Chapter 22 is finally done! Hope you all enjoy it. It has been a time jump and Kagome is going back to the feudal era. Next chapter will be about them all traveling again with the addition of one new member. I am sure you all can guess who that is, please enjoy.
ArcticVixen94: I am so glad you like it. It makes it worthwhile to write this story to have people enjoy it. Well I hope you like this chapter and don't worry, I don't plan on letting Bankotsu and his gang to just sit on the sidelines. I am not sure on how they will help just yet but I have some ideas ;)
TaxLady0415: Thank you. I am really happy that you enjoy my story and it really makes me want to write more and more. I hope you enjoy this chapter aswell.
Guest: Well, I'm sorry you didn't like my story but if you don't like it, why read all the chapters that are out? I am of the opinion that if I don't like a story I don't continue reading. I just stop reading it and move on to another story. I don't see the need to rack down. Inu Yasha will grow up but seriously. he is very stubborn and thick skulled. It should take time for that to happen otherwise it would seem like I am rushing it. I won't be happy with that. Hope you have a nice day.
Chapter 22.
Kagome sighed in annoyance as she glared at Inu Yasha. It had been over three months since Souta had told her about Inu Yasha's and the others suspicions that she wasen't Kikyo's reincarnation after all and after that she had contacted Renji about finding a way for her to call the small piece of her soul that Kikyo held back. After that she and Renji had started to look for a way to do that but they hadn't been able to find a way which led them to conclude that she really had to go back to the feudal era to be able to that. Once that had been concluded she had started to train again. Renji came over nearly every day over to her uncle's house to help her with her training with her reiki and two weeks after that Jakotsu, Suikotsu and Bankotsu was released from the hospital and while Suikotsu wished her good luck he didn't do more than that. Jakotsu and Bankotsu however went with Renji every day to help her train in hand to hand combat. Then just a month ago she had agreed to go to the shrine to talk to Inu Yasha. Souta and her mother had gone with her but she had also asked Jakotsu and Bankotsu to meet them at the stairs. From what Souta had told her Inu Yasha had not liked it when he had been told that she was training with what he still saw as their enemies. That meeting with Inu Yasha had not gone well. When he had first seen her he had rushed up to her to try to hug her but she had backed away in fright. She still couldn't handle such sudden movements towards her and that was when Jakotsu had stepped in front of her to stop Inu Yasha and that had made said half demon to lose his temper starting to yell and growl. Telling them they had no right to stand between him and Kagome. At that Bankotsu had jumped forward and punched Inu Yasha hard in the face sending the unprepared male to land on his ass in shock. It was however Kagome's mother that had then given Inu Yasha a tongue lashing he had never gotten before and strictly told him that Kagome was still not fine with guys touching her so suddenly and that he had not right to say anything about Bankotsu and the others since they were the reason that Kagome was now willing to see him.
After that Inu Yasha had calmed down though he kept shooting Jakotsu and Bankotsu dirty looks. Once he was calm Kagome said they could go to the sacred tree to talk. They would be away from the others but close enough that if Inu Yasha started to argue Jakotsu and Bankotsu would be at her side fast. After that talk Kagome had gathered that though Inu Yasha was worried about her a great deal he was actually more worried about the shard hunt. That had ended up with him sat and she had stormed off to her mother telling her she would not return to the feudal era until Inu Yasha got himself straightened out and had apologize to her. That had Inu Yasha angry and he forced himself of the ground slowly and had yelled that he was worried about the shard hunt because Naraku would end up getting them all. The glare he had gotten from Kagome however had made him flinch and backed off.
Now, at the third months mark Kagome was finally ready to return. She and Renji had found that she could use the magic of the well to help aid her to call back the piece of her soul that Kikyo held they had tried it a few days and the wells magic did respond to her on this side of the well so they were certain that it would on the other side aswell. Renji had also helped her to create a bracelet that would keep her hidden from Kikyo so that the dead one wouldn't realise right away that she was back. She would know the moment she took back her soul but by then is would be too late for her to stop Kagome. At least they hoped it would be. There was one problem though. The plan was for Inu Yasha to return a few hours before she did but then her half demon friend found out that Bankotsu planned on trying to go through the well together with her and now he was refusing to go. Kagome looked at him while Bankotsu stood at her side. Over the time that he and Jakotsu had started up her training again the two of them had become very close. She was now fine with him touching her even when she didn't see it coming. She could feel it was him by sensing his aura and they had even kissed a few times. It hadn't gone further than that but Kagome felt that with Bankotsu it was fine that it was going slowly. She had talked to Jakotsu about it and had come to the conclusion that she had fallen in love with Bankotsu and once both she and Bankotsu had told each other their feelings the last of her fears had vanished. At least when it came to him. She still would flinch if Inu Yasha touched her without warning.
"No way Kagome. He is not coming with you. I'll go with you. I don't care what you say. If you need someone to hold your damn hand I can do it." Inu Yasha growled out shaking Kagome out of her thoughts and she looked at him and sighed.
"That won't work. You always jumps out of the well as soon as you appear on the other side. If Kikyo is watching the well and you guys from somewhere then she will now something is up when she sense your aura appearing in the well but you not jumping out of it. Besides you have no right to tell either me or Bankotsu what we can or cannot do. I told you over the phone last night that Bankotsu and I are dating now and have been for a week. He has been there every step since he and his brothers helped me get better. You either accept it and get over it or I won't be going today. I want Bankotsu to try to go through the well. I need him. Unless you want med to ask Jakotsu to come instead that is." Kagome said in annoyance and anger and at that Inu Yasha flinched and his ears went flat against his skull.
Inu Yasha looked at Kagome and sighed. He wanted to yell that he could have been at her side instead of Bankotsu and those other bastards if she just had let him but he kept his trap shut. Sure he didn't like it at all that it had been Bankotsu and the others that helped Kagome and healed her. He had wanted to be the one to do it but today when Kagome and Bankotsu had arrived at the shrine he had actually seen something that he hadn't seen from Kagome for a very long time. Her happy and brilliant smile, though it was slightly dim because of what had happened to her it was there. He hadn't seen that smile since they had decided they were better of as friends. Sure it had been a decision they both had decided on but it had still hurt them both at first and Kagome had lost that smile he had always liked to see. Now it was back and part of him was so happy to see it but the other part of him was furious and jealous that someone else had made her smile like that and the worse part was that it was that bastard Bankotsu that did it. Inu Yasha shook his head and took a deep breath to calm himself and thought about what Kagome had just said and his shoulders slumped as he realised that Kagome was right. If Kikyo was really spying on them from somewhere near the well then she would get suspicious if he didn't jump right out of the well.
"Yeah fine, I get all that especially the thing about me and the well but why must he come with you?!" Inu Yasha snarled out and Kagome looked at him and sighed and looked over her shoulder at Bankotsu, who was slowly losing the last of his patience. Kagome looked back at Inu Yasha and took out her phone. She planned on leaving it in the house before she and Bankotsu jumped through the well so it would be there when Souta came to bring it back to the mansion. She had taken it with her because she had felt she might need it and now she knew she had been right.
"So you are okay with Jakotsu coming instead?" Kagome asked and saw how Inu Yasha flinched and paled before an actual blush heated his face and he turned around to hide it.
"Damnit! Fine he can go with you but if you two don't come in a few hours I am coming back to drag you there myself, Kagome, and I am leaving that bastard behind!" Inu Yasha hissed out with his back towards them and then he hurried to the well house and soon his aura vanished and Kagome sighed in relief and she could her Bankotsu chuckle quietly and she looked at him and giggled. A few weeks ago Inu Yasha had been allowed to go to her uncle's house though Toya hadn't been there since he had been at a business trip. Souta had been in his room doing homework and playing games and her mother and grandfather had left them all alone, they both trusted Bankotsu and the others and knew they would keep Inu Yasha in line. Bankotsu and the other guys had been there aswell and Jakotsu had challenged Inu Yasha to a drinking game. Of course the over confident half demon had accepted. It had gone on late into the night and Renji, Ginji, Kyoshi and Suikotsu had gone home while Bankotsu stayed in with her to wait for Jakotsu and Inu Yasha to call it quits. However after long she and Bankotsu had grown bored and left the living room, leaving the two already drunk idiots alone and gone up to Souta's room and played some games with him and then the three had at some point fallen asleep, Kagome on her brother's bed and Bankotsu sleeping, leaning against it while Souta had fallen asleep on the floor. It had been in the early morning the next day that they had all been woken up by Inu Yasha yelling his head of and then they had heard the front door slam shut. They had all hurried down to see Jakotsu standing in the entryway chuckling and licking his lips. No, Jakotsu hadn't done anything 'bad' as he called it, he had just helped himself to a few so called 'taste checks' Kagome had blushed slightly and had wanted to ask what he meant but had thought better of it since her and Souta's mother and grandpa was coming downstairs aswell to find out what had just happened. Souta had just shrugged his shoulders and gone into the kitchen. He thought he knew what Jakotsu had done but didn't say anything. It wasen't his place to interfere and part of him found the idea to be a form of pay back against Inu Yasha and his attitude problem. Bankotsu however had laughed loud and hard but once he calmed down he had politely declined the offer for him and Jakotsu to stay for breakfast and then dragged Jakotsu out of the house with a call over his shoulder that he would call Kagome later.
Kagome giggled a little more at the memory. After that incident Inu Yasha would do just about anything to avoid Jakotsu and when Kagome had asked Jakotsu if he was okay with that Jakotsu had grinned and said it was fine. He had given Inu Yasha a show and tell of what he could offer him, now he would wait for the half demon to approach him. Of course Jakotsu had made her promise him that if Inu Yasha took too long she would help him lure Inu Yasha to him. Kagome had giggled and agreed. She knew that Jakotsu still liked Inu Yasha and wanted him. Of course the desire to kill the half demon was gone but there were other desires of course and Kagome had no problem it. In fact she thought her time's Jakotsu was perfect for Inu Yasha and Jakotsu had promised he wouldn't do anything to hurt her friend. That was enough for her. Kagome then turned and started to walk towards the house, taking Bankotsu's hand in her own and smiled up at him.
"How long do you think it will take for Inu Yasha to go to Jakotsu? I mean I don't know what Jakotsu did that night but whatever it was has Inu Yasha flustered whenever I talk about it." Kagome said and Bankotsu grinned.
"Well, let see how it plays out and if the idiot is taking too long we will just have to trick him. He can't avoid it forever." Bankotsu said as Kagome unlocked the door and walked inside and took of her shoes. Bankotsu following suit.
"Well, Inu Yasha is stubborn so it might take a long while but you are right. It's up to Inu Yasha now." Kagome said as she walked in to the kitchen and sat down. She had left her backpack in the well house but told Inu Yasha not to touch it since that would alert Kikyo.
"Would you like some water? We don't really have anything here to snack on at the moment. I thought we could order a pizza before we go through the well for lunch." Kagome said as Bankotsu sat down across from her and he smiled at her.
"No worries. I am not thirsty right now, but pizza sounds good. By the way Kagome… you do know that those two followed us here right? We should deal with them before we go." Bankotsu said and Kagome sighed and nodded.
"Yeah I noticed. I just didn't say anything since that would've set Inu Yasha of… he is going to get really protective once we are in the feudal era. Ever since I told him what happened, of course without the horrible details I saw it. He got that fierce light in his eyes. He is going to be like crazed animal when it comes to my protection now. Though it won't be necessary now since I can protect myself. Let's just hope that the well really lets you through. I want you with me." Kagome said and smiled gently and Bankotsu grinned.
"Don't worry, it is going to let me through. There is no way I am letting it take you back in time without me. You are my precious girlfriend after all. No magic well will tell me what I can or cannot do." Bankotsu snorted his blue eyes shining in humor and Kagome let out a soft laugh and smiled at him.
"Oh how could I have forgotten that I am dating the once fearsome and incredible strong leader of the legendary Band of Seven. The feudal eras strongest and most dangerous band of mercenaries" Kagome said and Bankotsu smirked but then became serious as he looked out the kitchen windows in silence for a few seconds.
"They a climbing the stairs. Now is the time to make them truly understand that they have to leave you alone." Bankotsu said and then stood up, Kagome nodded and stood up aswell and they both walked out in the hall and put on their shoes and walked outside and soon they saw the two that had followed them since they left her uncle's house. Hojo and Yuka.
Once Hojo had been released from prison he had come home to yell at his parents for not helping him get out earlier but when he arrived he was met with his parents in the hallway telling him to get out of their house and not to come back. His father threw a duffle bag at him telling that most of his clothes was in there along with some money and that would be the only thing they would give him and then they threw him out of the house. He had been shocked but also very furious. After that he had called Yuka and they had met up in a park. That was when he had decided to go and see Kagome and she said she was coming along. After that they had taken Yuka's car and parked down the street from where Kagome and her family was staying right now. Though neither of them understood why someone that was rich would help the Higurashi family they just ignored it and waited. A few hours later a black sports car stopped outside of the mansion Kagome was in and Kagome came outside and climbed into the car and it drove away. Hojo and Yuka then followed far behind and when they had reached the Higurashi shrine Yuka had gasped in shock over who had been driving the car that had picked up Kagome. The guy was gorgeous, tan skin, with sapphire blue eyes and long black hair in a braid. He had a pair of jeans and a white form fitting t-shirt with purple prints on it. The guy was obviously strong. You could see his muscles and though the guy wasen't overly muscular anyone could see he took his appearance seriously. Hojo however had been furious. He wanted to get out of the car and attack the man but he held it at bay. There were too many people on the streets. Instead both he and Yuka waited as they watched the two walk up the stairs. They then waited nearly an hour and then started to climb the stairs themselves. Once they reached the top however they saw that both Kagome and the guy was waiting for them and they looked at each other in worry. However before they could say anything Kagome spoke.
"What do you want? You are not supposed to come near me. Leave or I am going to call the police and this time, Hojo you will go to prison for a much longer time." Kagome said angrily and at that Yuka hissed out a breath as her anger got the better of her.
"What the hell, Kagome?! We are just trying to help! You and Hojo are meant for each other! Why don't you just pull your head out of your ass and see that aswell?!" Yuka screamed as her face got red from the anger and Kagome looked at her coldly.
"I never agreed to that opinion of you and the others. I have never liked Hojo that way. In fact, he creeps me out. No matter how many times I rejected him or never showed up on any of the dates you and the girls planned he wouldn't get the hint. Now I am going make it very, very clear for the both of you. I don't like Hojo. He is not my type. He is boring, selfcentered, as dense a brick and completely and utterly dull looking." Kagome said, her tone as sharp as a knife edge and at that Yuka actually flinched and she took a step back in shock while Hojo stood in shock with his eyes so wide it looked like them would fall out of his skull and his mouth hanging open. However he then came back to his senses and glared at the girl he was in love with and then glared at the unknown guy that was smirking at him and Yuka.
"Don't be stupid, you are my woman. What are you lying for? What can you possible think I am lacking?!" Hojo yelled out in anger and when Kagome looked at him he was grinning with confident however when Kagome scoffed he frowned and was about to speak but Kagome beat him to it.
"I really hate it when guys think they can claim a woman with that outdated phrase. I already have a friend that does it. I don't need a weak and delusional idiot to do the same as for what you are lacking there is many things but what you lack most of all is a sense of reality. Otherwise you would've gotten the hint that I am not interested by now but you also lack strenght. Both mentally and physically." Kagome said and at that Bankotsu let out a soft laugh and Yuka and Hojo looked at him and Yuka narrowed her eyes in anger but also in jealousy. Why was that guy with Kagome? Was her thoughts but she then blinked at what Kagome said and frowned.
"What the hell do you mean by strenght? And who is that guy anyway?!" Yuka yelled and Kagome looked at both Yuka and Hojo and then at Bankotsu.
"This is Bankotsu, my boyfriend. As for the other, Bankotsu, why don't you just show them?" Kagome said, she was growing annoyed and she wanted to call the authorities. Bankotsu looked at her and then nodded and walked to one of stone benches that was between them and the two unwelcomed guests and then looked at Yuka and Hojo and then took a deep breath and then made a down ward punch and hit the bench making it crack and then collapse and then looked back at the now shocked and terrified Hojo and Yuka and smirked.
"Stay away from my girlfriend. My family will otherwise make your lives very difficult." Bankotsu said, his tone deadly serious.
Hojo and Yuka stared in shock and fear at how the guy, Bankotsu had broken a stone bench with just his bare hand, or rather fist. Then they heard his threat and Yuka had then looked at Kagome and saw that she was on the phone and she immediately turned and hurried down the stairs, truly terrified. Now she was finally understanding that Kagome was no longer the same push over friend she had been growing up with, she didn't want to go to prison either and frankly. This Bankotsu guy scared her very much. Hojo had looked at Bankotsu, truly terrified and then looked at Kagome and swallowed and then hurried after Yuka. Oh he wouldn't give up, no way but he didn't want to have a fist fight with that crazy guy. He would die. He was sure that if he could just get Kagome alone it would turn out that she was forcing herself. After all, there was no way that his sweet Kagome would say all those horrible things about him if they were alone. Once he caught up with Yuka they both jumped inside the car and drove away. Yuka planning to stay far away from Kagome from now on while Hojo trying to come up with a plan to get Kagome alone.
Once Kagome felt that the both of them was gone she relaxed and walked up to Bankotsu and looked at him.
"Is your hand okay?" She asked in worry and Bankotsu grinned and held up her hand so she could see it, not so much as a scratch on it.
"Yeah it is totally fine. I didn't think they would back of so easily though." Bankotsu said and Kagome sighed.
"We probably got rid of Yuka for good but Hojo though… there is something seriously wrong with him. I don't think he will get it until it is beaten into him. And that will have to be me doing it. Otherwise he would just continue coming…" Kagome said as she started to walk back to the house, calling the police to report what has happened. She wouldn't let it slide. It would just make things worse. Bankotsu followed her and took out his phone to call to make arrangement to have the bench he destroyed replaced. It was a few hours later after eating the pizza they had ordered that Kagome and Bankotsu now stood inside the well house looking at the well. A part of Kagome still didn't want to return out of fear that Naraku might try to hurt her again but when she felt Bankotsu calmly and carefully put his hand on her shoulder she relaxed and smiled up at him and then shouldered her new black backpack that was filled with things she needed like food, clothes and other things. Kagome then took a deep breath and looked down at the well and slowly took Bankotsu's hand in hers and walked up to the well and looked down and saw Banryuu still there and she smiled at looked at Bankotsu.
"Let's hope you can take that thing with you aswell. Since only you can use it." She said and Bankotsu just grinned and nodded and then he climbed up on the lip of the well and helped Kagome to climb up aswell.
"Okay, Kagome. Once we are through you must start to use your powers aswell as the wells magic to take back the rest of your soul. That bracelet will not keep you hidden for long right?" Bankotsu said and Kagome nodded slowly and bit her lip in worry.
"Renji thinks that I have about five minutes at most to do it and then add to the fact that your presence won't be hidden since we were only able to make one bracelet I might have even less than that. But I will start the moment we arrive in the past." Kagome said as her voice filled with determination. Bankotsu looked at her and nodded and then counted to three and the two of them jumped down the well holding each other's hand and just before the blue light appeared Bankotsu grabbed his halberd with his free hand and then they gone from the future.
(In the Feudal Era with Inu Yasha and the others).
When Inu Yasha landed on the other side of the well in his own time he was still blushing and he let out and angry growl and jumped out of the well and saw that Miroku and the others were sitting in the clearing looking at him in confusion but he didn't stay instead he hurried away to the village. He didn't want to walk around the forest right now. Whenever he did that Kikyo would approach him and he had noticed that she had weird black markings over her face, neck and hands. Kikyo claimed that Kagome was responsible but he told her that, that wasen't possible and then had walked away. Ever since then she would try to approach him and he avoided her. Something was seriously wrong with the woman he had thought to be his mate once. She seemed… more dangerous now. Like her jealousy had completely taken over her. He had talked to Kaede about it and the old miko had told him to not let himself be alone with Kikyo from then on and he had done just that. Even he, though he wasen't the smartest, knew that whatever was happening to Kikyo now was something he couldn't stop or save her from. Kaede had told him that this might be the price Kikyo had to pay for making an innocent person like Kagome go through so much pain. Once Inu Yasha reached Kaede's hut he walked inside and sat down. The elder miko looked at him and sighed. She was the only one that knew that Kagome was planning on returning today. Inu Yasha hadn't said anything to the others since they were in the clearing all the time. It was for the best if they didn't know in case they let it slip out. Though both she and Inu Yasha thought that the only one to risk let it slip out would be the very worried little fox child that was in the clearing. Kaede cleared her throat and then handed Inu Yasha a bowl of stew and then raised a barrier to keep anyone from listening.
"So she is coming soon?" Kaede asked and Inu Yasha nodded as he ate his food.
"Yeah, she said she would be here in a few hours. Hopefully the plan will work. Though I still don't want to lose Kikyo it is obvious that once Kagome had taken back the rest of her soul that something will happen. Kikyo's aura is so dark now. It is completely black… her smell is also darker." Inu Yasha said slowly and Kaede nodded in understanding and sadness.
"It is alright, Inu Yasha. The sister I knew and loved. She never returned. I think that what is now walking the earth is Kikyo's selfish desires. The ones that she forced herself from having when she truly was alive. It is for the best to have Kagome take back what is hers before Kikyo defiles that aswell and then let her go back to her rest." Kaede said calmly and Inu Yasha slowly nodded but his ears was pinned against his hair. He knew that this was for the best but at the same time he wanted to protect Kikyo but he knew that he couldn't do that. Kaede was right. This Kikyo that was among them needed to go back to the afterlife.
Miroku and the others looked after Inu Yasha in confusion but then shrugged. Thinking that he probably wanted to be alone. He had been on edge from time to time since a few weeks ago and when they had asked what was wrong he had just snarled at them to leave him alone and then hurried towards the village so they decided to just let him have whatever temper tantrum he had and let him be.
"I wonder when Kagome will be back…" Sango said in a sad voice and Shippo nodded solemnly in agreement and Kirara just looked at them while Miroku smiled gently at them.
"I am sure it will be soon. Kagome is a lot stronger than we think. I am certain we will see her very soon." Miroku said and at that Shippo and Sango smiled a little and nodded though they were doubtful about it. Miroku however was not. He was quite certain that Kagome would return very soon. It was like the nature itself seemed to be waiting for something and he couldn't help but feel that Kagome had something to do with it.
An hour later Inu Yasha came back to the clearing and sat down against a tree, staring at the well. Miroku and the others looking at him but then shrugged. They didn't want to risk making Inu Yasha angry again. It would just give them all a headache they could do without.
Nearly an hour after that, were Sango and Miroku just sat leaning against each other talking quietly, Inu Yasha just sitting by the tree, his leg bouncing in annoyance and Shippo and Kirara playing a little in the grass, they all suddenly sensed the magic of the well activate quietly and a presence they didn't recognize was in the well but before anyone of them could move the wells magic suddenly flared and moved out over the ground like waves and then Miroku noticed that the magic of the well was laced with a reiki signature that he would recognize anywhere and he grinned, having a suspicion as to what was going on but he kept quiet and held Sango against him telling her to keep still while a slightly struggling Shippo was being held by Inu Yasha. Kirara just sat in Sango's lap, calm and relaxed which helped both the slayer and the demon child to calm down aswell and then they suddenly heard an enraged shriek from the forest and just a minute after that a small white glowing orb flew into the clearing towards the well and then dived down it and then the magic from the well subsided and everything turned quiet until they suddenly saw a shadow jump out of the well and landed in front of them all and the all gasped, while Inu Yasha growled. In front of them all stood, Bankotsu, in the flesh holding his halberd with one hand and holding their dear friend Kagome around the waist with his other hand and arm, grinning while Kagome smiled at them. The one to break the shocked silence was Shippo who yelled the little mikos name with a voice filled with happiness and relief as he was able to free himself of Inu Yasha's grip and he hurried over to her and hugged her leg and looked up at her with a large smile on his lips and he then looked at Bankotsu and nodded in greeting, Bankotsu doing the same and then the former mercenarie looked at the others and grinned and then let go of Kagome who slowly picked up Shippo and hugged him and couldn't help but feel really happy to be back. Sango and Miroku was the one to approach them after that and as soon as Sango got close she pulled Kagome into a fierce hug and sobbed out how happy she was that Kagome was okay and finally back, Miroku looked at them and smiled at Kagome when she looked at him and nodded in greeting, knowing that the young woman might need some time to relax around him like she had before. Last was Inu Yasha, who approach and he glared at Bankotsu but didn't say anything to him instead he looked at Kagome.
"Took you long enough, wench. We have been waiting." Inu Yasha said though his eyes showed relief. Kagome looked at them all while she hugged Sango and smiled at them but before she could answer Inu Yasha they all tensed as a presence showed up at the edge of the clearing and Sango let go of Kagome and they all looked at Kikyo and everyone except Inu Yasha looked startled at how Kikyo looked. She had black crack like markings on her face, neck and his hands.
"You bitch! What have you done to me?!" Kikyo screeched as she let her now black reiki crash against the barrier that Miroku had put up around the clearing and Miroku gasped as the barrier shattered and he held his staff close, ready for any attacks. Oh he was shocked that his barrier had been destroyed so easily but from what he could feel from the undead miko it was obvious that something darker in Kikyo's soul had taken over. Sango glared at Kikyo and held her Hiraikotsu ready but then they all saw how Kagome stepped forward and looked at Kikyo and while they all wanted to stop her they noticed that Bankotsu seemed to want to that even more but they also saw Kagome's eyes that were filled with determination. Their friend wouldn't back down this time.
"I have done nothing. I just took back what was mine and since you are still here it means that you were never my incarnation. Just knowing that makes me wonder why you would keep a soul, even claiming it was you own for so long." Kagome said and Kikyo glared at her with hatred evident in her eyes and everyone in the clearing knew that whatever happened now was going to change a lot of things for everyone. Miroku and Sango looked at Kagome and knew that Kagome was now much more confident and stronger than before and they also knew that since Inu Yasha hadn't gone to Kikyo's side that their half demon friend was over whatever infatuation he had, had for the undead miko was gone.
Kikyo had felt the wells magic but hadn't sensed Kagome's presence and though she was curious as to what was going on, she wasen't going to go any closer to the well. She could easily see from her hiding place behind her barrier but then the damned girl's soul had suddenly forced itself out of her body and she had let out a furious shriek and then hurried after it but then she saw the small piece of the soul she had tried to make her own dive down the well and after that Kagome's presence had appeared out of nowhere and said girl aswell as a now very much living Bankotsu jumped out of the well and though she was curious on how the now former undead mercenarie was now fully alive she shoved those thoughts away for now. She needed to take back the soul that had left her and this time she would do it by killing the bitch and she would do that in front of Inu Yasha. That would make him wake up from whatever spell Kagome had him under and make him return to her side. At that thought Kikyo lifted her bow and aimed an arrow at Kagomes chest and before anyone could interfere she released it and grinned in triumph but as the arrow was about to hit the girl said girl filled her lower arm and hand with her reiki and just hit the arrow, making it flew to the side and hit a tree instead. Kikyo stared in shock, anger and actual fear at it. She looked towards her arrow and then noticed that Bankotsu took out a dagger and handed it to Kagome and before Kikyo could react Kagome had filled the dagger with reiki and thrown it at her. As she was about to jump away to avoid it she noticed how she couldn't move and she saw that her soul collectors was keeping her in place and as the dagger hit her straight in the chest she let out a furious wail as the reiki in the dagger started to eat away at her body and actually turn her into dust and she looked at Kagome with eyes filled with hatred and jealousy before she looked towards Inu Yasha but the last thing she saw was him just shaking his head in sadness and then she was gone, turned into dust as the other souls she had held captive left and flew up into the sky and that was when all darkness in her soul suddenly vanished and all that was left was her purple soul that just slowly faded away and Kikyo was no more.
The clearing was completely quiet as they watched how Kikyo's body turned into dust and how the souls she had absorbed was finally free and when the soul of Kikyo herself, instead of going to the afterlife started to fade away Inu Yasha tried to go to her but the black soul collectors stopped him and his instincts told him not to try to force his way through. Once Kikyo's soul was completely gone from sight the whole clearing was engulfed in a blinding white light making them all cover their eyes and when they looked again they were in a meadow full of flowers and in front of them stood a beautiful woman in ancient armor looking at them and Inu Yasha looked at the woman but before he could yell Kagome spoke.
"You… you are Midoriko are you not?" The young miko said and at that everyone except Bankotsu looked in shock at the unknown woman and the woman smiled and nodded.
"Yes, my child. That is correct. I am just here to thank you for forcing Kikyo back where she belonged. She can now have a chance to pay for her sins and then she can finally be reborn again once the jewel is gone for good. I know you will be able to destroy it, Kagome. Don't let the past make you think otherwise." Midoriko said and that Bankotsu and Miroku narrowed their eyes slightly while Inu Yasha just looked confused. Sango had also heard what the warrior miko in front of them had said but decided not to ask. Some things were better left unknown. Shippo was behind Kagome and Kirara looked at the being before them and mewled slightly and got a small smile from Midoriko in return but Kirara didn't move. Kagome looked at Midoriko.
"What do you mean? Is Kikyo's soul somehow linked to the jewel?" Kagome asked in confusion and Midoriko nodded in sadness.
"That is correct, my child. You will know everything once you have completed the jewel and gotten rid of Naraku. I cannot tell you everything right now. But I can tell you that you had no connection to Kikyo's soul. Her soul was inside you because of the jewel. For now, do what you have done from the very beginning. Collect the shards and stop Naraku. I know you can do it. You are strong and you now have a strong champion at your side. Now you must all return. I cannot let you stay any longer. The demons are coming." Midoriko said and in a sudden white flash they were all back in the clearing of the well. The soul collectors was completely gone and they all looked at each other but then Inu Yasha walked to were Kikyo's clothes and ashes were and started to collect it when he saw the others looking at him he mumbled that Kaede would want to rebury the remains. At that Miroku nodded in understanding and walked up to help him while Shippo and Sango looked at Kagome, who in turn looked like she was in deep thought. Sango then looked at Bankotsu with weary eyes.
"Kagome, why is Bankotsu here?" Sango said, making Kagome come out of her musings and she looked at Bankotsu and then smiled at Sango. "I will tell you all about it once we are in Kaede's hut." Kagome said as she then started to walk towards the village, Bankotsu walking alongside her, Shippo and Kirara behind them and with one last glance at Miroku and Inu Yasha, Sango hurried after them. 'This is going to be very interesting' Sango mused as she looked at her best friend and Bankotsu and how they interacted with each other.
AN:
Okay so the fight with Kikyo was very fast but seriously, I see her as an eyesore. I am not a Kikyo fan and I have never been. I wanted her gone but at the same time I didn't want to tip my hand on how strong Kagome is so if someone didn't like it I am sorry but I am happy with it. Thank you all for reading.
/Koritsia