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. Author's Note: Many thanks to all the reviewers so far. It means so much. You all know who you are. Another kind of bad side note is I went to the doctor for tests of my hand, wrist, and elbow. It's been bothering me a lot since the school year has started, and though the results aren't back in yet, it doesn't look good. Father, Mother, and Doctor are all keeping a close eye on my computer usage. If my updates are fewer and farther between, this is why. Many apologies.

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Kikyou's slender hand released her arrow. It sped past with breakneck speed and, unfortunately, dead aim. The arrow pierced Kagome, in the back of her shoulder. There was a flash of bright pink, a sign of the miko's tremendous spiritual power. Kagome breathed in, the pain was terrific. Kagome doubled over, clutching the wound.

"I have you, you insolent wench. Your life now belongs to me." Kagome could feel the icy breath of her attacker on the back of her neck. Kikyou? No, it couldn't be! She was safe, at home. What happened? Kagome and Inu-Yasha were the only ones who were supposed to pass through the well into the two different eras.

She turned, and her fears were confirmed. Kikyou. The priestess's arrows would hold spiritual power, meaning the wound would be far worse than a regular arrow. Kagome's eyes filled with fear and confusion.

"How? Kikyou, how did you mana--" Each word was torture. A sharp bolt of intensity spread like a spider's web from her shoulder to her chest, her arms, her head, her stomach. It was unbearable to just sit there and feel it, another matter altogether to try and move her lips.

"Manage to pass through the well? Simple. You and I are one in the same. You can pass through, and since you are my reincarnation, so can I. The only other need to be fulfilled was a jewel fragment. Naraku easily granted that wish if it meant your demise. You will interfere no longer, and Inu- Yasha's life, in addition to his heart, will now freely belong to me." Kikyou was grinning maliciously. Kagome was consumed with fear.

--Where are you Inu-Yasha? Please, please come and get me. I NEED you!--

"KAGOME!" Kagome and Kikyou both turned to see their intruder. Kagome's heart stopped. Hojo?

"HOJO! GET OUT OF HERE!" Kagome screamed, waving violently, despite the cost to herself. It hurt so much.. --This is my life, the life you were never meant to see or be a part of. By yelling, you endangered your own life. This ongoing battle in the warring states era, it cannot intertwine with those here. Hojo, you will not die because of that battle. You will not die because of me.-- Kagome staggered up, using every ounce of strength she had. "Please, Hojo, you MUST go!"

"No, Kagome!" Hojo's eyes were set with determination. "She's hurt you. She's trying to bloody kill you! Please, Kagome, not, not you." To everyone's surprise, even his own, Hojo's eyes filled with tears as he moved towards Kikyou.

Kikyou's angry smile was another surprise. "So you had someone all along. You had this fool, who will happily stand in your place? And even with him, you shameless slut, you try and take my Inu-Yasha away from me? When you know he belongs to me!? You deserve death more than I realized. You should know the truth about her." Kikyou's grin widened as she turned to Hojo. What a prime opportunity.

"Inu-Yasha?" Hojo repeated, looking between the two women. Inu-Yasha? Was .. was Inu-Yasha the reason she blew me off? Was Inu-Yasha the reason she refused to accept my gift. Hojo looked over at Kagome, still grasping her wound. Her head hung lower, but she still looked at him in the eye. Her eyes begged his forgiveness. Hojo was hurt, but looking back at the other woman, he knew that the other was wrong.

"No." She looks so much like Kagome.. What could her grudge against Kagome be? Kagome is so sweet and kind. Nothing she could do would deserve her own death. Hojo shook his grief aside. His rejection was not worth her life. And he could not live with himself if he let the woman kill Kagome.

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Inu-Yasha sighed again, remembering his dream. Kikyou, of course, was right, but he couldn't see Kagome, his Kagome, until things were safer here.

He held the jewel shard between his fingers. It was won from a demon earlier before. It was a rather easy demon to kill. Kouga had given his remaining shards to Kaede, explaining that if a completed jewel would serve to kill Naraku, he'd gladly give up his shards. One fragment, plus the piece Naraku had, and the Shikon no Tama would finally be complete. Again.

He was headed towards the well, of course, where he could mope in peace. Naraku hadn't turned up in a while, and they only had that one fragment to find. The faint scent of something familiar, something sickly, tickled his nose.

--What is tha-- Realization dawned on him. Kagome. It was Kagome's scent, but not her regular scent. It was the smell of her blood. He felt fear rise in his throat.

It's probably just a cut, just a cut. Nothing more. But no, the last time he'd smelled Kagome's blood she was in serious danger. And there was just a little blood. Now, now there was so much more. His stomach churned with the intensity of it.

Without a second thought, he jumped in the well.

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"I don't care. She never told me she loved me," Hojo's face was tinted with red, "or ever said wanted to be with me. But she was kind and gentle just the same. I don't know what's going on between the lot of you, but I don't care. Whatever you're angry with her for, it can't be much, because Kagome's a good person! I won't let you hurt her anymore!" Hojo stood directly in front of Kagome, ignoring her pleas to run. He would not stand around to watch her get hurt, or leave so the woman would have no problems. Never!

"You will regret your decision. Now you can die with her." Hojo's heartbeat rose dramatically, but he stood firmly in his spot. Kikyou placed her arrow against the bow, poised to shoot.

"KIKYOU!"

The group all turned to see a hanyou, clad in billowing red robes, clutching his faithful sword. His eyes were consumed by rage.

"INU-YASHA!" the women yelled together. Hojo's heart skipped a beat. --So this is Inu-Yasha? But I don't understand.. His robes, they're so out of date. His hair, his eyes, his bloody ears! And what's with the sword!?-- Hojo could only stare at the man who the women seemed to be fighting over in wonder. Who, or what, was he?

"Put the arrow down!" he screamed. "Leave her the hell alone! You won't touch her again!"

"And what do you intend to do about it, Inu-Yasha!?" Kikyou was fuming. -- You ruined everything. Again.-- "Which do you prefer? Me, or that worthless imitation of myself? You would not rather have her than me, would you?" she hissed.

"I loved you, Kikyou. Once. I won't deny that. However, fifty years have passed since your death. You no longer belong here. The Kikyou I once knew is long gone, even with you standing here before us all. The Kikyou I knew wouldn't have tried to kill an innocent girl. You are not my Kikyou!" Inu- Yasha raised his sword, with the implications that he would strike it down in the next moment or so. The Tetsuiga had transformed.

"So you must pay as well, Inu-Yasha," she whispered with a violently fury, aiming her bow instead at him. It zoomed by. Kagome screamed with fear, running in front of it. A second miko's arrow had pierced her.

"KAGOME!" Both Inu-Yasha and Hojo had cried out.

Inu-Yasha ran to her, lifting her into his lap. Hojo blushed furiously.

"You will pay, Kikyou."

"Will I?" she challenged, deathly calm. She raised her bow. But Inu-Yasha was quicker. He dropped his sword. He couldn't hold Kagome while brandishing the heavy sword. Instead, he raised his claws, cracking the knuckles.

--What the hell?-- Hojo eyed the large demon nails before him. --Those aren't even fingernails, they're claws! What is he..?--

"Do you really intend to kill me, Inu-Yasha? After all the embraces you forced me into, all the promises of protecting me?" Kikyou spat. "You can't kill what isn't dead. Iron reaver, soul stealer!" Kikyou uttered a small moan as she turned back into what she really was: a pile of ash and graveside soil. The group swore they heard a whisper as she crumbled just before Kagome collapsed against Inu-Yasha.

--"Thank you."--

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Kikyou smiled from her spot in Heaven.

Yes, Inu-Yasha, thank you. For now I am truly free.