Author's note: Hey hey hey everyone! Wow, I got some really awesome reviews! I love you guys so much, thanks for being so nice! Well, I'm starting school in one week, so the updates might take a bit longer, but I won't abandon the story! No way in Hell!!!!! Ok, so, I think I've decided what's going to happen, so here we go! BTW, the tea was just a paralysis thing, they aren't dead! How could I kill Inuyasha?

Reviewers to thank: You all are so sweet! Thank you to: LadyKaa28, Bardocksbabygirl, AnimeAngel0123, Elventeen, Yanou, and anyone else who has read my story! I love you all, thanks again!

Dedication: As always, to my girl Fatcat11388. You're the best!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but I do own a moose!

Three days Time, Third day, After sundown. Ch. 11: Breaking the bones, shedding the blood

DUCK! Kagome's mind screamed. Reacting with speed she didn't even know she possessed, Kagome twisted through the air to hit the ground. An arrow of purifying light zipped through the dark night right above her, landing nearby with explosive force. Kagome screamed as the ground under her shook with the power of a single arrow. A torrent of noise deafened her, and Kagome gripped the bow and arrow in her hand, clinging to the ground with determination. As the chaos around her stopped, a haze of dust enshrouded the clearing. Kagome felt herself begin to shake, even though it was a warm night. Get up, Kikyo could be anywhere, feel her out! Lifting herself off the soft grass beneath her, Kagome began scanning the area for Kikyo who was nowhere in sight. The meadow before her shone in the brilliant moonlight, innocently swaying in the breeze as the dust cleared. All except for a large crater that sat lifeless amongst the beauty. Kagome closed her eyes, and straightened herself out so that she stood straight-backed and proud. Her robes swished out in front of her gently, and she fell into the blackness of her mind.

Concentrating hard, Kagome's Miko power spiraled out from the depths of her body. She could feel the air begin to shimmer around her as her power begged to be released. Lifting her bow up, Kagome notched her first arrow with her eyes still closed, and pointed it out in front of her. Where are you Kikyo?, Kagome thought slowly as her senses reached out into the forest surrounding her. A monstrous power collided with her senses, growing on her left. Kikyo! Whipping around, Kagome pushed her power through her hands into the arrow, and sent it flying in a matter of seconds. Opening her eyes, Kagome watched the area around her light up as her own shot of energy sped through the trees. Kagome grabbed another arrow from her quiver in a flash, praying silently that the arrow would do some kind of damage. As a dull thunk began, the forest and everything around Kagome disappeared in a wave of blinding light. She heard her scream lose itself in the torrent of noise around her, and was helplessly thrown from her feet. Holding onto her bow and arrows for all she was worth, Kagome panicked. I didn't mean for the arrow to have that much power! She thought frantically. The noise and light vanished suddenly, dying as quickly as it had begun. Kagome hit the ground, landing painfully on her back. She kept her eyes closed as deafening silence formed around her. Get up!! Get up!! Getting gingerly to her feet, Kagome opened her eyes to the scene before her. The forest in front of her was decimated, in the wide path where her arrow had flown. The destruction left nothing behind, not even the stumps of the mighty trees that had once spent their existence there. Kagome thought little of this, and more of what had become of Kikyo in the chaos. Did...Did I kill her? Kagome thought, feeling horrified. She had just killed someone!

"I'm surprised you came at all, Kagome. I was half expecting you to turn like a coward and hide behind Inuyasha." Came a cold voice from above her. The words rang around the forest meadow eerily as Kagome snapped he head upwards. The night sky above was a deep, syrupy blue, and flecks of stars glimmered hopefully against the large moon. Silhouetted in the unearthly glow of several soul skimmers, Kikyo gracefully floated in the dark sky. Kagome felt a spike of fear as the silent Miko floated down right in front of her. The soul skimmers dispersed around Kikyo as she touched down into the softly waving grasses of the meadow. Standing a full head taller than Kagome, Kikyo had long, flowing hair that fell to her waist and blew around her in the warm breeze. As her ebony hair glinted in the moonlight, her deathly pale face held a stone cold expression. Robes exactly like Kagome's billowed about her, not failing to accent her full figure. A simple bow and arrow were held in her long fingers, and a quiver of leather was slung around her back. Kagome looked her up and down, noting with some pride that the bottom of her robes were badly singed, telling her that she had indeed at least nicked the undead Miko. Looking back to Kikyo's face, Kagome gave her new weapons a squeeze, and felt them warm under her pressure slightly. A beautiful necklace of diamond hung around Kikyo's neck, glittering strangely. Kagome fixed her own eyes with the vacant black stare of Kikyo, and felt her pride surge through her.

The two stood silently for a second, as a silent battle of pride was being waged. Finally, Kikyo spoke. " Since when did a pitiful reincarnation like yourself wield such power? You are not even a shadow of me." She said arrogantly. Kagome felt the sting of these words as if they were a slap to the face. " I have more power than you can possibly imagine, Kikyo!" Kagome spat quickly back. The expression on Kikyo's face did not waver, but instead she countered Kagome's words quickly. " Where did you get those weapons? Not even I was allowed to use the ceremonial bow and arrows of our village. They are not yours to posses, you impersonator." Kikyo snarled softly. " Lady Kaede gave them to me, telling me to use them well. And I will!" Kagome snarled back. I'm not gonna take any crap from her, she thought quickly. Kikyo began to laugh quietly, taking Kagome by surprise. " What's so damn funny Kikyo?" Kagome snapped quickly, feeling her anger rising. The undead Miko in front of her stopped laughing, and spoke in a mocking tone. " Ah, yes. My dear sister who also wishes my death. I shall pay her a visit as soon as I am finished with you."

Kikyo's words rang around the clearing, echoing strangely for such an open forest. Kagome could barely contain her anger, and she felt her power roiling within her, reacting with her emotions. Kikyo smiled again, and spoke with a tone of unnerving clam. "Tell me, how is my Inuyasha?" As her power threatened to explode, Kagome wasted no time in doing what seemed appropriate. Ripping herself from Kikyo's black eyes, Kagome slapped Kikyo as hard and as fast as her body would allow. Her Inuyasha? No way in hell! Kagome screamed to herself. As her hand connected with Kikyo's cold face, a sharp slapping noise resonated around the entire forest it seemed. Staggering back from the unexpected blow, Kikyo gingerly touched her stinging face. The imprint of Kagome's hand was burned into Kikyo's face, as lingering traces of Kagome's Miko power still seared the undead Miko's face from within. Kagome watched Kikyo feel her burned face with soaring pride. This is all she deserves for the trouble she's caused me and my friends, Kagome thought savagely.

Snapping her attention back to Kagome, Kikyo began to radiate her own burning anger into the air around her. The energy poured out transparent around her thin form, sending waves of unseen coldness into Kagome. Gasping, Kagome stumbled back as she felt her very heart begin to freeze from the bone chilling energy. "It is time for you to die, my dear reincarnation." Kikyo spoke, her every word sending stronger waves of energy around her. Bringing her own bow and arrow up to her defense, Kagome watched the fluid movements of Kikyo as if slow motion. The coldness dissipated around Kikyo as she drew out an arrow and notched it, pointing it at Kagome. The arrow burned white, rivaling even the shining stars. As she began to turn, Kagome watched Kikyo release her arrow. Time seemed to speed up as Kagome realized that she would never get out of the way in time. Clutching her bow and arrow to her, Kagome pushed her own warm energy into the air around her. As Kikyo's blinding arrow stole her vision, she prayed that she might somehow live through this. With a mind shattering explosion, Kikyo's energy hit something directly in front of Kagome, and her arrow continued through the madness to bury itself deeply in Kagome's left arm. As the energy dissipated into the air around her, Kagome screamed from the searing pain that was quickly consuming her.

Listening to the echoing of her own agony, Kagome threw herself onto her feet, and ran blindly into the forest. Find shelter in the trees, if only for a second! Don't stop!! As the dark canopy of rustling trees surrounded her, the light from the moon disappeared, leaving Kagome in complete darkness. As she continued to run, dim outlines of trees and rocks seemed to loom towards her. Oxygen burned in her throat, and her body screamed for her to stop. Kagome threw herself behind what looked like a large group of mossy rocks. Panting heavily into the darkness around her, she tried to collect herself. The pain in her arm doubled as she began doing her best to examine the long, feathered shaft that was protruding from her arm. Putting down her bow and arrows, Kagome felt a wave of nausea wash over her as a patch of moonlight illuminated her own blood, that was steadily sliding from the arrow, and down her arm. Her vision began to swim as her body reeled from the sight of blood. Keep it together, you can't let Kikyo win this easily!! It will hurt, but pull the fucking arrow from you arm for the greater good!! This fight is just getting started! Kagome listened to these words, and felt courage overwhelm her nausea and dizziness. Slowly, Kagome raised her trembling fingers to feel the arrow, and how deep it had sunk into her flesh. The wound seared with the slightest touch, but Kagome was determined to conquer her pain. As her fingers traced her own blood soaked skin, she felt the sharp, stone tip of the arrow. It was sticking out through the other side of her arm. Oh god, Kagome breathed silently. Pull it out! Her mind ordered sternly.

Pulling together every once of will power Kagome possessed, she raised her fingers up, and grasped the shaft of the thin arrow. Ignoring the wave of pain that she felt for simply touching the arrow, Kagome braced herself. Closing her eyes, despite the already present darkness, she gritted her teeth together, and pulled the arrow clean out of her tender flesh with a sharp yank. Gasping, Kagome felt herself being consumed by pain, and she screamed out into the silent forest around her. Get up, here comes Kikyo!!!! her senses screamed to her. But Kagome could not get up, much less move at all. Laying on the cold, damp forest ground, she prayed for strength. She prayed for hope. She prayed for anything at all.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_ Kikyo's POV

Kikyo felt her own power release itself into the arrow she had notched. Looking into the dark night around her, she pointed it directly at the heart of her pathetic reincarnation. Kagome trembled before her, gasping as Kikyo's energy froze the girl from the inside out. As she let go of her arrow, Kikyo felt her power drain form her body as the feathered missile streaked toward the trembling Kagome. Watching with satisfaction and dizziness, Kikyo watched Kagome try to escape the path of the arrow. Suddenly, a wave of energy hit Kikyo, sending her senses reeling around her. What energy is this? She thought furiously. Looking up, Kikyo witnessed her arrow strike a faintly visible shield around Kagome, reinforced by her now shimmering weapons. Uttering a scowl of anger, Kikyo was thrown off her feet, and into the air as her own explosion of energy was rebounded onto her. Closing her eyes, she felt her back contact with the hard ground below her. As her breath was knocked from her, she blinked blood from her eyes. A scream of agony echoed around the clearing as Kikyo struggled to right herself. Her vision clearing, Kikyo looked around only to find a screen of dust settling around her, blinding her from Kagome.

The sound of retreating footsteps reached Kikyo, and she smiled grimly. You won't get away with slapping me that easily, my foolish little reincarnation. Kikyo thought savagely. As she staggered to her feet, she found it immensely painful to breath. Some of my ribs must be broken, Kikyo realized faintly as she felt her chest gingerly. The meadow finally cleared of dust, and she began searching the bare dirt below her for her own bow and arrows. As she saw the gleam of her leather quiver against the moonlight, Kikyo stooped to pick up her weapons. Her vision began to swim as she leaned over, and Kikyo was not even aware that she had fallen face first into the ground. The pain in her ribs doubled, and Kikyo did the only thing that she knew would save her. Reaching into her mind, Kikyo sent out a mental signal to her glowing soul skimmers. As she lay on the dusty ground, Kikyo tried to clear the stars from her vision. The night sky winked at her from above, and slid in and out of focus.

Her soul skimmers slid into the clearing soundlessly, each carrying a glimmering soul in it's claws. Releasing them above Kikyo, she felt the warmth of the souls absorb into her flesh as her energy began to return with unnerving speed. Pulling herself to her feet, Kikyo heard another scream of pain echo throughout the forest. Turning and smiling, Kikyo shouldered her weapons, and sped off into the forest. The darkness consumed her, and Kikyo began gathering her Miko powers for another assault. As she neared Kagome's energy signal, Kikyo felt her smile increase. Her reincarnation was putting up less of a fight than Kikyo had anticipated. Focusing her limited vision in front of her, Kikyo smiled as two shards of the Shikon jewel glittered into the night behind some large rocks. "That fool, " Kikyo said softly, " She's still wearing the shards, I can find her where ever she hides." Notching another arrow, Kikyo sent her energy out into the tip. "My soul is mine," She whispered. It was all over.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_ ??????'s POV

As the breeze fluttered through the door curtain, she struggled against her sluggish limbs. The wind carried the scent of Kagome's blood, and Kikyo's malice. Small explosions were reaching her keen ears, sounding violent even from the distance away they were. Looking around the darkness of the room, she looked sadly at her companions. They were sprawled out unceremoniously on top of one another, sleeping strangely. Their heartbeats were alarmingly slow, and the blood circulated sluggishly throughout their veins. As she struggled to her feet, her instincts began kicking in. Crawling over the bodies with demon determination, she was soon in the fresh air of the village. As her blood combated the strange herbs she had drunk, she smelled the air. Where was Kagome? As the girl's gentle scent reached her, she took off following it, watching the fire consume her limbs. Charging through the black forest, she reached a large outcropping of rocks. Surveying the scene, her senses went wild as waves of freezing energy washed over her. Kagome was about to be disintegrated, laying helpless behind the rocks, and Kikyo was gathering her energy into a weapon of some sort. If Inuyasha can't protect his girl right now, she thought bravely, then I will.

Author's note: Oooooooh, so who was able to resist the sleeping drugs? Is Kagome about to become ash that will scatter to the night's breeze? Or will Kikyo get a nasty turn of events in Kagome's favor? Eh heh heh heh heh....you'll have to read to find out! Thanks seriously for reading everything I have done so far, and I will continue to write! But let me know what you think! Questions? Comments? Flames? Just review please! Thanks everyone, I love ya all! See ya!