would leave forever. I'll be just a couple hours. What's wrong with that? We've been taking a little vacation from shard collecting anyway, so why can't I go?"
"Well, we should be searching for shards! We don't exactly have forever to beat Naraku!"
"You're so unreasonable! What's two more hours? Don't be a jerk! And if you mention the jewel…" But her threat was left to hang in the air, as Inu-Yasha stiffened. A look of pain and worry crossed his face.
"Go!" his voice was low and urgent now, causing the slowly approaching figure to smile a cold smile.
You want to protect her from me, Inu-Yasha? Or protect her from her own heart when she sees us together. She wants to own you…but you are mine!
"What is it Inu-Yasha? A demon? Should I get the others?"
"No. Just go! Please, Kagome." Kikyo, now close enough to see them; saw the small flicker of realization.
"It's her. It's Kikyo." She looked upset now, this girl that looked so much like Kikyo herself. "I won't"
"Please Kagome. She's my responsibility."
"I won't leave. You'll go to hell with her."
"No, I won't."
"You will. She uses magic Inu-Yasha. She'll trap you. Even if you don't decide to go willingly."
"Damn it! Just GO!"
"Do you love me Inu-Yasha?"
"Yes, you know I do. I just…Feh, you know I'm not good at this stuff!"
Oh, so do you betray me Inu-Yasha. You want a live girl to love? A girl to love you back with tenderness. Are you going to become human for her? Let her have everything that I was denied?
"Inu-Yasha. You lied to me. Again." Internally she smiled at the grief on his face. Her face remained passive. "You wish to forget me? How is that fair when I can never forget you, and I can never move on?" he stepped in front of Kagome, who seemed to be biting her tongue. It was now that Kikyo smiled gently at Inu-Yasha.
Feel it girl. Feel how he still reacts to my smile! He is mine! You may think you've melted his heart, but he will give that heart to me!
"Kikyo…"His voice had the wistful, regretful tone it always did. Kikyo felt triumphant as her reincarnation looked down, away. But then he felt behind him and grasped the small hand of the younger girl lightly before continuing. "Kikyo…What do you want from me?"
"You know what I want Inu-Yasha." She paused and looked at Kagome, almost thoughtfully. "Do you remember all that you promised me?"
"Yes. I'm sorry Kikyo. I can't go to hell with you. It's a promise I have to break. It's a promise I shouldn't have made. I'll help you find your peace. But I can't die for it."
So he thinks that he has broken no others? How dare he!?
"What of your love? Was that not a promise? Did you lie? You already led me to death. Why can't you come back to it with me? Where you belong! It's what you deserve!"
"Stop!" Kagome pushed in front of Inu-Yasha. She walked to stand closer to Kikyo, who felt the pain of her soul tugging to join the rest of it. In her anger Kagome was brave. "It wasn't his fault! You just can't see that because you are holding onto your hatred! He never lied. He did love you! It wasn't a lie! He doesn't deserve to suffer! You said you loved him too! Why can't he be happy?"
Troublesome child!
"So, you think he is happy with you? How long until he finds someone new? Someone to love more than you?" she stepped closer to Kagome, her demon pets flying around her, keeping the souls of the dead as well as her own, within her body of earth and bones.
You can't hide your fear from me, it must frighten you.
"I would be sad. It would break my heart. But I wouldn't want him to die! I wouldn't blame him! I want Inu-Yasha to live!" she looked at Inu-Yasha and his face held a promise that he would never find anyone else. It was more than Kikyo could stand. She would never receive this promise. Not from him, not from anyone! All because of him! In the split second that he was distracted she seized him, pulling him to her with strong arms and strong magic tying him there, seeking to calm his mind into peace to take him easily and swiftly.
To hell Inu-Yasha! We will go to hell. Together.
But he was fighting her spell. How she knew not. But he struggled and she could only pull him slowly. Using so much energy to hold him, she could only haltingly create their path to hell.
"Kikyo, What are you doing? Why?"
"I would have thought that was clear. You are coming to hell with me. We will die in each other's arms and be together.
"No! Let me go! I can't…I promised Kagome, Kikyo! I need to stay with her! I need to kill Naraku! Kagome!" an arrow whizzed towards Kikyo. It was simple to deflect it. She would not be stopped!
"Inu-Yasha!"
Helpless child. Do you feel how useless you are? You can't even save the one you love. Everything will be better this way, Inu-Yasha. Don't you see? We could not live our lives together but we can have death together!
But he rebelled. He rebelled against her dream of being with him, twisted as it was by the hate that kept her moving in the world of the living. He called out with love for a different girl. "Kagome!" But he was weakening, as the spell continued. He was losing the battle and Kikyo could feel their descent increasing.
"Inu-Yasha!" The girl Kagome screamed painfully. It was almost a cry of death to Kikyo, familiar as she was with the cries and calls of death. They were the sounds that filled the empty husk that acted as her body.
"Kagome…" the hanyou boy choked out the words. He was also in pain. He could feel it. He was being pulled away from the girl, the girl who had stolen away his heart. The heart that should have belonged to the priestess Kikyo so many years before had been stolen "I'm sorry. Kagome. KAGOME!" This scream too was of a quality Kikyo recognized, from her extensive knowledge of demonology. It was the cry of a demon for its mate.
Mate. That title could have belonged to me. Or wife. Wife I would have been when he became human so that we could be together. It should have belonged to me. For me he was going to become human! For me he first felt affection in his cold, lonely heart! He should have been mine. What right has this child to steal my soul and his heart, the heart that should have belonged to me? MY Heart.
He gasped in pain, her tight grip cutting off his lungs, his death looming before his eyes. "Kagome…" his cry was softer now. He would soon be beyond help.
"Inu-Yasha!" the girl screamed out his name again, notching the bow and letting an arrow loose towards the two, wrapped in Kikyo's spell.
It would have been easier if he had come willingly. Once again he tries to hurt me for his own ends. Do you want to once again dig your claws into me, Inu-Yasha? How could he fall in love again? How could he move on when all that keeps this sham body of mine animated is my old hate? This is only what he deserves!
The arrow bounced away from Kikyo's barrier.
I feel his struggling weaken. Why does this not satisfy me? Where is the peace in it? My revenge…
"Kagome…Sorry. I'm sorry"
"I won't let you! You can't go!" the girl looked frantic "It's not your fault Inu-Yasha! It never was! Why should you die when it wasn't your fault? I love you Inu-Yasha! I'll never not love you. I'll finish our quest! I can get the Shikon no Tama and…" but her voice broke. "You can come back! You don't have to stay dead! I'll…" but she must have realized the chances of getting close, let alone defeating Naraku without his help, of the Shikon No Tama being able to bring him back after so long a death.
"Don't cry Kagome"
She angrily brushed away tears and forced herself to smile, for him. It was a weak smile, and obviously forced; but it shone with the pure truth that it was his, she was his. Her last smile for him…
"Kagome." And his struggling increased. He wanted her. He loved her. He trusted her. She trusted him. Warm drops hit Kikyo's arms. His tears. He was hers, Kagome's, as much as she was his, and he cried for her. Kikyo had never heard him cry, and really, it had never crossed her mind that he ever would, or even could. And in that moment, something in Kikyo's small piece of soul snapped out of its deeply rooted hatred.
Why? Why? It isn't fair! I wasn't ready! I didn't want to die! I died believing he betrayed me. They…They will never feel that. Why was my love less than hers? Why was his love for me less? Why was I denied time? I worked so hard! I…I…was tricked. I didn't trust. He didn't trust. The girl, she smiles for him even though she is in pain, so that he can hold onto that. Would I have done that? I don't know. Neither of us knew how to love. I wanted him to become human. It was a condition. She loves him as I could not, without conditions. She gives up her chances to be a normal human girl, even more normal than I could have been, for him. He would have given up his demon blood, but why? Because he loved me, or so that I would love him?
And something almost amazing happened. Perhaps it was because already the hatred that had wound itself into the false body was loosening as she pulled them both towards death, maybe it was because deep down there was still the good priestess who was strong enough to fight against even her own demons. The hands clasping his back in a travesty of an embraces loosened, then released him completely. His face reflected wonder and confusion then he gave her a serious, apologetic look before leaping out of the growing chasm. Kikyo continued alone, feeling her body melting, returning to simple earth and bones. Despite herself she screamed in the pain of it all.
Dying alone. Again. Death is painful this second time as much as the first. Where will I go? To hell?
She felt her small bit of soul pulling itself free of the construct body as it was devoured by earth. For a few moments, probably only seconds, but it seemed so long, she was still aware of herself.
The hatred is all gone. I'm sorry Inu-Yasha, I hope you understand what happened to me. I may have wanted to melt your heart but I was not the one to do it. Indeed, maybe it was never meant to be…Where will I go? To her? I'm going to her? So I was meant to be part of her. The soul I claimed really was no longer my own by right. I owe this girl an apology as well. It's too late I guess. I was at peace in death before. Maybe I will be at peace once again…
Kikyo, the finally resting priestess did not see the small bright light that was her streak at Kagome, though both the girl from the future and the half-demon boy did. He made a movement as if to protect her, fearing another attack from his old love, just as things seemed safe again. But Kagome stopped him.
"She's a part of me" and the light shot into her chest, knocking her onto the ground.
"Kagome?!" And yet again he was surprised when she looked up into his face smiling.
"She's okay Inu-Yasha. It's almost like…like I could hear her. She seemed peaceful"
"…"
"So Inu-Yasha…"
"Yes?"
"Should we be heading to the village?"
"I guess. I thought you wanted to go home"
"I think I'll stay a while longer." And they walked back not touching, not talking until just outside the village he pulled her to him.
"I was afraid." His voice sounded lost. She brought one hand to touch his face lightly, looking at him with concerned, caring eyes as both took comfort in the fact that he was still there. She wiped the remnants of tears from his face, knowing he would not want the others to see that he had cried.
"I know. I was afraid too Inu-Yasha." He took her small hands in own
"Feh" But, in a rare moment this word lacked all it's usual gruffness.
They pulled away and walked back once again silent, once again separate. But of course, not alone. Thankfully, neither was forced to walk alone this day.
Of course, Kikyo knew none of this. Kikyo once again slept the sleep of death. Alone, but not lonely, warm and content.
Not the end…
Like it? Hate it? Think I messed up with Kikyo? Think I was too mean to her? To nice? Think anything about it at all? Again, please review!
