Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me

One Arrow

For the last time we meet. We watch each other warily from a distance before slowly walking forward. We meet in the middle of the clearing.

She looks stronger now, more sure of herself. I should be glad that I played some part in that, no matter how small. Her eyes are filled with suspicion, and a slight trace of fear. What surprises me is that there is no sign of hatred or malice in those eyes.

"I see you are well, my reincarnation."

Her eyes narrow slightly. "I am Kagome, and no one else."

I feel a presence coming closer to us. An aura of anger and hatred, more demon than human. Inuyasha is on his way. He knows that I am here, and he knows his mate is with me. I can not help but wince as I hear him scream her name.

Quickly I put up a barrier around us. Kagome's hand flies to her belly as she calls out Inuyasha's name. But she knows as I do that he will not get through. This conversation is not for him.

Her actions cause me to study her closer. She's pregnant.

I can feel what is left of my heart sink. It was inevitable I suppose, yet still startling. One more thing that she has that I will never have. A child. I fight to hold the anger stirring in me at bay. It is not fair! Why? She does not belong to this time, to this world, yet she has come and taken the things that should have rightfully have belonged to me!

"He loved me first." I want to lash out. I want to hurt her. I want this pain in my heart to go away. I ignore the howls of rage beyond the barrier.

"He did." She faces me with fire in her eyes, hands protective on her belly. Protecting the child that might have been mine had the fates been more kind.

"I loved him."

She stands tall and defiant. "Not enough."

I want to argue, to call her a liar. But I know that I can not. I did not love him enough. Anger begins to dissipate, replaced with sorrow. I regret that I did not have enough trust and love when I was alive. I regret that I never felt the kind of love that Kagome allows herself to feel.

I regret.

Her eyes soften with sympathy. Her heart is too big. One day it shall be her downfall. I pull the blood stained arrow from my quiver. She recognizes it immediately. It is the one I had used to pin her to a tree. The one that nearly killed her.

This time she does not stand meekly before me, ready to face her fate. This time her body glows in a pink fire. The power radiating from her is impressive. It is no longer a young girl who faces me, it is a woman, a mother, ready to fight for her family at the cost of all else. I can almost feel the world tremble.

I take my bow and my arrow and move closer to her. I feel a burning sensation that grows hotter with each step I take, until I am sure that I will burst into flames. How great has her power grown?

I throw the arrow at Kagome's feet, followed by the bow.

The air around me cools as she looks at me in confusion, once again looking like a young girl rather than the fierce warrior I saw moments ago.

"It is time for you to end this."

I step back and await my fate. I spare one glance at the hanyou who is still trying to break my barrier. I wish him well. I would like to have wished for a second chance with him, but I know that his life would not have been a happy one for me. And regardless of the rage he currently exhibits, he is happy now… with her.

"What do you mean, Kikyo?"

"Take the bow and the arrow. Do what you must."

She does not bend to take the bow and arrow. She looks at it, then stared at me. Slowly understanding crosses her features.

"I don't want to kill you."

I glare at her and her stupidity. "Don't be a fool. As long as I am alive I will be a threat to you and your family."

She chews on her bottom lip thoughtfully, then bends to pick up the arrow, leaving the bow where it was on the ground. She twirls it in her fingers as she studies it. I have to wonder what is taking her so long. I had not thought her to be so cruel as to draw out an execution, even of her most bitter enemy.

"You know, I think I'll keep the arrow, just in case. But I can't kill you, Kikyo."

"Don't be a fool, girl!" She smiles at me. It is infuriating. "I am a danger to you and your family. To your child!"

"Yeah, well, that's why I'm keeping the arrow." She twirls it in her fingers. "But I don't think you are a threat, not really. Not anymore."

Why does she not want revenge? I do not understand. I tell her so.

"I can't change the past, Kikyo. And I can't blame you. I wanted to. I used to even hate you because I thought that Inuyasha loved you. I was jealous. VERY jealous." She leans against the tree behind her. "You could have killed me easily… hundreds of times. You could have talked Inuyasha into looking for the jewel shards with you. After all, you could see them too. But you didn't."

"I shot you in the heart with the arrow you hold in your hands."

"Hmmm. I guess so. Except… I know that you could have actually hit the heart instead of just above it. You never miss what you aim for. Yet, somehow you managed to miss anything vital. I know that you didn't really want me dead."

"Think what you like."

She laughs merrily. "Don't worry, I will. I always do."

Silently we watch each other. I decide to confess.

"I do not know what to do."

Kagome leaves the tree and comes to stand beside me. She lays a hand on my shoulder, wincing as Inuyasha screams her name and pounds on the barrier. The same barrier that I know that she is helping to reinforce.

"What do you want to do? You have a second chance at life, it is a gift. A rare and precious gift. Please don't waste it."

I had hoped for a quick death. I was prepared to face the wrath of my enemy and pay for the crimes I know that I have committed against her and those she loves. I did not expect this. She was letting me go. She was giving me forgiveness.

After giving her a curt nod I pick up my bow and walk away. This is the last time I will see her. I won't be coming back.

The barrier drops and I listen as Inuyasha scolds his mate and inspects her for any damage. I was sure that he was going to come after me to deliver my fate, my death. But it seems that his concern for Kagome and their child outweighs his need for vengeance.

I smile.

Somewhere up ahead lies my destiny. I think I will take this gift that has been given to me. I wish you well, Kagome. May the fates be kind to you.

The End

ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo

Author's Note: I just want to thank everyone who reviewed. You encouraged me to take a one-shot and turn it into something bigger and, I hope, better.

Although it was sad finally ending the story, I am reminded of the phrase from Alice in Wonderland, "When you come to the end…stop. Hope y'all liked it!