Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Chapter Two

Inuyasha and Kikyou: The Death of Kikyou

Inuyasha stared at the woman before him. Her eyes held none of the malice he was used too, and a gentle smile graced her lips. The clothes of a priestess, a miko, complimented her lithe frame. She also had not tried to kill him.

"Why don't you kill me already?" he finally asked, breaking the silence. She laughed softly, the sound of bells caressing his ears.

"Because you are like me. We share a fate." Her regal voice was warm, and her eyes remained gentle. She turned from him and sat down, settling herself in the warm grass overlooking the lake.

Inuyasha continued to stare at her. She made no more movements. A longing filled his heart, a feeling he hadn't felt after his mother died. Inexplicably, he found himself wishing to sit beside the miko and enjoy the serene peace. When he found himself unable to find a reason not too, Inuyasha moved towards her. When she didn't object, he settled down next to her, enjoying the quiet.

"My name is Kikyou," she said, soft enough for him to barely catch it. His silver dog ears swivelled in her direction, though he refused to look at her. As moments passed, he realized she was waiting for him to introduce himself.

"Inuyasha," came the gruff response. Unsure of the proper protocol, the hanyou attempted to cover up his unease with indifference. They continued to look at the scenery, enough said for one day.


Time passed easily enough as Kikyou continued her duties as a miko. Months became a year as she learned to cherish her time with Inuyasha, the hanyou who listened to her in complete silence. He never once stopped her to tell her she was being selfish, or that she should continue to complete her role as a miko. Eventually, Kikyou ended up telling Inuyasha her greatest secret.

"I hate being a priestess." Her voice had been matter of fact, but she could sense the surprise from the hanyou as they sat on the gently sloping ground. As he made no response, she continued. "All my life I have been told to be good and pure, to put aside my needs for the needs of others. And I do, without complaint. But I cannot help but think it is unfair. Why was I chosen to serve these people, who are often ungrateful of what I give up for them! My fate was decided long before I was ready to accept it. Given the chance, I would change it, give it all up for something more important. Something I desire more."

Inuyasha was much to surprised to make a response to this. So he simply waited for her to continue on. Kikyou debated telling him the complete truth. She didn't really care who she might marry, as long as he loved her, and she loved him enough that it could be satisfactory. But no mortal man dared cross a miko in such a manner. Inuyasha was a different story. He was gentle enough, scared enough, she felt that he would do. Kikyou simply decided that she would ask him her question.

"You seek the Shikon no tama to become fully demon. I would like to ask you to become fully human. For me." As much as Kikyou wanted to be free, she could not entertain the notion of marrying a half-breed. To consider loving him enough to make her life worthwhile, she needed him to be human. Kikyou did not view herself as completely selfish; she felt she was simply a girl who knew what she wanted out of life.

"I would do that for you." Inuyasha's voice broke her train of thoughts. She looked at him in shock, having fully expected him to deny her request. He obviously felt more strongly for her than she could have imagined, and guilt danced across her heart. She pushed it away, and gave the hanyou a rare smile.

"Meet me tomorrow. I will bring the jewel, and we can be together." The two watched the sunset casting the orange glow on the world. Inuyasha finally felt complete. Kikyou finally felt relief. She had chosen her own path. With the hanyou, soon to be human, Inuyasha completely devoted to her, a bright future shone as strongly as the sunset's glow.

"I will protect you always," he said softly. She laughed quietly, intimidating him. But he did not know how to respond, so he didn't. The words were brave for him, and he felt a little lost at her apparent rejection of his claim. But he knew he meant every word, and would carry them with him to the grave. As for now, he contented himself with her smell, a mixture of fresh water and summer grass, natural elements with a sweet and wistful scent.

Inuyasha regretted giving up his demon heritage, but he felt Kikyou's love for him made it all worthwhile. Surely this was the acceptance and love he craved.


That night, a being arose from the earth, full of dangerous evil and incomplete hate. He had heard news of a promise, and he would not allow such things to happen. After all, he had not gotten what he desired. Why should anyone else? As red eyes glowed with an evil plot, two distinct stars overhead grew close, ran parallel, then continued on. Neither crossed the other, and one faded.


Kikyou found herself breathless in the clearing, waiting for Inuyasha. Her hopes of her own life danced in her head, and she continued to push away the guilt at her mild deception. After all, if the hanyou would be happy, what difference did it make? A soft noise behind her cause Kikyou to turn just in time to feel her shoulder ripped apart. A familiar flash of red and white caused more pain in her heart than she could have imagined. At the same time, she felt it grow as hard as stone. The hanyou had deceived her! He simply wanted the jewel all along! Her mingling guilt mixed with her anger and a hatred was born before Kikyou even hit the ground. She felt the blood poor out of her body as the hanyou stood above her and laughed. She was dying, she knew it, and he laughed! He stooped, to take the jewel, and she was powerless.

"Bastard!" was her last thought before losing consciousness. She failed to see another Inuyasha enter the clearing and soundly defeat the imposter. She died before he could reach her, the imposter choosing to flee before he too faced death. Inuyasha had arrived in time to stop the jewel from being stolen, and as he carried the bloody body to the village, he placed the jewel around his love's neck. After placing her in the shrine, he left. No one had seen him.

There was nothing for the hanyou to do anymore. He mooched around the village during the rest of the day, by the well. He knew when the body was discovered, and he heard who the blame was placed on. He did not know he was being watched. He did not hear the calculating laugh of his unknown nemesis. Grief consumed him. Kikyou was dead.