Chapter Fifteen

Cost of Love and Betrayal

Inuyasha walked along the forest, edging nearer to the fields. A man waved to him and Inuyasha slashed, cutting him to bits. The others rallied and flung a net and quickly secured it. Inuyasha sat, bound by the net with a smirk on his face and a determined glint in his eyes. He launched himself up as the villagers gathered and tore through the net.

"It's Inuyasha!!" A man shouted as Inuyasha dashed over the crowd.

He makes his way along the houses and up toward the shrine.

"Heh heh!" He laughed.

Several villagers began to hurl many spear tipped ropes up at him, trying to bind him but Inuyasha was too fast and kicked off of the shrine's arch, high into the air then vaulted himself downward into the shrine with a loud crash. Wood chips flew everywhere, some hitting the aroma lanterns that were aflame. He stood up and covered his nose from the smoke, the smell too strong for his nose to handle.

There it was, the Shikon no Tama, sitting upon the altar only a few feet away without anyone watching it. This was becoming too easy a task. Inuyasha wasted no time, he darted forward and grabbed the jewel. Suddenly, spears were flung into the shrine. Inuyasha raised his right arm, which held the jewel, to block as the lanterns were knocked over, causing a huge fire to fill the room.

He wasted no time in jumping, crashing through the roof just as the shrine exploded. He smiled at the flaming building then looked to the shimmering jewel in his hands.

"Too bad. With this, I can now become a real demon!"

Meanwhile, Kikyou stumbled through the streets and grabbed her bow and quiver. She slowly put the quiver on her back and watched as Inuyasha flew overhead and landed on the stone walkway. Kikyou hurried along and drew and arrow just as Inuyasha leapt toward the forest.

"Inuyasha!!" She released her hold on the arrow and let it fly.

Inuyasha paid no attention and fixed himself in front of a tree as the arrow tore through the air. Suddenly, the arrow struck, piercing through Inuyasha's heart and pinning him to the tree. In shock and pain, he felt himself lose his grip on the jewel and watched as it slowly fell from his hands. The jewel hit the ground and bounced toward Kikyou.

The two stared at one another for a moment, leaves blowing along the ground around Kikyou.

"Ki…Kikyou…Bitch…how dare you!?"

His eyes blink quickly then slowly close, his right hand dropping to his side and his head falling. Kikyou lowered the bow and stumbled toward the jewel, blood trailing behind her. She knelt and picked up the jewel and stared at it. Her arm was throbbing and her injury was too severe. She was going to die. The villagers and little Kaede rush toward her as she clenches the jewel.

 "Sister!!" Kaede cried.

"Lady Kikyou!" One villager said worriedly.

Another man came in closer within the circle.

"This is a horrible wound."

"Sister Kikyou! This wound!" Kaede exclaimed.

Kikyou winced slightly.

"My inexperience…is a result of that." She looked at the Shikon no Tama. "All because of this Shikon no Tama…"

~Shikon no Tama…I will take you with me to the other world.~ She thought to herself.

"Big sister! Quickly, we need to treat…"

"It's too late already." Kikyou blurted out, cutting Kaede off. "So, listen carefully, Kaede…This…this Shikon no Tama," Kikyou stated, gazing into Kaede's eye, "burn it with my remains." Kikyou's eyes began to droop and her voice grew faint. " So that it shall never fall into evil hands again."

Kikyou's eyes closed and she fell to the side. The world slowed down as Kaede stared in horror as her sister died.

"Sister Kikyou!" She shouted, her sister now on her side and gone. "SISTER KIKYOU!!!"

The villagers hoisted Kikyou's body and carried it off. Kaede sat on the ground and stared at the jewel that had fallen from her sister's hands. It was shining. She held a strong hatred for the jewel, now more than before. She witnessed what happens when the jewel exists with people and she never wanted to see it again. She picked it up and looked at it. She passed her eyes over to the lifeless form that was Inuyasha. He was no more to this world, but was with her sister, she thought. Her sister was finally free of her responsibilities and was with someone she loved.

"But…she promised she would not leave me…alone…" Kaede cried, a tear sliding down her cheek, washing her sister's blood from her. "She promised."

A man walked up and took Kaede's hand but Kaede snapped it away. He looked at her and smiled as Kaede walked before him. She was needed in the village now. It was up to her to fill her sister's place as miko. She was raised to be strong and she would not fail her sister any more.

The next day, Kikyou's body was ready to be cremated but the villagers could not find the jewel. They burst into a panic, without the jewel, Kikyou's last wish would not be granted and misfortune would befall the village. Just then, Kaede walked up the shrine steps in miko garbs, the Shikon no Tama held gently in her hands. She knelt by her sister's body and placed the jewel in her hands, positioning them to where the jewel rested between Kikyou's index fingers and were supported by her thumbs. Kaede watched as her sister's body was lit and slowly burned away, the shining jewel vanishing from their world forever.

One villager placed a hand on Kaede's shoulder. Kaede looked up at him and shook her head. The man stared at her and moved away, stopping at the edge of the steps to  look back to little Kaede.

"You're not little anymore…Miko Kaede…" He whispered as he watched her gaze into the flames. "Not anymore."

Kaede looked up to the darkening sky and stared at the clouds, her heart heavy and stricken with grief.

"I shall not fail ye, big sister." She rested her head on her knees. "I shall not fail ye…"

The End

Poster's Note: Sorry for the amount of time in between postings. I have been temporarily grounded from the computer and was unable to post, then my copy of the story ended at Chapter Eight. I hope you enjoyed this story, and if you want more stories from the author, REVIEW AND SAY SO!