So Crazy in Love by Natsuko

The Gift Most Sought

Chapter One

The Gift Most Sought

It happened in an instant. She had no time to think, if she didn't stop Sesshoumaru now, he would kill InuYasha. The Tetsusaiga had been knocked away from InuYasha by Sesshoumaru's last attack with his acid whip. It was now about ten feet away from Sesshoumaru, and InuYasha had an injured leg. There was no way he could get to it. Shortly, InuYasha would transform, and if she didn't stop him, she knew that Sesshoumaru would severely wound or even kill him.

She shot an arrow at Sesshoumaru, and he easily dodged it. However, this is what Kagome had been hoping for, she had driven him at least another twenty feet from the Tetsusaiga. She was now closer to it, and she knew that her only chance to retrieve it for InuYasha lay in her not hesitating to think about the fact that Sesshoumaru was easily fast enough to kill her before she had taken even three steps. Not hesitating even half a second, Kagome ran with all her might towards the Tetsusaiga, never taking her eyes off her enemy in case she needed to unleash another arrow.

Sesshoumaru was momentarily annoyed by the human girl's interference in his battle. 'My half-breed brother may tolerate you for some odd reason, wench, but I will not allow you to interfere with my business.' He quickly dodged her arrow and was surprised when it seemed that this is what she had expected. He kept his curiosity veiled as he saw her take off at full force for the Tetsusaiga. He could easily have killed her; she wouldn't have a chance to get the sword if he didn't want her to, so why would she even bother risking it?

He decided to push the boggling question to the back of his mind for now, as he allowed her to return the Tetsusaiga to InuYasha. He had no desire to deal with his little brother in his full demon form at the moment. He realized that this girl must really care for his brother, because even a petty human such as her had to know that she stood no chance again him, yet she risked it to help him anyway. This perplexed him more than anything else.

Sesshoumaru recalled the reason for this battle to his mind. He had come to inform InuYasha that if he didn't keep his dead wench under control, she would face death again. InuYasha's fury and protection of the priestess was so complete that he thought that this younger wench had to realize that his brother did not care for her in return. Yet, she was risking her life to help him. He could not rationalize her actions and it was making him even more irate.

But that did not matter now. He could sense the cause of this fight drawing near, and he knew that InuYasha did too.

Kagome quickly returned the Tetsusaiga to InuYasha and stood beside him. She realized that something must be happening because both of the brothers had just stopped fighting. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she would be there by InuYasha's side through anything. Her eyes widened and her heart sank as she saw Kikyo walk out of the edge of the forest.

Sesshoumaru glared and InuYasha moved to protect her, leaving Kagome planted to her spot. About half way between Sesshoumaru and Kikyo, InuYasha stopped as Kikyo drew an arrow and strung her bow. He turned to look at Sesshoumaru only to find that he had moved and that he indeed was not her target. InuYasha found himself rooted to the ground and unable to take any kind of action. He had left Kagome so vulnerable there, but he didn't believe for one second that Kikyo would let go that arrow. Not his Kikyo.

He calmly turned and faced Kikyo again, Kikyo's eyes grew triumphant and Kagome's heart shattered. Kikyo smiled and Kagome closed her eyes as the tears flowed down her face. InuYasha, oblivious to the latter's condition, walked slowly towards Kikyo, and his heart stopped as he heard the twang of Kikyo's bow. The seconds turned to hours as he turned to see the arrow enter Kagome's chest.

Sesshoumaru watched in disgust as the scene unfolded. His idiot of a half-brother had trusted that evil priestess with the life of his comrade. What a fool. Sesshoumaru was studying the younger woman's features when his brother turned from her to face this Kikyo. Sesshoumaru was shocked at the amount of pain he could read in her face at that instant, and knew that when she closed her eyes, she was resigning herself to death. Foolish human. He watched when the arrow hit, and when her eyes flew open to reveal an enormous amount of raw pain, Sesshoumaru felt an odd tingling in the pit of his stomach. His half-breed brother stood stock still, in shock that the priestess had actually shot the girl. Such a fool, he did not deserve to have someone give their life for him.

Sesshoumaru walked calmly to the human girl and pulled his Tenseiga. She looked up at him and shook her head. He looked at her questioningly; she knew that this sword was a sword of healing, so why was she stopping him.

She opened her eyes and he saw something there that he did not expect to see. When she saw his look of confusion she smiled and said, "Let me die, Sesshoumaru. I love InuYasha, and he loves Kikyo. If I die, Kikyo can have her soul back, and they will get to live the life they have always deserved. I will die happy knowing that I could do this for him." She coughed up some blood and closed her eyes again, she was not dead yet, but it would not be long.

He turned and looked at his brother, who was still standing in the same place, unable to move a muscle to help the girl who had given everything for him. He looked back at the girl and knew that she was dead. 'No, InuYasha does not deserve this gift, and the girl does not deserve this fate.' Reaching down, Sesshoumaru removed the arrow from her chest and pulled back to swing his Tenseiga. He saw the messengers of death coming for her. He swung the great sword and sheathed it quickly. He then went to stand right in front of his brother.

"I have both given you a gift, and taken one away. In my opinion, you pathetic half-breed, you deserved neither of them. You have disgraced our demon blood by turning your back on a comrade in battle." He gave InuYasha a look that told him that he thought he was the most petty and disgusting being he had ever come across. He then summoned his dust cloud and began to retreat; only slightly raising his voice so that his brother could hear him. "Remember as I've told you, brother, keep her under control." And with that he was gone.

InuYasha saw Kagome stirring and quickly went to her side. "Kagome, I'm sorry. I didn't think that she would shoot. I'm so sorry." With that the side of her face was smashed into the cloth of his red jacket. She kept hearing him say "I'm so sorry" over and over. 'Not as sorry as I am. Why did he bring me back? There for a minute I thought that he might have understood why I was doing it, but he brought me back anyway. Why?' Kagome started tearing up again. She surprised herself, had she actually wanted to die?

She pushed herself out of InuYasha's grasp and stood, albeit a little unsteadily, and looked to the place where Kikyo had stood. Not very surprisingly, she had fled.

*****

Kikyo wandered back through the woods calling her soul gatherers to her to take her back to her little village. During the journey, she had many things to think about. It didn't work. The girl was dead, I'm sure of that, and yet my soul did not return to me. Why? After much thought and debate in her mind, she came to the conclusion that it had just been too rushed. The soul had not had proper time to part with the body before that fool of a demon had brought her back. Well, she would not let such a thing happen again.