Chapter Three: Past repeated...or not

Kagome sank into the water slowly

"Brrr...this is freezing; man do I wish I was at home...or at least at a hot spring." Sango smiled from her spot in the water.

"It's not that bad Kagome, come on, it could be worse." Ayo was watching quietly from a rock she was leaning against.

"How could it be worse? I mean, without putting some sort of creature in the water that could eat us or something."

"Well...there could be people...namely a certain person, watching us." Kagome bristled

"Neither of them better be!" She glanced towards the trees by the shore "Sit!" Nothing happened and Kagome nodded, smiling "Just for insurance." Ayo blinked

"What would that accomplish?" The miko and demon huntress explain the story of the jewel and everything that had happened so far.

"Wow...you have a very complicated life. If there's anything I can do to repay you for...the potion...just let me know, okay?"

"Sure Ayo, but don't worry about it. I'm sure it won't really be that bad." Sango shook her head.

"Every time someone says that, it always turns bad."

Suddenly there was a crash in the undergrowth and all three girls looked towards the bank. Kagome frowned and yelled

"Sit!" There was a loud thud followed by a groan and many curses.

"Dammit Kagome! What the hell! I was just stopping this stupid lecher from following you!"

"Yes Lady Kagome, and your spell seems to have pinned me under Inu Yasha," came Miroku's calm voice.

"Oh shut up monk, I'll get up in a minute," snapped the half demon. Kagome's eyes were blazing

"Don't you dare! Not until all three of us are dressed!" They got their clothes and put them on quickly and then Kagome sighed, "Fine, you can both get up now." Inu Yasha shoved Miroku away and stood.

"Thanks a lot wench, I was just trying to help."

"I'm sure."

"I doubt it was "helping" with the potion that's affecting Kagome." Ayo got glares from Inu Yasha and Kagome "I mean...sorry...just trying to be useful." Sango put an arm around her.

"Don't worry about it Ayo, and definitely don't listen to those two. You'll learn to ignore their arguments soon." She led the girl back to camp, dragging Miroku along by the ear. Inu Yasha sighed.

"I'm sorry, okay?"
"Do your apologies have to sound like arguments too?"

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry." This time he mumbled it and sat down against a tree. Kagome moved to sit next to him.

"That's alright, I understand. Thanks." She looked down "So...how long do you think this potion-y thingy will last?" She glanced back up at him as he shrugged, avoiding her gaze.

"I dunno..." She rolled her eyes

"Are you even affected by it? Or do you have some weird immunity to it because you're in love with Kikyo?" His eyes shot open as he turned, staring at her.

"I...why did you say that?" She closed her eyes a moment, heaving a heavy sigh, before standing.

"Oh never mind, I'm going back to camp." She started to walk away when Inu Yasha grabbed her wrist.

"No, wait. I want to know why you said that." She flipped around, her eyes tearing up.
"Because...I...oh, I don't know, maybe I was momentarily possessed by a demon! Or wait; maybe Kikyo's soul took over for a minute, no wait! I have an even better idea! Maybe I'm just so blinded by this potion that I'm rambling on like an idiot! Take your pick Inu Yasha." The hanyou pulled her down so she landed in his lap.

"Kagome...don't cry okay? Why... why does Kikyo always seem to make us argue, even when she's not here?" Kagome started sobbing, leaning against Inu Yasha's chest.

"I-I don't know...but truthfully, I wish that I had never met her..." He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

"I'm starting to regret it too..."

"How cute. Hope you two are enjoying this moment, because it will be your last." They both looked up to see Naraku smirking at them from a few yards away. Inu Yasha stood, pushing Kagome behind him and reaching for the Tetsugia.

"What do you want Naraku?"

"Why your death, as always Inu Yasha. But I have a different way of going about it this time..." There was a flash and everything went black.

Inu Yasha woke up, bound to a tree. He struggled, glancing around.

"Don't bother Inu Yasha; you won't be able to break those ties..." He focused on the person in front of him.

"Kikyo, w-what are you doing here?"

"Why, I'm here to help seal your fate...and the fate of your friend, Kagome." Inu Yasha froze and looked around wildly.

"Where is she? Kagome!"

"Yelling will do no good...but you can watch." She held up a mirror that looked uncannily like Kanna's. It showed Kagome lying on the ground.

"Is she...?"

"No, she's not dead...but she will be soon. Keep watching." Kagome started to open her eyes, groaning slightly, a shadow appearing above her.

Kagome opened her eyes and sat up slowly.

"Are you okay Kagome?" She glanced up to see Inu Yasha standing over her, looking slightly worried.

"I...think so. What happened?"

"I...defeated Naraku, it's all over." He held up a large piece of the Shikon Jewel, "See, I got the shards he had. You were knocked out, I moved you so you wouldn't get hurt."

"Oh..." He helped her up and then stepped back.

"Okay...now..." Kagome put a hand to her head, something didn't feel right...she wasn't getting the right aura from Inu Yasha...it seemed...weird. "Give me all the shards you have." Kagome looked at him.

"Why?"

"So we can put them together bitch, duh. Now hand them over!" The miko took a step back. There was definitely something wrong.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing except I want you to give me the shards you have before I take them!" He growled and started reaching towards her. Kagome blinked, letting out a shaky breath.

"I...don't feel right...give me a minute."

"I don't have a minute, give the shards to me!" He snarled and jumped at her, claws extended.

"Don't you see Inu Yasha? You are going to betray her, just like you did me." Kikyo gave a rare smile "Let's see how she reacts to that."

The hanyou struggled more, growling,

"Stop! Don't hurt her!" The pretend him was attacking her, but she was dodging pretty well. Months of demon hunting had paid off. But he was starting to realize her pattern, so her evasion wouldn't last much longer. "Kikyo! If you hated our betrayal so much, then why are you doing this?"

"Because...I want that girl gone...she doesn't belong here anyway. This was Naraku's idea. I thought it might be amusing."

"Who's that demon who's pretending to be me?"

"Well, I knew Naraku wouldn't work, Kagome would sense him in a second. So I've been training this demon special, just for her. He's exactly like you. Only he works for me."

"You have serious problems Kikyo. This will never work! Kagome knows I'd never hurt her!"

"Does she? This demon looks like you, acts like you, and according to her perception, has no connection with Naraku. What other conclusion can she come up with? Is her bond with you stronger than our bond was? You two seemed to be arguing about that before I arrived."

"Of course it is! We actually trust each other!" Inu Yasha blinked. He knew she trusted him. Blindly and stupidly. But did he trust her?

He did. Utterly.

"Well Inu Yasha? How long do you think she'll last? I'll give her...another five minutes." He looked back at the mirror. Kagome was breathing heavily and sweating, she couldn't hold out much longer. The fake him had stopped and was smirking at her, laughing slightly.

"She won't think that's me...she won't."

"Are you sure?"

"Come on Kagome, just give me the shards! If you do, I might not rip your throat out...but I make no promises." Kagome frowned. Something was definitely not right. But...she couldn't put her finger on it.

"I'm not giving you the shards. How about you give me the shards you have, I'll add to the shards I have, and then give it back to you." At least that would buy her some time.

"No. I don't trust you." The miko blinked. That sounded...strange...like something Inu Yasha would never say. She decided to test something

"You...wouldn't hurt me right? You said you would always protect me..."

"That was then! This is now! Now I want the jewel so I can make Kikyo alive again!" Kagome allowed herself a smile. He had made a mistake

"What about becoming a full demon? Just like you said last night..." His face looked unsure for a moment. He was supposed to stick to the script. He didn't remember anything about...oh crap.

"Of course I want to be a full demon! Not a stupid human like you!" Kagome shook her head sadly.

"You forgot the magic word...stupid weak human. You're not Inu Yasha."

"What?" Kikyo gasped as Inu Yasha grinned. Kagome knew him too well. He would have to remember to thank her if they ever got out of this mess.

"Oh look Kikyo, your demon pretender is a dud. Let me go." She looked at him

"Well...I couldn't make her believe you betrayed her. But I can still kill her." She set the mirror on a branch so Inu Yasha could see it and walked off, waving "Be back shortly, I have to take care of a slight...pest." Inu Yasha struggled wildly, looking at the mirror. The fake was advancing on Kagome.

"Okay, so I'm not. But that's not going to stop me from killing you." Kagome bit her lip. If this was a fake, where was the real Inu Yasha? As she hopped back from the demon, she decided to ponder that later, and worry about staying alive now.

"Stop." Came a voice from above and Kagome glanced up to see Kikyo standing on a ledge. What was she doing here?

"Yes milady?" The demon bowed his head "What do you wish me to do with her now?"

"I still want you to dispose of her, but...bring me the body. I want Inu Yasha to see it." So Kikyo had Inu Yasha. But where?

I'm going to have to think of something...fast.

She sighed unhappily when suddenly she sensed jewel shards. Coming at a familiar speed.

Fast!

"Kouga!" The wolf demon appeared next to her and glanced around

"What's going on? What's dog breath doing?" The fake glared at Kouga, growling. Kikyo sighed

"Just...kill them both." Kouga frowned, looking at Kagome

"What's going on? What is Inu Yasha doing? And who's that?"

"Well, that would be Kikyo. And that is not Inu Yasha. I don't know where Inu Yasha is. But that imitation is trying to kill me. I'm not sure what's going on." Kikyo turned, calling back over her shoulder,

"By the way, Inu Yasha is watching all of this through...a magic mirror." And with that, she disappeared. Kouga pushed Kagome behind him.

"Stay back."

"Alright...tell you what, how about you fight this demon, and I'll go see if I can find Inu Yasha. Okay?"

"Sure. See you in a bit." Kagome took off running, hoping with all her heart that Kouga would win.