"They call them fairy tales because everyone knows evil doesn't always lose."
Bloody Tears

Retribution

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Telepathy"

Stressed

Kagome inhaled the cool night air as she stopped at the shrine steps. Houjou was coming up the steps with a grin on his face. Her face remained impassive as she watched him come closer. Narrowing her eyes, she could see another soul outlining the body. The aura was tainted and underneath it was a blue aura, sorrow. His smirk widened as he reached down to his side and unsheathed his sword. He held the katana in front of him and tilted his head in a slight challenge.

"You have taken over his body…cursed his family," Kagome coldly spoke.

"You've finally noticed," Houjou spoke with a chuckle. "I've been waiting…especially for you."

"I have come for retribution," Kagome said as she held her hand out.

"You would fight your friend's body?" Hakudoushi questioned.

He prided himself on knowing her weaknesses. It was a fact that Kagome wouldn't harm an innocent no matter what. He knew that there was no way that she would fight him in this person. Her emotions would rule her and she would be left helpless. A sickle materialized in her hand and his eyes narrowed. It was a reversed sickle about the size of a melon with an indigo handle and a glowing black blade. Houjou laughed and then screamed. The blade slashed from his side and curved around to slash through his right shoulder. His eyes trained on Kagome and he saw her standing there with cold eyes. The blood on the blade was the only sign of her attack.

"You know he feels the pain." Hakudoushi stated more then asked.

"His soul cries for retribution…the price is great," Kagome simply responded as she pushed off the ground and attack.

He brought the sword up and managed to block her attack. His reaction was slower because of the wound. Hakudoushi cursed his human host for this weakness. Even though he carried the soul of youkai, the body was still human. Kagome brought the sickle down and let the blood coat her face. Chuckles filled the air and Houjou's eyes widened in fear.

"How can you laugh at this?" Houjou growled in anger. She was supposed to be filled with sorrow.

"I laugh because I can," Kagome responded as she ducked his sword attack. She brought the sickle around and cut the tendon in the back of his feet. His legs gave out and he fell to his hands and knees.

"Bitch!" Houjou hissed.

"Retribution shall be acquired," Kagome stated as she raised the sickle up. His eyes returned to brown and tears fell from Houjou's face.

"I'm sorry…I didn't meant any of it," Houjou sobbed as he bowed his head. "I never wanted to harm your family…I never wanted this spirit."

Kagome's features softened as she felt pity and regret well up within her. It was her fault that this soul had cursed his family, and now it was her fault that he was about to die. Kagome sighed as she steeled her emotions for this. His retribution on her would be that she would always carry the guilt of his death upon her.

"We all are handed a burden that we didn't ask for…it is not a matter of want," Kagome replied as she brought the blade down.

A slice was heard and her eyes widened as she watched the first death by her hand come into reality. His head fell to the ground and the rest of his body quickly followed. She slowly let the sickle fall to the ground and it vanished before it hit. It became part of her body and she could still feel the bloodstains upon it. She stared at the corpse and then turned to find Kuronue staring at her with shock. Her eyes didn't well up with tears because she couldn't cry. This was the first death that she had caused upon a human. She felt Kuronue reach out to her and she flinched away and stepped in a puddle of blood.

"Don't touch me!" Kagome shouted as she continued to back away.

"Kagome…"

"No! I'm Amatsu-Ata! Kagome has died!" Kagome shouted as she continued to back away. Kuronue quickly sped up to her and grasped her by the arms.

"You said you'd come back…are you going to run away from me?" Kuronue questioned.

"Evil." Kagome stated.

"You're not evil," Kuronue firmly said.

"I killed him…without remorse…I enjoyed the bloodshed," Kagome whispered as he pulled her to him.

"It will be okay," Kuronue whispered into her mind.

"I went against my Miko training…I went against my morals," Kagome mentally sobbed.

"Just calm down…we'll fix this somehow," Kuronue promised.

"I want more blood. I want to see it flow…I want to see retribution paid in rivers of blood."

Kuronue remained silent as he held onto her and rocked her back and forth. His eyes narrowed as he continued to think. He wanted to know what Enma did to his mate. The distress overflowed from her in waves. He held onto to her tightly and sighed in anger. Kurama stepped out from the house and looked at the corpses on the ground in difference. They saw dead bodies all the time; it wasn't anything new. One day he hoped that he could go through life without seeing death.

"What happened to his soul?" Kurama questioned.

Kagome's eyes hardened and she turned to Houjou's corpse. His head was a few inches from the body. Kagome focused and noticed that Houjou's spirit was trying to escape from Hakudoushi. It seemed that the youkai was trying to hold onto him and go into the after life. Kagome growled and the sickle formed from her hand.

"Gedatsu," Kagome whispered as the blade on her sickle began to glow.

'I will at least save him in death,' Kagome thought as she made out the line between the two souls.

There was a crack between the two spirits that showed their connection place. She brought the blade around and cut directly in that line. Kurama and Kuronue merely saw her slicing air, but she was separating the souls. Houjou's soul quickly departed as Hakudoushi took off in the opposite direction. Her eyes narrowed and she chuckled. Her energies told her that retribution had not fully been paid. She took off after the soul and ignored Kuronue's calls.

"What do we do if she goes insane?" Botan softly questioned.

"A Kami can only destroy themselves…but we can seal her," Koenma whispered.

Botan looked down at the floor in thought before she sighed. She stood and went to leave the room. Koenma placed a hand on her shoulder and she looked up in confusion. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. Botan's face went red and his did as well.

"Get me a Tama and I'll seal her," Koenma softly said.

"What will King Enma say?" Botan softly asked.

"I don't care…she helped us and we'll help her no matter what," Koenma firmly said.

"I'll be right back," Botan promised as she vanished within a portal.

'My father may kill me, but I'm doing the right thing. I wouldn't let anyone be his pawn and suffer his growing wrath,' Koenma thought as he sighed.

"Where are you taking me?" Keiko growled as she punched Yusuke in the shoulder.

"Stop fighting and just shut up! I need you to follow me!" Yusuke growled as he pulled Keiko to the doors of a castle.

Keiko growled and punched him in the back of his head. He dropped her hand and cradled his head. Yusuke turned the woman and pointed a finger in her face. She could tell that he was mad by the color of his face. His features kept switching from mad to furious. Keiko glared up at him and furrowed her eyebrows in an attempt to look intimidating. His mouth opened and then closed as she dared him to say anything.

"Why did you take me from Reikai and into Makai?" Keiko demanded before he could talk.

"You don't need to know," Yusuke grumbled.

"You better tell me now or else Urameshi!" Keiko growled.

"Just shut up," Yusuke mumbled.

Keiko growled and grabbed his ear in her right hand. She twisted it and yelped. His arms flailed in the air in an attempt to ease the pain. Keiko grinned before she released her hold. He put his hand over his ear and glared at her.

"You were a lot nicer before," Yusuke mumbled. Keiko's eyes narrowed and she sadly smirked.

"So I did know you," Keiko sadly whispered.

"Keiko I…no you didn't," Yusuke weakly said.

"Why won't you tell me? I see you stare at me and I know I know you…my heart tells me so as my mind struggles through blank images," Keiko whispered as she raised a hand and covered her heart.

"It's better that you didn't know," Yusuke simply said as he turned and knocked on the doors.

"No Yusuke I need you!" Keiko snapped as her eyes watered.

His eyes widened at the declaration and he turned to face her again. Her eyes were wide and gazing into his eyes daring him to tell her no. Something in her told her to trust him; a strange feeling had grown inside of her. Every time she saw him, she knew that she had known him. Keiko had wondered why she would saw his name in such a tender way. His name always rolled off her tongue with a bit of endearment. That never happened with the others. She then began to feel the need to be around him, something was there, but it was buried. Keiko had said the first thing that came to mind; it echoed the truth within her soul.

"Keiko let's go," Yusuke said.

"Why do you leave me?" Keiko softly questioned as she looked down at the ground.

"I'm right here and you don't seem to be following," Yusuke teased as he waited for the doors to open.

"No…I want to know you…I know I know you. Why don't you want to know me? Was I that evil of a person? Do you wish to forget me because I hurt you?" Keiko questioned with a pained voice.

"Keiko…you lost your memories because of me," Yusuke admitted. "I would rather you forget me then chance being harmed."

"I get it. Yusuke you're a fool!" Keiko softly laughed. "I'm still bound to Reikai and Makai, I'll never be safe because of this."

"I know this," Yusuke whispered.

"Then don't shut me out. I want to remember you," Keiko confided.

"You'll never remember," Yusuke angrily said.

"Then I guess we begin again," Keiko happily said as she bowed to him. "I'm

Yukimura Keiko."

Yusuke smirked as watched her. He wouldn't mind getting to know her again, even if he already knew everything about her. The doors to the castle opened and he stared at the Kitsune.

"Keiko will be safe here," Shippo promised.

"She better be because I have to go help Koenma," Yusuke grumbled.

"Souten will keep her company," Shippo responded as Yusuke raised an eyebrow.

Yusuke nodded to Shippo and turned to leave. Keiko's voice stopped him from fully leaving. He turned to her and smiled.

"I'll come back," Yusuke promised.

"Something is changing," Genkai mumbled as she gazed out the window.

Yukina looked away from Kuwabara and smiled. Kuwabara stopped confessing his love to Yukina turned to Genkai. He could also feel a change within the energies. Something major had happened and he didn't exactly know what.

"I have to go," Kuwabara suddenly said.

"Bathroom is down the hall," Genkai mocked with a smirk.

"No…something's changed," Kuwabara mumbled as he ignored the jab.

Ever since he had destroyed Pride in Makai, he had changed. Guilt had built up within him everything he slept. He that is was only a soul taking on a female form; it wasn't really a girl. The image had still left him troubled. So, he had stayed in Genkai's temple to talk to Yukina. She had helped ease him even though he hadn't told her what had happened. She glanced at him with worry looks as he gave a goofy smile. Her crimson eyes held a gentle worry that told him that she wouldn't pressure him into revealing anything.

"Kazuma, will you be back?" Yukina questioned with a smile.

Kuwabara looked at her and took her hands within his. Her eyes widened and she felt something like a blush appear on her face. This had never happened before, but she had begun to feel things differently. Her time with Kazuma had made her realize a few things; she cared about him in a different way.

"Yukina my love…I would never leave you for long," Kuwabara promised with a smile.

"Be safe Kazuma," Yukina softly said as he left the temple.

"You really care for the idiot?" Genkai questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes," Yukina softly answered. "He has a good heart."

Kuwabara rushed out of the temple and a portal opened. He skidded to a stop and watched as Hiei stepped out of the portal. His crimson eyes glared at Kuwabara. Kuwabara stared at Hiei and at those crimson eyes. They seemed familiar.

"We have to go to the Higurashi shrine you idiot," Hiei coldly spoke.

"Let's go…midget," Kuwabara grumbled as Hiei glared at him.

"Be quiet, you fool," Hiei growled as they left through the portal.

Author's Note:

I'm just going to post the final chapters before I get to lazy to do anything else

Gedatsu means salvation