You and I must make a pact; we must bring salvation back...

He had caught her. It should not have been him but that of his half-brother. This girl had stood by his half-brother's side throughout the journey to defeat Naraku, and yet his foolish brother had chosen to 'Save' the already dead Miko over the living one. But as he looked down at the body in his arms, he knew she would not live much longer, foolish half-breed.

Everyone stood stunned. She had killed Naraku, but not before he sent a deadly blow to her, knocking her out instantly and sending her flying up and then down to the earth. But it was not Inuyasha who caught her but Sesshomaru. He was on one knee, and Kagome laid over it, her head in his clawed hand. He didn't know why he reacted as he did, but he did. She was bleeding out of her nose and mouth. Her mouth was parted, and Sesshomaru watched as she took her last breath. He didn't know why, but his brows went together, and he felt disgusted; she should not have died like this.

Her friends walked up; Sesshomaru did not look at them or at his brother. "Kagome," Inuyasha whispered.

"You act as if you care," Sesshomaru said coldly. Miroku wanted to speak up; that was not fair. Inuyasha did care for Kagome, but sometimes, Inuyasha's feelings were misplaced.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Sesshomaru!"

Sesshomaru didn't look at him all the way, just cut his eyes to him. "Tell me, half-breed, whose arms does she lie dying?"

Inuyasha went cold. Did he say dying? "Give her to me, Sesshomaru," Inuyasha said, walking closer. Sesshomaru removed his leg from under her and laid her on the ground; Inuyasha was not worthy to even hold her dead body. Sesshomaru stood now, not facing her. Inuyasha knelt next to Kagome and picked up her head, "Kagome?"

"Foolish half-breed, do you not see that the Miko does not breathe."

"Shut up, Sesshomaru," Inuyasha was angry; his brother was being too talkative. Sesshomaru took out his father's sword, but he had yet to turn around. "Move away from her,"

Inuyasha looked at his brother's back, "What?" He snapped,

"Inuyasha," Miroku called; Inuyasha then looked at Miroku, "I do believe your bother intends on saving Lady Kagome."

Inuyasha looked at his brother's back again and then down at Kagome. Slowly, he laid Kagome back down and stepped away. Once he was away, Sesshomaru turned around and looked at her. He held out the sword and called out to it in his mind, yet the sword did not respond.

"What are you waiting for!" Inuyasha snapped; why was he not saving her?

Sesshomaru looked at his sword; he, himself, could not believe that it was her fate to die. "It would seem it is her fate to die," He said, putting the sword back. Inuyasha grew mad. "What! who are you to decide that!" He spits out. Sesshomaru cut his eyes to his younger foolish brother. "It Is not the sword's will to save her half-breed," He snapped. The more the boy talked, the more Sesshomaru loathed him.

Silent, they were silent.

"I can save her," Came the cold voice of the dead Miko. Everyone but Sesshomaru looked at her. "If even one of you does not want this, I will not do it."

They all looked at her, confused. "Speak Miko," Came Sesshomaru's voice; he was now standing with his arms crossed and looking at her. "I can save her, but at cost," She said, looking dead at the demon lord; she was testing him. Sesshomaru was not one for borrowed power or trickery; well, for the most part, it was beneath him. "What will it be, Lord Sesshomaru?" It was up to him; everyone there would say yes to saving their friend, but he had to agree to. "Do as you please; it is beneath this Sesshomaru."

Kikyo narrowed her eyes. "No, you must agree, or I will not do it,"

Sesshomaru looked at her long and hard. "I see not why you need my consent,"

"I will need something from you, all of you," Kikyo said, looking around the group, "And what of me do you need," The Lord asked.

"Power,"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes and stared at her; he knew not what the dead Miko was going to do or how she was going to do it.

"She will not be like me; her body is still warm, her soul close,"

Good. "Proceed Miko,"

"We shall take her to my sister," Kikyo stated, and Inuyasha started to walk up to Kagome but was met with Sesshomaru's sword. "What?" Inuyasha snapped

"I shall carry her; tend to your Miko,"

Inuyasha growled, "Yes, do not forget Lady Kikyo has hurt her leg." Miroku pointed out, not wanting the two brothers to fight. Inuyasha huffed and walked over to Kikyo. Sesshomaru bent down and picked the girl up; she was growing cold and proceeded to follow her group of friends.

Kaede was outside when she saw the group coming. Inuyasha holding Kikyo on his back as he had done with Kagome, but it was that of Sesshomaru carrying Kagome that shocked the old Miko, and she knew something had to be very, very wrong.

"Kikyo," Kaede stated.

"Hello, sister," Kikyo returned cold, and their reunion was cut short. "Start, Miko, I wish to depart." Kaede looked up at Sesshomaru and then to Kagome, then back to her sister, "Do ya think it wise?"

"Do not question your older sister," Kikyo stated as Inuyasha let her down, "Put her down,"

Sesshomaru was not one to be bossed around, but he did as he was told. Kikyo came to stand in front of her, and with the movement of her hands, Kagome lifted off the ground. Kikyo pulled up a purple barrier, and Kagome froze in place. "Inuyasha, a bit of your blood."

Inuyasha wasted no time in cutting himself and offering his arm to Kikyo. Kikyo let his blood drip into her hand before reaching into the barrier and opening Kagome's mouth, and pouring the blood into her mouth.

"Monk, Slayer, a cut of your hair."

They wasted no time in cutting a piece of the hair off with the help of Inuyasha's claws. They handed their hair to Kikyo, it was turned into dust, and she blew it into Kagome's nose. Kikyo then turned to Sesshomaru, "I will need your power."

Sesshomaru stared at Kagome floating before him; what was to become of her? Would she be the same? "What shell of a person will she become," He asked. Good question. "She will know you all," Was all she gave him. "The time is now, Lord Sesshomaru, do not waste it."

"Very well,"

"Place your hand on the barrier as I will do the same,"

Sesshomaru and Kikyo both placed their hands on the purple barrier. Kikyo closed her eyes. "Bring forth your demonic power as I will bring forth my holy powers; they will fight along with what's left of hers; this is a battle you should win," She told the demon lord.

"Indeed,"

They began, and Sesshomaru pushed forth his power; he quickly took over Kikyo's power; she was no match for his. Then he felt his power surround that of weak power, her power. Instead of fighting, their power mixed, and a bright light burst through the barrier. "Do not let go," Kikyo stated, and Sesshomaru held his place. Then something hit him; the girl's soul returned but was being pulled. Sesshoamru watched as the pink soul that was the Miko's come and leave her body and rush to Kikyo's hand. She was stealing the girl's soul; that was the cost. Sesshomaru quickly removed his hand, and in a second, he had Kikyo's neck.

"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha snapped, but Sesshomaru did not move. "What have you done,"

"She lives!" Kikyo stated, looking into his eyes.

He tightens his grip. "Without her soul,"

"She has a soul!"

He dropped Kikyo, and she fell onto the ground. Inuyasha ran up to Kikyo, "Sesshomaru!"

"Your devotion to her sickens me, half-breed," He turned away and looked at Kagome; she was still inside the barrier. "I leave her to you to deal with." Sesshomaru was speaking of Kikyo.

"This matter no longer concerns me,"

He then walked away, leaving them all. As he came to the forest edge, he stopped. He did not look back, but he felt the beat of her heart. "She lives, the Miko they call Kagome."