OoO CCTI: Chapter 7: Kikyo OoO

Night had finally fallen in the Feudal Era, a sliver of a moon seen above, along with the infinite amount of stars that dotted the midnight black sky. Everything was eerily quiet, as was normal for this time of night. All animals had retreated to their homes, wherever they may be, and the humans were slumbering peacefully in the many huts within a the village. All but two remained awake.

"I will not stay calm about this, Miroku! What if what Kaede said was true? What if Kagome is…hurt," Sango vehemently whispered, unable to bring herself to say the word dead, "and we couldn't do anything about it?! What if she-!"

"Enough, Sango!" Miroku rasped, crushing her to him in a fierce embrace as they lay side by side each other. He felt her slender form shake in rage and fear, her long fingers clutching almost desperately at his robes.

He knew why she was so upset. It was bad enough her younger, sweet little brother was under Naraku's control, and that at any given time, he could kill the boy when his usefulness had ended. But to have the fear that another loved one could have been killed was just about unbearable for her, her fragile sanity being challenged all the time. Why did it have to be this way?

For the past few hours, everyone had just sort of drifted off and did their own thing to preoccupy their minds.

Koga, along with Hakaku and Ginta, had gone back to their pack up on the cliff that overlooked the village.

Shippo and Kilala had taken it upon themselves to stay by the well, the worry for their friends so great they could do nothing else but wonder about them. Kilala knew her mistress would be safe with her soon to be mate around, and also knew the young fox demon may need protection, should a much stronger demon attack. Shippo was just too worried about his two parental figures to just sit around and do nothing.

Kaede had decided to think about everything by doing her favorite pastime: tending her medicinal garden. A bad omen had settled itself in her mind and she wanted to prepare whatever remedies they made need in the near future, for things were too quiet around here and it was only a matter of time before, as Kagome had once said, "the second shoe dropped."

And Sango and Miroku had taken refuge inside the hut to be alone and talk quietly to one another, staying there until Kaede had come in and declared it was time for them all to get some rest.

Now, they were all supposed to be sleeping, and although the young couple didn't know it, their older companion was also awake, unable to help herself from listening to the two whisper.

Miroku, after beginning, continued quietly, "Even if it is true, there is not one thing we can…or could," he admitted reluctantly, "do about it, except wait for Inuyasha to return. Hopefully he went to get Kagome."

Seeing, or rather, feeling, that she was about to explode again, he quickly added, "I'm worried about her too, you know! Aside from my rash and despicable comments to her regarding children, she's like my little sister, the sibling I never was able to have! But you've got to control yourself; you could be worrying over nothing! Everything we assumed earlier is purely based on speculation and guesses… How do we know Kagome isn't really safe in bed with Inuyasha carefully watching over her?"

Damn, even to me it sounds false…

He knew he was lying, as did Sango, though he felt her relax a little. She knew he was trying to make her feel better and deeply appreciated his sincere jab at trying, but they both knew that something, even if they didn't know what it was, had happened.

AT THE BONE EATER'S WELL...

"Do you think Inuyasha will come back with Kagome soon, Kilala?" Shippo silently asked from his semi-comfortable bed on the rim of the well, closing his eyes a little from how tired he was.

Kilala mewed at the child, and he nodded.

"Yeah, I know that, but what about Naraku? Could he or someone else with a grudge against either Kagome or Inuyasha find out about the mystic powers of this well, and go after her with a sacred jewel shard?" He opened his bright green eyes and slowly sat up. "If that's true…" He cut off, looking down into the dark depths of the well upon which he sat, his brow furrowed in worry.

In her cute kitten form, Kilala swiftly jumped up, padded over to the young cub and gave him a nuzzle in an attempt to relieve some of his anxiety. She then let out a series of mewls, hisses and grunts, which resulted in Shippo laughing once she was done.

"Haha! You're right, Kilala! Even if something bad had happened, there's no way that idiot would ever let something bad befall Kagome, what with him being so protective and obsessive, no matter how hard he tries to hide his real feelings for her!"

Patting the two-tailed feline on her head in thanks, Shippo chuckled one last time at Kilala's explanation as he jumped down and headed back to the village for sleep, confident Inuyasha would bring Kagome back soon, Kilala right behind him.

Right before the forest's edge, both Shippo and Kilala stopped dead in their tracks, both spinning around and staring intently at the well, barely daring to even think it was possible. Their miniscule hope immediately exploded into a burning flame of pure, unadulterated joy as a silver-haired, dog-eared, yellow-eyed half demon jumped out, sporting an unconscious Kagome in his arms, carrying her bridal style.

The second his bare feet touched the dark soil, Shippo let out a whoop of joy and sprinted to Inuyasha, his weariness and fatigue gone in a matter of milliseconds.

Kilala simply sat down where she was and choose to groom herself, watching in amusement, happy with the knowledge her friends were back, appearing to be in one piece.

Jumping up, Inuyasha fully expected Shippo to latch onto Kagome and never let go, but was secretly pleased and surprised when the young fox hugged him instead, lavishing endless praise on him.

He smiled a bit as he plucked the child from his neck and lay him over Kagome's abdomen, his other hand balancing the girl to his chest. Once Shippo was seated on Kagome, Inuyasha's hand went back to under Kagome's knees and he continued on his way to the village.

Shippo sniffed Kagome and abruptly pulled back, looking back at Inuyasha with nothing but loathing. "What'd you do this time, dog boy? Why's Kagome so…so…"

"Depressed, sad, angry?" Inuyasha gloomily volunteered, deciding to ignore Shippo's accusation, for who knew? He could be right, as much as it hurt to think that as he continued walking briskly to Kaede's village.

Seeing he was upset, Shippo quietly apologized to him. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I didn't mean it… Is this how you found her?"

Surprised yet again at Shippo's behavior, for now he was acting so grown up and understanding, Inuyasha sighed as he replied with a simple, "Yeah," unable to take his eyes off the boy and young woman in his arms.

Once he'd gotten his answer, Shippo diverted his attention from Inuyasha to Kagome again, checking her over for any physical injuries, sniffing and making sure she was all right.

As he observed, Inuyasha nearly grinned. Like a male checking to be sure his mate's ok… Kind of what I'd done when I first found her again. He looked down, and couldn't help noticing how beautiful she looked, even with her unhealthy skin color, tear streaked face, totally lax expression, and near weightless appearance in his arms.

They were now in view of the village gates, Kaede's hut being able to be seen further in, when Inuyasha stopped and glanced behind him at Kilala, who had been silently following behind them.

Those are Kikyo's soul collectors...

"Kilala…would you please take Shippo and Kagome the rest of the way to Kaede?" Inuyasha asked. There was something Inuyasha had to do before he went back to the village.

Without a second beat and no questions asked, Kilala transformed in a whirlwind of fire and ash, her larger feline form standing impressively next to him. Laying Kagome over her soft, furry back along with Shippo, Inuyasha ignored Shippo's protests, choosing to instead smile sincerely at the cat and give her an affectionate pat on her head in thanks before jumping back quickly into the trees and into the direction from which they'd come. Before he got too far away, he called, "Make sure Kaede tends to her!"

"What's up with him?" Shippo wondered as Kilala did her duty and bounded off toward the village, wasting no time in entering the hut where its occupants nearly tackled the poor cat in an attempt to get to Kagome, for they all had felt Kilala's approach.

Glancing back only once to make sure Kilala made it into the hut, Inuyasha turned and set out for his new destination. Once he reached it, he immediately jumped up into the Sacred God Tree's depths and found his perch, the one he sat in frequently to think, the one that damn near had his imprint embedded into it from sitting there so often, and the one that because it molded so perfectly with his body, was comfortable. Only once he was seated did he allow his mind mull over everything while he waited for Kikyo to show up; it was only a matter of time, and he needed those few precious seconds to gather his wits.

Kagome…Grandpa... Mrs. Higurashi…Sota…Hakudoushi… What in the hell happened while she was home?

He closed his eyes. Home. She said she wanted…to go home… Why'd I bring her back here? She doesn't…belong… He growled. Yes she does! Otherwise, she wouldn't have been dragged down here in the first place! She even said as much in her diary thing…

Here he blushed a little. She loves…no, she loved me, but what about now? Kagome… He sighed. How am I ever going to be able to face you now that I know the truth about both of our feelings? You departed on such horrible assumptions about me, and now that you're back, you're even worse than when you left! Is that because of me too? He resisted the urge to whimper in confusion and yet more guilt. He'd caused her so much pain before she left, and since then, it seems she'd endured even more! Could it really be because of him?

He shook his head and thought about when he'd found her. She was so far away from her house. What was she doing out there, anyway? Grrrrrr…nothing makes any sense, and the only way to find out is from Kagome herself, but…I'm not entirely sure I want to know…

Inuyasha, however, had a one-track mind, his thoughts always circling back to his one main question.

Do you still love me, Kagome? Since that day, have your feelings deterred in anyway, especially after everything you've been through?

He stood up, kicking the trunk of the tree. Damn! Well, in any case, there really isn't anything I, or anybody else, can do about it until she wakes up and tells us, is there?

Sighing once more, Inuyasha silently jumped down from his perch. "Gah!" Inuyasha cried out as he jumped back up when he came face to face with none other than Kikyo. Looking chagrined, Inuyasha jumped back down again.

Kikyo, for her part, simply stared at her former love, not even cracking a smile at his antics, standing there, her ethereal soul collectors appearing to dance around her always elegant form.

"Inuyasha," she spoke, "you never cease to amaze me. Afraid I'll try killing you again?" Kikyo taunted him.

Her voice, so full of malice, spite, and festering vengeance; hate. Inuyasha thought sadly as he straightened up and growled in annoyance. He crossed his arms and put on his infamous scowl that any of his friends would recognize.

"Keh. What do you want, Kikyo?" Unfortunately, his voice held no bitterness or hatred at all. If anything, it was bland, tired, and frustrated; he wanted to get back to the hut and check on Kagome. Everyone else by now had had time to see her, all he wanted to do now was watch over her until she came to.

Kikyo smirked. "Simply to see how you've fallen…and to check up on my other half, the girl who holds most of my soul."

His ears twitched as he perked up. "What do you know?"

She stepped closer to him. "Do you still intend on keeping your promise to me, Inuyasha?" She asked, avoiding his question in pursuit to an answer of her own.

Inuyasha had to think a moment before answering. "Kikyo," he began before wrapping his arms around her cold form, "there's only so much I can do for you now, after everything that's happened. I've finally come to a decision as to what I can...and cannot do for you."

Here he paused, as if uncertain as to if he should continue or not. "I will avenge your death, and for the past that should have been ours, I will destroy Naraku. However," he pulled away and looked her dead in the eyes, eyes that were so like Kagome's, except devoid of any life, or happiness, "I can't go with you to hell. I'm still needed here-!"

"-And are in love with my reincarnation," Kikyo intercepted, looking neither pleased nor displeased with her assumption as she watched him go a little pale.

"N-No! I'm not!" What if she gets a grudge against Kagome too and goes after her again?! I have to protect her!

Kikyo, however, only nodded. "Fear not, Inuyasha. I can see straight through your façade, and I assure you, that girl is safe from me. I have no intention of killing her, though at one time, I did wish it. And just by saying you don't love her when it is so blatantly obvious you do only proves my guess correct."

She smiled then, with what Inuyasha thought was the closest thing to being a sincere and warm smile she'd ever conjured since she'd been forced to come back and suffer. "It really is true then… She has done what I never could. She's melted the barrier around your untrusting heart. Kagome," she used her name for once, "really is my reincarnation."

After a long pause that left them both thinking about where they went from here, Kikyo spoke up again. "Inuyasha, I now understand, and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to realize it. Even though I was brought back into this world against my will with nothing but my former negative feelings, the rest of me lay buried in that girl from the future. I wish you to know that I no longer long for your death, and more than anything, I want Naraku dead, for revenge against both of you was the strongest of those negative feelings brought back. However, there is one last thing I require of you before I truly depart from this plane of existence, whenever it may be."

Listening intently, Inuyasha waited for her to continue, wanting nothing else but to lay her soul to rest so she would suffer no more. Besides, he owed it to her. If he hadn't said her name when Kagome was taken by Urasue, none of this would've happened.

"Inuyasha, I want you to free yourself of any feelings you may still have for me; don't forget about me, but let go of your feelings, no strings to attach yourself to. Devote yourself completely to my reincarnation without my memory to hold you back. Love her as you could never have loved me."

All Inuyasha could do was gape at the tragic soul before him, or at least, what was left of it.

"K-Kikyo… Why? Why have you decided this all of a sudden?" He couldn't help but be a little wary of her. After all, she had changed really drastically in such a short period of time. Could he really trust her? And her timing couldn't be more perfect, given the circumstances.

She sat down at the base of the Sacred God Tree, and sighed. "Do you remember Mt. Hakurei? The day Naraku," Kikyo spit vehemently "finally got his wish of becoming a full demon and cast away Onigumo? The day I supposedly died in his miasma?"

He nodded and sat down next to her. Oh yes, Kikyo, I remember that day all too well.

"I heard you, Inuyasha. I heard…everything you said…"

She needn't go on; he understood. He, too, remembered perfectly the thoughts of him not getting there in time, wondering why she hadn't waited for him to protect and save her from Naraku. Above all, he remembered hating himself for letting her die alone without him - again.

Continuing, Kikyo said, "At that moment, I saw how much I truly did mean to you. However," she turned to face him, "I sensed that although your heart was in your mourning, either with or without your consent, you felt immense relief as well. Unbeknownst to you, you were happy to believe that my soul was finally at peace, no longer wandering this world, so you could finally allow your heart to open up completely to any new interests, you may have taken. Seeing you like this made me realize something. I died despising you, hating you, and was brought back with those same feelings intact. I cannot lie now and tell you that those feelings have deteriorated in any way."

His face fell. Was there no way to put her to rest and save her soul?

"So," she continued, "once I saw how happy you finally were without me in the way, I decided to go into hiding, carefully shielding my scent and only taking souls when necessary so as not to bring attention to whatever region I may've been in. During that time, I learned another thing. Although, as I said before, my hateful feelings toward you have not vanished, my mind is sensible, and I've thought about the past. Kagome once told me it was Naraku who had pitted us against one another in order to taint the Sacred Jewel, then steal it for himself. When I heard that, at first, I didn't care. I wanted you with me; your soul belonged to me, or so I thought at the time. I wanted you with me when I went to Hell, where I imagined you and I belonged together forever. Then, I thought about what I was doing here, and why, even after the truth was shoved down my throat, I couldn't continue with my original plan. Looking back now, the answer seems so simple. My heart and mind were telling me two different things. My heart said to never allow another to steal you from me; you're mine and I won't ever let you forget nor love me like you once had, but hate me and yet long for me as well. My mind, on the other hand, said it was not your fault. You were deceived just as much as I was, so your soul belongs to whomever you choose. I was suffering an internal conflict."

She stood up. "So, even if my sham body and what's left of my soul hates and despises you, my mind understands and is willing to let go. After all, you can't control your feelings, right? Even though I hate you, I can still recall a time when I loved you dearly."

He, too, stood up, a pained expression on his face. Her soul is caught in that body, wanting to kill and quench her thirst for vengeance, but her mind, also trapped within, understands. I cannot possibly understand what it must feel like for you to be a prisoner of yourself. You truly are a tragic priestess.

"What's next for you now, Kikyo?"

She turned away from him. "I suppose I'll either continue hunting Naraku or die again. Whichever it is, I accept it without question or qualm."

She then turned to him again, and Inuyasha saw something in her eyes that said she might know more about his current situation than he previously thought, and his suspicion was proved correct when she said, "Now go, and help Kagome through this trying time. Just remember this little piece of advice: You can't change the inevitable, no matter how hard it will be for you…and for Kagome…"

She turned away from him again, leaving the pondering half demon in her wake as her soul collectors swarmed mystifyingly around her form, lifting her up and into the sky, which was just allowing the sun to rise. Morning was here.

As her body began dissipating, Inuyasha could've sworn he heard her whisper, "Remember…"

Shaking his head, he turned and began walking slowly back to the village, unaware that things were going to get very interesting, very soon.

OoO

Sorry it's been awhile; busy work, life, being poor, paying bills, etc!

Please check out my other story and several one-shots; they're pretty good!

Thank you to the few who do review; they inspire me to update quicker!

Keruseyu32691