Title: The Chosen Birth
LJ Community: iy no kakera
Theme: Set #2, Theme #94: Place of Birth
Genres: General, maybe drama?
Pairings: none
Rating: G
Summary: Kikyou has seen many births since her death, but this would be her last.

Kikyou's head lifted slightly when she felt the twinge in her mind – the twinge that alerted her to the birth of someone who would be important in the world. She had been to many such births since she had arrived into Nirvana centuries ago: Beethoven, Einstein, King, and many, many others.

Such births were a momentous occasion. Souls from all the realms of Nirvana would hover above the labouring mother, watching history in the making and looking on in wonder as the chosen soul enters the child destined for great things, giving to it the breath of life it needed to survive.

Sometimes it was a completely fresh soul, newly spun from the web of chaos. Other times it was a reincarnated soul from Nirvana – a soul wanting to go back to the Earth and lend guidance to its people.

In all these 500 years, Kikyou had never once expressed a wish to return to the Earth. Her soul was beyond pure, and it never should have been. Because of that girl, she had been given a second chance and was able to die peacefully. She could have reincarnated and been back by now, but she steadfastly refused to let another taint her pristine soul before it could be given to the one who deserved it most.

The former priestess cleared her thoughts and relocated herself to the hospital room of the child, and was surprised to see no other souls in the room. How could no others feel this ache, the one that touched the very core of her soul?

The mother grunted and with a final heave managed to push the child out far enough that the doctor could assist with the rest. The room was eerily silent, and as the doctor began the procedure for clearing out the child's fluid-filled lungs Kikyou surveyed the room desperately. Where was the occupying soul? For a child this important, a chosen birth, a soul would have been prepared!

The doctors were getting more frantic now – the child had not taken its first breath. Kikyou felt as if she were being torn apart. Surely, this child would die if no soul entered it soon! Why would a child who would impact the world this much have no chosen soul?

She couldn't wait any longer for the chosen soul to arrive. She had to save this baby – she couldn't let it die while she watched and did nothing. She let herself be pulled towards the child, its body absorbing her essence, and a feeling of euphoria swept over her before she lost herself in its flesh, never to awaken as Kikyou again.

The doctors were elated as the child suddenly sputtered and coughed. It was alive! They had saved this baby! They passed the wailing infant to its exhausted and radiant mother, who stroked its head softly.

"There, there; Mama's here, my precious Kagome."