A/N: Been so tired lately. I blame school. Thank GOD that it's spring break…

(Almost forgot! For those that keep up with the manga, my guess in Who Says We're In Love? was right! They said in the newest chapter that Naraku DOES need his human heart to use the evil of the shikon no tama to kill Kikyou.)

I feel smart now. :D

Chapter 21: Kikyou and Naraku

Naraku chuckled to himself as he watched Inuyasha and the group go back to their camp, most of them crowding around the unconscious Kagome. Inuyasha's amber eyes hadn't lost their ferocity, still glaring a death glare at the memory of him.

"Inuyasha's heart is filled with hatred." Kanna spoke in monotone, her black eyes, such a contrast from her white form, stared back at her master while she showed him this vision in the mirror. "He longs to destroy you."

Still chuckling, Naraku said, "Inuyasha, your fiery temper is what dooms you. Already, you and your lover are falling into my trap."

As he was imagining Inuyasha and Kagome meeting their impending doom, suddenly, a bright pink light burst from behind the pink sliding door that separated this secluded room in the castle. Turning with a slight look of shock on his face, Naraku called out, "Who are you?"

A purity arrow flying at him landing inches away from his head was his answer. He didn't even flinch, seeing the dark figure who wielded the bow, knowing who it was. "It's been a while, Naraku." A cold voice said, with a hint of amusement.

Naraku's red eyes glared at the figure as they walked into the light given off by the sunset through the window. "I didn't expect you would come, Kikyou." The dead miko walked into the light, her tragic eyes lined by hatred. There was a smirk on her face, as one who held the upper hand. That smile caused Naraku's heart to clench; he wouldn't tolerate it.

"Kanna, leave us." He ordered, not moving from his spot where he sat. While his white minion left, Naraku and Kikyou only glared at one another, feeling mutual hatred.

Smile widening, Kikyou said, "By the look in your eyes, Narkau, I can tell you would like to kill me."

An intense blue aura seemed to envelop Naraku as his eyes grew hard, "I would have killed you all ready, if it weren't for that fool of a thief's heart. It would have been better for you if you had stayed dead when I killed you before."

Kikyou was met with the memory of the day at Mt. Hakurei when Naraku in his newly born form had impaled her with his tentacles, sending her over the cliff. It had been a miracle that she had survived, and then been revived by Kagome. "You know you cannot kill me with Onigumo's heart, yet you cannot use the shikon no tama without a human heart, either." Chuckling, the miko added, "You are in quite a predicament, Naraku."

"I do not need to kill you now, Kikyou." Naraku grasped something in his palm, slowly opening it to reveal a tainted, almost complete shikon no tama. "At least, not until I have completed the shikon no tama. It eases Onigumo's heart knowing you are somewhere out in the world, safe from my ambitions. When I have completed the jewel, and I will have cast aside his heart forever, you will be the first to die, Kikyou."

"Nothing less than what I expected to hear from you, Naraku." She smirked, her eyes lighting with chilling amusement. "You are always so predictable. Can you not think of any other plans, Naraku, or do you enjoy pitting two people against one another, their feelings leading one another to their own destruction."

Grinning as he looked upon the tainted jewel, glowing with an eerie dark light, Naraku replied, "I find it rather amusing." He tucked the shikon no tama back away, and looked at the miko with cold eyes. "Human feelings are only meant to be manipulated."

"Indeed," Kikyou's eyes were looking far into the past. "Just like you manipulated Inuyasha and my feelings so that we would hate each other, and now how you manipulate his and Kagome's feelings for your own end." Closing her eyes as she snickered, she continued, "Though in the end, perhaps you were right, Naraku. Killing a woman of ice let Inuyasha find someone better suited for him—a girl full of sunshine. Which you, I assume, plan to put out in favor of darkness in her heart."

This time, a grin formed on Naraku's face as he watched the tragic miko talk so lightly of her reincarnation. "Kikyou, you are no exception to human emotions." Kikyou glared back at him as he continued, "Though you no longer love Inuyasha, you can't help but care and worry about him. You have an undying hatred of me. And…" his grin widened, "You cannot help but feel jealousy over Kagome, and her place now in Inuyasha's heart."

After a pause, Kikyou replied, "If I recall correctly, Onigumo once felt jealousy as well, so you are also no exception to these emotions, Naraku. And even better, your human heart cannot help but love me, while you hate me with every fiber in your body."

As if he didn't hear what she said, Naraku continued, "You despise Kagome for allowing Inuyasha to love her more than he ever loved you. You despise Inuyasha for forgetting about you so quickly and loving another. And you despise them both for being lovers, going farther in their relationship than you and Inuyasha ever had the chance to go."

"That chance was taken away by none other than you, Naraku. Remember that I shall always despise you for that." She spat, though he could tell, in her eyes, she was weakening.

"Do you enjoy it, Kikyou?" Naraku asked, going further, a smile on his face widening, "Don't you enjoy seeing Inuyasha under that curse? It's pitiful, isn't it, watching those two that love each other so much, have to endure so much pain. It keeps them apart, punishing them for their emotions. It eased some of your jealousy, seeing Inuyasha and Kagome get what they deserved." Eyes glinting, he finished, "That's why you made no move to put them out of their misery."

Much to his surprise, Kikyou erupted in laughter. "Naraku," she said after her laugh, "You assume too much. How do you even know if the curse is there? Your white minion couldn't have seen into the void between the worlds. If Inuyasha's curse is in fact, lifted, then you will be out of a trap to put them in."

Instead of glancing at her in horror, like she expected, he just smirked as he did before, "That's where your wrong, Kikyou. Even if the curse has been lifted, then Inuyasha will still face a nightmare much like one he experienced before. The results are the same, no matter what lies in my way."

"If you are thinking of trying what you did fifty years ago, then you are lost." Kikyou told him, tragic eyes locked in hate. "Kagome has too pure of a heart to go against Inuyasha, no matter what he would do to her. And Inuyasha would suspect you, knowing what happened before."

Naraku chuckled, "Do not fret, Kikyou. I have much bigger aims then to a repeat of that. After all, I cannot be predictable, can I?"

Turning away slightly, Kikyou gave him a sideways glance. "You are always predictable, Onigumo." Seeing him tense, she continued. "I knew you wouldn't kill me tonight because it is easy to guess what you are thinking, with your human heart inside of you."

His eyes glared once more, as Naraku stood up, his dark brown hair falling down his back. "You know, Kikyou, you are also very predictable these days. You and I aren't so different as you assume. "You feel jealousy over Inuyasha and Kagome. Much like Onigumo once felt jealousy over Inuyasha and you."

She looked back at him, saying "We are different, Naraku. While you were able to take revenge so easily, I would not go so far to take petty revenge over a lost love." Gripping her bow tighter, Kikyou continued in a grave tone, "I said it before; I despise you more than you can ever know for my early death." She grabbed an arrow with her right hand, and strung the bow, raising it to an unflinching Naraku's face. "No matter what my feelings are, don't ever presume to say we are similar."

In one swift movement, she aimed lower, firing the arrow just in front of his feet. The area exploded in pink light, enveloping the room. When the light cleared, Naraku was safely inside of a red barrier, his eyes glaring at the form of Kikyou as she lowered the bow, saying, "Remember that, Onigumo." She turned, walking out of the room, while her shinidama chuu floated behind her. Naraku watched her go until at last, she was out of his sight.

"We share yet another mutual feeling, Kikyou." Naraku said in a low voice, his eyes full of hatred. "I despise you because no matter how much I want to, I cannot kill you."


Inuyasha held Kagome's hand as he watched over her, while she was still unconscious. Night had slowly fallen, yet she still wasn't awake after she had been asleep for hours. "Kagome…" he murmured, brushing a lock of hair away from her face.

"You know, this is why I always say you can't look after her properly." Kouga muttered, folding his arms while looking at the two. He had shown up shortly after Naraku had left, after he had sensed Naraku's presence. "If I had been there, she wouldn't have ended up hurt."

Growling, Inuyasha turned to him, "Shut up, wolf! She's going to be fine! This happens all the time!"

"All the time, huh?" Kouga glared, "Oh, sure you can protect her!"

Roaring, the hanyou yelled, "I was preoccupied, all right! I didn't mean for this to happen!"

"If Kagome was my mate, then I wouldn't let this happen to her!" the wolf bellowed.

"Well she's not your mate! She's mine!" the hanyou shot back.

"That still doesn't mean you deserve it!"

"How thick are you? How many times do I have to say, she doesn't love you!"

"I could have made her love me if I tried harder!"

"But she doesn't!"

"Still doesn't mean I wouldn't take better care of her!"

"Why you—"

"Shut up!" Shippou yelled at the hanyou and the wolf, now in fighting stances across the campfire. "Kagome's waking up." He replied, looking back at her.

In an instant, the fight was forgotten as Inuyasha raced to her side, too see Kagome stir and then slowly open to her eyes, to see the concerned hanyou above her. "Inu…yasha?"

"Kagome." He replied softly, with a small smile. "Are you feeling all right?"

She nodded, glancing around the camp to see all her friends, smiling that she was okay. "Where's Naraku?"

"He's gone. You're safe now." Putting a hand around her shoulders, Inuyasha asked, "Do you think you can sit up?"

She nodded once more, moving into his embrace as he helped her up. They didn't care that they were surrounded by their friends as Kagome leaned her head against his chest, one of his arms around her shoulders, while the other grasped her hand. "Inuyasha…I was worried." She whispered, so that only his ears could hear. "Naraku was trying to get you mad."

"I know, Kagome." He said softly, taking in her scent once more, assuring himself that she was okay. "But he's gone now. There's nothing to worry about."

"You're wrong, Inuyasha." A familiar voice said coming into their camp. Everyone turned, and held looks of shock on their faces. It was Kikyou.

Though being in the presence of Kikyou made them feel self-conscious, Inuyasha and Kagome didn't move out of their hug, though they both looked up at her. "Kikyou?" Inuyasha asked, feeling slightly guilty about holding Kagome in his arms. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to warn you, Inuyasha." She told him simply. "Naraku is planning his final move. And unless you do not stop him soon, you will all meet your doom."

Miroku spoke up, "Kikyou-sama, do you know what he is planning?"

Shaking her head, she replied, "Sadly, no. His human heart can keep him from killing me, but it can not let him reveal his plans to me."

"You have seen him?" Inuyasha asked, his grip on Kagome tightening in worry.

"I have." Kikyou said, turning away from Inuyasha. "If you follow the river, you will come to the barrier. His castle is veiled from sight inside the barrier, but if you look hard enough for youki, you will eventually be able to find it."

Sango asked, stiffening, "Farther upstream…? That means—"

"You will have to face him soon, before he can implement his plans." The miko finished.

There was a silence around the camp, as faces fell, knowing what must happen. Miroku put an arm around Sango, who gladly leaned into his embrace, while Inuyasha's hold on Kagome tightened further. Kohaku glanced at his sister and the monk, and then looked down, while Kouga looked at Inuyasha and Kagome with envy, before turning away with a sigh.

"Tomorrow." Inuyasha finally said, gravely.

Kagome's head shot up, with wide eyes and a jaw open in shock. "What?"

Though he regretted saying it, with the look on her face, Inuyasha continued, "Tomorrow, at dawn."

Tears began to fill her eyes, as Inuyasha pulled her back into his embrace. "It'll be all right, Kagome." He whispered, his heart aching in her pain.

Looking away from the couple, her eyes flashing for a moment before they returned to their tragic state, Kikyou glanced at Kohaku, and then at Kouga. "You two, who carry shikon shards," They both looked at her, curious. "Naraku will be after you first, hoping to complete the shikon no tama so he can win."

Nodding Kouga replied, "Then we can be the bait, leading him away from the others." A quick glance with Kohaku confirmed that he was willing to take this task up as well.

Sango looked at her little brother, gasping, "Kohaku…"

"It's all right, Ane-ue." Kohaku assured her with a small smile. "I knew Naraku would want to kill me for betraying him anyway. I want this chance, to be able to help defeat him. It's what I've always wanted."

"Is everything settled?" Kikyou asked, looking around the group. A silence confirmed he answer. "Then I will wait upriver. It is better that Naraku not know I am here."

She turned to leave, but stopped, as if she remembered one thing. Turning back and fixing her hard gaze at Inuyasha and Kagome, she said, "Remember Kagome, you also carry with you one of the shikon shards, the one that is the most pure. Only a miko with immense purity powers could make a shard that pure."

Kagome stared at her, the woman who had been her rival for so long in Inuyasha's affections. Miko? I'm still a…

"Your powers will come to you when they're called—when you are in dire need of them. When the time for that comes, use them as they were meant to." As Kikyou looked at them, her glare became harder. "You two should be grateful, in what you have, and not let it waste, because soon, you may not have it at all."

With that cryptic statement, Kikyou left the clearing, her eyes cold, while everyone watched the miko leave, their thoughts on one thing; what was in store for them when the sun rose.


A/N: Yeah, the battle's starting early, but its kinda long. (But interesting! Plus, its not just straight battle, it cuts between other things.) In fact, the next chapters not even the battle, but what happens right before…I'm not going to say anymore, before I give it away!