A Love That Transcends Time: Book I

~*~I'm back!!! You guys miss me!? :D I'm fine now, and recuperating quite nicely. It's nothseriserious, just SARS. hahaha! in'in'! Really, it's nothing. I'm back at work now and as usual, writing this fic. So I hope you guys stick around still!

To MegaBorX: Thanx for the email! I got it right after I saw your review, so I didn't reply. :D Anyway, thanx for the concern and well, Sesshy's not up to something just now. Someone else's cooking something up, as you'll discover in this chappy. Hope you'll stay around for more and Love ya lots!

To Stefanie: Hey, mom. I'm okay now, nothing serious. :D Feels good to know lots of people care *sniff* Anyway, enough of the drama! Thanx for the concern and for taking the time to review. And as for the Kikyou bashing, I'll give you something more juicy. *wink* Just wait for it okay? 'Till next time and Love ya lots!

To ReiHino:Didn't anybody tell you that curiosity killed the cat? *grin* Kiddin'! *hug* I'll satisfy your curiosity soon enough. For now, please be content with this chappy. Please like it too okay? hehehe. Thanx for the flowers and yup, I'm near 6000 now! You guys rock!!! Love ya lots!

To Nina: Hmmm...so you already know what I'm cooking huh? I guess I'm that transparent. But if your bet is really right on this one, I'll give you a bunch of cookies for being correct. Deal? *wink* And you're right, hospitals suck! hehehe. Hope you write again. Love ya lots!

To catesy: Hey. I'm still thinking 'bout the songfic, but I'll really try and write one okay? As for your contest, it's one shots for now right? And I don;t have any one shots as of yet, just songfics. Bummer! *cries like a baby* So I guess I'll try my luck next time. Thanx once again for writing and Love ya lots!

To KagoKitty: Yeah, it's all my fault. But you can't kill me yet! mwahahaha. And I'm going for your bargain. Really!!! It's like buy one take one you know? hehehe. I'll be sure to tell the others 'bout it. *winks naughtily* Anyway, here's the much awaited chappy. Hope you like it. Love ya lots!

To SilverFox: First of all, thanx for reviewing the poem I wrote "Last Chance". It is a fanfiction found here bearing the same title. I can't remember the author, so sorry! Thanx for dropping a line on this one too and uh, the conclusion's wrong. Tee-hee! :D But Inu did tell Kik his plans, so you're still on the line. :D Thanx again and Love ya lots!

To ktakn_yeni: New reviewer! *hug* Thanx for spending your 2 days wasted on reading this junk of mine. hehehe. Kidding aside, thanx for the compliments. I really, really love it when you guys drop a line about how great you find my fic. Hope it will still live up to your expectations at the end. Write again! Love ya lots!

To ladykaa28: Thanx for taking the time to review! *hug* And I hope I'll blow your mind with this chappy too. *wink* Love ya lots!

AND TO YOU READING THIS: WOW!!! I'm near 6000 hits now! I'm overwhelmed by you guStayStay with me here okay? Don't get tired of reading and reviewing 'coz that's my vitamins. hehehe. Thanx again and hope you enjoy this one. LOVE YA LOTS, GUYS!!! MWAAH!!!~*~


Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha... I share. ^_^


~*~Chapter 23—The Confrontation~*~


Inuyasha leapt across the forest floor, his steps sure as he followed the swirling eel-like things in front of him. They were taking him to the other side of the forest; of this he was sure. They finally reach their destination, and he watched the soul stealers enter before him, the barrier disappearing and letting him in before going up once again.

He walks forward, going on until he reaches a clearing lit with the moon’s light. There he saw her, his first love. She’s resting on one of the big trees’ branches, her eyes closed as though in repose. But he knew she wasn’t. One of her “pets” arrived before he and the others and and probably told her of what it saw. It didn’t matter, though.

“Kikyou,” He said her name in a whisper, as though not wanting to bother her sleep. She heard him though and her eyes opened at the sound of his voice.

“Inuyasha,” Her voice is calm, cool. It never hinted at whatever it is she was thinking or feeling, like her face. It was always drawn into a mask of icy serenity.

She hadn’t change much; she wore the same old miko robe she always wore and her hair is still long and flowing. The bow and arrows she always had with her is now resting at the foot of the tree.

It always galled him to see her like this: the soul stealers circling all around her and her stench, the smell of the dead, mixed with her own unique scent drifting to him. It made him see what she became because of him.

“Long time no see, isn’t it? Did you miss me?” Kikyou asks Inuyasha as she floated down the tree to land on the ground, all the while resting her eyes at him.

“Yes, it’s been a long while. How have you been?” Inuyasha deliberately skirted the question. Kikyou is now walking slowly towards him.

“Still the same. I’ve been moving from town to town and helping heal the wounded whenever I can as I search for Naraku. Have you found him yet?” Kikyou stops a few feet away from Inuyasha. They now faced each other.

“No, we have no clue as to where he is yet. My brother tells me—“ Inuyasha is cut off by Kikyou.

“Ah yes, your brother. The high and mighty Sesshomaru. Did he tell you about what he did to me, Inuyasha? Of how he threatened me? I, the woman you love? And you didn’t answer my question, did you? I asked you if you missed me!”

Inuyasha could feel her crackling with energy, her anger and humiliation apparent. He lowered his eyes on the ground as he answered her.

“Sesshomaru now travels with us. We both dissolved our differences and joined together in this quest to kill Naraku. He’s partly why I am here, Kikyou. I wanted to warn you that he’s with us now, and since he threatened you, I don’t think it’s safe for you to show around for a while,”

“What! You knew, and you didn’t even defend me to him? And as for him threatening me, surely you haven’t forgotten your promise have you, Inuyasha? That you will protect me from everyone even at the cost of your life?” Kikyou asked coyly as she moved closer to him.

Inuyasha took a step back.

“I haven’t forgotten anything about my promises, Kikyou. And I want you to understand that I have every intention of fulfilling each and every one of them to you. But…”

“But what?”

Now comes the hard part.

“It’s Kagome. We’re mated now,” Inuyasha blurted out and waited for the dark miko to explode.

She didn’t. She paused in mid-stride towards him and planted her feet solidly to the ground. She turned around, her back to him.

“So I heard. I’m still waiting for you to deny it, but you wont, would you?”

“No, I won’t. It won’t be right; my lying to you and denying what you already know,”

Kikyou whirled around to face him, her face revealing anger, sadness and confusion at the same time.

“Would you mind telling me how that happened? You pledged your life to me. You told me I was yours as much as you are mine. Is it all just going to be forgotten?”

“Yes, I did promise myself to you. I said so many things that now, when I look back on it, I shouldn’t have said it. I did love you, Kikyou. The promises I gave were borne of that love. A love that you so obviously don’t feel for me now—nor I you. I’m going to keep my vows because of honor and duty. Nothing more,”

“So it was all a lie!? Everything you told me, everything you said you would do for me, you were saying out of guilt? So what does that make me now? Twice the fool for trusting you!” Kikyou lashed out in her anger.

“You betrayed me once. I should have known you were going to do it again. But no, I just had to trust you. To believe—that the love we once shared is strong enough to bind us together. I guess this shows how much I know,” Kikyou said bitterly.

“I never betrayed you, Kikyou! If anything else, I loved you to distraction. I was willing to change myself—who I am—just to please you. To be finally worthy of you. I deceived myself into thinking that I still love you that much. That was my mistake. I accept my share of burden into making you into what you are now and it pains me… a lot. But I realize that I have my own life to live too. My own hopes and dreams to achieve,”

“What hopes and dreams? Your hope is to get the Shikon no Tama to make yourself human and your dream is to have me when you become one, remember?”

Inuyasha shook his head slowly.

“Iie, Kikyou. That was before, when you were still alive and we had hope. My dreams began to change from that time on. And I also realize that you never really loved me. Not enough to accept me,”

“So what are you saying? That girl—that reincarnation of mine—that copycat can love you more than I do? She can never compare, Inuyasha!”

The soul stealers are now flying in a frenzy, a result of Kikyou’s volatile emotions.

“No, YOU can never compare, Kikyou. And I do know that Kagome does—and forever will—love me more than you ever did. To Kagome, the fact that I am a hanyou is not important. She says it really doesn’t matter because she loves ME—the person I am, wholly. And she trusts me, Kikyou. No matter how many times I keep coming back to you, she stayed by my side and believed in me. And now I know how big a mistake I made when I pledged my life to you because I’d rather be spending my lifetime loving her than going to hell with you,”

“I won’t let you do this, Inuyasha! I won’t let you make a fool out of me again. You made a promise, and I’m holding you to it! And by the Gods, you are going to fulfill each and every vow you gave me or else!” Kikyou’s composure vanished. She’s almost shouting at the hanyou now.

“Don’t ever threaten me or Kagome ever again, do you understand? I have no intention of backing out of the promises I gave; and after we defeat Naraku, I will go to hell with you. For your own peace of mind and mine, Kikyou. But never ever dare to threaten my mate’s life again or I won’t be responsible for what I’ll do,” Inuyasha said softly, the calm voice underlying the steel in his tone.

Kikyou is flabbergasted. Inuyasha never spoke to her this way before. She always had her way and he never argued with her. To the contrary, he worshipped her. But now…

“Do youe hee her?” Kikyou asked quietly, fearing for his answer.

Inuyasha never hesitated.

“Yes. More than I loved you, more than my life,” The hanyou answered truthfully.

She closed her eyes from the pain of his betrayal. She can’t believe this is happening. She’s going to lose him…

“Then I guess there’s nothing left to say, is there?” She asked in a very controlled voice.

“Do you accept my terms? Did you understand me?”

“Yes. You will go with me after Naraku’s death. I understand. Your life is yours to live for now. I will be there to see the bastard’s end as well. And after it, YOU ARE MINE. Wakaru?”

“Hai. Wakatta. I suggest you don’t go any nearer to my camp after this. Sesshomaru will be waiting for you,”

Kikyou inclined her head in acknowledgement, watching silently as Inuyasha left. After his silhouette disappeared from her sight, she called for her pets.

“Come. We have a visit to make,”

And the soul stealers lift her into the air, floating through the dark night…

~*~

“She comes,” The little girl whispered. She faced her mirror in front of her master.

“Kikyou,” Naraku murmurs, his hold on the Shikon shards tightening. How she could affect him so is beyond him…

“What does she want? And why do you continue to consort with the enemy, Naraku? She’ll be the death of you!” Kagura railed at him, her agitation apparent.

He narrowed his eyes at her, and the shards in his palm glowed. Kagura is now clutching her chest, finding it very hard to breathe. Kanna looks on impassively.

“What she wants and what I do is no other business but ours, Kagura. When did I ever give you permission to question my actions, hmm?”

“G-gomen, N-naraku-sama. I-I didn’t mean… t-to p-pry,” Kagura is now choking on her breath, every word spoken feeling like it’s going to be the last.

Naraku released his powers, letting go of her. He stood up and went walking to the doorway, Kanna and Kagura kneeling before him.

“Welcome our guest, Kagura. Send her to my quarters once she enters. And Kanna, keep your eye on your dear sister. I think she’s become too rebellious for her own good,”

“Hai, Naraku-sama,” Kanna replied in the barest of whispers. And never saw the dark and full of hatred look her younger sister bestowed on their master…


~*~

He was waiting for her. She was led to his apartments and left alone. She’s walking to the lion’s den, but for now, she didn’t care.

“So you returned. Am I to assume you accept my conditions?” Naraku faced her, face smug.

She can never hide the loathing that appeared on her expression or the flash of fear that went thru her.

“He betrayed me. I’m going to make sure he’s going to pay,” Kikyou vowed.

Naraku walks towards her, stopping just a hairbreadth away. He lifted his hands to her hair.

“And I will help you, Kikyou. Just give me what I want,” Naraku whispers as he lowers his lips to hers, skimming it lightly.

Kikyou steps back from him, and in one fluid motion, undid her kimono. It fell fluidly to her feet, revealing her smooth skin underneath. His breath caught in his throat as he placed one hand to cup her breast.

“Only for tonight,” Kikyou demanded.

“Once is enough. Only for tonight then, Kikyou,” Naraku affirms as he seized her waist to press her to him intimately. And with the power of the Shikon, he made her real…


~*~Huh! *gasps in shock* What happens next? The plot's getting thicker and thicker now! *la evi evilly* Betcha you didn't guess this one happening! hehehe. Anyway, thanx for reading and please review okay! Pretty please? *puppy eyes appearing*tc!~*~