Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inuyasha.

Author's Note: This is mostly Inuyasha's point of view, taking place where the last chapter left off, with some of Kikyou's, Bankotsu's, then back to Kagome's.

-Inuyasha's nose twitched. "I can smell that bastard Bankotsu from a mile away," he griped. "I'm going to make him pay for what he did to Kikyou." He remembered Kagome's recent words. 'Maybe he really has feelings for her.'

"That little idiot," he said. "Kagome doesn't know anything about how vicious killers like him behave." Speaking of Kagome-he could detect her scent somewhere nearby.

"Kagome?" He asked, looking around. Damn her if she tried to tag along…

Then his nose detected another familiar scent.

Is that Kikyou? His eyebrows furrowed. Why would she be near him? His ears twitched. Then it dawned on him.

'I'll take everything that's yours, until I eventually take your life!' What could he be doing to Kikyou right now?

"Don't worry, Kikyou!" The hanyou shouted as he ran into the cave that his scent lead him to. The sight that met his eyes made his jaw drop.

Kikyou was lying on the ground, naked. Her eyes were closed, and she was in the crook of Bankotsu's arm, and he was… He was naked as well.

"Wha-" Inuyasha whispered disbelievingly.

Kikyou's beautiful form was red and splotchy in places, and the place where her thighs met were covered in bruises. Bankotsu had a smug, satisfied look on his sleeping face that made Inuyasha want to be sick.

I was supposed to be the one, he thought miserably. I was supposed to be Kikyou's first lover. It was supposed to be me, his thoughts growing more and more angry. He was confused. He knew that he had been spending more time with Kagome lately, and that being with Kikyou – although he still loved her – was an idea of the past. She wasn't his future anymore. But seeing her like this, so vulnerable and innocent, brought all his memories back.

Kikyou. Inuyasha's heart broke, as he was unable to tear his eyes away from the scene before him. He felt frustrated, betrayed by his own feelings. I'm such a fool. I know I still loved Kikyou, but I didn't protect her.

"Kuso!" He cursed quietly through gritted teeth. I'm such an idiot for not realizing it before. And now, it's too late. This bastard has taken Kikyou's innocence to get back at me.

And I'm not going to let him do it!

"Get up, you piece of shit!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.

The young warrior quickly jumped up and, seeing Inuyasha, chuckled. "Do you like what you see, hanyou?" He said sleepily, pulling on his breeches.

Inuyasha looked away in disgust. He must have been able to take advantage of Kikyou since her Soul Collectors couldn't enter the Pure Mountain, and she was weak. She still hadn't risen.

"If you harmed her in any way-" His amber eyes flashed furiously. His clawed hand fingered the Tetsusaiga.

"Harmed her?" Bankotsu laughed boyishly. "She enjoyed every fucking minute of it!" He strapped on his armor and picked up Banryuu.

"You'll pay for that!" Inuyasha pulled out his sword, which instantly transformed to its enormous size.

-Kikyou could hear din all around her. What's going on? She thought weakly. Souls, I need to go down the mountain to get my souls… Bankotsu doesn't know I need them. She dimly remembered what had just transpired between her and the young warrior. "Did I…? Did we…?" She had just made love. She had just made love to a man. A man that wasn't Inuyasha. And worse yet, she enjoyed it. She felt suppler, more alive, as weak as she was. Reaching next to her, she found an empty space. "Bankotsu?" She whispered, or at least she thought she did. I must gather my strength.

Then she could hear another familiar voice.

"Inu…Yasha?" She was able to finally moan.

"Kikyou?"

"Huh?"

The two fighters turned to see Kikyou at the same time. As her eyes fluttered open, first to her lover and then to Inuyasha, she gasped, and pulled some clothing over her nude body. What have I done? How can I let Inuyasha see me like this? But in her weakened condition she needed to let them know.

"Souls," she whispered. "I need…my souls." She was short of breath. I have enough time left, I hope…

"Damn you!" Inuyasha screamed at Bankotsu. "I'll kill you!"

Don't, Inuyasha, Kikyou said. But then she realized that she didn't say it. She was becoming faint. That was normally not so bad, because then she would be able to rest easy and have more time for her Soul Collectors to find her or in this case, find them. But the sheer exhaust she felt was lowering her lids. She reached out, absently, the waterfall pounding in her ears. It obscured everything in her line of sight. The sounds seemed to be taking her vision away, it was growing black. She was slightly aware of someone grabbing her arm, and then… Please let my Soul Collectors come to me.. It all went black.

-"What's wrong with her?" Bankotsu asked quickly, running over to grab the miko's arm. "She's unconscious!"

"What's the matter?" Inuyasha growled. "Are you upset that you may not get to finish her off now?"

"This is none of your business, hanyou!"

I need to end this fight quickly, so I can get Kikyou to her Soul Collectors! Inuyasha swung Tetsusaiga towards Banryuu so that Bankotsu was forced to move away from her.

-Bankotsu gritted his teeth. This damn interfering hanyou. He tried as hard as he could to block Inuyasha's blows. He could hardly fight the last time. He must really love this girl to want to protect her so much. The thought infuriated the young leader as he remembered the sweetness of being inside Kikyou, the taste of her mouth, the slow rumble of warmth the experienced lover was able to cultivate within her. All of this raced through his mind as he dodged swipe after swipe of Tetsusaiga.

Kikyou. He chanced a glance back over at her. Will she be okay? He barely remembered the Soul Collecting insects that traveled with the young woman. So they bring her the souls she needs to sustain her body, he thought without disgust or contempt. I must get her to them. So, he reasoned angrily, I have to kill this dog!

He started matching Inuyasha's swings, causing the half-demon to back away from Kikyou. He could hear the miko's soft, slow intake of breath pounding in time to his heartbeats.

The hanyou was furious, obviously wanting to be the one to break Kikyou of her innocence. He couldn't resist taunting the poor fool.

"Too bad you missed your chance!" Bankotsu was gaining momentum with each swing. "Your old girlfriend wasn't too shabby at all!" He didn't really like to talk of Kikyou this way, but he couldn't resist the chance to get under his rival's skin.

Inuyasha was obviously losing control. With every taunt thrown at him by Bankotsu, he was sweating profusely, stealing concerned looks at Kikyou, and missing strikes. Good, Bankotsu thought. With every passing minute, he knew the miko's chance of survival was lessening.

"Die!" Inuyasha lunged at him.

"No…" Kikyou's voice begged in the corner, too far for Inuyasha to hear. Or maybe he didn't want to hear…

"Kikyou!" Bankotsu ran over to her prostrate body. "Are you awake? Can you hear me?" He dropped Banryuu so he could take her up in his arms. "I won't leave-" Suddenly, his life force was leaving him.

Dropping Kikyou, the warrior turned his head around, only to see Tetsusaiga sticking into his chest and a triumphant grin on the hanyou's face.

"Kikyou," he said weakly. Inuyasha pulled the blade from his body, leaving him to slump over on the ground, his arm still grazing her shoulder.

"Get your fucking hands off her," Inuyasha said coldly, possessively, as he kicked the dying man's hand away. "Go back to hell." With that, he picked up Kikyou and wrapped her shirt around her respectfully.

Kikyou… Bankotsu closed his eyes again, feeling his life ebb away. I will come for you… Reaching out for her, he surrendered to eternity.

-Inuyasha clumsily pulled her hakama over her legs, his hands trembling as they slid over the crease between her thighs. "Forgive me," he muttered. Then he tied the string of her blouse to a close. Standing up, he could feel evidence of his arousal. Of all times, he thought wearily. Now, I have to get her further down this mountain. With that immediate goal in mind, he hurried out of the cave, not even noticing the smell of Kagome lingering nearby…

-The girl had listened to the entire fight, scared to intervene. Inuyasha would ask her questions that she would not be able to answer. After watching him run off carrying Kikyou, she edged into the opening behind the waterfall. Damn him, she thought bitterly.

Bankotsu was lying face down on the ground. Kagome's lower lip trembled. "Inuyasha must have finished him off." Tears gathered in her eyes and she started. "I feel the essence of the Shikon shard!"

With some difficulty, she turned the man on his back. There was a deep wound on his chest. But his neck drew her attention.

"The Shikon shard," she murmured. "It's purifying itself!" The shard was now a light purple instead of a polluted black. "This means.." She almost couldn't say it out loud. "He's not dead yet!"

-Author's Note: What will Kagome do? Check back and find out! Also, please review and let me know who you would like to see Kikyou end up with, that is, if Bankotsu were to be revived…