Ok, next chapter! Not much to say here, just…um…ENJOY…right.
Oh wait, there is something to say. Another little thing from the manga…
When Kikyo was severely hurt by Naraku, just by stealing ordinary souls wasn't enough to keep her alive. So Kikyo took Midoriko's soul, the soul of the priestess who had many years ago sacrificed herself to destroy a bunch of youkai by taking their souls into her own soul and forcing them out her body. That group of souls is the Shikon no Tama. Weeeeeeell that's the soul that Kikyo has been 'living on' for a while
Kikyo knelt next to Kagome's lifeless body. She put her hand lightly over Kagome's forehead, searching for…it. The only thing that could keep alive the faint glow of hope that Kagome could be saved. Kikyo closed her eyes, searching deep inside the girl that used to be Kagome. "Though Kagome looks dead, she is not. Not entirely. Her thoughts, hopes, dreams, are still inside of her, meaning that she has not truly departed for the next world. If I can just find that small bit of her that could bring her back to life…"
Kikyo kept searching through the fragments of Kagome's life. But one thing surprised her. Kagome…the girl who had once been a shining light of radiance and purity, was not there. Her thoughts were darkened, like the petals of a black rose, her hopes empty like the wind that crosses over a graveyard, her dreams…lost. What could have possibly happened to Kagome that would have made her so? "Kagome was controlled by Kanaye, therefore everything she did was not her fault. Is it that, even with that knowledge, she blames herself for having caused this?"
Suddenly she felt it, Kagome's soul. It had a soft warmth around it, like the last ray of hope in a sea of poison. But it was fading fast, and Kikyo knew that she had little time to spare to do this. She concentrated, and whispered "Kagome."
The light shined over Kagome's face, causing her to open her eyes. Everything blurred as a fresh set of tears set in over the old ones. She didn't care where she was, or why she was there, she could only thinking of her very last memories. "InuYasha…I'm sorry. I was weak; I couldn't stop the shard controlling me. I'm so…sorry. I hurt you, I was ready to kill you at Kanaye's word. I…"
She didn't want to think anymore, she wanted to be numb. She knew that she was dead, but she accepted the fact almost readily. She had never felt this way before; a sense of the end, a sense of nothing left. It was an alien sensation for her.
Kagome sat up, instinctively taking note of where she was. She seemed to be on a long, grassy slope, small dandelions sprinkled across it. There was a clear, blue sky stretched on forever above her, not a cloud in the sky. On both sides of the slope a deep forest surrounded her. Suddenly, she heard someone call her name.
"Kagome…"
She looked down to the base of the slope. For a second she couldn't believe her eyes. "I-InuYasha…?" she said softly, staring at the hanyou that was waving at her. He beckoned to her, and yelled, "Kagome, come down!"
For a second Kagome forgot all her fears, all her pain, everything. She stood up, and ran down the hill to her beloved InuYasha. She rushed into his arms, her tears of sadness now turning into tears of joy. "InuYasha," she whispered, "I-I…"
"Shhh, don't say anything Kagome. It's ok now, everything's gonna be ok." said InuYasha, softly stroking her hair. "InuYasha, I was so…scared. But you're here now, and I feel safe again." said Kagome, looking up into InuYasha's face.
He looked at her kindly, and taking her hand into his, said "We need to go now Kagome." Kagome looked at him, confused. "Go…where?" she asked. "You'll see," said InuYasha, and began leading her into the forest. Suddenly Kagome heard a voice behind her. "Don't go with him Kagome, he's not real."
She turned around, and found herself facing Kikyo. "It's the final step to complete the death cycle; one's final wish will be granted as their soul goes to heaven. Yours, apparently, is to see InuYasha."
Kagome stared at Kikyo. "You mean…that's not really InuYasha?" thought Kagome. She looked back, but saw no one. The feeling of emptiness returned. InuYasha was gone. She returned her look to Kikyo and asked, in a strange voice, "What are you doing here, why are you telling me this?"
"You are needed, Kagome. InuYasha's grief for your death has turned into madness, and he has transformed into a monster. You need to purify him before he destroys himself." Kikyo said matter-of-factly.
"But…why can't you do that yourself? You are more powerful than I am." said Kagome uncertainly. "Besides...most of my powers have been sucked into the Shikon no Tama." she thought. But Kikyo continued. "Most people say that my powers are stronger than yours, and they are, to an extent. InuYasha can't be stopped by me; he must be stopped by you. Only one with a pure heart could do such."
There was a silence between the two mikos. "InuYasha…I don't want you to hurt yourself." thought Kagome. She looked down at her hands for a second, blood still stained them. She noticed that the slope was slowly disappearing into a quiet blackness, the only light being the light that surrounded her and Kikyo. "Well, are you going to help him, or let your soul go to the afterlife?" she asked. There was no choice there; Kagome already knew where her loyalty lay. "I must go to InuYasha, I can't let all of this happen." she said. Kikyo gave a nod, and started walking into the darkness. Kagome followed, unsure of what would happen next.
Suddenly, they stopped at a large, oval-shaped portal. "Here is the real bridge between death and life. To cross, you will need one thing." Kikyo put her hand on her chest, and closed her eyes. Suddenly, a bright orb seemed to form on her chest, growing brighter and brighter as it became clearer. Kikyo opened her eyes, and the orb floated towards Kagome, and settled in her hands. "This is Midoriko's soul, a soul so powerful it can bring back life to the dead. Once it becomes part of your soul, you will be able to cross the bridge."
Kikyo gave Kagome one last look, and disappeared into the portal. Kagome looked at the shining orb in her hand, and placed her hands to her chest. Suddenly, the orb sank into her body, and at that moment, Kagome felt as if all her feelings, all her happiness; her true nature had been given back to her. She felt as if her spiritual powers were slowly returning to her, and felt hope return to her.
When everything had seemed as if it was over, Kagome knew that it was not so. There was still something left, like an unfinished chore. Except that the 'chore', was to save someone's sanity, and she was the only person to do it. Kagome prayed silently that she would have the strength to do it, and stepped through the portal.
Sorry this came late, I've been busy being 'social'. or so my mom wants me to be. lol.