What the Heart Knows
By JD

"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing"

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is not mine. Wish he was though.

AN:
I had a sudden need to write so I wrote this chapter up. I'm finally ending the past and focusing solely on Kagome and her new journey. Although in future chapters, hopefully, i'll be bringing in old characters to the future. Please tell me what you think.

Enjoy and review!

Chapter Three

(Able to let go)

Kikyou couldn't believe her eyes. One minute the dead wench was there, but the next she was gone. This couldn't have happened unless Inuyasha… Her trail of thought ended as her mind comprehended what had happened.

Kikyou turned her eyes back to look at Inuyasha's face that was sporting a sort of serene look. The Shikon jewel was no longer in his hands.

"Inuyasha."

Inuyasha turned his eyes back to Kikyou. She had dared kill his one true friend, his first only friend that accepted him for who he was. He know longer felt love for this vile corps. The Kikyou he knew had died long ago. The creature in front of him didn't have a heart, only an evil soul.

"What did you wish for Inuyasha? Why am I still the same? Don't you love me?"

Inuyasha looked at her with disgust.

"No. My love for you died with you so very long ago. I am no longer indebted to you, for you are not you. Your just a corpse who seeks revenge because she could not have a normal life, because she could not handle being a miko. No, I don't love you anymore."

Inuyasha's words hurt like knives cutting through her. Was it finally true, was it finally over between them? She saw the hurt and betrayal in his eyes. Did she betray him? I killed the wench, but that was because I thought she was interfering, why would he feel betrayed?

"What did you wish for Inuyasha? I must know."

"I wished for her to be who she truly wanted to be. I wished for her life back. If anyone deserved a second chance, she did."

Kikyou nodded in slow understanding as what she did finally dawned on her. She now knew why everyone loved Kagome so much. It was not because she was beautiful or smart. It was because she was kind to all creatures, she accepted them for who they were, she even had accepted the fact that Inuyasha loved her and not herself so did the hardest thing... let go. Kikyou would have never let go, and look where it got her now. She let her own selfishness of wanting to live take over her whole being. She deserved to be what she was.

"I'm sorry Inuyasha... for all the pain I've caused, for all the wrongs I did. It's hard, but I understand now. It's time for me to finally let go. Maybe one day I will to, get a second chance too."

Inuyasha nodded his head at her. She finally understood, she could finally rest in peace.

"And when that day comes Kikyou, I'll be waiting."

Kikyou smiled, a true smile. Inuyasha smiled back. That was the Kikyou he loved, that was the Kikyou he would remember.

"Good bye Inuyasha."

Finally, Kikyou could let go, finally. She could finally rest in peace.

His thoughts than turned back to Kagome. He was going to miss her, yes, but he knew he had did the right thing. He knew he made the wish that would make him happiest. Just knowing she was alive gave hope to Inuyasha's heart. That was all he needed. Hope for her, and memories of her... that was all he needed.

In the Shikon no Tama

A lone figure slept as four pair of eyes watched her.

"She has yet to face her true challenge." one of the voices said.

"Yes, Naraku was only a test, but now her new enemy will be much harder." Another of the voices said.

"She has not yet discovered her destiny." a third voice said.

"Have faith in her, she will succeed, she is a strong one, stronger than the one before." A familiar voice said.

There were murmurs of agreements but all was silent as the sleeping figure was starting to stir.

Kagome opened her eyes to see an emptiness and darkness. Am I finally dead, she thought.

"No you aren't" To say Kagome was surprised, was an understatement. She practically jumped in the air five feet before looking around to see absolutely nothing.

"Well this is great, I'm hearing things."

"No you are not, I'm real."

"Well then, I'm not going crazy. Who are you?"

"I'm the first soul, of the shikon no tama."

The words reverberated of the walls, making sort of an echoing sound so it seemed there was more than one person speaking.

"Yes, and I'm the second soul."

This one sounded feminine, while the first one sounded masculine.

The words echoed off the wall, much like they did before.

"And I'm the third of the four souls of the shikon no tama"

This one too, sounded masculine, but deeper than the first.

Kagome slowly stood up and listened to the voices. That was number three, so where was number four. She was about to speak when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around quickly, totally freaked out but instead of feeling fear, she once again felt shock.

There stood Midoriko, the famous miko who had protected the Shikon no tama. To say Kagome was surprised, was saying little. She definitely was dead, how else would she be seeing Midoriko.

"No Kagome, your not dead."

"But how... and where are we?"

"We are in the Shikon no tama, Kagome. The Hanyou, Inuyasha had made a wish."

Kagome nodded solemnly. At the sound of Inuyasha's name sadness crept over her.

"Kagome I must say that I would have thought he would wish to be a full demon, but he didn't."

Kagome's eyes widened.

"Inuyasha made a different wish?"

Midoriko nodded. "Yes, for you."

"For me?" Kagome's eyes were wide.

"He wished for you to have a second chance at life, to be who you truly wanted to be."

"Really?"

"Yes, the hanyou did that for you. We were surprised at first as you are but we have now come to respect the hanyou. But there are restrictions on his rule. The only part we can not grant of that wish, is for you to get out of being the shikon no tama's guardian, that we can not do."

Kagome looked at her. She had no want to get rid of the jewel. After all it was what brought her to Inuyasha.

"I have no want of that Midoriko- sama."

Midoriko smiled. Yes, she was definitely the one.

"Good. We will grant Inuyasha's wish. But we warn you Kagome. You have another enemy to face. He will be the strongest of enemies you will ever have to face. With the new powers the wish gives you, we are confident you will succeed. And with the help of other's you will prevail."

Suddenly Midoriko started to fade. She looked sadly at Kagome, as if wanting to say more.

"Wait, I have so many questions."

"They will be answered later Kagome, I promise."

With that Midoriko disappeared. Before Kagome could take another step she fainted.
Sweet dreams, my daughter.

"Have faith in her my brothers and sisters. She will succeed." the familiar voice said.

"You better be right my fourth child."

The four souls looked up to see their father descending from heaven itself.

"I do not want to lose a granddaughter already." Zeus, King of the Gods said.

"She is strong father, I believe in her." the familiar voice said.

"Let's just hope she is strong enough to go against my brother her father."

End.

AN:

Ha! Another twist in the plot. I'm writing this as I go along so I thought this would make the story more interesting. Tell me what you think. Should I go in a different direction? Please review and help me out! Oh and a word for warning, I'm actually updating frequently but like I said I had already wrote a few chapters. Don't expect me too keep updating like this though.