Shout out to PinkFennekin for reviewing! And also to ihavetoriblenews for her second review. I'm feeling pumped to continue this story!

Chapter Nine

They stood facing each other across the small stream that parted the village.

Kaede had led Sango into the safety of the forest with the rest of the villagers. Miroku and Inuyasha tried making Kagome go with them, but realised she wasn't going to go without a fight. Eventually they gave in and all four of them, Sota following in tow, scouted out the deadly priestess.

Inuyasha stood beside Kagome, with Sota and Miroku bringing up the rear of their little party. Kikyo gave them a small smile. So one of her little soul stealers had seen correctly? Kagome had travelled back in time. But Kikyo wanted to know why.

Kikyo was the first to speak, her voice carrying on the cool night breeze. 'I thought for sure my two arrows would be enough to bring about your demise. I underestimated your strength, Kagome. It won't happen again.'

'She is the girl who shot me,' Sota murmured behind Kagome. 'But she looks exactly like you.'

Kagome ignored her brother's comment. 'If you had only hurt me, I would have understood. I probably won't even be here today. But you hurt my brother and my family. That is unforgiveable. You were once a highly loved and caring Priestess of this village, Kikyo. I hate seeing how far you've fallen.'

Everyone saw Kikyo's eyes narrow at Kagome's comment before she spoke. 'And what do you plan on doing? You're little demon pet is a human, just like the rest of you.'

Kagome thought she heard Inuyasha growl. When she glanced sideways, he was glaring at Kikyo like he might actually hate her. Kagome quickly shook her head clear of this though. Of course he didn't hate her. He was the reason this was all happening. She couldn't go soft on him, especially after threatening his life. Now she had to go through with it.

'None of them are a part of this. It's you and me, Kikyo.'

'Oh, so Inuyasha isn't part of your little hero gang?'

'I-.'

'No.'

Everyone turned to stare at Sota. He bravely walked forward until he was on the edge of the stream, standing directly in front of Inuyasha.

'This demon dog has nothing to do with my sister or my family. You can have him back.'

'Sota...' Kagome was touched that her brother cared so much for her, but also scared for him at the same time. Kikyo was not a person to speak to in such a rude way.

'Ah, but I've already tried to take him back from Kagome,' Kikyo told them.

'What?' Kagome asked.

'Inuyasha came to me a few days after I entered your world to kill you. He pleaded with me to leave you be. He didn't want me to kill you. You see, Kagome, he still loves you.' Her face twisted into a cruel expression. 'And when I declined, he finally offered to follow me into the after. But I knew it wasn't sincere. He was only trying to keep you alive.'

Was she telling the truth? By the way Inuyasha's shoulders had slumps and his effort to avoid eye contact, Kagome assumed Kikyo was telling the truth. He pleaded with Kikyo to save Kagome? He even tried to give his own life for hers... It was shocking to hear. Kagome didn't want to fall into another trap, but she couldn't help but lose some of her hatred for the demon boy.

By the time Kagome looked back at Kikyo and zeroed in, the former priestess was already speaking again. 'So now I think it's only fair if I take something important to you. Something you love. As compensation...'

'Compensation,' Miroku repeated, looking confused.

Two seconds later his head snapped towards Sota, Kagome's younger brother. But Kagome was already in action.

Two arrows shot across the stream in Kikyo's direction. One she barely dodged and the other hit a soul stealer just to her left. The silver light creature vanished with a loud scream.

Kagome was notching her third arrow when she yelled out to Inuyasha. 'Get Sota out of here!'

'But-.'

'Sota, don't argue with me!' She frantically searched for Miroku, finding him crouched nearby, chanting a sutra. 'Miroku, think you can give me a hand? I need a fire spell.'

'Sure!'

Inuyasha and Sota ran off into the forest, leaving the only two who could fight to face off against Kikyo.

The former priestess had flown across the stream on a nest of silver soul stealers. The moment her feet touched the ground arrows flew from her bow. Kagome managed to dodge all of them. She knew that only one arrow was enough to bring her to her knees.

When Miroku finished his sutra, and deemed the spell ready, he quickly lit a small fire on a pile of leaves. He then produced a small ink well from his robes and placed it to the side. Kagome doused her arrow in the ink before setting it on fire. It wasn't exactly a sacred arrow, but she bet it would hurt a lot.

She stopped a soul stealer from attacking Miroku from behind. Once he had picked up his staff and was back in action, Kagome left him to go fight Kikyo. She was a few yards away, surrounded by hundreds of her little silver snakes. Kagome's flaming arrows scared off the demons enough so that she could shoot a clear line to Kikyo's chest.

The priestess barely dodged, making Kagome think she might actually have a chance; until she realised something. The silver soul stealers... They were gone. Her fire hadn't scared them off that much had they? Kagome lowered her next fire arrow and frantically looked around. Her eyes caught sight of a white tail slithering in the nearby forest.

In the direction her brother and Inuyasha ran.

Seconds later a familiar scream tore through the night. The soul stealers came back into view, swarming into a giant ball, something being held in the centre. When they touched the ground beside Kikyo the silver snakes disbanded, leaving a frightened looking Sota in their wake.

He instantly jumped into action. Sota took a swing at Kikyo, which would have been funny despite the circumstances; just because she was a girl didn't mean anything to him right now. But she only stepped back and gave a soft smile to the young boy. His eyes widened, a cold white snake wrapping its body around his neck. It squeezed until his vision went black.

Kagome watched in horror as her brothers body slumped into the dirt. 'Sota!'

She let off two more arrows, aiming for Kikyo's heart. None it home. The priestess looked amused until she realised Kagome only used the arrows as a distraction. Kagome had been walking towards the former priestess, and was now only a few steps ahead of her.

Kikyo saw a silver object flash in the human girl's hand. A knife. Where did she get a knife from? The priestess saw it as a rather caveman like weapon. She urged her soul stealers to help her escape, having done what she needed to do for the time being.

Miroku noticed when the soul stealers he was fight rushed away. They wrapped around Kikyo's body, forming a hard mat under her feet. Sota was lifted into the air as well, unaware of what was happening in his unconscious state.

'Kikyo, don't run from this,' Miroku called, sweat dripping from his brow.

'I have what I came for. Fair is fair. Right, Kagome?'

But Kagome wasn't listening. She was too busy aiming arrow after arrow, all deflected by the swarming soul stealers, until she had no arrows left.

'No,' she whispered when her hand clutched nothing but air above her arrow holder. 'No!'

Thought I'd leave a little cliff hanger here. Sorry, guys.