The Next Stage:
Hot Springs 2

By Danyealle

(Fan Fiction/Inuyasha)

Chapter 6
Kikyo and a Goodbye

Even though she was still a teenager and had her own insecurities as well as angst to deal with, Kagome had an instinct when it came to what to say and how to go about things with Inuyasha while he dealt with that change in their relationship.  But that didn’t mean that she, herself, didn’t have her own insecurities and issues because she did.  In her case 99% of them had a name: Kikyo.

Her dead romantic rival was a wild card when it came to Inuyasha.  Things would be doing fine between the two of them then Kikyo would show up and he would once again fall into chaos between them.

The dead miko hadn’t shown up since the budding of the change so things had progressed well without her wild card tossed into the mix.  In fact, it wasn’t until about a month after Sesshomaru had joined them that they began to see her soul catchers. 

Kagome had steeled herself for the worst, expecting her other half to disappear to go meet the dead miko.  Long ago she had figured out that Kikyo’s soul catchers were also Inuyasha bait.  He would see them and would follow to meet up with his first love.

This time it didn’t work.  He had seen them in the forest but ignored them, going back to Kagome.  After a couple days of him not going to meet her, the soul collectors began flitting in and out of their camp at night, a blatant sign that Kikyo wanted to talk to Inuyasha.  Even Sesshomaru had arched an eyebrow at the overt try this time.

There was no doubt that Inuyasha saw them and didn’t take the bait.  Much to Kagome’s surprise and pleasure, his only reaction was to hold her closer and to be more affectionate.  In Fact, he was much more gentle than normal.  It was as though he was saying through his actions instead of words that he wasn’t going anywhere.

Apparently, it took Kikyo about two weeks to figure out that Inuyasha just plain wasn’t going to take the bait.  Finally, she showed up at their camp.

It was fairly late on a cool but clear night.  Both the youngsters had been bedded down for the night.  The adults where sitting around the roaring fire sorting through some bizarre signs and rumors they had stumbled across when the dead miko appeared out of the forest as if by magic.

Sitting between Inuyasha’s legs, with his arms wrapped around her, she could feel him tense up and hear his quick inhale when she appeared but he didn’t make any sign that he was going to move or go to her.

Standing there, she stared at him for a minute, quiet.  Kagome could feel her eyes boring into her and could also feel waves of something close to hatred coming off the dead miko but she didn’t shrink back or try to move away.

Finally, she spoke, “Can I speak to you Inuyasha?”

Kagome felt him pull her closer before he replied, gruffly, “Go ahead then, talk.  I’ll listen.”

Signing, she then said pointedly, “Alone, Inuyasha,” speaking to him as though he were a slightly slow child.

“No.”  He said, shaking his head.  “You can talk to me here.  These are my pack mates and I trust them.  There isn’t anythin’ you can’t say in front of them.”

After that statement, the dead miko was obviously angry.  Glaring at Kagome she then looked back at the hanyou.  “You made me a promise Inuyasha…”

Cutting her off, he looked at her calmly, “Yes, I did.  I promised to avenge you.  I can do that and intend to.  No one ever said I had to be around or with you to do it.”

Giving Kagome a look that should have set on fire from the level of hatred in it she then snapped, “You’ve made your choice then, have you?”

“I made Kagome a promise too.  I promised to protect her.  Like you, I plan on keeping that promise.”  He then stopped and was quiet for a minute before going on.  Then his voice was softer and he rested his cheek against Kagome’s temple, still looking at Kikyo.  “I will always care for you in my own way Kikyo, always.  But you are dead.  Not only that, what trust there was between us is gone.  I love you but I doubt I will ever be able to trust you again.  I also love Kagome and I do trust her.  So I guess I have made a choice and it isn’t you.  Sorry.”

Showing her expertise as an archer, she had an arrow out of her quiver and the bow drawn quicker than they could see.

But the hanyou’s pack showed their speed as well.  Inuyasha was on his feet in front of Kagome within seconds, eyes blazing.  Both Sango and Miroku were in front of Inuyasha in a flash, ready for a fight.  But Sesshomaru was quicker.  Seeing the priestess grab for her arrow he was in front of her just as she finished drawing the bow.  After making sure Jaken was in front of Rin’s tent he turned his ice cold eyes onto the dead miko, “Leave now.  You are no longer welcome here!”  Like the others, he really didn’t know whether it was Inuyasha or Kagome that the arrow was intended for and he really didn’t give a damn.

Looking at the Western Lord, Kikyo lowered the bow and pulled the arrow.  There was no doubt in her mind that Sesshomaru would take her apart in seconds and she would really have no defense against him.  Glancing back over at Inuyasha she said his name questioningly.

His answer was a snarl followed by an icy, “Leave and don’t ever come back!”  His eyes were still blazing.

Knowing when she was beating the dead miko turned and vanished into the trees again.