Disclaimer: Inuyasha and Co. are not mine (though I do have Miroku and Sango key chains!)

A/N: Here it is as promised.the next chapter! Thanks for all your reviews up to this point please keep up the good work and review some more! Enjoy minna (everyone)!

Chapter 9: The Inuyasha and Kikyou Story

After Sesshoumaru left, Kagome got up and decided to get dressed as soon as possible. While dressing in a sporty tank top and khaki pants she thought of the difficult things that she had to endure today on top of her aching wrists. After she was finished dressing, she headed over to the animal tent to question Inuyasha about his past. She was determined to get at least a little bit of information out of the guy. She entered the tent to find Inuyasha filling the troughs with elephant food with a hungry Elli and Tanto observing him. She stepped closer to him and asked, "Um.Inuyasha.I need to talk to you. Do you want to go and sit somewhere?"

"Feh, woman, do I look like I have time to kill? I can't just drop everything in order to talk to you" stated Inuyasha.

"It's important and I only need about half an hour because Ineedtogetreadyfordinnerwithsesshoumaruinabouttwohours." said Kagome while grabbing Inuyasha and pulling him away from his duties.

Inuyasha looked at her strangely and asked, "Guh? What was that last part?"

"You'll find out if you come and talk with me now.so come on and take a thirty minute break" insisted Kagome. Inuyasha nodded in regard to her request and followed her through the circus into an empty auditorium.

They sat down in two seats in the upper most row. They clown troupe that was practicing in the center ring below paid no regard to the two individuals in the audience but continued to practice preparing a new routine for tonight's show.

Kagome turned to Inuyasha and had a sincere look on her face. She then closed her eyes for a second, took a deep breath, and mentally prepared herself for this difficult conversation. "Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru mentioned that my fall on the trapeze may have had a link with a person that was involved in your past. Could you please, as my friend, tell me a bit about your past? I swear that this will go no farther than me.please trust in me."

Inuyasha looked away from Kagome with a look of pain gleaming in his eyes. He never had to reveal his story to anyone before. The only other person that knew this story other than Inuyasha was Sesshoumaru. Could he reveal to Kagome his troubled past?

He turned to Kagome and quickly tried to cover up his concerned expression with a frown and said, "Feh, do you honestly think that I'll reveal my past to a stranger like you? I've only known you for a week!"

"Please Inuyasha! I swear you can trust me" added Kagome sincerely.

He looked to her and decided that maybe this would help their friendship.on the other hand though, this just might complicate things. Either way, he knew that Kagome would not stop pestering him until she knew his story.

He turned away from her drilling gaze and reluctantly began, "I once knew a girl that wasn't much different from you. She had long black hair, a similar face, and was the trapeze artist in a troupe that the Flying Higurashi's came to replace. I was shocked about how much she really resembled you.that's why I hid from you when you first came."

Inuyasha glanced at Kagome's direction saw that she was listening carefully to his words. He knew somewhere deep within himself that this girl was different from her look-alike; she had an innocence to her unlike Kikyou. So, he decided to continue choosing his words carefully so not to reveal too many of his feelings.

Inuyasha continued, "So anyway, Kikyou was new performer like you. She and I became friends and became closer with each moment that we were together. She was the first girl that made me feel funny inside.because she didn't seem disgusted and afraid of me. She treated me not like beast or freak of nature.but as a person and it felt good."

I expected our relationship to remain the same but things got sour after she came back from visiting her family when the Sengoku Jidai circus was near her home town. I found out that she was using me to get closer to Sesshoumaru and the circus' profits. One night, she asked if we could secretly meet in Sesshoumaru's office."

*Flash back*

"Inuyasha why don't we meet in Sesshoumaru's office to have some alone time.It is rather romantic in there and we won't get caught if we lock the door" stated Kikyou.

"I don't know Kikyou? Are you sure that's a good idea? I'm not ashamed of our relationship." Inuyasha started. "Maybe we should ask him fir.?"

"Don't ask him.you'll just cause a distraction that will take some time to sort out and then we'll meet in the office say around eight o'clock." interrupted Kikyou.

"But Kikyou." Kikyou stopped Inuyasha with a kiss.

Inuyasha was startled by the abrupt kiss but, on the other hand, he wasn't complaining either. It wasn't every day that Kikyou kissed him like that he thought to himself.

"Wouldn't it be nice to be in a place where we wouldn't be interrupted? Don't we have fun together? Who's more important, your brother or me?" questioned Kikyou.

Inuyasha hated when he had to make choices like this. So he looked at Kikyou and decided to tell her the truth.

"I don't know. You both are, yet you, a complete stranger at one point, befriended me no questions asked. That really meant a lot to me you know." admitted Inuyasha.

Kikyou looked away at this comment starting to feel the guilt rise in her. However, she quickly composed herself and continued with her deception.

"Then, you will arrange a distraction for our meeting tonight in the office?" asked Kikyou again.

"Of course, after all what brother doesn't know won't hurt him, right?" stated Inuyasha.

Kikyou laughed, "Of course.you know I love you right?"

Inuyasha leaned in for a kiss but Kikyou moved away and said sassily, "leave something for us to do tonight Casanova!"

Inuyasha nodded while Kikyou explained to him their plan. She smiled a regretful smile, hating the way things turned out. Inuyasha listened too intently to the plan and was too oblivious to notice Kikyou's expression. She was gonna get Sesshoumaru's life savings in order to help one person that she know needed her help. She thought that it was a shame that she had to use Sesshoumaru's own brother to do it though. How very despicable of her she thought to herself; he probably would never forgive her for this. The couple parted ways until their plan was ready to take action.

A couple of hours had past and Inuyasha had set the distraction into play. He ran toward Sesshoumaru's spacious office and feigned being out of breath only to fool Sesshoumaru further. He hastily pushed open the door and yelled, "Sesshoumaru.elephants.out of control.hurry come with me!" Sesshoumaru quickly got up and followed Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru quickly shut the door but not well enough because Inuyasha, unknown to Sesshoumaru, had placed a small rock in between the door and the frame so that the door remained partially opened.

As soon as Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha faded into the distance, Kikyou and her trapeze troupe quickly entered Sesshoumaru's accessible office. Kikyou quickly moved the portrait where Naraku said Sesshoumaru hid his safe behind and let Kagura, a trapeze artist as well as an expert safe cracker, do her magic. The safe swung open a couple moments later and the other trapeze artist quickly loaded the yen inside several gym bags. The troupe quickly exited. Kikyou wrote a note to Sesshoumaru just as Naraku instructed and placed it inside the open safe.

She turned to leave but bumped into Inuyasha instead.

"What are you doing.get out of my way and let me escape!" squealed Kikyou.

Inuyasha with hurt eyes looked down at her and asked, "Why did you take advantage of me Kikyou?"

Kikyou could not let either brother know yet that she was doing this for Naraku, so she had to be cruel to Inuyasha and be convincing about it. She stared straight into Inuyasha's eyes and remarked, "Because it was so easy to.you were a poor fool who needed a friend and I provided friendship and more. Once you felt secure, I used you to help me get what I really wanted. Now, let me go if you love me Inuyasha.don't let Sesshoumaru get his hands on me!"

Inuyasha wasn't taking this as well as she had thought though. Instead of characteristically getting pissed off with her, he was looking heartbroken. Her heart broke too so she decided to give him an ultimatum. She turned to him sincere for the first time since he had caught her and offered it by asking, "Why don't you come with my troupe and join Naraku's circus?"

"I.need to stay by my brother's side and support him. Kikyou, please give the money back and I will let you go" pleaded Inuyasha obviously torn between his loyalty to Sesshoumaru and love for Kikyou.

"I can't.because I owe Naraku a favor.one that I either have to repay through currency or flesh." informed Kikyou knowing that she needed to get out of there as quickly as possible.

"Why do you owe him? What did you do that made you owe something to that bastard? We could have solved your problem by just sending me to kick Naraku's ass." continued Inuyasha

"I say to you again.please let me go if you feel anything for me Inuyasha" pleaded Kikyou now desperate for escape.

Inuyasha moved out of the way because he pitied and loved her. She had given him happy times. By not moving, he would have also been denying his love for her. He did love her more than anything so he had to let her go even though he knew that in the process he was hurting the circus and Sesshoumaru.

She looked behind once more toward Inuyasha and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Come and find me Inuyasha when you're ready to forgive me .and remember that I love you."

*End Flash Back*

"I never saw her after that. I feel guilty about loosing the circus' savings but for the past two years the circus has been doing fine financially. The only thing that I regret sometimes is not being more open with Kikyou. If I would have told her some more of my problems then maybe she would have told me about Naraku instead of resorted to that desperate act. I still intend to meet her one day but she gave me a hard choice. Either I must renounce family or act on my feelings. Hopefully one day I'll figure out how I can keep both" ended Inuyasha.

Kagome looking uncomfortable added, "She also betrayed you Inuyasha.and as far as I know that isn't a term of endearment. Why did she hide the truth from you if you two were as close as you said you were?"

Inuyasha shot back to Kagome, "She only did what she had to because she was pressured by that asshole Naraku to steal from the Sengoku Jidai Circus. If I would have found out more about her situation with Naraku.she wouldn't have had to resort to that. When you look at it that way.I was a naive fool not to notice that she was in trouble."

"You were used and not a fool. You let her go because you loved her so deeply and you're in denial because of that exact same reason!" argued Kagome.

"Kikyou did nothing wrong! It was my fault and I needed to make it up her." continued Inuyasha.

"But Inuyasha, Kikyou herself decided to steal Sesshoumaru's money and not tell you her problems earlier.I'm sorry to say this but you were set up by Naraku and the other Trapeze troupe!" demanded Kagome.

"SHUT YER TRAP! YOU WEREN'T THERE SO HOW CAN YOU ANALYZE THE SITUATION SO CLEARLY!" screamed Inuyasha.

The clowns practicing in the center ring all turned around to face Kagome and Inuyasha in the stands.

Inuyasha angrily turned away from Kagome when she stated, "Your confused and in denial because no person can easily believe that their loved one is guilty or any wrongdoings! Do you know for sure that Kikyou didn't take that money for herself and that she wasn't associated with Naraku BEFORE she joined the Sengoku Jidai Circus?"

"I TOLD YOU TO BE QUIET! Just shut the fuck up! I don't even know why I told you!" vented Inuyasha.

"It looks like you don't need a friend like me.your secretive and delinquent Kikyou is enough company for you!" retorted Kagome.

"You know what.you may be right. I think that she still is. I'll probably leave and look for her in a couple of days. Now miss ANALYZE THIS, I need to get back to my chores.unlike you, most of us need to prepare for a show tonight." Inuyasha stated before he stormed out of the auditorium.

Kagome sat defeated yet also pretty angry with how oblivious Inuyasha was with Kikyou's actions. The guy was used and abused by his so-called love.yet she still held the only place in his heart. This Kikyou woman was no good for Inuyasha. If Kikyou was in trouble why hadn't she told Inuyasha straight away?

Kagome felt a ping of jealousy; could it be possible that she had feelings for him after so short of a time? Kagome nodded to herself and looked up and saw that the clowns were staring in her direction obviously aware of the argument that had just occurred between the two friends. She opened her mouth and yelled, "WHAT.LIKE YOU"VE NEVER SEEN AN ARGUMENT BEFORE! WHY DON'T YOU MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS DRAMA QUEENS?!"

The clowns quickly went back to preparing the center ring for their act and Kagome checked her watch. She had to hurry up and change for dinner with Sesshoumaru. All that time talking and she still didn't find out the link between Kikyou and her trapeze accident.

She got to her dressing room and was regretting her actions and words more and more. How could she say something so brutally honest to a heartbroken guy like Inuyasha? Maybe, she thought, Kikyou really had a good reason for not telling Inuyasha.like not wanting to get him involved in her problems? She wondered if she had done the right thing. She lay down on her futon and decided to take a nap.maybe a nap would help her digest all that she heard today and help her figure it out? Whatever the outcome would be, she need to rest up because she would certainly need all her strength to contain herself at dinner with Sesshoumaru. She walked over to the futon, laid down, and almost immediately fell into a restless sleep.

*Dream Sequence*

"Kagome.KA-GO-ME!" yelled Inuyasha in a sing-song voice from a dark space. Inuyasha appeared in front of Kagome and happily stated, "Guess what, I've talked to Kikyou and I am going to join Naraku's circus in order to be with her! Aren't you happy for me?"

Kagome looked uncomfortably at him and nodded in an unconvincing way.

"What's a matter.angry because you were wrong about Kikyou and I. Or is it something else?" questioned Inuyasha.

"Why do you say that?" inquired Kagome

"I would swear that I saw a jealous expression on your face just now. Do you love me too Kagome? Are you saying that I should leave Kikyou for you because you think that you and I can have a happier life?" accused Inuyasha. Kagome's dream self blushed slightly at this statement.

"No.I was wrong to analyze. What is between you and Kikyou should stay in between you two. You confided in me and I offered unwanted criticism. I'm sorry. I just don't want to loose you Inuyasha, you're my friend!" exclaimed Kagome.

"Sorry Kagome.but I can't stay for JUST a FRIEND. Kikyou needs me to protect her from Naraku. I can't forget about how you judged us.GOOD.BYE.KAGOME!" stated Inuyasha as he faded into darkness.

"Wait. DON'T LEAVE!!! I'M SORRY I JUDGED! YOU'RE MY FRIEND!"

*End Dream Sequence*

Kagome woke up in a cold sweat.she could not believe what she had just seen in her dreams. She realized that she had to have a talk with Inuyasha. After all, things between them needed to be smoothed over sooner better than later. What was she going to say to him though? What Kagome said to Inuyasha after his confession, as bold as it was, were her true feelings about Inuyasha's situation; Kagome couldn't just go to Inuyasha and take back what she really felt.

Kagome had an idea though.a way that she could keep her feelings and smooth things over to the way that they were. She looked down at her watch and sweat-dropped; she had to meet Sesshoumaru in less than twenty minutes. She got up and quickly began to ready herself. Dressed in less than fifteen minutes, Kagome walked out of her tent in her provocative black dress ready to endure a dinner with Sesshoumaru but eager to try to patch things up between Inuyasha and herself.