A Trade by Kai

A Trade

A/N: My god. This one just wouldn’t stop. Counting that its like midnight, I have to go to bed and just freaking sleep. So here you go, something weird and different.

Chapter one: A trade

Kagome sighed as she applied more ointment on the wound. Really, she didn’t know why she was even doing this. If the miasma was bad enough, there was only so much she could do for the dead priestess. She had already expelled most of the poison, but Kagome could only do so much.

“Inuyasha,” Kagome pleaded with the Hanyou. “I can’t keep this up. The poison is spreading too fast for me to keep up with.”

Inuyasha cursed under his breath. Kikyou was dyeing, again. And he wouldn’t be able to do anything about it, again. And once more, he would have to watch her die. He looked over at the teenage miko, his golden orbs pleading with Kagome to try harder.

Kagome closed her eyes as she concentrated once more on trying to purify more of the poison.

*An hour before*

Kagome followed the inu Hanyou into the forest, her mind wondering what Inuyasha had to say so far away from the others. Many things went though her mind. One of them being him telling her to come home and never come back. She remembered so long ago when Sesshomaru had fought Inuyasha and Kagome risked her life to try and help. She could still feel the pain in her heart when her friend, the Hanyou that she loved, pushed her down the well.

Inuyasha stopped and sighed before turning and looking at her. “Kagome… I needed to tell you something. Something that I’ve been thinking about for a while. I… I just haven’t been able to tell you because…” He broke off once more, golden eyes looking down at the ground.

“Inuyasha?” Kagome asked, fear creeping into her heart again.

Slowly his golden irises looked back at her. “Kagome…” He took two quick steps and grabbed her around her waist, pulling her slim body against his own. His other hand cupped her cheek. “I love you. I know that we’ve had some hard times. You know… with Kikyou and Naraku. But… I realized the other day that one day might be our last. I don’t want to sound negative, but we don’t know how the battle with Naraku will end. If something happened to you and I never told you how I felt, I don’t think I could live with myself. Or even if something happened to me, I couldn’t go on to the after life knowing that I never told you.”

Tears collected in Kagome’s dark brown eyes as she listened to his confession. It was something that she had wanted to hear from him for such a long time. The words coming from his mouth was something that she could only dream of one day happening. “Inuyasha.” Kagome whispered softly, tears of happiness spilling from her eyes.

He gave her a small smile as a clawed thumb brushed away a single tear. “Shhh. Just tell me that I’m not too late.”

The raven haired teen smiled softly and opened her mouth only to feel Inuyasha stiffen against her. “Inuyasha?” She asked, confused.

His eyes widened as he looked over to the side. His mouth muttered once word that made Kagome’s heart shatter. “Kikyou…”

She looked over to where he was looking to see the dead miko holding her side. Her face was pale, and miasma was pouring from the wound.

“Inu…Inuyasha…” Kikyou whispered before collapsing.

“Kikyou!” Just as quickly as he had grabbed Kagome, he had let her go, running over to the miko. “Kikyou? What happened?”

She looked up at him, her eyes a bit distant. “Naraku found me and attacked. I… I barely got away.” Kikyou gasped softly.

Just seeing the two crushed Kagome. The way he held Kikyou, showed that no, he wasn’t in love with Kagome. He was still in love with Kikyou. Taking a couple steps to the two, she moved Inuyasha to the side. “Let me try and purify the poison.” Kagome said her voice steady. If she was any weaker kind of girl, Kagome would have let Kikyou die. But she wasn’t like that. No, she would help save the undead miko. And then she would leave afterwards. She would leave Inuyasha with her. There was no point after this to stay.

*Now*

“I can’t Inuyasha.” Kagome whispered. “It’s too strong. I can’t purify all of it.”

“Are you using all your strength?” Inuyasha demanded of her.

She turned angry brown eyes over at the inu. “If you want me to kill myself, then fine. But I’m NOT going to kill myself over Kikyou!”

“Kagome I didn’t mean-”

“See Inuyasha, that’s your problem!” Kagome snapped at him. She was low in strength. Her body was tired and she was angry. “Your problem is, is that you don’t mean things like that. You say hurtful things and don’t even think about the possibility that it will hurt me in the process! I’ve done all I can, and I cannot purify all of it. Not without killing myself in the process.”

“Well, well, well. What pray tell do I see here?” A sly voice said from a tree. “A Hanyou, a miko, and a clay doll. What an interesting group of people.”

Both said Hanyou and miko looked up to see a youkai sitting in the tree. His long flaming red hair was tied back in a high pony tail and large red wings hung on his back. Even his eyes were red. He wore no shirt, but did wear white hakuma pants.

“What does a bird like you want?” Inuyasha demanded his hand on his sword.

The youkai put up his clawed hands to show that he meant no harm. “Now, now half breed. I do not wish to fight. Not like you can kill me anyways. And honestly, I do not wish to go though the whole growing up thing again. That does get a little tiresome.”

Inuyasha growled at the youkai. “What do you mean? I bet I could easily kill you.”

The youkai chuckled. “And once you strike me down, my body will burst into ashes and from those ashes I will be reborn. No matter how many times you strike, I will be reborn.”

“Like a phoenix.” Kagome whispered softly.

“Ah, so we have a smart one here.” The youkai smirked. “Maybe I should speak to the miko instead of the half breed. She’s got some brains.”

Kagome put her hand on Inuyasha’s arm, trying to calm him down. Kikyou was still in danger and maybe the youkai before them could help. “What do you want?” She asked him.

The youkai jumped from his perch on the tree and landed before them. “My name is Kemui and I have a proposition for you. You see, I’m in a bit of a bind with one of the lords. And you seem to be in a bit of a bind with your undead friend there. I can help you, and you can help me.”

“How can someone like you help us?” Snapped Inuyasha.

Kemui smirked. “If you drink the blood of a phoenix, one can be reborn. I am willing to give that thing some of my blood. She will burst into flames and then be reborn into her own body. The poison will be gone and she’ll have her own living flesh.”

Inuyasha’s eyes narrowed. “How do we know that you’re not lying?” He demanded.

He just shrugged. “It seems to me that you have one of two options there half breed. You can take my offer and risk her life to end quickly and pray that she is reborn, or you can watch her die a slow, yet agonizing death.”

Kagome thought for a moment. “But if that’s possible to do that. Then why did Urasue create her body out of soil and ash?”

Kemui snorted. “Because that hag doesn’t know much. Sure, she could make a whole army made from clay, but their nothing more then breakables.”

It made sense really. In some twisted way. And if the youkai before them was telling the truth, then that meant that Kikyou could live again. Even though it broke at her heart, Kagome knew that Inuyasha would be happy.

“What’s the other side of the deal?” Kagome asked him.

“See, that’s why I like talking to you.” Kemui said with a smirk. “Your smart and want to hear everything out before just jumping the gun. Maybe you should hang around a brighter group.”

“Get on with it bird.” Growled Inuyasha.

Kemui rolled his blood red eyes. “What I want from you is that Miko.” He said, pointing at Kagome. “And before you think otherwise, I’m not going to kill you. I need you to get me out of trouble. What happens after that is completely up to you.”

Inuyasha’s growl grew louder. “I don’t think so. Come on Kagome, we can find another way.”

Kagome on the other hand couldn’t stop thinking. There was no other way really. She could save Kikyou’s life and Inuyasha would be happy. It wasn’t like Kagome was going to stay anyways after the other miko got better. If the exchange happened, Kikyou would be fine and Kagome would get away from the two. Not matter what it was a lose lose situation for her.

“We’ll do it.” Kagome said, her head held high. “But only if it works. If Kikyou isn’t brought back, then it’s a no go.”

The youkai smirked, his fangs showing. “I knew you would see it my way.”

“Kagome! Don’t do this!” Inuyasha snapped. “You don’t have to do this.”

Kagome looked over at him. “Yes Inuyasha, I do. You can’t have us both. And I know you actually love her. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

The phoenix youkai used a claw to cut open his wrist, blood flowing freely. “Here we go.” He said, pouring the blood into the undead miko’s mouth.

Kikyou coughed a little before a strangled scream escaped her throat. Suddenly her body burst into flames before dying down.

Both Inuyasha and Kagome watched in horror as Kikyou’s body laid there for a moment. A soft cracking sound was heard as the body began to crack and crumble. Before their eyes, the clay body broke off, and the living flesh body of Kikyou laid there.

“Kikyou!” Inuyasha cried out as he ran over to the breathing miko. Taking her naked body into his hands, he held her close. “Kikyou? Are you okay?”

Brown eyes slowly opened before a small smile form onto her face. “Inuyasha…” Kikyou said softly.

Kagome turned away. She could still hear the crushing sound of her heart. “Let’s go.” She whispered to Kemui.

The youkai smirked once more as he picked Kagome up bridal style and took off flying before anyone could stop them.

“So… where are you taking me?” Kagome asked him.

He looked down at the miko in his arms. “To the west. I had a bit of an argument with the lord there. I’m basically bringing you there to make peace with him. Offering you, you could say.”

Kagome could have sworn she knew who ruled the west. Who, she couldn’t say. “So… you’re offering me? So he doesn’t kill you?”

Kemui nodded. “Sounds about right.”

The teenage miko sighed. Great, now she was some kind of offering. Though feeling the air though her hair and body felt nice all in itself. The company could have been better though. Before she knew it, they were descending down into a field before a large castle.

“Here we are miko.”

“Kemui,” A voice said, making Kagome’s blood run cold. She knew that voice. She knew that ice cold voice anywhere. “What is this?”

Kagome slowly looked over to see Sesshomaru standing there, his cold golden stare glaring daggers at her. “Sesshomaru…” She whispered.

Kemui bowed low. “Sesshomaru-sama, I brought you the most beautiful woman I could find on such short notice. I can smell her innocence on her. Even though she traveled with a half breed, I’m sure the smell will wash off easily.”

“That half breed would be my half brother Kemui.” Said the Taiyoukai. “And the miko you have brought me is his wench.”

Kemui shrugged. “Not any more. The Hanyou gave her up for the other miko. This one is for you.”

Kagome swallowed hard. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all.

TBC…