Chapter 2: Solution

My heart was pounding inside my chest. The thudding echoed in my ears. My throat felt tight. She wanted the rest of her soul. The nerve of her. This is my soul. She had lived her life and died. She was even brought back. She was living on borrowed time with my soul, which had been stolen from me. She had no right to ask me for what was mine. She was asking too much of me. However, it was not an argument that I could afford to have. Could I even pay such a high price? My life for theirs? I could see the look on her face. It wasn't what I expected. It was not her usual blank stare, but a smug look on her face. It was somewhat nice to know she could feel something because if I chose to do this someone would surely cause her pain on my behalf.

"If you cannot do something as simple as sacrifice yourself for the people you say you care for. Then-"

"I will do it," I said, cutting her off.

A moment of surprise flashed in her eyes. It was as if she had not expected me to agree to her terms.

"Do you know what this means?"

"It means that I will die. You can have your soul back. So long as you help us fight… then you can have it." The words left my mouth on their own. I spoke without thinking.

She straightened up and came over to me.

"Very well. Give me your hand."

I held out my hand to her. She placed her palm above mine. Her palm glowed white and my own glowed pink. I flinched feeling a burning sensation in the palm of my hand. I hissed, the pain grew the longer it went on. I tried to pull away, but she held my hand in place, mumbling as she did. The painful process lasted for about a minute or two. I had no choice but to grit my teeth and bear with it. I snatched my hand away from her grasp, looking at my palm. The kanji for pact had been burned into my skin.

"This is proof of the deal made between us. The requirements are set. There is no backing out now. I hope you understand this. Once I fulfill my side of our agreement. You will have no choice but to fulfill yours. Whether you wish to or not."

I clenched my fist. "I am fully aware of what I have agreed to Kikyo."

"Mm. A Miko who would willingly die for others. It seems history has repeated itself. The irony." She said, mumbling the last part.

I pressed my lips into a tight line, holding my tongue.

"Let us go."

The three of us marched into the camp. It was a hard night now, but the moon was full tonight and lit up the entire clearing. Koga hadn't asked me why Kikyo was coming back with us. I was glad he hadn't. I didn't want to lie to him about what had happened. About what I had to agree to, to get her to come along with us. It seemed as though everyone had turned in; almost everyone. Inuyasha had come bursting out from the forest. His nose was held high in the air. Following the scent of Kikyo no doubt. I watched the moment his eyes landed on her. The quick-changing emotions. Surprise, sadness, and anger. His face hardened as he stomped towards us. He was the last person that I wanted to deal with.

"Why is she here?" He asked, pointing to her.

"She is here to help. That's all you need to know." I said, beginning to walk away.

Inuyasha grabbed me by the arm yanking me to him, and Kouga quickly stepped in pushing him backward.

"Keep your hands off her you dog."

He snorted. "No matter how much you protect her, or care for her. She is never going to love you back."

"Yeah well, that doesn't matter. I'm her friend and I'm always gonna be there for her. Especially when pricks like you are around. Oh, and just so you know. She's never going to love you again either. So let it go." Koga grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the pair.

"I am so sorry about that Koga."

He shrugged. "Don't worry about it. That's just him being a hurt dog. He's just mad that you don't love him anymore. No skin off my back. Now we're in the same boat." He said, smiling at me.

I shoulder-bumped him. "Thank you. For everything."

He grinned. "Anytime."

"I'm going to go to the hot spring. I'll be back in a bit."

"Hold on, it's not safe for you to go alone."

"Sounds like you're just trying to get a peek at me," I said jokingly.

"W-what that's not what I meant!" he stuttered.

I laughed. "I know, don't worry I'll be right back."

I went into my tent and grabbed my bag. I was quiet so I would not wake the others. I slung the bag over my shoulder. Trudging to the spring, through the dense forest. The smell of the hot spring filled my nose. I stopped marveling at the sight of it. I dropped my bag close to the edge. I discarded my dirty clothes and stepped into the hot water. I sighed as it scalded my skin, but it was the good kind of burn. This was my only moment of peace out of the twenty-four hours of the day. I grabbed my loofah and sponge and scrubbed away at the sweat and grime that coated my skin. Next, I lathered my hair with shampoo until my heart's content. I breathed in the calming scents. I dove under, rinsing my hair. I leaned against a rock. This could very well be my last bath. She wanted my soul... and I agreed to give it to her. I clenched my jaw, staring at the palm of my hand. Was there a way out of this? A way to escape death. I let out a deep sigh. Only a foolish Miko would die for others. It seems history has repeated itself threefold. Her words echoed in the back of my mind. Naraku had to be destroyed, that was my job as the Shikon Miko. a job I would see through till the end. Even if it was going to cost me my life. I looked up to the sky silently praying to the Gods for an answer. At that moment, something shot across the sky. It looked like a white ball of light. Was that... Sesshomaru? I relaxed into the water trying to figure out how to stop what seemed like my inevitable death. I watched as the steam rose from the water. I wrecked my brain for an answer. For any way out of this. The gears in my head began to turn until they hit me.

"Sesshomaru." I gasped. "

The one man who could bring anyone back from the dead under the right circumstances. I climbed out of the spring and dried off. I threw on my nightgown and gathered my things. I headed off toward camp. I crept towards my tent. Gathering the things that I would need for my journey to the Western castle, stuffing them all into my yellow pack. Trying my best to quietly creep out of the tent. Backing out, I made sure not to wake anyone. I turned around. Ready to run, but I came face first with something that felt as hard as stone.

"Shit." I cursed, grabbing my throbbing nose.

"Where do ya think you're going so late?"

"Kouga Shhh."

He quirked a brow. He was waiting for an answer.

"I have something I need to go do. So could you please cover for me?"

"Depends. Are ya going to get yourself killed?"

Probably.

"No." I lied.

He folded his arms, his eyes narrowing at me.

"You're not a good liar Kagome. Where are you going Kagome?"

I sighed. "To see Sesshomaru."

"Why the hell would you do that?"

"I can't tell you."

"Kagome-"

"Please. I just need you to trust me. You know I would never go see him. Unless I absolutely have to."

He looked me in the eyes for a long time, then sighed.

"Fine."

"One more thing. I need you to take me there. I would have to walk for at least two and a half days to get there."

He gave me a small smile and stroked my hair. A gesture that did not go unnoticed.

"How could I say no to you?"

I gave him a small smile. "Thank you."