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

Rating:         PG-13: for language and just in case

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:            Hopefully, I can get this story done fast enough to continue with my others, not to say I don't enjoy this little tale, but it would be nice to have less to focus on.  ^_^  By the way, one of my reviewers asked about SinfulBlack's fics.  Just in case you read this (I'm too lazy to go back and check which review it was), SinfulBlack changed her name to CasualVillain.  And then, she may have changed again to just Sin.  She's a girl, right?  Sorry, Sin!!!!  ^^;  My apologies if I got your gender wrong!!!!

True Love

Chapter Three: Question of Love

December 2002

The sun was setting.  Orange, yellow, and pink hues slithered across the wide expanse of the heavens.  A humongous golden orb was set far off in the sky, sending its arms of light across the land even as blue-tinted clouds attempted to ward it away.  Only a faint memory of a breeze danced along the warmed earth.  The forest was barely audible.  Instead of its gurgling streams, lilting birdsong, or rustling leaves, there was silence.  All was quieted in anticipation of a powerful creature.

Towering trees seem to lean away from her, Kikyo, as she strode through them.  Her narrow eyes were set, determined, and there was no stopping her.  She made her way steadily towards Inuyasha's position, trying to remain out of his line of smell.

She had to ask him.  She had to find the truth.  And maybe, just maybe, she could find it in her to kill him, take him with her to Hell, where they both truly belonged.  She would never accept the fact that he hated her until the words finally came from his mouth, by the twisting of his tongue and the movement of his lips.  She would not accept it.  And when the bitter truth came, when he said he wanted nothing more than her inevitable death, she would finally find peace.  She would allow the burning hatred to seize her and for her to finally destroy him.

Although…a small part of her still hoped.  Inuyasha loved her, endlessly, forevermore.  He would never think any less of her.  He loved her, as he had fifty years ago.  Their love would triumph, would reign over all.  She needed him; more than anything else, she needed Inuyasha, needed him to say it.  Say he loved her.

It's not true, a voice hissed in her mind.  She ignored it.  He doesn't love you.  Kikyo looked straight ahead.  He loves someone else.  WHO?! She screamed at it.  He's found a replacement for you.  He doesn't need you anymore.  It's the truth.  Her resolve hardened.  She was going to find out.  Did Inuyasha love her?

Deep pools of gray flickered in her eyes.  It didn't matter.  Either way, he would die.  She just had to know the truth before she dragged him into Hell.  Kikyo had been telling the truth when she had met him for the second time after being resurrected.  There was no lie in my kiss, Inuyasha.  But she had also said, not to him, My soul will not find peace until I drag Inuyasha with me to Hell!  Both were the truth.

More and more light was beginning to seep through the forest canopy.  She was nearing Inuyasha's clearing.  Someone else was there other than the hanyou…she would have to take care of that.

Extending her senses beyond her line of sight, she found him sitting, meditating, against a tree not far from her.  Eyes closed, she whispered a few words into the imperceptible breeze, allowing them to float away into the meditating one's ears.

~*~*~*~*~

Miroku sat silently in the clearing, every so often sparing a glance at his companion up in high branches.  With a sigh, he returned to his meditating (if you could call it that).  His thoughts often strayed to…'impure' subjects…but nonetheless, you could say he was 'at peace' with himself.  A yawn escaped.  Suddenly…he was feeling a little…sleepy.  Maybe…he would meditate another time.  In seconds, the monk was in a heavy slumber, most similar to being knocked unconscious.

Lecher's asleep, his senses told him.  Inuyasha cracked one eye open to flicker over the sleeping monk's face.  Strange…  He shrugged his feeling of foreboding away, grunting and closing his eyes again.

Something…was on the edge of his consciousness.  It was like a steady pulse, palpitating without ceasing.  His ears twitched.  The soft padding of feet were becoming louder and louder, from a bare whisper to the beat of a drum.  There was someone coming.  Inuyasha raised his awareness.  A quick sniff to the air told him it was…Kikyo.

His eyes snapped open, and he crouched low in the branch.  What was she doing here?!  Kagome!  Find Kagome!  He frantically leapt towards the sky, crashing unceremoniously into Kikyo's erected barrier.  Inuyasha fell in a heap onto the dirt.  The hanyou looked up with unsure eyes to Kikyo, standing not five feet from him.

          "Kikyo," he uttered softly.

The golden eyes looked so insecure.  Inuyasha, in a heap on the floor, looked so vulnerable.  Don't think that way.  Kikyo's eyes were cold as she stared back at him.

          "Traitor," she retorted.

          "I didn't do that; you know that," he murmured softly.  "Please, Kikyo.  Let me go."

          "I'll let you leave when I have what I want, Inuyasha," she clipped.

          "What do you want then, Kikyo?" he asked, picking himself up.  "There's nothing more to say between us.  Don't make me hurt you."

          His words were sharp, slashing at what was left of her heart.  "Only a question, Inuyasha."

He stared blankly at her.  Why don't you go back to Kagome?  Why, Kikyo, do you choose to live a life as a mutant?  You don't belong here.

          "Answer me, Inuyasha.  Do you," she choked.  She couldn't ask; she couldn't move her lips.  Her throat was tied.  "Do you love me?" she rasped, eyes downcast.

He could've sworn he had the wind knocked out of him.  Do you love me?  It was such a simple question, with a simple yes or no answer.  Inuyasha found himself gazing questioningly at the un-dead miko.  Her appearance had not altered from what it was fifty years before--all except for her eyes.  Gray eyes once bright with kindness were now dim, unloving, unemotional.  Still, they had a sad light to them.  It was the sorrowful pleading look she had set upon him that had drawn him in those many years ago.  How could he forget Kikyo?  How could anyone forget her?  How could anyone ever forget their first love?  It was impossible…but…did he still love her?  Even he, himself, didn't know.

Inuyasha looked helplessly at her, pleading 'Don't make me do this'.  Kikyo still gazed at him sadly, anticipating his answer.  She needed his answer; she needed to know.  But it didn't look like he was going to tell her…

          "Please, Inuyasha," she begged, turning her tragic eyes to him.  "I need to know."

          "Don't do this to me, Kikyo," Inuyasha begged in return.  "Don't, please."

          "Inuyasha, I need to know.  Do you love me?  Or do you love my reincarnate?" she bit out.  "Who?  Who do you love?"

          His shoulders slumped forward, his posture one of someone unsure of his place in life, he answered, albeit softly, "Both."

          He shares a love with another, the voice whispered.  You're not the only one.  Kikyo smiled.  "Thank you, Inuyasha."

The hanyou looked up, startled.  He hadn't expected this reaction.

Kikyo stepped forward, slowly and purposefully.  Cautiously, as if afraid she would break him, that he would disappear before her, she wrapped his arms around him.  Her embrace was not warm, she knew, but she just had to take the chance, seize the moment.  The next time they met, she would have to kill him.  His body was rigid, tense.  Then, timidly, he brought his arms up to return the embrace.  Just for a moment, time froze for them, allowing long-lost lovers to share a moment.  Then, as fast as wind blows, it passed, and they broke away.

          "I'm sorry, Kikyo," Inuyasha murmured.  "I'm sorry."

Her barrier had been removed, and he leapt away, running as fast as his legs could carry him, to Kagome's location.  Please let her be safe.

Kikyo watched, sad and withdrawn.  He's running to his other lover.  Kagome.  My reincarnation.  Her eyes hardened as she moved away from the clearing.  I have the truth, now.  The next time we meet, Inuyasha, will be the last time you will ever see your love, Kagome.  You belong with me.  In Hell.

A/N:                Ooooo~…scary, huh?  I attempted to make Kikyo a little bit of a more logical character.  Personally, I think she's becoming quite stereotypical.  Everyone, that I can remember, is writing her as a bitch.  Granted, she may be, but of what I've seen so far, she's got reason to be.  ^^;  So, mostly, I'd like opinions on Kikyo (if you decide to review).  ^.~  Thanks for the support!

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