DISCLAIMER: Sadly, I don not own Inuyasha. I just like playing with them.

Relinquished Destiny

Ch. 3

By: Lara Winner

A fine trembling took hold of Kagome as the sound of that sly voice struck terror in her soul. Naraku’s voice had barely changed and even though the human body he now occupied was stolen from an unfortunate young man, Onigumo’s tone was cunning and devious, sounding the same in the monster he would become.

Something akin to hate spurned inside Kagome and her grip on her bow tightened. In the cave’s darkness lie the man that would eventually take everything she loved away from her. It was more than just hatred that drove her forward, step by step into the cave. There was an eddy of rage, hurt, fear, grief, doubt, and the most powerful of all being the need for revenge. For the first time true darkness surrounded her heart, making the partially complete Shikon stone that hung around her neck glow crimson.

It was then that Kagome realized she could feel Kaimi’s presence still submerged within her own body. Subtly, Kaimi encouraged her feelings and Kagome let the thought go. There was little else she could do but keep her focus and in her mind she let the image of Inuyasha, covered in blood and lying lifeless at Naraku’s feet, play repeatedly until her torment became a force to be unleashed.

Kagome blinked her eyes rapidly as they were forced to adjust to the dimness of the cave. Little yellow spots floated across her vision and she almost let the realization of how powerless she really was destroy her defensive courage. But she had come to far to cower now. She held the fate of too many people in her hands to shrink away from her decision.

"Kikyo?" The thief called again, this time his tone was tempered with impatience.

A cold smile crossed Kagome’s lips. "Kikyo is busy right now so I’ve come to you instead."

The vile man paused and she came closer, stopping when she stood directly above him. The only things visible through the layers of homemade bandages that covered his burned body were his lips and one hard beady eye and it roamed over her with an approving glare, only hinting at the deplorable thoughts running through his mind. His appraisal made her skin crawl.

"Kikyo neglected to tell me she had a twin." He sighed in mock disappointment. "You are wearing such strange clothes. But you have nice legs. I’d like to touch them."

Revulsion filled Kagome as she hissed, "You disgust me. I don’t see why Kikyo pities you."

"But she does." He laughed with malicious glee. "The foolish woman is too kind and pure for her own good. But even the most innocent of souls have their secrets. I know why Kikyo is not here."

When Kagome paled he pressed on, "Busy… Busy! I wonder what possesses our priestess to play games? Is there something she is hiding I wonder? Tell me girl, what do you know of Kikyo’s games?"

"Too much to let you live." Kagome breathed softly. The look in his eye turned even more chilling and she fought the urge to shift in nervously where she stood.

"I don’t believe I heard you." He taunted. His gaze held her own and she fought the desire to look away lest he read her thoughts and her fear. What she imagined was a smirk grew wider and his gaze shifted down only to stop and become transfixed on the chain she wore. "That’s the Shikon no Tama. It’s broken?" he gasped.

Kuso! "That doesn’t concern you." Kagome’s voice wavered as she belatedly slipped the jewel inside her shirt. "You’ve already caused enough suffering."

"Not as much as I could girlie." Onigumo rasped. "I know you have the jewel and I’ll come for you."

"You won’t have the chance." She stated, her voice firm with conviction.

"Is that a threat?" Onigumo questioned with a sneer. "Then Kikyo is aware that I know her secret. And you know too, don’t you? She spends her time with that half-breed scum and thought she could hide it from me. The fool! I’ll break her, just you watch, and then I’ll break that dog too! She’s willing to be with him. She’d turn her back on everything for love. It’s so pure… I’d give anything to see it turn to hate. I wonder if Kikyo would be more beautiful if she were to have her heart and her love forsaken? Her suffering would be fascinating."

Kagome could not bear to listen. Pain laced every breath she took and the void in her heart grew wider. For the first time since she’d met Inuyasha she was suddenly able to see what had existed between the dead miko and the hanyou. There had been love, far greater than what she felt for the half-demon now, and it should have blossomed into something eternal. She could give it back to them. Right here and now she held the choice in her hands. There was no time to stall.

"May the Gods have mercy on you Onigumo."

The cold words held no warmth and Kagome lifted the bow, aiming the arrow at the enabled man’s chest. Her hands shook violently as amusement sparked in Onigumo’s eye. There was no fear, only spite and challenge.

"You’re going to kill me?" He asked chidingly. "Put that weapon down. You don’t have what it takes to murder a helpless man. And that is what you would be, a murderer. Could you live with that knowing you bear the shame of taking someone’s life?"

When Kagome remained silent a horrible cackling filled the cave. "You’re shaking. How pathetic."

His cruel taunting was the last straw. Something inside Kagome snapped and a scream of rage erupted from her soul, soundlessly crying out the excruciating anguish that tore the last of her world apart. Suddenly fear flashed in Onigumo’s eye for a brief second as he realized she would carry out the dirty deed. And then the arrow was in flight and time slowed as she watched, her breath catching in her throat as the steel triangular tip struck its target right in his black heart.

A painful scream died abruptly and Onigumo’s body arched off the ground in agony. Tears began to fall, her head spun, and her stomach knotted viciously yet she couldn’t tear her eyes away as the thief’s body began to convulse, caught in the throes of death. Then next thing Kagome knew she was ill, kneeling on the ground, her stomach heaving so fiercely that she tasted blood in the back of her mouth.

I killed him…

I am a murderer…

Inuyasha is gone…forever…

It was then that Kagome felt Kaimi’s strength support her as the overload of emotional wreckage buried her under its suffocating weight. Through her tears the cave began to fade as the wonderful white light engulfed her once again. It fizzled around her sparkling and shining as electrical pulses ran through the glowing haze like veins giving life to the energy that cocoon her.

"Onigumo was already dead Kagome." Kaimi reasoned in a melodious whisper. "Shed no more tears over him."

Like a warm blanket, Kaimi’s life force grew stronger and Kagome gasped as she looked up into the demon girl’s face. The vaporish haze that had constituted her body had begun to solidify. Her soulless eyes were fading from deep black to warm brown, her hair from wiry gray to silky ebony, and her corpse white skin flushing with pink and peach hues of life.

Kaimi smiled. "You have reset history. For your sacrifice I will gain my life back and the same for my father. And Inuyasha will live and he will become human and Kikyo’s soul will be freed from the geis of the Shikon stone. Miroku will live without Naraku’s curse and Sango will have Kohaku with her once again. Shippo will have a second chance with his father and even Kouga will fulfill the promise he made to Ayame."

Kagome could only stare at Kaimi in awe. "All of them? They will get their lives back?"

Kaimi nodded gently. To prove her words she lifted the partially completed stone that hung around Kagome’s neck and cradled it in the palm of her hand. The Shikon no Tama glowed purple and then slowly it’s inner brilliance faded as the stone crumbled and then vanished. "Every event was entwined and now you have set it all to rights once again." Gently she pulled Kagome into her arms and embraced her tightly.

The silent understanding and gratitude gave a spark of life back to Kagome’s soul. Suddenly the pain wasn’t so unbearable and she found she could breathe. Granted it would take time for her to heal from her loss but now she could move forward knowing all was well in the past.

"Thank you Kagome." The young girl whispered. Pulling back, she placed a light kiss to Kagome brow and smiled brightly. "Now do not fret. As you have changed the past, you have also changed the future. Remember that and you will find your life once again too."

Kagome stuttered, "W wh what…has changed?"

"You will see soon enough. For now, go home and enjoy your fifteenth birthday."

Then, like waking from a dream, Kagome blinked and Kaimi and her white vortex disappeared. Staring at the ceiling of the well house, Kagome gasped realizing that she was lying on the ground in the bottom of the Bone Eater’s well. In the distance she could hear Souta calling her name.

Shock settled in and unsure what to believe Kagome closed her eyes as her world fell into darkness.

 Tbc…

A.N.- If you can where the story is heading now then I applaud you. Like I said first chapter, from here on out the general idea has been done before. However, I’m throwing in a few twists here and there so it is still going to be quite different than what you’re expecting. I have chapter outlines for this story and I’m trying to write it as fast s I can. I can’t promise I can continue posting a chapter a week but I promise I will get the next chapters out as soon as possible.

Thank you so much to everyone who has left a review. It’s the feed back that lets me know if I should even continue with an idea and I appreciate the honesty of your praise and criticism. If I’m to succeed at becoming a published author then I need all the opinions a pointers I can get. So thanks for reading and taking the time to let me know what you think. Every review is very important to me! *hugs* Luv you guys!