"You act as if I'm afraid of you."

"You should be priestess. In fact, you should be afraid of the so called 'good doctor' as well. He's not what you think he is. He's one of us. A killer, a madman; his thirst for blood unlike any of ours," Bankotsu teased. Kikyo chanced a sidelong glance towards Suikotsu, who was now sitting on the ground, hands covering his ears as he rocked back and forth.

"Oh dammit. Come on Suikotsu! We haven't the time for such nonsense. Inuyasha isn't getting any younger…and I want a taste of him before I have to kill him."

"Like hell you do Jakotsu!" Inuyasha yelled. Inuyasha gritted his teeth as he stood inside the ring of fire. Dammit. I have to get Kikyo out of there…but I…He looked over his shoulder to see Sango and Miroku standing in front of Kagome. Shippo was clinging to her as if his life depended on her and Kagome looked just as frightened. I can't leave them either…What do I do?

"I'm warning you Bankotsu. The next arrow I fire will go straight through your heart!"

"Doesn't matter priestess. We're already dead. But then again, so are you." Kikyo fired an arrow and it just missed Bankotsu as Genkotsu shot it down. This is not good.

"Dr. Suikotsu, you have to get out of here! Doctor, did you hear what I said?" Kikyo turned to see Suikotsu lying rigid on the ground.

"Ah yes, seems like he's regaining his memory. Better look out priestess."

Kikyo turned to see Dr. Suikosu was now rolling around on the ground screaming in pain. His body was twitching violently and his skin was starting to turn a dark shade of red.

"Doctor? Doctor please…are you alright?" Kikyo leaned over to see if he was alright but she struck hard right across her face, sending her sailing against a nearby rock. Her back hit the rock hard and she immediately passed out.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! KIKYO!" Inuyasha screamed as he desperately looked for a safe way through the fire. Dammit! Kikyo! I…

"BWAHAHAHA! Damn you priestess," Suikotsu said as he grinned and unleashed his claws. His body had transformed and he was now a beast, half human but half beast.

"Inuyasha, what are we going to do?" Sango asked. Inuyasha gritted his teeth as he thought to himself. Damn that Suikotsu.

"Oh Inuyasha," Jakotsu sang teasingly. "You may want to hurry things up a bit. Genkotsu is getting a little anxious."

"Master Inuyasha…LOOK!" Inuyasha turned to see Genkotsu driving himself slowly towards Kikyo. He had transformed once again and instead of just a tank he was now like a lawnmower, the front of his grill cutting the ground easily as if it were paper with it's blades…and Kikyo was right in the line of fire!

"Inuyasha, if we don't do something Kikyo will be a goner!" Myoga shouted. Inuyasha looked around desperately but there was no easy answer.

"I…"

"Nevermind Inuyasha! Go!" Miroku shouted. Inuyasha gritted his teeth as he charged through the ring of fire, unsheathing his tetsaiga.

"Oh no you don't Inuyasha!" Jakotsu threw his trick blade but Inuyasha quickly block it with his wind scar.

"You're going to have to do better than that Jakotsu!" Inuyasha shouted.

"HEY INUYASHA! LOOK BEHIND YOU!" Miroku shouted. Inuyasha turned to see Genkotsu gaining on Kikyo. He was now only a few feet from her, his blades cutting the mountainous terrain. Inuyasha started towards Kikyo but Jakotsu blocked his path.

"Sorry Inuyasha but you have to pay attention to me only dear." Jakotsu laughed as he tossed a series of combo swings at Inuyasha, who was forced back by the pressure.

"Sango…"

"I'm already ahead of you monk." Sango tossed her hiraikotsu, making a quick path through the fire for Miroku. He quickly followed the weapon, dashing straight towards Kikyo who was about to be crushed.

"HURRY MIROKU!" Myoga shouted. Miroku got there just in time, quickly scooping Kikyo into his arms and rolling out of the way of the blades.

Thank you Miroku. "BANKOTSU YOU ARE MINE!" Genkotsu turned and fired his cannons but this time Inuyasha was ready. The wind started to swirl around the tetsaiga as Inuyasha drew back making ready for his attack. "BACKLASH WAVE!" Genkotsu's cannons backfired as Inuyasha's tetsaiga sent them fling back towards Genkotsu.

"OOOOOOOOOOH NOOOOOOOOOO!" Jakotsu shouted. "Gotta fly! Until next time Inuyasha. I'll…be…waiting!" There was a huge bang as Genkotsu exploded into thousands of little pieces.

"Let's move Kagome! Kirara!" Sango, Kagome, and Shippo mounted Kirara as they headed for high ground. The air was thick with smoke from the explosion and no one could see a thing. Oh I hope Inuyasha is alright. Kagome scanned the area but the smoke was still too thick to see anything.

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Inuyasha sat up quickly but immediately fell back to the ground. His whole body was aching from the explosion and his skin was still slightly burned from the fire. Fire…Kikyo! Inuyasha looked around for Miroku but the thick smoke was preventing him from seeing anything.

"MIROKU! WHERE ARE YOU? I KNOW YOU'RE NEAR BY!"

"Inuyasha…why are you shouting?"

Inuyasha rolled over to see Miroku laying just a few feet away from him. His face had cuts and bruises but he seemed to be alright. Next to him was Kikyo. Miroku had wrapped his arms tight around her in order to shield her from the blast of the explosion. Her head was nestled against Miroku's chest and Inuyasha couldn't help but to smile at his friend.

"Miroku…I…thank you…if it wasn't for you…she is…alright isn't she?" Miroku grinned at his hanyou friend.

"Yes, she's alright but I fear she's been hurt pretty badly. She's breathing but just barely. She may have a concussion as well…although being that she's already dead, I'm not so sure how that goes."

Miroku gently pulled away from Kikyo as he sat up off the ground, placing her gently on the ground. Miroku looked towards the sky and saw tiny white orbs circling the area. Hmmm…Something else caught his eye. Samiyousho! They didn't stay long. As soon as Miroku spotted them, they turned and flew away. Naraku.

"Hey Miroku! Are you alright?" Sango and he others ran over and knelt beside him, brushing the debrii off of him.

"Oh I'm fine Sango dear. It's so good to know that you care." He placed his hand on her rear but she slapped him in the face. "I thought…you cared," he said smiling weakly. She glared at him angrily before turning to Inuyasha.

"Inu…"

"Not now Sango," Miroku whispered, pulling her back. They both looked on silently as Inuyasha approached Kikyo, kneeling over her wiping the dirt off of her face. He lifted her head gently, staring at her as if he wanted to cry.

"Kikyo," he whispered, caressing her cheek. She stirred a little but did not awaken.

"Inuyasha, she can't...her soul collectors can't get through. You'll have to take her away from here," Kagome said softly. Sango smiled at her weakly but Kagome only turned away.

"Inuyasha do you want me to…?"

"No…he should do it," Kagome said weakly. There was a strange finality to her tone so Miroku thought it best not to argue with her. Inuyasha scooped Kikyo into his arms and slowly started to carry her away from the mountain towards the glowing forest nearby. Kagome and the others hesitated before slowly following after him.

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"Hakudoshi, you'll be making your appearance soon. Is the infant somewhere safe?"

"Yes, he's quite safe. No one knows who he is or where he's at. Not even Kagra."

"Very good then. I think I should be getting ready. It would seem Inuyasha and his friends managed to escape. If the band can't finish them off then I guess you and I will have to do it ourselves. In the meantime, I must find away to lure Kikyo here. She managed to escape with a few minor injuries. Not that I expected her to die by the hands of another. She's too strong of a priestess." In due time my Kikyo…In due time…

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As soon as Inuyasha reached the entrance to the nearby forest, Kikyo's soul collectors immediately started encircling her, giving her body the precious souls needed in order for her to survive. Inuyasha propped her against a tree as he stood over her to make sure she was ok. Her eyes flutter open and twisted her face weakly. She was clearly still in pain.

"Inu…yasha…what…are you…doing here?" Her breath was labored and she winced each time she tried to speak. Sango and the others finally caught up with Inuyasha but decided to stand a few feet back so the could have a little privacy. Kagome stared at them sadly before turning to face the sky. I can't stand to see them like this.

"Kikyo, you shouldn't be talking. You're hurt," Inuyasha responded as he moved a strand of her hair out of her face. She looked up at him tearfully and his heart stopped.

Kikyo…you look so sad. She seemed to have read his thoughts, for her eyes seemed to smile.

No…I'm ok Inuyasha. I'll always be ok because I have you.

"I'm fine Inuyasha. Thank you. Thank all of you for getting me to safety. I can now safely rest up and go after Naraku again."

"WHAT?! No…I won't allow it!"

"Inuyasha! You can't tell me what to do. I owe Naraku and I will get him back for all the pain and suffering he's caused me."

"I know you want to do that but I feel the same way! I too want to get him back for all the trouble he's put me through."

"But…"

"Kikyo, at night I have terrible nightmares about the day…" He stopped suddenly as Miroku cleared his throat. He had forgotten all about Kagome and the others being there. Kikyo only turned away and looked towards the sky.

"Inuyasha, I am not going to go after him right now. I'll wait a day or two before I go but I have to go. I can't just sit here and do nothing. I was resurrected and unwillingly forced to be in a world in which I do not belong—a world in which I have no place."

"Kikyo, don't say that," Inuyasha whispered.

"No! It's true. There is but one reason I was brought back into this world and it is to destroy Naraku so that my soul can rest in peace. That is my only purpose, my only reason for existing." Inuyasha shut his eyes tightly as the tears started to stream down his face. Why Kikyo? Why do you feel this way? Does my loving you not mean anything anymore? Miroku placed a hand on his good friends back, clearing sensing the awkward moment.

"Inuyasha, you must go now. What's left of the band is now making its way up the rest of the mountain. You must quickly follow and destroy them."

"What…what about you?" he asked. He wanted to destroy the band for hurting Kikyo but at the same time he did not wish for her to be alone.

"You forget that I am a priestess. I can take care of myself. After all, I am alone in this world."

"You listen to me, you are not alone in this world. You will always have me." Once again Miroku coughed, signaling for Inuyasha to cut it short. The tension was starting to get unbearable and Miroku was ready to get going. Kikyo smiled weakly as she pulled herself up.

"Go now Inuyasha and be careful." She walked towards Miroku and bowed her head lightly. "Thank you for everything."

"Anytime priestess."

"Master, we have to get going now before we lose their trail." Inuyasha sighed as he turned to leave. He looked back one last time to see Kikyo staring at the sky sadly. Please be safe Kikyo. I'll be back for you. I promise. I will prove to you that you are not alone in this world.

AN: Sorry for the delay. I was going to make this chapter longer but I got sleepy. I'll update again soon!