Inu Yasha panted as he reached the lake in the center of the park. Tears streamed over his cheeks as he drew Tetsusaiga from its sheath. [I can’t live on… Fifty years ago, I was unable to protect Kikyo—she died because I was unable to protect her… Sure, she’s been revived, but that doesn’t hide that I was unable to stop what happened. And now… now… Kagome has been killed… just because I wasn’t by her side… just because I betrayed her trust… because we were arguing before she went back to this world…] Inu Yasha concentrated his energy into Tetsusaiga, causing the seemingly rusty blade to grow larger, longer, and much sharper. He held the blade as far away from himself as he could and turned the tip of the sword backwards—towards himself. [I’ll end all of this now… I’ll not endanger another woman…]

~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~

The woman chuckled as she stepped out of the shadows. She watched as Inu Yasha slowly pulled his blade back away from himself. "Inu Yasha, you should know better than this… Do you realize what effect your death now, in the future, will have on the past, where you belong?"

Inu Yasha dropped his sword as he turned his gaze to the woman. "Ka-Kagome?"

The woman shook her head as she ran her right hand through her short but thick black hair. "Have you really been crying enough that you have no sense of smell right now? Can you not see me for who I am now?"

Inu Yasha gasped as the woman stepped fully into the light. She was dressed in clothes from Kagome’s era, but he knew very well that she was of his time. "Kikyo?"

"I always had wondered where you went after Kagome disappeared. The houshi told me he had no idea where you had gone, you left without a word and never returned."

"You… You are able to go through the well?"

"No, Inu Yasha. However, I am unable to die—I already am dead. I have traveled the world over the last several centuries. I am now able to speak every major language in the world, and every twenty years or so, I fake my death and move on. It seems to be by some strange fate that I have returned to Japan over the last year."

"You mean…"

"Inu Yasha, never mind about me. I have lived through time, rather than with it. I have married and buried multiple husbands, all who knew what I was, each hearing my lengthening story before we married, each dying of age and disease while I stayed young and healthy. However, not everyone you know will be as fortunate as I. About six months after you and Kagome disappeared, Miroku, Sango, and Kouga found and cornered Naraku. The battle between the four went on for several hours, when I arrived, shortly followed by Sesshoumaru. Even Kagura fought against Naraku, but nearly all who fought Naraku perished. By the time it was over, Naraku had killed everyone but myself and Kouga. I took the complete Shikon no Tama and to this day I watch over it."

"But…"

"I lived through the centuries for this day, Inu Yasha. Take what you know now and go back to your time. Fix the mistakes of the past and I guarantee that you’ll be surprised. Perhaps if you return, there will be more fighting Naraku and fewer casualties."

"You don’t understand! I failed Kagome, just as I failed you!"

"Did you actually see that she was dead? Are you sure that she’s totally gone?"

"I saw her dead! Her chest had been sliced wide open, she was dead! There was no way around it!"

"Yes, and I was dead and cremated, but I still found a way to return to this world."

"You mean—Where is she?"

"If I told you, I would ruin something that ought not be undone. Don’t worry about Kagome. Where she is now, she will not be hurt. I am sorry, but I cannot disclose her location to you. Just know that she’s safe and forget about her until you see her next."

"Kikyo, I beg of you!"

"Begging never has worked on me. Sheath your sword and return to the time that you belong. However, I urge you not to search for Kagome."

"Why? Why can’t I look for her?"

"Allow me to put this simply—Naraku thinks she is dead. Usually when you all arrive to fight him, he is prepared in some way to defend against each of you. He killed Kagome so that he would not have to worry about her and so that he could through you into such a state of depression that you’d do something drastic—like what you were doing when I got here. If you found her, Naraku, who is probably watching your every step anyhow, will see that she is still alive."

Inu Yasha drew in a deep breath as he sheathed Tetsusaiga. "Then… what should I do?"

"Go back to your time. Keep communication low. Don’t talk to anyone unless you have to. Continue searching for the jewel shards, Naraku, whatever. Just remember to hang on to your life. Don’t let the anguish and the anger consume you."

"And… what do I tell everyone about Kagome? Her family in this time have already been told that she is… dead."

"I have yet to find her home. Take me there and I will explain everything to them. Once you leave though, do not return to this time until Naraku has perished. As for your comrades, tell them that she is dead and that you have brought her body back to her time for a proper burial by her family."

Inu Yasha nodded slowly as he knelt down. "Fine, I’ll carry you."

Kikyo shook her head as she motioned for Inu Yasha to follow her. She led him out of the park and back to the main road of the city. She stopped when she reached a car and opened the door. "Get in. You can give me directions."

Inu Yasha stared at the vehicle in awe. Though he had visited Kagome’s time often, never had he ridden in a car. He cautiously reached out and touched the metallic blue surface. "What is it?"

Kikyo rolled her eyes as she pushed Inu Yasha into the car and shut the door behind him. "It’s a ’92 Ford Probe. Don’t get the interior dirty." Kikyo warned as she slid into the driver’s seat of the car and shut the door, triggering the automatic seat belts to lock into place as she put the car in gear and drove away.

~{A.N. The car has no significance to the plot, I just felt the need to glorify my own car, a ’92 Ford Probe, which happens to be royal blue. [But Inu Yasha probably wouldn’t be allowed in it, cause I don’t want it to get dirty ^_^]

Also, the chapter title, ‘Hold On’ refers to the Good Charlotte song by the same title. I originally published this chapter on Fanfiction.net as ‘Hang On’, but I thought that ‘Hold On’ suited it much better.