AN: I finished!! YAY! Now, Ill I have to do, is type it! Total of 24 chaps, including the epilogue! I know it takes me forever, Im sorry, keep reviewing! I'm going to be making, and hanging by my computer, a list of ALL the chapters to ALL the stories I have to type up, and have a date I want to have them posted by. Ill probably try to get at least 2 chaps (for diff stories) out a month, but that's the minimum!

"The Things We Do"

Chapter 16- 'My Choice'

By: Kagome-chan5

Beta Reader: Sango-chan8

Kikyou walked silently out onto the arena floor and turned her stony glare to the couple before her. The soul above Kagome shined a bright white color as Kikyou approached and flew towards her. Inuyasha looked up, seeing the soul, just in time to see it begin to enter Kikyou's clay body.

"Kagome's…soul…." Inuyasha whispered as he watched the soul. After a moment it fully entered Kikyou's body, and she sighed happily.

"Inuyasha…" Kikyou whispered, moving a few steps towards him.

"Kikyou…" Inuyasha breathed. As Kikyou got closer he could see a light pink to her lips and cheeks, and her slightly tanned face.

"I'm alive again, Inuyasha! Things can be how they used to be!" Kikyou lifted Inuyasha's hand and pressed it to her chest, right over her heart. Inuyasha's eyes widened; her hand had warmth to it, her heart was steadily beating.

"But, Kagome…" Inuyasha turned his head to look at Kagome.

"She is dead, Inuyasha, but I'm alive…I'm back, just like it was supposed to be!" Kikyou grabbed Inuyasha's chin, forcing him to look back at her.

"No! This isn't how it's supposed to be, Kikyou! That's Kagome's soul! You're the one who is supposed to be dead…" Inuyasha yelled, pulling away from Kikyou, barely containing the tears that threatened to fall.

"Then die with Kagome!" Kikyou reached forward, clutching Inuyasha's shoulders.

"Kikyou, stop!!" Inuyasha yelled. Kikyou's glare hardened and she released the shock from her hands, burning completely through his clothes and into his arms. Inuyasha screamed in pain, and the crowd howled with laughter. He flew back, landing roughly next to Kagome's body.

"Inuyasha, you betrayed me again! I came back to life for you and you deny me! You want my copy!" Kikyou yelled.

"Kikyou, I love you…" He looked at Kikyou, "But…" Inuyasha gazed at Kagome's pale body. "But…I…" Inuyasha swallowed, lifting his head up to look Kikyou in the eye. "I realized, my feelings for you linger because of Kagome! I stopped loving the Kikyou here now 50 years ago! I loved that Kikyou, not this one! Kagome is…Kagome is important to me! At first when I saw you, I thought of ways to make you alive again, to be with you again! But then I realized, you couldn't ever be alive…I started thinking of ways to help you pass on! I want to help you, Kikyou! But…I love KAGOME! That's her soul now and I'm going to save her!" Inuyasha yelled, standing up. Kikyou's glare reached icy levels, her lips in a thin frown.

"If that's how it will be…then try." She said coldly, picking up Kagome's forgotten bow. Inuyasha pulled Tessaiga from its sheath, turning it towards Kikyou.

"Can you really kill her, Inuyasha? Can you really kill your beloved Kikyou?" Konna's voice taunted from all around him.

"Shut up!" Inuyasha growled. Kikyou took her aim, the arrow tip glowing with her deadly power.

"Go to Hell, Inuyasha!" Kikyou let the glowing arrow fly. It was headed right at Inuyasha's heart…'Shit! Forgive me, Kagome!' Inuyasha thought, looking for a way to escape the arrow.

Kagome's eyes shot open. Why did she feel so cold? "Welcome to the other World." A soft, familiar voice said, causing Kagome to look up.

"Inuyasha's Mother!" Kagome yelled, "I really am dead then…" She whispered, tears beginning to fill her eyes.

"I am Inuyasha's Mother, you are right. My name is Izayoi. You have died, yes, but Inuyasha fights on for you." Izayoi said, sitting down beside Kagome. "We have always kept an eye on you two, his father and I. Inutaishou likes you a great deal; he wants to see you marry Inuyasha. Come now dear, don't blush, it's only a fact you shall one day marry my son." Izayoi smiled warmly at Kagome, "Please, follow me." She said as she stood and began slowly walked towards a tiny village.

"If I'm dead, how will I marry Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, keeping pace with Izayoi.

"Don't worry dear, love conquers all." Izayoi answered. "This is the Village of the Dead, step lightly here should you find yourself in the path of the enemy. Though you cannot be harmed in this realm, you certainly still have feelings." Izayoi informed Kagome, who nodded slowly, taking in her surroundings.

"Uh, okay…" Kagome muttered as she caught short glimpses of Yura, Hiten and Goshinki.

"Inutaishou! She has come at last, just as Midoriko said!" Izayoi yelled, rushing into a rather nice looking hut. Moments later Izayoi returned with a tall man. He had long silver hair, kept up in a high ponytail. His face was like Inuyasha's but he reminded her more of Sesshoumaru.

"Kagome! How good to finally meet you!" Inutaishou pulled her into a tight hug; the last thing she had expected. "How's my son been treating you? I hope he keeps his hands to himself…though I could understand if he didn't, you're very bea--ow! My dear Izayoi, no one is more pretty than you!" Inutaishou said with a wink in his wife's direction. Izayoi gave a small, un lady like, snort and returned the rock to its proper place on the ground.

"Kagome?" Inutaishou asked, his expression becoming serious. Kagome looked up, her brown eyes locking with Inutaishou's golden ones. "Do you want to go back?" He asked in a dead-serious tone.

Kagome nodded, "Of course I do!" She said, louder than she had planned.

"But it's not possible…" Inutaishou said in a monotone voice. Kagome's anger began to bubble up inside her.

"SO! I don't care if you say it's not possible! I'm going back to Inuyasha, no matter what! The like of NO ONE will stop me!" Kagome screamed into Inutaishou's face. Izayoi and Inutaishou blinked a moment, a small grin on their faces. Kagome, realizing she had just yelled in one of the greatest demons of all times face, blushed at her out burst. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled." Kagome lowered her gaze.

"Nonsense!" Inutaishou said, the grin still spread across his face, "You have every right! Exactly the type of girl for Inuyasha, perfect indeed." He patted Kagome's shoulder, silently laughing to himself.

"What a mean test, Inutaishou! The poor girl thought you were serious!" A female voice scolded playfully.

"Ah, Midoriko you have arrived quickly." Izayoi hugged the great miko.

"Midoriko?" Kagome echoed in awe.

"Kagome! Child, don't look at me as if I were a Goddess! No, no, that's you my dear." Midoriko said, smiling warmly at Kagome.

"B-but you're the most powerful miko ever!" Kagome yelled.

"True, but that was until Kikyou came into life with my soul, and after her came you with the same soul. It's a cycle; one which you should fully understand before continue." Midoriko said in a chipper voice.

'Wow, their personalities are nothing like I expected!' Kagome thought in awe, nodding in response to Midoriko.

"Right then! When I created the Shikon no Tama, I was killed and couldn't destroy it. I was the beginning of an evil circle. 30 years after I died, Kikyou came to life carrying my soul and powers. While I was here, the Next World, before Kikyou came about, my powers built. I watched Kikyou grow up and ensured she would one day have the Shikon Jewel. When Kikyou met Inuyasha and fell in love, her powers weakened and soon Naraku attacked her, using Inuyasha's form. Inuyasha was sealed to a tree and Kikyou died. Fast forward about 500 years, to when you were born, Kagome. Over those years the power contained in my soul built immensely! I watched from above keep an eye on you." Midoriko winked at Kagome.

"When you broke my Shikon, I winced knowing a terrifying journey awaited you. When you and Inuyasha fought, I felt bad, as such when you cried, I cried with you. When you and Inuyasha fell in love…well, we all smiled." Midoriko said quietly, a smile on her lips. "Basically, I started the evil, Kikyou wasn't meant to stop it…but you are, Kagome. It must stop with you, no matter what."

"All right, Midoriko. I understand now, let me go back." Kagome said.

"Can't." Midoriko said in a simple, tight tone.

"CAN'T?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN "CAN'T"?! DON'T JOKE WITH ME!" Kagome yelled, her face turning red from anger.

"Shh, Kagome! It's OK!" Izayoi said soothingly, moving to comfort her.

"Don't touch me!" Kagome yelled, harshly pushing away from Izayoi. "I thought you said I could go back! With or without you three, I'll go home! Back to Inuyasha! Back to Sango-chan, Miroku-sama, Shippou-chan and everyone! They still need me and I still need them!" Kagome stormed off from them and headed back the way she came.

"I think we've upset her…" Inutaishou said thoughtfully.

"That girl doesn't understand." Midoriko sighed. Izayoi watched as Kagome walked up to the 2 gold gates and started yelling. The guards flinched and nodded quickly, pulling the gates open. Stomping through the gates, Kagome vanished, returning to Earth as a ghost. "As long as Kikyou has the soul, she can't go back alive. Inutaishou, this is serious! What are you laughing about?" Midoriko asked crossly.

"Her! Kagome! She yelled at the gate Guards so much. She was yelling 'OPEN THE DOORS! Let me OUT of here! OPEN! Let me out of this hell! Open, open, OPEN!' Then she glared at them and they ran to open it." Inutaishou smiled and wiped a few tears of laughter from his eyes. "Good girl that one, perfect really, she is." His laughter died down into a chuckle.

"Perfect for our temperamental puppy." Izayoi said with a smile.

"Positively perfect!" Midoriko clapped her hands together and all out laughter filled the air.

A/N: I can't believe it took me so long to get that up! Im soo sorry bows before readers and offers cookies I actually have an excuse: My family is having some problems, my Mom and Dad, so things have been a bit well, harder than normal. Also, recently I started Fansubbing (Well, Im still in something of a learning and testing stage), for anyone who knows what that is.

So, here it is, chapter 16! I have all the titles of the chaps from here to the end, so Ill post them and give you an idea of what to expect!

Chapter 17 - "Watching You"

Chapter 18 - "Reunited"

Chapter 19 - "Only…You"

Chapter 20 - "Sango's News"

Chapter 21 - "Girl Talk"

Chapter 22 - "WHAT!?"

Chapter 23 - "Kagura's Feelings"

Chapter 24 - "To Be With You"

That's it! Please review, please please! And check out my other stories.

If you want to receive an e-mail for when this, or any of my other stories update, just review and leave your e-mail address and which stories you want notified of.

Kagome-chan5