Chapter 6

"Don't try to stop me brother" Inuyasha said fiercely. "This may be your battle, but I have every right to fight for Kikyo's cause."

But Sesshomaru had stopped listening to him. He was staring straight at Kagura and Naraku, who were whispering to each other. Sesshomaru could've sworn that he saw Rin there for a moment, but he didn't have time to ponder this because Naraku had stopped talking. He was grinning devilishly, and Kagura looked more tense than usual.

"You have Rin, don't you?" Sesshomaru said.

"What a smart man the youkai lord is" Naraku said, his voice brimming with malice. With a wave of his hand, Kagura brought forth the bruised, frail little girl. "I was going to just simply hand her over, but you didn't follow through with the plan. So…I thought up an even better deal. A surprise even."

Sesshomaru listened impatiently, his heart burning at the sight of Rin all beaten up, her soot covered face drained of all hope.

"Kill the priestess, or I will remove the shard from Rin and she will die in a matter of seconds" Naraku said, putting extra emphasis on the word 'die.'

Sesshomaru's mind went blank. Kikyo found herself unable to take her eyes off of Rin, who now had big teardrops streaming down her cheeks. So little…so innocent…

"Kill me" Kikyo said firmly.

"No!" Inuyasha yelled, running towards her. But an invisible shield sent him flying back to where he started. Naraku smirked.

"I shouldn't be alive anyway" said Kikyo. "She's worth much more than I will ever be."

"How can you say that?" Inuyasha cried, pulling himself up with the help of the Tetsusaiga.

"Inuyasha…please don't save me. I could never continue to live knowing that my life was spared by the death of a child" Kikyo continued. "Besides, I want you to continue living, healthily and happily."

"I could never be happy without you" said Inuyasha, and Kagome turned away.

Tears threatened to fall from Kikyo's eyes, but she blinked them back. Sesshomaru drew the Tokijin, and there was a sharp intake of breath all around the room. Kikyo stared up into Sesshomaru's face. "Demons can love, you know. I see it in your eyes, just like your brother…"

"Don't say the word 'love' to me ever again" Sesshomaru snarled, lifting the sword enen higher. Kikyo bent her head down and waited for the blow that would take her life away again…destroy the construct of earth and bones that had been her body since she was ressurected…her second and last chance to leave this earth with Inuyasha...

As the Tokijin came crashing down, Inuyasha broke through the shield and jumped in front of Kikyo. The sword sliced through flesh and robe, splashing blood in every direction. Inuyasha felt as though his body was going to split in half as he slumped to the floor, surrounded by a pool of red. Kagome screamed, and Sesshomaru looked down at his half brother.

"Don't make this harder for me than it already is" he said grimly.

Kikyo stared blankly at the body by her feet. Once you said my life is yours. Then your life is mine. Inuyasha's words echoed in Kikyo's empty mind.

"Inuyasha…"

"This is taking too long" Naraku snapped. "At this rate, everyone will be dead throwing themselves in front of Kikyo. You could end it all, Lord Sesshomaru, with just one stroke."

Sesshomaru once again lifted the Tokijin, but he did so with a heavy heart. You love her his mind was shouting. Just give in to your feelings and admit that you love her!

Kikyo sat perfectly still, waiting. Naraku held Rin by the shoulders and watched intently. Sesshomaru tried to shake these peculiar thoughts from his head, but the same words continued to chant over and over: you love her! you love her! you love her…

Rin watched with bleary, tear stained eyes as the Tokijin fell, missed Kikyo by a mile, and slammed into the floor. I…I can't Sesshomaru thought. Kikyo lifted her head and looked up at him. Her eyes were burning with a fiery glare that seemed angry, if anything. Naraku's smile disappeared instantly.

"Well well, what a turnout" he said through gritted teeth, and there was a hint of dissatisfaction in his expression. "I guess you never cared for the child, Lord Sesshomaru." Naraku plunged a hand into the flesh of Rin's back, and her eyes turned a hazy grey. She didn't make a single effort to struggle or cry out as a glittering shard was removed from her body, and she immediately turned cold and went limp. Naraku released her lifeless body from his grip and she keeled over at his feet. "It was your decision" he said plainly. "This is your doing."

Kikyo's hatred seemed to have grown, and she stood up with her bow at hand. "I've had enough" she said. Kikyo strung an arrow across the bow and pointed it towards Naraku. "You've managed to make my resurrected life a living hell. I will never forgive you." Then the loaded weapon swung around unexpectedly, the pointed edge aiming straight at Sesshomaru's chest. "And you are a cruel man. Forgive me for ever thinking you weren't a fool. I was wrong to believe demons had the heart to love."

Kikyo's words stung Sesshomaru just as painfully as the thought of Rin's death. He felt angry with himself, Naraku, and everyone else…

"This is for Inuyasha and Rin, the two loved ones you managed to kill in a single night!" Kikyo cried, releasing the arrow. Sesshomaru caught it in mid-air and it disintegrated. Kikyo had a look of shock; no one had ever destroyed her arrow before.

"I guess I underestimated your power" said Naraku, impressed. "Why is it you held back your strength when it came time to kill Kikyo?"

Sesshomaru examined the deep gash in his palm where the arrow had pierced him. Though it pulsated harshly, he kept a straight face. He bent down, picked up the Tokijin, and sliced off Naraku's head in one swift movement. It slid off his neck and landed with a splat on the floor. Dark red demon blood flowed from the severed neck like a fountain. The head let out a sickening laugh. It was then that Kagura, who had been standing in a corner watching the whole thing, decided to intervene. She was fiddling with something behind her back as she approached the scene. Kikyo clenched her jaw at the sight of the wind witch.

"This does not involve you" Sesshomaru snapped.

Once Kagura was within arm's distance of the youkai lord, she pulled the mysterious object out from behind her. There it was, the Tenseiga, shining brightly in contrast to the dimly lit room.

"I wanted to prove myself to you" Kagura sighed.

"What is this treachery?" Naraku exclaimed, enraged. "You have strayed far from me once before, Kagura, but now you are stretching far beyond your limits." A live, pumping heart emerged from the hand on Naraku's body, and he squeezed it…hard. Kagura faltered, then dropped to her hands and knees, the Tenseiga clattering next to her.

"Doesn't feel good now, does it?" Naraku said gleefully.

Sesshomaru stared at the sword. It was beckoning to him…yearning to be held…and used...