Jealousy

Kikyou sat serenely beside the still pond, the epitome of beauty and grace. By now Inuyasha would have caught her scent, by now he would be hurtling haphazardly through the forest in a rush to get to her. Soon she could cast her spell upon him, and then Kagome would never have him.

She hated the girl. Kagome. Her reincarnation. The one that Inuyasha loved. Kikyou was strong enough to admit to herself that Inuyasha loved that girl more. She could admit it, but she was unwilling to accept it. Her hatred and desperation had driven her to create something that could make Inuyasha forget about Kagome and see only her. A love potion. A mind-altering drug.

Kikyou's smile was twisted as she waited for him to come to her.

The crashing underbrush was a definite sign that Inuyasha was coming. Kikyou let herself relax and clamed her rapidly beating heart. Kikyou felt nervous, and that bothered her. It was only Inuyasha.

"Kikyou." He said, his voice breathless and filled with the same remorse that he consistently displayed when he was near her. "Kikyou, why are you here?"

She didn't even respond to his interrogation. She went over and slowly wrapped her arms around him. It came as a complete shock to him as she kissed him brutally, distributing the mind-altering drug into his body without his knowledge. "Hello Inuyasha, I'm so glad you came to see me. Just seeing you makes me happy."

The rational part of Inuyasha's mind told him that Kikyou would never behave in such a manner, but nothing else about Inuyasha was rational at that moment. The love spell took effect immediately and remorselessly. His heart began to beat faster as he began to see Kikyou in a new light. His ever-conflicting emotions concerning Kikyou and Kagome shifted drastically in Kikyou's favor at that moment. However, it was on a subconscious level, so Inuyasha's coherent mind was unable to grasp what was happening to him, although his heart seemed to have understood well enough.

Seeing the look of longing in his eyes Kikyou knew that her terrible spell had taken effect. She felt arms that been hanging limp at his suddenly tighten around her as his eyes filled with tears of love. "Kikyou, Kikyou, never leave my side again. I promise I'll protect you, so please come with me."

Kikyou struggled to suppress the cruel glee she felt welling up inside of her. That girl, Kagome, would suffer.

Kagome glared fiercely at the darkening sky through the tree branches. Inuyasha had been gone for a very long time. A very long time. Long enough for midday to become evening. Long enough for the warm spring day to become a cool spring night. Long enough to make her irrationally angry.

Shippou, Miroku, and Sango had wisely kept themselves away from the glaring girl. Now a merry fire was built and crackling happily while Miroku and Sango stared at each other from opposite ends of the fire. Sango alone with her painful memories of Kohaku and Miroku thinking of the ever-widening kazaana in his hand. Shippou looked between the three of them trying to think of a way to ease their pains, but there was nothing that he could do. All he could do, all her could ever do was sit and wait quietly, unable to intrude into their private worlds of pain.

Kagome sighed, breaking the uncomfortable silence so unlike that which had reigned earlier that day. Miroku looked at her with an understanding expression as he walked over and gave Kagome a pat on the head. "It's okay Kagome, he'll be back, don't worry." Kagome's glare only became more furious as the hand that wasn't patting her head began sliding lower and lower down her back.

"Miroku, would you please remove your hand?" Kagome asked.

"What er…what do you mean?" Miroku said innocently.

"What I mean is that you're about to…" *THWACK!!!* Kagome winced inwardly as Sango brought the large tree branch she had found of the forest floor down on the hapless monk's head.

"Stop grouping her." Sango's voice was chilly. "Is that all you ever think about?"

Miroku smiled mysteriously "That's certainly not all that I think about." *THWACK* Sango brought the stick down again.

Kagome was beginning to think that Miroku might pass out if he continued to take such abuse from Sango, not that he didn't deserve it, but she felt that it might be better if he wasn't terribly injured. "Uh, Miroku, it might be a good idea if you don't talk for a while," She suggested meekly to the perverted monk as Shippou chorused his agreement.

Sango glared at Miroku coldly. "Yes, houshi-sama, it might be best if you listen to Kagome." She brandished her tree branch menacingly. "I don't think any of us are in the mood for your—" A rustling in the underbrush cut her off. They all turned quickly, prepared to defend themselves against anything it could possibly be.

Kagome felt the adrenaline rushing through her veins. Her heart was pounding so fast that she felt as if it might explode. The rustling grew stronger and Kagome clutched her bow grimly, willing herself to hold on to it. Finally a dog-like ear burst through the underbrush, followed by a pair of golden eyes and then finally the rest of Inuyasha. "Inu—" she began, but then, grasping his hand, emerged someone else from the underbrush. Kikyou.

Kagome's rapidly beating heart was suddenly very still.

Disclaimer: the people/places/things in Inuyasha do not belong to me in any way, shape, or form.

Note: I decided that it would be easier writing if I did not use honorifics, however, I have made a few exceptions. Since it is significant to the plot Sango will call Miroku "houshi-sama" which means "lord monk" and Naraku will be called "Naraku-sama" by his minions ("Lord Naraku") This fic is going to be pretty long, and the chapter lengths will vary greatly in length. Aside from the first chapter, this is probably one of the shorter ones.