Shikon no Miko

By: Karisutaru-chan

Author's note: I do not own any of the characters in this story and it was written just for fun. Oh yes, and it seems the link to my music video did not appear in the last chapter. So if you're interested in taking a look, send me a signed review (so I can reply) and I'll email you the site. It's the site for Anime Music Videos (dot org). So just go to this site and follow my instructions on the previous chapter, and hey, let me know what you think!! Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed my story so far!! Okay, on with the story!!

RATED R for language and future adult situations. Reader discretion is advised.

Please send reviews to . Thanks! Enjoy!

Chapter 14: Return to Living World

Once the dust settled, Inuyasha saw two silhouettes on either side of the cave entrance. Hakudoshi rose first, glaring daggers at Inuyasha. His face was smeared with dirt and his robes where slightly shredded. Kagura, who was in no better shape, stood up next, with a look of utter confusion on her face. She looked first at Inuyasha and his companions and then to Hakudoshi. How did Inuyasha attain such power? It seemed that this was a new development, even to Hakudoshi.

Rin and Jaken, who were still in the air, observed the tense scene below dumbfounded.

"Sugoi ne Jaken-sama." Rin whispered silently, her little hands clenching Kirara's fur as she turned to look towards Jaken who was still mounted on the two-headed dragon Aun not too far away. Jaken was speechless, unable to ascertain Inuyasha's new found strength. He would have to discuss this with Sesshoumaru when he returned.

Back on the ground, Hakudoshi spoke.

"So it seems you've gotten stronger since our last meeting." He said through gritted teeth.

"Keh, looks like this won't be as easy as you bastards thought." Inuyasha replied, his sword ready for another attack. He sensed Hakudoshi was up to something and wouldn't give him the chance to retaliate, not with Kagome's life at stake. Hakudoshi continued to stare at Inuyasha with murderous eyes, looking for the perfect opportunity to strike back.

But before either of them could make another move, a strange energy started to emit from the cave, and as everyone's attention turned towards the phenomenon a voice spoke.

"Yurusunai! I won't let you have it!"

And with that, a massive blast of spiritual energy flew from the cave straight towards Hakudoshi. Unable to dodge the blast entirely, Hakudoshi's body was split into to fragments as the energy blasted through his chest. His head was among the body parts that flew up into the air, and as it was falling to the ground below, he yelled to Kagura in a very irritated tone.

"Kagura, what the hell are you doing standing there! Catch me!"

Kagura removed a feather from her hair and flew up to catch Hakudoshi's falling head, but Inuyasha wasn't about to let them get away that easily.

"NO fuckin' WAY are YOU getting' AWAY!! KAZE NO KIZU!!!!" Inuyasha sent a blast of power straight for Hakudoshi. Unfortunately, Kagura managed to catch him in time and dodge the on coming blast. Kagura raised her fan, ready to return the favor when Hakudoshi stopped her.

"Forget it Kagura. I can do nothing like this. Let's go." He said as Kagura flew off into the distance.

"He ran away again huh?" Inuyasha said as he returned Tessaiga to its sheath. Kirara and Rin descended along with Jaken and Aun to the ground below. Rin dismounted Kirara and went to stand by Jaken and Aun dutifully waiting for Sesshoumaru to return. Miroku and Sango walked up to Inuyasha to discuss the events that just took place.

"Looks that way." Miroku said. "But what was that energy just now."

"I don't know, but it came from the cave." Inuyasha replied.

They suddenly heard a low growl coming from Kirara and turned to see what had drawn her attention. Sango approached the feline with a curious expression.

"What is it Kirara?"

Kirara had her nose to the ground, almost as if she was pointing to the object that caught her attention. She was standing where Hakudoshi had been struck down by the mysterious light. As Sango came closer, the object of Kirara's intention came into view.

"Houshi-sama!! Look!"

Miroku and Inuyasha both came rushing over to see what all the commotion was about; and what they discovered was a little puzzling indeed.

"An arrow?" Miroku stated a look of utter confusion on his face.

"It must have been what shot out of the cave and hit Hakudoshi." Sango said. Inuyasha just stood there dumbfounded and at a loss for words. 'Who could have shot this arrow from the cave….certainly not Kagome?' He looked so see if she was standing in the cave. 'No. It couldn't have been here. She's still on the other side of the gateway with Sesshoumaru.'

"But who shot it?" Sango continued. "That was a lot of power and there's no one in the cave."

"So ne. And the only person I can think of who could shoot an arrow with that much spiritual power is…" Miroku began.

"It was me." A voice from the cave interrupted. A voice that sounded very similar to Kagome's.

The entire party turned to voice's origin, and they saw two figures appear at the cave entrance, Kagome and Sesshoumaru.

"Kagome-sama!?!"

"Kagome-chan!"

"Kagome!"

Shippou, who had taken refuge behind a rock when Hakudoshi attacked, quickly abandoned his hiding place upon hearing Kagome's name.

"KAAAGGGGOOOOOOMMMEEEEEEEEE!" he yelled as he jumped into her waiting arms and warm smile.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!!" Jaken and Rin said in unison and they went up to greet their master (a/n: well, that statement applies to Jaken at least. I always got the impression that Rin could do what she wanted).

"Kagome-sama," Miroku began, "it was you who shot the arrow? But how, weren't you still in the other world?"

"Hai, but I sensed that you were in trouble, so I tried to help you out. What happened to Hakudoshi?"

"He flew off with Kagura after the attack." Shippou answered.

"But how did you know it was Hakudoshi we were fighting, Kagome-chan?" Sango asked.

Damn, she slipped up. She wasn't going to tell her companions exactly what had happened while she was on the other side right away. It was going to be hard enough explaining to them how she shot the arrow through the gateway in the first place. Hell, she still needed time to figure that one out. How was she going to get out of explaining this one? Think Kagome, think!

"I…I used the shikon fragment. It must have been because I was on the other side that it reacted the way it did, so I was able to see what was happening." Well, what she said wasn't exactly a lie. She did use the shikon fragment; as a matter of fact, she and the fragment were now one in the same. But her companions didn't need to know that right away. Besides, Naraku could still be spying on them. No need to reveal the big secret when the "walls have ears" as the saying goes.

"So you did get the Shikon fragment!" Inuyasha asked; a hint of excitement and relief in his voice. "So where is it?"

"Ano…." Kagome began.

"Draw Inuyasha" Sesshoumaru interrupted.

"Nani!?!" Inuyasha replied. The tone of his voice changed from contentment to annoyance. "What the fuck are you talkin' about!"

"I have kept my end of the bargain, now it's time to keep yours."

A/N: Translations of Japanese used in this chapter:

Sugoi ne Jaken-sama – Rin is basically saying, "That was awesome wasn't it Jaken?"

Yurusunai – In this sense, it means to not allow, like saying "I won't allow you to have your way." It can also mean to not forgive.

So ne – "I agree"

Ano (ah no) – in this sense, it's like saying "ummm….."

Ah…at last, the moment you've all been waiting for. The other side of the bargain that Sesshoumaru made with Inuyasha (and yes, he made the bargain with Inuyasha, not Kagome. You didn't think Sesshoumaru would make a deal with a measly human did you?). Regrettably, you'll have to wait until next week for chapter 15. I've been sick with the flu and I need to take some make-up exams this week. But I did start the chapter, so hopefully, I'll finish up this weekend and it'll be ready to post by next Monday or Tuesday. See ya then! Ja minna-sama!!!