Disclaimer – Inu Yasha belongs to Takahashi Rumiko-sama and all the wonderful people at Viz. Perhaps someday it will be mine. Yes:taps fingers together in a sinister fashion: someday…

The Divine Nataku - ;;;

# 2 – Just like Her

Her strength was dwindling – she could feel it. Just beyond the spiritual barrier she'd erected to protect the others, the youkai snarled and gnashed, trying to force its way through the weakening defense.

Kagome's already pale face was beaded with cold sweat as she was overcome with the knowledge of what was sure to come. The barrier was going to fail. The youkai was going to break free. 'I… can't hold it…' There was nothing she could do. Her gaze wandered to that of her friends lying injured behind her. 'Inu Yasha… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…'

Just as she felt her barrier was just about to collapse, a lone arrow flew out of nowhere, crashing through her defenses and out towards the youkai beyond. The spiritual energy ripped through the creature, reducing it to nothingness.

Kagome whipped her head around to see who was responsible for the attack only to spot none other than…

'K-Kikyo…?'

The undead priestess's expression was almost smug. Their eyes met and she leveled Kagome with an even glare. "It seems I arrived just in time."

The young schoolgirl flushed in shame, glancing away. "Y-you're wrong…"

"Am I?"

Suddenly, Kikyo was just in front of her, studying her as one would an insect. For a moment, there almost seemed to be a hint of concern in her emotionless expression… or perhaps it was just curiosity. Nevertheless, Kagome found herself leaning away out of instinct. She glanced from the left to right nervously, why wouldn't someone say something?

The dead priestess paused thoughtfully. The girl was afraid of her…? No, she merely made her nervous. She didn't blame her, of course…"Tell me, Kagome…" The girl started in surprise. Kikyo rarely referred to her by name. "What is it that troubles you more, the fact that I can easily kill you? Or that when I do, I will drag Inu Yasha straight to Hell."

As the words fell from the dead priestess's lips, Kagome's mind envisioned her beloved hanyou being dragged into the abyss. If he were sucked into the cold, harsh void she'd never see him again. She wasn't sure what happened after that, but something in her snapped. What power she had thought had been depleted suddenly surged from within, bubbling towards the surface and threatening to spill over.

"I… I…" She could feel the energy rising up around her like an angry, riotous wave. Strangely, however, while she usually strained to keep her powers under wraps, something screamed at her to let it loose. It was the right thing to do, wasn't it? Kikyo was threatening her, threatening Inu Yasha. She wanted to take Inu Yasha away from her. "I… I… I WON'T LET YOU!"

It was like a dam breaking, energy spread out across the area like a wave, rushing towards the undead priestess with unbridled fury. Naturally she moved the erect a barrier of her own, but was pushed back as the energy crashed into her.

Kikyo could barely believe what was happening. 'What…! What is this energy!' How could this sniveling little girl manage to scrounge up so much power?

"Kikyo…" Kagome stepped towards her, her face devoid of any feeling. She raised her hand towards her, an aura of power pulsating around her. "This is goodbye."

Her previous incarnation let out an unholy shriek as the power surged around her, igniting pain all throughout her false body. It was with this scream that Inu Yasha, who had been too stunned by the events taking place, rose out of his own pain-induced stupor to step in to intervene.

Kikyo was being attacked… by Kagome… wait, by Kagome! "KAGOME!" His legs suddenly regained the ability to move and he found himself rushing towards them, his eyes wide in panic and disbelief. "Kagome, stop! You'll kill her!"

But Kagome did not seem to hear him. He called out to her to no avail; she seemed so focused in her task that she did not react at all to his voice. "KAGOMEEE!"

The young girl paused, her vision suddenly coming into focus as if she had just woken from a bad dream. She focused in the long white hair and wide amber eyes staring back at her.

'Inu Yasha…?' Their eyes met and his jumped as if she had bitten him. She frowned in confusion. The way he was looking at her, the shock and confusion and regret showing on his face; she didn't understand. 'Why…?' She took a step back. 'Why are… you looking at me like that…?'

Silence passed as the two continued to gaze at each other. From the distance, Kikyo – weak and injured – gazed at them with anger and bitterness. How dare she… how dare he…! After a few moments she summoned her Shinidamachuu to carry her away from the scene. Before long she vanished from sight.

Kagome dropped to her knees, the last of the few moments catching up to her mind. "Oh God…" She felt shaky and sick, images of her actions replaying in her mind over and over. "What… what have I done…? What have I done!"

Unbidden, an awful voice in her head snickered, You've become just like her.

End