The Herald of Heaven and Earth

Chapter 5: Kikyo’s Revenge

The extended band of travelers finally stopped to make camp for the night after a long but, productive day. With the addition of Sesshoumaru they were truly a force to be reckoned with.

“If only they could get along…” Kagome thought to herself as she looked at the two powerful brothers.

Inuyasha had been unusually silent for most of the day, keeping an eye on Sesshoumaru but even he couldn’t complain about their good fortune. Sesshoumaru had taken to ignoring his brother’s glares and focused himself on the task before him. Having something to fight for and someone to protect seemed to give him new strength and he was determined not to let anyone rob him of his new found power.

Kagome sighed as she picked up her backpack and began to walk back along the path.

“Where are you going Kagome,” Inuyasha asked as he looked at her in alarm.

“Don’t worry I’m just going to the hot springs we passed along the way earlier.”

“Kagome you shouldn’t go alone,” Miroku said.

Sango nodded in agreement as she rose to her feet. “I’ll go with you.”

Kagome smiled as she shook her head. “That’s okay, you stay here and rest. I won’t be in any danger.”

Miroku smirked when he noticed that Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were both staring at Kagome intently. “You know you really shouldn’t go alone. We don’t know what manner of creatures lurk around here,” he said jokingly and Sango began to giggle softly his insinuation.

“Don’t worry Miroku, Kirara will go with her.”

“Me too,” Shippo interjected as he caught on to the sly joke Miroku had made.

Kagome laughed nervously as Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru glared at each other and she quickly turned to Shippo and Kirara. “Well, come on you two let’s go before there’s some form of bloodshed around here.”

As they walked away Inuyasha watched them irritably and was startled when Sesshoumaru started off behind them. “Where the hell do you think you’re going,” he hissed.

“Surely you were not going to let her go without ample protection,” he replied haughtily.

Inuyasha growled loudly as he quickly caught up with him and began to match his stride, all the while throwing him dirty looks . Miroku sighed as he shook his head, and Sango laughed when she saw his expression.

“Men,” she chuckled.

Kagome looked over the heated pool of water and smiled. There was a light mist hovering over the steamy water and adorning the bank was a collage of tiny pink and purple blossoms. A brilliant white moon gleamed on the surface like an ethereal mirror, and every so often a group of fireflies would flicker their soft yellow lights in the hopes of attracting a mate. What a romantic atmosphere, she thought. “Too bad I don’t have anyone to share it with.” She sighed as she slipped into the warm water, and felt the tension melt away into pleasure.

Meanwhile, Shippo and Kirara were sitting behind a tree when Inuyasha landed in front of them.

“W-what are you doing here,” Shippo sputtered as he choked on the piece of chocolate candy he was eating.

“I’m keeping an eye on Kagome.” He snorted as he looked over his shoulder when Sesshoumaru appeared behind him. “Why don’t you get out of here, I can handle this,” he growled softly.

Sesshoumaru ignored him and looked down at Shippo. “Pup, you and the two tails return to camp, we will continue on here.” Shippo nodded slightly as he reluctantly let Kirara lead him away, and Inuyasha grumbled to himself.

“I told you I was handling it,” he said when they had disappeared from sight.

Sesshoumaru stared at him with anger in his eyes. “The same way you handled it when you made her cry earlier?”

Inuyasha was taken aback for a second but chose to let the comment slide and, without another word he leapt up into the tree Sesshoumaru leaned upon. The two continued to ignore each other while Kagome bathed happily and the silence went on for quite a while until Inuyasha caught the musky scent of male arousal.

“What’s that stench,” he said angrily as he looked down at Sesshoumaru. “What the hell are you looking at that’s got you so hot and bothered?” He peered through the branches and blushed when he noticed that Kagome had finished her bath and was getting out of the springs, then it dawned on him what was causing his brother’s reaction. Disgusted he jumped from the tree and stood nose to nose with him. “How dare you look at Kagome,” he shouted.

Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed as his anger surfaced. “What does it matter if I look upon her? I find her alluring, just as you find the corpse attractive.”

“What did you say,” Inuyasha growled as he clenched his fist tightly.

“I do not tell you how to live out your love life so what gives you the right to interfere with mine,” Sesshoumaru asked coldly.

Inuyasha grasped the hilt of Tetsusaiga with outrage. “You don’t have a love life with her…”

Unaware of the violence unfolding from behind the trees, Kagome had finished dressing herself and was about to pick up her backpack when she realized that someone stood behind her. “Shippo,” she whispered softly as she turned around nervously and gasped when she saw who it was that stood staring evilly at her.

Kikyo smiled evilly at the startled girl. “Hello Kagome, I see you’ve been putting on a display for Inuyasha and his scum of a brother.”

“What are you talking about,” Kagome said quietly as her face grew pale.

Kikyo’s smile turned into a sinister sneer as she gazed at the young woman who resembled her. “Don’t play dumb. I know what you’ve been trying to do, and I will not allow it. Inuyasha’s life is mine and you tried to seduce him.”

Kagome shook her head with shock at Kikyo’s accusation. “How can you possibly believe that when you know that he loves you?”

Kikyo laughed mockingly as she searched Kagome’s eyes. “You really are naïve, aren’t you? Inuyasha intended to break his vow to me to be with you. For betraying me I shall punish him.”

Kagome tried to stagger away from the vengeful woman but found that she could not move an inch. In alarm she looked down at her body and saw that Kikyo’s soul collectors had wrapped themselves tightly around her. “What are you doing to me,” she screamed as she felt an immense pain course through her.

“I am draining the rest of your soul,” Kikyo said as she watched Kagome sink to her knees. “Besides it rightfully belongs to me.”

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were still in the heated argument until Inuyasha caught the scent of clay. Sesshoumaru eyed his brother in surprise when he suddenly grew quiet and in that moment of calm another scent mingled with blood assaulted their noses.

“Oh God, Kagome,” Inuyasha screamed as he and Sesshoumaru peered from behind the huge tree and saw Kikyo glowing white as she slowly drained the soul from Kagome’s body.

Without a moments hesitation Inuyasha sprinted toward her but Kikyo raised a hand stopping him. In fear he looked down at Kagome. Her skin had lost its rosy warmth and was turning a pale icy color. Her lips were stained red as a drop of crimson blood fell from her chin to the ground and he knew she was dying. Tearfully he tried in vain to get her to acknowledge him but her eyes which were once sparkling and warm, were now empty and devoid of color or emotion.

“Why have you done this?” He asked with despair.

Kikyo’s eyes burned with utter hatred as she saw tears fall down Inuyasha’s face. “So my assumption was correct,” she said coldly. “You did love her.”

Inuyasha stared at her with rage, and in that moment he despised this woman whom he had once loved and protected, almost as much as he despised Naraku. Kikyo could feel the violent heat emanate from him and she laughed cruelly. “You brought this upon yourself by betraying me, and now she will pay the price.” A last pearly strand floated from the girl’s lifeless body into Kikyo’s fingertip and her lips curled into a triumphant smile as she felt the soul circulate throughout her body trying to escape. “I never knew how powerful my reincarnation really was,” she said smugly and roughly pushed Kagome’s kneeling form away from her.

Inuyasha gasped as Kagome began to fall but before she could hit the ground a white blur caught her and moved her away from the vile undead woman that did her harm. Sesshoumaru held Kagome securely but he could feel her life slowly slipping away. The Great Demon Lord, who had never let himself succumb to the weakness of petty emotions found himself feeling something he had never experienced before… Despair. As he listened to Kagome’s fleeting heartbeats his eyes grew blood red and he looked up at Kikyo who was reveling in Inuyasha’s pain.

“Sesshoumaru, is she…” he asked quietly seeing the fury in his brother’s eyes.

Sesshoumaru growled angrily as he held Kagome tighter. “She’s alive but just barely… She fighting to stay so do not let her do this in vain,” he said as his eyes went back to Kikyo.

“What a pathetic display," she laughed. "You are a fool demon if you believe that Inuyasha will harm me. I have tried to kill Kagome in the past and yet he still loved and pursued me.” She looked at Inuyasha and smiled confidently, for he had his head bowed in what seemed to be resignation. “He knows his life belongs to me and will accompany me in death,” she said proudly.

“Never,” came a dark whisper.

Kikyo stared at Inuyasha in surprise.

“What,” she asked, her eyes narrowing into daggers.

Inuyasha raised his head and tears stained his handsome face as he drew the Tetsusaiga. “I said never you evil bitch.”

Kikyo stared at him in shock and began to tremble as his words sunk into her brain. “W-what,” she stuttered.

“Kagome loved me and now because of you she’s dying, but you’ll go before her.” He flew at Kikyo ready to slice into her when suddenly he heard a soft voice and began to plummet to the ground in mid-air. Never in all the time that he had the Beads of Subjugation placed around his neck had he been so happy to hear the phrase, “Sit- Boy.” As he looked around painfully his eyes widened when he saw her.

A radiant Kagome floated past him, her feet skimming over the ground. Her skin shimmered with an ethereal glow, and her long hair danced strangely in a soft breeze. Her eyes were glittering like precious stones but had changed from their soft brown to a brilliant gleaming gold. Around her form was a soft amethyst radiance that gave forth a gentle light as she silently swept toward Kikyo.

“W-what are you,” Kikyo stammered as she backed away in fear.

Kagome eyed Kikyo as the undead woman shivered with hate. “I am nothing more than a vision of love,” she said softly, her voice soft and musical.

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru watched her in awe as they stood next to each other in amazement. “What happened to her,” Inuyasha asked, his mouth hanging open with shock as he stared at the two women facing each other in the distance. Sesshoumaru was silent as he stared at Kagome with reverence.

Kikyo was filled with terror. Her eyes darted from one side to the other seeking a way of escape and was horrified to see that surrounding them was a purple barrier. Furiously she turned back to face the powerful woman who held her captive. “So do you intend to kill me,” Kikyo asked, her voice hoarse with rage.

Kagome stared at her as her golden eyes glimmered. “You tried to destroy me,” she said softly. “Perhaps I can understand your motive for doing so but, you wanted Inuyasha to suffer by watching me die. For years I have struggled with the knowledge that he loved you and that I could never truly be a part of his life. For years I have loved him, but all he could think about was the woman he loved so many years prior, even though she tried to kill him and his friends time and time again. Now for all his efforts and affection, look how you’ve repaid him.”

The aura around Kagome pulsed violently and made her hair fan out with the rush of power that was released. “I have every right to destroy you.” Her voice was clear and loud and the very earth under Kikyo’s feet shook, making her fall to the ground.

Kikyo looked up at her unearthly reincarnation hovering above her and trembled with fear as she began to feel herself growing weak. The soul which she had unmercifully stolen earlier was escaping her body. Strangely, the soul which had been a pearly mist before was now a brilliant silver and when it returned to Kagome’s body her aura began to glow even brighter. Kikyo was defiant as she arose from the ground and staggered towards her. “It will take more than that to kill me,” she laughed scornfully and the earth seemed to grow silent as if it were awaiting judgment from the powerful woman.

Kagome looked upon her predecessor sadly. “That which has left your body, departed of its own free will, but I do not intend to kill you.” She smiled as she began to gently float backwards toward Inuyasha. “Unlike you I cannot hate, so I choose to forgive you. I will not live my life bearing grudges and refusing to be happy.” Inuyasha held his arms outstretched as she turned to gaze into his eyes. “No, I am not like you Kikyo, nor do I wish to be.” Kikyo looked murderous as she watched Inuyasha enfold Kagome and after a few moments the glow around her body subsided.

As Inuyasha watched Kagome revert back into her normal state he began to panic, fearing that she was slipping away again. Intently he listened for her heartbeat and sighed with relief when he heard it beating steady and strong. She cracked her eyes open and weakly raised a hand to his cheek. “I’m sorry,” she whispered and fainted.

“Kagome…” Inuyasha crushed her limp frame to his body and held her tightly. He buried his head into her hair and began to rock back and forth. “Forgive me Kagome,” he whispered mournfully.

Sesshoumaru watched as Inuyasha cradled the unconscious woman in his arms and his temper began to rise. “This should not have happened,” he thought angrily to himself as he remembered how close to death she had been. Sesshoumaru turned his gaze to Kikyo and was about to let his beast destroy her when he sensed another presence, one that was not needed at the present moment.

Kikyo continued to stare at Kagome and she painfully realized how much she had underestimated her. “No, it can not end this way… I won’t let it,” she screamed as she ran toward Inuyasha.

Sesshoumaru stepped forward to intercept her and withdrew Tokijin, but before she could reach him a strange unseen force latched on to the vengeful woman and hurled her against a large tree, rendering her unconscious. Sesshoumaru looked around for the one who interfered when from the darkness of the forest a figure appeared.