Chapter Fifteen: Kikyo's Stolen Ashes

The light of the full moon reflected off of the lake that night at the village. The air was tense with some unknown trouble. Kaede had seen this kind of night many a time as a priestess and she knew she must act soon. That was why she had gathered the warriors.

Across the night sky she saw a light shoot. It passed by two trees and those trees fell to pieces. As Kaede and her warriors rushed after it she realized that it was heading for Kikyo's grave. Kaede rushed up with her bow and saw the light land upon the gate.

There she was, a demon in the form of an old woman. She wielded a scythe and as Kaede shot a shaft she knocked it aside. Would that Kaede had been younger. Yet she was not and far past her prime.

'Who are ye?!' cried Kaede.

The old woman rushed off up the steps, laughing. The followed as best they could, but the steps were many and the hill steep. Kaede moved with all her might, hoping to head off any michief. Yet she had the feeling she was biting off more than she could chew. Still there was no one else to act here but herself, so she must.

Several men got there ahead of her and as Kaede reached the got she found them reeling from scythe wounds. The old woman was looking at the grave of Kikyo with appraising eyes. 'I am certain this is it. Yes. At last! I have found her resting sight.' She took a handful of earth. 'Just enough moisture. This soil is perfect.'

Kaede drew another arrow. 'What is ye's business here? Identify thyself! What is thy business here?!'

'Sad fools,' said the old woman 'my only business lies with this gravesite. Once I have Kikyo's remains I shall leave this miserable village.'

The men lowered their spears.

'Leave our village at once!' cried Kaede 'Or we shall have no choice but to strike!'

'Persistant wretch.' muttered the old woman. 'You'd have done well not to cross my path!' And she scraped her fingernails against her scythe.

The sound of it was more than most warriors could bear and they collapsed screaming to the ground, but Kaede held her footing. She launched an arrow, but the shaft was sliced in half by the scythe as the woman, no, demon, rushed at her. Kaede and her warriors were thrown back, and the demon then turned and swung her scythe at the grave.

A wave of yellow light shot at it and destroyed the grave entirely. The old demon reached into the ground and clasped the ashes.

'No!' cried Kaede 'Take not my sisters ashes! I am the Priestess Kaede! I shall not allow ye to take those remains!'

The old demon only laughed as she rose into the air. A smile of satisfaction was on her whethered face. 'Your threats fall on deaf ears. The remains now belong to me! The demon Urasue!'

And she was off in a flash, laughing all the way.

Inuyasha was rushing through the forests. He was invincible. He was untouchable. None could stand before him. Blood… he needed blood. Blood and the sacred jewel! Then he felt a force pierce his shoulder and pin him against a tree.

He gripped the arrow. He was stuck? Who had done this to him?

He saw who. Kikyo.

He awoke and found it not yet morning. The stars were out tonight, the new moon having long since passed. He wiped a white bang from his forehead. 'It was a dream. I could have done without those memories.'

An owl hooted somewhere around them as Inuyasha looked down to the fire. Kagome was sleeping in her sleeping bag. Shippo, however, was nowhere to be found. The kid had become a terror to the women of Japan in the past few days. No doubt he was having another one night stand.

Inuyasha slipped down from the tree without a sound and looked at Kagome. In her sleep she looked like Kikyo. And yet she wasn't. Her reincarnation she may have been, but Kagome was in many ways the opposite of Kikyo.

And then she woke up and slapped him on reflex. 'Huh, you're up. Did you want to talk about something?'

Inuyasha pointed to the red mark on his cheek.

'Oops, did I slap you again.' said Kagome 'Sorry about that.'

Inuyasha ignored her and glanced up to the full moon. There he saw a figure flying overhead. A demon maybe? It didn't seem to be on a rampage?

'What is that?' asked Inuyasha.

'Don't no.' said Kagome 'A demon maybe?'

'They smell of fresh blood.' said Inuyasha, before another scent came to his nose. 'Wait, I recognize that scent!'

Then, whatever it was, was gone.

Inuyasha leaped from stone to stone over the river in a hurry. Kagome rode her bike alongside him while Shippo followed behind. 'Come on Inuyasha, how about a hint at least? Why the sudden urge to go back to the village?'

'I don't mind.' boasted Shippo 'A place for fresh conquests is fine by me.'

'Fresh conquests?' asked Kagome 'You shouldn't think about women that way Shippo. It isn't right.'

'Don't tell me what to do, Kagome.' said Shippo 'I'm and immortal warrior of unparalleled skill and wisdom.'

'Yeah, well a couple days ago you were just a kid.' said Kagome 'So you sure as heck aren't mature yet.'

'I'm way older than you are.' noted Shippo.

'It's not the age, kid.' said Kagome 'It's the life experience.'

'Whatever.' said Shippo, before going on ahead.

'Don't you find it weird, Shippo transforming the way he has?' asked Kagome.

'Not really.' admitted Inuyasha.

'But I mean, only a couple of days ago he was just a kid.' said Kagome 'Now he looks like he's my age.'

'Kagome, Shippo is a lot older than you are.' said Inuyasha 'Demons don't mature in a set number of years like humans do, they do it when they are good and ready. Shippo probably would have done it sooner if he hadn't run into us. The sacred jewel shards probably sped the process up.'

'So what do we do about the jewel shards in him?' asked Kagome.

'Nothing right now.' said Inuyasha 'Way I see it, as long as Shippo is carrying those shards nobody is going to be able to snatch em. And he'll be more useful.'

'But you were the one who was always saying that the jewel was evil.' said Kagome.

'Sure, but he's right.' said Inuyasha 'Maybe it does work differently on demons than humans. For all I know it might only twist human wishes. I don't know a thing about it.'

'Oh.' said Kagome.

They rushed on and soon came withing sight of the village. Making their way toward Kaede's hut they saw the old priestess making her way out of the house. Her arm was in a sling and bandaged and she was being tended to by a young girl. Kagome began to slide the bike to a halt.

'Kaede!' she called out. 'What happened to you?'

'I might ask the same of ye.' said Kaede 'How is it that the fox demon is so much older now?'

'Long story,' said Inuyasha as he landed. 'we'll tell you after you answer the question. Trust a stubborn old goat like you to refuse to give injuries time to heal.'

'This is nothing.' said Kaede as she turned to walk up the steps. 'So ye picked up the scent of my blood as the spectre passed did ye?'

'Don't try and change the subject!' snapped Inuyasha 'Swallow your pride and take it easy!'

'I get it.' said Kagome 'He wanted to come back to the village because he smelled your blood and was worried about you.'

'You catch on quick.' said Inuyasha.

They reached the top where Kikyo's grave lay. In its place they found a giant pit. Kagome ran up to it and looked carefully. 'What happened here?'

'The spectre.' said Kaede 'She desecrated my sister, Kikyo's, gravesite.'

'This was her tomb?' asked Kagome.

'Yes, and I was virtually powerless to stop the assault.' said Kaede. 'My sister has unusually strong powers, even as a priestess as she was. Her remains have fallen into the hands of evil. Who knows to what end Kikyo's powers will be exploited.'

Inuyasha turned and began to walk away. He'd heard enough. 'Let's go Shippo.'

'Where to?' asked Shippo.

'To find the one who desecrated Kikyo's grave and dig them theirs.' said Inuyasha.

'I am coming with ye.' said Kaede 'I too am a priestess. I shall aid you in recovering my sister's ashes. Inuyasha, which direction was Urasue last travelling?'

'Are you trying to get yourself killed?' asked Inuyasha.

'I am going.' said Kaede 'I shall deal with the consequences when they arrive.'

'You're in no condition to go, Kaede.' said Kagome.

'You're wasting your breathe,' snapped Inuyasha 'she's as stubborn as an oxe. You'll never talk her out of it. Come on, move it along granny. We'll lay Kikyo's remains to rest again.'

'Inuyasha,' said Kaede 'thank you.'

'Something tells me Shippo and I better come with you.' said Kagome.

'Hey, you're not the boss of me.' snapped Shippo 'Maybe I want to hang out here in the village?'

'Fine,' said Kagome 'stay here then. You're probably safer that way anyway.'

And they walked off.

'Hey!' snapped Shippo 'I'm a warrior! I'm not going to be left behind! Besides, you'd all get killed without me!'

'Thanks a bunch.' said Kagome.

They jourenyed after Urasue and made their way into some rocky highlands. The sun was soon setting behind them as they made their way onward. As they traveled Kagome began to feel more and more out of place. Inuyasha had always said she was a third wheel. She didn't think he really meant it, but she felt more and more like she was just a substitute. A replacement for Kagome.

They made camp and Kaede and Shippo fell asleep almost at once. Kagome looked at the old woman. The old woma who had just been a young girl when Inuyasha was sealed. 'Kaede's fallen asleep.'

'Let's get some sleep ourselves.' said Inuyasha 'We've got a big battle tomorrow.'

'Already?' asked Kagome.

'The remains aren't far off.' said Inuyasha 'I can smell them.'

'Inuyasha…' began Kagome.

But Inuyasha was already asleep. He'd been sleeping the first time Kagome had seen him too. Actually he was under a spell. Yet to her it had looked like he was only asleep.

Morning came soon. The birds were chirping in the mountain air as they set out quickly beneath a cloudy sky. Kaede walked with more vigor than Inuyasha had seen in years.

'We must retrieve Kikyo's remains soon.' said Kaede 'Lest Urasue use them for some evil end. I fear trouble lies on the path ahead. Dreadful trouble.'

'I know!' snapped Shippo 'I was there when we decided to go after her in the first place! Geez old lady, you don't have to repeat yourself over and over.'

'Now you sound like Inuyasha.' said Kagome.

'No he doesn't!' snapped Inuyasha 'This is serious! There is no way I'm letting the desecrator of Kikyo's tomb get away with this! I'll rip em to shreds!'

'Eh, I don't see why you can't just scatter the ashes in the river.' said Shippo.

'Have ye no respect for burial and grave sites, young fox?' asked Kaede 'A grave is more than simply a place to bury a body. It is a place of shelter, of refuge, for the hearts of those loved ones left behind. My sister was born a priestess. She used her powers for the good of the villagers. She warded spectres and demons away from the village and battled illness and famine countless times.

Ever since her demise Kikyo's spirit continues to inspire them to carry on and overcome their troubles. But people are weak and hearts are easily swayed by the winds of danger and uncertainty. Her grave was a place of courage, a haven to encourage the villagers to brace themselves against the storms of life.'

'What are you talking about?' asked Inuyasha 'Kikyo's spirit is standing right there.' And he pointed to Kagome.

'I told you, I'm not Kikyo!' snapped Kagome.

'I know that.' said Inuyasha 'But you have the same spirit, you're just a reincarnation. So there is no way that Kikyo could possibly be watching over you from a gravesite.'

'Inuyasha's got a point.' said Shippo.

'Kagome may be the spirit of Kikyo, but she is the spirit of Kikyo in the far future.' said Kaede. 'Thus the spirit of Kikyo who watches over us now is not the same as Kagome.'

'Can we please talk about something less boring?' asked Shippo 'I'm falling asleep on my feet.'

Urasue slashed apart the entrance to the cave and walked in. The heat would have burned a human badly, but to her it was nothing. Making her way up to the coffinlike container she noted how it cracked. The body within was soon to be ready.

'Now then,' said Urasue 'let's see what changes my magic has brought to the mixture of ashes and graveside soil. Ah yes, this could be my finest creation yet. Now then.' She drew out a stalk of a leaf which began to shine as she tossed it onto the burning coffin. 'Arise!'

She slashed with her scythe and struck the coffin. It cracked and then shattered. And out of it emerged a stunningly beautiful woman with long dark hair. Urasue smiled. 'Arise Kikyo! Come to me!'

Kikyo said nothing.

'Kikyo the great priestess.' said Urasue 'You foiled many an attempt by demons and monsters to take possession of the Sacred Jewel of the Four Souls. They say that if a demon should possess even a single shard of the sacred jewel its power as a demon would at least double its strength.

I need them. I must have every fragment of the jewel for myself. I have brought you back and you shall serve my every wish. Now go and retrieve the jewel shards!'

There was no response. Kikyo fell over. This was not as Urasue had imagined it. She made her way forward and pulled the woman up by the hair. 'I don't understand.' Then she looked carefully. 'I see. The body has revived but the soul did not return. My unparalelled magic could not have failed to bring back the soul!

Wait, this could only have happened if the soul were already reincarnated into another body!' She snarled and threw the girl aside. 'I have no use for this body of Kikyo's unless it has a soul! All this time and magic wasted! Wasted on reviving a useless shell of a human! Now how will I retrieve the jewels! How?!'

The group passed into a forest and soon found themselves surrounded on both sides by strange humanoid things of clay. They were standing all around them in great rows, and dispersed throughout the trees.

'What are those?' asked Kagome 'Mummies?'

'Clay statues maybe.' said Shippo 'Nothing we can't handle I'll bet. FOXFIRE!' He hurled his magic and burned one to mush. 'See! I can handle it!'

Soon they emerged out of the forest and found themselves at the edge of a huge gorge. There was only one way across. A long rope bridge leading over it.

'Something tells me that's the place.' said Inuyasha.

'Oh great.' said Kagome 'We've got to cross this rickety old bridge?'

'No worries.' said Shippo 'If you fall, I'll catch you.'

It didn't really help Kagome ever. One glance down revealed a massive drop into a misty valley beyond. The bridge swayed and bounce with every step they took and Kagome clung to the handrails fearfully.

'Freak me out!' said Kagome.

'Stay here if you're that scared of crossing.' said Inuyasha. 'I'll go on my own and get the remains back, okay.'

'Yeah, as if!' said Kagome. 'I'll just stand here a couple hundred feet above ground, blowing in the wind!'

'Come then if you want.' said Inuyasha, before walking onward.

'Wait!' said Kagome 'Aren't you gonna help me across-'

And then Shippo picked her up in a bridal fashion. 'Don't worry Kagome, I'll get you across.'

'Hey let go!' said Kagome 'This isn't funny!'

Then they stopped. Ahead of them were many of the clay statues from before. Suddenly they shattered to reveal pale white corpse soldiers. They stank of corpses and graveyard soil.

'We've got trouble.' said Shippo, not sounding scared.

'They must be Urasue's soldiers.' mused Inuyasha.

'The clay soldiers we saw in the forest!' said Kagome. 'Wait that means-'

They were coming from behind. They were cut off with no way forward and no way back.

'Hang on ladies.' said Inuyasha 'This swinging bridge is about to live up to its name! Iron reaper soul stealer!' He tore through the creatures ahead while Shippo turned and sent a bolt of foxfire that destroyed many of the creatures. As more came Kaede destroyed them with her bow.

Yet there were always more of them.

Urasue heard the sounds of battle outside. In irritation she glanced back. 'What can all that ruckus be outside? I'll go see for myself and work off some frustration.' She reached down and grasped the herb she used to ressurect the soulless body in front of her. Yet the body would not let go. 'This herb belongs to me! Release it!'

Then Urasue realized something. 'She's moved on her own.'

'Inuyasha, watch out!' cried a voice. The body responded.

Urasue left the gaze and flew overhead the canyon. Looking down she saw a girl, younger, who looked just like Kikyo. 'That must be Kikyo's reincarnation. She's almost her double. How fortunate for me, the resemblance is remarkable.'

Without another word Urasue descended and sliced the bridge in half. As it collapsed Kikyo's reincarnation ket out a cry. Urasue grabbed her and pulled away, leaving the others to fall into oblivion.

'Oh no! Kaede! Shippo!' cried Kagome. 'Release me! Let me go!'

Urasue put her scythe to her throat. 'Prefer to fall to your death, young maiden? After all my hard work ressurecting that corpse I will have its soul. I have plans for you. Plans to bring back Kikyo.'

'Bring back Kikyo?' asked the girl 'I don't like the sounds of that.'

Things were looking up.

Authors Note:

Well would you look at that. Yet another chapter released in a timely fashion. Let's try to make this a habit.