Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I still do not own Inuyasha...
Chapter 18: Kikyo Resurected
It was the day after Sesshomaru's visit, and Kagome was busying herself with cleaning her cavern. It had been almost a week and a half since she had arrived in Kouga's den, and she was wondering how Inuyasha and Shippo were doing. As she thought about Inuyasha, Kagome realized that the New Moon had been just a few days before. I wonder if he's told anyone about his "secret"… probably not though…
Kagome looked around the cavern that she had just finished tidying. Looks pretty good! Sutaa had taken Kiseki for the day, saying that Kagome needed to have some time to herself. She had also asked Kagome about Sesshomaru's visit, but Kagome had refused to give any details to the gossiping urufu. Maybe I'll go for a walk outside today, it seems like forever since I've been outside…
Kagome picked up her sword and walked through the urufu den, passing Kouga and Ayame on her way to the entrance of the cavern. Ayame was no longer trying to kill Kouga, and Kouga seemed to be extremely happy in Ayame's company. The two of them were sitting just beside the entrance, talking quickly and quietly to each other. They looked up when Kagome walked by, and asked her to come sit with them for a moment.
Kagome was quite surprised by this. She might have expected this in the other time, but in this time, neither of them knew her very well at all. "I was just going to go for a walk outside, maybe I'll talk to the two of you later?" She felt kind of awkward talking to them.
To Kagome's amazement, it was Ayame who tried to talk her into staying. "Please, Kagome-san, come and talk with us. Kouga told me that you are the reason that I'm so happy with him now." Kouga blushed and mumbled something Kagome couldn't hear. She was sure that Ayame had understood it though, because a wicked smile suddenly crossed her face.
Kagome tried to dissuade Ayame, but the female urufu would not be placated. So Kagome sat down to talk to the two wolf demons. As soon as Ayame had Kagome sitting down, she started asking Kagome about herself, where she came from, how she had come to be in Sesshomaru's care. Kagome answered as evasively as she could, without telling an outright lie.
"Well, Kagome-san, it sounds like you have come a long distance, and even though your presence with Sesshomaru is still very much a mystery, I find that I like you very much." Kagome was confused by this remark of Ayame's. What did her association with Sesshomaru have to do with anything? Ayame seemed to understand her confusion however. "Sesshomaru was once lord of the Eastern Lands, as well as the Western ones. He gave these lands to my family a couple of hundred years ago because of a great service ny many times great-grandfather did for him. Sesshomaru is much admired by the urufu, and anyone that is associated with him is given great respect. But anyone who is an enemy of Sesshomaru is despised by the urufu and ignored, if not destroyed."
This answered many questions Kagome had once had. Why Kouga had an immediate dislike for Inuyasha, but warmed up to him when Inuyasha and Sesshomaru stopped fighting. Why Rin was never harmed by the wolf demons, even though Kagome knew that wolf demons had originally killed her. And also why Kouga had immediately backed off when Sesshomaru had started to show an interest in her.
Ayame was still speaking however. "...particularly taken with you Kagome. He's never acts like that around anyone but you, and we have been wondering if he has been considering taking a new mate." Kagome mentally kicked herself for not paying attention. Who was Ayame talking about? There were many male urufu who had been looking at her and acting strangely around her. "This is a bit of a personal question Kagome, but... are you in heat?"
Kagome was so surprised by the question that she couldn't answer for a moment. "No... I'm not Ayame..." Kagome was still stunned.
Ayame looked as surprised as Kagome felt. "Well, that puts everything in a new light! Kagome, could I-"
Kagome got up. "I'm sorry, both of you, please forgive me, but I would really like to go for this walk before Sutaa brings Kiseki back." Both of the urufu nodded and she fled the cavern.
Why is everyone trying to set me up? I don't remember ever having this many offers in my life! Kagome walked aimlessly, lost in her thoughts. There's only one man that I want to be with, and he doesn't love me anymore. I don't even know if he even likes me all that much... She hadn't gone very far from the entrance to the cave, when she felt an evil aura approaching her. She tried to pinpoint its position, but it seemed to be coming at her from every direction. Before she could even turn all the way around, something caught her from behind. She screamed as loud as she could, and whatever had her almost dropped her.
"Shut up, you stupid girl!" A voice said in her ear. Kagome knew that voice, it as one that she had been dreading and almost hoping for. It was the voice of the witch, Urasue, the woman who resurected Kikyo. Kagome had just enough time to realize this, and to see Kouga and Ayame run out of the cave before she felt herself losing consciousness. She tried to fight it, but the spell was just too strong for her when she was unprepared.
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Kouga and Ayame looked up to see a witch flying in the air, holding Kagome who seemed to be unconscious. The witch looked down at them, and then quickly flew away. Kouga and Ayame lost no time on words, they simply looked at each other, then took off in the direction that Urasue had gone. The shards in both of their legs allowed them to keep Urasue within sight until they saw her land at the top of a mountain.
We have to get her back! Sesshomaru will kill us if we don't! Kouga thought at Ayame, using the mind powers that all urufu are born with, but rarely use.
Ayame grinned. Not only would he kill us, but you know that you would miss her as much as I would!
Kouga just smiled back as they started to climb the mountain.
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On the other side of the mountain, Inuyasha, Shippo and Kaede were just crossing the bridge that would allow them entrance to Urasue's mountain.
"That looks like a pretty steep climb." Shippo observed. He was sitting on top of Inuyasha's head.
Inuyasha stopped himself from saying something sarcastic, but it was very difficult to remember that this kit was going through much the same thing that he had at one time. "It'll be easy Shippo, no problem."
Kaede raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing. She had no doubt that this would be an easy climp for the two demons, but it was another story for her.
Inuyasha looked over at Kaede. "Oh, and don't worry, ya old bat, I'll take you up on my back. Shippo can stay on my head if he wants, or he can ride on my shoulder. We'll all be up to the top in no time!"
Kaede took exception to being called an "old bat", but she said nothing, just in case Inuyasha decided to go back on his generous offer.
When they had nearly crossed the bridge, Shippo pointed up to the top of the mountain and said, "Look! something just landed up there!"
Kaede was quite disturbed by this news. If that girl Kagome was right, and she is the reincarnation of my sister Kikyo, then Urasue will need her soul to bring Kikyo back from the dead.
Inuyasha just scoffed. "Well, if there's one more up there, then it will just be more fun." They had now reached the bottom of the mountain. "All right, Kaede you get on mt back, Shippo, you staying where you are?" Shippo nodded and Kaede got on Inuyasha's back. Inuyasha started bounding up the side of the mountain.
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Urasue out Kagome in the herbal bath that she had prepared before leaving, She couldn't believe how lucky she had been to catch the girl outside of the urufu den on her first pass. It must have been fate! She thought.
Kagome started to stir as the final herbs were added to the water. She looked around and saw that she was, indeed, on Urasue's mountain. And when she looked, Kagome could see Kikyo's body standing at the ready not far from her. As the herbs started doing their work, Kagome could feel a barrier being formed without her direction.
A voice inside her head, not her own or Sesshomaru's, was speaking. I don't want to go back. I want to stay here. All the anger, all the hatred, that's all I will be if I go back! Don't make me go back, please! Keep me here!
Kagome knew that this was the voice of Kikyo within her. The last time, all she had been able to hear was "don't call my name" just before Inuyasha had done just that. Now Kagome could hear Kikyo's voice crying out to her to keep her soul safe within this body, and not to allow it to return to a life of hatred.
Kagome tried to soothe the voice. It's okay Kikyo. If it happens, the hatred will not last. Inuyasha loves you, as you love him. He did not betray you, that was a demon named Naraku. Kagome showed the voice that was Kikyo everything that she could remember from the last time about how Naraku had made it look like Kikyo and Inuyasha had betrayed each other. Please, if you do get brought back into the world again, don't hate Inuyasha.
The voice was silent for a while, the it said,. You don't understand, you can't understand, it's not what you think.
Kagome tried to ask Kikyo what she was saying, but at that moment, she heard the word that shattered her world. "Kikyo?"
Kagome's world was one of intense pain, then nothing.
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Inuyasha, Kaede and Shippo arrived at the top of the mountain to see a large barrier. At first they thought the Urasue was inside the barrier, but then they saw her standing beside it, looking very angry. Inuyasha put Kaede and Shippo down and advanced on Urasue.
"What have you done with her bones you witch?" Inuyasha demanded.
Urasue looked at Inuyasha. "You're too late! I have resurected the priestess Kikyo, and all I need to do now is wait for the soul of this young girl to exhaust itself so that it will enter Kikyo's body." Urasue gestured from Kagome's body inside the barrier, to Kikyo's body leaning against the side of the mountain.
Inuyasha was overcome with the sight of his lost love. "Kikyo?" he whispered.
A loud rushing wind suddenly belw up between Kagome's body and Kikyo's. The barrier shattered, and Kikyo's body took it's first breath in fifty years. Kagome was very still.
Shippo and Kaede rushed over to Kagome's body. Shippo sobbed as he tried to get Kagome to wake up. Kaede glared at Urasue. Urasue laughed at the kit's pitiful cries. Inuyasha reached his hand out toward Kikyo, his mouth opening to speak.
Kikyo lashed out with her spiritual power, leaving Inuyasha burned. Then she went after Urasue, destroying the witch completely. When she had done that, she stood very still and looked at Kagome with a great sadness in her eyes. "You just don't understand... but maybe one day you will." Kikyo whispered, then a strange look entered her eyes, and she rounded on Inuyasha.
"Why did you betray me?" She yelled at the singed hanyou. She advanced on him, ready to blast him with her powers.
Inuyasha stared at Kikyo for a moment. "I didn't betray you. For a while, I thought that you betrayed me, but Kagome explained it to me. A demon named Naraku tricked us both into hating each other."
Kikyo's eyes flashed with an emotion that Inuyasha couldn't understand. It seemed to be sadness, confusion and hatred all at once. "I hate you Inuyasha, I died hating you, my soul cannot move from that place! The only thing that will placate my soul and allow me to return to peaceful death, is your death!"
Inuyasha was stunned into silence. She wasn't arguing with him, she was just telling him the facts of her existence. The only reason she was still inhabiting that body was to kill him. She didn't even care that it wasn't his fault that she had died. As she had said, her soul was stuck.
Kaede heard her sister's words and wondered at them. Her soul cannot move on until she has killed Inuyasha? But such hatred stops a soul from being reborn... how is this possible? Kaede was left no time to wonder about this further, as Kikyo was advancing on Inuyasha once again.
"Please Inuyasha, die and come to hell with me! I love you, but I hate you too. Help me, please!" Kikyo's eyes kept flickering with an inner struggle. One part of her seemed to want to kill Inuyasha, but the other part claimed to love Inuyasha and seemed to want to be with him for all eternity, even if it was in such a twisted way as to want him to come to hell with her.
Kaede could stand it no longer. "Please sister. You are not supposed to be here, return to Kagome's body and find rest. Inuyasha is not your enemy, and perhaps, in due time, you will get your wish."
Kikyo looked at Kaede and said nothing. Then she turned to Inuyasha and tried to strike him with all of her energy. Kikyo set up a barrier quickly to shield Inuyasha, then she blasted Kikyo with her own attack. Kikyo went flying over the cliff, and Inuyasha raced after her, trying to catch her, oblivious to the attmept she had made on his life.
Kaede turned away, unable to watch as her sister died, and Inuyasha lost his love once again. She looked over at Kagome and saw two demons leaning over her, the female had Shippo on her shoulder. As Kaede wathced, the male picked up Kagome, and they made to leave. Kaede called out, and the two demons stopped.
They looked at her. The female spoke. "I am Ayame, princess of the wolf demon tribe. Kagome-san was given into the care of Kouga's tribe (here she nodded to the male) and we have come to retrieve her." At this, the two demons sped down the side of the mountain, taking Kagome and Shippo with them.
Inuyasha's despairing cry told Kaede that her sister had left the world of the living once more. She shed a few tears, but she knew that this was what was best, for everyone.
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Kouga and Ayame sped up the side of the mountain just in time to see the barrier break. They ignored the two humans and the hanyou, and were just going to go after the witch, when one of the humans completely destroyed the witch for them. They quickly ran over to the bath that smelled strongly of herbs to see that Kagome was unmoving and being cried over by a kitsune kit.
Ayame picked up the kit and spoke soothingly to him. She seems to have a bond with kitsune, ne? She thought at Kouga. Kouga nodded, but continued to look down at Kagome.
The kit spoke up. "She's dead! She was supposed to be my mama, and she's dead!" The kit coninued to wail.
Kouga checked for a pulse and found a very weak one. "She is not dead, kit, just very deeply asleep."
Shippo looked at him. "Really? but her soul is gone. It went into that Kikyo woman." Shippo looked around and spotted Kikyo being blasted overt the side of the mountain by Kaede.
Kouga lifted Kagome's body, she was very light. "If her soul had left her body, she would have no pulse, and she would not breathe." A very slight rise and fall of her chest showed that Kagome was, in fact, breathing. "She has just used most of her spiritual energy, that is all. She will be fine in a few days."
Shippo whispered "Can I come with you?" Kouga noded and they made to leave, but a voice called out behind them.
They turned to see the old human staring at Kagome in Kouga's arms. Ayame answered her soothingly, much like she had spoken to the kit."I am Ayame, princess of the wolf demon tribe. Kagome-san was given into the care of Kouga's tribe and we have come to retrieve her." When they saw a glimmer of understanding in the old woman's face, they turned and left, running quickly down the side of the mountain, and back to the den.
They put Kagome back in her very neat cavern. Shippo insisted on staying with her, and Sutaa came in to sit with Kagome while taking care of Kiseki. Everyone waited for Kagome to wake up, because Sesshomaru would not be happy if he came back to find they had taken so little interest in her protection.
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Inuyasha and Kaede started to make their way back toward the village. Inuyasha refused to talk about Kikyo, or about what had happened after Kaede had blasted her sister off of the edge of the mountain. He didn't seem angry, just sad.
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Kagome opened her eyes to a great yell of joy. The first thing she saw was a blur of colour, that settled into the form of Shippo. Kagome was so happy to see him, that she hugged him so tightly that he squeeked. When he started to squirm, Kagome let him go. Next she noticed Sutaa sitting near her, Kiseki in her arms. When Kagome moved, Kiseki put her arms out toward her and cried "mama!" Kagome took the kit in her arms, who was larger than she remembered, and kissed her on the head.
"How long have I been sleeping?" Kagome asked Sutaa.
"It's been about three days, and we're all glad that you're awake, because Sesshomaru is due to come check up on you again soon. We really wouldn't want him walking in here to find you unconscious! I can't imagine what he would do!" Sutaa replied.
Kagome blushed. Sesshomaru only wanted her to get the Tetsusaiga... didn't he? Now that she thought about it, he had never mentioned the Tetsusaiga at all when he had taken her from the well. In fact, he had said that he wanted to help her. Could he actually kind of... like her?
She mused over Sesshomaru's reasons for a few moments, then Shippo jumped on her so that he could see Kiseki better.
"Shichiyou is getting so big!" he said, looking at Kiseki.
Kagome stared at Shippo. "What did you call her?" She asked.
Shippo looked at Kagome. "I called her Shichiyou. That's what mom said she was going to name her. She told me not to forget, though I could never understand why..."
Kagome was shocked. She had never considered that Kiseki might already have a name from her mother. "Shippo... I didn't name her Shichiyou when i adopted her. I named her Kiseki..."
Shippo looked confused for a second. "Well... I guess you can't change that now..." He very quickly regained his happiness, and started to make up a song for his sister, teaching her her name. He used the name Kiseki.
Kagome was worried though. Shichiyou... The seven luminaries. And Shippo means the seven treasures... I wonder... Well, I guess I'll just have to tell Kiseki about her other name when she gets a bit older and can understand.
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Well, that's it for chapter 20! I hope to get another chapter out soon! If you want to see a preview for the sequal to this story that will be coming out sometime later, check out Got Sesshy (it's my homepage on my bio screen) you can also come and roleplay with me and a bunch of other people, it's a lot of fun!
Reviewer Response:
Sandy658: Thank you so much! I'm glad you like the story so far! Kiseki is pronounced Ki-se-kee. I'm glad that your whole family enjoys writing, it's a great thing to do! hope you enjoyed this chap!
Sarcasm Girl8: Yeah, I was trying to keep people guessing about the pairing, but people kept bugging me to know who was with who, so I couldn't really keep it a secret for much longer. And yes, things are going to become much more different from the anime and manga! sorry I tool so long to update, but I do have school... I'll try to update more quickly.
Cold-night09: Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! I'm trying to show the Sesshy no one knew existed. I though I pulled off his scene of sadness fairly well I'll talk to you soon!
Snowecat: Yes, but don't give away my plot! I haven't really decided how Rin and Sesshy will meet up yet. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
That's it! Chapter's done! Reviewers have been responded to! Ja for now!