How about a little angst, Scarecrow? *cackle*

Yeah. Okay.

Ruby slippers for my betas, Merith and Kat. A kiss on the forehead from the Good Witch of the North for Niamh; hopefully that'll help with the writer's block. Please do not ask me why I'm babbling about the Wizard of Oz. I don't know. (Something about a girl and her little dog, maybe?)

Chapter title and epigraph are from, of course, "You Oughta Know," by Alanis Morissette. *checks her spelling* Right. Morissette.

***

I'm here to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me

***

The moon peeked from behind tattered clouds, shining fitfully into the clearing. The silver of its light blended with Shippo's blue foxfire, haloing Kikyo with an eerie aura. What little appearance of humanity she had was stripped away by the glow and she looked more unearthly than ever, as if carved from the purest marble instead of cast from clay. Kikyo studied Ai's body quietly, ignoring Inuyasha, who stood staring at her with stricken eyes.

"You're the one who's behind this?" Miroku asked when it became clear Inuyasha was bereft of speech. Kikyo nodded absently. She stretched her hand out and closed it on empty air. Brilliant light shimmered around her fist for a brief moment before she opened her hand to reveal a jewel shard, which she tucked into her sleeve. Sango sucked in a breath in recognition. Miroku swallowed. "Did you make her do that? Were you controlling Kagome-sama when she did that?"

"No," Kikyo said, a sharp edge creeping into her voice. "She did that all on her own. She reached into me and took the knowledge."

"But how did she manage that? She's never been able to do such a thing before."

"She could do it because the piece of my soul that lies in me has been reunited with what lies in her." Kikyo glanced past Miroku to where Kagome still lay insensate on the ground.

Miroku nodded slowly. "I see. That's how Ai got involved in this. You got her to weave Kagome-sama's soul, not into a dream, but into you."

"My soul," Kikyo corrected.

He ignored her words. "Did you give her the jewel shard or did she already have it? Either way, you knew she needed one, since Kagome-sama is resistant to spells of this type. If you gave it to her, did you tell her she'd get to keep it, or did she make that assumption?"

Kikyo narrowed her eyes. "Does it matter? As the guardian of the jewel, I couldn't let her keep it."

"Kagome-chan is the guardian," Sango said quietly. She hefted Hiraikotsu, taking a slow step towards Kikyo. "How could you do this?"

"I am merely taking back what belongs to me," Kikyo snapped.

"It's Kagome's!" Shippo cried.

"Doesn't it matter to you that it's killing her?" Sango stretched out her other hand in supplication. "You're a miko, like she is. You're supposed to heal people."

A look of infinite weariness flickered across Kikyo's face. "Don't think that I relish what I am doing," she said softly. "I take no joy in this. I wish her no harm."

"Then stop," Sango pleaded. "It's not too late."

Kikyo shook her head. She looked back at Inuyasha, holding his gaze with hers. "Do you know what it's like to wander from village to village? To chill the hearts of those you try to help? To find no joy, no rest, no peace anywhere? I'm tired. I'm tired of feeding on the souls of others. If...." She stopped.

Inuyasha shook his head slowly. "You think... what? You think if you do this, we're gonna go back to where we were fifty years ago? You think it's gonna be you and me again?"

"We can set things right," Kikyo said. "We can take our revenge on Naraku for what he did to us, and then...."

Inuyasha let loose a sharp bark of laughter. "What? Live out the rest of our lives? It ain't gonna happen, Kikyo."

She frowned. "Why not?"

"You're not gettin' the rest of Kagome's soul." He hefted Tetsusaiga. "I can't let you kill her. I won't let you kill her."

Kikyo's frown deepened. "You won't... let me?"

"No." Inuyasha stepped in front of Kagome's body. "I won't let you."

Shock twisted Kikyo's face, quickly giving way to rage. "You said you would protect me," she hissed.

"She needs me." Inuyasha's voice was soft.

"I need you."

He laughed again. "Yeah, you need me to stand aside and let you finish what you're doin'."

Kikyo stared at him, struck speechless. "You would really attack me," she said finally. "That nightmare we endured... you would make it real."

"Don't," Inuyasha growled.

She gazed at him for another moment. "Very well," she said. All human warmth had gone from her voice, leaving her as cold as the moonlight. She began to walk towards him.

Miroku stepped up next to Inuyasha, lifting his staff. Sango joined him on Inuyasha's other side, Hiraikotsu hefted behind her. Shippo climbed onto Kirara's back, and the two of them bared their fangs at Kikyo. Miroku smiled at her. "I really, really wouldn't, if I were you."

Kikyo paused. Deliberately, she unslung her bow from her shoulder and nocked an arrow. Inuyasha swore under his breath, but didn't move. She nodded and took aim, pointing the arrow at Shippo.

"H-hey!" he squeaked.

"Can you block me before I hit him?" she asked Inuyasha conversationally.

"A better question is, can you get that arrow off before I take off your head?" Sango snapped. A tiny smile curved Kikyo's mouth and she fired at Miroku. He threw himself to the side, but his reflexes were slowed by surprise and he took the arrow in the shoulder.

Sango hurled Hiraikotsu, aiming without hesitation for the miko's head. A shimmering barrier flickered into being around Kikyo, deflecting the boomerang to the side. "Damn it!" Sango dashed forward to regain her weapon.

Kikyo aimed and fired again at Shippo, but Kirara launched them skyward. Kikyo ran towards Kagome, and Inuyasha met her. The instant before he swung to cut her down, she locked her hands in his robes and sent her power surging through him. He hurtled backwards, striking a tree and sliding downwards to lie in an unconscious heap at its foot. She looked at him with the barest hint of regret.

"I didn't want to," she murmured.

Miroku pushed himself to his feet, clutching his shoulder. "We could tell from your hesitation."

Sango lifted Hiraikotsu, placing herself between Miroku and Kagome. "Stay with her, houshi-sama." She inclined her head to Kikyo. "Shall we see how long you can keep that barrier up?"

Kikyo only smiled coldly.

***

Kagome lifted her head. Had she dozed off? Somehow, without her noticing, the landscape around her had shifted. Two brooks burbled past, one on either side of her, sparkling in the sunlight. But there was nothing other than the water. For as far as she could see, the grassy plain was bare of tree or rock. Kagome got to her feet, curious, and began to follow the water. For a long while, she saw nothing before her but the endless stretch of grass and the twin streams. Slowly, however, the streams began to draw together. Shading her eyes, she could see that they appeared to join at a point not far off, although they appeared to diverge again almost immediately.

As she approached the junction, Kagome realized that the reason the streams appeared to diverge again was that there was a huge mirror stretching from sky to ground just at the point where the streams met. And someone was walking towards her as she approached the mirror. She stopped when she realized that it wasn't her reflection, but Kikyo on the other side of the mirror. Kikyo stopped as she did. Kagome squashed the urge to see if Kikyo really would mimic her every movement, and drew near the mirror. The woman looking back at her had a gentle smile, without any of the cold reserve Kagome was used to. After a moment, Kikyo spoke. "Through me lies the way out."

Kagome bit her lip. "There's no other way?"

Kikyo shook her head. "You can't even go back."

The two women gazed at each other for a moment. Finally Kagome bowed her head. "All right."

Kikyo smiled sadly. "Then walk through the mirror."

"But first--" Kagome looked up. "I'm sorry. I wish...."

"No regrets," Kikyo murmured. "I am the beginning. You are the end. This is how it must be. Finish the story for both of us, Higurashi Kagome."

Kagome took a deep breath. "Okay."

Kikyo lifted her hands, placing her palms flat against the glass. Kagome mirrored her gesture. Glass yielded to flesh as their fingers interlaced and Kagome stepped through the mirror.

***

Kagome's eyes flickered open. Her body felt heavy, stiff, and cold, and she wasn't sure she could move. But she could feel Inuyasha nearby, and in her newly awakened daze, she almost thought she could feel him calling to her. She struggled against the burden of her own body, trying desperately to sit up.

Miroku saw the movement out of the corner of his eye and glanced over at her, eyes going wide. "Kagome-sama?"

Kagome nodded, arms wobbling as she tried to brace herself. "Help me...."

Sango glanced over her shoulder in shock. "Kagome-chan!" Making sure to shield Kagome with Hiraikotsu, she stopped, helping Miroku prop Kagome into a sitting position. Miroku winced as Kagome jarred his shoulder.

"Sorry," she gasped.

"Are you sure this is wise?" Sango said worriedly as Kagome tried to get her feet under her.

"She's mine to deal with, Sango-chan," Kagome said softly.

Sango met her friend's gaze for a moment, weighing the resolution she saw. "Okay," she said finally, and helped Kagome to her feet.

Kikyo watched dispassionately. "I suppose I should be impressed by your resilience."

"I'm not trying to impress you," Kagome breathed. She inhaled and took a careful step away from Sango and Miroku. "I'm just trying... to make things right."

Inuyasha stirred, opening his eyes. "Kagome?" he whispered. Somehow, she heard and graced him with a smile of infinite radiance and love before turning back to Kikyo. He pushed himself up. "Kagome...."

Kikyo narrowed her eyes and nocked an arrow, pointing it at Kagome's heart. "I don't want to do this," she said softly. "But I will. Don't mistake me."

"Don't, Kikyo," Inuyasha called hoarsely. "I'll do whatever you want, but don't--"

Kikyo gave no indication she'd heard him. Kagome took a deep breath. "This doesn't have anything to do with him," she said softly.

"No," Kikyo replied coolly. "It doesn't even have anything to do with you."

"I know."

"I don't want to kill you." Kikyo drew the bowstring back a little farther. "But I am going to do what I must." And she loosed the arrow.

Inuyasha staggered forward, reaching out. Kagome bit her lip and a barrier shimmered into being around her. The arrow struck it and ricocheted to the side, landing harmlessly in the dirt. Kikyo lowered the bow, glaring at Kagome. "I don't want to kill you either," Kagome said a little more strongly. "But you can't have my soul. It's not yours anymore."

"And what are you going to do about it?" Kikyo asked.

"I'm going to take it back," Kagome replied. White flame burst forth from the earth, swallowing both mikos.

***

I am the priestess of my village, and the Guardian of the Shikon no Tama.

I am a seventeen-year-old high school student, and the Guardian of the Shikon no Tama.

I love Inuyasha, and I will make him pay for betraying me.

I love Inuyasha, and I will never betray him.

Do you remember? The first time I saw him, he was a wild thing, hunting through the forests.

Do you remember? The first time I saw him, he was asleep, pinned by an arrow to the God Tree.

Stay with me forever.

Let me stay with you forever.

Will you become human and free us both?

Will you stay hanyou and find freedom for yourself?

Meet me at dawn, and I will bring you the jewel.

I will give you the jewel on the night our quest is finished.

I know you love me. Do you love her?

I know you love her. Do you love me?

Why does she always come between us?

Why....

***

A chorus of screams rang through the clearing. Miroku held Sango firmly by the arm as she pushed at him, trying to run to Kagome. Shippo struggled, the back of his gi snagged in Kirara's teeth. But no one was holding Inuyasha. He hurled himself across the clearing, slamming into Kagome's pillar. Magic cracked and spit, knocking him back several feet. Inuyasha clambered to his feet.

"Don't!" Miroku snapped. "There's enough power in that flame to--" He cut himself off as Inuyasha, eyes wild, hurled himself at the pillar again. Once more he was knocked back. This time he stayed down, digging his claws into the ground, eyes fixed on the shadow in the heart of the flame. The fire ebbed and flickered out. Kagome seemed unharmed, but as her frightened friends watched, she slowly began to fall.

Inuyasha leaped to his feet and dashed forward, catching her. "Kagome? Kagome!" He rocked her, clutching her to his heart. "C'mon... wake up." She sighed softly, stirring in his arms. Color was returning to her cheeks, and he could hear her heart beating stronger with every moment. The wave of relief washing through him was so strong he felt tears sting his eyes.

"Inuyasha?" she murmured.

"I'm right here, Kagome," he whispered, running his hand through her bangs.

A frown crossed her face. "Inuyasha...." A sudden violent paroxysm shook her and she sat bolt upright in his arms. "Why did you betray me, Inuyasha?" She slumped back down, breathing subsiding into the regular rhythm of exhausted sleep.

Inuyasha couldn't breathe. He couldn't see. Terror froze his tears before they could fall. Fear iced his muscles, his blood, his bones, so that he was certain that if he tried to move, he'd shatter like glass. He could barely bring himself to acknowledge Miroku as the monk approached them with quiet footsteps.

"She didn't know what she was saying," Miroku said.

Inuyasha forced himself to nod, and laid Kagome tenderly in the grass. He lurched to his feet, swaying like an aspen. "You gotta take her back to the village." He pulled the Tetsusaiga, scabbard and all, from his belt. "Keep this with her. The barrier knows her. It'll protect her."

"I can't do that!" Miroku protested.

"Do it!" Inuyasha snarled. "I'm not gonna need it for a while, okay?"

Unnerved by the crazed look in the hanyou's eyes, Miroku accepted the blade.

"When should we look for you?" Sango asked.

"Keh." Inuyasha wanted it to sound careless; it came out sounding like a sob, and he shook his head. "I don't know."

Sango nodded, feeling her eyes sting. "Be careful."

Inuyasha leapt for a nearby branch, but didn't immediately vanish into the canopy. He paused, resting his head against the trunk. "Please. She can't die." A gust of wind shook the leaves, and he was gone.

"I don't like him going by himself," Sango murmured. She knelt next to Kagome, brushing her friend's bangs back.

"We can't spare Kirara," Miroku said, "and Hachi isn't nearby. And neither of us could keep up with him."

Shippo gulped. "I could go," he volunteered.

Sango hugged him. "No, we need you with us in the village to take care of Kagome. But thank you for offering." He cuddled closer to Sango, feeling reassured. She sighed. "We'll just have to hope that he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else."

"There's something else we have to do," Miroku said. "We should return Kikyo's bones to Kaede-sama." A small pile of clay and bone shards in a circle of ashes marked the place where Kikyo had stood. Sango wondered if Inuyasha had even noticed.

"Let me bandage your shoulder first, houshi-sama," Sango said. "Then I'll take care of Kikyo's bones."

He shook his head. "If you just bandage me, I can do it. Take care of Kagome-sama." Sango nodded and moved to tie a rough bandage around Miroku's shoulder. He dug carefully through Kagome's pack to find a spare shirt and then knelt next to the pile of shards, murmuring a prayer under his breath before he began to pick them up reverentially, laying them in Kagome's shirt. When he found the jewel shard Kikyo had tucked away, he hid it in his own sleeve.

In a few minutes, they were ready to go. Kikyo's bones were tied into a bundle and tucked away in Kagome's pack. Kagome herself was cradled between Sango and Miroku, with the Tetsusaiga wrapped in her arms. Shippo curled on her chest, careful not to touch the blade. Sango rested her head on Kirara's for a moment, gathering strength.

"We'll get through this, Sango," Miroku said.

Sango straightened. "I hope so, houshi-sama. I really do." She patted Kirara's neck. "Let's go, Kirara." Nothing was left in the clearing but a circle of ashes, and those were soon scattered by the wind of their passing.

***

For four days, all Inuyasha did was run, trying to become a creature of pure motion, trying to outrun the grief that howled at his heels. Despite the tough pads on his hands and feet, blisters formed, broke, and bled, until he left bloody foot- and hand-prints on the trees in his wake. Hunger chewed at him, thirst burned him, and exhaustion spun the world around him until he wasn't running so much as staggering at high speed. But none of these things, not even pain, was what finally stopped him. One of the branches he was attempting to land on simply snapped under his feet. He knew he'd pushed himself too far when he couldn't react fast enough to catch another branch on the way down.

Thought and memory caught up with him as soon as he hit the ground. Shaking and sick, he curled into a ball at the foot of a tree. I failed her the one moment she needed me the most. He remembered Kikyo's words on Kagome's lips and shuddered. She may be worse than dead because of me. Kikyo may have obliterated her because of me. If I ever see you again, will there be enough left of you to forgive me? If I ever see you again, will it be you looking back at me?

Damn it! He slammed his fists into the tree, tearing the scabs off his knuckles. Some protector I turned out to be. So. Damn. Useless! He flung his head back to howl, but his cracked throat refused to cooperate.

Why did you betray me, Inuyasha?

I wouldn't. I would never--

But he had.

An awareness of something other prickled along his arms and he frowned into the darkening woods. There's nothing out there. The prickle turned into a dull roar along his nerves, and he knew.

Ever since he'd discovered he could be possessed by his youkai blood, he'd been afraid of the demon that lived beneath his skin: afraid of losing control of it, afraid of it taking him over and his not being able to stop it. He didn't dream often, so his nightmares were few, but his worst one was the clearest and most frequent. Finding himself crouched next to Kagome's body, her blood on his claws, in his mouth, saturating his clothes. Discovering he'd killed her because he hadn't been able to stop the demon. The first night he'd had the nightmare, he'd wakened himself with a voiceless yell and a barely checked fall out of his tree. He'd spent the rest of the night crouched next to her, watching her breathe. He barely managed to tear himself away from her before the others began to wake up, and he'd shadowed her for the rest of the day.

But now the demon, goaded by pain and grief, awoke and stretched. He reached toward it, embracing it as he had refused to since that night. Take me, help me forget, make me who I was before I loved her. He knew it might kill him, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He could hear her screaming at him in his head.

Don't do it, don't do it, you might die, don't be stupid--

How can I take care of myself, he asked her, when I couldn't even take care of you?

He felt the shadow of the demon begin to overwhelm his consciousness. He smiled at his mental image of her: furious, tear-stained, beautiful. I'll always find you, Kagome. Even in death.

And he was gone.

Far to the south, Kagome stirred, mouth shaping his name in a silent whisper.

***

And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me
You'd hold me until you died
'Til you died
But you're still alive