Always My Soul
By: dragonfly-rising
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters
Kee sat with her back against a tree. It was night now, their journey had taken them much closer to the Temple, and her thoughts were apprehensive. In two days time either she or Kagome would have to face Ferlias, Kee was hoping Kagome would recover in time. She knew she did not have full access to the powers inside of the body she inhabited. Only Kagome had the ability to bring all of these powers to bear against the youkai lord. Kee couldn't help but remember her own battle with a different youkai lord and found her self praying that this outcome would be different. When Miroku had placed himself in front of danger for her Kee had been given a small glimpse of what true friendship was about. It was in the way the monk had done so thoughtlessly. In the way Sango had reacted to save him. In the way they had thanked each other without saying a word.
It had all reminded her of what she had lacked in life and she couldn't help but wish her incarnation had been a happier time filled with such decent people. It made her regret many of the things she had done in her pursuit of acceptance. And the time she had wasted in her vendetta against the youkai lord.
The monk's question to her earlier was still on her mind. She didn't know any more why she hated youkai as much as she did. She could recall chasing them away from villages in righteous anger at the damage they had done. She remembered many times when she had allowed an innocent youkai to simply exist without doing them any harm. She knew even in her own time there had been youkai whose only want was a peaceful life, and she had spoken with them at great length before she had gone after her stalker. She could also remember killing such youkai during that time, without remorse. She was certain in the beginning she had not been so cruel, that she had not been so single minded in any of the things she did.
~ The longer I am earthbound the more I regret so many things. I am beginning to hate Kagome and the time she wastes now in her isolation from life. I cannot comprehend why she would shy from this, from these friends of hers that obviously care so very much about her. ~
Kee rose from her tree, thinking of things she should have done differently. As she walked closer to the fire a new feeling blossomed inside of her chest and she paused scanning the surroundings distrustfully. This feeling was one she had never encountered before in her experiences as a miko. She felt as if something were trying to escape from her, something that belonged to her that her body was unwilling to give up. She placed a hand over the spot this sensation emanated from, confused.
The stir inside of her grew until it started to feel as if she could not take a breath. She grit her teeth against an involuntary moan.
"Kee?" Ventured Sango from the other side of the fire.
Kee glanced at Sango and noted the worry on her face. She wasn't aware she was gripping the spot on her chest so tightly until her fingers began to ache. Kee once again scanned the forest.
"Something is wrong," She offered finally through labored breaths.
"What do you mean?" Miroku asked from beside her.
She jumped; startled that he had approached her so swiftly. She shook her head not understanding the signals this body was giving to her. After an eternity a single thought came into her mind in Kagome's voice, despite the fact that it was a weak thought Kee clung to it desperately as an explanation for the pressure.
~ Kikyo ~
If that was in fact the reason for this feeling Kee had no idea how Kagome could spend time with Inuyasha if every time the undead miko was near this feeling came upon her. This time as Kee searched the area she allowed her miko powers to flow directly through the point of pressure and out. An answering pressure many yards away rewarded her. She narrowed her eyes. There was no reason for the undead miko to be this close to their vicinity; it was too much of a coincidence. She would have to deal with this situation before they reached the Temple of the Soul. Her anger served to ease the pressure on her chest, allowing her to regain control of her breathing. She absently noted her energies were in flux and then moved away from Miroku realizing belatedly what such a thing would do to him. She felt guilty as she saw his face was drawn with pain.
"I'm sorry Miroku I didn't think..." She stammered.
He held up a hand stopping her apology, "Are you alright now? "
She shook her head, "The undead miko is nearby...she is affecting this body badly. I had not known Kagome felt such things when near her."
Miroku's eyes became guarded and Kee knew she had revealed something that not everyone in this group was aware of. She turned in the direction of Inuyasha and felt a wrench of her gut. The hanyou's face was a mixture of confusion, anger, and pain.
"She has not told you has she" Kee said softly, hating herself for making such a mistake.
"It is not painful for her Kee, she feels only a small pressure when Kikyo is nearby" Miroku shared, attempting to distract her.
She nodded thoughtfully. Why had Kagome not told Inuyasha the physical discomfort she went through when near Kikyo? Why would only the monk know about it? Why was the affect so strong now? In a moment of pure insight Kee knew the reason for the last question. It was this way because of her and Kikyo. Kagome, the rightful owner of this reincarnation had withdrawn so completely that the soul was confused, torn between two of its previous incarnations.
The pressure became more difficult to deal with and Kee knew she would have to find a way to get Kikyo to leave this place. Kee understood that if the soul were trying to reclaim Kikyo then Kagome would die. Kee felt anger color her face. Kagome would not die if she had anything to do with it. Kikyo had no rights to this soul, and Kee was going to make sure she understood that.
"I have something to attend to," She said as she turned and gathered her sword.
"I will come with you" Inuyasha stated firmly.
"No you will not...Sango will. I cannot control what may happen once I find her and I will not have your death on my head" Kee said firmly meeting his amber eyes.
~ Please hanyou stay here. This is heartache enough for you and Kagome. And I cannot promise Kikyo will survive this confrontation. Stay innocent of this, as you have been all this time. ~
She prayed silently that he could read her thoughts or at least get an idea of what circled in her mind. Sango moved over beside her, Hiraikotsu strapped to her back. Kee understood Sango did not see a pleasant outcome for this. And she had to be honest, neither did she.
As they set off Kee tried to get the impression of Inuyasha's hurt filled, smoldering eyes out of her mind only to find she was incapable of this feat.
By: dragonfly-rising
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters
Kee sat with her back against a tree. It was night now, their journey had taken them much closer to the Temple, and her thoughts were apprehensive. In two days time either she or Kagome would have to face Ferlias, Kee was hoping Kagome would recover in time. She knew she did not have full access to the powers inside of the body she inhabited. Only Kagome had the ability to bring all of these powers to bear against the youkai lord. Kee couldn't help but remember her own battle with a different youkai lord and found her self praying that this outcome would be different. When Miroku had placed himself in front of danger for her Kee had been given a small glimpse of what true friendship was about. It was in the way the monk had done so thoughtlessly. In the way Sango had reacted to save him. In the way they had thanked each other without saying a word.
It had all reminded her of what she had lacked in life and she couldn't help but wish her incarnation had been a happier time filled with such decent people. It made her regret many of the things she had done in her pursuit of acceptance. And the time she had wasted in her vendetta against the youkai lord.
The monk's question to her earlier was still on her mind. She didn't know any more why she hated youkai as much as she did. She could recall chasing them away from villages in righteous anger at the damage they had done. She remembered many times when she had allowed an innocent youkai to simply exist without doing them any harm. She knew even in her own time there had been youkai whose only want was a peaceful life, and she had spoken with them at great length before she had gone after her stalker. She could also remember killing such youkai during that time, without remorse. She was certain in the beginning she had not been so cruel, that she had not been so single minded in any of the things she did.
~ The longer I am earthbound the more I regret so many things. I am beginning to hate Kagome and the time she wastes now in her isolation from life. I cannot comprehend why she would shy from this, from these friends of hers that obviously care so very much about her. ~
Kee rose from her tree, thinking of things she should have done differently. As she walked closer to the fire a new feeling blossomed inside of her chest and she paused scanning the surroundings distrustfully. This feeling was one she had never encountered before in her experiences as a miko. She felt as if something were trying to escape from her, something that belonged to her that her body was unwilling to give up. She placed a hand over the spot this sensation emanated from, confused.
The stir inside of her grew until it started to feel as if she could not take a breath. She grit her teeth against an involuntary moan.
"Kee?" Ventured Sango from the other side of the fire.
Kee glanced at Sango and noted the worry on her face. She wasn't aware she was gripping the spot on her chest so tightly until her fingers began to ache. Kee once again scanned the forest.
"Something is wrong," She offered finally through labored breaths.
"What do you mean?" Miroku asked from beside her.
She jumped; startled that he had approached her so swiftly. She shook her head not understanding the signals this body was giving to her. After an eternity a single thought came into her mind in Kagome's voice, despite the fact that it was a weak thought Kee clung to it desperately as an explanation for the pressure.
~ Kikyo ~
If that was in fact the reason for this feeling Kee had no idea how Kagome could spend time with Inuyasha if every time the undead miko was near this feeling came upon her. This time as Kee searched the area she allowed her miko powers to flow directly through the point of pressure and out. An answering pressure many yards away rewarded her. She narrowed her eyes. There was no reason for the undead miko to be this close to their vicinity; it was too much of a coincidence. She would have to deal with this situation before they reached the Temple of the Soul. Her anger served to ease the pressure on her chest, allowing her to regain control of her breathing. She absently noted her energies were in flux and then moved away from Miroku realizing belatedly what such a thing would do to him. She felt guilty as she saw his face was drawn with pain.
"I'm sorry Miroku I didn't think..." She stammered.
He held up a hand stopping her apology, "Are you alright now? "
She shook her head, "The undead miko is nearby...she is affecting this body badly. I had not known Kagome felt such things when near her."
Miroku's eyes became guarded and Kee knew she had revealed something that not everyone in this group was aware of. She turned in the direction of Inuyasha and felt a wrench of her gut. The hanyou's face was a mixture of confusion, anger, and pain.
"She has not told you has she" Kee said softly, hating herself for making such a mistake.
"It is not painful for her Kee, she feels only a small pressure when Kikyo is nearby" Miroku shared, attempting to distract her.
She nodded thoughtfully. Why had Kagome not told Inuyasha the physical discomfort she went through when near Kikyo? Why would only the monk know about it? Why was the affect so strong now? In a moment of pure insight Kee knew the reason for the last question. It was this way because of her and Kikyo. Kagome, the rightful owner of this reincarnation had withdrawn so completely that the soul was confused, torn between two of its previous incarnations.
The pressure became more difficult to deal with and Kee knew she would have to find a way to get Kikyo to leave this place. Kee understood that if the soul were trying to reclaim Kikyo then Kagome would die. Kee felt anger color her face. Kagome would not die if she had anything to do with it. Kikyo had no rights to this soul, and Kee was going to make sure she understood that.
"I have something to attend to," She said as she turned and gathered her sword.
"I will come with you" Inuyasha stated firmly.
"No you will not...Sango will. I cannot control what may happen once I find her and I will not have your death on my head" Kee said firmly meeting his amber eyes.
~ Please hanyou stay here. This is heartache enough for you and Kagome. And I cannot promise Kikyo will survive this confrontation. Stay innocent of this, as you have been all this time. ~
She prayed silently that he could read her thoughts or at least get an idea of what circled in her mind. Sango moved over beside her, Hiraikotsu strapped to her back. Kee understood Sango did not see a pleasant outcome for this. And she had to be honest, neither did she.
As they set off Kee tried to get the impression of Inuyasha's hurt filled, smoldering eyes out of her mind only to find she was incapable of this feat.