Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inuyasha.

Author's Note: This is the Kikyou Bankotsu ending. Enjoy!

Kikyou felt a million different ways. She was happy that she got to be in the arms of her beloved hanyou at last. She was guilty that she had made love with Inuyasha while she still thought of Bankotsu. She was ashamed that she had been with two men so close together. A miko should not feel this way. But I am not worthy to be a miko anymore, she thought solemnly, standing.

"Hey, where are you going?" Inuyasha demanded. Kikyou stole a glance at him as she pulled her dirty hakama over her legs. His glorious naked body was fully visible in the daylight, the hanyou's large member rising to attention before her very eyes. He was carefree, satisfied, without a care in the world now that he had her by his side once more.

"I have to leave," Kikyou said quickly, her eyes troubled.

"But why?" Inuyasha sat up, reaching for her.

"I have to tend to Bankotsu." She tied the ends of her shirt together and grabbed her bow and arrows.

The hanyou's eyes clouded over. "He's dead."

"He deserves to be sent to the other side, Inuyasha."

Tiny fangs flashed. "He's already at the other side."

"Don't you need to go back to your Kagome?" The miko asked bitterly.

"I already told you, Kikyou, she'll have to understand. I needed to come for you."

"And that's just what you did, Inuyasha. You came for me, but you killed someone that would not have harmed you."

"What?" It was Inuyasha's turn to jump up and throw on his clothing. "Kikyou, he was going to kill me! He had already ra-" The words wouldn't form in his mouth. "He had already hurt you!"

The miko was quiet. No, he didn't. "Go back to your Kagome."

"Stop saying that!" Inuyasha screamed. He grabbed her elbow. Kikyou looked at him with sorrowful eyes, brimming with tears. He reluctantly let go.

"Inuyasha," she began.

Understanding dawned in his eyes. "You-you!" He stepped back. "Bankotsu was telling the truth earlier! You did enjoy it!"

Kikyou blushed furiously at his words.

"You took part in it willingly! How dare you! How dare you give yourself to him, Kikyou." Inuyasha's heart was breaking.

"Was I supposed to wait for you, Inuyasha? Was I supposed to watch you share your heart with my reincarnation? And just wait for the day when someone as pure-hearted as she would refuse you over and over again so you would have to eventually come to me to satisfy your lust?" She was angry. "Is that how you would have had me? Just so you could leave me again! You've taken everything else, Inuyasha, including my life! Was I supposed to wait for you to take my innocence as well?"

Inuyasha stood in the hot sun, shocked. He looked torn between anger and sadness. Then, he seemed to compose himself. "He deserved to die. For taking you away from me. No matter how willing you were, it was disgusting of him to take advantage of your love for me."

Kikyou chuckled scornfully. "How arrogant you are. Have I no free will of my own?" She turned to walk away, and then…

"Where do you think you're going?" A familiar voice.

It can't be… "Bankotsu, why are you-you're alive!" The young warrior was face-to-face with her. Kikyou felt like a fool. Of course, if Inuyasha didn't get the shard in his neck, he wouldn't have died, would he?

The warrior wasted no time. He pulled Kikyou to him in an embrace. "Let us not waste time, my love." He looked into her eyes. "All I could think about was you. I proved my loved to you only hours before. Let me prove it again." Eyes flashing dangerously, he pulled out his sword, Banryuu. "Let me prove it by killing this meddlesome hanyou!"

"No," Kikyou said strongly. "I cannot let you do that."

"Don't worry, Kikyou!" The silver-haired dog demon shouted. "I'll protect you from this asshole once and for all!" He swung Tetsusaiga towards the young warrior. "Get out of the way Kikyou!"

"Inuyasha," tears shimmered at the corner of the miko's eyes. "I..love…Bankotsu."

"That's even more reason why he should die!" Inuyasha shouted. And then-

An arrow from nowhere grabbed his cloak, followed by another that ripped through his hakama, pinning him to a nearby tree. It couldn't have been Kikyou; she was right in front of me, the hanyou thought. He struggled to remove the arrows while looking for his assailant.

Kagome stepped out from the shadows.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha cried out angrily. "What the hell did you do that for? Come over here and take these arrows out!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Kagome said. She spoke with both confidence and fear. Then she looked over to Kikyou and Bankotsu.

"Let's leave this place," Kikyou was saying. "And find Naraku."

Bankotsu sighed. "Very well, shinjiteru. We will leave this place, and the past, behind." He picked the miko up in his arms, as a man carries a wife.

"Stop, stop!" Inuyasha was carrying on.

"Inuyasha," Kikyou turned to him. "Remember the love we shared always, and use it to build upon those you love now." With that, she looked at Kagome, who blushed.

Inuyasha slowed his moving, until finally his hand reached out. Kikyou… It was just like the time she had sealed him to Goshinboku, he was reaching for her. Then he lowered his open hand. "Right. Wakatta. I understand now."

Later that evening, a couple walked hand in hand.

A warrior and a miko, exchanging shy smiles. Neither one of them felt like themselves, and it was a welcome change.

Later that evening, a resurrected man and woman were almost normal, and they once more explored the limitless boundaries of love and affection.

Affection that, save the slow response of the wind, would have been carried from their parted lips to whisper in the shadows of all the land.

The End