Author's note: Hey everyone! Special thanks to Miara for her advice. If anyone else has any concerns about where this story's headed, please let me know.

I don't own Inuyasha, and chances are no one else who writes on ff.net does either, because I don't know why the Amazing Rumiko Takahashi would write something here and not get paid for it. If there are lawyers cruising this area on business…*shakes head* If they're here for fun though, welcome! *Smears some Lawyer-B-Gone on my arm. * Heehee, just in case.

Review review review!

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Everyone's mouth dropped open. Scowling, Inuyasha pulled out the Tetsusaiga, ignoring the fact that it wouldn't transform.

"Is that a threat?" he snarled.

Ishiyana stared at him and frowned. "Of course not. I wouldn't have the heart to kill you, Inuyasha. Not without…" he glanced at Kagome. "Not without being provoked, anyway."

The tension around the campfire grew as everyone digested the new information. Ishiyana was right…he wouldn't be there now if Inuyasha hadn't died before he was born. The question was…how did it happen?

Kagome bit her lip. "But…if you're here before Inuyasha…" She trailed off as her heart thumped painfully. The thought of Inuyasha dying…of losing him…was too much to bear. She swallowed hard. "What I mean to say is, what if you save his life when you weren't supposed to? Your being here might screw up your chance of existing…couldn't it?"

Ishiyana's eyebrows rose. "I…I didn't think of that." He shook his head. "I think…I think if I was in danger of that, I wouldn't have come here. I mean, that would cause a paradox, wouldn't it? Besides, with as much trouble as Inuyasha apparently gets in," he slanted a look at him, "I shouldn't have to worry. Even if I save his butt, I should be ok."

"Feh."

Heads turned as Inuyasha rose to his feet. Glaring at Ishiyana, he slid the Tetsusaiga into its sheath. "Why don't you just leave?" he questioned darkly. "That way, you won't change anything." He walked closer and angrily thrust his face into Ishiyana's. "In other words, you should GET THE HELL OUT OF MY LIFE!!!"

Ishiyana scowled in return. "I already said—"

"That you're not leaving because of me?" Kagome stood, her expression unreadable. Both boys turned to look at her as she strode up to them. Stopping, she looked Ishiyana in the eye.

"Why do you care so much? We've only just met, for crying out loud!" Her soft tone belied her harsh words. Slowly, she lowered her eyes. "I'd really like to know…it's like Koga all over again!"

Red-faced in embarrassment, Ishiyana stumbled over his words. I want to protect you, though I don't know why. You're so kind and brave… you deserve to be carefree, not surrounded by danger! "Well, I…I'm not really sure…I mean…hey, wait! Who the heck is Koga?"

Inuyasha doubled his fists. "A loser, just like you. He came in with his wimpy wolf butt and decided that Kagome was his freakin' mate. He spouted the same bullshit about her not being safe around me." A low growl rolled out of his throat. "And I'm getting real tired of hearing it."

Before the two could face off, Kagome put a hand on each boy's chest. "You know what? I'm tired of all the fighting. I want both of you to cut it out." A glint sparked in her eyes as both boys opened their mouths to protest. "I SAID CUT IT OUT!!!"

The boys staggered back in surprise. Gritting her teeth, Kagome glared at one, then the other. "I don't want to be fought over, ok?? Ishiyana, I'm staying here, and that's final. You're not going to make me change my mind, so if you can't deal with that, then leave!" When Inuyasha started to smirk, she turned on him. "And you! If you hadn't been such a jerk from the start, you two wouldn't be fighting now! Ishiyana wouldn't have any reason to think I'd need to go home!"

Miroku cleared his throat. "Well, he did see those demons, Kagome. That would do the job as easily as Inuyasha."

She waved her arms dismissively. "Whatever. My point is, you have no reason to fight. And I'm serious about this. You two keep this up, and I'll…I'll…"

After watching her fumble for words, Ishiyana piped up. "Go home?"

"Like hell she will!"

"Errrrrrrrrrrgh!!" Hissing in frustration, Kagome spun on her heel and stalked to the edge of the clearing. She stopped and ran a hand over her forehead. "You know what? I give up. You two work things out…or knock each other out. I don't care." She turned and rummaged in her backpack, pulling out a few things. "I'm going to take a bath. Sango, will you come with me?"

"Uh…of course." The demon slayer stood and followed Kagome as she marched away from the clearing.

The boys stood in silence for a long moment. Glaring at his rival, Inuyasha turned and started walking away from the clearing.

"Where are you off to, Inuyasha?" Miroku asked. Inuyasha didn't even pause.

"Away. I'll be back in the morning."

As the half-demon-turned-human wandered off, Ishiyana sank to the ground. "I didn't know Kagome had that in her."

Shippo blinked at him. "You don't know much about her then."

Silent, Ishiyana stared up at the night sky. You're right…I don't.

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Inuyasha strode through the dark woods, frowning gloomily. So if this Ishiyana wuss is born in Kagome's time, then that means…that I don't live that long? Well, duh. I guess it would have to mean that. But…how do I die? Am I going to defeat Naraku before I do? And what about Kagome? Will she stay when it's all over, or go back to her own time?

Unbidden, her words returned to him. "I'm staying here, and that's final!"  What was that supposed to mean? She'll stay…for now? Or will she stay for good?

"And you! If you weren't such a jerk…"

Geez, how many times has she said that? Sighing, Inuyasha stopped and leaned against a tree, sliding down its trunk to sit at the base. He slid his hands into his sleeves. What if…what if Ishiyana convinces her to leave? I know she said she wouldn't, but if she really thinks that I'm just a jerk, why would she stay?

He winced and looked up in time to see a shooting star. Suddenly, a memory of Kagome pointing at one came to his mind.

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"Look, Inuyasha! If you wish on a shooting star, it might come true." She grinned at him. "Go ahead, make a wish!"

"Feh. Why should I waste my time on something so stupid?"

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Whatever. I'm making one!" Closing her eyes, she mumbled something, but even his sharp ears couldn't pick it out. He shifted his weight.

"So…what did you wish for?"

She turned and smiled. "If I say it, it might not come true." She started to walk away. "You know, you should've wished. You never know what could happen!"

~          ~          ~

Now, Inuyasha closed his eyes. I wish…

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Kagome sank into the waters of a nearby hot spring and sighed. "Boy, does this feel good!"

Sango stood silently in the water and watched her friend. Noticing, Kagome turned to her.

"What's the matter?"

"Kagome, did you realize what you said earlier?"

Kagome frowned. "What are you talking about?" The exterminator smiled serenely.

"You said you were staying here, with Inuyasha. What exactly did you mean?"

Instantly, the girl's face turned bright red. "I…I didn't mean it like that! I just meant that I have a job to do, and I go home often enough without someone nagging me about it."

"You go home often enough? I thought you said that you never get to spend enough time in your own era." Sango chuckled as Kagome sputtered.

"Well, I…I don't, I just…oh, you know what I meant!" She pouted, then smiled. "What about you, Sango? When this is all over, what are you going to do about…you know who?"

Sango's face turned bright red. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh c'mon! I can see the sparks flying between you and Miroku without even trying!"

"They do not! There's nothing between me and that…that lecher!" She paused. "The only sparks would be me knocking him out."

Both were silent for a moment, then burst out laughing.

Neither noticed a dark shape watching them from the shadows. Slowly, a pale hand reached behind her and grasped an arrow. She notched it and aimed silently.

There only needs to be one…

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Inuyasha's eyes snapped open as a scream filled the air. Kagome?!?

He jumped to his feet and dashed towards the clearing. Oh gods, what's happening?? He dashed through the emptied clearing and ground to a halt at the edge of the hot springs. Sango, wrapped in a towel, was standing defiantly before Kagome, who stood in the spring. With a look of terror on her face and Shippo wrapped around her neck, she clutched her arm…that was covered in blood.

His heart pounding in rage, Inuyasha turned to face her attacker. As he spotted her, the blood drained out of his face.

"K-Kikyo…"

Ishiyana, who mirrored Sango's protective stance, turned on Inuyasha. "You know her??"

Miroku stepped forward, joining Sango and Ishiyana while clutching his staff. "She's the original. Kagome is Kikyo's reincarnation." Ishiyana stilled.

"Her…what?"

A small, dark smile appeared on her face. "Yes, this girl is my reincarnation. And it would seem that you are Inuyasha's…however you came to be here." Her smile grew. "Isn't that ironic."

Inuyasha shook his head, stomach churning. "Kikyo…y-you tried to kill Kagome? Why?"

She frowned, a hint of annoyance entering her tone. "It needs to be done. There should only be one of us, and since I am the original…"

Inuyasha took in the look on her face, then Kagome's. A sinking realization hit him. "That day in the forest…you tried to kill her then, too, didn't you?"

When no reply came, Inuyasha doubled his fists. "Kagome, why didn't you tell me??"

She lowered her eyes. "I couldn't…I just couldn't tattle on her." A tear streaked down her face. "I didn't have the heart to…"

Suddenly, her eyes rolled back in her head and she fainted, slipping beneath the water.

"No! Kagome!"

"Kagome!"

Both Inuyasha and Ishiyana started for her, but Ishiyana was closer. He snatched her out of the water and held her to him, blushing slightly at her nudity. Incensed, he glared at Kikyo.

"How dare you do this!!"

Kikyo's face went blank. "I dare to do a lot more since my resurrection." She turned to Inuyasha, who looked like his heart was being ripped apart. "Make no mistake, Inuyasha. I will kill her…and I will take you with me to hell."

With those words, her soul-gatherers wrapped around her and carried her away. Seconds later, rage boiled over in Inuyasha.

"KIKYO!!! HOW COULD YOU?!?"

He sank to the ground. "How could you…?"

Suddenly, he snapped back to reality. "Oh gods…Kagome!" He ripped his outer shirt off and ran to her. When he approached Kagome, though, Ishiyana jerked her away.

"Stay away from her!"

Instantly, rage boiled over again. "WHAT??"

"You stay the hell away from her! You didn't even try to stop the girl who attacked her. You didn't do anything for her until that woman left! What the hell's the matter with you??"

Stung, Inuyasha took a step back. "I…"

Miroku stepped forward. "Now's not the time! Kagome's losing blood, fast! Sango, wrap Kagome in Inuyasha's shirt." They blinked at him. "What?"

"You didn't offer to do it yourself?" Sango replied dryly, snatching Inuyasha's shirt from him and proceeding to wrap Kagome tightly.

Miroku frowned. "I'm not THAT bad."

Sango rolled her eyes, then peered at Kagome's pale face in concern. "We have to dress her wound, now!"

Ishiyana tightened his hold on her. "I know how to do it. Does she have a med kit in her book bag?"

When Sango nodded, Ishiyana gingerly carried Kagome back to the clearing, Shippo right on his heels. Sango slipped behind a nearby bush to put her clothes back on, and Miroku moved to stand beside Inuyasha.

"So. What will you do now?"

Inuyasha stared at the monk with a tormented expression. "I don't know. I just don't know." His voice was ragged. How could she?? How could she hurt Kagome? Despite his rage, he found himself unable to act.

"I don't think I can kill her. Even now…I just can't!"

Miroku paused. "Inuyasha, it surprises me that you would fall for a girl like her."

His eyes widened. "The Kikyo I knew would never do a thing like this! She's not the same!!" His entire body stilled. "She…she's not the same…she's not the girl I…"

Suddenly, it all became clear. The Kikyo he fell in love with was gone. All that remained was this shell of hatred and grave soil. The soul she had wasn't even hers anymore.

…It was Kagome's.