A startled Kagome placed herself at InuYasha's side. This was not the Kikyo she remembered. This Kikyou was dark, sadistic. Her black robes mixed with her raven hair as the wind whipped against her. Her eyes no longer held that looming dullness that once plagued them, replaced with a dastardly darkness. And they were locked on InuYasha.
"InuYasha?"
His ears twitched at her shaking whisper. Not breaking his stare from the dark priestess, he snaked an arm around Kagome's waist and gave a reassuring squeeze.
"Still here, are we?"
Kagome allowed herself to meet Kikyo's gaze. The question was directed at her.
"I had hoped that the little confrontation between the two of you would have sent you fleeing. Now, I see that is easier said than done."
Kagome's mouth opened for a retort, and closed with the same quickness after a nudge from the hanyou. He shook his head lightly, bidding her to stay silent.
"What happened to you?" His tone was sinister and full of disgust, his lips curling into a snarl. Kikyo's aura grew violently, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"You happened to me!"
The force of her outburst drew the villagers and the others from the group out of their huts, Sango immediately edging to Miroku.
"Miroku, that's..."
InuYasha's brow knitted in confusion as he took a step back, pulling Kagome with him.
"After our last meeting, InuYasha, I began to wonder if my way of life was even worth it's effort. I found a new key to survival. I began stealing the lives of demons and witches, bestowing myself with their powers. In time, I became stronger. Able to wipe out villages and raise the dead with the least of energy, behold my searchers." InuYasha twisted around in circles, his hold on the woman at his side never failing. The snarling undead moved in from every angle of the village, unwavering as their leader continued. "Then, I realized I was still not content. Something was missing."
"Oh, yeah! And just what would that be? A halo to go with that angelic purpose of yours?" InuYasha placed his free hand between himself and Kagome, resting it on Tetsusaiga's hilt. Kikyo threw her head back in a terrifying fit of laughter before snapping it forward in a blazing glare.
"You!"
Kagome flinched at her intensity, sending a wave a fear throughout her being. "InuYasha, you have to..."
Inuyasha lowered his head to the side, seriousness evident in his steady tone. "I want you to get everyone out of here. Get as far away as you can."
"I won't leave you!" Kagome stood back in defiance, gripping the front of his kimono. Untangling her hands gently, he gingerly pushed her back, snapping the Shikon jewel from her neck.
"You have to or everyone here will die. Now, do as I say." He was serious. He had no intention of backing down. Turning away from her, he drew Tetsusaiga and held it down to his side.
"Kagome, go!" Kagome tearfully nodded before beginning her roundup of the villagers with Sango's help. InuYasha stood in wait until the villagers and the reluctant Kagome were out of site. "Okay, Kikyo,...let's dance."
Kagome ran ahead of the rest, a trembling Shippo in her arms. 'I never told him I was sorry. He may not...'
"Kagome!"
The edgy miko turned to her left, the wolf prince dashing from the brush. His gaze was not on her. What was he looking at? She instinctively covered the young kitsune in her embrace as the searcher brought down its weapon.
"I don't think so, pal!" Kouga leaped above Kagome's head, his feet connecting with the creatures skull with enough impact to have severed its head. Landing to her right, he watched the demon slowly rise back to its feet. "Don't these things die?" Kouga went about fighting as Kagome looked around her. Villagers, innocent villagers were being murdered right in front of her eyes. There was nothing she could do.
"Kagome, there's too many!" Sango threw her boomerang, only to have it deflected by a monstrous hand.
"I fear this shall not end the way we hoped!" Miroku threw talisman after talisman to no avail, moving to stand back to back with the other three.
"What do we do!" Shippo cried, burying his face into her shoulder. Kagome's breath came in short gasps as she viewed the ongoing carnage. Her world seemed to spin into a vortex of hatred and blood, all the pain and suffering of the others igniting the power within her. She sat the fox tike at her feet and drew the only weapon she had...a sword. Stepping away from the group, she remembered...
She set the arrow on it's path, determined to defend the man she loved. Without even the hanyou's knowledge, her weapon saved him from a bloody death, piercing into the heart of his enemy. The creature fell, crumbling under her magic.
Twirling the sword over her head, she stepped forward, face to face with a monster. "We fight!"
InuYasha dodged the bolt of energy zipping his way, jumping onto a branch and back down. Bringing Tetsusaiga toward her, he was thrown aside by her power. He laid motionless for a moment, gathering his bearings. 'She blocked the...how could...'
"Have you not realized, InuYasha? You cannot touch me." She moved forward, firmly grasping his chin and forcing him to look at her. "I do not wish to kill you."
"Oh, really? Okay, because I was a little thrown off by half dead monkeys that have been chasing me for the past two weeks!" Clutching her hand, he flipped her over his head and placed Tetsusaiga at her throat. "You don't have to do this, Kikyo! You can stop it!"
"By letting you damn me to torment!" Her eyes flashing burgundy, she sent a jolt through his body, sending him flying into a splintered tree. InuYasha gasped as the wood impaled itself through his side, pain shooting through every inch of his body. "I want you to join me, InuYasha. With the jewel, we can rule this land. You and I."
"I'd rather eat dirt." He spat, pulling himself up. Kikyo clenched her fists at her sides, her every breath making the energy around her stronger.
"Then you shall have your fill of it in your grave!"
Kagome struggled to keep her strength against the gigantic demon, pushing as hard she could against the sword. The searcher gave one great shove, knocking her to the ground with ease. "Oh, sh..." Just as it lunged for her, she lifted the sword. Clenching her eyes shut, she waited for the impact. Nothing. Opening one eye, the demon stood above her...her sword the only thing keeping it from crushing her.
"Kagome! Are you alright?" Sango ran to her aide with surprising swiftness. Kagome didn't answer. She reached to take hold of the demon's armor, pulling it further onto the sword. In a blast of light and a deafening high pitched shriek, it evaporated. She was quickly to her feet, meeting the exterminator halfway.
"Sango, I want you to tell everyone to aim for the heart."
"The heart?"
"It's their only weakness. Use anything! Just hit the heart!" Sango nodded and complied, spreading the advice to the battling villagers as Kagome picked a fight with another searcher.
'I have...to get...back to InuYasha!' The thought blazed in her mind as she killed demon after demon. Looking around her, she noticed one small problem. They just kept coming...
"I only wanted to lay you to rest!"
"You only wanted to damn me!"
"I killed Naraku to avenge you!"
"You killed him for the jewel!"
InuYasha ducked another blow from Kikyo's magic, rolling back onto his feet. 'She's not hearing anything I have to say!' He swung Tetsusaiga heavily, missing her miserably. Kikyo crouched down a few feet away, her head lowered as she mumbled. "What is she...shit!" The sword began to burn his hands, forcing him to let it fall. He stared for a moment in shock, before meeting her malevolent smirk.
"What will you do without your precious sword!"
He stood for a moment, unsure of his next move. Did he really want to kill her? No. He wanted to save her. But she wouldn't allow it. She had condemned herself. Cocking an eyebrow, he twisted his head to either side, popping the bones in his neck. "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" The attack missed. InuYasha looked around wildly. "Now, where the hell..." Pain. Burning, searing pain shot through his abdomen. Pulling apart his torn kimono, he studied the scorching slashes on his stomach. He turned at her laugh. She held up a hand, revealing glowing green claws.
"Look familiar, love?"
He stared in disbelief, a lump rising in his throat that refused to be swallowed.
"S...Sesshomaru..."
"That's right. He was quite a tough opponent." She straightened, still flexing her claws. "But not tough enough."
"Bitch..."
Flashback
"What the hell do you want?" InuYasha glared at his older brother from the doorway of Naraku's castle, showing no signs of backing down.
"Still too quick to act, I see. I am not here for you. I have come to take out my own revenge on the beast." His cold eyes never faltered to stare deep with the hanyou's soul.
"Why are you helping us?" Kagome asked from behind InuYasha's shoulder.
"Helping you? I never said I was here to help. Still, you are my brother..."
"Half brother!" Miroku corrected sternly. Sesshomaru showed a look of distaste in InuYasha's companion before speaking again.
"Nevertheless, I will be the one to kill you, InuYasha, when the time is right. I refuse to let you die by another hand." The demon turned slowly, going to occupy himself by keeping the weaker demons at bay. InuYasha let Tetsusaiga fall to his side, a bewildered look crossing his face.
"Did he just hint that he was going to protect me?"
Kagome smiled, leaning around to see his face. "Yeah, in his own way, I think he did..."
End Flashback
Sesshomaru had yet to fulfill his promise to be InuYasha's downfall, but now he knew why. His eyes flickering with anger, he lunged at the priestess. Just what Kikyo had waited for. She quickly dodged, pulling the dagger from her belt.
Kagome pulled her sword from the pile of ash, turning to Miroku.
"You're pretty good with that, Lady Kagome."
"You don't hang around InuYasha as long as I have and not learn anything." Her smile vanished as she spotted Kouga. He turned to her with a forgiving smile, which she quickly returned. Scanning around them, the realization hit. They had won. The searchers were no more. Sango ran to Miroku, jumping in his arms. Kagome blushed and turned away as their lips met. 'I knew something was going on...' Kouga was congratulating Shippo on his valiant efforts, the young fox squealing with pride. The young miko drew her attention back toward the village. No InuYasha. 'Please, be okay. I don't know what I'll do if...' She screamed, clutching her chest as she hit the ground. Kouga was the first aware.
"Kagome!"
The pain grew worse, bring on an insatiable thumping in her ears. Sitting on her knees, she pressed her forehead to the dirt, her eyes tightly closed.
"Kagome, are you hurt? What's wrong?" Kouga kneeled beside her, his hand gingerly laying on her back.
Just as fast and hard as it had hit, the pain ceased. The dull thud in her head slowly died down. She remained still, breathing heavily through apprehension.
"Kagome, are..."
She bolted from her spot on the ground to her feet. Turning her head slightly, she listened as the beating her head was almost inaudible. It was a heartbeat...and it was dying. Without explanation, she jerked a bow from one of the casualties and bolted toward the village.
"Kagome, where are you going?"
"It's InuYasha!"
"What?" Miroku and Sango raced to Kouga's side, each exchanging glances before looking at the frantic girl.
Kagome turned, throwing a quiver over her shoulder. Her eyes reflected complete heartbreak.
"InuYasha...he's dying..."