It's that time again…shout outs!

JetBear: dear friend! * falls over in shock* Oh, wow! Wow, wow, wow…And yes, I'll email you notice of chapters upcoming. Or just for fun * lol* LOVE reading your reviews.

Mattielover: you're my 50th reviewer!! Amazing. And no worries about the review, glad to. Anytime.

Kitsune hanyou: yes, a beautiful shield…I made you cry?! Ah, gomen. But then, fics that can do that are usually the ones I like best...hmm.

Pink twilight: back for more? I'm not going to give away plot points *hee hee! *

Kirsten: Yes, all hail the spellcheck button! I'm glad you like how I've written the characters. Confession: never seen the anime, never read the manga. (It doesn't exist in Australia – I found this wonderful story completely by chance.) However, I have done my research, read tons of fics, good and bad, and the lifesaving Internet translations. (Chris Rijk – yahoo!)

Zonza: I live for suspense! I get to torture people from halfway around the world…Yes, I wanted a bit of an insight into how Naraku's mind worked (eww). Glad you think it worked out.

A/N: Ready for round two? The battle is far from over – on more levels than one. Parts of it you'll like, parts you'll want to hurt me for (I'm strong, won't cry) – bring on the tissues!

Disclaimer: Hmpf. I don't own Inuyasha…and I'm not worth suing. Really. I'm broke!

Note: slight change – italics for dreams, flashbacks and Kikyou's thoughts. You'll see why…


Choice and Consequence

Chapter 9: Battle for Supremacy

As their hands met, enormous power began to gather around the two of them. Caught in the grip of the magic, Kagome was only able to watch as her physical body was lifted by invisible forces into the air. The corpse was eventually positioned so that it looked as though Kagome herself was standing upright without any assistance. A stray thought wandered into Kagome's mind as she looked on.

'Huh. Is this REALLY what I look like? I had no idea…'

Kikyou was hissing frantic instructions at her. "When the eyes open, you will go back inside. I will follow you – don't close yourself off to me, or you'll die all over again. Understand?" Kagome nodded.

Yes, now she understood.

She flicked her eyes over to where her friends were standing, mouths gaping open in astonishment. It was terrible to see the expressions on their faces; fear, wonder, hope and sorrow were all evident. She attempted to lift a hand to reassure them, grunting in annoyance when her limbs remained unresponsive. Not that she hadn't expected it, really – after all, she hadn't been able to move in her dreams, either.

The eyes opened.

Kagome suppressed a startled squeal when she felt herself being pulled back into the body she had only recently left. The scenery around her disappeared for an instant, replaced instead by streaked light and rushing wind. The sensation was what she imagined a fish would feel when it was caught on a hook, being reeled in. She was being pulled along on a line, powerless to stop. She glanced around. Ha. It didn't look as though Kikyou was enjoying this any more than she was. The awesome light grew blinding, and she shut her eyes to wait until the transformation was complete.


Inuyasha struggled to raise himself on his arms. Using the Tetsusaiga as a staff, he propped himself up so that he could get a better view of what was happening.

He was furious.

Kikyou was here. He should have known. And now she was doing something to Kagome's body, when it should be left to rest peacefully! His mind raced to find an explanation for the undead miko's behaviour. A chill gripped him – that was it. The clue here was 'undead'. Both girls shared the same soul, and now that…that…this had happened, the miko was trying to steal back what she had lost so long ago. It couldn't be allowed to happen. This cycle of misery had to end.

"Kikyou! Get away from her!" he bellowed. He struggled to move toward her, staggering under the weight of his injuries. "Dammit, woman, don't you touch her! Don't – "

A sudden rush of power knocked him off of his feet, sending him sprawling on the hard floor. "What in the seven hells was THAT?" he gasped. He glimpsed Miroku standing near Sango, equally perplexed at the situation they had gotten themselves into. Kohaku, meanwhile, had fallen to the ground in much the same way as Inuyasha had. He felt a slight prick of annoyance. They had remained standing while he fell? Feh.

As the light surrounding the mikos grew brighter, his eyes were dragged back to watch. He could see Kikyou, standing over the body of his beloved Kagome, moving her lips in words that he couldn't pick up from this distance. All at once, Kagome's body began to rise, buoyed by unseen currents in the air. He could almost fool himself into thinking that she was back, recalled from the oblivion she had fallen into. That thought left him when he noticed a crucial detail. Her eyes were closed, and she showed no signs of breathing. What happened next left him breathless himself.

The corpse's eyes opened, and a pulse of power nearly sent him back to the ground in an undignified heap. Growling, he resisted the urge to let gravity work on him, fixing his eyes on the phenomenon that was unfolding. A glowing figure appeared beside Kagome's corpse – it looked like a human shape – and was sucked at a tremendous pace into the body. Before he had time to deny the implications of this, the sight of Kikyou's earthen body crumbling to dust froze him to the spot. A second shining figure rose from the remains and entered Kagome, leaving no trace of its former owner.

'Kikyou is possessing Kagome's body? Oh, hell. Anything but that!'

The light steadily grew too bright for even him to look at, and he was forced to turn away. Despite not being able to see what was happening in that cloud of light, it gave him immense satisfaction to see that Naraku was no stronger against the powerful surge than he was. The foul hanyou was flattened against the inner wall of his own castle, his face contorted with anger…and fear? 'That can't be right.'

Naraku stared at the risen miko in astonishment. If what he felt growing within the miko was what he feared it was, then she was powerful beyond what even he could have wished for. Anger overwhelmed his senses, propelling him closer toward the miko. Kikyou had done this to him, had betrayed him once and for all. The plan had sounded plausible enough – drive the girl away from her friends, snatch her away as ransom, then force Inuyasha to come and get her…where Naraku would be ready and waiting. Killing her had been Kikyou's idea.

He had agreed; and it would cost him everything in the end.

Only when Kagome had relinquished her hold on that body could Kikyou initiate the recalling spell that bound them to the one common vessel. Alone, neither miko would have stood a ghost of a chance against him, but together they balanced out against each other, mixing and multiplying their powers to reach whole new levels. In hindsight, it was clear that when he had given in to Kikyou's demands and his own youkai urges, he had effectively signed his own death warrant. Incredible. One swift move and his future was practically forfeit. Unless…

He had a chance. Just one. He watched the spectacle and waited for an opening.


Sango was speechless. Her eyes were surely deceiving her – that couldn't really be Kagome-chan standing there, could it? The light was gradually fading, giving this small audience a somewhat clearer picture of what had transpired. Where there had been two women, there was now one. One who bore a startling resemblance to Kagome-chan…and yet looked nothing like her.

Confusing, to say the least.

The figure turned its head to look directly at her, causing her breath to catch harshly in her throat. There was no mistake, it was Kagome-chan! The risen miko twisted slightly to glance over at a stunned Inuyasha – and her features changed subtly until she looked more like…Kikyou. Her body was clothed in the traditional garb of a miko, and she was armed with a bow and arrow. If Sango hadn't been frozen in place, she would have fallen over in shock from the changes that had been wrought in her dear friend. With each turn of the head, the girl switched appearances – one minute Kikyou, the next Kagome. It was as if the two mikos were sharing the one body.

'Idiot – that's exactly what it is!' she berated herself. "Houshi-sama?" she called tentatively.

"Unh," was his eloquent reply. He pushed himself off of the wall he had been leaning against and staggered over to her. "What is happening, Sango?" She gave him a disbelieving look.

"I was hoping that you could tell me," she remarked. "After all, you're the houshi around here."

"My dear Sango, being a houshi is an honour, it's true, but that does not mean that all mysteries are revealed to us on demand." She gawked at him, at a loss for words. Their situation could not be more serious, and he was in 'righteous houshi' mode? This was not a time for levity, dammit! Her frustration needed an outlet…

"Ow! Sango…."

"Be serious, houshi!" she snapped at him, her hand still raised from when she had given him a sharp slap across the face. "Kagome and Kikyou are joined, somehow, and you're joking around?! Gah!" His eyes widened perceptibly as she told him this. 'Huh. He really didn't know?'

"Ahh, Sango, I wouldn't advise that you move around right now. It would be far safer to stay right where you are." Miroku seemed uncharacteristically flustered, absently placing a hand on her arm to hold her still. Ordinarily she would have shrugged it off, and quickly too, but she told herself that these circumstances were definitely what might be called 'extenuating'. Besides, the touch was strangely comforting at this point. She glanced behind her to where Kohaku was still flat on the ground, then turned back to watching her friends. "Why, houshi-sama?" His eyes darted around the battleground nervously, his customary calm shot to pieces. He took his time answering, much to her annoyance.

"Sango," he began, "if this is what I think it is, then Kagome only has partial control over what will happen next. It has been done before, attempting to combine two powerful souls into one extremely powerful being, but there is a catch. Such a volatile mix of personalities cannot simply run wild; one soul must be dominant over the other. Naturally, in such cases the stronger spiritual power will take the lead and dictate the actions of the other. Kikyou always said that she was stronger, but we do not actually know for certain which of the two were in fact greater. And until this has been determined, we mustn't disturb the balance in the meantime. Kagome would never harm us – but I fear that Kikyou might, if she felt it would serve her ends."

Sango paled at this news. "They have to balance each other out? But how will we know when they've done it?" She clenched and unclenched her fists in a subconscious display of inner tension. The houshi gently took her hand to prevent her from hurting herself inadvertently. "You see how her appearance changes?"

She nodded.

"That is our signal. When we can see Kagome, then she is in control. If we see Kikyou, then she is the one running things. And we have no choice but to wait for one or the other to declare victory."

"What will she, er, they do first, houshi-sama? Will we be able to stop them if Kikyou is in charge?"

Miroku shook his head. "It would be pure folly to try to fight her now, Sango. She could wipe you out with a wave of her hand." He tightened his hold on her hand as he said this, unwilling to even think of harm coming to his dear Sango. "As for what she will do, think about it. What has all of this pain been about since the beginning?" Sango collected her scattered thoughts and concentrated. It was obvious.

"The shikon no tama."


We will only have one chance at this.

"I know that, Kikyou. We have to hurry, before Naraku wakes up to what's going on."

Summon them.

Kagome lifted her right hand high into the air, focusing entirely on the task before her. 'Ah – Miroku and Inuyasha decided to share them out…clever.' As the others watched, awestruck, her hand began to glow with a rush of power. She directed her thoughts into one tangible command. "Come." Pink streaks flashed towards the outstretched hand at an incredible speed.

* * * * * *

Far away, Kouga stumbled inexplicably while he was running. Grunting in annoyance, he pulled himself back up to his feet and made as if to run off again. Then he stopped. Something was different.

The shards were gone. No explanation. They had simply disappeared.

* * * * *

Miroku raised a hand haltingly to the pouch that had held his own little collection of shards. Three neat holes showed where the jewel fragments had pierced the leather, punching through as easily as if it had been paper. He looked over to where Naraku was standing, smugly satisfied to see that the chunk of the shikon no tama that had been in his possession was gone as well. A second look at Inuyasha showed that he, too, had suddenly had his shards taken from him. His heart sinking, he chanced a look at Kohaku.

The boy was standing stock still, his eyes vacant of expression. So…wait, he was standing?

* * * * *

Kagome brought her hand down to look at the shards nestled in her palm. Satisfaction flowed through her; Kikyou, however, was far from happy.

Fool! Why did you bother wasting the energy to spare that wolfish mutt some pain?! A few scratches wouldn't have done any real damage –

"He is my friend," Kagome replied calmly. "I refuse to allow my friends to be hurt if I can help it."

I need all of the power possible to perform the purification! Release the boy!

"No. We can save him."

He should be dead! He doesn't have the shard anymore; his body should be dust!

"No."

You are wasting energy on these trivial matters…we have to finish this!


Inuyasha was hopelessly lost. First Kagome, then Kikyou, then back to Kagome again – it seemed the to-and-fro would never end! His head hurt from trying to figure the puzzle out. The woman (he didn't know who to call her, exactly) had taken his shards. He wasn't entirely sure if he could trust her or not.

He didn't know if he could fight her for them back again.

She seemed to be talking to herself, but he couldn't quite make out the words. Whatever it was, the conversation sounded like an argument. It was Kagome's voice, that much he could tell easily, but she wasn't talking to anyone! Unless…Kikyou was in her head.

That had to be it. And that meant they could all be in a whole mess of trouble very soon.

As he watched, her hand closed over the shards gathered in her grasp. It glowed pink for a few seconds, then faded. When she opened her fist, a perfect sphere floated up to hover just above her hand. The shikon no tama was complete. Time to make a wish.

* * * * *

Naraku didn't dare move an inch from where he was. The immense power emanating from the miko on his battlements was potent enough to cause him serious damage. It wouldn't necessarily kill him – not when his many underlings had been absorbed into his being – but it would take him a while to recover. He had one chance at regaining the jewel.

"What will you wish for, Kikyou?" he taunted her. "My death – or your life? Say the word and that body is yours for all time…as is Inuyasha. Isn't that what you wanted?" He waited expectantly to see the effect of his words. Disappointingly, the miko's face showed no reaction. He would have liked to see the anger, despair, the mind-numbing hope that should have been there – but the result would have to be enough. The shikon no tama floated over her hand, ignored for the moment. A silent struggle seemed to be taking place. 'Perfect.'


"Kikyou…you wouldn't dare! If you wish for your life back, the shikon no tama will be tainted – it won't disappear!"

Don't be stupid. My goal has only ever been to defeat Naraku.

"Forgive me if I don't quite believe you."

I will be content to live in this manner. Once you learn your place, my life will be quite acceptable.

"You are NOT staying in here!"

You don't have a choice, little girl. The spell is irreversible. Come, you are wasting time. Let me make the wish.

"What will you wish for?" Kagome held her breath, waiting for the answer. If it was what she thought…

I will wish for Naraku's destruction. What else is there now? Hurry up and let me finish this!

"You can't wish for his destruction. Not before we have gotten rid of the curses he laid on my friends."

What do I care about that? I only want him gone. Those people mean less than nothing in the scheme of things. GIVE…ME…CONTROL…

Kagome fought against the invisible hands that attempted to seize hold of the jewel. She was angry beyond belief. Not even Inuyasha had gotten her this mad…

"Hands off, Kikyou! Lie down like the zombie you are and let me handle this! I will NOT let my friends continue to suffer like this when they don't have to! Let...me...GO!" With a supreme mental effort, Kagome pushed Kikyou's voice down into the darkest corner of her soul, where she could no longer be heard. "One chance. I know what to do. And a little something extra…" Despite the seriousness of the situation, Kagome smiled. Kikyou was gone – but her power was still there. She had never felt such power. "Just enough…" She knew what would happen next. She had dreamt it.

Through the smoke, a pink flash of light.


Naraku was not happy. No, not at all. Kikyou, that dumb excuse for a miko, had lost the battle. Kagome was the dominant presence in the merger. This did not bode well for him. One wish, that was all it would take, and his life would be over. His mind searched frantically for some way out of this mess…and couldn't find one.

Inuyasha stared. Kagome was back. For some reason, she had stopped looking like Kikyou all the time, and now it was just her up there. Her aura was incredibly powerful, even he could pick that up, but it was Kagome. He could have laughed.

His relieved smile faded when she met his eyes. Steel, determination…and sorrow. 'What?'

Kagome raised her hands, one on either side of the shikon no tama. She closed her eyes and bowed her head. As he watched, she began to rise off of the ground, floating in mid-air as though she weighed nothing at all. The jewel began to glow, and he fought the urge to step back. Before he knew it, the miko energy lanced outwards, fulfilling the request of its mistress.

'Wait – three beams of light? Why three?' He looked at where Naraku had been standing – and got the shock of his life. The bastard was still standing there?

A burning sensation drew his attention to his neck. Slapping at the affected area to quench any flames (it sure felt like he was on fire!) he was surprised when his hands met thin air. "Oi, where's the rosary?" The cursed necklace that had given him such grief was gone. She had used the shikon no tama for that?! No, that didn't make sense. Confused, he tried to see where the other two beams of pure light had gone. He didn't have to look far.

Kohaku was kneeling on the ground, shaking his head. His eyes were clear, and he seemed to be…alive? Impossible. His shard was gone, the boy should be dead – shouldn't he? A faint pink residue of power shrouded his body. 'Well, that's one. Trust Kagome to wish for that. Sango will be so – '

Yes, Sango had seen him. She rushed to her brother, kneeling in front of him with a look of amazement on her face. Much to Kohaku's surprise, she grabbed him in a bone-cracking hug. Inuyasha winced in sympathy. 'Ouch.' He next tried to find the houshi. Maybe he knew where that third beam had gone…

Miroku was staring at his hand with a look that bordered on horror. The same pink remnant of magic hovered around his arm, reflecting faintly in his dark eyes. As the hanyou looked on, he slowly removed the seal from his cursed hand, flinching slightly when the beads came off. Nothing. The hole in his hand was gone. Inuyasha expected the same gleeful reaction that Sango had shown…but the houshi seemed to be rather upset. He looked up at Kagome, a faintly accusing look in his eyes.

'Kagome-sama…what have you done?! The wish…you used the wish for this?' he thought. Horrified, he remembered what the young miko had told him and Sango before this fight had begun.

"Miroku, Sango…I found something out that you're not going to like." The poor girl struggled against unconsciousness as she attempted to get the words out. This was going to be so hard…

"The curses that Naraku put on you…your brother, Sango, and your hand, Miroku…" She stopped for breath. Miroku thought his own heart would stop with the suspense he was in. She continued painfully.

"You were wrong. Killing Naraku will not end the curse. He'll die, but nothing else will change. The only way to reverse them is to try it while he's still alive. I think you have to draw on his own power to undo his curses…it's like any spell – only the one who cast it can undo it. I'm sorry."

His eyes narrowed. From what she had told him…in her dreams, these events were followed by fire. There had been a few explosions, but where was the fire? What was she going to do? He was very much afraid he knew the answer. 'Kagome-sama, what have you done?'


Naraku couldn't believe his eyes. Three beams of light, and none of them directed at him? He stared in astonishment, then laughed.

He laughed as though he were mad.

"WHAT?!" he roared. "That is what you wished for? Obviously you missed something important, miko – the jewel is still there!" It was true. The shikon no tama still floated between the miko's hands. Unexpectedly, she smirked at him – and brought her hands together in a rush. When she moved them apart once more, the shikon no tama was no where to be seen. It was finished.

"Little idiot," he hissed malevolently. "Without the jewel, you haven't got a hope! I will – "

He froze as she met his gaze, extending a hand toward him in a commanding gesture. All of a sudden he couldn't move a muscle. He felt an uncomfortable tingling go through him at the contact with her pure energy. 'How long can she keep this up? She's got to be tired,' he mused. 'When she falls, I'll finish her.'

Kagome drifted back to the ground, released from the jewel's power. Tired beyond belief, all she wanted to do was sleep. 'Ugh, can't do that. There is no way the others can do this…only Kikyou and I can.' Giving in to the inevitable, she drew more strongly on the reserve of Kikyou's strength. A rush of power went through her… 'Just enough. Good.' She braced her hands on the ground and closed her eyes once more. 'One chance…' Time to make her dreams come true.


Inuyasha gaped as tendrils of flame began to dance around Kagome's fingertips. She seemed to be drawing the power from the ground beneath her. Borrowing energy? It made sense…she had to be tired now. But he had never seen her display this degree of control over her skills. It was awesome.

Inuyasha?

"Say what?!" he yelped, startled. 'Some voice is talking in my head?'

Inuyasha, you pay attention to me or I'll put that rosary back! Feel like eating dirt?

"You're kidding me! Kagome?" he breathed. "How are you doing this?"

Don't forget what I asked you…remember me. Don't let this be forgotten – I'll never forget you.

"N-no! Don't be saying what I think you're saying, please…" She cut him off.

I love you. I always did. Always will. Don't you dare forget it.

For the second time that day, tears stung his eyes. Not caring who saw, he brushed them away angrily. Kagome had risen from her position on the ground, and had turned to face their small group. From the bemused looks on Sango and Miroku's faces, he guessed that she hadn't been 'talking' to them. His heart thumped painfully as Kagome folded her hands together in front of her, bowing low to her friends. The ultimate sign of respect and gratitude. Unmistakable for what it was.

He couldn't help it. "I love you!" he called desperately. He knew she had heard – her face lit up in a smile. He would never, ever get tired of that smile…

She turned towards Naraku, her eyes hardening to slits of cold ice. For his ears only, she snarled, "You will not walk away from this, bastard. I swear it."

He scoffed, "You don't have the power left, little one. You're wiped out, no strength remaining. The only way – " He stopped, stunned. 'She wouldn't…'

"Exactly." She raised her hands, summoning the fire she had collected within herself. Her body was obscured by a wall of flames, rushing around her figure like a molten cage. With all her might she flung her hands towards Naraku, sending a river of energy at him in a raging torrent. As he was engulfed in flames, she felt a counter-attack being sent at her. 'Oh, no you don't!' Relentlessly she increased the power, ripping his aura apart like tissue paper. This final effort was the trigger. Triumphantly she strengthened the link between them, ensuring that his very soul was demolished. No reincarnations for this monster. Finally, it was finished.

* * * * *

The three fighters watched helplessly as the two balls of flame flared brightly, connected by a chain of fire. All at once a tremendous surge of power coursed between them, causing a light so bright that the observers had no choice but to look away.

When the flames dissipated, neither of them could be seen. No Naraku…no Kagome. Just air.

Inuyasha's voice was unrecognizable. "KAGOME!" He fell to his knees, unable to stand any longer. Sango and Miroku could only look on, tears in their own eyes. "What do we do now?"


Wahhh! *Cries at what she wrote * how could I? Um, it's not over yet…very important stuff in the next chapter. Really! Throw things at me if you want, I don't mind. I almost hate myself for this…. Before you log off in disgust, hear me out! - You will hear from Kagome in the next chapter…I bet you don't guess how, though. (I told you to bring the tissues!)

Next Chapter: Beloved Voice