Jin; Sorry about the wait. Also, to those who have reviewed so far, I appreciate the reviews you've been giving me, but I would really like it if I got reviews from other people as well. I know what you guys will say, but I want to hear from others as well.

I don't own the rights to Inuyasha. Only two Inuyasha games and three Inuyasha DVD's.

Kagome and Kikyo begin to understand

Kagome and Kikyo were going through a smooth mountain range at a fairly calm pace that both were comfortable with. For a time they

were silent, just going along their path without any real trouble, and just contemplating on whatever was on their minds. But though they did

not know it, their thoughts were always turned toward each other, and how the other really felt toward them. Kikyo was sure that Kagome

hated her for the cruel things she had done to her before, and felt that Kagome shouldn't be the one that was considered a fake replica of her

because she could see that Inuyasha wanted Kagome to be with him forever. Kagome was certain that Kikyo hated her for making Inuyasha

go to extreme lengths just to save her, and that she deserved to be considered inferior to her because Inuyasha obviously wanted to be with

Kikyo for the rest of his life. Kikyo secretly admired the carefree and loving personality that Kagome showed to others. Kagome meanwhile

marveled at how Kikyo seemed to be a perfect version of her, both in body and power. They secretly wished that they had that same good

thing that the other had. But Kagome and Kikyo were not sure how the other would react to their sudden openness of how they thought of

each other. Kagome knew she would be met with disgust. Kikyo knew she would be met with anger. They both dared a quick glance at

each other, but when their eyes caught, they looked away quickly. They both silently acknowledge that tonight they needed to talk, because

they knew that the other had something to say.

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That night, in a heavily armed fortress a young watch guard was staring into the sky as he groaned, "I can't believe it. I refuse to have a

topknot hairstyle and I get stuck on guard duty. So much for being the best spearman around if I can't even use my skills." The wind blew his

black ponytail aside when he heard a voice. Suddenly, he heard a terrific breaking sound, the watchtower on the other side of the bared gate

was spilt in half, and his buddy was screaming in terror as he died. Suddenly a whirling object was hurtling back to its owner and the watch

guard looked on in shock. A auburn haired girl of sixteen caught the spinning object, and it turned out to be a giant boomerang. She was

dressed in a sleek black uniform with a purple bandanna, spikey purple armor, a blood red sash was holding a sword at her waist, and a

taijya mask was on her face. But what was most startling about her appearance was that her eyes had no color in them but pure white. The

watch guard signaled the alarm, and in a matter of minutes, nearly everyone in the entire fortress was armed and standing at the gates. The

watch guard looked back at the girl and his eyes opened wide as she cocked her arm back. He grabbed his metal naginata and jumped out

of the watchtower as Sango threw her weapon. He landed on the ground fairly hard, but he was alright. Unfortunately, he wasn't out of

danger yet. The remains of his post nearly crushed him, but he was barely able to get out of the way. His commander roughly pulled him up

by his arm and yelled, "Archers, loose arrows at will now!!" Showers of arrows were flying over the gate directly at Sango who looked

coldly up at the arrows as they came at her.

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Miles away, Kagome and Kikyo were completely unaware of what was going on elsewhere. Kagome and Kikyo were silently eating dinner

and glancing at each other periodically when the other wasn't looking. After eating, Kagome and Kikyo built a small campfire, and just sat at

opposite ends of it. They both wanted to talk to each other, but were not sure what to say. Finally words were spoken. "Kikyo-sama-"

"Kagome-chan" They both paused for a few seconds. But Kikyo broke the silence first, "Kagome, do you hate me?" Kagome was slightly

taken aback, and gasped in surprise. Kikyo looked away and said, "Never mind, I-" Kagome quickly said, "No Kikyo! It's alright. I have

things to say too." Kikyo hesitated slightly, she was unsure of how Kagome would react, but she said, "I have done things that I am not

proud of. With that knowledge, I know that you have every reason to hate me." Kagome looked down, and her face darkened. She said

softly, "Kikyo. Do you think so little of me?" Kikyo looked calmly at Kagome, but she was surprised at how her voice sounded. It was as

cold and emotionless as hers, but it seemed more threatening since it was coming from Kagome. Kikyo didn't answer Kagome's question,

but stared silently at her. Kagome finally looked up as a small breeze brushed her hair, and continued, "Kikyo, I had given you part of my

soul to you willingly. I'm not stupid, because I haven't forgotten the things that you've done some things in the past that I wished you hadn't

done. But if I gave you part of me, why don't you still trust me?"

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Kagome lifted her face and Kikyo saw how hurt Kagome looked. Kagome continued, "I know we've had trouble with each other in the

past. But I've learned to let it go. Because Inuyasha obviously wants to be with you, so I know that if I hold onto it, I'll just be hurt." Kikyo

looked in surprise at Kagome. She said, "Kagome, did you really think that? That Inuyasha wanted me and not you?" Kagome said, "It's

true isn't it? You were the one he fell in love with first, and he has not said that he loves me. He probably doesn't love me, because you

changed him first." and she added mentally 'I'm just the one who picked up where you left off. The reincarnation.' Kikyo's face was

emotionless, but she felt a pang of guilt, and she knew that she should feel guilty. Kikyo took a breath in and said sadly, "Kagome, you

shouldn't feel that." Kagome didn't reply, and Kikyo said, "Kagome, you give yourself so little credit. What Inuyasha has done for you

should be more than enough proof that he loves you. His actions should've all pointed to that, you are the one who deserves his love, not

me." Kagome looked up at Kikyo and said, "But Kikyo… what have I done to earn his love?" Kikyo smiled sadly and said, "You saved

him more than I have, cried over him, and gave him strength in ways that I was never able to. Shouldn't that be enough to tell you that he

cherishes you?" Kagome's eyes started to shimmer and she said, "But he still loves you. I won't force him to change his opinion on who he

should love. It's up to him to decide that, because if what you said is true, then it isn't fair to either of us." Kikyo agreed ruefully, "Yes

Kagome. That is true. It's just that… you have things that I wish to have too. You show kindness to everything, and you have done so much

in a short time. I admire the way that you saw fit to give me some of that goodness in you." Kagome smiled a bit and said, "You have shown

strength that I have yet to achieve. With all the memories and suffering that you have gone through, I know that you were strong if you

overcame it. Seeing you made me want to be the same strong person that Inuyasha had given his heart to." Kikyo suddenly stood up, and

walked over to Kagome. Kikyo smiled a bit when she got on her knees and said, "Kagome, thank you." She got in closer and embraced

Kagome. Kagome said softly, "Yeah, Kikyo. Thanks." she returned the gesture and from then on, a pact was sealed. Both were in a position

that the other would never imagine in their strangest dreams. For the first time in as long as they knew each other, this was the first time that

they had gained such an understanding of their other. They realized that they didn't hate each other, because they both drew strength from

the good both mikos possessed. Two thoughts were the same, thought they weren't said, 'I will protect you, because I know now, we

don't need to hate each other. We both have strength to give each other, and I'm content with that.'

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Back at the fortress, there was no understanding and friendship being gained, only the end of every single person at the fortress. The

watch guard Hideo looked outside through a small porthole in the fortress wall. The girl was nowhere to be seen, and someone else was

coming up the road. The stranger looked about 17, had prayer beads on his right hand, and was carrying a gold monk staff. His skin and the

staff were the only kind of color that was showing on this stranger. He was dressed like a ninja, and a black mask was hiding most of his

face, and there was no color in his eyes but pure black. He walked up to the gate, looked carefully at it, and though Hideo could not see it,

he was sure an evil smile was spreading slowly over his face. He shoved his staff into the earth, held his hand out, and yelled, "Wind Tunnel!"

suddenly everything was being sucked in the swirling black vortex in his right hand. It was so powerful that it actually ripped the fortress gate,

and almost 50 yards of the wall along with it. He held the vortex out for almost a full minute, and sucked everything in his hand. People,

animals, gear, building pieces, it didn't matter, and anything and everything that was in the way was gone forever. Hideo dug his naginata into

the earth but was barely able to hold on, until finally the wind died down. A voice yelled, "Hirakotsu!" and a whole battalion of soldiers was

wiped out as Sango's weapon split right through all of them like wet noodles. Hideo looked back in shock and saw Sango catch her

weapon. The entire front part of her body was stuck with arrows, and one was in her eye. She pulled the arrow out of her eye, and it healed

over immediately. Hideo thought wildly, 'What are these people? Are they some kind of zombies?' The Sango and Miroku walked in

silently after he picked up his staff, a spear was thrown at Miroku, and a disgusting sound was heard as it pierced him through the heart.

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Miroku gabbed the spear, pulled it out of him smoothly, and snapped it in half as if it was a twig. Hideo's commander pulled out his sword

and yelled, "Kill them! Kill them both! I don't care how, just kill them!" Two battalions rushed forward when Hideo saw a red blur move

right past him. Gold colored slash marks were seen over the two battalions and each and every one of them fell, in pieces. A cold chuckle

was heard, and Hideo gripped his weapon tighter as he saw who it was that had done it. The stranger who had killed two of the best

battalions had been taken down in one stroke had a mane of silver hair, dog ears, and was wearing a crimson haori and hakama. Hideo's

commander roared in rage, and dashed at Inuyasha in rage. Sango got in front him, and held him at bay with her forearm. There was a

slashing sound, and the commander's head fell off. Sango's sickle had seen to that. Hideo knew that he stood no chance against these

monsters, but he decided of he was going down, he would die fighting. Miroku suddenly noticed him, and started attacking with his staff.

Hideo expertly disarmed him, kicked his ankle to drop him to his knee and broke his neck by swing the flat of the blade on his neck. Miroku

leapt up, grabbed the weapon, and bent it as if it was made of rubber. Hideo's face was suddenly in the grasp of Inuyasha's fist. A cackling

sound was heard, and the last thing Hideo saw was the empty blood red look in Inuyasha's eyes.

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Jin; Well, I'm done now. So please review people. I need them, they help. Also, this is STILL not a yuri or shoujo-ai story. So don't flame me for that.