Chapter 17

Kikyo's Claim

A frown appeared on the lips of Sakura Tsunia as she walked down First Street. First Street use to fill her with fear since it was still the most dangerous area in all of downtown Tokyo. She didn't think too much of getting raped, robbed, or killed lately. She thought about the last time she saw her young friend Kagome.

As secretary for the nearby electric company Sakura was always able to tell when someone's power was about to get shut off. Kagome had always been on the brink for not paying her bills. Last time she saw Kagome the girl rushed off to pawn something to pay for the bill. Sakura had waited on that street for a good two hours waiting for Kagome, but the girl never came. Kagome had been missing for a while now.

"Where are you Higurashi?" the young red head asked herself as she wandered the horribly cracked sidewalks, "why do you disappear now, especially when I have good news?"

Kagome hadn't been the only friend on this street that Sakura tried to watch over. Sakura had a niece that she was going to visit. Unlike Kagome though Sakura's niece never seemed happy nor ever tried anything to help herself to get out of here. Kagome had worked two jobs and did what ever she could while the other girl laid around living off of child support checks since she was a single mother.

"Sapphire," Sakura called out her niece's name softly as she knocked on the door.

"Come on in," a female voice answered from the other side.

Sakura walked into the small apartment, no longer surprised by its state. The carpet was worn out with many different stains some that were as unsanitary as can be. The walls here use to be white, but now they were dark yellow from the smoking. Some of the walls had bloodstains.

"I told you not to call me Sapphire anymore," a voice came from under a thick blanket on a brown ripped couch, "its Sabree."

"Sapphire was the name my brother gave you when you were born," Sakura told her niece, "it matching your eyes."

The blanket finally came off and the girl now known as Sabree sat up and faced her sister. She had long brown hair that had been tangled after sleeping on it. Sakura noticed how skinny her niece was. If only there was more money in the family then they would be able to send the girl off to a hospital; she was obviously underweight. Right now the only attractive feature on her face was her bright blue eyes, too bad they were surrounded by black circles. Most of her face was bruised.

"So what do you want?" Sapphire asked her aunt as she pulled a cigarette out of a nearby carton and lit it up.

"You have money troubles Sapphire," Sakura crossed her arms, "you know you could save a lot if you didn't spend so much on cigarettes."

"I don't need a lecture right now," the girl replied after taking a long drag, "besides once Nekura reads my letter he will be back and we will have money again."

Nekura, that name made Sakura grind her teeth together. Nekura was the source of everything wrong with this house. He had moved in with Sapphire three years ago and had been nothing but trouble since then. He had abused her, cheated on her, and worst of all once abandoned Sapphire's daughter Itamu in the park that resulted in the five-year-old getting molested. Of course Sakura's dumb niece would want to get back with him, after all she had always been attracted to bad men. All through high school she had dated women abusers, Itamu's father had been a drunk who beat both her and his daughter, but Nekura had been the worst. He even cheated right in front of her, but Sapphire never cared.

"No Sapphire," Sakura shook her head, "I can't let you have that man under the same roof as you anymore, he almost killed you once and you know what happened to your daughter. Itamu doesn't talk or ever smile and probably never will."

"It was an accident it could have happened with anyone," she took another drag, "and the name is Sabree."

"Well Sabree! Even if Nekura was not a threat to all of you he isn't coming back. He has already moved in with another woman."

"He will dump that slut and come back to me."

"Even if he would what are you going to do? You only get one-hundred dollars in child support when Itamu's father remembers to pay it. That's not enough to pay bills, food, and Itamu's medical bills. You need to live with me."

Sabree let out a hoarse laugh, "hell no. Nekura will never come back if he knows I am living with you."

"Then I will take care of Itamu."

"And what will I do? Without my daughter I have no income."

"Get a job Sapphire."

"I won't need a job if I am with Nekura."

"Listen to yourself. Without a man you don't know where your life is going."

"I am a woman and I live out here on First Street. I can't do anything alone."

"My friend Kagome Higurashi lives on this street in these same apartments. I know that she had a child somewhere and instead of sitting around waiting for a man to come along she worked two jobs. Anything to get herself out."

"And where is that Higurashi bitch now? Oh that's right, she is probably dead seeing as how she disappeared. That's right, didn't you tell me that some property is being held in your name until Kagome claims it. I could live in her house."

"I have a feeling that Kagome isn't dead and I am going to hold on to the house that she inherited until she shows up."

Once Sapphire was finished with her cigarette she just lit up a second one right away, "I bet she got raped."

"I don't want to hear it anymore Sapphire," Sakura wasn't going to take anymore of her niece's attitude, "That house is my friends. Now you are either going to live with me, or give me Itamu and wallow here in this."

"I am Sabree, and I am keeping my daughter."

"Then get a job and get on your feet."

In an angry motion Sapphire stood up and crushed her cigarette in the ashtray, "I don't want to hear this shit."

Sakura watched as her niece opened up a small smelly closet and threw on a thin jacket over her leather skirt and small blue tank top, "where are you going?"

"On a walk," she answered before opening the door and slamming it behind her.

"Inuyasha how many brain cells has this fire caused you to loose?" Kagome asked as she heard what Inuyasha said just moments before her new miko shield allowed her to emerge from the flames and join the others.

"Mom!" Koinu shouted glad that his mother was here alive and well.

"Say what you want, but at least I wasn't close to getting burnt," Inuyasha replied with his arms crossed, "anyways Koinu is my child. I really wanted to keep that a secret and not come between you and Sesshoumaru, but seeing as how you two don't mean anything to each other anymore I will say the truth."

"Then Sesshoumaru is not my father either?" Miyori asked.

"I am only Koinu's father," Inuyasha answered.

"And if Inuyasha is his father then I am his mother," Kikyo interrupted.

"Kikyo what are you doing here?" was the first thing Kagome asked before shaking her head, "What do you mean you are Koinu's mother. I am pretty sure I was the one who gave birth to him."

"That was no natural birth," Kikyo stated, "I would consider you the mother only if you had sexual relations with the father."

"Koinu came out of my body and is a part of me," she argued.

"If it wasn't for me Koinu wouldn't be alive."

Kagome couldn't believe it. Kikyo was claiming that Koinu was her child. This didn't seem like something the dead miko would do. It had to have been because Inuyasha said Koinu was his child. Kikyo's love for Inuyasha must have been strong, she was willing to share in every aspect of his life, but wait a minute. Inuyasha couldn't be the father. The curse's purpose was to prevent that, not cause it.

"You can't say that Kikyo," Kagome whispered, "if you are going to act on that claim then why don't you convince Miyori you are her mother?"

"I created the curse that led to Koinu's birth," she explained looking very calm about this whole situation, "when Tsuin and Miyori were born it was your jewel shards that created them."

"What are you all talking about!" Miyori demanded to know.

Kagome then realized Kikyo was revealing things she never wanted to tell her children, "Kikyo just stop it."

"My son has a right to know," Kikyo spoke, "I am sorry if my statements reveal anything to your daughter."

"You two are speaking of the curse that led to my birth," Koinu noted before staring back at his younger sister, "its not really important. All it tells us is that our mother and father found a way to have children without getting in the same bed together."

"You are responsible for the curse," Kagome continued, "but I gave birth to Koinu and raised him through the good times and the bad. I don't want to hear anymore of this!"

"Kagome," Inuyasha said his friend's name softly.

Kagome shook her head as her tears returned to her eyes, "I don't want to hear it Inuyasha! I can't believe you are taking her side and betraying me like this! You know that Koinu is Sesshoumaru's and mine. There was a barrier that prevented you from activating the curse."

"I am not betraying you Kagome," Inuyasha kept trying to convince her, "but Kikyo speaks the truth. I remember that three years ago when I touched you to try and get you pregnant I had a very odd feeling shot through me."

"It was probably Kikyo's barrier deflecting your touch."

"That's what I thought, but then Kikyo told me the truth. She said that since I had feelings for you three years ago my love broke the barrier making you able to give birth to my child."

A frown appeared on Koinu's face, he wanted to remain strong for his mother, especially when she was crying, but he felt so uncomfortable standing here while they were fighting over him like this. Corlee quickly noticed her friend's discomfort and felt sympathy for him. Koinu had done so much for her. He treated her nicely when she arrived and then helped her with her marriage problems.

"Koinu," Corlee placed her claws on his shoulder, "this place is burning down and I don't think the barrier is going to protect our noses from this horrible sulfur smell."

Koinu forced a small smile, "yeah, lets get out of here and get some fresh air."

Corlee grinned since the troubled hanyou had listened to her suggestion, "are you coming Miyori-sama?"

Miyori sighed since she wanted to see the rest of this fight, but she knew her mother would be better off if they all left them alone, "very well. We should probably tell father that nobody has been brunt yet."

As Kagome stared down both Inuyasha and Kikyo she became relieved that the other escaped the castle, "if you knew about this Kikyo you should have told me earlier before Sesshoumaru took me away."

"You have my apologizes," were the only words Kikyo supplies as she removed a bow from the ground, "but Koinu is my child and I want to raise him with Inuyasha."

"What are you doing Kikyo?" Inuyasha watched the woman he loved pull an arrow out of her quiver.

"She doesn't want to give up, so force appears necessary," was her answer as she pointed an arrow at Kagome.

"Kikyo!" Inuyasha was quickly alarmed, "I don't know what you are planning, but stop it now!"

"Kikyo," the woman's reincarnation whispered upon seeing her life in danger, "something is wrong. This isn't like you."

Sesshoumaru moved away from Rin to examine the forest that surrounded the castle before he could hear Miyori, Koinu, and Kouga's daughter emerge from the flames. What took them so long? His daughter was more then able to escape from such a thing.

"What hindered you?" he immeditly interrogated his daughter since he expected her to be the one in charge.

"The dead priestess created a barrier that stopped the flames around us," she explained looking as stoic as her father.

"Dead priestess?" she asked himself as he thought about the one who created the curse that led to his children being born, "what is that wench doing in my castle?"

"Fighting with your ma- I mean…the woman who is supposal my mother."

Sesshoumaru glared at all three of them, "Kagome is still in there?"

"Fighting over me," Koinu then interrupted as his ears flattened on his head.

Sesshoumaru's eyebrow rose meaning Miyori had to do more explaining, "The miko claims that Koinu is the child of her and Inuyasha so now they are talking it out."

Koinu was the child of Kikyo and Inuyasha? Sesshoumaru knew already that was absurd. He had witnessed first hand Koinu's speed and skills and he knew those were not inherited from Inuyasha. Whether or not his and Kagome's relationship would linger or fall apart those were his children and after what it took to get them and protect them three years ago he wasn't going to have some dead bitch tell them who the parents were. Why was Kikyo even here? She had all this time to confront them and she chose now. The exact moment the castle was burning down.

It was then that Sesshoumaru realized something was missing. Before his children emerged from the castle he was going into the woods to track down Naraku by following his scent. That scent was gone now.

"The bastard is back in the castle," Sesshoumaru growled as he quickly rushed in to the flames not caring if the embers licked at his skin.

"Kikyo put that arrow down and lets talk about this!" Inuyasha yelled at his love praying that his friend would not become hurt.

"No more talk Inuyasha," the miko whispered, "I will put an end to this girl's life."

Kagome stared at the two in horror. She knew exactly what was going through Inuyasha's head. Inuyasha wanted to save her and help her, but in order to do that he might end up hurting Kikyo. The hanyou had missed her and thought he ran out of chances to ever see her again, so here was his chance and he couldn't ruin it.

"Kikyo no!" was all Inuyasha could yell as the arrow was released and it went flying towards Kagome's heart.

Kagome closed her eyes and knew it was over. Soon everything she worked for wouldn't matter because she had died by Kikyo's arrow. Kikyo would leave with Inuyasha taking Koinu with her and Sesshoumaru who wouldn't even know about this would be furious and hate her for allowing Kikyo and Inuyasha to do so. "Okay, it has been a few seconds now. I am I not dying suddenly?"

Kagome opened her eyes and once she did the first thing she saw was red crimson blood staining white cloth. The white cloth was Sesshoumaru's kimono and it was soaked with blood. She realized the youkai lord had rushed in front of her just in time to get shot in his shoulder with an arrow.

"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome called out her mate's name after she was done realizing what was happening.

Sesshoumaru seemed to pay no attention to the girl he had just saved, "stay away from my mate Naraku. We might not love each other, but she is the same as everything else in the castle. Mine."

"Naraku?" both Kagome and Inuyasha questioned at the same time.

Kikyo began to chuckle, but it wasn't her laugh. It was the laugh they came to known as Naraku devious sign. Naraku transformed back into his human-like form and glared at them.

"I was so close," Naraku congratulated himself, "but at least I shot somebody."

"You bastard!" Inuyasha growled running forward with his claws ready to strike, "this is the last time you will ever trick me by pretending to be Kikyo!"

Inuyasha easily ripped through Naraku's yukamata and scratched up his chest pretty bad. The dark haired hanyou dodged quickly enough. Obviously Naraku was pretty weak after getting attacked by Koinu.

"I don't have time to play with you dogs!" Naraku yelled before disappearing into his storm of miasma.

Once again Naraku had gotten away. How were they ever going to defeat him if he kept disappearing? He was such a coward, but Kagome had bigger worries.

Sesshoumaru was laying on the ground breathing heavily as he was loosing blood, "Kagome…"

Kagome kneeled beside her mate, "Sesshoumaru I am so sorry! Why did you do that?"

"You are mine," the demon said in a possessive manner, "and you will do as I say for now. Now that Naraku is gone the barrier is gone as well so we must leave unless you want to get torched. We will talk about this later."

Inuyasha stood there angry. Naraku had tricked him again. His heart was hurting in ways he couldn't explain. He would never be with his love again.

"Inuyasha please help me," Kagome cried to her friend.

"At least she is safe and always will be," Inuyasha thought to himself as he quickly rushed forward to help out Kagome.

"This is the Higurashi shrine," the woman known as Sapphire noted as she walked all the way to the home that had been burnt down three years ago resulting in the death of an old man, a woman, and young boy.

The girl Kagome Higurashi had been the only survivor, but instead of accepting help from the government she wanted to soupport herself, even if it meant poverty. Sakura told her earlier that she suspecting Kagome had a child and she didn't want anyone else to know about it.

"And I am called a slut?" the girl asked herself as she walked across the chared ground on to the former property.

How dare her aunt come along and tell her how to live her life. All she needed was for her boyfriend Nekura to come back and everything would be well again, but just incase she would go out to the bar tonight and maybe find someone better. She had all her plans in order so why did Sakura treat her so badly?

"How strange," Sabree dully noted as she walked around more, "everything burned down, but yet a wooden well remains?"

She peered into the well that stuck out like a swore thumb. Something seemed strange about it. It was so dark as though it was a void that would suck her in.

"Obviously water wasn't kept in here," she kept saying to herself, "so why would this place ever need a well?"

"To hold your nightmares in," a dark malicous voice echoed off the walls of the well.

Sapphire quickly fell backwards. There was something in the well talking to her. She felt like she was going to have a heart attack. Finally she got her courage back and peered back inside. Was somebody stuck inside the well? And if they were maybe that person would owe her money for doing a good deed.

"Is anyone done there?" she called into the well listening to it echo.

There was no answer. Sapphire sighed. She must have just been imagining things. She turned around to leave when she heard a sound. Now something inside the well was moving.

"Is anyone done there hurt or something?" she asked again when she returned.

"Just bleeding," a voice finally answered.

"How did you get down there? I will help you."

"There seems to be a small ladder hidden under this moss."

Sakura looked to the dirty and mossy edge of the well to see that there was indeed a ladder. Once uncovered she carefully went over the edge and climbed down praying that the wood wouldn't break on her. Eventually she made it down.

"Good," the whispered.

"I can't see down here," Sabree stated as her hand fumbled through her pocket searching for her zippo lighter that glew flashy colors once opened, "hold on."

The well was then filled with a little bit of light. Enough to allow the woman to glance upon the male who needed to be rescued, he was indeed injured. The man was thin, pale, and had strange red eyes.

"Just get the strength to climb up this ladder and I will take care of you," Sapphire told him thinking about the first aid kit Sakura bought her.

"Very well," the man nodded as her dark bangs covered his face, "what is your name lass?"

"Sapphire," she told him, "but I am going by Sabree now, what is yours."

"Naraku."

(End of Chapter 17)

For all those who subscribed to my newsletter (which you can easily do by e-mailing me your screename, favorite fanfic of mine, and e-mail address) you can see that I kept my promise. I refused to update anything until Teen Blues was updated and now I have. I am sorry for my depressing notes, but here is finally your chapter. And the next chapter is going to be the last one of Teen Blues so it's almost over. And like I said…next time I go with something like Kikyo being Koinu's mother don't attack me and just wait for the next chapter.

Stoictimer: Yes take helpful criticism and not bad ones…and shot the bad ones on sight. Yay 10th grade highschool has turned me into a mean person.

Dark Inu Fan: It never had anything to do with what you wrote Inu, because you are my homie and you don't flame me, but everything you said in your review was true.

I would love to answer all your reviews because you all wrote a lot of long ones, but I am due at school in 10 minutes and I want to get this up today. I will come back to your guy's reviews and thank you all later about talking me out of deleting this fic, and I know some of you put similar ones on Shadow Filled Hearts so I will defintley answer them once I update that chapter which will be soon. Until then, Ja Ne