Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Chapter 38

Kikyo stood at the edge of the small camp the group had made. She lifted her hand and three soul collectors flew towards the hut. The went in and flew around Taka.

'Taka,' they seemed to whisper.

Taka's eyes shot open. They flew around her.

'Follow us,' they flew out of the hut.

Taka's eye turned blank and she followed as though in a trance. They flew and stopped to wait for her. Until they came to a large lake. It glowed blue a bit and in the middle of it stood Kikyo. She stood on the water as though it were ground. The soul collectors flew towards her and encircled her. Taka stepped where the water was. It rippled below her feet but she did not sink in. Kikyo held out her hand to her older sister. Taka stepped out towards Kikyo.

xXx Inuyasha xXx

Inuyasha sniffed in his sleep. He opened his eyes slowly.

'Kikyo?' he thought.

He sat up.

"Taka?" he looked around the hut.

When he seen she wasn't there he stood. He held his chest in pain.

"Taka?" he called again.

"Inuyasha?" Kuragari walked in, "What's wrong?"

"Taka's gone," Inuyasha walked out of the hut unsteadily.

"Nani! She knows she isn't well enough," Kuragari sniffed, "Kikyo!"

"Hai," Inuyasha followed Taka's scent.

"Inuyasha, wait here," ordered Kuragari.

Inuyasha growled in response and kept walking, using the Tetsusaiga for balance. Kuragari watched him and ran ahead. He came to the top of the hill where the lake was. He gasped. Inuyasha caught up and growled. Taka was walking on the lake and was almost up to Kikyo.

"Taka!" called Inuyasha.

Taka didn't respond. She kept walking. Kikyo smirked at Inuyasha and Kuragari. Inuyasha stepped forward. The Tetsusaiga slipped and Inuyasha slid down the hill painfully.

"Inuyasha!" exclaimed Kuragari.

Kuragari went down the hill and kneeled beside Inuyasha. Inuyasha just looked up at Kikyo with a snarling face.

"Kikyo! What're you planning!" he roared.

"Only to take my dear sister to hell with me," her face was soft but turned cold, "since you won't join me."

"Don't you dare!" threatened Inuyasha.

Taka stopped in front of Kikyo.

"Now my sister," Kikyo raised her hand, "die."

Taka broke from the trance. With a small gasp she fell back into the water.

"Taka!" Inuyasha called.

"You can't do anything Inuyasha," Kikyo smirked, "she can't move and you both are in terrible shape."

"But I'm in perfect shape," Kuragari snarled and ran on the water at Kikyo.

Kikyo laughed. Kuragari hit a barrier and flew back to shore. Inuyasha growled.

'Where am I?' Taka thought, 'I can't move!' Taka looked at her younger sister's blurred form, 'why is she doing this?'

"Now Taka," whispered Kikyo, "die and I'll take your soul to hell with me."

Taka held her breathe. She hit the bottom of the lake and she couldn't hold her breathe any longer. Her eyes slowly closed.

A bright light glowed behind Kikyo. Kikyo turned abruptly. Kuragari and Inuyasha shielded their eyes. When the light faded a woman stood on the water as Kikyo did.

"Who's that?" Kuragari asked Inuyasha.

Inuyasha shook his head, meaning he didn't.

"Mother?" whispered Kikyo.

"Kikyo... why are you trying to kill your own sister," Aki looked below at her drowning daughter, "You were taught not to hate... what have you become?" a tear appeared in the older woman's eye.

"Mother... I," Kikyo began.

Aki raised her hand.

"Enough," she whispered, "The gods allowed me to come down here... I came to stop you from doing what you are."

Kikyo's eyes filled with tears and she hung her head down.

Taka felt her body begin to rise. She gasped for breathe when she rose above the water. She kneeled on the invisible barrier that was below her. Aki hugged her.

"My daughter," she whispered, "it's been far to long."

Taka let her mother hug her. Aki released her and looked at Kikyo.

"Please forgive me, mother," Kikyo whispered tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Of course I will," Aki embraced Kikyo and stroked her hair, "come with me to the heavens... don't allow yourself to go to hell."

"Mother... I deserve to go to hell," Kikyo whispered.

"You spared your sister's life... you gave her back the memories that her father forbade her to have," Aki smiled, "you deserve to come to the heavens," she moved some of her daughters hair out of her face.

Kikyo sobbed into her mother's chest (A/N very! Rare). Aki hummed an unfamiliar tune and stroked Kikyo's hair.

"Sayonara Taka," Aki whispered.

A light glowed again. Aki and Kikyo disappeared into the light... leaving only dust and bones in Kikyo's place.Taka opened her eyes to be on the shore. Taka coughed. Kuragari wrapped a part of his kimono around her. Inuyasha kneeled in front of her.

"Daijoubu?" he asked.

Taka nodded. Kuragari helped her stand and they began walking back to the camp.

"Who was that woman?" asked Inuyasha.

"My mother," she replied quietly.

"Where did Kikyo go!" he growled, "when I get my hands on her..."

"She's gone for good," said Taka.

"Huh?"

"She went to the heavens with my mother."

Inuyasha stared at her. He looked away.

'Kikyo... went to the heavens with her mother... a mother would never abandon her children,' he thought, 'my mother died when I was young... she didn't want to... she wanted to protect me,' he smiled at the thought, 'but... she couldn't hold on,' he looked up to the skies.

"Inuyasha," Taka's voice snapped him out of his trance, "come on."

"Coming," he walked to catch up with Taka and Kuragari.

'No matter what my mother says,' Taka clutched her brother's kimono angrily, 'I am not forgiving Kikyo for trying to take me to hell... in the after life... where ever I end up... I'll always hate my own sister,' she fell to her knees and clutched her chest in pain, 'I will not let go of this grudge,' she thought furiously as Kuragari helped her up again.

Once again my chapter is to short ;( please read and review