#||main verse||

🐺 "And? Ya acting like you can't get anymore. You selfish mutt! Hand it over!" Koga glared up at the dog, annoyed. If he thought he was safe in that tree, think again. Koga could very easily leap into the tree after him or...he could give it a few solid kicks and fell the tree..which he did.

gestures that get me going ||@hanyo-inu-yasha

🏹 "Inuyasha...what are you doing?" Kikyou's eyes had subtly widened at the appearance of the hanyou landing in front of her, effectively shielding her from the latest creatures who wished for her demise. In this case, it was simply a group of monks who had heard of her unholy existence and took it upon themselves to attempt to send her back to their grave. It was not the first time someone had attempted such a feat and it was not the last.

"You do not need to get involve with these people. I can take care of them myself.."Even if they were formidable as a group, their combined abilities still could not match her own. It was foolish on their part to continue, especially as she had warned them of the repercussions should they refuse to let her pass.

Admittedly, a small part of her did appreciate Inuyasha's attempts. It made her feel..loved ...cared for..and if she had a beating heart, surely it would have fluttered a little.

acerbic wit

you're a mentor — an old scarred wolf, an injured soldier, a disgraced paladin. your teachings read as shamelessly pretentious, speaking in rhymes and biting down hard into anyone stupid enough to make the wrong move. this isn't your first life, nor your second, nor your sixth — you'll make the most of your time shackled to this world, no matter how many loops it takes to get it right. with every defeat, you reincarnate; a little smarter, a little quicker, crueler and nastier. will you choose to be brutal, equalizing, that final strike in the face of your enemies? will you go soft, become tender and domesticated? the choice is yours. it's not like i can stop you

Stole it

Unprompted ask||

🏹 "......" Kikyou simply stared at the man before her, mild annoyance scrawled upon her countenance.

Was it one of Naraku's incarnations? The aura was similar and yet different to that depraved being, not unlike Kagura's. However, there were underlying differences if one peered closer. So to assume he was an incarnation did not seem accurate..but neither did it seem wrong. Regardless, the indisputable fact remained that he was connected to Naraku somehow.

How bothersome. Kikyou was not in the mood.

"Be gone."

With nothing left to be said, the miko pivoted and departed. She had no time for such ridiculousness. She had lowered her guard and looked at what happened. Kikyou had gotten hurt by her own stupidity..her weakness. and now there was some relation to Naraku mocking her.

Send 🛑 for my muse (receiver) to step in and protect your muse (sender) from someone.send ' 🛑 + reverse ' to change it so the sender protects the receiver!

🏹Kikyou's eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed upon the lone figure of Inuyasha as he battled a host of demons. Considering that he was preoccupied, the male had yet to pick up on her scent which was fine by her. She had no desire to engage with the hanyou. There was nothing left to talk about. The two were on different paths and the undead priestess refused to permit him to follow her down hers. There was only one destination to the pathway she walked and..it was not for him.

'Why is he by himself? No matter. He can safely handle that amount and level of demons."'

There was no need for her to intercede unnecessarily. That is until--

"Hm?"

Sharpened spiritual senses noted a subtle presence among the bushes behind the hanyou's back. Since when could demons suppress their energy? Tsk. It seems like she was going to intervene after all. With Inuyasha's attention understandably elsewhere, the creature went unnoticed as it slunk closer and prepared to attack the male.

Quickly moving from her position, the miko notched an arrow. Accounting for the wind and other variables, she released the feathered arrow with a 'twang' of her bow. The arrow flew with unerring precision and purpose; a powerful lavender energy manifesting upon it as it sliced through the demons in its way before skewering its true target to the ground.

All demons that had been pierced by the spiritual arrow were immediately purified. Smoke emanated from the ground where the arrow's head was lodged deeply in. The wooden shaft quivered from the force and power behind that one action, borne from years of experience, training and knowledge.

Now that specific demon was taken care of, Kikyou gathered herself in preparation to leave. She had saved him..but to her, it did not warrant a discussion or a need to meet. Meeting him simply made things more difficult..more problematic. For as much as she tried to act, Kikyou never stopped loving him.

He wished he could, if it meant he could watch her keep the children company, just as she used to. Somehow, coming across this memory felt like a mistake. More so as he dropped down from his perch, remorse for the past making his movements heavy. "Kikyou," he uttered, "were you here all this time?" His voice sounded hopeful, and he couldn't help himself. Since their last meeting, he could only wish that she had removed herself from the fight against Naraku and kept herself safe.

🏹 "Children, return to your parents. It is getting late and I am certain they are starting to worry. Do be quick.", Kikyou instructed kindly, giving the enthusiastic youth the softest of smiles. With a light head rub to one, she bid them farewell and watched them scamper off with post haste. Her gaze were still fixed upon their retreating backs when she greeted the hanyou prior to his own.

"Inuyasha."

Kikyou's soul collectors were nowhere to be found. After all, she had no desire to scare the young ones. It was not out of the norm for her to dismiss the creatures before she entered a village. The goal was to fit in and slip out when her tasks were done. She did not need a repeat of another child seeing her collect and consume the souls of the deceased. That incident was sheer proof that she did not belong among people. That it had been foolish of her to think she could belong anywhere in this world.

She was nothing but an aberration. A parasite. For one moment she had hope..but reality simply and cruelly set her straight.

After the children were no longer in view, Kikyou closed her eyes and sighed softly.

"You should not be here. You belong with companions..not here with me." How often did she need to say it? It was pointless looking for her and even more so to care for her. All she could give him was anguish and nothing more. It was best for him to forget her existence and continue moving forward. As much as she'd like to do more for him, she could not. It was impossible.

Kikyou could be selfish..but in the end, it would cause more harm than good. Her dearest deserved a long, fruitful and happy filled life. He earned the right to peace and a future filled with promises and dreams.

Her heart ached..as it always did when it came to the hanyou. It yearned for things that could never be again. Such feelings had to be swallowed and pushed down into the deepest recesses of her soul. Inuyasha could never know those feelings still exist or desires. It would make things more complicated for him. After all, there was another who had taken her place and doing the things she would have..if circumstances had been different.

"I know what you wish to hear and I am afraid I must disappoint you. I am simply passing through this village. I have not given up my pursuit of him nor will I." , she replied softly, her eyes having since reopened and gazing at an unfixed point upon the ground.

Theoretically, even if she did as he requested, Naraku would still find her. Their fates were intertwined and it was inevitable. Naraku only existed because of her. Kikyou could not in good conscious stop her hunt, even if she ignored everything she had lost because of him.

No matter how much he asked, Kikyou will not listen. She could not. She was not the type to depend on others to begin with. This was her problem to fix.....And..maybe Inuyasha never knew but there was one thing she had lost which broke her in unfathomable ways. The void it left would never heal and for their sake as well as hers, she will not rest until Naraku was removed from this world. She would drag him to hell with her if she must.

Then and only then..would she have some semblance of peace and can relinquish this body back to the soil, her soul to the after life.

Truthfully, Kikyou was not trying to live. There was no life for her in this world. She had to endure this miserable existence until her tasks were accomplished..or she died trying. Despite what Inuyasha wanted, there was no other path for her. Death was the only outcome for her--whether it be by Naraku's, another's or her own hands.

Angling her body away in preparation to leave, Kikyou averted her face. Some days it were easier to keep a tight rein on her emotions and other days..the grief and the sadness bubbled just beneath the surface--offering glimpses to what weighed in her heart and soul. Today it was the latter and Kikyou did not have the energy to adjust the frigid mask she usually wore.

"Return to your friends, Inuyasha. If you should see me again, pay no attention and go on your way." Kikyou's brows knitted together before relaxing.

'For your own sake, it would be best to forget or ignore my existence. That way you can continue to move forward to the future..to the light. I refuse to let you enter this darkness with me..'

"Live well and be happy." With that wish as her goodbye, Kikyou began to leave.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄|| @arrachnes

🏹 "You must truly believe that you are significant enough to make me feel that way.", Kikyou scoffed, her lips twisting into a cruel smirk. "Your arrogance and ego never fails to astound me, Naraku." Even incapacitated at the moment, Kikyou held nothing but utter disdain and contempt for the demon.

"You cannot kill me as the past has proven..so there is only one recourse opened to you." Which was torture." Such a pity. It must be infuriating to be at odds with the heart that beat within that chest of yours." Was Kikyou afraid? No. She was internally irritated at being caught..due to one of his underhanded tricks.

Unprompted || @crimsonstray

🌸 Hisana's muscles tensed as an unfamiliar bass sounding voice reached her ears. Was Byakuya-sama expecting anyone? Surely not..otherwise she would have been informed and taken the appropriate measures to make herself scarce.

The next question was..why did none of the household staff alerted her? Only a handful of people were aware of her existence in this household, outside of those that lived and worked in the manor. Hisana could only assume that they were not cognizant of his arrival. Even if this person--a subordinate of her husband's--was a familiar appearance at this home, they were instructed to let her know when to disappear and when it was safe to emerge.

After all, they were keeping a secret that could very well place her husband in trouble and those involved.

Was Hisana upset? No. She was more worried and concerned;her mind considering various scenarios and the proper response to minimize harm to her husband and sister.

Slender digits slowly closed the book she had been reading, shoulder length tresses tied neatly into a pony tail. Hisana rose to her feet and politely and respectfully inclined her head. A gentle smile touched her lips as she responded to his statement.