It had been a while since they'd fought someone with dark magic, but Kagome knew it would happen at some point. Things had been too quiet since Naraku's defeat—at least since she'd returned to the past—and it was only a matter of time before someone got cocky enough to try and take his place.

Lightning crackled past her ear, bringing her out of her musings, and she rolled her shoulders. Nocking an arrow with ease, she aimed at the woman. Kagome couldn't tell if there was any humanity left in her, as her hands had morphed into talons, scales as dark as her hair climbing up her arms and gleaming in the moonlight.

Power did funny things to people, and this creature had some major anger issues that she'd repressed long enough for the hate to manifest itself into something more tangible. There were rumours of a lover's quarrel—possibly a triangle filled with unrequited love on her part—and that knowledge had Kagome hesitating.

Could she have ended up like this?

She'd been there, experiencing heartbreak again and again, but she'd had Sango to pull her out of it. Hell, the mission had done the same, keeping her focused even when all she wanted to do was break down and cry. She'd used her temper to shield herself each time Inuyasha had chosen Kikyou over her, and eventually, a satisfying numbness had set in.

Breathing deeply, she aimed again. She'd never let herself sink this low. The woman had wanted to cause chaos, to rip out the hearts of those who'd spurned her and relish in the destruction that came with it.

Power pooled around the tip of her arrow, drawing the woman's attention, and they struck at the same time. Sparks of reiki trailed behind the fletching as it flew through the air, the ground catching fire when it pierced her heart. Even as she gasped for air, the woman sneered, dark eyes glowing with Kagome's power.

"You will not escape unscathed, miko," she hissed.

Kagome stayed on the defensive, scanning the area for accomplices. Finding no one, she straightened, watching as her chest turned to ash. "This wasn't my fight until you attacked the village."

"You have the jewel," she argued.

"The jewel is gone. And would never have granted your wish, anyway." Her fingers gripped her bow, wishing there had been another outcome.

The woman fell to her knees, body cracking and decaying. "You know nothing of wishes."

"I know power won't solve them. You have to choose your happy ending." She winced at her words. She'd never done anything to find her own happily ever after, remaining in limbo after returning to the past.

"Let us see what chooses you, then," she said, and sighing, Kagome threw up a barrier. She knew the drill: they'd use the final burst of power to try and attack her. It wasn't like she'd never seen it before. Shouldering her bow, she waited for the woman to take her final breath. There wasn't even a ripple against her barrier, and then there was nothing.

Sending her power into the ground, she purified the area. The barrier disappeared as she stepped through it, and she approached the scorched bit of dirt, her spent arrow lying in the middle of it. "No point in wasting it," she thought aloud, picking it up. She touched the tip, wincing when it drew blood.

A sudden wave of nausea washed over her, and she staggered. Cursing, she realized too late that the head was stained with the woman's blood. She slumped against her bow, trying to stay upright, but it was a losing battle, and darkness claimed her before she hit the ground.