Disclaimers Notice: The only thing I own is the way in which I chose to use the characters and setting (oh, and a few of my own creations…)

Authors Beginning Note: Wohoo! My first chapter in for ever is updated on time!

Shout it outs!

Tanwen-Whitefire: Bare knuckle brawling ay? I admit that, that would be something worth payin to see.

Rivertam: Well, I've come this far in my story. As for the anime series I think it would be inevitable that they fight, considering. Who knows, Rumiko is a genious who's plot far surpasses mine.

feyfaery: Your review really helped me out a lot. Especially when I almost had a serious bout of writers block Free cookies for you!

Maroon Goddess: LOL. I admit, I've been a bit stingy on the romance. And well, yes my title does lead to suggest, and it was supposed to be completely a Inu/Kag action filled +fluff fic. Erm...well...that plan got lost...somewhere. My title now really doesn't do justice for my story. I plan not to bring in too many more characters. I admit, there are a lot to kepe track of.

SoranoDarkHorse: Great to have you join up! I loved the idea for dressing Inuyasha up as a chick, and I'm glad you enjoyed reading about it too!

Valese: Your review was also helpful in the making of this chapter. I'm glad you find that my pacing isn't too fast. Its one of my pet peeves, reading a story thats too fast pace, and even worse when I do it.

Rayame325: I know you are going to love reading how Sango escapes...or doesn't. Muaahaaah!

Lady Banshee 999: That is hilarious! That mental picture you have given me...I shall treasure it forever. I'm glad to hear that you enjoy all the interaction of the characters and the scoop on each group (oh no! I rhymed! I am doomed to live in a corn field!).

boomerfreak: I personally happen to like the word gingerly too. It adds spice to a story...well at least a paragraph or two. :)

Chapter 67

Final Rest

Swinging swinging…listen well…the accursed sound…like a screeching bell…the cry unbound…its whispering in the ear…beconed to its call…pride overshadowing instinctive fear…it shall lead to downfall…

Keio panted in rage as he looked at the new enemy before him. This grotesque monster. His boiling face and many appendages. His stench was enough to cause others to move around him. Acid dripped occasionally from his drooling mouth. Woe be to the one to feel its hateful liquid.

"I see that you do not enjoy my company. Or perhaps it is that I am not so easy on the poor eyes."

Keio replied with silence. They stood, facing each other. Keio took up the first strike. His blade making no dents upon the constant melting skin.

"You cannot kill me like that young warrior. I can constantly regrow every limb that comes to harm. Thus is the curse of my immortality. This skin, constantly regrowing and the sliding off in its own goop of boiled flesh." He spat out a wad of acid at Keio's feet. Keio merely stepped a foot away.

"You can foretell the future can you not?" Keio made an offensive move, only to once again meet perfect resistance.

"You hear the voice. In your head. It always talks about death. Always talking. Its riddles never ceasing." Keio froze. The horrible monster let out a weazing laugh, before a belch of acid expelled up through his throat. An unwary human died as she was struck.

"Do not look so surprised at my revelation. The voice, it scars your eyes. Before I die, I wish you to know my name."

"You seem certain of your death."

"I am, For I am about to tell you how to kill me." Keio eyed him suspiciously.

"That same voice that plagues you also attacks me, but in a different way. Its always telling me how ugly I am, how I shall never know love, how I am destined to be miserable, and in turn make others miserable. That voice will never stop untilit isdefied in some way. I can never do that. Except through death. So now, if you wish to defy that voice, you must kill me. My name is Katsutoshi. And here…" He lifted a scaled plate that was over his blobbed chest where an empty hole was, where a heart should have been.

"…here is the black hole you must strike with your sword." Keio didn't hesitate. The ugly monster shriveled up in a burning mass. Its body laid like a pool of the acid it constantly threw up. Keio said a light prayer, bowing head only for a moment.

vision
"You will die"

"Yes. I will but your death is far closer than you would think."

"I shall take pleasure in hearing you SCREAM!" the scythe swung down…

He shook his head violently, willing the vision to be erased from the imprint behind his eye lids. Look at the world, the voice poisons the thoughts, close ones eyes to block out the voice, ones thoughts poisons the eyes. Visions or Voices. Truly he was cursed.
Miroku's limbs shook as he tried to fight the poison flowing through him. His joints were locked and no muscled could move. His lungs would soon be paralyzed as well. Or his heart. Either being painful and deadly.

"Miroku, psst…" Shippo was right behind the monk and thus he couldn't be seen. Miroku's finger twitched, but that was the best he could do. Shippo sat on his rump, in hopeless despair.

I'm alone…and if someone doesn't hurry and do something…Sango and Kirara are…

He peaked over the bush tops to look at the two collide. No serious damage. Yet.

Ah…I'm too young for this…what would Inuyasha do…I know…he would come with Tetsusaiga and…but that won't help me…think Shippo…

He looked over the bushes and watched both Taijiya and Neko. His tail twitched in self agitation.

Think…you're a fox…are you going to let your friends go down like this…and bring disgrace to my fathers memory… gulp …well…maybe Miroku will figure something out…

Shippo sat in his small cover when a strike of inspiration hit him. Taking a sneaky fox look, he quickly kidnapped Miroku behind the tree, digging into the glaring Monks robes until he found a rather large supply of Ofudas, and stuck them on Miroku everywhere.

"That should do it, now for my greatest performance." Shippo jammed some gunk in his ear, and changed into a rather devilish looking Miroku. With dash and suave devonare, he sauntered around Sango and Kirara, and right up to the vixen before him. Her look was of surprise, and glared down at him.

'Miroku' dipped down to one knee and began stroking her hand. She nearly purred for the love of attention.

"My dear, dear lovely goddess, your skin, it radiates like the rippling reflection of the moon in a gentle pond, your hair is as flowing as a summer breeze, and your eyes, the glow like the burning ember warmth during a winter storm…"

yuk…how does Miroku spit this stuff out…gross…

The devilish Youkai was lavishing in every expression of beauty presented to her, her eyes glinted with a look of unsatiable hunger.

"…I would ask but one simple request, if I were worthy…" Shippo took a dramatic pause and looked down, as if in humble shame. She looked curious, and intrigued. She leaned into him. Shippo felt like squirming, but he knew if her were to succeed, he would have to act every bit like he was deeply enjoying this. Even if it meant destroying a little bit of pride.

"I, Saiko, give my consent to you to present your request." She whispered. Shippo didn't hear, but he saw her lips move.

"Will you bear my children?" She leaned in with a with a slow viscious greed, prepairing to greet his lips with hers, when a forgotten soundwhipped through the air.

"Hiraikotsu!" The banshee was thrown into the tree, where the boomerang was struck through her torso.

Her spell, placing a deep interest in Shippo, had been completely lost before it had been finished.

"Fox fire!" Shippo yelled, and that was the end of Saiko, the incarnate of Naraku. Sango took her large boomerang out with a vehement manner.

"For a moment I didn't think you would snap out of it…Sango?" Sango bashed him in the head, and Shippo slumped down to the ground with a large bump on his head.

"Shippo, I understand your concern, but really, one Ofuda would have been quite sufficient …" Miroku, emerging from the bushes, just barely moved out of the path of Sango's Hiraikotsu.

"Sango, my lovely ray of sunshine…."

"Don't you 'ray of sunshine me'! What the hell was going on! And why were you with this she witch!" She yelled, ready to completely bash in Miroku's skull and castrate him if the first method didn't suffice.

"I assure you, its nothing to be jealous about…" Miroku rubbed the back of his neck, taking a tiny step back.

"Jealous, jealous! Who said I was jealous! You lowsy two timing…"

"Sango!" Miroku, looked seriously hurt at her words, and slumped his shoulders. Sango, bit her tongue, her anger suddenly receding and laid Hiraikotsu down on the ground. She gingerly walked up to Miroku and looked into his eyes before setting her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Miroku. I shouldn't have said that." He wrapped his arms around her, and she him.

"I love you Sango. I would never hurt you like that." He whispered She nodded, glad to be held by him, and to hold him back.

"I know Miroku."

They stood like that in silent harmony for a few more moments. Than another thought struck her.

"How could you put Shippo up to saying all of those horrible things!" She stepped back and eyed the surprised Miroku.

"What? I didn't…" He was out in a second. Sango snorted.

"The poor kid. He's probably tramatized. I don't know how Kagome's ever going to forgive me." Kirara grabbed the unconscious Kitsune, while Sango retrieved her Hiraikotsu. They walked forth towards their destination, while being non too gentle, Sango dragged the poor Miroku on the ground.

"Inuyasha, maybe we should stop."

"You afraid." Kagome shivered.

"There's something wrong. The mist is getting thicker, and I keep feeling something." Inuyasha slowed to a stead jog and sniffed the air. He nearly fell over as he inhaled. Kagome let out a small squeak as she did fall off.

"What is it?" She whispered. Kagome stood quickly, noting his ears twitching, body fully alert, and Tetsusaiga in his grasp. Mist rolled around their feet until it was hard to even see in front of their faces. Kagome grabbed Inuyasha's Haori, and waited for something to happen.

"Look out!" Kagome reacted on her scream, putting her hand up and creating a barrier only as large as a shield. She was pushed back, but only a few inches, before the arrow fell harmlessly to the ground.

"Kikyo." She whispered. Inuyasha stiffened. A soft peel of laughter echoed into the white nothing barrier.

"Still alive Kagome."

"This is between you and me, Kikyo!"

"Inuyasha, ever the foolish flatterer. I will make your death quick." The mist parted and there Kikyo stood, in her deathly cold beauty. Vines crept behind Inuyasha's ankles, and wrapped him in a snug caccoon before any real action could be taken. .

"Inuyasha!" Kagome stepped forward, but he disappeared in the mist.

"Well than, shall we begin?"

"That was a dirty trick. Where is he?" Kagome demanded, bow and arrow at hand.

"Don't worry. He's still there. You can't hear him or seem him." Kagome let her nocked arrow loose, and Kikyo waved it away. It landed harmlessly at her feet.

Its just like when she bound me the…Goshinboku…when Kikyo and he…kissed…

"Let him go!"

Kikyo was unaffected by Kagome's harsh demand, or the next three arrows that were in her immediate direction. She slipped into the cool mist and Kagome stood there, unable to see anything.

Her breathing eased and she closed her eyes, searching for Kikyo's aura.

"There!" Kagome spun and shot. She knew it missed when she heard a hard thunk of it driving into a tree.six more arrows and it was Kikyo's turn.

Kagome dodged the first, a single hair strand torn. Three more were blocked and a barrier was set. Energy arrows were sent, and Kagome reinforced her barrier just before each hit.

She's toying with me…but how can I attack her…she can block my arrows… just as easily as I can hers…what do I do…

Her concentration wavered, just enough so that an arrow could pierce through her barrier. Kagome hissed in pain. Her bow fell uselessly to the ground as she grasped her hand. Her barrier faltered proving to be a fatal mistake.

Had Kagome not barely dodged. The spot where she had once stood was a scorched into an inward bowl.

So much power…

Kikyo stepped into view.

I can't beat her…but I can't leave Inuyasha…so what do I do…I don't even know where he is…let alone how to free him…

Kagome looked into the trees. Almost as if will alone could provide her with the needed answers.

"He cannot help you, and you cannot find him." Kikyo shot an arrow with fluid motion. Thinking quick Kagome launched herself at the calm and confident idol of grace, avoiding the arrow narrowly.

Kikyo deflected Kagome's attack. Kagome threw a few punches and kicks, her bow being a useful asset as well. It was soon clear that Kikyo was also an expert in hand to hand combat, as Kagome was slowly being beaten.

Kagome went to slam her right fist into Kikyo's face. The Kuro witch didn't flinch as she caught Kagome's hand and threw her like a rag doll into a tree.Kagome slid down. Bloodoozed from the corner of her lip as she panted heavily. Her bow was just a few inches from her hand. Kagome never let Kikyo's image fade, but the battle washard to win, as her eyes threatened to close and her body to faint.

"You truly are pathetic. All this time training and you still can't beat me.

Kagome picked up her bow, pain coursing up her arm, but going un attended to. Ignoring everyache in her body, she slowly stood up, using her precious bow as a crutch. Making sure she was stable, she lifted the bow, and with unsteady motions, managed to nock an arrow to the bow string. Kikyo did likewise, and they stood, point facing point.

"I won't let you win." Kagome was filled with passionate determination.

"How do you plan to stop me?" Kikyo stood with a calmness that only death herself could compose.

Their arrows collided in mid air. An unearthly wind howled as the two powers commenced in a true fashioned Miko face off.

It was good versus evil. Kikyo's long hair blew from her pale face and her eyes met Kagome's stormy gray one's. Kikyo looked the part of a beautiful witch. A bringer of death. A seductress of darkness. Her black aura swirled and pulsed.

Kagome's hair waved around her face, as her eyes met Kikyo's dark brown one's. Kagome looked the part of a strong willed princess. An angel in the darkness. An Amazon in the Feudal Era. Her bright karma was filled with a pure strength.

They threw their magic into the converging point of powers. As each force began to gain strength and a possible victory, the other exerted an equal amount. They were both at a stale mate.

Kikyo looked no weaker than when she had begun, but Kagome's knees shook and her shoulders would occasionally shudder.

I can't loose…I just can't…if I don't…what will happen to Inuyasha…I know what I have to do…I'm just…I'm afraid…pull yourself together girl…how many times has Miroku…Sango…Kirara…Inuyasha…and Shippo even…saved your scrawny hide…even when they were afraid…

Kagome, closed her eyes and concentrated, reaching deep within herself, a place where her power laid. She screamed in pain as the frigid lava coursed through her body. Kikyo's eyes went wide.

"Foolish. She would kill us both." Kikyo ended the duel of arrows, letting her power drop as she disappeared from range. Trees were smashed into thousands of shard like toothpicks.

Kagome fell to her knees panting and clutching her bow. Kikyo walked over to her threateningly.

Kagome didn't even bother running, or protecting herself. She had no strength left. Kikyo grabbed her throat and lifted the younger girl off the ground, so she could stare her directly in the eyes. Kagome grabbed at her hands, trying to free her throat. Willing just a small gasp of breath to at least lift her lungs. Kikyo squeezed tighter.

Kagome sent a shock of power into Kikyo's hand. Kikyo didn't blink as she sent a shock of her own. Kagome let out a small whistle of a scream escape.

Kikyo placed a cool hand over Kagome's forehead. Her kuro-miko aura washed over Kagome, making her ill. Her faced turned a slimey green, her eyes dulled, her body started to become limp.

No…this can't be…I…I have to fight it…if I don't…

Flashback

I picked up the jewel shard, ignoring the hissing bubbles of the grimy demons innards, sprawled for display. Its liquid instantly turned to glassy clearness, and the shard was purified.

'Astounding work Kagome…yet once again you've managed to purify the demonic aura…' Miroku praised.

Ending of flashback

If…If I can purify a demons aura…won't the same work for a Kuro-Miko…

Kagome reached with her hand, only a single finger touching Kikyo's forehead, but it was enough.

Where…where am I…

'Is somebody there!" Kagome stepped forward.

It's just like when I was trapped... and Kikyo took control of me…

Kagome shivered. Suddenly very afraid.

'I am here' came a muffled whisper.

'Where are you?'

'Right here. In front of you.' Kagome squinted, but inevitably closed her eyes and then opened. A blurred image seemed to slowly unveil itself.

'Kikyo!' Kagome rushed to be by her side, so torn was the once prideful woman before her, but when she reached out to touch the Miko in aid, her hand was burned. Kagome was forced back in pain.

'Stay back. This barrier is too powerful. Even for you.' Kagome let tears drip down her face. The once majestic woman before her, was now barely on her knees, being both held up and pushed down by chains that appeared and disappeared into darkness. Her body was exposed, no cloth to cover her, and her face was grimy. It was a disgraceful, ugly display.

'What…' Kagome shook her head and tried again to reach her, only for her whole body to ache and burn, before being forced to give up.

'Do not weep for me. This is the path I have chosen. I am bonded to my hate and sorrow. Did you know, that once, this was a part of your soul, what I am before you? No longer. It is twisted and made something new. Do not worry, you will not be burdened with such a hardness.' Kagome couldn't help crying.

'Do not look at me with your pity!' Kikyo screamed. Her voice sounded like it was coming from a different room, but its effect was the same, making Kagome jump and begin to hiccup.

'Why don't you free yourself?'

Kikyo laughed, not an evil one, but one of a dieing person, looking irony in the face. Her laughter died away and she looked Kagome evenly, as equals, as strangers.

'Leave.' She whispered like a winter wind.

Kagome's eyes flashed open and she met Kikyo's. The miko was thrown to the ground and received a glare of voracious hate. Never had such emotion displayed upon that stone face as it did then.

"No more games." Kikyo took out an arrow and pointed it at Kagome's heart. At such close range, the survival rate was reduced to a mereslip of achance. All Kagome could do was look up into those eyes of glazed arctic ice. And smiled.

"You know, you and I may have been friends, in a different time." Kagome felt a lump in her throat.

Why…why is there so much evil in the world…if Urusue hadn't…if she hadn't done this…than Kikyo's soul would never had to have suffer this way…Kikyo…would never had been perverted into this evil…demon thing…if Naraku had never been involved…than Kikyo would still be alive…both her and Inuyasha would be together…and she would still…still be the beautiful person that every one knew her to be…

"Kikyo, I do this for you." Before the stone hearted and clay bodied ice queen could do anything, Kagome lunged forward with a broken arrow, placing a great quantity of purifying magic into her action.

Kikyo looked at the plain school girl as if it were Kagome who were the warped unsightly creature, and her body began breaking.

Light pierced through the spindly spider webbed fractures along her body. Kagome gently fell towards the ground, as if in a haze, and was caught by two strong arms, pulling her away. The warm embrace protected her from the fatal eruption of the purification powers,destroying the dark embodiment and forever putting the dark Miko to a final rest.

Kagome cried, even in her comatose slumber.

Authors Ending Note: Whew! I tried really hard for all of you to especially make this a good chapter b/c I know a lot of you have been wanting to read something like this, and its a very critical stand point in my story. So, reviews, comments, ect... are very much appreciated!