I like the platonic sisterly bond between Kagome/Kikyo, Kikyo acting as a mentor to her reincarnation. Much of the Kagome and Kikyo drama never happened in the manga and was created purely for drama in the anime.
Kikyo stared into the distance, having worked through her previous bitterness and finding some peace within herself, her hostility towards the latter had altered drastically. No longer did she see her as a threat, but sadness and pain still remained in her heart for different reasons. She wanted nothing more than to regain the life she lost, the life that could have been but never was. But she had grown because of Kagome, changed because of her, found common ground and formed a friendship. The awareness of how much younger Kagome was than her, merely a fifteen year old girl, labelled a minor in her world. Kagome faced the dangers of fighting demons, protecting other humans, learning how to wield her powers, all without the experience of training. While in the feudal era, girls her age were expected to marry, help their families and make adult decisions. Many left their villages for better lives, married as to not be a burden to their parents and form their own families. Finding jobs to form an income wherever they could, while in Kagome's world they were naive, carefree and were able to make mistakes sooner. It showed the difference in their worlds, their exposure in life, Kagome's future was so different than the potential Kikyo could have experienced. She wondered how alike she and Kagome could have been if she lived in the same world as Kagome. But also how similar Kagome would be to herself if she was born and raised in the feudal era instead. "Kagome, you're currently fifteen aren't you?" Kikyo questioned.
Kagome raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by Kikyo's abrupt and confusing question. Kikyo was so mysterious, she often kept her emotions to herself, showing wisdom and perception beyond her years. She listened to her instincts and had become a formidable priestess that even Naraku feared. This was the first time she was actively taking the lead in a conversation with her, asking about her personal life. What often baffled her was in chronological age, Kikyo was decades older than her, but in her resurrected age she was only four years older than her. If Kikyo was born in her era, she would be a high school senior. In terms of her companions, she was four years younger than Miroku and five years younger than Sango, they were all teenagers. But she didn't understand what her age had to do with anything "Yeah, I'm a senior in middle school right now" she admitted.
"Which means you are entering high school soon, studying for exams, worried about your future" Kikyo pressed. She would be focusing her studies on getting better grades and improving in her school life. Her social circles would be changing, her goals would be changing. Considering colleges, considering further education and her career options. She would have a lot of pressure on her shoulders, her family back home would be asking her many questions of her choices. She was growing up and that would be a frightening prospect. Imagining Kagome balancing all this while searching for jewel fragments, it had to be stressful for her.
Kagome sighed, yes she was still a student while she abandoned her old life back home, to travel back in time to gather shards of an ancient jewel coveted by corrupt humans and demons. She always brought her books with her, when they weren't fighting demons she was studying in between with notes and her study guides. She couldn't afford to skip, she couldn't risk being behind, she needed to keep up to date even when she wasn't home so she could still hand it all in. Back home she was studying, taking classes and worrying about high school and college. The person she would grow up to become, her life wouldn't always be like this, someday InuYasha wouldn't be part of her life. She nodded wearily "I'm in the middle of my exams" she admitted. How the hell was she balancing all of this? Fighting demons, chasing Naraku? Collecting the shikon shards? How long could her family make excuses? Her grandpa had used every illness in the book without the school calling the police or welfare officers. This could only go on for so long.
Kikyo's eyes filled with a sense of longing and sadness, she could see the frustration in her eyes and the fear of her looming future. The only reason aside from the jewel keeping her in this world was InuYasha himself. Reflecting a glassy appearance as tears formed in her eyes, reliving memories she tried so hard to repress. "Kagome, I relate to your affection for InuYasha, I share the same endless longing for him. He's very precious to me, so long as my soul remains on this earth I will not let Naraku harm him..." she pressed. InuYasha was her first love, her soulmate, the purest form of love she had ever known. He meant everything to her and someone harming him formed an incessant rage within her. She turned to Kagome with a solemn expression "But please, don't abandon your future for him. You have a bright future in your timeline, to waste that potential would be a regret you could never take back". She couldn't change her past, her future had been ended the moment she died, her timeline had come to a close.
Kagome was an intelligent, empathetic person, she showed promise as a future priestess, that was undoubtable. But she was far from perfect and she had many lessons to learn, she was young, naive and could still make many mistakes and learn from them. She had her whole life ahead of her, many endless roads to be taken and many experiences to learn from. If she wasn't her reincarnation, with the jewel embedded inside of her, she could have experienced a different life, never knowing her connection to the past. She would have never crossed paths with her current friends, never learned of Kaede and the village, ignorant of Kikyo's life. She was forced to fix her mistakes by being dragged into the past, forced to defeat the enemies of her predecessor, new foes and even those of her friends. Kagome could have known a carefree life, still living as a naive teenager without any knowledge of the well and the connection to the past. The one she always wanted before she crossed paths with InuYasha. The one Kikyo had always longed for, the one she had wished for with InuYasha, peaceful, happy, free from any trauma.
Kagome softened, Kikyo was opening up to her, raw and unfiltered. She was attempting to make her see sense from her perspective and what she was sacrificing. She wasn't trying to be cruel, she wasn't making herself the villain, she was merely trying to make her understand her perspective. She knew Kikyo loved InuYasha, that unwavering devotion transcended time even after her resurrection. That same love had transferred to her soul as her reincarnation, both of them bound to InuYasha. Kikyo would do anything to protect InuYasha, even pretend to be the enemy to further her plans. She threatened Naraku's lackeys when they threatened InuYasha, she had warned anyone who harmed InuYasha would be an enemy to her. She would kill anyone who tried to harm him, declaring his life belonged to her. Threatening Kagura of the wind when she tried to harm InuYasha, that she was merely alive because she chose not to kill her. Willing to kill Naraku for pitting them against each other, for ending her life, for harming InuYasha. She had her life ripped apart because of him, everything she knew was taken from her. He wounded her gravely and made her believe InuYasha had betrayed her. Now she wanted revenge for all the pain and suffering he had caused her. But more so she wanted to make amends with the people she had wrongly accused. She regretted her choices, all the mistakes she had made and all of the people she hurt. All of her rage, bitterness, jealousy and sadness, all of the regrets, her soul frozen in time; but she was trying to heal. She wasn't going to allow Kagome to make those same mistakes, she wanted her to do better, she wanted her to be different. Kagome could understand her reasoning, even she admitted she had taken many things for granted.
Though she made fun of him she deeply cared for her grandfather, he had weaker spiritual abilities than herself but he was a good mentor. He was educated on many demons, spells and more. His health was declining and he would possibly decease in the future. She never spent enough time with him, never bonded enough and never took the time to understand his lessons. He was as much a mentor as Kaede had been, she just wasn't able to appreciate that before.
Her mother worried about Kagome while she was on her adventures, whether she was safe, unharmed, eating well etc. Her mother was a single parent after the passing of her father, pushing her daughter to achieve. They never spoke as much as they should and she often offered advice when needed. When was the last time she helped her mother around the house or even just tried bonding with her?
Sota was growing up, though he was currently in primary school, he would soon be coming of age to enter middle school. He had experienced crushes before, having his own growing pains. He was learning about demons, he saw InuYasha as an older brother figure, and he tried to support Kagome as best he could. He lacked the spiritual power herself and their grandpa had, but he was a loyal and kind person. Her baby brother kept growing up every day.
She was missing out on their lives, just as they were missing out on hers, important memories being avoided. She never spent time with her friends, just hanging out and goofing around. She didn't attend club activities, she never got time to herself to just laze around the house and do nothing. She was missing out on festivals, she was missing out on meet-ups and more, all she focused on were her studies and missions. She could go home and have tea with her grandpa, listen to him ramble or even just have a laugh with him. She knew it would make him happy and she did miss him. She and her mother could go shopping, they could do some cooking together, talk about colleges and more. Her mother was a patient and supportive woman. "I suppose the world won't end if I go home" she reflected, she would merely be taking a break, having much needed time to herself. InuYasha and the others would know she was safe, they knew where she was and that she was away from Naraku. She was with her family, she was with the people who loved her most of all.
Kikyo smiled, she was glad Kagome could see the point she was attempting to convey. How she was frustrated that Kagome took her privilege for granted, all the things she wanted. That she had loved ones waiting for her, abandoning them to go on her adventures. She always regretted that she died when Kaede was merely a child, raised by the villagers, losing her only family, forced to become an orphan. Kaede had been a student under her wing, teaching her all she knew and dying when Kaede still needed her. Any future they had together was cut off and Kaede could only grieve and live her own life. Loneliness consumed her, knowing how many people she had left behind, how she would always be disconnected from others. Kagome needed to value her loved ones before she ran out of time, to appreciate the people close to her. "We can both sense demonic presences and jewel shards" she reminded her, they both had the unique ability to sense shikon shards. Their spiritual abilities were different than other humans. This made them a threat to Naraku, competing with him to gather as many shards as they could so they wouldn't fall into his hands.
Kagome stared at Kikyo in confusion, while she had become adapted to her powers over time, honing in her skills. She sensed that Kikyo was plotting something, hoping to form an alliance or a scheme, but for what reason? "What are you suggesting?" she questioned. She wanted to trust Kikyo, believe that she still had love, hope and compassion in her soul. That the pain and suffering she endured hadn't completely corrupted her.
Kikyo smiled, while she understood Kagome's reservation she had no malicious intent. "I can collect shards, gathering and fusing them while you are in the modern era with your family. I can protect and guard them, binding them into bigger fragments using my power. Once you return from your travels to your world, I can deliver them into your care" she explained. She could cover more terrain, she wouldn't feel exhaustion, weakness, hunger, she was one of the dead, human conditions wouldn't affect her. She could purify corrupt shards before returning them to Kagome's protection. Kagome panicked, this was a huge offer that Kikyo was making, she would be working tirelessly in her place, travelling all over Japan searching for the shards was no easy feat. Finding them all at once and desperately trying to collect them before Naraku or another demon got their hands on them, corrupting them. Kikyo gathering them in her place until she returned would be so helpful, she would have done half the work and alleviated stress from Kagome's shoulders in the process. "They will be safe in the modern era, but once the jewel is whole it must be destroyed. But by allowing me to take over temporarily in your absence means your studies won't suffer" Kikyo reflected. In the modern era they would be out of the hands of demons. spirits and other wicked entities. Though humans could still get their hands on the jewel, Kagome wouldn't let that happen. Once the jewel was erased from existence, its influence would no longer be a problem.
Kagome flung herself towards Kikyo, all of her emotions hitting her at once, she didn't how know she could show her gratitude for all of this, hugging her happily. "Arigato Kikyo! Oh my god! I... that would be so wonderful!" she babbled. She considered Kikyo a friend, an ally and misunderstood, though previously rivals and enemies, she knew Kikyo had a good heart. Kikyo would protect the shards as a fellow shrine maiden, she would ward off other demons and ensure they never fell into the wrong hands. Kagome could go home and study, knowing the jewel shards weren't in the hands of their enemies, that they weren't being abused for the wrong reasons. Kikyo would come and find her as soon as she returned, sensing her spiritual power and travelling to find her, handing them into her care. Allowing them to work together as allies against Naraku, soiling his wicked plans to use the jewels for his own gain.
Kikyo blushed, she was often thrown off by how expressive and energetic her younger incarnation was. She had so much hope, so much potential, reminding her of herself before her passing. She hadn't been held by anyone aside from InuYasha since her demise, nobody whom had shown her such care and concern. She had been so alone for so long, disconnected from the world of the living, passing by as a spirit observing the world around her. Such affection felt strange, especially from her alternate self, Kagome's endless kindness. She felt she didn't deserve such a thing, for leaving Kaede an orphan, for believing that InuYasha could betray her. "Thank you for trusting me" she mumbled.
Kagome smiled, pulling away, she knew Kikyo had her own issues and trauma, painful memories she was forced to relive. "I may not understand your methods, but you meant well, you wanted to protect InuYasha". Kikyo had tricked Naraku, the same way he had her fifty years ago, she had used his methods against him. She was deceiving him, she wanted revenge for the misery he had inflicted upon her and her loved ones. But in her core, in her soul, within her heart, she still loved InuYasha with her entire being, the light of hope within her. InuYasha would always be her first love, the person who changed her for the better. Making sure he was safe, watching over him when he was harmed, showing such sincere affection for him. Devoted to him even in death. Kikyo's blush darkened, Kagome's understanding of her methods rivalled InuYasha, sharing the same perceptive soul. This girl saw through her and even after all her actions, still believed she was redeemable. They shared the same soul, of course Kagome would realise, she would know that Kikyo had her own mission.
Kagome got to her feet, stretching as she enjoyed the night air, she felt she had unburdened herself of thoughts on her mind, helping Kikyo in the process. Her mood was elated and she wanted to enjoy this good feeling "I need to get home" she smiled. The sound of relaxing on her bed, eating her mothers cooking and taking a hot bath sounded great right now. She missed home, she missed her family, Kikyo was correct, she had people still waiting for her. She often abandoned them so she could help InuYasha and the others, but never considered how they felt.
Kikyo got to her feet, gathering her quiver of arrows and bow, she knew they could be being watched right now. Naraku had spies in the forms of his incarnations, there were enemies all around them. She would make sure Kagome evaded danger, she knew if any harm befell Kagome InuYasha would be saddened by it. "I can get you to the well unharmed, our mutual powers can sense demons, meaning we can predict dangers. Do you have all your belongings?" she asked. She knew the memory by heart, she had once lived in Kaede's village after all, she still retained all the memories from her past life.
Kagome nodded, walking into the trees to reveal her bike, swinging her bag over her shoulder, climbing onto her bike seat. It would make the journey easier, meaning more distance could be covered and less strain on her behalf. Though InuYasha complained, it was a useful device from her world. She turned towards Kikyo warmly "You can have a ride with me" she suggested. She knew such modes of travel didn't exist in this world so it would be a new experience for Kikyo, she would enjoy the ride and it would be a long walk, it was the least she could do. Kikyo was already doing her such a big favour by helping collect the shards, it wasn't much but it was a gesture of kindness. Kikyo stared at her in surprise, she had never seen such an odd contraption before but she knew it was useful in Kagome's world. She didn't want to disrespect Kagome's kind gesture, she nodded awkwardly. Hesitantly climbing onto Kagome's bike in confusion, awkwardly trying to position herself comfortably. Wondering how she could possibly find such a thing comfortable, sitting sideways so her legs hung off the side. Holding onto the younger girl as she began to pedal away, feeling her hair blow in the night air. Hoping she wouldn't fall off.