First of all, a million apologies. I won't list my reasons you don't want to hear them.

Arrgh-Such an interesting name. Okay, I promise no more long breaks.

Dark Universe-Cool name, and thank you.

Suuki-Aldrea-(Hands tissue over.) I didn't mean to invoke tears..oh and if you want to 'play,' with Naraku, I guess I have no problem with it.

Moonbeam21-Want some Sesshomaru action then? Hmm. (Winks.)

Rena Moon-You are too good to my ego..and my self-esteem. (smiles.)

No ownership, and Thanks for all the reviews.

Usagi stared at the heartbroken priestess, and for a moment Kikyo's image was overlaid with hers. "Mamoru..." Usagi whispered, drawing the attention of the Western Lord, who spared a second to wonder at the affectionate tone inflicted on the name. Finally, Usagi shook her head, her eyes not feeling the weight they should of, and the startling realization was pushed away for the moment. Ignoring any more thinking on the part of her emotions, Usagi came beside Kikyo and kneeled. Wrapping her arms around the hurt priestess, she gently began to sing, capturing all attention to her voice.

For a few minutes Kikyo sobbed in Usagi's arms, before quieting and pushing out of the embrace. Usagi nodded to Kikyo and walked back to the solemn group. Kikyo swiped her eyes clear of her tear trails and picked up her dropped bow. Her eyes turned to the couple wrapped in a loving embrace, and felt the heated form of hatred. "InuYasha!" She snapped out, aligning her bow with the couple.

InuYasha flipped his head to align with the angry yell, and gripped Kagome's shoulders tightly, burying her further into his embrace. "Kikyo, enough, throw away your anger!" He ordered, and the rest of the group was gripping their weapons in worry.

"Throw away my anger?" Kikyo parroted. "Like you threw away our love?" She asked dangerously. Usagi drew her halberd and pointed at Kikyo in warning. Kikyo looked at her in contempt. "Stay out of this, you dirty fiend." She hissed, and Usagi recoiled at the verbal slap. "Fine, I'll throw away my anger, when you are both together...IN HELL!" Kikyo cried, and fired the waiting arrow. InuYasha shoved Kagome out of the way of the arrow and into the arms of Usagi. A pointed look was thrown her way as InuYasha leapt clear of the arrow's path. It clearly stating should harm befall Kagome, he'll paint his claws with her blood. Usagi nodded to the look, before stepping back, keeping the worried Kagome comforted.

Kikyo fired several arrows, each of them missing their mark as InuYasha moved. Unamused and frustrated, she focused on her priestess power. "Tell me InuYasha, why?" Kikyo yelled out, as he dodged another arrow. "Is it because of her powers?" She asked, and InuYasha tried to catch his breath at the halt. Kikyo cast an infuriated gaze at Kagome, and laughed. "Her active powers have nothing on mine, and her latent ones are dwarfed by me." She observed.

"No!" InuYasha declared, and ran toward Kikyo to tackle her. Kikyo merely threw up a weak barrier and sneered at his form striking it.

"No?" Kikyo murmured. "It cannot be because of her beauty then, you said I was beautiful." Kikyo scaled. "What is it then?" Kikyo wondered, and slipped one hand around the pulsing, nearly completed shikon tama.

"It's because of her pure and loving heart." InuYasha told Kikyo, drawing the Tetsusaiga to shred Kikyo's barrier. Kikyo dropped her bow, and drew the vibrant jewel.

"Pure?" Kikyo mumbled. "Let's see her purity." She declared, and flung her hand toward Kagome. Kagome felt a tugging sensation as her jewel shards flew away from her toward Kikyo. "Hah, the shards answer my call, to my purity."Kikyo stated. "Now feel my PURITY!" Kikyo cried, and activated the nearly full jewel. Usagi pushed away Kagome, and drew out the ginzuishou. "Fool." she sneered toward Usagi. "I told you stay out of this, loathsome creature."She added, and pushed her priestess powers onto the jewel.

InuYasha stood watching, unable to approach because of the growing powers of the two women. "Kikyo, I know you are hurting, but I cannot allow you to harm Kagome." Usagi yelled out, and Kikyo sneered, maximizing the beam sheering from her. "Kikyo, there are better ways!" Usagi declared, and her ginzuishou swallowed the broken shikon's beam, trying to purify the tainted jewel. Kikyo screamed as the purifying power burned her hands, and she dropped the jewel. She snapped her head up with a smirk, snatching her bow from the ground and drawing her last arrow.

"Your right, there is another way." She whispered silently, and the arrow left her bow, heading straight for the frozen Kagome. Usagi whipped her head, along with Kouga, and InuYasha. InuYasha threw down his Tetsusaiga, and ran toward Kagome, Kouga sprinted toward her as well. The other's watch on in fear, or minuet interest of concern. Usagi cast a glance to her active ginzuishou, unable to halt her beam. Everyone realized noone would reach Kagome in time to save her. A body leapt in front of Kagome catching the killing arrow in the chest. "Kaede?" The whimpered poured from the mentally broken Kikyo as she identified first, the savior.

No one noticed as Usagi dropped her healing beam, and was taken away from the field. "Bioijin-ko...what a surprise." Was the familiar hiss, as she was drawn away from the heartfelt scene.

Kikyo, finally stabled, turned to were Usagi last was, declaring loudly, "Heal her!" She screamed to the empty air. "Where are you, heal her." Kikyo screamed again. Sesshomaru perked his head up at the cry of 'where are you?' He knew of only one, his brother's old wrench could be referring to, the tigress. A low growl escaped him, but he paid it no mind as he quickly surveyed the area.

"Naraku..." He growled out, catching everyone's attention. "He has her." He added, but softer, almost bordering on bloodlust. That made everyone glance around, when they turned back to Sesshomaru, he was already moving.

I really shouldn't leave here, especially since it has taken a while, but the story is nearing it's second major climax, and I need the next part of this to be in the next chapter. Looky, I think the Inu Sesshomaru is worried, or at least a little bit angry. So, I'll see you all soon, on my honor. Review please.

Much Care,

WolfchildBlazer.