"There! That's where she is!" Shippo whispered, loud enough for Kagome to hear. She nodded, and slid the wooden screen open. Kikyo sat in the corner, watching the demonic ravens fly into the black treetops in the courtyard.
"Kikyo!" Kagome said in a relieved tone. "Come on, we're here to help you." Kikyo turned to stare at the girl and fox demon, but said nothing.
Kagome looked puzzled. She waved her hand, beckoning to the young priestess. "Kikyo, don't you realize Naraku is dangerous? If you stay here, you'll only get into trouble. We're here to rescue you. Even Inuyasha is out there, waiting for you." Kikyo raised her eyes when she heard Inuyasha's name. "Inuyasha...he's here? No, he's not supposed to be! Naraku will be after him! H-He'll be slaughtered!" Kagome heard the fear rise in Kikyo's usually calm voice, and she knew that Kikyo really was scared.
"You don't have to be scared anymore, Kikyo. Whatever Naraku's done to you, he's gonna pay for it. Come with us," Shippo said, urging the young woman to stand up.
Kikyo shook her head. "I cannot. Naraku has changed, and if you don't believe me about it, how can you possibly trust Inuyasha?" Kagome peered closer at Kikyo. There was no deceit in the priestess's eyes, and Kagome knew that she was no liar.
"You have a point, Kikyo. You're actually right. Come on, Shippo, let's go. Kikyo needs to be alone. This is her time," Kagome said gently, beckoning for Shippo to follow. Confused, Shippo stared from woman to woman, until he finally trudged along behind Kagome. When they had gone, Kikyo turned her back to them and folded her arms on her chest. "Naraku will come for me soon. He's heard that two human lovers were outside, poisoning the servants," she said to herself. She sighed, and pressed her hand against the dusty, blurred window that showed her the world outside, and the freedom she once had.
The wind howled outside, showing no mercy as the tops of the trees blew around roughly, trying to bring chaos among the intruders in the castle. Kagome and Shippo went back outside, and crossed over to the stables where the others hid.
Sango and Miroku emerged, along with Inuyasha. He jumped down, and stared from Kagome to Shippo. "Well, where is she?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome shook her head, and threw her hands up in the air.
"She didn't want our help. She wants to stay in the castle," Shippo explained. Inuyasha's eyes widened, and he shook his head. "It wasn't supposed to be this way! I..I thought Kikyo wanted to be rescued!"
Kagome sighed. "That's what we thought, too. It's Kikyo's decision, Inuyasha. Let's just kill Naraku and go. Kikyo can leave when she wants to."
Inuyasha shook his head more vigorously. "No! Don't you see? Kikyo wants to be with Naraku after all. I've been such an idiot! I...I never thought Naraku would change."
Sango patted Inuyasha's shoulder. "Everyone makes mistakes. You only came here because you were worried about Kikyo. Well, as long as she's happy with what she wants, we have no power to stop her. Kikyo is human, too, you know."
Inuyasha clenched his fists, and pulled away from everyone else. "That ain't gonna stop me! I love Kikyo, and I won't rest until Naraku is dead and buried!" Miroku ran toward him as he ripped the screen open.
"Inuyasha, stop! You're making a mistake!" he shouted, his monk staff clinking with every step. Inuyasha growled loudly, and pulled Tetsusaiga out of its mighty sheath. "Ya think you can stop me, stupid monk?" And with that, Inuyasha ran inside the castle. Little did he know that he was taking the one step that would change his life forever.