He couldn't take it. Hikaru was risking her life for them and there was nothing that he could do to help. "Gah- Hey, Juanyu, what was that shit she took?"

The shadow-youkai had reverted to his human form. He was more comfortable in his bonds this way. Tears rimmed on the edge of his eyes and he was working to keep them there. "I'm not sure, Inuyasha-sama. All that I do know is this: that potion could end up killing her."

"How?"

"That bit she added."

"What is it?"

"Some kind of herb that cannot be found here. That's what is in that chest. Hikaru-sama keeps the herbs that she cannot replenish there. She showed me once a very lethal one. Even a few drops would be enough to kill a man. That was the one she added to the potion. I recognized the markings on the bottle."

Shit. This was bad. Hikaru was in her human form. If she misjudged the dosage of that herb then she was dead. But not yet.

Hikaru gaped. The child in front of her looked at the miko with hopeful eyes and an expectant look.

"You…you what?"

"I want you to take me with you," she repeated.

"Why?"

"Because I'll be safer with you."

"I don't understand."

The girl didn't answer. Kikyou thrust through the bushes ready to fire. Hikaru cursed under her breath, grabbed the child, and ran. Any direction was good, so long as it was away from Kikyou.

Her steps took to the edge of the river. She halted at the edge, a few stones and clods dropped into the murky waters.

"There you are. Release the spirit and I'll make your death a quick one," ordered the dead miko.

Hikaru poised to fight, but the little girl stood in front of her glaring at her would-be protector.

"Don't hurt her!"

Both women looked at the child in shock. Kikyou recovered first. "But she is an enemy. I can sense that she is still alive, yet here she is. And I know that she is a liar."

"No I am not. Inuyasha is my ani-chan. I am a hanyou like he is."

"She's right."

Kikyou looked surprised and doubtful at the child's assertion. This girl was too young to be related to Inuyasha. She was human as well. How dare she claim to be his sister.

The little girl grabbed the dead miko's hand and pulled to the river's edge. "Look down there." It was a command, not a request. Hikaru and Kikyou looked down.

Reflected in the waters below them was Kikyou, the girl—pale and dark—and Hikaru, but in her hanyou form. They could see her dog-ears and golden eyes. The young miko was surprised and flexed a hand to watch the image in the water mirror her.

Kikyou stared at Hikaru and was silent. "How…how can this be? Even for a hanyou, you're too young to be his sister."

Hikaru cocked a half-smile and shrugged. "A long story that I don't think that I have the luxury to relate at the moment. I am afraid that time is not kind to me. I have to find the last shard of the Shikon jewel or Inuyasha and my friends will be killed."

"See? You have to take me with you," replied the child.

"Huh?" Hikaru was confused. "What do you have to do with the Shikon?"

"This is the spirit of the shard," Kikyou explained and pointed further up the bank. "The actual jewel shard is up there."

"How did this happen?"

"From what I understand, when the shard arrived here, the spirit awakened and discovered that it could move about in this realm, while its physical form stayed in one place. When I arrived here, I took upon myself to protect the shard."

As she talked, the three of them walked back towards the gate, which lead to a dock on the river. Hikaru speculated that this was where the Ferryman would dock to collect the dead to take them to wherever they were destined. She shivered and glanced away. She had enough of death for the moment.

The spirits were standing near a pair of boulders. When Hikaru joined them, the girl pointed to a crevice between the stones. Kneeling, Hikaru caught a glimpse of the shard. She reached in with her left hand and managed to collect it. Relieved she stood and leaned against the stone.

"Will you promise me something, miko-sama?" the shard spirit asked.

"What is it? If it is within my power to grant then I will."

"Don't let that youkai get me! I don't want to be corrupted like the others. I want to stay pure. Promise me that he won't get me too." Ghost tears dripped down her cheeks and off her chin. It moved Hikaru like a real child would. She always had a tender spot for children.

"I swear, as long as I draw breath neither Naraku or those that follow him will have you." That seemed to please the spirit as it faded and the Shikon gave a faint glow. Hikaru closed her hand over the shard and started to walk back the way that she came.

"What shall I do now?" Kikyou asked.

"Go rest in peace I should think."

"Why? Naraku isn't dead yet."

"That is no longer your concern. You know the truth about what passed between you and Inuyasha. That should be enough. Let revenge be his concern."

"I can't leave like this!"

"Yes, you can. For his sake."

"Naraku's…."

"No. My ani-chan's sake. You would only confuse him further than he already is." Hikaru walked on without waiting for a reply.

Kikyou watched her leave. "Inuyasha, confused?" Something approached on the water. She turned and saw a figure emerge from the foggy horizon. She smiled and walked.