To Save Him

Chapter 2

Disclaimer – I do not own nor have any affiliation with Inu Yasha…the manga, the show, etc.

The quest to find Kikyo would take around half of a day, and that was if she got lucky—the miko could figure out she was being tracked, or simply keep moving, and Kagome could end up on a wild goose chase... Fatigued as she was, Kagome peddled on. If she did get lucky, and kept her steady pace, she had a chance of finding Kikyo right after nightfall.

Having nothing to do but peddle left a lot of time for Kagome to think, and her mind was upon many things—like, for instance, how her reluctance to meet Kikyo was greatly intensified with the prospect of night time. She pictured her plush, warm bed, and how wonderful it would be to lay in it at that exact moment. How silly, how ironic, when every moment at home, she was thinking of the feudal era, and him—

"Inu-Yasha," she sighed, and the thought of him, and her friends, made Kagome feel ashamed. She needed to be strong, like that jerk, Inu Yasha. Sango would not be afraid to confront Kikyo, or the darkness—she was so very brave. Miroku would have a clever joke, and a plan for the whole mess.

She needed her friends, she missed her friends…

"And that is why I am going to get them back." It couldn't, and wouldn't, end like this. They still had a mission to accomplish, and it was one that Kagome could not do alone. Maybe she wasn't as strong, or as brave, or as clever as her friends, but she was incredibly determined. That was a virtue in its own right, wasn't it?

The sun began to set, and a blanket of magenta enveloped the sky. It was magnificent, with threads of violet and fading cyan woven into its vastness…and soon, it would be shrouded in star-studded cerulean.

Kagome stopped peddling. If she had been following the directions that Kaede gave her properly, then she was getting very close to Kikyo's general area. She reached into the collar of her uniform and pulled out a small vial, hanging on the same dangling tye as the jewel fragments she was wearing…

When Kaede had given her the vial, the mucky fluid inside had been brown and vile. Now, it was glowing an ethereal red, and it looked kind of pretty. Nevermind how it looked—the glow meant that it was working. It meant that she was going to find Kikyo somewhere nearby…

Staying close to the line of trees, Kagome steadily paced forward, walking her bike carefully alongside her. Kirara had been quiet for quite some time now—hopefully, the medicine that Kaede had given the poor creature had induced sleep.

It was several moments later when Kagome felt a burning pain on her ankle. She looked down—this as the second item that kaede had given her, a woven anklet that she had sworn would promote protection. And right now, it was glowing, and burning the hell out of her leg. that meant trouble—

She spun around in time to see the arrow whiz passed her cheek, grazing her skin ever so lightly. With an astonished expression, Kagome reached up and touched the minor cut that now graced her right cheekbone.

She squinted, looking out into the distance, but was unable to see anything. "Who is it? Who is there? I'm not as wimpy as I look, you know!"

"Unobservant, then." Kagome knew that beautiful, yet monotone voice. Her gaze flickered in the darkness, searching.

From the foliage she stepped, then, and Kagome drew a quick breath when she sat her. Soul-stealing dead miko or not, she was still radiant in a way that left Kagome feeling briefly overwhelmed. Kikyo's almond-shaped eyes glistened in the darkness, and fixated firmly upon Kagome. Her delicate features remained passive, but Kagome thought she could detect a vague hint of annoyance on the miko's face.

The priestess stood with her bow in hand, a sacred arrow pointed directly at the girl that stood several feet from her. How had she gotten so close? Too close, Kagome thought to herself. Not close enough to touch, but close enough that kagome wouldn't luck out with another arrow…

"You…you nearly killed me!" Kagome gaped, unable to contain her fear and anger in the aftermath of the potential fatality.

Kikyo stayed silent for several moments that to Kagome seemed an eternity. Just as Kagome was about to make another blunt observation, Kikyo spoke. "What are you doing here, girl?"

That was Kikyo…to the point, and a little rude. Staring down the arrowhead, Kagome found it a little difficult to speak, but she worked to reassure herself that Kikyo would not kill her—yet. "Inu Yasha…he is in trouble…"

Kikyo gave a short, bitter laugh, but said nothing. Kagome glared, and continued on.

"I came back from my time when Inu Yasha did not show up to get me. I found the campsite destroyed, and my friends—and Inu Yasha—were gone."

"And why do you come to me, girl?" She noted Kagome's obvious uncomfort, and smirked.

"Inu Yasha loves you…"

"His love for me cannot aid him."

"Can your love for him?"

Kikyo laughed again, lowering her bow. "You can relax, girl. If I had wanted your death, I would have ripped my soul from you and killed you with no words." She stepped nearer to Kagome, and Kagome felt the uncomfortable tugging that came when the two of them were too close to one another.

While she was afraid of Kikyo killing her, she was not afraid of Kikyo stealing her soul—afterall, it was she that harbored a majority of their shared spirit. That fact endowed her with a sudden bout of confidence, and Kagome spoke on. "Kikyo, Inu Yasha and the others are in trouble. I need you to help me find him."

"What makes you think I would possibly help him?" The miko murmured in irritation.

"If not out of love, then out of your desire to end Naraku."

"I can kill that fool without the help of the demon boy," Kikyo responded with a laugh.

"Then how about your vengeance?" Kagome snapped back, growing irritated with Kikyo's indifference. Every moment wasted was another moment that kept her from helping the others. She was tired, and hungry, and more than a little desperate. The irritation was plain on her face. "You want to be the one to end Inu Yasha's life and drag him to Hell yourself. Why would you let somebody else have that glory?"

Kikyo's expression sombered, and she tightened her grip upon the bow in her hands. "What makes you think that I know where he is, girl? Your presumption may have sent you on a wild goose chase."

"You…" Kagome's words began to falter, but she managed to make the confident declaration, "You can heal Kirara. Kirara will know where my friends are."

Kikyo smirked, her eyes fixated on Kagome's face as she spoke. "You came here to beseech my help for veterinary care because you think that the demon hunter's pet can find them." She turned from the girl, and started walking off into the trees.

"Kikyo, wait! Aren't you going to help me?" Kagome wailed after her, desperation clear in her tone. She ran with her bike, struggling to catch up to the woman, one hand attempting to keep Kirara's basket in place as she ducked through the trees. "Kikyo-!"

"Stop your pathetic wailing. I am going to find the fool," Kikyo said through pursed lips, her gaze never wavering from the path afore her.

"You…you'll tell me where he is?"

"I know where Inu Yasha is, girl. You couldn't fathom the link we share," the miko growled. "However, it would be foolhardy to expect that telling you where he is would accomplish anything. Neither you nor your demon hunter's pet could locate them if you tried. I'm going to take care of this."

"You…you're coming with me?" Kagome questioned with astonishment.

"I will not be your protector, girl. I'm going to find Inu Yasha so that I can assure his suffering with my own hands. If you hinder me, I'll leave you behind." She continued walking.

Kagome said nothing, pacing alongside the woman. Kikyo was going to help her—er, sort of. It gave her a second wind, now that they were on their way. She wanted to ask where exactly Inu Yasha was, but was scared that too many questions would annoy the miko into abandoning her. For now, she kept quiet, the thought of saving Inu Yasha firmly fixated in her mind.

As for the part where Kikyo tried to drag him to hell, she would worry about that bridge when she came to it…