Edited: April, 2012

Title: encore une fois

Summary: And again, and again, and again.

Inspiration: Crack/cocaine.

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha.

Note: This story is seven years old. Whoa.


The rest of the group became weary and suspicious. For once, they did not think Kagome's unhappiness was of Inuyasha's doing. They thought it was something entirely unrelated, though the questions were still directed to Inuyasha, whom would then pass them to Kagome and demand she answer in a logical fashion. However, Kagome just smiled away an excuse, the process dying for the moment, only to repeat itself within a couple of days.

It continued on like that for some time, until one day when the group found themselves scaling up a sacred mountain, Hakurai. They had been tangled up in another mission involving the evil Hanyou, Naraku, Kikyou, and some odd numbered doppelgangers. Around the time they were halfway up the mountain is when the all sans the schoolgirl herself began to blame the priestess's odd mannerisms on the mountain, assuming that maybe it was affecting her in a way that only shrine maidens could be affected. After this faulty conclusion was agreed upon, the group resumed normalcy once more, mainly due to the fact that Kagome hadn't really confessed to not loving Inuyasha, and Inuyasha himself was much to thickheaded to come to that supposition of his own accord. All was well in the happy little bubble of ignorance that they wrapped themselves up in, and Kagome thought it would stay that way.

That was before he came.

On the path ahead of them, in a clearing that separated various other trails leading up the mountain stood a young man with smoky eyes that opposed hers, challenge chiseled into his eerily attractive face. His hair was the deepest black, pulled back in a confident braid that ran down the length on his back, halting at his waist with a most adorable twist of hair beyond a tied piece of white cloth. The whole package was then topped off with clothing of such elegance and refinement that rivaled even that of Inuyasha's brother, Sesshoumaru.

For a moment, Kagome felt like a hopeless schoolgirl, and would have very well fainted save for the fact that, well, he was the enemy. Meaning, bad Kagome, bad! How could you even think of the enemy in such a, well, less-than-innocent way? Besides, you have someone who loves you already! Well, you don't exactly know that for sure, in fact, you don't even love him...

"Kagome! Fire your arrow already, damnit!" Kagome recognized the voice all too easily, snapped back to the present of the past in a rather frustrating fashion.

Oh yes, his love was killing her. Not ironic at all, her being the reincarnation of Kikyou. Shaking her head and furrowing her brow, Kagome gave a steady glare towards Inuyasha before pulling off some half-assed attempt at what someone might call archery. The arrow landed a good five feet away from the aforementioned 'enemy,' And Kagome blinked in an owlish manner towards the now seemingly less-than-happy Hanyou.

Oops?

"OI. What in the FUCK was THAT supposed to be? You call that firing an arrow? Hell, Kagome! Even Shippou could do a better job than that!"

No, Kagome, no, no, no. Hitting your teammate is bad. Resist the urge, deny the temptation-!

"Oi, Halfbreed." Kagome couldn't place the voice to the speaker for a moment, having not heard it previously... However, soon logic was restored to her (mostly by the look on Inuyasha's face, and then by the biting cold of sharp metal against the back of her head), and a small whimper or two managed to make their way past her lips.

Inuyasha, meanwhile, had Tetsusaiga lowered considerably, and was eyeing her captor in disdain.

"Leave Kagome alone, asshole." He spat, taking a step closer towards them. It was then that Kagome understood the depth of the situation and all of its possibilities. She was in a situation where death was quite possible, if not probable, and Inuyasha looked too unsure of himself for comfort. Great timing. This would happen when Miroku and Sango were... off. Collecting firewood, or whatever. Which really meant they were-.

"Give me the shards, and I might consider it."

Kagome bit her bottom lip, eyes surveying their surroundings. That one tree, and that one bush may very well be the last things she ever saw.

"I think you should consider shoving that fucking sword up your ass instead. There's no way I'll ever give Kagome up." Inuyasha spat, taking two challenging steps forward. Kagome blinked, sparing her gaze towards Inuyasha, a suspicious look marring her features. Could...?

Could she have been wrong? Might Inuyasha love her more than she had though he did? Was she just an inconsiderate, paranoid seventeen year old?

Could she love him…

Again...?

Her captor began to snicker, turning his face away as he began to openly laugh. Amber eyes melted into liquid ferocity, as Inuyasha swung Tetsusaiga a centimeter away from the enemies cheek.

"What the fuck is so funny?"

Looking up, Kagome saw the man had an odd marking on his forehead. A purple sort of star. While she watched him, he merely turned his head back around, ignoring the dull blade. His cerulean eyes narrowed in cruel amusement.

"I believe you would reconsider, Hanyou."

"And why the fuck would I do that?"

The man snapped his fingers without a care in the world, and Kagome could only guess the worst as she watched Inuyasha's face drop, turning a ghastly shade of white. Kagome struggled to look behind her, but the man held her tightly, preventing any movement. Her captor just laughed again, sweeping Kagome around to see just what it was that had silenced the Hanyou.

And she wished she hadn't.

"Kikyou...?"

What had she been thinking? Love Inuyasha again? Never.

Never, never again.