AN: Hey there everyone! Sorry this has taken me so long. As you may have read, I'm kinda

restricted right now so chapters will be coming a lot more slowly, but don't worry, I won't forget

about you if you don't forget about me! Thank you to all of you who showed me your support. It's

great to have you guys backing me up! I really appreciate you! Thanks again to you all! I couldn't

do it without you.

Disclaimer: If you ever thought at all for even one moment that I might own Inu Yasha, you're

not right in the head anyway..so..yeah.

A TWIST OF FATE*~CHAPTER 4

Kagome was busy in her era now. She finally got time to go to school and was finally catching

up in all her classes. Things were so much easier when she wasn't always trying to go between

the feudal era and her own. But, the leisure to go to school meant smaller and smaller amounts

of time spent in the feudal era.

Generally when she went back, Shippo would literally fling himself at her, causing a pang of

guilt in her stomach. But she told herself that she was just doing what she had to do, and the

feeling would ebb away as she talked to Sango and Miroku. She didn't see Inu Yasha anymore.

He was always out hunting shards with Kikyo when she decided to visit. She tried to visit at least

once a week and would bring them medical supplies, sometimes candy for Shippo, something

pretty for Sango, or an interesting spell or scroll for Miroku (although he'd probably be happier

with a victoria's secret catalog.) She knew she couldn't make up for what she had done, but she

could no longer stay there for more than a day or two. Sometimes, she'd even bring a bag of

ramen to take to Inu Yasha, but could never bring herself to take it out of her pack. What was the

use? After all, she never say him anyways.

Things appeared to be exactly the same as they had always been from the outside, but Kagome

knew things were different, and always would be. She had tried to leave them. True, they didn't

know it, but it still ate at her conscience, four months later. She couldn't help but wonder how

much of the shikon no tama Inu Yahsa and Kikyo had collected. Once she had asked Shippo. He

had replied: "Oh Kagome." His eyes got huge. "It's really big now! But-" Kagome had silenced

him with a nod. That had been all she needed to know.

Inu Yasha was never to be seen when Kagome was present, but sometimes, when she crawled

out of the well, or was alone cooking or collecting firewood, she could sense eyes watching her.

After all, what was the reincarnation of a miko for anyways? It had to have a few quirks.

This time, Kagome was out, cleaning clothes for her comrades, who had, except for Sango,

undoubtedly never heard of soap. She was kneeling by the river, scrubbing away when she

realized she was being watched. This time..she declared to herself, Inu Yasha will talk to me

whether he likes it or not!

"Inu Yasha, if you're there, come out and talk to me like a civilized..hanyou." There was a

glimpse of white, that disappeared in the opposite direction of where she was standing.

"Inu Yasha! Don't make me.." She heard the cracking of twigs.

"K-Kagome!" It was Inu Yasha. A very shocked Inu Yasha.

"What-what are you doing h-"

"I'm washing clothes for everyone, I should ask you the same question myself. What were you

doing spying on me?"

"I-I-was--Listen, Kagome."

Kagome peeled her gaze from the ground.

"Yes, Inu Yasha?.."

"Well, I,I.." Inu Yasha couldn't do it. He couldn't lose the pride. Look, wench, you--"

Wump!!

Inu Yasha quickly became acquainted with the ground as Kagome lost more patience.

"Inu Yasha, I believe you have met an all time low." She said sardonically. Scenes of Inu Yasha

and Kikyo from months before came flowing into her mind, as if a dam had crumbled. "The fact

that you would do what you did, then, the next time I talk to you, say something like-"

"Kagome, will you listen for a second?!"

"Give me one good reason to."

"I-look, I know that-" Inu Yasha stopped dead as a figure appeared appeared behind Kagome.

Kikyo..

"Inu Yasha. My sister calls for you." Inu Yasha looked at Kagome. Kagome nodded a quick

approval. With that, Inu Yasha left saying:

"Don't forget, Kagome. You owe me a talk." He disappeared into the forest, Kikyo following

behind him, walking. Kagome watched as the woman that she was supposedly a reincarnation of

walked away.

I may look like her, but me and Kikyo are completely different people.

"We are not the same, you and I." Kagome was shocked to hear Kikyo's voice.

The miko had stopped walking and was obviously talking to Kagome.

"You are weak. You changed him. I could not. He loved you, but now, he only knows, and loves

only me."

Loved. Was Kikyo right? Had he loved her? It didn't matter. Inu Yasha didn't love her anymore,

that was, if he ever had. He loved Kikyo, had always loved Kikyo. He was happy now. Shouldn't

she be glad for him? Yes, so why do I still hate Kikyo so much, and why is it so hard for me to

forgive Inu yasha? I don't know anymore.

"Yes, you're right. Yes." It was one of the hardest things in the world for Kagome to say, but she

knew it was the truth.

Kikyo seemed to be pleased with the response she received. She turned and departed, leaving

Kagome alone..completely alone. Or at least that's how she felt. Alone.

"You are foolish."

Since Kagome had believed herself to be completely alone, you can imagine her surprise at

finding that someone was standing directly behind her. The only someone that could possible

make things worse than they already were.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Inu Yasha couldn't believe it. That nagging feeling in his stomach wouldn't go away..

"What were you doing spying on me?" He had tried to tell her he hadn't been. And for once, it

had been the truth. He had been shocked to find her there. All the things that he had wanted to

say flooded his mind, creating a jumbled mess of questions and answers, all of which he wanted

to tell her. But all that his jumbled mind would filter through was a lame:

"What are you doing here?" He had watched her face shift from a hard, brittle glare to a

wandering expression and back again. She may have looked like Kikyo in every other way, but

Kagome's eyes were hers and hers alone.

"I-I-wa--listen, Kagome."

"Yes, Inu yasha?" He had not liked her tone of voice. She had been mad, ok really mad at him

before, but this was different. It scared him, coming from Kagome.

"Well, I, I.." He hadn't been able to say it. His damn pride had gotten the better of him.

Damn pride. Or was it?

"Look, wench..you-" She had sat him, and man had she sat him hard. It had never hurt so much

before.

"Inu Yasha, I believe you have met an all time low." Her expression had become hollow at this,

as if she was concentrating very hard.

"Kagome, WILL YOU LISTEN FOR A SECOND!"

"Give me one good reason to." There had been an anger in her voice that he had never heard. But

there was also a sadness. He wanted to tell her. He was going to tell her.

"I-look, I know that-" that's when she showed up. Kikyo. The woman that he had loved so much.

He had loved Kikyo. She was beautiful, she had accepted him when none had, and maybe she

had even loved him. So why was he so torn up about talking to Kagome? She was just a

reincarnation. No. Kagome was anything but "just a reincarnation." She was-she was?Kagome.

She wasn't Kikyo. Kagome had a warmth that emanated from her, a kindness that surrounded

her. But for now, he had to go to Kaede. Kikyo had said that the old lady had called for him.

"Kagome, don't forget, you owe me a talk." He'd tell her then.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"You are foolish to let her use your feelings against you. You are foolish, and your human

feelings are foolish. They are a sign of weakness and will be your death, if I am not."

"Hello, Sesshoumaru. Long time, no see." Not long enough. And perfectly fine with the no see

part.

"I told you that I would come to you, when the time called. You should have been prepared for

my appearance."

"Look, Sesshoumaru, this is really not a good time."

In a flash, Sesshoumaru had Kagome pinned to a tree by the shoulder.

"Anytime I wish will be a good time." His hiss only too familiar in Kagome's ear. "Do I make

that perfectly clear?"

"I don't know, perhaps if you push me into the tree a little more and threaten me again it will go

through this dense human mind of mine." Kagome returned his death glare. Surprisingly to both

of them, Sesshoumaru loosened his grip. Kagome fell to the ground. She hadn't even noticed

she'd been held in the air. That guy was strong.

"Manners almost as good as Inu yasha's.." she muttered under her breath. Sesshoumaru did a

lightning quick roundabout and glared at her. He unsheathed the toukijin. She mentally kicked

herself. Several times.

"Never.." Sesshoumaru growled through gritted teeth, yet still kept his cool demeanor. "..never

compare me to that worthless hanyou. If you mention his name again, I will ensure you a quick

passage to your death. Do I make myself clear?" It was more of a statement than a question. The

point was taken. Kagome glared back at him but nodded slightly. "Good." He lowered the sword

and sheathed it. "Now that we have reached an agreement, it is time that we put that proposition

into action."

Kagome stared at him. Oh God!

"Jaken!" Within seconds, the despicable, green toad had appeared.

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama? This Jaken is at your service."

"Find Rin and go back to the castle. I will be gone for some time on business."

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama."

"And Jaken..if anything should happen to Rin, anything at all, I will use your skin for my new

curtains."

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama! Do not worry! Jaken will take care of it!" Jaken scurried away.

"Sesshoumaru..?" Kagome had no idea what was possessing her to ask him this. "What-"

"You will not address me with such informality. You are not my equal."

Riiight. Forget it. I'm not even gonna ask him now!

"Ok,..whatever you say..Fluffy!" This did not go over well. But, surprisingly, Sesshoumaru did

not lift her in the air by her neck, pin her to a tree, or hiss death threats at her. He just looked

really, really pissed.

"You, wench, need to learn your place. Your outbursts and mannerisms are disgusting to my eyes

and ears."

He's telling me about manners when he just threatened to kill me..twice!? This guy has serious

control issues! Well, at least he's not a necrophiliac like some demons I know!

"You will address me as sama from now on."

"Yes..Fluffy-sama."

As to how this girl could infuriated him so easily, he hadn't the slightest clue. He, Sesshoumaru,

was never easily stirred up, but she was doing a bang up job of it. She did not give him proper

respect, her attitude was atrocious, and she disobeyed him at every point possible. She was not

like all the other humans. She was..no. She is but a mere human. Do not allow her to treat you

with such lack of respect. She must be taught a lesson.

"So..Fluffy-sama-" Kagome gasped as she was swept off her feat and into the air. "Ahh! Put me

down!"

"Is it really wise of you to wish that at this moment?" he asked with a glint in his eyes. They

were soaring over the forest.

"What are you do-where are we going!" He screaming nearly shattered his ear drums.

"It is faster to travel this way. Stop your confounded screaming, woman! You are going to fill

your end of the proposal."

Kagome gulped. Inu Yasha, the others!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

AN: So everyone, how'd you like it? Sorry it took so long to write! I made it longer because of

that! Please review and tell me what you thought or give suggestions. Sorry I didn't write review

responses, but that would take to long and I have a limited amount of time. Sorry! Oh, and I just

wanted to say again, thank you to all of you for the all your support. It really does mean a lot to

me! Remember to dismember Jaken one piece at a time..every day! Until the next chapter!