My Will Chapter 14, an Inuyasha + Yu Yu Hakusho Crossover fanfic

My Will:

Chapters 14 & 15:

Final Chapters

Author's Note: I thought I would give everyone a awesome, and long waited for, Christmas present by finishing "My Will". I hope you all enjoy the fruit of my labor. I know the chapter's haven't always been good, the plot sagged in the middle, and Sesshoumaru singing was just plain wrong, but for those that have sticked with this and read all of it: Thank you, thank you all for your wonderful support.

(note: for my own reasons and to accommodated rules, only the song title of the first ending of "Inuyasha" is used. The rest of the lyrics used in this are purely my own, inspired by my imagination and by the original song.

Chapter 14: Our Requiem

"Why do you remain here?"

Kurama opened his eyes. The field was different this time, it was devoid of flowers and covered in a thick layer of snow. The tree, their tree, had withered away. It was night this time, not day. And the little girl that he met before was no where in site. The pain that he had felt, the battle, that all seemed to be washed away. The only thing left was this raw feeling, a feeling he couldn't place.

"Why are you here? Why do you remain here?"

The voices, there were two which he could make out but both were speaking at the same time, seemed to be everywhere and no where. Kurama tried to lift himself off the ground, resisting the urge to go back to sleep. Somehow this place seemed to be two places at one. Past and present, his human past and demon past, seemed to merge and then separate.

Kurama accomplished his goal only to find out that the background hadn't just changed, so had he. His human body had been replaced with his demon one.

"What's the meaning of this, you've asked me this question before?" Kurama shouted out into the chilly atmosphere of the dream world he was in. Something, too fast for even his eyes to see, seemed to be dancing around him. A black and white blur that seemed to either be fighting, or making a ring around him.

The blur stopped moving, the world was still and Kurama stared at...

Nothing at all. And suddenly he realized it, why he had kept himself from really getting to know anyone, why his own self-doubts continually got in the way, and why Kikyou and him got closer only to have their love challenged again and again.

Nothing. That was the answer. Nothing was preventing them incept past fears.

"I'm afraid of hurting other's because of love, and Kikyou's afraid to love because of the past. Nothing had been preventing us from doing anything, incept us."

When he had left her in the part long ago.

When Naraku had controlled him he had given in, not just because of the power of the Shikon no Tama which manipulated hearts, but because of his own fear.

All those moments he had alone with Kikyou that were wasted.

And of course when the both of them refused to publicly announce their relationship. All this time they had been hiding behind reasons without even knowing it. Like their race, or the time they actually spent with each other. Midoriko actually seemed to have helped rather than hurt their relationship by revealing what was already there.

That was the point of all these dreams. Even the one's where they were against each other.

"Why do you remain here? Why are you here?"

Kurama turned toward their tree, the tree him and Kikyou had met by. The tree that had rotted by the harsh treatment of the ages, but by it's own will and time it had managed to sprout new growth. Dying from the past, yet living by the present. Holding on without letting go of anything.

This is our promise... Out Will, our song, our destiny.

"It will be our secret song..." She had told him that, and he had managed to remember because their was nothing standing in the way of him forgetting her this time. Even after this mission he would continue to remember.

"I stay because it's My Will to stay with her. And I feel it's hers as well. That's why I stay in her heart when other's have left."

"Because you won't let her go, even though your fears could come true?" The voices whispered.

"Yes.," Kurama let his hand trail across the now restored tree. He looked up into it's branches and at the cloudy nighttime sky. "I believe I can change. Just as I believe she'll being able to change. We have to get to know each other better, demon/human relationships are still despised but not as much as they used to be, and it doesn't matter what else stands in our way. It doesn't matter anymore."

Because I want to be with you I'll do anything.

I'll find you, because we are one.

Everything was burning, her heart, the town that she had spent her life protecting was burning around her and there wasn't one thing she could do about it.

People were dying, children were crying, and her own self was hurt. Both her shoulder and heart seemed to be ripped apart. Wincing, a new pain seemed to add. It was almost as if claws were scrapping across her legs and rib cage.

My heart, everything I've sacrificed. Again I've been fooled into believe I, The damned priestess Kikyou, can be happy.

Closing her eyes, Kikyou let herself fall to her knees in the middle of the ruins around her. Now what, now what would she do? There was no longer any will left to even stand.

Once again love has been your downfall. This one thought seemed to stay with her, haunting her with it's vicious truth. Images, of people she loved, hurt, and left seemed to flash before her mind.

I have to stay strong, get through this, hold my head up hight and continue.

"What's the point of continuing?" Something inside of her seemed to ask. "When all you'll get is pain and a broken will?"

"My will," Kikyou muttered. That was the one thing that had made her continue all those long years. Made her continue helping other's and trying to salvage her lost humanity.

And now, for some reason it seemed point less. Kikyou chocked back the pain, trying to keep together the image she had painted up till now, but still some tears escaped.

Something, the song that she had made for herself to get her through everything, passed from her lips. With out the energy to stop it or make it at least happier.

"Unable to move forward...

Buried secrets, hidden lies, hiding the truth behind our eyes.

I want to wake up somewhere, and know that what I feel is true.

A heart that's seen, yet one that's never experienced REAL joy, is that even a heart?

My Will, that keeps us apart, continues to grow.

I want to overcome my pride and foolishness without getting hurt.
Without hurting or being hurt, I want to reach out and grasp L-O-V-E. But without even really trying, I pull back.

Somehow or the other we grew apart, saying that "I'll cherish you" just isn't enough. The promises broken are piling up.

I want to over come this barrier, and prove that I can change for you.

My Will, endless obsession with ruining what we have. Are we worthy of love? Can I overcome my own selfishness?

Without losing or gaining anything, time stands still in my heart. I can still see OUR time.

We get to know each other again, and it's just the same thing. The same song playing on the radio echoes our "love".

I spent my day's alone, by myself, thinking that I can go one without you.

Thinking of you, made me cry so many times that I have no tears left to shed for myself.

But I have, I have the Will to be strong without you. I have the Will to go one without you.

I know I have to go on this path by myself, pain and all. So by eating my desires I proceed.

No matter how many thorns cut my heart or how many steps it takes,

I have the Will to see you again.

I want to overcome my pride and foolishness without getting hurt.

Without hurting or being hurt, I want to reach out and grasp L-O-V-E. But without even really trying, I pull back.

Somehow or the other we grew apart, saying that "I'll cherish you" just isn't enough.

There's so many things I wish we could tell each other, so many sides of "us" that I want to see.

So without giving up anything I want to fly on broken wings and believe in YOU and I.

I want to overcome my pride and foolishness without getting hurt.
Without hurting or being hurt, I want to reach out and grasp L-O-V-E. But without even really trying, I pull back.

Somehow or the other we grew apart, saying that "I'll cherish you" just isn't enough. The promises broken are piling up.

I want to over come this barrier, and prove that I can change for you.

Wanting to change, but unable to. Can't you show me how?

The more I love you, the more I realize my imperfections.

So without trying I turn away.

Even though we're so close, this stubborn Will of mine pulls us apart.

Saying "I love you despite it all" without knowing WHY only makes the emptiness grow.

The time that we meet again, this time I'll definitely overcome it!

These few steps bring me closer, I want to believe in love without looking at past examples.

This distance only makes my heart and Will to be with you again stronger.

The part of me I can't change, we'll be able to accept.

I'll overcome My Will to be with you again."

"We can overcome Our Will." A voice spoke from the Darkness as Kikyou finished the last lines in her song. She peered into the darkness in front of her, at first she could see nothing. But slowly, a familiar shape separated itself from the darkness. Someone that though altered, she still recognized. At first a part of her was afraid, but this soon melted into a sense of calm and great sorrow.

This person, I know who he is. Long ago I-

"You found me, and now I find you. Kikyou, don't doubt yourself or me, this," Kurama indicated with a wave of his hand the ruined village. "Is just pain brought up from long ago."

Kikyou couldn't seem to recall what had happened, who he was, or what was going on, but his words gave her a greater comfort then her own company could ever give her. Kurama, either sensing her confusion, knelled down to embrace her. Whispering more to himself then to her: "The games our hearts play."

Kikyou held her breath, even though he was a demon, something was still familar about him. The ruins around her seemed to grow hazy, almost disappearing. But still within sight.

She opened her mouth to ask what was going on, but something entirely different came out. "It'll just end up happening again. The only reason I'm here is because I'm afraid."

"Of losing yourself or me." It wasn't a question.

"Both." Kikyou replied to his statement.

"Why?" Kurama titled her chin up so he could see her eyes and the truth in them. Kikyou's tear filled eyes seemed to be unreadable, yet full of emotion. "Why are you still afraid?"

Kikyou shook off his hand. "Because I'm weak. I'm strong, yet I'm still weak inside. It's okay for me to fight, to push others in order to get what I want, to talk and manipulate. But when I really mean it, when I really love, I get scared... I get scared I'll leave them someday!"

Kaede

Even after all these years, the memory of her family still hurt. Like a open wound that never quiet healed.

Kikyou gripped her head between her hands, trembling. "I killed them. It was my power that destroyed them. I hurt Kaede! I loved her, maybe even more then I love you, and yet I left her on a whim. I left her alone! And then I came back, expecting her to still love me. And she hated me. Her last words, there was more to it. She didn't say it, but all those years, all those years that we shared through all of them she knew. She knew that I, I... She knew the truth. And I tried to get on without them, I pushed myself into the fight with Naraku and the love affair between Inuyasha and Kagome in order to make them disappear. If everything that reminded me of my pain left then would that pain still be there? I talk big when I'm fighting physically, I love when I feel like it, but when I'm alone and inside myself I see it's just talk. I can only help others, I can't help myself."

Kurama didn't know what to say, how could he take away her fear when his fear was similar. If he ever, if his powers ever destroyed his own family...

Kikyou continued. "So when I met you, something happened. I can't describe it. I had helped other children, but you were different. It wasn't just your condition, it was some spark. You understood my pain, getting close to other's yet never giving them all of you because of the fear of being left alone in the end. So I cried and believed that you would come back. And you didn't and I finally understood how Kaede felt. That belief in someone shattered forever. I tried to hate you when you did come back, you didn't even remember me at first, but I couldn't. I couldn't hate you, not even when I was waiting for you did I really hate you. Then I tried to get myself wrapped up in this case, but I couldn't. And now I realize that I didn't become human for myself, it was for you. But even that was a mistake, because it will never be over. You can't forget the pain, it's not like they say "forget and forgive. Ha, nothing is truly forgettable. The pain of losing everything, of people betraying you, who can forget? Now that you know the evil inside of me, will you leave me now?"

Kikyou looked up at Kurama, gold met brown in a lock of gazes. Kurama's unsure and despairing and Kikyou's pain filled and waiting.

Kurama closed his eyes, behind his closed lids he could see a path. Endless, cold and barren. Filled with snow, an endless winter that would not end. The falling snow and barren trees echoing that their was no happy ending in sight unless one was to be made on a different route. But their was no different path was their.

Kurama opened his eyes, Kikyou was still staring up at him. Waiting for his response.

Finally he spoke: "I couldn't forget you if I tried. I couldn't stop loving you even if I wanted to. You think I forgot about you? Yes, part of me did forget, because part of me wanted to push you away. I didn't know what I felt back then, and I didn't want to see what that feeling was. In dreams I still remembered you. You're a character that's impossible to forget. And now I see that I pushed other's away because I was looking for someone like you. And you were looking for someone like me. I can't promise you that I won't hurt you, that I won't leave you, or that we'll have a happy ending. But this heart that's already yours can promise you that I'll try to help us. We can't forget, but we can change. Nothing stands in our way now."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing incept us. I-"

Kikyou reached up and silenced him. She wiped away her tears and put on a determined look. "I want to hear that after this is over. There is one thing that stands in the way. So let me think and finish my task. After that, I want those words after that."

Kikyou stood up with Kurama's help. The scenery around them had vanished till it seemed like they were standing in an endless sea of darkness. There was a feeling like something was tugging on the both of them. Kikyou reached up and whispered in his ear, her words barely audible were:

"Stay with me, even if our world ends. If I should die, stay with me."

"Kurama?"

"Hiei? I guess I'm awake now, huh? What happened by I was out for the count?"

Kurama looked outside the open door in the house they were temporarily staying. They were still in the Demon Slayers village. Yusuke had managed to find a doctor that lived close by who had taken care of their wounds. In the end, staying put for a few days had been to their advantage. Botan was once again among them, she was determined to stay with the group for Naraku and reasons of her own. Though Botan and Kuwabara's talk/mission was never explained to any of them. Things had turned out alright, messy, but alright in the end.

"...And that's where this chapter begins, with you waking up."

Kurama looked toward the door leading to the adjoining room. "And Kikyou?"

Hiei looked toward the door also. "Your lover's still asleep."

Kurama smiled slyly. "So you knew?"

Hiei glanced at Kurama then stood up to stretch. "I knew even before you slept with her. The only ones that are still in the dark are Kuwabara and Yusuke. That barrier prevented anyone from hearing anything going on inside of it, but I've always been very good at reading lips."

Kurama sat up and groaned. His legs felt numb, but that was only to be expected. In the dream it seemed like only an hour had passed, when in fact it had been days.

"What about Naraku?"

"We'll leave to take him on as soon as Kikyou's awake. Botan has a lead."

Kurama stood up slowly once the feeling in his legs returned. "Kikyou should be up soon."

"How do you know?"

Kurama shrugged his shoulders and smiled mysteriously. Who could explain the workings of the hearts?

True to his word, Kikyou did wake up soon. Everything was explained, but the feelings between the group was still tense. Even between Kikyou and Kurama things were stiff. They left the next morning, Kikyou and Botan, who suprisntly harbored no ill feelings toward the other woman, walked far ahead of the group.

The conversation between two woman who had the same feelings was not something for outsiders to hear.

"So you knew? I guess we did nothing to hide it. Only Kurama and me didn't know until the last minute." Kikyou explained. She looked off into the trees where two birds were singing a duet. Somewhere out their, life still continued beyond this unchanging forest.

Botan looked down at her hands, fumbling with the device in their hands which was keeping them from getting lost and straying off the path they were on. "Yes, I knew. I sort of hoped that the two of you would prove to be two different, or that the differences between you two would show. But, through it all you two stayed together. I feel like a fool now."

Kikyou stopped walking. For every winner there had to be a loser. "Why?"

Botan chewed her bottom lip. "I tried to get close to him. But he was always looking far away. I think that he was looking for someone like you. His words never expressed it, I guess it was just a woman's intuition."

"That's exactly what he said to me."

"Pardon?"

Kikyou smiled wistfully. Looking away from the trees to let her eyes rest on Botan. "It's nothing. No one can go through this life alone. You'll find someone. Maybe he's just under your nose."

Botan's face scrunched up, faking being angry. "If you mean one of the other men in this group, you can forget it. They're all pigs."

"Whose a pig?" Hiei seemed to just suddenly pop up at Botan's side. Botan jumped from his sudden appearance and glare.
Laughing nervously she tried to put out his anger. She had forgot that demons had very good hearing. "I meant, "there's a pig"!"

Kikyou laughed at the two of them and then looked up at the sky.

If tomorrow's the end of everything, if I lose to Naraku, let me remember this one moment.

Let me remember our song...

(End of chapter)

Chapter 15: I'll be with you

Villains, if you've reach the final stages of your journey, chances are that you'll have to go through some giant castle and face the bad guy. It's like a code of honor for them to have a base, never seem to actually kill you, and laugh very evilly. That and the ending speech where they explain everything.

So when the group, consisting of Kuwabara, Botan, Hiei, Kurama, and Kikyou, finally laid their eyes upon the ruins of what used to be a city among the mists of the mountains and then upon the castle looming over them. They weren't surprised. The fog and miasma encased mountains had shielded anyone not coming to the lesser known city from seeing the site. But it hadn't been lost to Botan's sources.

Kikyou stood, taking in the breathtaking yet bleak site. Would it finally end here? Wasn't that what Inuyasha and them had thought so long ago. What if there was no end to Naraku's power?

"Kikyou, let's go."

Kikyou turned at the sound of her name and looked back at Kurama, the other's were further down on the path leading to the ruined city. His eyes seemed to reassure her spirit. There was no time to think about the past now, or to mourn those that had been killed by Naraku. Even if they could turn back time, what good would it have done?

'Even if we don't truly beat him, there will always be people to stop him. Inuyasha, you, always.' Kikyou thought to herself and then left the edge of the cliff she was standing on. She would beat him, she would face the past and beat Naraku.

Upon reaching the city they could all clearly see that there was nothing to be salvaged or rescued. The fire that had engulfed it had left nothing of it's previous glory.

"Now what?" Hiei asked, turning to both Botan and Kikyou. He kicked a chard piece of wood aside, revealing a skull underneath.

How many victims were there now from Naraku's malice?

"We can't just storm the castle like a pair of idiots." At this Botan gave a sharp look to both Yusuke and Kuwabara. "We should go by the most unused entrance. Before Naraku turned this into his domain that castle had been standing there. There's a old map that I managed to download of it. If we go up it's southern side there should be a entrance to a sewer system. We can even enter those tunnels from here. But if Naraku has destroyed that point of entry we'll have to try the western gate."

"So the big plan is to not use up all our power till we get to the boss?" Kurama added.

Botan nodded. Naraku was the main event. The demon would probably send out a lot of guards to distract them, but if they got around them then they would at least have a fighting chance of winning.

"Right now we should rest for the moment and perfect our plan." Botan continued, putting emphasis on the word plan. "This isn't like missions in the past, we all have to work together on this."

Kurama, instead of sitting down and talking about the plan, got up and walked a little. He couldn't help feeling that-

A warm hand fell across his shoulder, before he could turn to attack the person behind him she announced her presence.

"Sorry, I forgot that sneaking up on you isn't such a good idea!"

"Botan, what are you doing here?"

Botan turned to look back at the group behind them. "I already discussed the plan with Kikyou on the way over here. That and you WERE leaving. What did I just say about team work?"

Kurama gave her a small smile. She always seemed to be there to offer some kind of support. He was lucky to have such good friends. "I just can't help feeling that-"

"That this destruction is your fault?" Botan interrupted. "It's not. This was here long before we started out on our mission. Why else do you think we needed Kikyou to help find Naraku. without her senses and some work on the netherworlds part, we wouldn't have been able to find these weeks old ruins."

Kurama sighed. A weight seemed to have been lifted off his shoulders. "That's good to hear."

Botan felt like she should do something now, since this might be the last moment she would have with him. But she just couldn't betray Kikyou like that. That and the feelings that she had seemed to already be not so strong, almost as if her heart accepted what her mind had refused to see all these years. She patted his shoulder again and smiled against the pain in her heart.

"Don't just walk away like that, you have a girlfriend to think of now. If you have something on your mind talk about it together."

"I guess..."

"Huh?" Did things between Kikyou and Kurama had been tense and distant as of late. Botan thought it was just to hide their relationship from the ones that didn't know about it. Maybe she was right, or maybe they just needed some time away from each other to think.

The dawn of the next day, they put their plan in action. Even in the sewers, the climb to the castle was still rough, but at least nothing was waiting down there for them besides the smell of garbage. When they did reach the end of their path no one was waiting for them at that end either. The castle stood silent. Even inside no guards were placed, the decor was frighting enough. Walking the inside of the castle was almost like walking in the inside of a person. The building seemed to breath along with them and the floors and walls felt to warm and slippery to be made out of wood or stone. Many rooms were added and taken away so that Botan's map was almost useless.
Finally they reached the "heart" of the building, where Naraku was waiting for them.

Naraku seemed to have grown taller, to the point where he seemed to tower stories above them. The high open ceiling and muted lighting of the room gave it a airy gloomy look about it. Like a cemetery. His eyes seemed to pass over everyone of their faces, coming to at last rest upon Kikyou's. They glared at each other. The hatred that each felt for each other seemed to put out the few candles in the room. luckily the sun managed to shine some of it's rays into the cursed building.

"It's been a long time Kikyou..."

Kikyou pulled out her bow and notched an arrow in it, the others pulled out their weapons. Botan, who couldn't fight was backing up to wait outside when the door slammed and locked itself behind her.

Naraku laughed, a laugh that unfortunately echoed across the vast room. "I see you don't desire to talk. We've had years after all and now there's nothing to say. Don't bother trying to leave this room, I can control everything here even the floor which you stand upon. Besides, what a more fitting place to be your tomb. You've should have left things alone and minded your own business."

'Your business is our business Naraku,' Kikyou thought to herself while watching Naraku come toward them. 'It's ours and every person that you have destroyed!'

The battle, the explosions and sounds of weapons clashing could be seen from the same cliff that Kikyou had previously been standing upon. Sesshoumaru stood silent and watched with Rin at his side. Witnesses to whatever happened.

Rin, like in the old days, held on to Sesshoumaru and watched with fear. What if they lost, what if Kikyou-

"She'll come back. Those trials that she has went through haven't been for nothing."

"But I feel terrible, just standing here! Can we do nothing?"

Sesshoumaru glanced down at Rin, then back to the distant castle. "No, we can do nothing, it isn't our battle. Ours ended long ago."

Rin looked away from Sesshoumaru and down at the ground beneath them and the ruined city. He was right of course. He always seemed to be right. The only time Sesshoumaru's judgment had been wrong was when it came to Kikyou. And maybe even that was for the best.

"Kikyou, you better come back to us." Rin whispered to herself and held on to Sesshoumaru tighter.

This battle would decide many things, not just for them, but for every one. It would be an ending to what had been a endless fairy tale.

The floor shifted, the ground changed. Everything that Naraku said was coming true, he really could control this room because it was just an extension of himself. Kikyou managed to put up a shield around Botan, who could only watch.

As the ground around Kikyou's feet shifted like sand and seemed to rise up to devour her she was yanked back by Kurama. They exchanged a glance of thanks and frustration.

How could they fight Naraku if he controlled the very environment they were on?

Kikyou looked up, high the walls were his flesh and flesh can be destroyed. She aimed her arrow at what seemed to be a thick red line which could be his main artery or nothing at all. The arrow hit it's mark, blowing a huge hole in the wall. Naraku screamed and feel back upon the already heavily damaged wall, opening a passage way to the outside world.

And so the battle was taken outside.

Naraku raised up again, his hand turning into a hooked weapon. The group stayed together, formed a tight circle. Even outside Naraku was a terrible foe.
Naraku cut into the ground where they had previously been, luckily for them they had escaped the hit. But now their ranks were divided. They stuck out wither their weapons but it seemed that where ever they hit the area grew back.

The jewel, the Shikon no Tama and Naraku's own power seemed to make him invincible.

Kikyou's eye's widened, could she actually see it? Yes, the Shikon no Tama. The aura of the jewel was glowing right over Naraku's own heart.

"His heart, that's his weak spot!"

"Are you sure?" Kurama shouted over the noise of the battle. Kikyou nodded, even after all this time she still had all her skills and then some.

Kurama relayed the information to the other's. Botan added info to it:

"The real reason we have Kikyou on her team is because she's the only one that can really finish off Naraku. Her and Kagome's holy arrows were the only thing that killed Naraku before!"

Naraku smiled at their plan. Could they really believe they could defeat him? Before he had been a half demon, but now he was a whole demon. In his mind they didn't stand a chance. And with out their priestess.

Naraku shot out his tentacles No matter how much the group attacked, they just seemed to grow. So much so that it was almost impossible to keep up with them.

Kikyou tried to stay calm, this was a common attack of Naraku's. She cut down the ones in her way and tried to see past the fog and dust clouds in front of her. Something moved behind her, and before she could turn fully around it was already too late. Certain that this was the end, that the tentacle would pierce her heart, Kikyou prepared to block it with her arm. Even if that didn't work it was better with nothing.

But she didn't have to. Kurama jumped in front of her and tired to block off Naraku's weapon with his rose whip. Naraku's other weapon, his hook seemed to appear above their heads. Kikyou managed to put together another shield but it broke through. Not being able to save one without losing the other, Kurama made a desperate gamble.

He let the tentacle go and pushed both him and Kikyou to the ground. Naraku's hook his the tentacle and injured himself.

Hissing Naraku prepared for a second attack when Yusuke's Rei gun (is that correct?) stopped him.

"We're not out of this battle. So don't forget about us."

"Yusuke, don't you think this isn't the time for a speech?" Botan commented. luckily she couldn't be heard.

Kurama and Kikyou stood up. The fog was getting thicker, it was now harder to see each other, much less Naraku. Things had gone strangely quiet. Kikyou couldn't even see the Shikon no Tama.

Suddenly two things happened, the fog suddenly cleared and the ground under Kikyou's feet shifted and she found her limbs tangled in Naraku's tentacles

"Kikyou!" The shout seemed to be heard from miles away as Kikyou was raised up until she was eye level to Naraku. The tentacles grip increased, breaking her right arm.

"If you're out of the picture then I won't have to worry about the ants below you." Naraku grinned triumphantly.

"You forget, my power isn't just limited to a bow and arrow. You're a fool." Kikyou gasped between the pain and let her broken arm drop from Naraku's release. He had been foolish enough to think that she was now useless. As the rest of her body still encased in his grip started to be broken as well her hands glow matched that of the jewel.

'If there's anyone in there...'

Down below Kurama and the rest were trying to cut down Naraku. With his victory in sight, more arms seemed to grow from him, each with a weapon of their own and each more of a challenge then the last. The group seemed to be receiving more damage then causing any. They were all on their last leg, if some miracle didn't happen now...

'help me win your freedom.'

Her bones didn't seem to hurt as they had before. Kikyou reached her arm toward Naraku's heart. There was a cracking sound, and then Naraku leaned forward in pain. The spot where his heart was was cracking like clay. The jewel had suddenly turned into acid in his veins. Kikyou was let go. Kurama, even in his weakened state, managed to catch her in mid air. The two settled back on the ground, they all looked up to see Naraku injuring himself in order to rip the jewel out of his body.

"It won't last for long, Naraku will soon be up again. We have to act now. It's a chance but, if I can manage to lend my power to each of you, and we all hit him at the same spot at the same time..." Kikyou trailed off, she didn't need to explain it. Some plans went without words.

despite their differences they had made it here.

despite their past they had joined together.

And now the mission was almost over.

Everyone raised their weapons, Kurama laid Kikyou on the ground by Botan's feet. He leaned down and whispered in her ear: "Stay with me, even if our world ends. If I should die, stay with me."

Kikyou looked up into his eyes and reached up her uninjured arm to wipe away the smudge of dirt on his cheeks. She smiled. "Go. I'll stay by your side."

Kurama nodded and sadly pulled away to join the others.

"You ready?" Yusuke looked at the others and asked. He could already feel Kikyou working her magic.

Hiei sighed, Kuwabara looked up into the sky, and Kurama nodded. No words were needed for this one either, they were born ready.

Naraku had found the jewel, he threw it away from him and grinned down menacingly at the group at his feet. He didn't seem to notice the aura surrounding them or the gapping wound in his heart which was there target. He reached out to crush them and they dodged his attack and landed on his out stretched arms, using them as a platform. Before he could shake them off each of them attacked at the same time, piercing his heart.
But like all villains, non died without dealing some damage. Instead of blood, miasma spewed up, hitting them. Miasma was much like acid, and a description of having your flesh burned by acid is not needed for the reader to get a image of such a thing in their head.

But, there is always hope. Even in the darkest night hope still shines. Kikyou, seeing that those around her were about to die made the first, and last, wish on the jewel. Even so far away it still heard her. What she wished for she wasn't quite sure, some things, some emotions, in one self don't have words to explain their existence.

There was a bright light, a scream that was either Kikyou's or her own, and then.

Nothing. Things took on shades of black and white. Before her was a great and terrible plain. A battle had taken place and it seemed like it had left thousands of bodies in it's wake. Both human and demon. But someone, someone was still left.

Midoriko.

Kikyou could feel no ill will toward the woman. She had saved her before and now she was saving her again. What do you want this time, was what Kikyou wanted to say but she couldn't seem to speak.

Midoriko reached out her hand toward Kikyou, a great distance was separating them but in her palm Kikyou could clearly see a coin. A soul coin. Was it hers or Midoriko's?

"Long ago, in the midst of battle when I was about to lose everything, I made a wish to save everything. It is as much my fault as Naraku's for your misfortune. I want to pay back what I owe."
Kikyou finally founder her voice. "The others..."

"They are fine. For the moment. I have stopped time because of you."

"Me?"

Midoriko laughed sadly. "Can you not see it yet? You are me, I am you... Just as Kagome is the reincarnation of you-"

"I am of you."

Midoriko smiled sadly again. She nodded her hear at the scenery around them. "This can all stop now, if you will it I won't have to fight anymore. You helped me then, I want to help you now."

"And the price?" Kikyou asked. The jewel was both good and evil, the price it cost to use it was more than anyone could pay. "What is the price for me and my friends lives this time?"

"Life is short, everyone will die one day. Even if you live a thousand lives you will die a thousand times. The price of living is death. This jewel is just a reflection of that. Naraku, me, this realm, it must be destroyed no matter what. What say you Priestess of the Shikon?"

Kikyou closed her eyes, that path that she had seen long ago. The path covered in snow seemed to be stopped by time as well. But further down it, just a arms length away was a certain red haired person she cared for. His hand was reaching out to her like Midoriko's but in his hand was the future.

The future they would make together.

"Thank you. I choose to end it."

Time resumed, but this time Kikyou's body was healed. Her legs and arms were no longer broken. She managed to stand up and form a shield that surrounded Kurama and the other's after the attack. The miasma didn't kill them this time.

Naraku, dieing and only half of him remaining, stumbled and fell off the mountain side. They had managed to jump off him but the weight of Naraku's fall made the ground beneath their feet crumble.
Botan screamed, Kikyou cursed. So this was the price. Behind them the castle walls were falling in on itself, Naraku was dead and so was his residence.

Botan and Kikyou ran to the edge of the cliff and looked down. Botan was crying openly by Kikyou was holding on to her pain, holding a hand over her heart which still hoped and which now held the jewel. She was it's owner now, just like Midoriko had said. But Kikyou would rather had died with Kurama or let Naraku live then this.

Suddenly there was a strange noise at their feet. A coughing, followed by harsh breathing, and then:

"HEY, hey, down here! Hello, could you stop crying like a baby and help!" Yusuke's voice shot up from the abyss below.

Botan cried harder. "Oh, Yusuke's ghost is calling to us from the great beyond!"

"What the f---! I'm not dead you b-"

"Don't talk to Botan like that! Hey, idiot, we're not dead! We're hanging on for dear life, throw a rope or something!"

The fog started to disappear, and with it they could see the melting remains of Naraku's body far below and Yusuke holding on with one hand to the edge of the cliff, followed by the other's gripping his and each other's legs.

"Oh, you're not dead!" Botan happily exclaimed, clapping her hands together and forgetting the names they had called her.

Kikyou lowered her eyes and sighed happily. They weren't dead. It seemed like they were going to be all right. The mission was finally over. Kikyou and Botan bent to help the other's up and tend to their injures which seemed to be mysteriously healed.

It was all over.

Days passed, old wounds were healed but never forgotten. The picture that they had taken at the end, the only group picture they had to remember each other by. Was in a oak picture frame on Kurama's desk. In the picture Yusuke was posed like a hunter with one foot on one of the fallen walls of Naraku's castle, one of his arm's raised in a thumb's up. The other's were behind him. Botan who was half out of the picture because the camera's timer was too short, Hiei looking impatient, Kuwabara with a stupid grin on his face, and Kikyou and Kurama looking both happy and upset at the same time. Melancholy was the word maybe.

After all, with the mission over, was there anything keeping them together besides themselves?

Kurama attempted to smile at the framed photograph. His arms were folded over the desk and his head lay on top of them. Outside the window on the wall to his right life went on. Life always went on, even those in pain had to admit that. She had left him at the crossroads, saying that she had to think and do something important. To not try to find her.

Like stated before, life went on.

Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, and Botan seemed to not know where Kikyou was either. But they seemed more content in that knowledge, only he seemed to be worrying too much. Even with his heart torn he still had to admit this also: Even if she never came back he would always be happy he met her. At least this time he wasn't the one to forget.

A love that started at childhood and continued on today. The princess and the prince that wakes her meet a thousand years later and fall in love again, what rubbish, what fairy tales that are told and come true. A modern feudal fairy tale.

What a tale, what a fairy tale about a ghost and a fox.

Soft knocking at his door followed by his name called softly. Kurama's mother walked in with a plate of cookies balanced in one hand and a glass of milk in the other. Comfort foods seemed to be the only thing she could make right now. She was attempting, even if she didn't know the reason for his pain, to cheer him up. Somehow he had left a boy and returned a man. But part of him seemed to be far away, he was now moody and silent. Locked up in his room most days and walking in the woods in others.

She lay the platter of cookies by his head and held on to the milk, looking down at her son. Was it a woman problem? Was that part of the reason he had been away for so long? She opened her mouth to speak, but Kurama seemed to read her mind.

"I'll be alright, don't worry so much. It's not as bad as you think." Kurama mumbled sleepily and turned his head to look at his mother from the corner of his eyes.

The older woman sighed and looked around his plant filled room, if she didn't know him and just walked in she would swear that this was a girls room. It was much too clean, only the bed seemed used.

"I was young and beautiful too you know, how else would I have attracted your father."
"Mother-"

She went on with our either not hearing him or ignoring him. "He was a little older than me. Okay, so maybe more than a little."

'Great,' Kurama thought to himself. 'at least I know why I like older woman now.'

"But he was so handsome, inside and out, that it didn't matter. I hoped that you would find someone just like that. I wonder at times if I raised you right. You never seem to bring a girl home or even be interested in settling down. But then again, there's a lot of your life I don't know. But I know that I love you, whatever you decide is best. Don't let yourself be burned by the present."

Kurama sat up and turned around in his chair to embrace his mother, causing her to almost drop her glass of milk on his head. He all of a sudden he felt really tired, as if he had been running down this path all of his life just to lose the person he was running after. Yet this person was important, he couldn't lose she or forget about her and go back. This love was too destructive, too powerful, and too wonderful, even if it hurt, to just abandon now.

He just needed time to catch his breath.

"Kurama?" Kurama's mother asked her son. Seeing that he had fallen asleep by still holding on to her, she set down the glass on the desk and placed her hands on top of his head. She sighed and looked out the window, how quickly they grew up and felt life's pains. How quickly they recovered once they found that pain was necessary.

The phone started ringing, the woman's head turned to look at the small white phone which could barely be seen behind a large potted fern next to Kurama's head. She wanted to go and answer it but if she did that she would disturb Kurama's much needed rest. So instead she let the answering machine pick it up.

"Hello, hi, it's Botan! Look, it's been a long time, but I finally got enough money to host a small celebration for our victory! Everyone should be there, well hopefully everyone. I have a surprise waiting for you so you better show! Yup, that's it, I mean I, and the other's, missed you so, never mind. Just show up. I mean-oh forget it. Just come! Bye!" The message ended.

Kurama's mother stared at the phone, a confused look on her face. What strange friends Kurama had! Well, she would make sure he got the message and attended. Maybe not seeing his friends in a while had been what was wrong with him. She smiled and looked down at her sons head.

"I did hope it was a girl problem though. I can't go on forever without seeing you truly happy."

The building that Botan had rented was a small hotel room put off to the side for parties and the like. The hotel itself looked unimpressive from the outside, but on the inside it's rich furnishings and service more than made up for that. No wonder the hotel was four stars!

To get the room Botan had rented, one had to go down a flight of stairs, past the kitchen and restrooms, and finally reach a small room lit with party lights and sparsely furnished except for a few tables weighed down by party trays. No wonder Botan had been able to rent a room here.

Kurama looked around him once he reached the bottom of the stairs. It wasn't much, but it was still a party. Everyone else had managed to get here before him and were already partying. They came up to him and smiled, said a few words and got back in line for seconds on the appetizers. It seemed that Botan hadn't just invited the people that actually worked on the mission but several of her and other's friends.

Botan looked away from a person that she was talking to and managed to see Kurama from across the room. He was wearing all black and despite the small smile on his face he seemed to be sad and withdrawn. But even that couldn't take away all of his charm. Which was probably why he had a small following of woman behind him plotting something.

Botan politely excused herself from the conversation she was in and walked up to Kurama.

"Hi, I thought you wouldn't come." She wanted to add: "I thought you wouldn't come without Kikyou."

Kurama smiled down at her, trying to cover up his true feelings. "Would you have liked me not to come?"

"No, no, of course not. It's just-Never mind. I'm glad you're here." She smiled back at him and turned to look around the room, anything but his sad green eyes. Where was the person she was looking for?

Kurama looked around as well. Kikyou wasn't here. Had she really expected her to come? He looked down at Botan, he wasn't oblivious to her feelings. He could try to forget about Kikyou and be with someone else. But he couldn't turn away from Kikyou even if he tried.

There were only two types of woman now, Kikyou and everyone else. And he only needed Kikyou.

Botan looked back at Kurama, wanting to explain the surprise she had in mind but before she could it walked through the door.

Botan's eyes widen, and several people stopped talking and looked toward the door. Before Kurama could even turn around he knew who it was.

Kikyou. She had changed, traveled so much that Botan had a hard time finding anyone incept Inuyasha that could hope to give her the message, yet she had managed to make it. She was wearing a black lace dress that reached above her knees with matching high heels with a low, short heel and black chandler earrings. The ribbon in her hair was black and also made of lace. She seemed not to be as pale as she had been, time in the sun had done her some good. But enough paleness remained to point out the condition she had had in life and now had again.

Kikyou scanned the room, looking for Kurama. Kurama turned and their eyes met and held on. Kikyou gave him a long meaningful glance and then turned on her heel and walked out of the room.

Botan opened her mouth to call to Kikyou, but before she could utter a word Kurama was running out the door as well. She shut her mouth and let them go. Somehow she had a feeling she wouldn't see them for awhile.

Up a flight of stairs, past the kitchen and restrooms, through a lobby and out the back door leading to the moon and lantern lit gardens. Running, running down that path that might lead to nowhere and everywhere. The person that he had been chasing was just within sight, the goal almost reached.

Don't run away from me any longer.

Kurama stopped running, he was at another crossroads. This place was huge, she could have taken any one of the three paths in front of him. Kurama looked from left to right, which one, which one was the correct path to choose.

If it means losing you or losing everything, let me lose everything.

Songs, they always echoed the feelings of others. Kurama spied a black ribbon dangling from the tree branches over the middle path, he reached up and untangled it, tieing it in his own hair. He continued onward toward the destination which he had glimpsed.

No matter what they say, if it's wrong or right. Lead on!

I want to follow your echoing footsteps.

Because I'm weak without you.

The path quickly ended and gave way to artificial lake filled with goldfish. Kikyou sat with her knees pulled up in front of it, her back against a weeping willow which hung over the lake with it's leaves almost touching the water itself. Her eyes seemed far away and her expression devoid of emotion.

She looked up at him as he reached her. With out a word he sat by her and watched the moon on the lakes surface.

I want to be with you, even if time shall stop and the world breaks!

The feelings of my heart can't be explained as easily as they say.

This world exists for us. Believe in me.

Believe in this heart.

After a while Kikyou finally spoke. "I told you I had to think about it. About us."

Kurama grew angry. How long would she continue to keep him waiting?

I love you can't say enough,

the words I want to say seem to vanish.

How long will you keep me waiting?

Am I a fool to stay here?

"You had to THINK about it? What about just believing in your heart? Wait, don't tell me, that's a little too much for you."

"Kurama..."

"Don't say my name without putting anything behind the words! I, I waited for you? I'm still waiting for you? Are you happy now? Now I know how you felt all those years!"

Kikyou turned toward him and reached out a hand to stoke his face. Kurama grasped her hand before it could reach him and pulled her toward him.

The memories of yesterday,

the ones that we made today, tomorrow, and in the future, where are they now?

Even the painful love we experienced with other's had memories.

Don't run away, don't run away away from something new.

The past exists so we can continue in the present.

The kiss was more bitter than loving, neither of them closed their eyes. Breathing was an option, ignoring the pain and making the other feel it was. It was savage, rough, and turning into something much more important. Who saw or that the night was almost over didn't seem to matter. They fell forward, Kikyou ending up on the bottom.

Kikyou looked up at the moon, the symbol of the night. How quickly things would end, she untangled her own ribbon from Kurama's hair.

I want to be with you, even if time shall stop and the world breaks!

The feelings of my heart can't be explained as easily as they say.

This world exists for us. Believe in me.

Believe in this heart.

Kikyou pushed Kurama away slightly, things were going way to fast. She needed to explain a few things first. Kurama looked up with a irritated glare that seemed to say "you owe me at least this much". Kikyou sat up despite her own feelings, she too wanted this moment but sometimes you must go without. Pulling her dress back on she escaped from his grasp and sat a few feet away from him.

"It's not like I wanted to leave you, or that I changed my mind about us. You should know it not that easy to believe in your "heart". But if you really think I'm that heartless maybe you could go without me, huh?"

Kurama pouted, something that was much unlike him. She had a way of making him angry at her yet loving her at the same time.

Kikyou smiled at his helpless expression and then continued. "I was serious when I said I want you to stay by me. But so was I when I said I had to think about it. I traveled, tied up a few loose ends. I visited Sesshoumaru and told him how I once felt about him, said sorry to Rin for leaving her and helped heal her own heart, I also visited Inuyasha. It took awhile, part of me will always hate him for what he did, but I have learned to accept it and he's still hopelessly immature and in love with Kagome. Speaking of which, I don't know why but Shippo seemed to hate me, after my stay he still holds some resentment, but not enough to be a problem. Even though I don't see how he fit into our love triangle anyway..."

Kikyou trailed off, the last part was painful. But necessary for her recovery. "I visited the tombs of my family as well. I prayed at Kaede's grave for forgiveness. I don't know if she even listened, but I confessed everything to her. How I felt, how I feel now, I even told her about you. I begged for her for her to forgive me for leaving her alone. Even though I was young and that was the first time I had been in love, that was no excuse. I should have held on to life and raised her as a sister/re-placement mother should."

Kurama looked down at his hands, he should have trusted Kikyou more. Of course she wouldn't just run off and leave him.

Don't turn away,

because I'm hopelessly in love with you,

that's why I make mistakes.

Time that echoes our laughter and repeats our tears,

if I have faith in you we can get by the painful moments.

"And now what, now what should we do?" Kurama asked after a long moment of silence. Kikyou tied her hair again and zipped up the back of her dress.

"If your still in love with me, tell me what you were about to say before the dream ended." Kikyou stood up and walked toward Kurama, she looked down at him and remembered all the steps they had to take to be at this point in their path.

Every little thing, every little word,

it's just part of our destiny.

I believe in you, like you believe in me.

I love you, don't run away from this love!

No matter how frightful the future may seem,

I'll be by you because I love you.

Only you.

"Nothing stands in our way now. I love you."

The words, they seemed to be both placing and lifting a heavy burden on the both of them. These three words, when said with all one's heart were enough to both break and make a person.

Tears seemed to come to Kikyou's eyes, but she blinked them away. No more tears. Not now, not ever. "I feel the same."

Kurama stood up, dusting off the seat of his pants. "Can't you say I love you too?"

Kikyou frowned, placing her arms across her chest. "If you say it, I say it. We're one. Isn't that what you were trying to imply in that dream, in our hearts?"

Kurama blushed, how did she know about that part of the dream? But then again, how could they both have the same dream and that dream still be fresh in their minds?

Kikyou and Kurama looked up at the moon at the same time. The song was ending.

I love you,

if the road before us disappears I'll continue to follow in your footsteps.

Turn back toward me,

turn back toward me and say I love you.

Tomorrow's journey depends on your words.

I'll follow you.

"I want to get away from here."

Kurama looked from the sky to Kikyou. In the moonlight he could see that she wasn't joking, she really wanted to leave.

"Now?"

"Yes." She looked from the sky also and smiled at him again. "Yes, I want to leave with you this time."
"Where will we go?"

Kikyou embraced him, wrapping her arms around his chest. Kurama returned the embrace. "Does it matter where we go? Anywhere."

They pulled away from their embrace, Kurama held out his hand and Kikyou took it. Hand in hand they left the lake and headed back toward the party.

The party was almost over, it had gone with out anything going wrong. Now all that was needed was to clean up after everyone had left.

Botan was finishing off a drink when one of the guests came back from the bathroom and rushed downstairs. He was breathing in gasped, red-faced, and seemed to be trying to speak. Finally he chocked out his words:
"Help, some ones stealing my bike!" It was shouted loud enough to be heard over the sound of the music currently playing.

Botan drank down the liquid in her hand in one gulp. She knew something bad would happen. She also knew she probably shouldn't have made everyone leave their keys outside the door with name tags and the name of the vehicle on them. That was like inviting a car thief to steal.

Botan and the other's rushed up stairs and out to the parking lot. Calling the police wasn't really in anyone's mind, they just wanted to see the main event of the night.

Botan was just in time to see something she hadn't thought possible.

Kurama, with his perfect criminal record was stealing a motorcycle. Something she hadn't even thought he knew how to drive. Kikyou was in back of him, both of them had helmets on so the only thing that let those that knew them know it was them was their hair.

Yusuke and Kuwabara, who were pretty drunk by know, egged them on. Hiei popped open another can of soda and looked on with out interest. The man whose was getting robbed just sat on the ground looking shocked, knowing that he didn't have a chance of catching them. And the rest of the party, who didn't care what happened as long as it was entertaining, drank to the couples health.

No one called the police, and the bike was returned within a month. But by then it was pretty beaten up and dirty.

Kurama held up a hand and waved at the group. They returned the wave.

"Do you think they'll come back?" Botan asked.

"Hmph, of course. Knowing how much of a mama's boy Kurama is I'm betting he'll come back within a year." Hiei replied.

Botan's eyes widen. A year? That long for a honeymoon. That is if they decided to get married.

"They just better bring send me an invitation." Botan muttered to herself and smiled.

They road off into the night, leaving the lights of the city far behind. The road in front of them empty except themselves. Surrounded by possibilitys and hopes for the future.

Kikyou leaned on Kurama and held on to him tighter. She wasn't afraid of the future any longer. What happens happens. Even if she should die or Kurama dies, it didn't matter. Now was the only moment that mattered.

Don't look back, that's what the past had taught her. Don't look back at the road you travel, look forward.

For yourself, for the people you loved and love, continue forward on the road you pave and don't give in to the will of others.

"My Will," Kikyou's words were lost on the wind but not on her or on him. "I'll pave this new road with My, Our, Will."

"Unable to move forward...

Buried secrets, hidden lies, hiding the truth behind our eyes.

I want to wake up somewhere, and know that what I feel is true.

A heart that's seen, yet one that's never experienced REAL joy, is that even a heart?

My Will, that keeps us apart, continues to grow.

I want to overcome my pride and foolishness without getting hurt.
Without hurting or being hurt, I want to reach out and grasp L-O-V-E. But without even really trying, I pull back.

Somehow or the other we grew apart, saying that "I'll cherish you" just isn't enough. The promises broken are piling up.

I want to over come this barrier, and prove that I can change for you.

My Will, endless obsession with ruining what we have. Are we worthy of love? Can I overcome my own selfishness?

Without losing or gaining anything, time stands still in my heart. I can still see OUR time.

We get to know each other again, and it's just the same thing. The same song playing on the radio echoes our "love".

I spent my day's alone, by myself, thinking that I can go on without you.