A/N: Didn't update yesterday, due to the fact that we had a family crisis. But everything's okay now, so enjoy. Oh yeah, this is where the action plot is introduces, so no fluffies for a few chapters. (I know, I know, I'm crying too…)

One More Note: This chappie contains information from the later manga. (After the anime finished, you can find translations online.) I will provide an explanation at the end for those who have not read that far yet.

Chapter 6: The Return of Kikyou

"Inuyasha…" Kagome said. "Are you going to protect me?"

"What?" He asked.

"You promised to protect me, will you?" She came closer, making him blush.

"Well…I said I would, didn't I?" He replied.

Kagome looked sad. "But…you also said you would protect Kikyou."

"Huh?" He wished he knew why she looked at him that way. 'Well…I did…but Kikyou is…"

Kagome started walking away, into the mists. "You must choose…" She said.

"Hey!" He ran after her. "Wait!"

"You have to choose…"

Inuyasha abruptly awoke. He took a deep breath and looked around the hut. Everyone else was sound asleep.

What was that about? He wondered. She's even haunting me in my dreams!

He remembered what she said. Does that mean…that I have to choose between them? I have to choose now?

He saw a light blaze outside. Huh? He walked over to the bamboo curtain and pulled it back. Up in the sky, a bright, blue light was shining. Then a white creature came and snatched it away.

S-shinidama chuu! Kikyou! The hanyou looked back at his companions, and then he followed the youkai into the forest.

Kikyou, I was wondering where you went. But why…why have you been hiding from me all this time? He kept going, hoping he would find Kikyou soon. There was something he had to know…something he suspected, but he needed to know before it was too late…

In the dark forest, the shinidama chuu was joined by others, all heading in the same direction. Soon, Inuyasha saw other balls of light floating in the air, all around one spot. He came to goshinboku, and there, standing at the base, was Kikyou.

"Kikyou…" he said.

She turned. "Inuyasha." Kikyou replied. "It has been a long time."

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

She closed her eyes as a soul entered her body. When she opened them, she said, "I've come to speak with you."

"W-with me?" The hanyou asked. "Why? You could have come sometime sooner—"

"I couldn't let anyone else know we had this meeting. This is too important, Inuyasha. Important if you want to know how to defeat Naraku."

D-defeat Naraku? "Wait, Kikyou. I can handle this on my own."

The miko scoffed. "You always insist on doing everything yourself, Inuyasha. But this time, your pride has to back down to what I have learned. Crucial information to taking down Naraku."

He sighed. "What information?"

"Naraku's heart is in Mouryoumaru, correct? Until his heart is reunited with his body, he cannot be killed."

"Yes, I know that."

Kikyou walked closer. "You also realize that Naraku is closer to having the full shikon no tama than we realize. There are four shards left to complete it. One shard has already fallen into enemy hands. However, thankfully, this shard is not close enough for Naraku to take it."

The hanyou looked down. "We tried to take it back, but it is useless. Mouryoumaru is too strong." He's too strong, too strong even for me! I wonder if he's too strong for Naraku…

"That boy, Kohaku, also has a shikon shard within him." Kikyou said.

"What's this have to do with Kohaku?" Inuyasha asked.

"He desires to hunt down Naraku for himself." Kikyou replied.

"He wants revenge." He gazed at Kikyou. "We all do."

Kikyou turned away. "You should tell the boy his efforts are futile. Sooner or later, Naraku will take his shard away."

"We've tried, but he won't listen—"

"This would not be a bad thing." Kikyou said.

The hanyou stared. "Wha…what are you saying?"

She turned around. "There is only one way to defeat Naraku. You must let him get the entire shikon no tama. Then, I will purify it. Since he has poured his heart and soul into the jewel to give it such an evil power, it will kill him."

Inuyasha stared. "Will that work?"

She nodded. "But in order for him to use the shikon no tama, he must retrieve his heart. It will not grant his wishes otherwise."

"That means…he'll have to kill Mouryoumaru…"

Kikyou nodded. "There is also one other thing…My body is made up of many souls…and only a tiny part of them is mine. But I also have a small part of Midoriko's soul, from when I needed it in order to fully heal the wound given to me by Naraku. To purify the shikon no tama…I need to give all my souls into the attempt. Otherwise, I shall fail."

Inuyasha gasped. "Kikyou…that means that you will…"

She scoffed. "Inuyasha, do you forget? I am dead already. Dying once more will not phase me in the least…"

"But Kikyou…do you really have to…"

Her eyes held determination. "Yes, Inuyasha, it is the only way."

He grabbed her by the shoulders. "I won't let you! Kikyou, I wont let you die again!"

She glared at him. "Let go of me Inuyasha. My mind is already made up. Besides…you have known for a long time that it would be better for me to die, did you not?"

He stared. "Kikyou…no, I…"

She laughed. "Inuyasha, it has occurred to you more than once that we can never be as we once were, hasn't it?"

How…how did she…? He looked away. "Maybe…once…"

"I said to you once before that the red string of fate, once broken, cannot be reformed. Our string of fate was broken many years ago. I am one of the dead. You now have someone else to protect. It is impossible for it to be reformed as it once was so long ago."

Somehow, it dawned on him. It was like he had known all along, but he had never wanted to admit it. He remembered how he pined for her for so long, but somehow, eventually, he realized they could never be. Their love was over, and it would never be as it was again. Inuyasha did not answer.

Kikyou smirked. "Well, at least you have admitted it to yourself, you were always so stubborn, Inuyasha. Just know this, I will be happier in death, and you will be happier without me."

Her shinidama chuu came and wrapped around her, taking her up into the sky. "Goodbye, Inuyasha." She said. "I don't know if we shall ever meet again."

He watched her float up into the sky and sighed. She was right, All along I knew there was no way we could ever…But…would I be happier if she was dead? If she is happy, then I would be happy for her but…

He remembered something else she said. I have someone else to protect, does she mean Kagome? I have to protect Kagome, she can't protect herself…

He closed his eyes and remembered his dream. Is this what it was talking about? How I would have to eventually let Kikyou go? I suppose…I have to. But then…what about Kagome? I'm going to have to protect her after all…

He pictured Kagome in his mind. And for a second, a small instant of his life, knowing that he protected her made him happy. Her safety made him happy. Every time he was around her, he was happy.

I may not be able to protect Kikyou any more…but I will protect Kagome. I won't let anything happen to her! I promise…He looked up at Goshinboku. Heh, this is where it all began. Where Kikyou sealed me to a tree, and where Kagome revived me.

An image of Kagome laughing appeared in his mind again. He remembered all Kagome had done for him. She taught him trust, she was always by his side, she cared about him, the second person in his life that cared about him. She could always cheer him up. Even though they fought many times, still, there was a bond between then that seemed like it could never be broken. He knew, if it came to that, he would give his life for this girl who had done so much for him.

He sighed. Kagome…

A/N: Okay, a short explanation, Naraku's heart is now in a minion called Mouryoumaru. But Moury betrayed Naraku (All his minions seem to do that, don't they?) and got a shikon shard, so now Moury is planning to become stronger than Naraku. Kagura and Hakudoshi are DEAD, killed by Naraku. (It was revealed that Sess had a thing for Kagura…awww…) Naraku has a new minion called Byakuya, who is creepy and rides on a giant paper crane. There's so much more stuff I could mention into the story, but I'm leaving them out for the people who are already too confused.