Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha (Rumiko Takahashi-san and Viz media do), I hope you all know that by now. ;)

A/N: I thought Kōga/Ayame was difficult, but while this one took less time (I think), it went through three different concepts, including this one, before I was happy. I wasn't satisfied with simply rehashing their episodes together, and my AU ideas did not work out (the 'research' was fun, if by 'research' one means staying up until 1am looking at AU prompts and being distracted by other ships that could fit these prompts). Did I mention I love a good AU? Anyways, third time's the charm and I have this little story for all of you lovely readers. I did use two (inexact) quotes from the anime: Kikyō's 'pure is impure' quote and Suikotsu's second to last line (the long one) - don't own those!

Without further ado, please enjoy (or let me know if you don't)!

DAY 19

Kikyō ships

Kikyō/Suikotsu: Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

There was blood on his hands and the village burned behind him. No, not hands - claws. He walked along with six other riotous men. They were laughing. He-

Suikotsu sat up, drenched in cold sweat. The children all slept, the fire was dying in the hearth, and the only new person in the house was the priestess Kikyō. He slipped out of his bed and stole across the floor with silence and grace one would not expect from a man his size. He crept outside, filled a basin with water, and began scrubbing his hands. Blood - too much blood! I have to get it off! He could wash it off - it always came off eventually, he just had to keep working at it. Yes, just keep scrubbing and it would be fine. It was just a dream, right?

"Dr. Suikotsu?" Kikyō had always been a light sleeper, even before she died. She woke the moment he slipped out of the house. He was washing his hands as if his life depended on it. "Dr. Suikotsu? Are you well?" She didn't think the answer would be 'yes', but Kikyō asked anyway. When he didn't respond, she gently touched his shoulder.

He leapt back, knocking the basin over and spilling the water. "Lady Kikyō! I apologize if I woke you."

That is his first thought? He is always putting others above himself. "Do not trouble yourself, Doctor, I am a very light sleeper. You didn't answer my question; are you well, Suikotsu?"

"Forgive me," he apologized before answering her question. "I am well, yes."

"I hate to call a man a liar, but I do not think you are well," Kikyō challenged him.

"It was just a dream," he admitted, "please, think nothing of it." He looked down in shame - to think his silly dream had disturbed her rest!

"I would like to hear of it, if you will tell me. But first, perhaps we should go inside?" Kikyō extended her hand to take his, his hand that was still covered in -

"Blood! There's blood on my hands!" He turned to the washing basin, but all the water had spilled out. He frantically wiped his hands on his kosode. Kikyō grabbed both of his hands, stopping their motion.

"There is no blood on your hands, Suikotsu." She pulled them away from his kosode and held them closer to her own body, clasped between her own small hands, as she gently rubbed circles on one with her thumb. "Shh, it's okay."

She sat with him as his breathing returned to a normal pace and the fear left his eyes. He leaned forward, but was careful not to lean against her so as to preserve propriety. He managed a small smile for her.

"Come, let's go inside." She stood and gently pulled on his hands so that he would follow.

They sat together by the fire. Suikotsu took up the poker and stirred the ashes around before adding a few logs. They sat in silence for several minutes, the only noises were the crackling of the fire and the soft, even breathing of the children.

"Suikotsu? Will you tell me about your dream?" Kikyō asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Please?" He did not speak.

"It wasn't the first time-" his voice startled her when Suikotsu broke his silence - "the first time I've had that dream."

She waited for him to continue. He wouldn't look at her.

"Everything was on fire and my hands were covered in blood, but they weren't my hands. Instead of fingers, I had knives. There were others in the dream - laughing, congratulating me on the destruction around us. It felt so real. Like I'd actually committed these atrocities. And I felt - I felt happy, as if I liked hurting people." He became particularly interested in the floor and she could barely hear him. "What if I'm a bad person, Lady Kikyō? What if I was someone else before?"

He, too, was a person of clay and graveyard dirt, conjured from bones and ash. But the jewel shard in his neck was so pure, completely untainted. To live is to die, to die is to live. What is pure is impure, and impure has become pure. Perhaps those dreams were real. Perhaps he had done horrible things. Perhaps, Mount Hakurei could redeem this man and cleanse his soul.

"Look at me, Suikotsu," she commanded. "Who you may or may not have been is not who you are now. You are a kind man, a good man who cares for the sick and injured and raises orphans as his own children. That person in the dream is not you." If I could truly live again, it would be with you.

"Thank you, Kikyō." He held her hands tightly in his and all was right for one shining moment.

This scene played over and over in Kikyō's mind as she watched Suikotsu's evil half take over again and again. When the mercenary first resurfaced and tried to slay Yūta and Chiyo. When he came back, but slew the villagers while wearing the face of her kind doctor. When he tried to slay the children once more, but could not and left with Jakotsu and their captive. Now the mercenary reigned, his face decorated with green stripes to imitate a yōkai, frantic to slay the child before the "ridiculous do-gooder" held him back.

Kikyō drew back an arrow and aimed it at his throat. Let it fly. He dropped the girl and sank to the ground. Her arrow protruded from his throat. She could not help herself. She ran to him.

"Suikotsu!" She knelt beside him. The light of his Shikon no Tama shard was pure.

"Please, Lady Kikyō, remove the jewel shard from my neck. I have down so much evil, let me die while I am still myself."

"How can I let you die? There is still good for you to do." Every story must come to an end, including theirs. It had been so short. How could she let him go so soon? They were supposed to have more time together.

"You're wrong, Kikyō," he pleaded with her. "I would likely do it all again if I were able to, I couldn't stop myself. The mere thought of it is unbearable. Please, I beg of you, lady Kikyō, remove the jewel shard; give me death and release my tormented soul. Don't let me kill again."

He reached out a hand to hold hers one last time. She took it in hers and squeezed as she reached out with the other hand to grant his dying wish. He had done good, he had done bad, and he was out of time.

Jakotsu ripped the shard from Suikotsu's throat and tucked it into his sash. He ran away, leaving Suikotsu to choke on his own blood.

"It is over, at last," he sighed before his body crumbled. Kikyō was left with Suikotsu's bones, what was left of his hand still held in hers. Ash must return to ash, and dust to dust. Kikyō brushed her hands off on her hakama and rose from the ground. There was nothing to be done but to move on.