Author's Notes: I know a lot of you are waiting for me to update The Untouchable, but I'm finding that very difficult. I joined iy no kakera over at livejournal to hopefully help inspire me to get back to my longer pieces, so please be patient and support my drapples also:)

Title: A Will to Live
LJ Community: iy no kakera
Theme: Set #2, Theme #2 (Scar)
Genres: General, Introspective
Rating: G
Summary: After pondering her current situation, Kikyou finds the strength to move on.

She sits against a tree, staring silently towards the sky as her shinidamachuu circle overhead, dropping glowing blue souls for her body to absorb.

The souls sunk into her almost eagerly, and Kikyou frowns in disgust. This horrible body, made of soil and twisted magic, is becoming too much to handle. The rage that had consumed her when she had first risen from the dead has now faded completely. She has nothing left of her own to keep her body moving, and no matter how many souls enter it, she still finds it troublesome to move and needs to pause often for rest.

Maybe I should just give up. Maybe it is time for me to leave this world.

She places a hand on her chest. There should be a scar there – a deep void of a scar, oozing filth and poison. Instead, the scar has vanished and the void has been replaced with a feeling of warmth and comfort.

It annoys the priestess to feel that warmth – that small piece of soul that Kagome had left behind.

"Don't give up," it tells her, urging her on as it often did during times like these. "Live on. You must live."

"Foolish girl," Kikyou whispers. She is sure Kagome has no idea how much power it is taking her to leave behind her soul, even as miniscule a piece as this. However, for such an event to occur, the power needs to be given over willingly. Kagome honestly does want Kikyou to live.

"She truly is a fool," the priestess repeats, yet she gives in to the silent coaxing and pushes herself from the ground, her dirt-filled joints creaking and groaning in protest. She moves forward, moves onward, one hand always touching the invisible scar on her chest.

After all, it would be a sin to ignore such a precious gift – the gift of life.