Disclaimer: I, the writer, have no connection with the creator of the Inu- Yasha series (Rumiko Takahasi), the series itself, Viz, or anyone at all officially associated with the anime and/or manga. Nor do I claim any of these characters or the plot line for my own.

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--"Inu-Yasha." Inu-Yasha turned, an anticipation filled his chest. The voice, it was Kikyou's beautiful, alluring voice. He turned to face her. She was smiling innocently. A genuine innocence that had not crossed her features in a long time.

"Ki-Kikyou." He could only manage to stutter her name.

"Inu-Yasha, there is something I came here to tell you."

"What? What is it, Kikyou?" The anticipation dissipated and was replaced with concern. Something wrong? Please, gods, no..

"Nothing is the matter." Her smile deepened, as if reading his mind. "The others have told you for a long time, my Inu-Yasha, that the figure walking around in my body is not the real me. I'd hoped you would listen to the others, or discover it for yourself. But alas, you have not." Her eyes were sad this time.

"But, then, you? How are you here? Now? With me?"

"The Kikyou you see exists solely on her hatred of you, for your so called betrayal. That is what drives her, not her soul. When her soul catchers gathered souls for her to use, what remained of mine was no longer necessary. It has not yet been called back to Kagome, so it rests in the Land of the Dead until it is called. I have been waiting, Inu-Yasha, for it to be called. There is no place in Hell for me, as my spirit may have been angry, but not hateful. The rest of the soul now belongs to Kagome. When it returns, my spirit and I will go onto Heaven.

"You do not deserve Hell, either. And there is no reason to go down with a clay pot. Who is neither me nor Kagome.

"You say your life belongs to me. So spend your life with me through Kagome. I am a part of the past. Kagome is, quite literally, a part of the future. We are not the same, but we are similar. We share the same soul. And you belong with her. You want to be hers.

"Everything happens for a reason, Inu-Yasha, and what is fated to happen happens. The Shikon no Tama was my responsibility through fate, and through fate that responsibility followed me to the grave. Through fate, you also met her. Enjoy the what this destiny has presented to you.

"She loves you, Inu-Yasha. Do not lose her like you lost me."

The spirit of Kikyou, the real spirit of Kikyou smiled at Inu-Yasha. Inu- Yasha pressed his hand toward her. "Kikyou, please, please don't go." His eyes were pleading with hers.

Kikyou merely rested his hand against his as it faded away. "I am not gone. I am with you always, watching from Heaven. Don't let her go. Goodbye, Inu- Yasha." Her hand was gone, as was the rest of her. Inu-Yasha sighed feeling the warmth of her hand leave his.--

--"I am with you always, watching you from Heaven."--

Inu-Yasha was sitting up when he first realized he was awake. So it had been a dream, and not reality? But her touch.. The warmth was still there, as her touch still tingled in his palm. He felt a strange sensation at the pit of his stomach.

She -had- said that. She had given Inu-Yasha her blessings to be with Kagome. He nodded, knowing she meant every word she'd said. That the real Kikyou would have done what she just did, instead of trying to kill Kagome and bring him to Hell.

Yes, that was the real Kikyou. And he would take her word for it, because she was the last person he needed to hear from.

--"She loves you, Inu-Yasha. Do not lose her like you lost me."--

--But I can't. Kagome, you're not safe her. She's right. I couldn't bear to lose you, too. Please, try to understand Kagome.--

Inu-Yasha sighed and lay back down against his branch. Kikyou was right. He could only hope this shared revelation could wait until her return.