To Which Future Do You Return, Kagome?
By. Tate Icasa
Part Four
Kikyo's Secret
/ Yes. / Kikyo said. / I offered you the change to return to Inuyasha./
"And I chose to stay here." Kagome said.
"Someone tell me why we're here." Miroku said.
/ I was getting to that. / Kikyo said, sounding slightly unhappy. / Naraku has most of the Shikon no Tama. And both of those are my responsiblility. /
Kagome cleared her throat. "I thought the Jewel was my responsiblity now. You died, remember?"
/ sigh It's not a very easy thing to forget. /
Kagome looked sheepish. I knew that.
/ In any case, do you know what the Shikon no Tama is capable of//
Kagome blinked, surprised, as she realized that she really didn't know. She shook her head.
/ Then here is what you will use it for. Bring Inuyasha back to life, turn him full human, then banish all the demons, and destroy the duplicate of the jewel. /
"Any idea how big a paradox that would cause?" Kagome asked. "Besides, how would we get the Jewel if Naraku has it?"
/ Do not worry so, my dear reincarnation. /
"Reincarnation! I'll show you 'reincarnation' you-" she stopped. " I have a name! It's-"
"Kagome." Sesshomaru said.
"What?" She answered irritably.
"Kagome. That is your name."
Kagome blinked.
"I believe Kikyo was going to tell us her plan?" Miroku suggested.
/ Thank you, monk. For a long time now, when I have had a physical form, I have been carrying a child that Naraku believes his his. /
"What!" Miroku exclaimed. "Naraku has better luck with girls than I do!"
Sango hit him on the head with her boomerang. "Shut up and listen to the plan, baka." she ordered.
"You dind't have to hit me!" Miroku complained.
"I'll hit you again if you don't shut up!" Sango warned.
Miroku raised his hands in surrender.
/ I said Naraku believes the child is his! Not that it was//
"So who's is it?"
/ That doesn't matter. The child will be born within three days. I request asylum at Sesshomaru's castle until the child is born. Then, Shippo-chan will- /
"Hey! Only Kagome can call me Shippo-chan!"
Kagome shook her head. "You were saying?"
/ Then, Shippo will transform into the child and slip into Naraku's house. Late at night, once Naraku is asleep, he will steal the Jewel and slip away. At which point I will enter with the real child and try to keep Naraku distracted until you can go through the well. /
"What if you can't?"
/ Then we are all doomed. But I will not fail. /
"No." Sesshomaru said flatly.
"Whadda you mean 'no'?" Kagome asked.
"No." He repeated. "I will not assist you when this quest so clearly leads to my own destruction."
/ Baka! I said banish not destroyKikyo snapped.
"Sesshomaru, I believe you said something earlier about it being unwise to anger the spirits of the dead?" Kagome said sweetly. "I can think of ot leat one spirit you'd be angering. Possibly two. Kikyo, where's Inuyasha's spirit?"
/ His spirit sleeps near his body. Though. . .it can be woken. . . /
"Fine." Sesshomru said. He stood and began to walk away.
"Where are you going!" Kagome called after him. He didn't answer.
/ I have a feeling forcing his hand was not the best idea. / Kikyo stated.
Shippo rolled his eyes. "Hey, shouldn't we get to that castle you mentioned?"
"Oh, right!"
/ I will meet you at the gate. /
The four looked at each other.
"Does anybody else get the feeling there's something she's not telling us?" Miroku asked.
Kagome nodded. "I guess there's no use worrying about it now." She said. "Come on, we'll probably find out if we go along with her, anyway."
She began to lead them to the castle.