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:            ^_^  This story is moving pretty fast!  It's too bad it's not as popular as my others.  In my standards, it hasn't even reached the average reviews per chapter.  -.-;;  Oh well.  Maybe I'll get more after the holidays?  *sniffle*  It's okay.  Anyways, onto the story.

True Love

Chapter Four: Deception

December 2002

Every trace of Naraku on him had dissipated.  Everything that could possibly identify him as the dark miscreant just vanished by the help of powerful magic.  The clever demon leapt through the flickering light of dusk in the thick woods.  Agile feet carried him from branch to branch, alighting silently on each before hopping to another.  A thick, silvery-white mane flowed behind him instead of the usual black.  His eyes were now large and wide as opposed to narrow and thin.  They were golden instead of a dark reddish-brown hue.  Altogether, he had changed to become a creature identical to Inuyasha.

His plans were underway.  Kikyo was taking her time with Inuyasha, allowing him to take his with Kagome.  It was a simple task he had.  All he was required to do was distract the girl, and in the process, take her large Shikon fragment.

Finally, he would rid himself of Kikyo, the miko plaguing his human soul for so long.  And even while she did that for him, she would be eliminating Inuyasha as well.  It was all too easy.  In the end, he would only become stronger.  With the combined power of the Shikon and his human soul put to waste, he would be unstoppable, invincible.

Naraku smirked; it was all coming together, just as he had planned.

He stopped.  A soft sigh could be heard below him, where the water of a lake sparkled with the waning light.  Glancing below, he found the girl to be dressing herself, apparently after having taken a bath.

          "Now, to get back to Inuyasha," she mused to herself, gathering her things again.

This was it.  He took a small breath before calling out, "Kagome!"

Naraku dropped to the ground.

          "What's taking you so long?" he bit out, totally Inuyasha-like.

          "I was coming back, anyways, baka!" she retorted, hands on hips.  "You don't need to worry about me."

          "Kagome…"

          "Why don't you run back to camp now?  I suspect you're still waiting for your precious Kikyo," the girl accused coldly.  She had sensed the miko coming towards the camp for a while.  Kagome turned to stalk away.

          Naraku grabbed her wrist.  "Kagome, don't talk like that."

          "Then how do you want me to talk?!"

          Damn, this girl was being difficult.  "I"

          "Inuyasha, I don't care.  Just go back to her, then.  You seem to love her so mu-"

He had silenced her with a kiss, soft and restrained.  It disgusted him slightly; after all, this had been the girl who had proved more than annoying on more than one occasion.  She yielded to him without struggle, returning her own timid kiss.  It startled him slightly.  Naraku watched her through half-closed eyes.  Her countenance was of serene bliss, relief, and security.  Fool.  He broke away from her, still trapping her tightly in his arms.

          "I don't love her, Kagome," he murmured softly.

Naraku fingered the chain with the Shikon no Tama around her neck.  His fingers lightly caressed her soft skin, undoing the weak chain.  He slipped the necklace away from her neck, pocketing it in his red kimono.

          "I love you," he said, pulling back to observe her expression.

Kagome gazed at him with a strange foreign emotion he had never seen before.  Blue-gray eyes glistened and positively glowed with it, allowing it to engulf him totally.  What is it?  Why is she looking like that?  Was it love?  Why was she looking at him that way?  You're disguised as her love, fool!  No doubt.  He could feel his senses blurring slightly.  No, let it go.  Stop.  You are Naraku, not Inuyasha.  She loves Inuyasha.

He could feel something warm inside his arms.  Someone was against him.  He blinked.  Somehow, they had locked lips again, and he hadn't been aware of it.  Unlike the first time, now it felt, strangely…pleasant?  Naraku growled and pulled her closer.  What are you doing?! He screamed at himself.  Release her!  OPEN YOUR EYES!  He ignored it.  She was attempting to pull away, but he tightened his grip.

Kagome was starting to panic.  Why wouldn't Inuyasha let go of her?  This wasn't like him!  Was he sick?  Was he injured?  Was he under a spell?  Whatever it was, he wasn't natural of him.  His embrace felt so nice, though.  So warm, so comforting.  It felt so right.  She felt herself melting into his embrace.  She had waited so long for this; longed for it to be this way.  But Kikyo had stood in the way.  He still loved her.  He had even said so himself.  Wait…he…said…he loved her…and now…he's denying it?  Kagome placed her hands against his chest, attempting to push away from his tight embrace.  Let me go, Inuyasha!  You're not feeling well!  This isn't you!  Tears began to flow down her face.  Inuyasha, let me go!!!  He kissed aggressively, unrelenting.  Kagome began to sob against him, her unfamiliar captor.

          "KAGOME!"

Damn!  He'd lost control!  Naraku pulled away from the sobbing girl, who then collapsed to the forest floor.  He looked to the source of the voice.  Inuyasha (the real one) glared at him.

          "Who are you?" the girl whimpered from the forest floor.  "You're not Inuyasha."

          "GET AWAY FROM HER, BASTARD!" bellowed the hanyou.  "HOW DARE YOU IMITATE ME?!"

Inuyasha lunged at him with Tetsusaiga in hand.  A snarl was painted on his face and a look of pure feral bloodlust flashing in his golden eyes.  No one touched what was his.

Naraku scowled and dropped his 'Inuyasha' image.  He would be able to move faster, now.  Closing his eyes and spreading his arms, he released the toxic miasma that was his trademark move.  In the black haze, he could hear the hanyou's livid screeches and the girl's startled gasps.  He took the opportunity to take leave.  As he turned on his heel and crouched to leap, he could feel something whiz by his cheek.  He whirled around.

The human girl stood shakily in an archer's stance, already nocking another arrow to her bow.  She looked so defiant of him.  Even after being shaken up like she was, she still dared to defy him.  Under a thin layer of fear shined a bold audacity and determination.  It was, in a way, inspiring.

He sent a spine-chilling smirk her way and then turned to leap again.  This time, an arrow cut the front of his kimono, still red like Inuyasha's.  Damn!  Too many people interfering!  His head snapped in the direction from whence the arrow had come.  Kikyo stood, proud as ever, right to his left.  Still another nicked his waist, picking up the Shikon necklace in its course.  Damn them all!  An irritated roar rang through the forest and then, he was gone.

Inuyasha ran forth to grab the Shikon before returning to Kagome's side.  The girl was a nervous wreck.  She was babbling incoherent phrases and wringing her hands anxiously.  The hanyou took hold of her shoulders and shook her.

          "Kagome!  Kagome!" he called out.

She seemed oblivious of him.  Her hands were now still, and she stared out into space.

          "Kagome!  It's me, Inuyasha!  Kagome!"

She showed no sign of recognition.

          "Kagome, please!" his voice was choked, desperate.

Kagome turned blankly to him, wincing at the sight of his golden eyes.

          "Kagome!" he reached out to touch her face, but she shied away.

          "Naraku," she mumbled, eyes wide.  "Stay away.  You're not Inuyasha!  Leave me alone!" she sobbed.

          "Kagome, no!" he reasoned, bringing her petite frame into his arms, "It's me; it's Inuyasha, the real Inuyasha."

          "No, no," she whimpered, "Inuyasha loves Kikyo!"

          As much as it pained him to say it, he had to, so she would recognize him, "Yes, I love Kikyo," he said slowly, softly, "I love Kagome, too."

The wracking sobs slowly subsided, and he was left with a shivering girl.  She relaxed within the warm embrace, leaning against him.  Clutching his red kimono, she calmed her shivering and her breathing evened.  Naraku was just playing a trick.  He just wanted the Shikon.  That's all.  Inuyasha's here now.  He'll protect me.  He'll protect me.  With comforting thoughts echoing in her mind, she fell into a deep reverie of sleep, breathing softly against him.

Inuyasha smiled, then scowled.  Kagome was safe, now, but Naraku…he…disguised himself as him.  He had used Kagome, tricked her, deceived her.  Naraku's going to pay.  For both Kagome and Kikyo.  He gazed protectively down at the light load he had to carry back to camp.  Kagome…I hope she heard.  I really do love you.  Slowly, he placed a light kiss on her lips before rising and heading back to camp.  I would do anything for you, Kagome.  I would never, in my life, ever intend to hurt you.

Kikyo watched silently as the pair disappeared in the shadows of the woods.  Night was already upon them.  A scowl was hidden in the flickering shadows of her face.  How pathetic.  With nothing more to do, nothing more to say, she turned around and headed where her feet would care to take her.  What was left of her soul was shattering.  With those simple words he had said.  Her heart, already fragile, was breaking.  Just with those few words.  Those words that almost de-credited her existence.  I love Kagome, too.

A/N:                ^_^  This chapter was longer than the other two.  ^.~  And…one of my reviewers told me that 'Kikyo' was supposed to be 'Kikyou', but…in the manga, there's no double 'O' on the end of her name, so it…wouldn't have to be that way.  I understand a lot of people spell it like that, though.  Who knows.  I may be wrong.  -.-;;

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