Chapter 3: The tragic priestess, confronted!

Now back in camp, the group settled down by the fire. Kagome and Inuyasha's faces were pink with blush, both having smiles that wouldn't seem to go away. Once all were settled Miroku began to speak.

"Inuyasha, I am very happy for you both, but what of our quest? The Shikon no Tama is still shattered and Naraku is nowhere to be found. Do you intend to finish now that you and Kagome are to be wed? And what of Kagome, if you two get married, what will become of her? Will she carry on with us? What if a child is born?"

"That's none of your business, Monk!" replied Inuyasha

"I think it is," answered Miroku in a serious tone. "We all have set ourselves to defeat Naraku. If either of you must leave, that is your choice, but we must know as to prepare ourselves and plan our strategy."

"…I haven't really thought that far ahead…"

"Well I hope you two are having fun, deciding my future over there!" said a very annoyed Kagome.

Shippo scuttled close to Kagome. "Don't leave us, Kagome! Please stay!"

"Don't worry Shippo. Inuyasha, after we are wed I see no reason why we can't continue on our quest"

"What if you get pregnant?" asked Miroku

"Heh, you mortals, I can tell if she is capable of conceiving by her sent, pregnancy won't be a problem…but would you really want to keep traveling, Kagome?"

"Of course Inuyasha, it is my responsibility to find the Shikon no Tama, to find it and purify it…I wouldn't have it any other way."

"That settles it then, tomorrow we continue to hunt down Naraku!"

"WHAT! I need to go home first."

"GO HOME, I thought you said you were staying here!"

"Even a couple, they never change…"said Miroku

"They act almost like a married couple…" Sango remarked.

"I will, but I need to tell my family that I'm getting married. They have a right to know, after all. Besides, The wedding will take place in my time. Mom, Sota and Gramps should be there!"

"What if I wanna have it here? Did ya think about that?"

"Oh, what family would you invite?"

Inuyasha thought for a moment of his brother at his wedding, and the subsequent death match that would entail.

"grrr, fine, we head for Kaede's village tomorrow. Me and Kagome will head back to her era and talk with her family, then on with the quest."

"Thank you Inuyasha," said Kagome in a sappy voice, as she gave him a peck on the lips. This scene made Shippo turn his eyes in childish modesty, Miroku sigh with contentment at his friends' good fortune and left Sango with a look in her eyes that can only be described with the phrase, "awwwe."

"Kagome, I wanna see your wedding too!" Shippo insisted, with a hurt look on his face.

"Well…er…I suppose we could have too weddings…"

Inuyasha was rolling his eyes, "fine, whatever, lets just get to sleep, okay?"

"Gladly," replied Miroku

…..

The next day was uneventful. Miroku and Sango and Shippo were all walking ahead of Inuyasha and Kagome, as the two were walking as lovers do, close together with Kagome leaning on Inuyasha. As night fell and the gang was bedding down, Inuyasha saw a silvery snake off in the distance heading for a forest. He walked off a bit from camp, Kagome at his side. Inuyasha looked on, starring at the soul collector.

"Kagome, there is something I gotta take care of before we go see your family…something personal," said Inuyasha, his voice sounding determined.

Kagome looked at the spot where Inuyasha was gazing and saw the soul collectors. "What are you gonna do?" she asked in a very small voice, fearing the worst.

"Say goodbye…I owe her that much"

"Inuyasha…I'm coming with you."

"This is personal; it's between me and her, stay here Kagome"

"Inuyasha, if we are to be together forever you have to include me in on these things, and besides, I have a right to be there too"

"Kagome…"

"I'm going with you or you're going to just si…" Kagome paused, stopping herself from sitting him, as that would not be the most persuasive move on her part, "well, you know what I will do"

Inuyasha and Kagome stared at each other, waiting for the battle of wills to be decided…

…………..

Inuyasha flew through the countryside, Kagome holding on to his back.

"You know, this won't make it easier on her, you being here," shouted Inuyasha.

"Well that's just too bad, 'cause I'm coming mister!"

As they neared a clearing, they saw a familiar image. Kikyo was standing in the center of the clearing, surrounded by soul collectors, consuming the souls of the dead to feed her unnatural and wicked existence.

"I see you've come to me, Inuyasha my love," said Kikyo, with a proud smirk in her voice. "I know you can't stay away, you can never forget me and never replace…" she trailed off as she saw the girl on Inuyasha's back.

"Kikyo…me and Kagome are getting married…I've come to say goodbye, forever."

"Inuyasha, how cruel you are, to get married to this wench and forget about me. Have you no pity, have you no remorse"

"You're the one with no pity or remorse!" shouted Kagome. "You tried to drag Inuyasha to Hell because you wanted to stay in our time forever. You wanted to use him, the man you once loved."

"Foolish girl, love is nothing more than mutual use, a convenient arrangement and that is all."

Inuyasha stepped in front of Kagome. "Kikyo…that's all love means to you, isn't it. I was such a fool. Even when you were alive and in love with me, you didn't really LOVE me…you loved the idea of me becoming a human and you being able to live a normal life. I can't believe I was so blind, all my life I was told that there was something wrong with the way I was. Although you said that you had feelings for me, the only way we could be together was for me to change who I was…BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WAY I AM! Kagome helped me realize that, she said she would love me no matter what, demon, half demon or human. When I think of all the pain I've caused her on account of you…I feel shame. For the first time in my life I feel bad about something, and Kagome, she never stopped loving me, even when I treated her like dirt. Kikyo…love isn't about taking, it's about giving…She gave me her love for no good reason, I chose her. I didn't come here for your permission or a confession, I came here to say good bye, for good"

Kagome's jaw dropped, she could not believe what she just heard. She was glad to hear it, but such a statement from Inuyasha! Kikyo had a stunned look in her eye, she stepped back from Inuyasha. At that moment, still shocked from what Inuyasha had said, she felt remorse, and with that remorse, that shame of knowing what she did what she tired to do for reasons that now seemed so small and selfish, her anger started to slip away. All of the sudden souls started to rip apart from her body, and the soul collectors turned away as the tragic priestess lost all power. She was not on her hands in knees, panting and near death.

"Inuyasha, Kagome, thank you…I think I can find…peace…now…" and at that, Kikyo breathed her last and released her spirit, now finally at peace.

…………………..
Miroku and Sango had already started a fire and were talking as Shippo played with Kirara.

"You said you saw a soul collector?" Sango asked.

"Yes, Inuyasha and Kagome went off to follow it, I can only assume they mean to find Kikyo," replied Miroku

"I'm worried about those two…"

"As am I, I only hope that Inuyasha can…" Miroku trailed off, his eyes wide in amazement.

"What is it Miroku, what's wrong," asked Sango, as she turned to see Kagome walking out of the forest with Inuyasha beside, carrying Kikyo's dead body.

"…pack up, we are heading on the road again, we need to reach Kaede's village as soon as possible. It should only take us half a day if we leave now."

Miroku and Sango each gave Inuyasha a nod, and started to gather their belongings.