A time when even death can be desecreted.

[kokashimaru]

My name is; Kikyo.
I come from the; valley of death.
My purpose is for; revenge.

I show my weaknesses to no one.
Because otherwise, I'll be attacked by youkai.
I am human, but I can't act like one.

The small boat she sat in rocked slightly, it's pointed front allowing it to slide easily through the water. The boat moved slowly, the river's current not fast enough to take Kikyo more than two or three miles an hour. The priestess had long since tired of walking. Most of the time she went by foot, traveling along well walked paths or through the dense forests. It was long since time, however, to sit and rest. Though she could not relax, her scent of grave soil and blood too queer to deter a yokai from leaving her alone, she could sit and bask in the sunlight for a while, let her eyes roam over the forests and Lord Sesshomaru's outer lands.

Though neither sight was that interesting or beautiful, they were something to rest your eyes on. The priestess, unlike she had planned when she stepped on the boat, closed her eyes and stopped looking at either shore. Kikyo's mind wandered. Her thoughts wavering from the tasks at hand to memories of her life before her untimely death. InuYasha was included in these thoughts, as well as Kaede. She'd lost her life to the foul claws of a demon (half or not), and a burning fire had been lit in her chest since the Urasue had resurrected her. It was fueled by the lust and supple promises that revenge was usually backed by. Though she knew nothing would be the same when she'd gathered the sacred jewel shards and merged the pieces together, Kikyo could not help but hope. As a living women she had hoped. Hoped that InuYasha would use the jewel to become human, then she could live as a human women with him. Spend their days together. She had hoped to have children, one who would be taught by her and Kaede. One who would take over protecting the shrine and surpass even her mother's tallents.

Her hopes were bashed. Her dreams shattered. Much like the sacred jewel shard. Once again, Kikyo realized how she and InuYasha were alike. He was looking for them, so was she. He was driven by revenge. As was she. They both wanted to destroy Naraku.

Kikyo had once gone looking for the both of them, yet no longer would she meet with them unless their paths crossed. Being the strong miko that she was, she had known when Naraku's tainted aura returned to the world. She had ventured out for information and learned of his resurrector. At that time she had not been very worried about the jewel shards and the idiot priestess shattering them once again. When she'd learned this news, however, was when she had started looking for them. Kikyo had yet to collect one, but her adventure was just beginning. She would collect them.

The boat rocked slightly and Kikyo opened her eyes, placing a pale hand on the grip of her bow. Kikyo's quiver of arrows were beside it. She could easily, after having been trained liked she had for many years, pull an arrow from the quiver - knock it in the string and fire. She would hit the target's body (maybe not the exact location she'd want, but she'd hit it) and with her purifying power, the demon (if that's what it was) would die. When her eyes opened she watched as one of her soul stealers swam through the air and curled itself around her body, affectionately grazing it's head against her cheek. Though it was not affection that the demon gave her. It was a soul. During the day they showed up when she was alone and fed her the souls of those who had died of natural causes. Like the old. The souls of the old lasted her a short time, but it was enough to get by with. She was not the type of person to go about slaughtering people anymore.

Kikyo stretched the hand that wasn't on the bow out and the creature twisted around her arm, it's chin area scraping against two of her bent fingers in a cat like way. It floated off shortly after and faded into the blue sky. She watched it, cold brown eyes watching it completely dissapear. Kikyo continued staring even when it had flown out of sight, only glancing about when the boat rocked again, it's underside hitting rocks on the shallow bottom of the river.

[kanrya]

Kanrya chuckled and watched dispassionately. "So you're the undead miko i've heard about from Inuyasha and those rumors." She said calmly and yawned. "I take it that you know Naraku has been resurrected and i take it that you wish to know who resurrected him..." She purred and her ears twitched slightly.

"You do know that you and Kagome look a lot alike...it's very strange..." She sniffed the air and heard a person coming from behind her and she grinned. She knew the scent of the person behind her.

[kokashimaru]

Her grip tightened on the bow, yet she did not draw it up and aim at the female. There was no need to when it did not appear as if she were about to get attacked. The priestess had nothing on her that would be valuable, save for perhaps the bow she carried, thus there was no reason why they would attack her. Unless they were of Naraku, or his ressurector. As the female spoke of Naraku, InuYasha, and the other male, Kikyo's cold brown eyes and stoic face turned to look at her. Information was always good, as long as it came from a reliable source. Everything came with a price, would this too be one of those things? Kikyo watched her silently until she spoke of Kagome, her reincarnation.

Being compared to the girl was nothing something Kikyo enjoyed hearing. Though it was true. They looked alot alike. Not exactly, yet, enough to confuse someone for a while. Kikyo stood on the small raft slowly and shifted to the side of the boat, veering it that way, a crossed the slow currents and towards the bank. Her quiver of arrows came with her, placed on her back. Her bow in hand. Kikyo stepped on shore and kept her eyes on the demon. She was silent for a moment, before asking; "What information do you have of Naraku and the one who resurrected him?"

[kitsunemiko]

Not a noise was made as she moved with unnatural graces through the underbrush. It wasn’t as if she tried not to make any noise it was mostly because her training had drilled it into as if it was a natural instinct. The young Miko blew some of her bangs out of her face; she really needed to go for a hair cut. For the past ten minutes she had been searching for her demonic friend. She spent most of that time trying to get a lock on her energy signal; it was very difficult especially when she kept darting every which way. Though she liked the challenge, it wasn’t often that she got to track others with this power, so it was great practice. There seemed to be a break in the forest ahead, the sound of slow moving water was also present. It was here that she sensed another presence, it was hard to describe it. This one seemed to have a soul of someone who had already passed on yet then again wasn’t. It was almost like this person seemed to be in a constant limbo; how awful would it be to not be able to pass on peacefully to the next life. She shook her head to rid herself of those thoughts so she would be able to concentrate on the task at hand. Calmly she walked through the bushes blocking her view of the river and Kanrya. Her grey eyes concentrated on the demoness whom had her back turned to her.

”Found you, usually when a person comes to see some one they great them…not run away from them.

The young Miko’s eyes traveled over to the slow moving boat, she had to blink a couple of times for at first she could have sworn that she saw the other time traveling Miko. But then again it couldn’t be her for it was the soul that she had sensed earlier. Plus Kagome’s expression was usually more cheerful.


”Kanrya do you know this Miko, if so do you also notice a strong resemblance to Kagome. But then again there’s not much of a resemblance, they look alike yes but something feels different. A incarnation maybe, brought back by a dark magic of some sorts. It would explain why Kagome’s spirit doesn’t feel whole.

Her calm expression never changed, but her grey clearly showed the many thoughts running threw her mind. She began to walk so to keep pace with the boat. This woman intrigued her and she planned on learning more about her. Her long black hair swayed elegantly down her back with each step she took. This time when she spoke she spoke directly with the other Miko whom traveled with the soul demons.

”I hope you don’t think this to rude of me but may I ask what you are? I probably should ask your name first but its just that you intrigue me. My curiosity always has gotten the best of me so I hope you would answer my question.”

[kokashimaru]

She eyed the miko. Her powers were not as powerful as Kagome's or even her own, but they were there. She was also not of this exact world, at least, her entire being was not of this time. Like Kagome's. She tilted her chin upwards slightly, eying the demon. A demon in a human's body. That's what it appeared to be, yet she wore miko clothing. A disgrace as the first thing that came to Kikyo's mind and her eyes hardened further (if possible). Then, the thoughts ebbed away and she looked back towards the other. She was silent, contemplating. Demons were foul creatures. She loathed them with all her being. They had caused her nothing but pain.

As the Miko stated that Kagome's soul was only a part of a whole soul, Kikyo mentally sighed. It was her soul. Not Kagome's. Kagome was not originally part of the plan to be in this world, she was not supposed to be in this era! Fate twisted it's strings however, and Kagome was here. Kikyo had once thought that having both portions of her soul would let her be able to finally rest in peace when her clay body shattered. No longer was that true, however. The priestess eyes narrowed slightly and she eyed the 'curious' demon.

"I'm a creation. Like you, yet I am different. Blood does not flow through my body like it would yours." She watched the miko warily for a moment. Could the demon not smell her scent? Kikyo had once been told by a demon she smelt like her name. A bellflower. No longer however. She smelt of graveyard soil and ashes. If one got close enough, they could smell Naraku's miasma still tainting the clay she was made of. Though she was no longer sick because of it, or wounded, the smell was still there. Like a child's doll carried brambles, dirt, and other things, Kikyo carried with her the memories. Literally on her 'skin'.

The female eyed them, unsure of what to make of the demons. They were not the first to approach her, nor would they be the last (that she was sure of, unless fate could be even more cruel), but they were not like the others. Not exactly. Since Kikyo's resurrection and travels, her knowledge ever expanding, she had to admit that she'd grown soft. Lately she'd spared the lives of idiotic demons, no mater how much she despised them. The female shifted slightly, body language showing that she would leave if they had nothing interesting to say or keep her in place.

[kanrya]

Kanrya smirked and noticed the bow in kikyo's hands. "If you shoot you'll be on fire faster than you think." She growled and then yawned. "As to what i know of Naraku i've spied a few glimpses of him...and as to Lord Keiran...Well if you know any location of the jewel shards...that's the price..." She smirked yet again and followed the boat with her young miko friend. She wondered curiously as to what kikyo meant by that yukina was a creation.

[kokashimaru]

[Did you know that to some people children (in the womb) are considered parasites? It's kind of the same thing here. We`re all 'created', Kikyo is just a different example of how someone-or something-can be created. Despite being dead, she lives. She is just as humane/mortal/whatever you want to call it as Kagome, Yukina, or Kanrya. This is what I mean.]

Mikos, or priestesses, have a different outlook on life and thereafter than your normal human or demon. They were quite a lot wiser, if they'd grown up in this era with the demons and daily impudent beings, of things that had to do with such. Life, death. The changing of the seasons, why nature did the things that it did... yet things always evaded them. Like why humans and demons were so bloodthirsty and always seeking power. It is in everyone's nature to control, some pursue their nature. Perhaps the other miko would understand Kikyo's line of thinking? The undead priestess could not give away exactly what she was, for that would make someone's ability to slaughter her much easier than whens he was human.

Kikyo looked at Kanrya, eyes narrowing at the demon. "Hold your tongue. Do not assume you know someone's intent. Were I to have shot an arrow at you, I would have already done so. You would be nothing more than purified dust on the wind." Her eyes narrowed as the child spoke. She turned her head away, eyes flicking back to look at her even though her head was turned. "I will not resort to bribery with a demon such as yourself to get the information I need."

Kikyo would have turned her back on them and left the riverside at that moment in time, but they knew something that she did not, and being together they like were made them too dangerous to brush off. Kikyo had been taught to never turn her back on a demon she could not easily and quickly annihilate. Even then it would be a foolish act to walk away.

[kitsunemiko]

The glare was all she needed to know that the superior Miko in front of her knew Yukina’s little secret. But instead of being shocked or surprised like most would Yukina just smiled knowingly. She expected the Miko would know, after all if her guess was correct she was just if not more strong then Kagome. It was only because Kagome was untrained that her secrete still remained safe with her. Of course the hated expression was probably because of the garb she wore. The only reason Yukina wore her outfit was because technically she was a Miko, one of another shrine in the future. As Kikyou answered her question she couldn’t help but chuckle. This Miko was smart, after all Yukina and Kanrya were still strangers. One wouldn’t want to go around announcing exactly what they were to everyone. It gave your enemies an advantage that you didn’t want them to have.

”Kanrya, please do be respectful you should not under estimate her. Also I do have some information about a shard not to far from here. It was originally why I came to find you. I found the shard in the future but it was one of the shards that got away. I believe it will be easier to collect it in this time then it would seeking it out in mine. Kikyou please excuse my friend, if you wish you may come along with us, I’m sure your also seeking the shards out.

She looked over at the elder Miko, of course Kikyou was likely to blow her cover but Yukina was never one to be rude. Plus if she came along there was a chance to talk to the Miko alone. After all Kanrya was likely to run off ahead, that way Yukina would be able to discuss some things with her. Also she was kind of curious if Kikyou would be willing to teach her how to improve on some of the powers she had. She turned to Kanrya once more and this time in a hush tone she spoke to her.

”Please Kanrya watch what you allow to leave your tongue, I doubt I could stop her if she wished to purify you. I don’t wish to fight with a Miko whom could possibly end up being a strong ally.”

Her face had taken on a serious expression, she hoped that Kanrya would listen to reason. Normally she wouldn’t excuse another person behavior, especially Kanrya’s for she was likely to become insulted by it. But in this situation it was best to appease Kikyou’s wrath then Kanrya’s, if need she would deal with her later.

[kokashimaru]

So she knew that Kikyo knew. Very well. As long as nobody was kidding themselves and taking fact for fact.

Kagome would not detect that she was.. different. She would not detect the secret. Kagome's powers, no matter how strong they currently are, are sealed by the Shikon no Tama. While it was inside her, it completely sealed her powers. That is what Kikyo had wanted to happen. She did not want to curse her reincarnation with the life she had led in the world before her resurrection. Curse her to be betrayed by a man such as InuYasha... Kikyo frowned slightly as she was offered a chance. Go with them, perhaps die. Or go with them and be that much closer to a Shikon jewel shard. Not that she would carry nor own it. She'd at least know if they possessed one in the future. Which would make the gathering much easier.

Kikyo shifted slightly, normally emotionless eyes showing a slight conflict. It was against miko training to stand on the side of demons. They were abominations that should be destroyed. She'd been taught that, though she did not necessarily stand by it. If Kikyo went with them, she could risk getting killed. Though she would not go without a fight, Kikyo still having a job on earth to do, death would be welcomed. Perhaps Kagome's soul would return to her and Kikyo would finally rest in peace? Maybe. It would be the best choice to go with them now. Kikyo turned back to face the demon-miko.

"I will go with you."

Perhaps this would be the end of her 'life'? If not, perhaps she had found a momentary ally in the fight against the others who sought the Shikon no Tama? Those who stood in her way would perish by bow and arrow, or by hand. Kikyo had powers that most human priestesses did not possess. If Kagome were to be trained, and her powers were to unlock, she would have something much the same. The undead miko, however, had many tricks up her sleeves.

[Ert.ert. Next time I`ll wait for the both of you to post before I post .]

[kanrya]

Kanrya growled and glared at Yukina. "I don't think that we should trust this miko...i've heard that she has partnered with Naraku before...maybe she's going to partner up with him again." Kanrya's eyes turned red and she watched kikyo silently as her ears twitched and glared at Kikyo. "I don't trust you as far as I can throw you...you better watch your back..." Kanrya turned and walked off in a pissy mood.

[kitsunemiko]

Kanrya raised a good point one which Yukina was well aware of. But then again if Kikyou did form an alliance with them they could use her past to there advantage. Yukina had already weighed the pros and cons of inviting Kikyou to join them, and the pros only slightly out weighed the cons. As she stomped off Yukina couldn’t help but rub the bridge of her nose in slight aggravation. She would explain to Kanrya later, but right now she wasn’t going to let the other Miko out of her site. Much like Kikyou she didn’t trust her not to kill them. But as Kikyou agreed to join them a temporary truce was made. She only could hope and take a chance that this decision would turn out for the better. After all, now that she was in a human body, Yukina did not possess her full power as she would as full fledged demon. If Kikyou felt like betraying them there would be little Yukina could do to stop her unless she shed her human form which meant not being able to return to her family. The whole point of being in this era to collect the jewel shards was so she would be able to make sure her mother was safe and sound back in the current era. Her cool grey eyes locked on with Kikyou’s and she motioned for her to fallow.

”Once Kanrya cools off she’ll come back. But while she’s gone I want to take the time and assure you were not going to turn our backs on you, or attempt to harm you in anyway. You have my word on that, just allow me to deal with Kanrya and try to ignore her sharp tongue. But in return I’m going to expect you not to harm us as long as we don’t harm you. I also am curious to what your current standing with Naraku is. From my perspective your not in an alliance with him nor where you ever.

From what stories Yukina heard, most believed Kikyou to be in alliance with Naraku. But to Yukina it sounded like Kikyou planned to destroy Naraku from the very beginning, she just merely did it with out basically announcing her intentions. Though her question now was what did Kikyou plan to use the jewel for next.

”I’m curious, is there a way to destroy the jewel for once and for all. I know you can seal it once more, but there has to be a way to prevent the Jewel from breaking once more. I know my quest for the Jewel is to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. I have no intention of ever using the Jewel for my self, I just want it gone. If you were able to complete the Jewel what would you do with it?

Since they were traveling together the least Yukina could do was start up a conversation. Her intention was to try to make a new ally and the only way she knew how to do that was to show she herself was trustworthy enough.