Kagome's Return chapter 13
Kikyo's hate . . .
Authors' note: a small chapter, but, I couldn't resist the cliffhanger. Sorry. I am evil . . .
Authors' note: something about Japanese romance stories. A very popular type of story is about two star-crossed lovers. They, for various reasons, can't marry. So, in the stories (And this happens in real life, as well) the couple commits suicide together. They are sure that in the future, they will be reincarnated together and will live happily ever after . . .
Kagome's hand shifts, moving to her side. A gleam appears in her palm.
"Catch, Inu-yasha." Kagome says, her eyes never leaving Kikyo's.
The complete, purified jewel of the four souls is caught by Inu-yasha, by reflex.
"It's yours." Kagome whispers, "Do with it, what you will."
Everyone looks at Inu-yasha, as he stares at the jewel.
Kagome, slowly stands up and wipes her tears. "I will be waiting for you, Inu-yasha. I love you now and I will love you in the future."
"An honorable person completes his promises. A lying scumbag demon doesn't." Kikyo says, as she glares at Inu-yasha.
Inu-yasha licks his lips. He looks around, but refuses to meet anybody's eyes.
He takes a deep breath.
"I wish . . . " He begins to say, he pauses, and then Inu-yasha continues with, "I wish I knew what to wish for."
Silence . . .
Inu-yasha, in shock, thinks, 'My stupid, idiotic mouth . . . why did I say what I was thinking?'
Everybody looks at Inu-yasha . . .
"Inu-yasha are you an idiot or simply stupid?" Shippo asks.
Inu-yasha growls, deep in his throat and throws the jewel into the sky . . . far, far away . . .
He looks around, pausing for a second as he looks into the eyes of Kikyo, Kagome and Sesshomaru. He then jumps up and runs away.
Everybody looks at each other. Most of the women sigh. Miroku and Shippo share a sad headshake. Sesshomaru purses his lips and looks at Kikyo.
Kikyo twitches her hand and one of her insect demons floats close to her. "What you are doing?" Kagome asks.
"Going after him, of course, he and I have a permanent date in hell."
"Kikyo." Kagome's says in a strong tone, which causes Kikyo and everyone else to look at her.
"Reincarnation, you can't stop me."
Kagome looks at Sesshomaru. "I just want to talk, please."
"We have been."
"Fine." Kagome says in disgust. "Then, before you go, tell me why you have to go to hell, instead of resting in peace."
"You know why I have to go to hell." Kikyo snarls.
"Because, you cannot let go of your hate. A hate that exists for no reason. Naraku caused your death, not Inu-yasha." Kagome replies. The tone in her voice, remains stable, but, everyone can hear the strain it takes to maintain it.
"So." Kikyo replies coldly. "That doesn't change anything."
"Really, Kikyo?" Kagome asks. "Once, I met a ghost, who, like you hated someone for no reason. She, a little girl, maybe a little older than Rin, let go of her hate and is now resting in peace. You, on the other hand, are Kikyo. The great, the powerful, Miko Kikyo, but you are less than that little girl." Kagome pauses. She raises an eyebrow, "Surely, the great Kikyo can do something that a little girl can do?"
"That, reincarnation, is a pitiful attempt to change my mind."
"Kikyo, I have to try." Kagome replies. She stares into Kikyo's eyes. "If you were alive, and in my position, wouldn't you?"
Kikyo opens her mouth. She pauses. Her jaws clench tightly as she closes her mouth. Kikyo nods, a sharp abrupt nod.
"I'll help." Kagome says. She waves her hands to the others. "We all will."
Sesshomaru's raises an eyebrow at that statement, but he doesn't say a thing.
Miroku steps forward, "of course." He says. 'As a monk, I have to.' He thinks.
"Kagome is my sister." Sango says, as she steps forward. "I'll support her, thru whatever may come."
"Of course, I'll help, my daughter." Mrs. H states.
Kagome flicks her eyes at Shippo.
Shippo sighs and low disgusted voice, says, "OF course, I'll help."
Kagome looks at Kikyo. A slight smile on her lips, "well, most of us, anyway."
Silence . . .
"Are you afraid to try?" Kagome whispers.
More silence . . .
"Miko Kikyo," Miroku begins to say. "Please forgive me for this, but, as a monk, I must give you my opinion."
Kikyo looks at him, as does everyone else.
He states: "when you and Inu-yasha died, and each of you died, basically at the same time, you assumed, that the two of you would, like as in most romantic stories, that you and he would be reincarnated sometime in the future."
A low growl begins to build in Kikyo's throat. Kagome looks at the ground and covers her eyes, trying to hide her face. 'Why?' She thinks, 'I've known this since the beginning, but he's going to bring it out and force us to discuss it. The real reason Kikyo hates me.'
"But, that future, a pleasant future in which you and your lover would be reincarnated and live out a happy and fruitful life, has been destroyed." Miroku states. He nods to her, "Admittedly the chain of events that has led to this is not entirely your fault, but you are not the person that Inu- yasha loves. Not anymore."
Kikyo's hand begins to glow, as she builds up power.
Sango moves, so she is standing close to Miroku, ready to defend him against Kikyo's attack, even if all she can do is to jump in front of the energy bolt.
"You don't hate Inu-yasha as much as you don't want Kagome to have the happy future that has been denied you." He concludes. "So, going to hell, with Inu-yasha is really you trying to deny Kagome, her happiness."
"And that is supposed to change my mind, how?" Kikyo spits out, her face slowly twisting into a rage.
"Kagome is your reincarnation." Miroku continues. His eyes flick up and down her body, as he visibly notes her readiness to attack him. He glances at Sango, and nods to her, accepting her defense.
"Even you admit that she is your reincarnation," He states, as he looks at Kagome. "In those romantic stories and legends, the reincarnation, after some troubles, of course, wins and lives happily with her lover."
Kagome blushes, as she continues to hide her face.
Sesshomaru raises an eyebrow, 'Hmmm. An aspect of our relationship that I have not taken into account. Will that change things? I will have to consider it.' He thinks.
Miroku looks at Kikyo. "Why do you continue to act like you have a chance at success?" He asks. He smiles, "In all those stories, sooner or later, the character that Kagome is playing in this scenario will win. All you can do is lose."
Kikyo, her face twisted in hate, says in a horrible, evil voice, "Sometimes, winning is worse than losing. I can do that to her."
Miroku nods. "And if you succeed, you will spend forever in hell, as an evil and twisted spirit." He pauses, "the great Kikyo, Miko and friend of everyone and everything, instead of being a good Kami is twisted into a horrible demon. A great victory for you." He finishes his voice full of scorn.
Kikyo's eyes open wide. Her hate filled expression fades . . .
He, quickly, continues, "Or you can give you your hate." He stares into her eyes. "Be the great Kikyo. Forgive Kagome, Inu-yasha, even yourself and rest peaceably. Earn the karma to become a Buddha, by giving up your hate."
He steps past Sango, holds out his hands, "Please, the Miko Kikyo, be the best that you can be, not the hate-filled creature you are now."
Kikyo licks her lips. "Too much anger and hatred exist between us. There is no way that you would trust me, or that I could trust you."
Silence . . .
"I will." Kagome raises her head. She wipes the tears from her eyes. "I must." She says in a low voice. "IF I believe that we are right, I must act on that."
Kagome, slowly but surely, walks up to Kikyo.
Mrs. H and Sango exchange glances. Both bite their lips, and nods.
Miroku and Sesshomaru raise eyebrows at each other. Both nod and begin to gather their mystical power. IF something goes wrong, they will be prepared . . .
'And If I need to attack hell itself to free Kagome's soul. So be it.' Sesshomaru thinks.
Shippo quietly goes over to Mrs. H, how picks him up and hugs him. "She'll be fine." Mrs. h whispers into his ears.
Kagome stops, a bare pace from Kikyo. She looks Kikyo in the eyes. "If you want to give up your hate, Kikyo. I am here. I will help. All you have to do is ask."
"No defenses?" Kikyo whispers to her as she studies Kagome.
Kagome shakes her head, no. "None." She looks at Kikyo's hands, which still glow with power. "I trust you, Kikyo. You will let me help you give up your hate."
"I can destroy you." Kikyo growls.
Kagome stares back. "Can you destroy your future? I am your reincarnation. I am your future. Or will you be so hate filled that it doesn't matter, that only your hate matters."
Silence . . .
Off in the distance, in the trees, Inu-yasha strains his ears to hear as he bites his claws to the quick . . .
Kagome reaches out and grabs Kikyo's hands.
"What will it be? Will hate win?" Kagome asks in a low, quiet voice.
The glow of Kikyo's hands increases . . .
Kikyo begins to glow . . .
Kagome begins to glow . . .
The glow brightens, blinding everyone . . .
The end of this chapter . . .
Yes. I am evil.
(I will try to bring out a new chapter faster than normal to compensate for the shortness of this chapter.) Expect a new chapter tomorrow.
Thank you for reading jeff shelton