Chapter 13

LAST TIME….

"Kikyou? What are you doing here?" Kagome asks. The half-demon and wolf demon are standing behind her. The half-demon gives me a murderous look and the wolf simply glares.

"I am here to finish what I started Kagome," Kikyou answers with a cruel smile/smirk.

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"What are you talking about Kikyou-sama?" Matsu asks with a shocked face. He looks to Kikyou for an explanation, but she does not say anything. As time ticked on, Matsu begins to notice the sound of growls growing louder. Looking around frantically, he was met with the sight of brown wolves surrounding them.

"How the hell do you know Kikyou!" Inuyasha yells.

"That is none of your concern half-breed! Get behind me Kikyou-sama. I will protect you. I am not afraid of their fur balls," Matsu grounded out. Kikyou did as he asked, but kept her eyes on Kagome's.

"All this time, Matsu-san? What has Kikyou told you?" Kagome asks and moves closer to him. It proves to be the wrong move when Matsu draws a knife on her. Kagome gasps as Inuyasha pushes her back and draws Tetsuiga.

"I warned you asshole! Don't you lay a finger on Kagome!" Inuyasha yells. Kouga's growls grow louder and he takes an offensive stance.

"Kagome, get out of here!" Kouga yells back. Kagome instead doesn't move and looks at Inuyasha's back.

"Just do it Kagome! I can handle some pathetic human," Inuyasha says. Kagome nods once before turning to leave. How could Matsu betray them? He had seemed so… well, not trustworthy. But, he hadn't seemed evil. Kikyou must have tainted him in some way. It had to be Kikyou.

Kikyou watched as Kagome left before slinking back into the underbrush. Just then, Kouga let loose his wolves. Kikyou searched for Kagome's spiritual energy without stopping. She didn't even falter when Matsu's cries of her name reached her ears.

She had known Matsu would not survive. She was counting on it. How was she to live with Inuyasha? She could not have Matsu's delusions interfering.

As she went, Kikyou masked her presence with her spiritual powers. She also erected a barrier to keep anyone from interfering. She met up with Kagome at the edge of the barrier.

"What have you done Kikyou!" Kagome yelled at the woman when she noticed her presence. This was all too familiar. Being with Kikyou alone was what started all of this. Kagome had to get away from her.

"I have isolated you from the others, obviously. Unfortunately for you, this is where the tale of Kagome comes to an end and where the tale of Kikyou begins anew," Kikyou says and slowly draws an arrow. "But, don't worry. I'll take good care of Inuyasha."

"Do you honestly think that he'll love you! He'll know you tried to kill me!" Kagome yelled as her irritation rose.

"How can he assume that when he'll come across your cold body with a dagger in your gut? And whose hand will be on the knife but yours? Madness will drive anyone to do crazy things," Kikyou says.

'Tell me about it,' Kagome thinks. "Do you realize how many things are wrong with your plan? Why would I kill myself?" Kagome asked with an eye roll.

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Kikyou yells. Kagome shrinks back and stares with wide eyes at Kikyou. This was not the Kikyou she had grown accustomed to know. This Kikyou was a more feral and wild Kikyou. Her eyes were blazing and her hair looked slightly messy. Had Kikyou not washed or combed it in a while? "I don't care about that. My plan worked the first time and it'll work again. And this time, I'll get rid of that damn Sesshoumaru! I will have my happy ending… and there's not a damn soul alive that will stop me.

"Do you know how much planning I had to do Kagome? Do you know how much work I put into my plan? It's a marvelous plan you see. All I had to do was manipulate you, Naraku, Inuyasha, Kagura, and many other people. You're such a fool. I bet you had no idea that I was even manipulating you as well. Why do you think I had you kidnapped by Naraku and fed your powers? That's right. That little increase in strength you felt back then was my power that I was feeding to yours. I had to have you kill Naraku. I couldn't be bothered with that. I had bigger things to do.

"I had to make it look like Kaoru was the one who killed you. but no one would believe that you would just allow her to kill you, so I had to make it look like a fight where Kaoru's blood was spilled. Once she was gone, all I had to do was dispatch you. and I did. If Sesshoumaru had not interfered and gone sticking his nose where it did not belong, everything would have worked out fine. But, he had. And then, you came back. Everything went so wrong, so quickly," Kikyou says. Kagome watched with wide eyes as all the pieces fell into place. Kikyou was a cruel, calculating murderer. "Now, you know. Now, you understand."

Kagome began to move away from Kikyou when she saw the woman take aim. Unfortunately, she had left her own bow and arrows at the hut. "Don't hide from me! Get out here so I can kill you! Look at me! I want to see your eyes go white when I kill you!" Kagome heard Kikyou yell. Biting her lip, Kagome quickly and silently as possible climbed up the tree she was hiding behind.

She had to do this alone. Inuyasha would not be able to get past the barrier. 'How to kill a woman when you have no weapons? I have to get her bow away from her. I'm not going to let her spill any of my blood. That's for damn sure.'

Kagome let out a shriek as she jumped from her branch and landed on top of Kikyou. She quickly grabbed the bow and as many arrows as she could. She stood back, but lost her footing when Kikyou landed a backhand slap to her cheek. Feeling an unnatural amount of anger bubble up in her, Kagome swung the arms with the bow in it at Kikyou. The bow hit her face with a resounding smack and Kikyou was knocked back. Kagome inspected the bow before frowning. There was a large crack in it. 'I'll only get one shot with this.'

Kikyou let out a loud cry as she attacked Kagome's mid-section and pushed her back into a tree. Kagome felt the back of her head hit it hard and hissed in pain. Kikyou didn't give her a chance to recover as she began to throw the first punch.

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"Sango! Where's Kagome!" Inuyasha yells as he and Kouga re-enter the village. Sango stands from the step in front of Keade's hut with a start. Miroku follows her example, knocking Shippou off his lap.

"Wasn't she with you?" Sango asks.

"I sent her back to you!" Inuyasha yells. Sensing the Kagome was truly not here, Kouga went off in search of her.

"Well, she never made it," Sango says. And just like that, everyone went off in search of the miko. This couldn't be more dangerous. Kikyou was out there and armed.

'How could you have sent her back alone! The wolf could have handled the human! You should have been with our mate! How can you be so stupid and irresponsible half-breed!'

'Kagome is in real trouble out there. We have to find her.'

'Then we find the bitch and put an end to her. I'm tired of her crawling back from her hole and causing problems. It's as if no one knows how to kill her properly. She's always coming back when she's not wanted!'

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Kagome struggled to push Kikyou back away from her. Fortunately, Kikyou seemed to be quickly losing her stamina. Kagome was able to successfully push her back and started to catch her breath. However, her break was cut short by Kikyou coming at her with a short dagger.

The two fought over it and Kagome tried to get it away from her. "You don't know how long I waited for this. You don't know how much I had to plan and scheme for this. I had to resort to relying on Naraku and his underlings to complete my plan. And for what? To have a meddlesome Taiyoukai to revive you?" Kikyou snarled.

"I never did anything to you Kikyou. This whole adventure was pushed on me. How can you blame me when I was only doing what everyone expected of me?" Kagome pleaded.

"You took everything! You stole my life away from me! I was supposed to watch after the jewel. I was supposed to be with Inuyasha. My life was taken from me. It's not fair!" Kikyou yells.

"That's just it! Your time is up!" Kagome says and gains the upper hand in the struggle.

"No! I won't allow this!" Kikyou yells, but her grips slips and Kagome continues to force the dagger. It only scrapes Kikyou flesh and slices the front of her kimono open. Kagome mistakenly drops the dagger and Kikyou quickly takes advantage. Kagome reacted as quickly as she could, but that didn't stop Kikyou from sticking the knife into thigh before backing away.

Kagome held her thigh and hissed loudly. She doubled over in pain before attempting to stand. She was sure her lip and the back of her head was bleeding as well. But, there was something refusing to let her give up. It was as if some little voice or instinct wouldn't let her give up. Whatever it was, Kagome couldn't be happier that is was there.

Kagome approaches her opponent and lands her knee in Kikyou's abdomen. Kikyou doubles over and Kagome grabs her by her unclean hair. She swung the miko by her hair before releasing her into a tree. Kagome shook of the hair on her hands before continuing her tirade.

Kikyou barely moaned as her face met with the hard and rough bark of the tree she crashed into. She was not expecting Kagome to get this physical with her. It must have been Inuyasha's influence. But, this was not over yet.

"Kikyou, despite all that you've done to me, I forgive you for them all," Kagome says while panting. "Because I know that you're not in your right mind."

After Kagome finished, Kikyou reached behind her and grabbed hold of Kagome's arm. With as much strength as she could muster, Kikyou pushed the off balance miko into the same tree and yanked on her arm. A satisfied look made its way to her face as Kagome cried out in pain. Kikyou continued like that before casting away the miko. She fell to the ground in a lifeless heap and Kikyou began to look around. Her bow had to be here somewhere. It was time to end this. "I'm not in my right mind aren't i? I'll show you. you little bitch," Kikyou mutters and continues searching.

"Kikyou!"

The miko looked up and through her half-lidded, swollen eyes saw Kagome glaring with her bow and a notched arrow. Kikyou's eyes went wide when realization struck her. She began to start telling for Kagome to stop, but it was too late. Kagome had already fired the arrow.

It whistled as it soared through the air and into Kikyou's chest. The force knocked the miko back into the tree behind her. Kikyou looked down in shock at the arrow jutting out from her heart. She reached for it, but barely made it half way. Her eyes closed slowly and her body went limp.

Kagome breathed heavily and dropped the broken bow. She slumped to her knees and watched as the barrier disappeared. Looking back at Kikyou, Kagome watched as a small ball of light exited Kikyou's body and entered her own. Now, it was done. Kikyou would not be coming back.

"Kagome!"

The young girl turned around to see Inuyasha running to her with Kouga and his wolves right behind him. The hanyou embraced her tightly and Kagome held him as well before sobbing. "I had to do it…. She would have killed me if I hadn't…" Kagome spoke in between sobs. Inuyasha rubbed her back and tried to comfort her before lifting her away. Kouga took one look at the now dead Kikyou before following after them. Even though he hadn't given permission, his wolves would most likely feed on the dead miko's carcass. It was better than being left on a tree to rot in his mind.

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"You're doing just fine, child. Just a bit more. The child is almost out," Keade says. The old miko continues to spew encouragements as she helps to ease out the child. Once it is out, she cuts the umbilical cord and begins to clean the child.

"Can I see my child? I want to see it," the new and sweaty mother asks.

"Of course," Keade says and hands over the child in its new blanket. "You can call the father in now, child."

"Okay, Keade," Kagome says with a smile before leaving the hut. She steps outside to see Miroku pacing worriedly and her mate and Shippou watching him pace. "Miroku-sama, you can go in now."

"Thank you Kagome-sama," Miroku says and rushes past her. Kagome laughs lightly and goes over to her mate.

"And how's my big boy doing?" Kagome asks.

"Fine," Shippou and Inuyasha respond at the same time.

"Funny," Kagome says with a roll of her eyes, "But I wasn't talking to either of you." Kagome reaches down and picks up her new born son from her mate's arms before cooing happily.

"See, runt? We've been replaced," Inuyasha mumbles and gestures to Kagome. Shippou nods silently.

"No, you haven't," Kagome says and tweaks the baby's puppy ear. She continues to lay with her newest son, Inumaru. She couldn't be happier. Her son looked just like his father that one would swear they were twins (despite the age and size difference). Shippou was very helpful with the baby and in his own awkward way, so was Inuyasha. Kagome lived for the moments when she caught him off guard doing some fatherly thing.

Kagome hadn't even thought about Kikyou in months. She had had nightmares in the past, still fearing the dark priestess was haunting her from the grave. But once their son was born, those dreams left her. The miko was a thing of their past. Thankfully, the Kikyou-issue hadn't caused any complications with Kagome's pregnancy.

"Who's mommy's precious little boy? Who's going to grow big and strong and beat up his daddy?" Kagome cooed.

"Knock it off Kagome. As if the runt could beat me," Inuyasha beamed proudly. Kagome gave him a sly look.

"Is that a bet?" Kagome asked and pulled Inumaru to her side.

"Keh," Inuyasha scoffed. Kagome rolled her eyes before going back inside the hut. Yep, life was just perfect now.

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Moi-Moi: And that's the end. I feel like it could have been better. Maybe some more Kikyou bashing?

Inuyasha: What else could you have said?

Kikyou: I agree. I feel thoroughly bashed.

Kagome: I have a baby boy. He's adorable. Thank you reviews and readers for him!

Inuyasha: What about me?

Moi-Moi: You only put in half the work…

Inuyasha: -_- Whatever.

Sesshoumaru: You ready for this little brother?

Inuyasha: Let's just get this over with.

*Both change into white towels and leave*

Kagome: Inuyasha you better be going to the shrine! *follows after him*

Moi-Moi: Um… The end? I guess…

終わり。