Hello people! How are you? I'm fine. Me so happy! I don't know why! Me just is! Okay? Enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 22

I don't own Inuyasha (But I do own Ikuto and if you touch him or take him I'll kill you all! He's mine!)

"Kikyou!" Inuyasha hesitated to move, even though he wanted to run and embrace her. His body wouldn't allow him to do anything, so he just simply looked at her beauty.

"Inuyasha..." Kikyou gazed down at the boy who Inuyasha had just let fall flat on his face and she went into an utter shock for a brief moment. 'This boy...' "You brought this boy here, Inuyasha?"

"What?" Inuyasha suddenly remembered that he was supposed to be helping Ikuto seek help. "Oh yeah" he grabbed Ikuto's arm and pulled him up quickly, which hurt Ikuto, but he was too weak to complain about anything at that moment. "I came here..."

"The boy" she regained her normal composure and pushed back her new found information about him. "He's possessed."

"That's why we came here..." Inuyasha put Ikuto's arm over his shoulder and they began walking together. Ikuto was too weak to open his eyes and actually see who Inuyasha was talking to. He didn't have the energy to talk, to complain, or to even be angry. He had to forget about curiosity and focus on just trying to simply survive. He had to fight himself, especially since Inuyasha was currently too occupied to do anything else. 'Kikyou...what will she do?'

"Bring the boy in here" Kikyou walked back inside and Inuyasha readily followed her with Ikuto practically dragging along. 'Why is she even in this village? I should have figured that she'd be the priestess that could help Ikuto.' Inside, it was small, but large enough to house the three of them for the time being. Kikyou simply sat down and began preparing herself. 'Usually...she hasn't quite been this easy going around me every since she was brought back. What's she up to?' "So Kikyou, what exactly do you plan on doing with this boy." Inuyasha set Ikuto down as gently as possible, seeing that Ikuto was so fragile now, and Inuyasha was always more gentle in the presence of Kikyou, and her very gaze seemed to always calm him.

It was then that Kikyou was able to actually get a good look at Ikuto's face. 'He...he looks just like Inuyasha...' "Inuyasha, I will help this boy, but it will be on only one condition." She had a new sadness to her eyes when she looked at Inuyasha, as if she knew more of what was to come of him, of his future. Although she had tried to push her feelings for him aside and accept the fact that she shouldn't be with him, she couldn't keep living her life that way. She loved him too much to keep her feelings suppressed.

"What is it?" He asked. He didn't like the tone in her voice, but Kagome wanted Ikuto alive no matter what, and he could at least respect Kagome's decision on the matter. Inuyasha didn't want anyone to actually die, if he could help it.

"Inuyasha, this boy, his clothes are very different than anything I've ever seen, besides the garments that Kagome wear. Not only that, but this boy shares a lot of similar features to you." She brushed Ikuto's bangs off of his forehead and felt his head. "This boy is your reincarnation from Kagome's time, is he not?"

Inuyasha nodded slowly. "Yes…at least that's what he appears to be."

"Inuyasha, this boy is very cold, and yet very kind, just like you, is he not?" She stroked his cheeks while her fingers slightly shook. Inuyasha didn't know if she was scared or angry. He just knew she was upset, and it broke his heart to see her that way. Kikyou then looked up into Inuyasha's eyes, and he could see it. He could see the sadness that filled her eyes. Something was wrong. "Inuyasha, I will save this boy's life if you promise me that he and Kagome will immediately return home and will never come to this time period again."

Inuyasha's mouth slightly dropped and he looked away from her face. 'Never see Kagome again? Never…' "But why, Kikyou?" He got on his knees so he could stare into her eyes. "Kikyou, tell me why you would want this to happen?"

She laughed to herself gently. "Inuyasha, do you honestly think me cruel?"

Inuyasha's anger died down. "Kikyou…"

"Inuyasha, every time Kagome goes through time, she creates ripples. The delicate balance of time has been interfered with. If we continue to let them go through time like this, then we'll lose everything, Inuyasha. Kagome herself has done enough damage. Everything will wilt away if we let Kagome continue going through time."

"But..." Inuyasha grumbled and looked at Ikuto and sneered. "Kikyou, there's something strange about this kid. You know what it is, don't you? You know why he's so strange, and that's why you want him to go home, him and Kagome."

"They don't belong in this world, Inuyasha!" She lowered her voice, as sadness overwhelmed her eyes. "I don't belong in it either."

"But..."

"Fate has drawn out the map. The road must not be tampered with."

"But why not? Why is it bad for some things to change? Wouldn't you go back and change what happened to between us? Wouldn't you stop Naraku if you could?"

"Inuyasha, you mustn't ask such questions. What happened between the two of us cannot be changed and shouldn't either. It's reality, and there's no point in trying to rewrite what happened, or even what's supposed to happen." She gazed back down at Ikuto and lifted his head so that he was lying in her lap. Inuyasha was about to protest against it, but she spoke. Man, did Inuyasha envy Ikuto at that very moment! "Inuyasha, do you not see what has happened to this boy? Is this a better future for him? Do you think that this is a better life than the one he has in his own time?"

"But Kikyou..."

"And what of the Shikon jewel? I cast it out of this world, and Kagome brought it back into this world. You can't even begin to imagine what chaos has truly been made because of that alone." She was nothing but serious now. "Promise me, Inuyasha, and I'll help you. It's best that he stays away from this dangerous world anyway."

'But what about Kagome? Does she want me to truly never see her again? Am I just supposed to give her up for this stupid kid? Am I supposed to let him win?' "Kikyou," 'Kagome would be crushed if Ikuto died because of me. I guess...I guess there is only one thing to do now.' "You have my word, Kikyou."

She nodded her head. "Good. The fastest way to help him to shoot him with my sacred arrow."

"Keh, that's what I told Kagome to do, but she decided that she didn't want him hurt." He crossed his arms and wished he could gloat in her face. "We tried an exorcism, but it seemed to hurt him more than it actually hurt the demon."

"That wasn't a wise thing to do." 'The demon thrives inside him.' "It's trying to break him mentally so it can bond with him, and control him."

"Then why would it let its body grow so massive and powerful? It'll probably kill him."

'I don't even believe that he demon meant to actually get this strong inside this boy.' "What is his name?"

Inuyasha snarled, being a little jealous. Things had been a little hostile between him and Kikyou so when he saw Ikuto getting the attention that he was craving, it made his irritation level and anger rise. "It's I-stupid or something like that."

"I...Ikuto" Ikuto was able to find the strength to open his eyes, barely, and then speak a whisper of his name. Kikyou was able to pick it up. "Kagome?" Ikuto closed his eyes and continued his struggle.

"It would seem that fate gave us a second chance." She said it so quiet that Inuyasha could barely hear her and understand what she was saying. Kikyou envied Kagome quite a bit, even though she would not admit it. Kagome was traveling around with her Inuyasha. She had the chance to warm Inuyasha's heart and make him a better person. That was supposed to be her job. She was supposed to do that to Inuyasha, if she had lived. She was supposed to live with Inuyasha, if she had lived. He was going to become a human and she was going to become an ordinary woman, if she had lived. Yes, she died and she had accepted that these things could never happen, or at least she tried to go on with this fact. She accepted the fact that she could not be with Inuyasha, but now Kagome was trying to take Inuyasha? Kagome also had no right to be in this time period, with her Inuyasha. 'Kagome should be in her own time with this boy. This Ikuto is Inuyasha's reincarnation, and since he is, they have the chance to be happy and live together, without Naraku destroying what they have.' "Inuyasha…" 'Inuyasha is going to die. And it's going to be soon since Ikuto-"

"What is it, Kikyou?"

"Nothing, Inuyasha." She lifted Ikuto up and tried to make him sit up. "This is going to take some time." Kikyou tried to make him sit up, but Ikuto was so weak that he couldn't help her at all. Inuyasha helped Kikyou sit Ikuto up. "Don't freight" she said to Ikuto "I'm going to help you." When she reached out her hand to touch Ikuto's face, his eyes widened in a sudden burst of fear and panic. Suddenly, his strength returned and he dodged her touch and forced Inuyasha off of him and stood to his feet.

"How did he do that?" Inuyasha quickly got up on his feet and stopped Ikuto, who had tried to make an escape. He grabbed his arm and put him in a full Nelson, but this time, Ikuto had enough strength to at least put on a good struggle. 'He's so much stronger now. Stronger than what he should be…' Ikuto grunted and started moving in every direction he could in order to get away from them. Inuyasha had to hold on tighter than what he ever had to before. 'He's about to break loose!'

"Don't touch me!" Ikuto yelled to Kikyou. She didn't heed his warning and stood up.

"I'm going to help you!"

"Don't touch us!"

"Us?" Inuyasha asked. "What does he mean 'us'?"

"Don't!" Ikuto put his head as far back as he could, trying to avoid her touch, but he couldn't break free from Inuyasha or avoid her again.

"Don't worry."

"Don't…" he closed his eyes, not wanting to see what she was about to do, but when he felt the touch of her soft hand; he opened his eyes and looked into her eyes. They were so sad, filled with so much regret, but there was an unmistakable gentleness about her that he couldn't deny. One that warmed his heart, and he had to stop struggling, and he felt so calm and weak in the knees. He lost his strength and Inuyasha let go, causing Ikuto to fall right into Kikyou's arms. She gently sat down with him with his head laid on her bosom. It wasn't a purpose intention on Ikuto's part, but it still was enough to make Inuyasha jealous. He rested his eyes and drifted off into a peaceful sleep. He felt like he didn't have to struggle anymore, and like she was going to take care of him, just like how Kagome took care of him.

"He'll be alright. I can kill the demon, but it will probably take a very long time this way."

It made Inuyasha so jealous, seeing him with Kikyou and her acting so peaceful towards him. That was supposed to be him. "Thank you for this, Kikyou."

"No one deserves to be possessed by a demon, especially not someone as kind as him." She held him closer as she concentrated, using her spiritual energy in an attempt to kill off the demon living inside of him. "I can tell by his eyes that he is kind, yet sad."

'I wonder how the others are doing right now.'

"We found Naraku, but it turned out to be just a demon puppet." Miroku sighed. "We chased him for most of the night too."

"Kagura was also here. She didn't attack us though." Kagome was overwhelmed with worry for Ikuto's safety. "Inuyasha thinks she was simply just checking on Ikuto."

"We could go find them" Sango yawned. "I think it would be best if we were with him. Then you wouldn't have to worry about Ikuto and Inuyasha so much, Kagome."

"I guess" she spoke quietly "but you two are so sleepy. You should get some rest. There could be a fight soon, since Naraku is involved. You guys should be at the top of your game."

"You should sleep too!" Shippo practically screamed. "You didn't get any sleep last night. You were too busy worrying about Ikuto and taking care of him. You deserve some rest."

Kagome nodded wearily. She was sleepy, but how could she rest at a time like this? "I promise I'll try Shippo."

Hours later, Ikuto woke up to see that he was staring into the eyes of Kikyou. He didn't actually know for sure that it was Kikyou, but he figured it was, since she did look like Kagome. "Where's Inuyasha?"

"He went to fetch you some water on my request."

Ikuto was feeling much better. He could feel her strength inside his body, and there wasn't such a strain. "What are you doing?"

"I've killed three of the four demons that were once living inside you?"

Ikuto felt sick at the mention of such a thing. "But they only put one inside."

"It must have multiplied. The last one is the largest, but it will be destroyed. It will take some more time, but it will be done."

Ikuto noticed the position he was in and scooted his head over, so his head was on her shoulder instead of her bosom. "Hey Kikyou, is it alright if I ask you something?" She slightly nodded and he took that as a yes. "What happened between Inuyasha and you? Why don't you two love each other anymore?" He avoided her eyes. "I mean, he still loves you a lot. When I see him with Kagome, he blushes. He's so immature when he's around her; as if he's falling in love all over again. But when he's with you" he decided to have enough courage to face her "he doesn't blush at all. I see that he wants to embrace you so desperately. He's already in love with you, and it's deeper than anything I've ever seen before. I've never really been in love with anyone before, not until…Well, you know. Not until Kagome. I still know how to look in someone's eyes and see. I saw my brother's eyes change when he came home from the first date with his wife. I know it from my parents. I still remember the look in their eyes when they smiled at each other. I know what it looks like, and Inuyasha has that look in his eyes, and so do you. So I ask why? Why is it that you can't be with him?"

What could she say? She did still love Inuyasha, but she couldn't let herself be with him. "It wasn't meant to be."

"How could you say that? If it wasn't meant to be then why were you brought back?"

"I was brought back by a witch demon in order to find the Shikon jewel. I was brought back to put an end to Naraku. That is all. Fate will not allow anymore than this."

"That's not true! If you two still love each other, then how come you can't be together?"

"Fate-"

"Don't talk about fate to me!" he yelled. "Everything in my life has been crap because it had to happen to Inuyasha first!" Ikuto escaped from Kikyou's grasp and sat up. "Don't tell me that it's fate plan, because I don't want to have to believe it. Inuyasha's parents are dead from what I know, and mine are too! His brother hates him, and mine hates me as well. He's not accepted by anyone and nor am I. Everything that's wrong with my life is a reflection of what happened to his life. Don't tell me that its fate, because I don't want to believe that whatever happened to him is automatically going to happen to me. I don't want that anymore, because if what you're saying is true…" he quieted down, not really wanting to hear his own words "then Kagome and I aren't meant for each other either."

"Ikuto…" she touched his shoulder sympathetically and spoke so softly to him that it made his mind ease. "Maybe it's another chance, you and Kagome. I can't be with Inuyasha because I am not alive. I wanted to be an ordinary woman, and he was going to be an ordinary man. We could have had an ordinary family…" he touched the hand that was placed on his shoulder. "Tell me Ikuto, what do I have to offer Inuyasha? I can't offer him a son. I can't offer him a daughter. I can't ever offer him the warm touch that a lively woman has. All I am is clay and dirt. I live by taking the souls of young maidens. So you see I cannot live with Inuyasha because I cannot give him anything, not life, not a future, not even hope. Love is giving."

"But love is accepting" Inuyasha said, standing in the doorway.

"How long have you been there?" Ikuto asked.

Inuyasha didn't pay him any attention. "Kikyou, I just wanted you. That's all I ever wanted."

"Inuyasha…it can't be. Let it go, Inuyasha. Just" she didn't feel like explaining herself any longer "let it go." There was an awkward silence between them all. Inuyasha would have liked to end it and just run to Kikyou and embrace her with a kiss and tell her that none of those things mattered. He just wanted her to know that he loved her, and would always love her, no matter what.

"Kikyou…" Inuyasha sniffed the air. "The scent of the wind has changed. That means it can only be Kagura."

Ikuto felt his stomach. "It hurts again." He held it and began coughing. "It's not stopping!" Ikuto lost his strength again and fell to the floor. "It's getting stronger!"

Inuyasha could smell the wind coming and could feel it. "Kikyou!" He ran to her to shelter her from Kagura's attack. Inuyasha remembered Ikuto and grabbed him with one arm while he held Kikyou with the other. "Hold on!" A tornado hit them and Inuyasha felt like he was being ripped apart as he held on to the both of them. He held on to Kikyou tighter and tried to do the same to Ikuto, but the wind was too strong and he let go of Ikuto.

"Inuyasha!" Kikyou yelled when she saw Ikuto flying around in the tornado all by himself, unable to do anything but let the wind carry him, but Kagura had other plans.

She grabbed Ikuto by his shirt that was being torn apart as they continued to spin, but it held on as long as she needed. "Got you." You placed him on her feather with him and then flew away as Inuyasha and Kikyou continued to spin around out of control. "Thanks for the kid, Inuyasha!"

When she had left, the tornado died down and Inuyasha landed on his feet with Kikyou in his arms. "Darn it, she got away!"

"Go after her" Kikyou said, rubbing her shoulder. "Whatever Naraku is planning, you can't let him succeed, Inuyasha." She smiled at Inuyasha, something that he hadn't really seen in a while, and it was something that he missed. She was so beautiful. "This boy is special."

He frowned. "Will you really not tell me what it is?"

"No, Inuyasha. If you and your friends haven't figured it out yet then its best that I not say anything at all. It's already too big of a risk. I won't tell anyone of his secret Inuyasha, not even him."

"You don't think he knows?"

"I don't know how he could. Please go save him Inuyasha. I would rather not see him hurt by Naraku."

"I wouldn't either." Inuyasha didn't know what else to say to her. She had already made it clear that she couldn't give him anything and she believed she was obligated to give him something. "I meant what I said to you Kikyou. You don't have to give me anything. All I ever wanted was you. That's what I still want. That's all I'll ever need." Inuyasha ran towards the direction of Kagura right after that, in a hurry to stop Kagura.

"But Inuyasha, I wanted to give you everything. I wanted to bare your children and give them lives worth living, and yet here I am, not even alive." She looked up at the sky and secretly wished things were different. She didn't mean to, but she couldn't deny the fact that she wanted to live with Inuyasha. "Another chance, another chance for me and Inuyasha through Kagome and Ikuto."

Ikuto opened his eyes and saw the face of a female demon. She was beautiful, even though she was pale and her eyes were pink and her lips where a red. "Do I know you?"

"I would assume not" she said. "I am Kagura, the wind sorceress."

"Where are we going?"

"To Naraku, he's very interested in seeing Inuyasha's reincarnation."

Ikuto got a little strength. "Sorry, but I've got other plans." He pushed her so that she fell off of her own feather; causing the one Ikuto was riding to return to its normal length. "Oh no!" He began to yell, thinking that he was going to fall to his death. There was no logical way he could survive the fall. He was too far up in the air.

Kagura of course had no worries and gracefully landed on her feet. "That idiot! Who does that kid think he is? I'll kill him myself for that!"

Ikuto closed his eyes, knowing that he was going to land in the forest, and probably collide with a tree. 'It's all over now!' Ikuto could feel his arm shattering as he landed on it and a shock go all throughout his spine. He hadn't felt pain like that from as far as he could remember, but if he could feel, then he was still alive. 'This doesn't make any sense! How was I able to survive that?'

"Dance of blades!"

Ikuto got up and was surprisingly able to run, faster than what he ever was before. He wasn't able to get away from Kagura's attack, and it hit his arm and another hit his leg, but he didn't let it phase him. He continued running on, trying to find Kagome.

"Dance of the dragon!"

Ikuto looked behind him and saw a tornado headed his way. "Not again! Give it a rest already, will ya lady?" He ran even faster trying to avoid is somehow, but it was too fast.

"Kagome, wake up!" Shippo shook her back over and over again. She was struggling not to wake up.

"Just a little while longer…" she looked up at Shippo and frowned. "Is Inuyasha back?"

"No, but Ikuto is."

"Alone?" Her eyes widened and she threw her sleeping bag off of her. She was in the room meant for her and Sango, but she quickly ran to the one where Miroku and Inuyasha were supposed to stay. "Ikuto!"

His body was cut in many places and his eyes were dimming, as if the light of life were almost completely gone. "K…Kagome!" he lost the feeling in his legs and fell forward into her arms.

"Ikuto! Don't worry." She held him closely. "I'm right here with you!"

To be continued…

A/N: Looks like Inuyasha's going to be in big trouble when he comes back! Will everything be okay in the end? Review and find out!