Let Me Alone by jadedblood

Chapter One

The arctic wind of the winter night seemed to blow its way straight through Kagome's slim figure. Though small shards of ice hung in her hair, her body was numb to it all. Her senses had left her hours ago while she made her way deeper into the forest, wanting to further herself as far from Inuyasha and the group as possible. Her arms dangled at her sides, causing her to look as if she were one from the dead come back to walk the earth. She stumbled and fell, her face crashing into the hard earth below her. Her arms did nothing to brace her fall and for a split second, she thought maybe she had died and passed over, but she knew that to be false. She could taste the metallic flavor of blood as it formed in her mouth from the impact against the dirt. She lay for a moment and then pushed herself back onto her feet; she did not know where she was going nor did she care. Her mind had gone blank and refused to work though she seemed to trek on. The battle against Naraku burned inside her head, though any conscious thoughts were frozen as the air itself. The aftermath seemed to play over and over as she walked.

[FLASHBACK]

Ashes of purified demons stirred gently in the wind, as though each had found a peace. "Hmph...more like a peace in hell," Kagome thought to herself as she watched. Naraku had not been an easy feat, but they had won. Miroku and Sango had battled side by side, Sango killing off dozens of demons with her giant boomerang while Miroku used his Wind Tunnel; Inuyasha fought fiercely against the evil hanyou Naraku, dodging his attacks while delivering his own. Wind Scar seemed to be wearing the barrier around Naraku down, but not fast enough. Everyone was tiring and they had not exactly made a scratch on the damned creature with those menacing eyes. Kilala ripped apart demons, protecting Shippou from harm as he sat atop her back, throwing rocks.

Kagome stood at the edge of the battlefield; Inuyasha had ordered her to stay away from the bloodshed and to hide, but she would not, could not. She was in this war just as much as they were, though Naraku had not exactly killed parts of her family. She notched an arrow and, using her miko powers, let the arrow fly. The arrow hit its mark, purifying a line of demons that were advancing towards Inuyasha. There were so damn many. It was then that her senses heightened and she turned to see Sesshoumaru standing next to her with his icy stature.

She almost jumped at the sight of him; it made her uneasy to be standing so close to him without her life being threatened. "Is he here to help us?" she thought to herself, but shook her head slightly clearing away those thoughts. No, he had his own business with Naraku and more likely after the battle, with Inuyasha. Realizing she was staring, a tinge of pink spread across her cheeks and she turned her head, looking back to the battle. "Why is he just standing here?" she thought, reaching back for another arrow subconsciously. She felt a change of wind and, glancing over, saw that he was gone. A confused look came to rest on her face as she looked back again at the battle and saw Sesshoumaru standing behind Naraku, Tokujin aimed low to the ground. "What is he doing?"

She shook him from her thoughts and paid attention to the matter at hand. She emptied her quiver quickly, disintegrating groups of demons before they had a chance to attack. Suddenly, she felt weak and gripped at her heart, falling to her knees. Her soul seemed to be wanting to leave, but her body refused. "What is this?" she thought aloud, biting her cheek in hopes the others had not heard her and would not rush to her aid. Naraku needed to be defeated; they did not have time to worry about some troublesome human. She glanced around and then backed herself painfully into the shelter of the forest and leaned heavily against a tree, her eyes clenched tight. The pain within her seemed to be burning her from the inside out; her head felt heavy like it wanted to implode.

"Let go," a voice said.

Kagome's eyes shot open to find no one near her. She was alone. "What was that? Who was that?" she thought to herself.

"Let go Kagome," the voice said again, this time with a more firm tone.

That voice, she knew that voice. "Kikyo?" It was more a statement than a question, but Kagome didn't understand why Kikyo was in her head and why she was in so much pain.

"Yes, Kagome, now let go." Kikyo said. "Your soul needs to be relinquished to mine in order for yours to be whole again," the dead priestess said blandly.

"But...I don't understand Kikyo. I will die." Kagome didn't want to die, she was too young to die.

"You must. It is the only way that I will be able to live again..." Kikyo drifted off.

"Kikyo?" Kagome called out. This was giving her a migraine.

"You will die in this battle Kagome. Fate has already determined that. You are not the reincarnation me, otherwise, you would have defeated Naraku by now. You must die in order for me to live," Kikyo's harsh words drifted through Kagome's mind as tears started to form.

"Noooo!" Kagome called out, her tiny fists balled, her nails digging into her skin and causing the skin to break.

"Do not fret so child. You will live again, but not as me."

With that, Kagome watched at the earth seemed to tip and she fell forward, landing against the hard ground. She could feel her soul leave her body as she stared at the battle in front of her eyes. A single tear slid down her cheek as her eyes darkened and went blank.