Chapter Two
A tingling sensation ran through his body, and Inuyasha raised his head off Kagome's shoulder. Gasping, he stumbled back, falling off the roots of the god tree. Kagome's body was glowing! What the–hey! It's Kagome's soul! A streak of hope shot through Inuyasha. Slowly, the glowing faded until it was just a small throbbing ball, floating in front of Kagome's limp chest. Before anyone could move, the soul ball shot away from its former host and went straight to Kikyo. The soul collided with Kikyo, knocking her flat on her back. Miroku rushed over to the priestess' side, helping her up. The soul was no where in sight.
"Lady Kikyo? Are you alright?" Miroku asked, his brow furrowed in concern. Kikyo raised her hand to her forehead and rubbed her temples, moaning.
"Oh...what?" Opening her eyes, she shook her head.
"What did you do with Kagome's soul!" Inuyasha demanded, stalking right up to Kikyo and grabbing the neck of her shirt.
"Inu...Inuyasha?" Kikyo stared up at him with a strange look in her eye. Abruptly, Kikyo wrapped her arms around Inuyasha's neck and pressed her lips against his. "Oh Inuyasha! It's so wonderful to see you again!" She cried after she broke the kiss.
"Uh...Lady Kikyo? Are you...uh, ok?" Miroku asked, since Inuyasha was as stiff as a board from shock.
"I've never felt better!" Kikyo whirled around to face the priest, her face glowing with happiness. "Who, may I ask, are you? And how did you know my name? I don't believe I've ever met you before..."
"I am a monk by the name of Miroku," Miroku caught Kikyo's hand in both of his own. "Now my lady, would you have the honor of baring my chi–" WHACK! BAM! SMASH! SLAP!
"Please ignore the pervert Lady Kikyo," Sango said, kicking Miroku's bleeding body out of the way. "My name is Sango. You...have no memory of anything?"
Kikyo smiled at her with a puzzled look in her face. "Well, I do remember some Sango-san...yes! I do remember all of you now...but where is– oh!" Kikyo spotted Kagome. Hurrying over, Kikyo climbed up the tall roots to where Kagome hung. Placing her hands firmly on the arrow shaft, the priestess yanked with all her might–but the arrow wouldn't budge.
"If you remember so much, then surely you remember the magically properties of that arrow which you shot into Kagome." Inuyasha spat, finally recovered from the shock of the kiss.
With a cute look of sorrow, Kikyo replied, "I did this to her...? No...I'm sorry, I am unable to remember. In fact, it's all quite a blur up to now."
"Please explain more," Miroku said, bandaging his head.
Nodding, Kikyo slid down the root and declared, "I will explain in all in time, but first let us go to my village." The other agreed, for their stomachs growled with hunger and a village meant food. Inuyasha turned to look back at Kagome, but Kikyo grabbed his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. Inuyasha sighed irritably, but didn't protest as they made their way to Kikyo's village.
Once everyone in the village realized that their beloved priestess from fifty years before was well and with them (they didn't question how?) a big celebration was prepared. It was well after dark before Kikyo could fulfill her promise of an explanation.
Inuyasha and the other were seated around a tiny campfire, all full and satisfied. Finally, Shippou spoke up, "Hey! Kikyo–weren't you gunna tell us about your memory or whatever?"
Kikyo was seated comfortable next to Inuyasha, her head once again using his shoulder as a pillow. Sitting up, Kikyo sighed, "Ah, yes. I almost forgot. I remember everything as if I were in a dream...Inuyasha and me...then the day of betrayal." A hateful look crossed her face, but was quickly gone. "I remember nothing of death. It was like I just woke up from some odd dream...but I couldn't control my body. I was present–a tiny part of my soul that is–but my body was in the hands of my hate-filled mind. Though I learned that Inuyasha did not betray me, and forgave him, my mind could not. But...now I am free...and with my whole soul..." She trailed off dreamily. Inuyasha stood and walked stiffly to the edge of the fire light.
"Hey..." Miroku started but stopped himself. From his angle, he could see the pain clearly etched on Inuyasha's face.
"You have you soul back yes...but you killed Kagome to achieve it." His words were soft and full of pain.
Kikyo cringed away as if stung. Jumping to her feet, Kikyo stomped over to Inuyasha and yanked on his shoulder, spinning him around to face her. Grabbing the front of his shirt, she yanked him down and shoved her lips roughly onto his, kissing him deeply.
"Whoa! This is not for kids!" Miroku and Sango said in unison as their hands slapped up to cover Shippou's eyes.
When she released him she whispered, "Inuyasha...I know how you must feel...she was obviously a good friend to you...I know she was a good person...in fact, my soul almost feels...purer since she had it. But," she grabbed his hands and held them with her own, "I still want you to be happy Inuyasha."
Tearing his hands away from his own he looked glared down at her, "That changes nothing from the fact that she's dead."
"She sacrificed herself to save you. A noble deed...all for the hope that you would live on Inuyasha. And you do! So please...we can fulfill our first dream together, if you still wish us to be together."
"What?"
Kikyo's smile was all milk and honey. "Don't you remember, love? Using the Shikon No Tama, you can become full human," once again Kikyo took Inuyasha by surprise and gently brushed her lips against his own. "And then we can be togther forever."
Sango grabbed the other two boys by the ears. "Looks like they could use some alone time," she whispered softly before dragging them off into the darkness.
Inuyasha gingerly plucked Kikyo's arms from his waist. "Kikyo...there wasn't a day I didn't think about you, but..." he trailed off hopelessly.
Kikyo simply stuck another loving smile on her face. "Inuyasha," she started, changing the subject, "it's late. If we want to get the rest of the Shikon No Tama tomorrow, we best start out early."
"What!" Inuyasha cried in shock. "But Naraku–"
Kikyo gently laid her hands on Inuyasha's lips, silencing him. "You didn't think I'd let Naraku get away with the jewel did you?" With those words, Kikyo reached into the neck of her kimono and pulled out the gigantic chunk of the Shikon No Tama.
"Only two more shards left," Kikyo chuckled as Inuyasha's mouth dropped open. "Well...until the morning Inuyasha!" Shoving the sparkling purple jewel back into her kimono, Kikyo hurried off the darkness, leaving Inuyasha to his thoughts.
Without anything else to do, Inuyasha began wondering about aimlessly through the dark. Before he knew it, he found himself in front of the god tree and Kagome's dark form. The all-too-familiar feeling of unbearable sorrow filled his heart at the sight of the shadowy shape sagged against the tree. Jumping up on the roots, Inuyasha could see Kagome's face clearly. Slowly he rubbed his clawed hand gently against her soft, cold cheek.
Kagome. Kagome. Kagome... He felt horrible. It was him Kikyo had been after in the first place and now...
"Dammit Kagome!" He yelled, slamming his fist against the hard bark inches from Kagome's pale face. "Dammit...why? Why did you have to be so stupid! That arrow was meant for me! You shouldn't have..." Weak with sorrow, Inuyasha lowered his head and felt a wetness spring up in his eyes. Tears. Inuyasha let them fall; they had been held in too long.
Inuyasha raised his head and stared at Kagome's lifeless body for quite some time. "Kagome..." he whispered softly. Inuyasha lightly ruffled Kagome's hair with his hand before turning around
and leaving the clearing.
Sango sighed and sank to the ground, her back against the hard bark of the tall oak tree. What she had just witnessed had stunned her. After all, it wasn't everyday that Inuyasha displayed his emotions, and never like that! Pushing herself back up, she strode out in front of the god tree and Kagome. She took at deep breath and glared at Kagome's dark form.
"Kagome..." she mumbled, much like Inuyasha had. "How could you? You've gotten hurt before and Inuyasha's been sad...but never like this! He's not just sad, Kagome. He's devastated! It doesn't help the fact that he was the real target." She stopped. There was a question that had been bugging her for quite a while. "Did you know that would happen, Kagome? That the arrow would suck out your soul and Kikyo would get it back? Was your plan to change Kikyo back to her old self, back when she and Inuyasha were in love? Did you hope to make him happy by that? By killing yourself?" Sango took a deep breathe. What was she doing? Talking to a dead girl, that's what!
Sango whirled around and walked back in the direction of the village, but stopped halfway to the tree line. Without turning around, Sango whispered, "Kagome...your plan failed. Inuyasha doesn't love Kikyo anymore." She sighed heavily and continued on her way to Kikyo's village. "Kagome...it's you Inuyasha's heart belongs to."
