Title: Light a Candle for St.Kikyo

Author: landofthekwt

Rating: K+

Genre: Introspective/Romantic/Angst

Pairing Inuyasha/Kikyo:

Universe: Canon

Warning :minor spoiler for Chapter 530;Chapter 464-465 , Chapter 377 and Chapter 529 page 17 and anime,"The Tragic Love Song of Destiny" Chapter 78 and Chapter176.

Summary: Inuyasha thanks Kikyo for her role in reviving Kohaku

kikyo Japanese bellflower or balloon flower The meaning of "kikyo" is unchanging love.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Inuyasha is owned by Rumiko Takahashi and various corporations. I make no money from this fanfication

Inuyasha walked away from the well. Kagome had just left for the future. She had made him promise not to come for her. He knew that the graduation was important to her. Although a part of him wanted her to remain safe in the future, another part of him craved her return desperately and feared that the allure of home, friends and family would take her away from him forever.

He shook himself from his reverie. There would time for that later. He had one important task to perform before preparing for the final battle with Naraku.

Where were those flowers? He thought he had seen the bellflowers in his woods by Goshinboku. How appropriate that they should grow there. He ran from the village to the tree to gather them.

Stopping in Kaede's hut upon his return, Kaede helped him prepare for what lay ahead. She assembled the offerings and incense for him. Kagome had sometime ago given him a lighter to start campfires He would use it to light the incense.

Kaede asked "Do you want me to go with you". He shook his head."This matter is between Kikyo and I." "At least let me instruct in the proper ceremony of the prayers so that you do not offend the Kami.",Kaede offered. He gratefully accepted her offer and watched her closely.

He had not prayed since his mother died and then only in the small family shrine in their house. Hanyous were not allowed within public shrines since they were considered to be impure. She had him remove his robe of the fire rat and Tetsusaiga both of which had demonic auras.. She found a white haorii which was more appropriate for the ceremony .and assisted him in donning it.

" You must be purified" she said. "You are not going to turn me human" said the hanyou.

"No, I mean you must go through the ritual washing to purify yourself".Kaede answered. .

She took him to the pool by the waterfall where Kikyo had so often purified herself.

She instructed him in the ritual of purification. Who know how the kami would receive a hanyou. Upon leaving the returning from the pool he headed straight through the Torii gate and up steep set of stairs to the shrine. He laid the offerings and flowers at the base of the shrine. He placed the incense and lit it with Kagome's lighter The smell of the incense offended his nose so badly that he had to cover it with the sleeve of the haori.

He closed his eyes, clapped his hands together and bowed. The words did not come to him immediately, but he knew what he wanted to say.

"Kikyo, I wanted to thank you for giving your light and the opportunity to destroy Naraku to save Kohaku's life. I knew that you were not the kind of woman who could exchange the life of Kohaku in order to complete the Shikon no Tama".

" Kikyo, you saved Kohaku's life when I failed to protect your light and Kohaku's shard."

I have failed you so much in past.

I would have become human for you, but I did not trust you. As a result, my actions led to your death.

I would have gone to hell for you if you had asked me, but you never did

I would have protected you, but you would not let me and Naraku was able to wound you and eventually kill you because I was to protect you.

Your love for me was unchanging, but I gave my heart to another

We were bound together in death, but another unbound me

Because you followed after me in death, I owed you my life. But here I am the one alive, while you are dead again because I failed to protect you

Even though I told you that I did not believe that you could exchange the live of Kohaku in order to complete the Shikon No Tama, I still tried to strengthen my sword so that I could kill Naraku before you sacrificed Kohaku to complete the Shikon no Tama

I sorry that in the end, I was unable to save you and you were only able to have one moment of happiness in your life as an ordinary woman. I am glad that Kagome was able to save your soul in the end.

I am going now into the final battle with Naraku. I must not fail you as I have so many times before. Although you no longer need revenge against Naraku to bring you peace, I will exact it against him for all that he has made you suffer. I do not know if I will survive the battle, but I will endeavor to see Naraku and the jewel are cast into hell. I will complete your duty since you cannot..

I will always love you. We will meet again someday".

With those words Inuyasha turned away from the shrine, he swore he could hear the last words of Kikyo whispering in his ear."Do not cry for me. I will always watch over you".