Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. ;-; Although I wish I did...D;

A/N. Sorry it's so short, and sorry it took me so long! -sighs-


Chapter 10 - My Will

The demon's continuous evil laughter echoed throughout the entire area, causing Inuyasha to slightly tense. When it finally stopped its maniacal cackle, and although it knew that Inuyasha had seen through its disguise, it made no move to reveal its true identity. It still remained in the form of Kikyo, as if trying to mock Inuyasha in the most horrible way.

Inuyasha didn't understand what was going on at that moment, yet all he knew that this demon was a fake. A sham, a pathetic sham to think that he could possibly fool him into thinking that Kikyo would actually betray him.

How dare he pretend to be Kikyo!

How dare he attack him, in the form of Kikyo!

How dare he try to break their bond of trust!

How dare he!

Inuyasha could almost feel his body trembled from raging anger. Who was he to think that he could tear them apart? Who was he to think that their love would die because of a simple trick?

Yet...

Inuyasha had to admit to himself, he had almost believed that Kikyo had betrayed him. He felt guilt surge through him, despite his anger and rage. But then, aside from the mixture of anger and guilt, confusion and worry swept through his mind.

Just how much did this demon know?

How did he know that Kikyo and Inuyasha were in love?

And...!

Where was Kikyo?

"I see," the demon spoke deeply, shifting his faking of Kikyo's voice to his own, one which possessed unmistakable malice and evil dripping from every word that escaped from his lips. "I thought you'd be as dim-witted as the priestess herself. I had never suspected that you'd see through my disguise."

He smirked wanly, twisting Kikyo's face into an expression of wickedness that made Inuyasha feel slightly sick inside to see how the demon could imitate Kikyo, and how the demon could easily alter her usual solemn expression into a mask of vileness, shifting her elegant face into something sickening and sadistic.

"I suppose you believe you have foiled my plans," he continued. "No matter... The priestess's fate has been sealed." His wicked smile became wider and more evil with every passing second. Sweat poured down the nape of Inuyasha's neck as a whirlwind of bewildered and shocked thoughts gusted within his mind.

Kikyo's fate was sealed?

What did that mean?

Was Kikyo hurt?

Suffering?

...Dying?

"What are you talking about?" Inuyasha demanded angrily, clenching his fists tightly, feeling his sharp claws dig gently into his flesh. "What have you done to Kikyo?"

The demon cackled evilly, his vile smirk still frozen in place. His evil laughing was really irritating and angering him, and with an outraged yell, Inuyasha leaped at the demon and swiped his sharp claws at him, yet the demon merely dodged the blow with with swiftness and ease, still laughing vilely and smirking wickedly.

"What have you done to Kikyo?" Inuyasha roared indignantly, his claws piercing through the air as they reached to tear the demon into pieces.

The demon evaded the blow, his laugh never weakening, his eyes never losing their wicked glint. Inuyasha clenched his teeth in anger and narrowed his eyes in hatred as his sharp claws sliced through the air once more to slash at the demon, yet the demon simply dodged it as it did before, his wan smile never fading. He had stopped laughing, to Inuyasha's relief, yet he was still smirking and gazing at Inuyasha with that sickening, amused, evil glint in his - or should he say - Kikyo's eyes.

"I have done nothing," the demon spoke calmly."It is what you have done." And with that, purple gas sprouted out from beneath his feet, shrouding the entire area with its suffocating smoke.


Kikyo abruptly rose, startling the villagers, but she paid no attention to them and staggered through the crowd. Gasps of surprise and shock broke about in the crowd of villagers, young and old. Unsure of what actions to take, the crowd of villagers parted to allow the priestess to make her way through.

She stumbled on and on, clutching her bloody shoulder, and it seemed to take an eternity to reach the entrance of the shrine. She weakly parted the curtains and walked inside slowly, and her brown eyes locked onto the glowing Shikon Jewel. The dark glow of the tainted Jewel grew stronger and stronger, so strong that it almost made her feel dizzy from the power of darkness overcoming purity.

"W...W-What...?" she croaked out in a mixture of bewilderment, confusion, and shock. The Jewel was right where it belonged, dangling limply as it glowed a furious purple, tainted from the anger and hatred within her heart.

Did Inuyasha put the Jewel here?

If he did, what was his reason?

Did he not want to use the Jewel to transform himself into a full-fledged demon?

This had no logic at all!

Kikyo's mind was a whirlwind of bewilderment and confusion. Her strength was draining quickly, and her vision was becoming more blurry with every passing second.

What were his motives?

Did he not betray her?

Did he not strike her down?

Did he not steal the Jewel from her?

Did he not want to use the Jewel for his own selfish purposes?

What was going on?

Kikyo closed her eyes, trying to think up an explanation for his actions. But as she closed her eyes, darkness believed that she was urging it to overcome her, and it crept deeper into her mind, yet she opened her eyes once more with the remaining strength she had.

No matter.

The Jewel was still here.

It did not prove anything.

Inuyasha had still betrayed her.

And he would still pay.

She slowly stumbled over to the Jewel, clutching her wounded shoulder. Her weak, trembling fingers enclosed around the Jewel, and with shaking hands, she slung it over her neck. The blood from her fingers tainted the diamonds that clung onto the chain on which the Jewel hung, and the crimson color stood out from the milky white of the diamonds, yet the red blood slightly blended within the darkness of the Jewel. Dangling over her neck delicately, the Jewel somehow felt heavy.

Perhaps it was the strength of the darkness within her heart, and the Shikon Jewel. Or...perhaps her energy and strength was draining away as death ate away at her.

Death wouldn't take her until she gained vengance for Inuyasha's betrayal.

She stumbled out of the shrine. She barely had any strength to keep her head up, and she did not want to waste her remaining strength, so she kept her head low and her eyes locked upon the ground. Even blindfolded, she could make her way out of the village into the forest.

"Sister Kikyo!" Kaede's voice roused her from the rampage of her thoughts. Kikyo tilted her head slightly, weakly as she watched Kaede run towards her.

"Kaede..." Kikyo whispered feebly. She closed her eyes tensely as the pain continued to eat away at her. "Please...Listen well. I have one final request for you."

Hot tears built up rapidly within Kaede's hazel eyes as she realized that her beloved, older sister was dying slowly, painfully. She wiped her salty tears away with the sleeve of her orange kimono, yet the streams of tears still trickled down her face.

"Sister Kikyo! Please...don't leave me!" Kaede begged, her voice choked and strangled as she struggled to keep bittersweet sorrow from overcoming her.

Kikyo hung her head low, unable to look into the glassy, teary, chocolate orbs of her beloved, younger sister. "I'm sorry..." Kikyo whispered feebly, her interior growing colder by every passing second as Kaede continued to cry and as darkness continued to drain her energy and life. "

"If I do not return by nightfall..." Kikyo went on, trying her best to keep her voice steady, yet her voice still came out shaky. "Go look for me. When you find me, and if you find the Jewel still hanging around my neck, burn the Jewel with my body. I'm sorry, Kaede..."

Kikyo's eyes glimmered with tears, but they refused to fall. "I'm sorry it had to be this way!" Heartbroken and saddened, Kikyo brushed past her younger sister quickly, stumbling in her hurry. She didn't want to see Kaede's sad, tear-stained face any longer. It pained her heart to know that Kaede and the villagers would suffer at the loss of their priestess...

It was all Inuyasha's fault!

"SISTER KIKYO!"

Kikyo's head hung low, and her dark bangs concealed her teary,chocolate eyes from view as she continued to stumble on and on. Her vision was blurred greatly, hazing over as the tears continued to build up within her mahogany eyes. Eternal sleep awaited her, waiting to sweep her away into everlasting darkness and despair.

I'm sorry...!

I'm so sorry Kaede!

Inuyasha...!

Why?

Why did you betray me?

Why did you hurt me?

Why?

I thought you loved me!

I loved you, Inuyasha!

I loved you!

Why are you making me hurt like this?

Don't you remember how many times you said you loved me?

Were they all lies?

Why?

Why did you betray me?


A/N. It's soo short! -sighs- ;-; I have writer's block, so I'm sorry! I'm so frusterated! D: It might take a while to update...a long while. ;-; R&R...! Pleease? ;-;