Chapter 5: Kikyo
Everything was black. She couldn't move. She was alone.
Kagome could only hear cries of sorrow and pain, were they her own cries? She couldn't really tell. Her mind floated in and out, like she didn't know she existed. After what felt like ages, she suddenly noticed the blank darkness was gone. Now it was simply just like her eyes were closed.
Had she died? Kagome doubted it, she wouldn't be like this, not blind. Maybe the poison had gotten deeper into her? She was quite puzzled. Than finally she noticed that there was a 'moving' sort of feeling. Was she walking and didn't even realize it? Kagome didn't think so; there would be feeling in her legs.
Now that she thought about it, Kagome could 'sense' her body. But her vision still hasn't returned, she wondered why. Of course, the poison must be preventing her from seeing. Why wasn't she cold, she had been shivering before. There was warmth by her, against her. She thought about this.
Slowly, she regained control of her eyelids. She opened them ever so slightly, and saw that very close to her was a red blur, with some white. Red and White? Kikyo? No… there's no black… InuYasha? She didn't believe herself. Surely he must have gone after Kikyo?
Blurs of green were above her, the trees were moving. Or was she moving? She felt arms around her; she was being carried. By who, was the question. She pondered this, and the only reasonable answer seemed InuYasha. She made a mental sigh, and waited for her vision to clear.
~Flashback~
InuYasha finally broke into the semi-clearing. Lying on the ground limp, was Kagome. His heart was pounding so hard he could hear his beat through his ears. He ran to her side, and took her hand. She was cold, for a moment he thought he had been too late. But than felt the faint warmth. At this, he picked up Kagome, than with one hand, took of his red top, and covered Kagome.
He than got up, growled. His mind rushed through options- where should he take Kagome? InuYasha held Kagome tightly, than broke into his run/jump strides again, "Hang on, Kagome… Hang on… Don't die on me," He pleaded while running. Her temperature hadn't rose still.
InuYasha kept glancing back at her face, she was so pale! It pained him, seeing her like this. Than looked forwards. A sad thought reached his mind. And Kikyo? She's forever gone… Never to walk on the face of the earth again. I hope… I hope she didn't know she had a chance to live.
~End Flashback~
He glanced down at her again, and saw her eyes were twitching. Was she awake? He felt her stirring ever so slightly, but still, her body was freezing cold and limp. He than heard a weak, tiny voice, "In…InuYasha?"
She looked quite dazed, than looked up to InuYasha. Her eyes were slightly closed, and she repeated again. More like a question, "InuYasha?…"
His grip on her tightened slightly, seeing that she closed her eyes again. But he replied to her, "Yeah, Kagome. It's me… Stay awake, don't fall asleep," He felt insecure when she was asleep right now, he was afraid she'll just slip away without a sing notice. Her eyes fluttered slightly, fighting to open her eyes.
Kagome felt so weak, like she had no control over her body. It almost seemed like a dream, like she was watching this happen, not actually in it. Very strange sensation. Fighting to stay awake, she simply focused on InuYasha's face. She struggled lifting slightly her hand from its position, and moved it to grasp onto InuYasha's.
"Kagome?" InuYasha questioned, feeling her hand search for his. He held on tightly her hand, and continued going on at full speed. Ears twirled to face her, to hear if she said anything. She might say something that will help him help her.
"Don't leave me… I don't want to be alone…" Kagome murmured, her hand's grip hardened.
InuYasha looked down at her, and he replied, "You're not going to be alone, I'm here right beside you," He watched her for a couple more moments, than looked up again. She's so pale… The old hag better know how to cure this thing, Ears kept sharp alert, he wasn't going to be surprised again.
Kagome's just slightly opened brown eyes closed, they felt so tired. But her grip on InuYasha's clawed hand remained strong, so he knew she wasn't gone yet. And Kikyo? What happened to her? Is she dead yet? No… I'm not dead yet, she probably isn't either. What must she think of now?
"We ain't far, just hold on," InuYasha said, glancing down at her. Her eyes were closed, and he tensed more for a bit, but found reassurance on Kagome's grip.
"And Kikyo?…" Kagome asked, her tired mind couldn't tell her she shouldn't mention Kikyo. She felt InuYasha entire grip on her tense, and she felt guilty all of a sudden, "I'm sorry, InuYasha… I shouldn't have mentioned her… I shouldn't have gotten cornered by the ice demon…"
He lifted an eyebrow, if he could remember correctly, she was in a tree when she was struck, "No… It isn't your fault. And don't talk, save your energy," He said softly. But still, he couldn't help wondering what did happen to the priestess. I can never forget her…
~Back with Kikyo~
Her cold brown eyes snapped open, and she got up quickly. She had a stinging pain at her side, but it didn't matter. Than it came to her what the demon had told her, about the choice InuYasha was supposed to make. Obviously, it wasn't her. Her hatred for the hanyou deepened.
She attempted to get up, but couldn't really at first. After a couple tries, she did. Her top white part of her priestess clothes was stained with blood. Her eyes narrowed more than they were, "I will not die. Not until I have gotten rid of InuYasha's face from this earth," She muttered.
Struggling, she moved forth from where she was, she kept glancing at the ground. Searching for something. Suddenly, a white-and-blue blur ran before her. The ice-demon, "You cannot kill me, my task is yet not done," Snarled Kikyo at the smirking un-named demon.
"Now, now. Guess the poison didn't kill you; I suppose you are as strong as when you were truly alive. Anyways… I'm here to make a deal with you," The demon responded, she made a red-purple coloured ice sphere, and played with it in her hands, "And if you agree, I will give you the antidote to your illness."
"A deal?"
"Yes. It will be the advantage of both you and I. After all, it does conclude getting rid of InuYasha's life force… Now… here's what I want you to do."
~Back with InuYasha & Kagome~
Kagome was feeling stronger, she wondered why. After what felt hours, she tightened her grip on his hand. To get his attention, it worked. He glanced down at her, waiting for her to say something, "InuYasha, stop and put me down," She still held onto his hand, but loosened the grip.
"Put you down? What are you, crazy? No way I'm letting you walk by yourself," He snapped at her, with a tint of annoyance. But he was glad Kagome wasn't as weak, she could argue now.
"I am perfectly capable of walking by myself, you know. Now, put me down," She said forcefully, and started trying jump of his arms. He instead held a stronger grip on her, and didn't let her get off, "InuYasha! Let me down! Do I have to say the word to make you do it?"
"One thing, I'm not letting you! What if you suddenly collapse? And we need to get you to Kaede's as fast as we an! Also, you wouldn't dare, you could hurt yourself!" InuYasha protested, golden eyes narrowing slightly.
"Oh, okay… Sorry, I don't want to make you worry," Kagome concluded softly.
Blushing, he was about to mutter that she wasn't making him worry. Though he didn't, he didn't feel like saying something like that. And for all he knew, he might start up another big argument between the two. So he remained silent for now. Though he did grip her hand harder, her hand still was icy cold.
InuYasha watched her fall asleep, than he heard rustling, and it didn't sound like an animal of a sort. He felt weak; the only way to protect himself and Kagome was to put her down. So he started running faster, hoping to leave the stranger behind.
A women in red and white clothes stepped out before him, Kikyo. InuYasha was confused, wasn't she supposed to be dead? She didn't even look slightly weakened! He was able to muster out, "Kikyo? I thought you… Aren't you supposed to…"
"Be dead? I suppose I was leaning towards that fate. But I'm not ready yet, not until you still hold breath," She lifted the bow she hand in her hand, and put in arrow in it. Aiming carefully for his heart, she was ready to shot.
InuYasha saw her take out her bow and arrow. He looked around, and put down Kagome carefully, she was still sleeping. Than faced Kikyo again, "No, Kikyo! Stop this!" InuYasha said, eyes staring wildly at the arrow. He remembered the first time he had been sealed, and when he first learnt that Kikyo lived once again, she attempted to strike him again.
She let go of the arrow, and flying towards him in less than a spilt second. It pierced his chest, and slammed him back against the tree behind him trunk. His eyes drooped slightly, as did his ears, "Kikyo…" He looked lazily over to where Kagome, and saw she had begun to stir.
Kagome felt a sudden rush of cold, and she was on the ground. "InuYasha?" She whispered. Than looked over to where Kikyo was, saw her smirk. She followed her gaze to where InuYasha was, "No!" She struggled to get onto her feet, than ran over to InuYasha, and she grasped at the arrow.
She was too weak to pull it out though, and her arms wrapped around his neck, hugging him, "InuYasha! InuYasha! Wake up! Take out the arrow!" Hearing no response, she turned towards Kikyo, "Why did you do this?! Why do you still hold hatred for him when he did nothing?"
Kikyo did not say anything, than she turned, and started walking away. She knew she was much to weak to pull out the arrow. And this arrow was different, by a certain time, the seal shall be permanent.