Disclaimer:    Inuyasha characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.  Other characters are property of Dark Star.

Rating:         PG-13

Summary:    [Nar/Kag] The ningen foiled his plans again! What was it about this human girl that allowed her to infinitely ruin his plots? He would find out for himself what she was really able to do…

Genre:            Romance/Drama

A/N:            I guess the title will stay.  ^_^  Thank you for the support so far!  Sorry for the short chapters!  They get the point across pretty well for me.  ^_^

True Love

Chapter Two: Scheme in Motion

December 2002

Kikyo sat against the sturdy tree, drawing from it what strength it had to fuel her own impossible existence.  Her eyes, though closed, were set in a stern, pained, almost evil concentration.  The once angelic visage was set in emptiness, of someone who wasn't sure what their purpose was.  Wasn't sure why they were living…  Instead of the radiant beauty that had once existed as a powerful and devoted priestess, there sat an oni-like creature.  She had no reason to be 'alive'.  She had had no desire to live again.  But as long as she was here, she might as well serve her sole purpose.

Inuyasha, the hanyou she had loved so dearly, was constantly a burden upon her consciousness.  He appeared so many times in her mind's eye.  His golden eyes shined with a timid kindness and trust, and somewhere underneath, love managed to penetrate his piercing gaze.  A love so rightly earned, she thought.

Kikyo gasped inaudibly.  Had she just…?  It was a new feeling, a new sensation she had never experienced before.  Only half a century ago, its traces had made themselves known to her lonely soul.  This hanyou, this mis-creation, had so efficiently captured her heart.  They had shared a special friendship, maybe even something more than friendship…something she would never know.  He had been just playing with her!  It had all been a ploy to gain her trust so she would offer him the Shikon no Tama.  She knew.  She understood.  Therefore, hate tainted her soul; her goal was to kill Inuyasha, former love, current enemy.

The countenance of malicious intent faltered into one of deep hurt and sorrow.  Shimmering tears brimmed from the soul-less eyes, sending discolored streaks down her earthen face.  I hate you, Inuyasha, she thought weakly.  I hate you.  How could you have been so cruel?  As if she had been 'stopped' automatically, her tears ceased.  Eyes glimmered unnaturally, swirling with contradicting emotions.  Her soul was in turmoil.  Well, what she had left of her soul was, at least.

One side, a large portion, radiated a love, an unbroken friendship and an infinite sorrow.  The other harbored hate, dark and deep, for the hanyou whom had betrayed her.  Kikyo was torn.  Even as she told herself, over and over, Inuyasha was her enemy, another part of her, the part long lost to her reincarnation, instilled in her the fact that it was Naraku who was her adversary, the one who was to receive her wrath.  But it was not to be.  Her soul was set.  Hatred burned steadfastly in the fragmented soul she housed.  Nothing could change that, she told herself.  What's done is done.

She snapped her head up to the figure looming over her.  The person was dressed darkly, his long bangs shadowing his face.  He didn't need to identify himself for her to recognize him.  There would only be one person who could so effortlessly evade her acute awareness.  He was the only one who could surprise her with random unpleasurable 'visits'.  He was the one and only person whom she could hate almost as much as Inuyasha.  Naraku.  The name rang with displeasure in the fathoms of her mind.  With it grew disgust and fury.  Narrowed eyes venomously spat the question, "What do you want?".

          An amused smirk dared to flicker across his lips.  "Priestess Kikyo," he drawled out slowly, "It has been a while since we last met."

Empty eyes glared at him.

          "I knew you were never one for conversation," he mused, "Would you like me to get to the point?"

No response came from the glowering priestess.

          "You understand that in order for this meeting to actually serve its purpose, it would require some oral communication on your part?"

Kikyo only turned her head halfway toward him.

          Patience was a virtue he, unfortunately, did not possess.  "I am going to offer you something.  Something which, I think, would be very appealing to you."

She appeared totally disinterested.

          "It would involve Inuyasha."

Her head was turned so she looked him directly in the eyes, though partly covered by his dark hair.  Something akin to interest sparked in the dull eyes.

          He had caught her attention.  Good girl.  "Would you be interested, Kikyo?"

          "Stop dancing around the subject, Naraku," she answered coldly.  "What business have you with Inuyasha?"

          Naraku smiled.  "My offer is open to you.  Inuyasha, as you know, is very close.  His human companion, your reincarnation, will not be a nuisance at this time.  She is…preoccupied.  It is a promising chance for your revenge, is it not?"

Kikyo didn't answer.

          "Whether you decide to take the offer or not, it is available.  Appear when you deem necessary.  You have a time limit.  Before the sun sets.  Farewell, Kikyo.  Until another time."

Naraku disappeared in a haze of miasma and rustling leaves, allowing Kikyo time to ponder his 'offer'.  It is a promising chance for revenge, is it not?  The words rang in her mind, echoing over and over.  Abruptly, she stood, slinging her bow and arrows across her back, and started towards the warm prickling presence which identified Inuyasha.  I hate you, Inuyasha.  I hate you.

Watching from the high branches of a tree, Naraku grinned victoriously.  One more step before confrontation…  The dark miscreant linked himself to one of his children and brought himself both physically and mentally back to his castle.  Once inside the enormous arching dark corridors, he strode to his room and adorned the outfit he had previously laid out.

Naraku smiled evilly at his reflection.  Although his raven black wavy hair contrasted with the fire-rat kimono now, it wouldn't soon.  He held out his hand, palm up, and chanted a spell, a metamorphous spell.  The other hand was brought and placed on top of the extended hand, efficiently trapping the shimmering light that had formed.  Then, with a fluid motion, he drew his hands over his face and hair, leaving completely different features behind.

Golden eyes stared back at him from the highly polished mirror.  Clawed hands rose to run through the silvery-white hair.  Dog-ears twitched once, and fangs overlapped in a wicked grin.  All in all, he was Inuyasha's twin.  With this form, he'd have no trouble with the human girl.  No trouble at all.

A/N:                Second chapter!  ^_^  A lot of comments were made about the middle section of the last chapter being rushed, the part with Kagome and Inuyasha and Miroku.  I can totally understand, and I'm not sure why it seemed so rushed, though.  Maybe it was Kagome's mood?  Inuyasha's rash judgment?  I'm not sure.  If anyone would care to tell me, I'd really appreciate it.  Thank you for the reviews!  You're all spectacular!  ^.~

~*~*~Dark Star~*~*~

P.S.  Does anyone know the answer to this question: what does Naraku really look like?  I understand he takes the form of a prince, or something along that line, but I'm not sure.  Whenever I see him in his baboon pelt, he has what looks like blue eyeshadow, but when he's a 'prince', he doesn't have those marks…can someone send me a link?  Answer my question?  It would help to know the guy's actual appearance.  After all, he's the star of the show here.  ^_^