Kagome stopped moving but didn't turn to look at who had spoken. She knew, for she recognized the piece of her soul that resided in the clay body. "Kikyo? You wish to speak to me?" She said super sweet, all the while her mind was ahead of her thinking of the things she would have to do.

"The jewel. It belongs with a priestess."

"You want it?"

"Hai. I am the only priestess here."

At that Kagome turned. "Then what am I?"

"An abomination. You have...betrayed your miko powers...I can smell him on you...in you."

Kagome refused to be shamed by the things she had done. What she had been forced to do, she had done because she had no choice. "I did what had to be done to protect the innocents of my time. I cannot say the same for you."

Kikyo raised her eyebrows. "You deny that I protect innocents?"

"You ask me this even as you live by taking their souls?"

Kikyo nodded her acknowledgement of the hit and spoke softly. "The jewel would be safest with me."

Instead of calming Kagome, this only made her angrier. "I am the jewel holder Kikyo. No bond with Naraku will change that. As a point of fact, I wouldn't have had to bond with Naraku if not for the chunk of my soul you have. You left me vulnerable, and he knew it."

Kikyo stared stoically. "That cannot be remedied..."

"As a matter of fact, it can!" Kagome smiled, then threw out a tendril of power and wrapped it around Kikyo. "I want it back." Slowly, oh so slowly, Kagome began to drain Kikyo and as she did so one by one of the souls in her floated away. Soon only one soul was left, Kagome's. But Kagome did not take it. Instead she released the miko.

"Remember what it is to be weak and know that I felt the same way facing Naraku alone in my time. I dealt..." Kagome waved a hand and Kikyo's waiting soul collectors disappeared, "...and now so will you."

Kagome turned and walked into the forest, leaving a shell-shocked Scooby gang behind her. Sesshomaru merely smiled and called Ah-Un to him. Then they took to the sky and headed South (coincidentally the same direction Naraku and Kagome were taking).

"What the hell was that?" Inuyasha demanded of his friends. Sango and Miroku shrugged, but Shippo just continued to cry, feeling abandoned and all alone without Kagome.

"I don't know, but I liked it," Koga replied. Behind him, Ginta and Hakaku were still gaping at the spot where Kikyo kneeled in defeat.

(Background)

Ginta-Did you see that?

Hakaku: Yeah, Kagome is scary.

Ginta: I think Koga likes it.

Hakaku: So did that Sesshomaru guy.

Ginta: I'm hungry.

Hakaku: Yeah, Koga never feeds us.

Ginta: We should go serve Kagome...she'll feed us.

Hakaku: Yeah, but she's scary.

Ginta: So is starving.

Hakaku: Good point.

(Back to the main show kiddies)

Inuyasha walked to where Kikyo, love of his life, knelt in the blood and mud. "Are you alright?"

"She is right. I am no better to keep the jewel than she. I have become impure. What is pure is impure, impure is pure. Lost is found, and found is lost."

Inuyasha thought for a few seconds that Kikyo had lost her mind but decided instead that she was shocked like the rest of them. This was supposed to be it! He thought, the big battle! I've been waiting to end this for three damn years and now I have to start all over.

After Koga and his cronies disappeared in a flurry of dust, Sango made a gently suggestion. "Um...maybe we need a small break." At Inuyasha's thunderous look she quickly continued. "Look! We're tired, injured, and now we've had this new big thing thrown at us. We need time to think and plot and recover! Kagome is gone and Naraku is bigger than ever and we're drained. Do what you want but I'm taking the monk and heading for Kaede's." With that said, Sango pulled Miroku (injured from sucking insects into his wind tunnel) onto Kirara and grabbed Shippo at the last minute.

Inuyasha watched them fly away before reaching down and picking Kikyo up fireman style and following. Yeah, they just needed a small break. No more than a day or two though. They had new people to fight.

Kagome stormed through the forest with Bankotsu and Kagura at her back. Jakotsu was still being dragged behind them by the neck but Kagome paid him no mind. She already had an idea for him. Despite the fact that they were demons and she human, it was still taxing on them to keep up with her.

After two hours of traveling this way, Bankotsu spoke up, out of breath, "Damn it! Stop!"

"What!" Kagome yelled as she whirled at them. Automatically Bankotsu and Kagura took a step back but this ended with them falling over Jakotsu who was behind them.

"We're tired! Give us a damn minute to rest!" Bankotsu yelled back.

Kagome took in her surroundings; her miko sense telling her there was a river nearby. "Alright; one hour, no longer." Then she set out for the river, feeling the urge to wash herself of Naraku's presence.

It wasn't going to happen, though, and that was one thing that Kagome was really beginning to regret. One part of the truce had to do with trust. In order for Kagome and Naraku to trust the other to fulfill their obligations was an exchange of bond. It had been part physical bond, part psychic. What had happened was that Kagome had taken a part of his miasma into herself, giving him the ability to read her, but giving her the ability to control him somewhat. He could not control her and she couldn't sense him (as in truth, intentions, aura, etc...things a miko can do). It had been an even trade, and had even given Kagome a boost, allowing her to cultivate new gifts and skills, including her blood blades.

It did taint her. Not her true soul, but her aura. That was what Kikyo had been speaking of. It was unnatural for a miko to have a demon slant in her aura. Even as Kagome lamented the truce she had made, a snapping twig brought her attention back to the matters at hand.

She had been staring at the winking sun on the water and had almost failed to notice Bankotsu walking up. He had his serious face on, which could only mean trouble.

"We need to talk."

Kagome nodded. "You felt it too."

"Hai. His power is too strong. Even you cannot take him alone. It's time for you to do as we talked."

Kagome scowled. "I do not want a mate."

"It's the only way. The only reason he agreed to a truce before is because he was dying. He's not dying now and he has an endless supply of demons to feed off. We have no choice. Pick a mate."

Kagome risked a glance at his face. It was tight with worry and anger. "I'm sorry, Bankotsu. If I could choose you, I would. If I could take everything back, I would."

Kagome spoke of what had been spoken of before and lamented. After Bankotsu had defected to Kagome's side, Naraku had taken his vengeance. Naraku had castrated Bankotsu, making it impossible for the twice reborn demon to mate. Bankotsu was doomed to spend the rest of his days on the outside of that great bond looking in.

It had been discussed however. At some point, they knew, Kagome would have to take a mate. A powerful one who would not only hold his (or her) own with Kagomebut would not irritate Kagome. Mate bonds were permanent. It was not often that a human mated with a demon for this very fact. When one mate dies, the other soon follows. It was dangerous to mate a human for that fact alone.

It was the pain on Bankotsu's face that had Kagome wrapping her arms around him. With her new height she was actually taller than him, so it ended with Bankotsu laying his head on her shoulder. During that first year, they had been allies, then friends, then for a brief time, lovers. Then Naraku had enacted his vengeance and they had gone back to friends. Though they could never be mates again, it was a deep and true bond that linked them. She would always love him and knew that whomever she mated would have to passBankotsu's test first. Bankotsu was the reason she had sworn never to be with a demon again. Despite appearances, when a demon loved, they loved completely, giving everything in a way that put human love to shame.

Bankotsu pulled himself out of the embrace and gave a shaky smile. "Who are our candidates?"

Kagome thought. "Well, obviously there's Miroku..."

"No humans."

"Why not?"

"Not strong enough."

"But a demon..." Kagome sought Bankotsu's eyes.

"A demon," Bankotsu confirmed, while inside he screamed.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.

"Half-breed. No."

"Koga..."

"Ha! No."

"...Sesshomaru..."

"Is a good suggestion." Bankotsu interrupted. "He's a powerful, intelligent dog demon. He'd do."

"Who else?" Kagome asked, slightly uncomfortable with the thought of mating with Sesshomaru. Sure, he was cute and would be a good mate, but she'd have to consummate with him every night. Demons in a mate bond had to or they would weaken.

"There is no one else. If I am remembering right, Naraku has killed any one else near as powerful as he. Sesshomaru is it."

"Bankotsu..." Kagome laid her hand on his cheek.

Bankotsu felt her hand but could no longer allow himself to feel her heart. He moved his head so that they were no longer touching and with a steely look walked away. Kagome allowed herself one tear for her first love, and then she too steeled her heart. Things were to be done, and she could not afford the luxury of sentimentality.