Chapter 36: Soothing the Soul

The soft tap of feet against cold, hard ground sounded through the mist. A dark figure ran along the path, not knowing or caring where it went. The only thought on its mind was to get away, as far away as it could from where it had just been.

I can't ever rejoin them. If I do, they'll just end up getting hurt Alice thought as her breath came out of her mouth in clouds of misty white air. Never again would she enjoy a bath with Sango and Kagome, or play with Shippo; never again would she argue over petty things with Inuyasha, or talk with Miroku; never again would she laugh or cry or fight with any of them, it was over and her decision was final.

Though, some part of her was happy that she was away from them for it allowed her heart to shed some of the weight it had been bearing for the past few days. Unfortunately it seemed that the pain was only worse than before, for she felt in some part of her mind she betrayed them.

I must stick to my decision. There's just no going back. I must go and find a way back home on my own. Alice thought as she slowed to a walk. Absent mindedly she looked around and found herself to be in some abandoned, desolated town.

"Where am I?" Alice murmured as she walked along the path, which seemed to not have been used in ages.

This place… It seems, so familiar… She pondered, but she knew she had never been here before so it confused her greatly. The town itself looked to be uninhabited for years, plants growing everywhere. To be more exact, the place seemed more like a graveyard than a town.

It's a little creepy here, but I guess I'll make camp. I've got nowhere to go, and who knows when I'll find another place to stay Alice thought as she began towards one of the rundown buildings only to come to a halt as a figure stepped out.

"Utsugi!" Alice gasped, startled only for a mere second by the Shikigami user's abrupt appearance, as she immediately unsheathed her sword, which glowed with blue fire, "What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you the same question, though I already know the answer," Utsugi replied monotonously, her eyes narrowing at the next part, "You abandoned your comrades out of a petty lie, making you even less worthy of that soul of yours."

"What? How dare you accuse me of willingly abandoning them! Did you think that I wanted to?" Alice snapped, not even questioning how Utsugi knew what happened, "I had to leave them, it was for their own safety that I left!"

"Then why is it that you didn't even try to find a solution in which you would remain with them?" Utsugi interrogated, leaving her descendent lost for words. "Whether your reason is just or not, you abandoned them and sealed your fate as well as their own," Utsugi continued, and from out of nowhere the white demoness Kanna appeared, mirror in hand, "It's time you hand over that soul of yours."

"Still going on about that?" Alice snapped, "Just try and take it! I'd like to see you try."

"Fool, Kanna go ahead and take her soul," Utsugi instructed the emotionless girl beside her.

Alice held her sword in front of her, prepared for anything the little girl might do. To her amazement, she watched as Kanna merely stepped forward and held out her mirror. Confused, the girl raised an eyebrow, expecting to meet more than a mirror with her reflection in it.

"That's all you've got? And here I thought-" Alice was cut off as she felt her voice catch in her throat.

Instantly she fell to a knee and gasped in pain, "Wha-what's happening?" she struggled to say as she saw a pale blue aura start to leave her body and enter the mirror.

"Stop trying to prevent this, it was meant to happen ever since you made your decision," Utsugi spoke up amongst the whirlwind of noises in Alice's head as she stood on her hands and knees, barely able to support her body, which grew weaker by the second.

"Forget about everything. All your pain and sadness, let it vanish and find peace," the woman finished in a light, almost caring, tone.

"Forget? About all I've been through?" Alice stuttered, "No. Never! I won't forget about anything that has happened here, whether happy or sad I will not forget!"

And with these words spoken a sacred arrow shot through the air, piercing the mirror. Instantly, the mirror released the portion of Alice's soul it contained and with a light gust of wind it returned to it's owner, who wobbly sat bat on her knees.

"Huh? That arrow, it couldn't be…?" Alice gasped as she looked forward from where it had been released.

Very faintly she could make out the outline of a figure dressed in priestess garments. Long flowing black hair, tied elegantly back, accompanied by brown eyes greeted the three. In one hand was a long brown bow, accompanied by some arrows in a quiver drawn over the newcomer's shoulder.

"Kagome?" Alice spoke drearily, her body beginning to grow numb as she slumped down to the ground.

"I've finally found you. Tell me, where has Naraku hidden himself?" the figure spoke in a serious tone, one that warned of no games.

"Huh, the power of purification; that which can break any spell or barrier. So you've shown yourself at last Kikyo," Utsugi turned to greet the priestess.

Kikyo? Who is she and why does she bear such close resemblance to Kagome? Alice wondered though her eyelids began to droop wearily.

"While it's a pleasure to finally meet you, I must be going," Utsugi spoke as she drew near Kanna, "Farewell Kikyo."

In a blinding flash of white, the two disappeared out of thin air, leaving Alice and this priestess called Kikyo alone in the abandoned town. The named priestess was looking up in the air for any signs of where Utsugi and Kanna could've escaped before turning her attention towards the girl left behind.

Brown eyes met blue as Alice murmured, "Who are you?"

Before she had the chance to even hear an answer, Alice felt the world around her begin to dissolve as the woman slowly, but calmly, walked towards her. The last thing she heard were those wooden sandals tapping lightly against the ground in a rhythmic motion. Tip, tap. Tip, tap.

/././././././•/././././././

Alice let a moan escape from her mouth as she stirred awake. A dull pain pulsed through her body as she opened her icy blue eyes to stare at the wooden roof of the house she was in.

Huh? Where am I? What happened? Alice thought as she sat up and placed a hand on her forehead, trying to remember.

"That's right… Utsugi was trying to take my soul but that person saved me," she murmured, "Who was it? I think I heard Utsugi say her name was Kikyo?"

Looking around the room, she tried to spot the named person but found she was totally alone in the dusty house, which by the looks of it had been abandoned quite some time ago. Shakily getting to her feet, Alice used her sword as a crutch as she walked towards the door, thinking that the priestess would be outside. Once she got out, however, her eyes widened in awe at the scene before her: clothed in the traditional priestess attire was the woman, who so closely resembled Kagome that they could be the same person, Kikyo. Floating around Kikyo were numerous balls of light, carried by snake-like demons that swirled around the priestess.

Alice couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the scene in front of her. It's beautiful… Those orbs of light, what are they? Souls? But why would someone collect souls of people? And a priestess for that matter?

One of the souls drifted over to the girl, who held out her hand, curious to how it would feel. Softly, the soul hovered above her outstretched hand, which Alice carefully pulled back so the light of the soul illuminated her face in the dusk light. Somehow, as she peered at the soul, she could see the person it belonged to's life reflected in its depths. It was a young woman who died from a disease, her last moments being with the man she loved most. How sad, she was so young and had so much more to do in life the girl thought as she allowed the soul to drift away.

Following its path Alice's eyes widened as she saw Kikyo staring straight at her with calm, brown eyes. The soul, upon reaching her, instantly was absorbed into her body, leaving it with a faint bluish glow that eventually faded away.

"So you're awake are you?" Kikyo greeted, walking up to the girl, who bowed to the priestess.

"Yes. Thank you for saving me back there, who knows where I would be if you hadn't," she replied before looking around the clearing to see the snake-like demons' tails disappear admits the trees, "What was that just now? Were those lights souls?" The woman remained silent and for a moment Alice thought she might've offended the priestess and quickly added, "Oh, you don't have to answer those questions if it makes you feel uneasy. It's just that was all so pretty."

A small, almost sad, smile appeared on Kikyo's face as she shook her head, "No, I'm fine. But pretty? I wouldn't think anyone would associate what just occurred to be pretty. As you guessed, those were souls, souls of deceased woman of this era."

"I see," Alice murmured, "So why are you collecting them, if I may ask?"

'It's a long story, but to put it in simple terms I'm required to collect souls if I wish to continue on in this world," Kikyo replied with a sad note that Alice almost instantly caught.

"Kikyo…" she murmured as she felt pity towards the priestess she knew practically nothing about. She felt an overwhelming urge to comfort her, but before any such thing could occur her suddenly leg gave out and with a startled gasp she fell to a knee.

Instantly the priestess was by her side, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I just need to rest a bit more I guess," Alice chuckled as she smiled up at Kikyo, who after a moment smiled back softly and helped the shikigami user back inside the hut.

Once inside, Alice let out a sigh of relief, "Thanks, it's very nice for you to help me and I'm grateful, especially for saving me back there as well."

"Yes, though I was only trying to find Naraku's whereabouts back there," Kikyo replied, sending a wave of surprise through the girl.

"Naraku? You're searching for him as well?" Alice gasped.

The priestess nodded, "Yes, he is an enemy that I must defeat; but come to think of it, Kanna and Utsugi were after you back then. So that must mean you have a connection to Naraku as well."

"Yeah. It's a bit of a complicated story, but I'll try to fill you in as much as I can," the girl started as she began to explain everything that had happened to her since she entered this world, "And after that he just disappeared. I've been trying to find him, but it seems that no matter where I look he's nowhere to be found."

"I see…" the woman replied, taking in all that Alice told her calmly, which surprised the shikigami user since no one but Inuyasha and the others had taken it all in without flinching or showing any sign of question or surprise. "Anyway, I must find Naraku because he might be the only person in this world who knows how I can return back to my era," she finished, though a sudden image of everyone appeared in her head, causing a wave of sadness to flow through her.

Kikyo, obviously catching this, looked up and questioned, "You seem to have something on your mind. Will you mind telling me what it is?"

Alice smiled weakly at the priestess. She was so similar to Kagome, not just in looks but in a way that drew people towards her. Her kind and caring attitude warmed the girl's heart while dually causing more pain and sadness to form.

"You see, I forgot to mention that I was not alone on my journey to find Naraku. Along the way I traveled with a group of people who were also after Naraku. They were all so kind and thoughtful to me, but something happened and, well, I guess you could say I abandoned them," Alice admitted, looking away in shame from the woman beside her.

From the corner of her eye, she saw what looked to be surprise run through the priestess' brown orbs, but it soon vanished as she responded, "You abandoned your friends? What for?" At the mention of friends Alice winced and Kikyo immediately placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, murmuring, "I'm sorry, did I bring up a bad topic?"

"No, it's just, well… I left because, I guess you could say I felt like the bond between us had never been real. That it was just a charade of sorts. I don't even know if I could be called their friend, especially since I hurt one of them…" she trailed off.

"I see…" Kikyo replied before turning Alice towards her, "Listen girl, or-"

"Alice," the girl interrupted, feeling the priestess should at least know her title.

"Okay, Alice. Listen here, I presume that the one who filled you with these doubts is Naraku, if I'm not mistaken," Kikyo questioned and Alice's eyes widened, "I thought so. Anyway, you mustn't go believing someone like him so easily. What he's trying to do is separate you from your friends so you'll be more vulnerable. Your bond between your companions and yourself hasn't grown weaker. You all care about each other dearly, and I'm sure they'd never think ill of you - even now as we speak."

"Kikyo…" the girl murmured, eyes widening even more.

"Don't fret over things such as that. Be true to yourself and nothing can stand in your way, including Naraku. Your friends will love you for who you are no matter what, and in the end that's what counts," the priestess finished, with a small, reassuring smile.

"I guess," Alice looked down and smiled before returning her gaze towards the woman, "Kikyo, you're the best. I've only just met you yet I feel as if we were old friends meeting one another after a long time." It was Kikyo's turn to act surprised as the priestess' eyes widened a fraction of an inch as the shikigami user continued, "This might seem sudden, but would you mind if I tag along with you for a little while? I know that what you've said is true, but I don't feel ready to confront everyone again so soon after I left…"

Kikyo stayed silent, appearing to be thinking things over, before replying, "You may come with me, but you must promise that you'll confront your friends in time. Scared or not, you can't run away from them forever, or you'll never be able to move on."

Alice smiled and nodded, "Okay, I will."

"Good, then if you're ready, how about we head off then?" Kikyo asked and the girl nodded as the two stood up.

However, right as they reached the door, voices could be heard from outside. Giving Kikyo a questioning look, Alice followed the priestess out to meet three men, all with vacant expressions in their eyes. A shiver of fear went through her as she placed a hand on her sword, not because they had appeared so suddenly but that they were all carrying a weapon of some sorts.

"Kikyo, I've found you," one of the men spoke up in an emotionless tone.

"You know them?" Alice whispered, seeing if the priestess recognized any of the newcomers.

But before Kikyo could answer another spoke up, "Give me your soul."

That answers that Alice thought as she unsheathed her sword only to wince at the fact that the three in front of them were merely human. Instead, she stepped in front of her new companion, holding her sword sideways in defense.

"What do you mean by that? Don't even try taking our souls," Alice snapped as a wind swirled around her sword.

"Alice, we must go! These guys are being controlled by Kanna," Kikyo warned as she pulled the girl back.

"Kanna?" Alice repeated while thinking, I thought so. But how did they find us so quickly? I'm sure Kikyo wouldn't have left a very easy trail to follow…

"Yes, they must've come to capture us, so we must leave now while we still can. We can't waste time fighting them, so running is our only option," Kikyo replied while tugging Alice with her as she began to move away from the three.

Uncertainly, the girl began to follow the woman away from the villagers. This will help us for now, but what if they're more surrounding us? She as thought branches and bushes brushed up against her legs. I guess we'll just have to find out; there's just no going back now Alice concluded as she looked back to see that they had lost the men chasing after them.

"Hey Kikyo! I think we lost them," she called and the two slowed to a stop.

"Yes, it seems to be that way. Are you alright?" Kikyo asked, looking at the scrapes on Alice's skin.

Following her gaze Alice smiled, "Oh don't worry about me, these are nothing really," she reassured as she healed her scratches with her shikigami, "See? I'm perfectly okay."

"So you're a shikigami user," the priestess observed as her companion nodded.

"Yep, and not too bad at fighting either," Alice grinned, "Anyway, how are you holding up?"

"I'm fine," Kikyo answered simply.

"That's great, then how about we get going before they find us again okay?" the girl replied while starting forward.

"Wait," Kikyo stopped her with a gentle hand that felt oddly cold on Alice's bare shoulder, "Before we continue on, you must know something."

"Okay, what is it you want me to know?" she asked, turning to face the priestess; wondering what was on her mind.

"I'm not like your other companions, not in the least. Though we may both be searching for Naraku we walk different paths. This applies to you as well," Kikyo started as Alice tilted her head in question. "You see, unlike you and your friends I am not one of the living," she continued, "Hence why you saw me collecting souls. This imitation body of mine cannot support itself without the help of the souls I collect."

"So that's why…" Alice murmured, beginning to understand.

"Yes, and after knowing this, will you still accompany me? Agreeing would mean that you may be subjected to things you've never experienced before, some of which you might never want to experience at all," Kikyo explained.

Alice closed her eyes for a moment, thinking out her options, before opening them again, this time they were filled with determination, "I won't leave you Kikyo, not for a reason such as that. Like you said I may experience things I don't want to, but no one can escape these occurrences, no matter who they are. So I'll keep to my word and travel with you, even knowing this."

"Very well, then let's-" Kikyo started before a loud rustling was heard nearby, cutting both off guard.

"They've caught up to us!" Alice gasped as she began to make out multiple figures through the brush, "And it looks like there are more than before."

"This isn't good, at this rate we'll be caught," Kikyo grimaced before looking over at the girl, "Alice, we have to split up."

"What?" Alice gawked, not understanding where the woman was going in the slightest.

"Listen, if we go together we're more likely to get caught then if we split up and confuse them," the archer explained urgently.

"But-"

"It will be okay, trust me. When you lose them head towards the village we first met in; I'll meet you there," Kikyo interrupted, the controlled men getting ever nearer.

"O-Okay, be safe Kikyo!" Alice called as she turned and ran the opposite direction of the named, looking back briefly to see the priestess running away as well.

Please be safe… Alice thought as she turned her head back and ran through the misty forest. It wasn't long until she lost the men chasing her and slowed down to a trot, breath coming out in gentle puffs of cloud. Looking up, she saw the faint outlines of the village Kikyo mentioned before and made her way through the trees towards it. Once there she walked towards the center of the village, seeing if she could find a suitable place to stay. The sky was beginning to turn darker, telling her that night was about to fall at any moment. I wonder if Kikyo is okay. Did she lose them or… Alice quickly banished the thought with a shake of her head.

No I'm sure Kikyo's alright. She probably lost them and is heading here right now. It's just going to take her a while to get here since she has to work her way back without being seen the girl reassured herself, though the worry still remained.

Stopping in the clearing before her, she looked up at the misty sky outlined by the ruined houses surrounding her, and murmured, "Please, let her return safely."

An echoing laughter suddenly sounded, scaring Alice out of her whit as she stiffened at the sound of a familiar voice speaking so close to her that she could feel the warmth of breath on her cheek, "Now now, shouldn't you be paying more attention to your surroundings than worrying about a dead priestess?"

It can't be…? Alice gasped as she turned around; hand on her sword, ready to confront the person but suddenly felt all the air pushed out of her body as he slammed into her gut, making her choke. Unable to move, she started towards the ground only to be caught by the one who injured her. Pain filled her as the shikigami user struggled to catch her breath, all the while opening one eye to glare at the person who held her so close that his scent was practically suffocating her. Red eyes gleaming in triumph was her greatest enemy, whom at the moment she was powerless to fight off, Naraku.


Cliffhanger! xD Another chapter and yay for being out of a writing block! /throws confetti in the air/

Anywhooo this was an interesting chapter to write~ Unlike the other chapters this one goes on a WAY different path than the game and steers the whole story in a different direction, so be prepared to see some changes ;D

On another note, yay Kikyo you've finally shown up! I love Kikyo, but only after she gets over the whole "Drag Inuyasha to Hell faze" =w="
Other than that I adore her just as much as I do Kaggy ^^

Preview Time~
...She couldn't believe her eyes as she stared in horror at what lay before her.
"It can't be...But that was just a dream!"
Short I know xD But there you go~

Please Read and Review~