Disclaimers: I don't own InuYasha or any of the copyrighted characters or themes and whatnot. Sorry to disappoint you.
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Three-Way Mirror
Chapter 3
Trash Talk
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Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
-- 'Gone with the Wind,' the movie
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I am Kikyou.
I am Kagome.
I loved InuYasha once, fifty years ago. He promised to be human for me. He will be human for me.
I love InuYasha now, for who and what he is. He doesn't have to be human for me. He turns human every new moon.
I guarded the Shikon no Tama with my life.
The Shikon no Tama has become the base of my life.
InuYasha betrayed me.
InuYasha would never betray me.
He loved me.
He loves me.
You are merely a carbon copy. InuYasha only took you as his lover because you remind him of me. He cares nothing for you. You merely find him the jewel shards.
We have all the jewel shards now. And he took me as his mate when you were right there at the foot of the hill. He wouldn't have done that had he still wanted you. He even had Sesshoumaru kill you.
He wanted revenge on me for leaving him. You were merely a tool for that. He always came to me. He wanted me to merge with you so that he wouldn't have to search for me any more.
That's not true.
You do not sound so sure.
He's been ignoring you for several weeks now. He's gotten over you.
That cannot be.
Now you're the one that doesn't sound so sure.
He still has feelings for me.
Yes, he does. Regret, sorrow, pain, pity—
He does not pity me! I do not need his pity!
Pity isn't something that can be controlled. Either you pity someone or you don't, and that can't be changed very easily.
You will regret talking down to me, wench. I swear you will pay for that.
How? We share the same body now. Whatever you do to me, you have to do to yourself, too. I don't deny that you love InuYasha, so I don't think you'll take your own life just so that I can't have him.
You would place your trust in me so easily?
I don't trust you, Kikyou. I just know that there's more of a force to keep you from killing me now. If I die, you die. And there won't be anyone to resurrect you again. For now, I think you had better just settle down.
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Kagome woke up gently, warm and comfortable in the nest of InuYasha's arms. She couldn't help noticing how small she felt like that. Not insignificant, but tiny. She was all but lost behind the large sleeves of his haori. Quite suddenly she realized that she must have squirmed around in her sleep. The neck of InuYasha's haori had slipped down his shoulder, exposing a tempting expanse of flesh that, had Kagome been in his position, would have revealed the bite mark near her neck.
A sudden urge overcame her, telling her to bite him back. It was only fair, after all. He bit her, so she gets to bite him. But just as she had worked up enough nerve to undergo the task, InuYasha stirred and woke up. His golden eyes were warm and heavy with sleep, but he recognized Kagome.
"Good morning," Kagome smiled.
"Morning," InuYasha replied with a sleepy mumble.
"Actually, its mid-afternoon," Miroku interjected. He didn't face them. He was preoccupied with his stew that Kaede handed him. The rest of the group, too, was gathered around the fire pit, happily lapping up the food, still hungry after the long battle the day before.
Oddly, neither InuYasha nor Kagome realized the full extent of their group's injuries. Miroku's left arm was in a sling, and there was a bandage around his head, covering a scalp wound. Sango's right leg was splinted, and her right hand was bandaged. Kouga, not being able to get home with his injuries, was also receiving medical attention from the elderly miko, as well as a hearty helping of stew. His treatments were few, since he was a fast healer, but his ankle was bandaged, and his right arm was covered in medicinal herbs that were supposed to help get the blood flowing through the limb again. Shippo suffered a fractured tail bone, but no other serious injuries. He was expected to make the quickest recovery. But, being the child he was, he wanted some "pretend" injuries, and treated himself to Kagome's first-aid kit. He had Band-Aids on his hands, feet, and even several on his face.
Kagome had a few scrapes and cuts, but no serious physical injuries. She had more psychological damage than physical. InuYasha, on the other hand, was the most physically damaged, though he refused to admit it. More than once he had gotten nicked by the root-like appendages of Naraku, and the strain over the course of the seven-day battle had opened and reopened those wounds until they were worse than when they were inflicted, and a few were even infected. His joints were stiff, his back was kinked in several spots, one knee was swollen, and there was a very painful nick in his ear. That one didn't bleed, but it hurt the most. Next to his knee... And his back... And his arms... Hell, screw the damn ear, that was a minor wound compared to his other hurts.
Just then, Sesshoumaru waltzed in like he was entering a grand courtroom instead of a humble wooden hut. Behind him trailed his little green imp and Rin. Rin giggled and joined Shippo by the fireside, wondering about the many Band-Aids that littered his form. Jaken looked disgusted. It was unclear what Sesshoumaru thought, because he kept his face carefully blank.
"Naraku has been properly cremated," he reported. "The villagers, though, are less than pleased to have Kouga or myself in their midst."
"Well it's not like you have to stay here," InuYasha sneered. "We're not holding you against your will or nothin'."
To this Sesshoumaru glared. He was determined to test his theory of power, but was wary to admit that to his "inferior little brother." So he said, "Rin seems quite happy here. I think we will stay a while."
Jaken cried out in alarm. "B-b-but m-my lord! Th-this place is hardly... appropriate for a youkai such as yourself!" He would have continued, but Sesshoumaru graced him with an icy glare.
"Jaken," he said in a warning tone, "you would do well to remember who it is you are talking to. Should you speak out of turn again, your life shall be forfeit."
The toad-imp bowed his head. "Y-y-yes, my lord," he complied, bowing his head.
"Great," InuYasha grumbled.
"Do you not approve of my presence, little brother?" Sesshoumaru inquired. "In that case, we shall leave."
"But... Lord Sesshoumaru," Rin frowned. "I thought you said that we could stay a while... I wanted to play with Shippo."
"Insolent child!" Jaken exclaimed, whirling on Rin. "Know your place! To challenge Lord Sesshoumaru's word is to look death in the eye!"
"Jaken," Sesshoumaru said sharply. The imp flinched.
"Fine, fine, you can stay," InuYasha wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Just keep an eye on your brat. I don't want her getting in the way of things around here."
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I almost forgot: If you want this story sans comments, go to and look me up under the name Adolpha.
Ja!
