Kagome shrank back, suddenly afraid. The boy she had known as an infatuated schoolboy laughed softly.
"Please, Kagome, don't fear me." His voice was comforting, and he lay a warm hand on her shoulder.
"How'd you become this?" Kagome asked haltingly.
He smiled softly. "It's a rather long story. I can tell you wish to hear it, so I suggest you sit down." He took her hand and led her to a stump, where she sat, looking at him carefully.
"I grew up normally, as you know. At our highschool, I met you. You were – and still are, beyond doubt – beautiful, intelligent and kind."
Kagome blushed.
"From the moment I lay eyes on you, I loved you. But I couldn't understand why you never agreed to go out with me. I have to admit, I was slightly frustrated."
"Hojo, I—"
He bent over and placed a hand on her mouth softly. "Please," he whispered. "Let me finish."
She nodded, and he stood again. "Every once in a while, I would come by your house and often your grandfather – a noble man, I must say – would inform me of a new illness that ailed you each time. After several of these occasions, I realized how unlikely these stories were. So I began to follow you.
"One day, you took a pack of things and slipped into a strange well while I watched. I beg of you not to be angry with me for following. I swear I was not trying to cause you any harm, or to stalk you. But I grew curious, and a few minutes after you'd disappeared, I looked in the well. You weren't there. I panicked and jumped in after you, and when I climbed out I found myself in a different world. You were off in the distance, pushing your bike and whistling. I decided to explore that world before I spoke to you, but no sooner had I entered a village then some high-status guards or something seized me and brought me to a man. He asked me if I knew you, and when I said I did, he told me he knew I cared for you and promised to give me a powerful form that would allow me to find you and protect you from a certain predator, whom I will speak of later.
"The only thing was, he told me the only way I could have this form was to put my soul in a weapon so powerful it would defeat anyone. If the weapon held, I would be a powerful demon of my choice."
"And – if it broke?" Kagome asked timidly.
"I would die."
She gasped, clasping a hand to her mouth. "And?"
"I agreed." He kneeled at Kagome's feet. "For you."
"But what predator could this man have been talking about?"
"A half-demon called Inuyasha."
Kagome sprung up from her seat, angry. "And who was this man of whom you speak?"
"Naraku."
Kagome felt a sudden chill, followed by a shock of pity. This boy had given up his old life for her.
"Hojo, I have to tell you something. Actually, I've got to tell you a few things. First, Naraku is a horribly evil man who had tried to kill me repeatedly. Second, Inuyasha isn't my enemy! He's my...friend."
Hojo shook his head sadly, standing to face her. "Naraku said you would say that. I'm afraid you have been brainwashed, Kagome."
"BRAINWASHED?!" Kagome shrieked. "I have NOT been brainwashed! I know perfectly well that you've been tricked!"
Hojo sighed, then looked into Kagome's eyes with tenderness. "Kagome...trust me." He gently wrapped his strong arms around her, and brought his face close to hers, though she was leaning back slightly, unsure.
"I love you," he whispered, then closed his eyes and was about to kiss her when—
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!" shouted a familiar voice.
Hojo let go of Kagome instantly and looked into the face of an extremely pissed Inuyasha.
"Oh, hello," he said offhandedly. "And who are you?"
"Who are you?" Inuyasha snarled.
Kagome, her face very red, said, "Inuyasha, this is Hojo. Hojo, Inuyasha."
Hojo's eyes narrowed. "Inuyasha," he repeated. "So you are the threat to Kagome."
"He's not a threat!" Kagome burst out at the same time Inuyasha yelled, "I'm not a threat!"
Hojo took from his side a jagged sword that glowed – Kagome realized that must be the weapon that held Hojo's soul.
"I will not permit you to be around Kagome any longer," he informed Inuyasha, who was glaring at him sourly.
"I won't permit you to be around!" Inuyasha yelled, drawing Tetsusaiga. He began to charge when Kagome, looking very mad, said, "Sit boy!"
Inuyasha slammed into the ground with a loud THUD. "Ooph."
Hojo looked at Kagome. "So, you have power over this hanyou?"
"Sorta."
"Then I think you shall be all right. I fear my presence will only disturb you, as I seem unworthy of you. Here"-he handed Kagome the sword he carried, along with the strap that held it-"I give you my soul. Keep it well, and when you wish of me, merely tell the sword so, and I will come. I trust you with my life." With that, he turned his back and left.
Kagome stared after the demon faintly. Inuyasha popped up, an angry look on his face.
"Yeah, you just run away from me!" he yelled. "Go ahead and run! I'm way too powerful for you—"
"Sit, boy! Sit sit sit sit sit!"
Inuyasha peered up from his hole in the ground, woozy. "Whatcha do that for?"
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Shippo sat on the ground outside Kaede's hut, absentmindedly picking at his rice bowl. With a sigh, he rested his chin on his hand.
"Shippo – are you bored?" Sango asked in slight amazement.
"I guess."
Miroku strode next to Sango and placed his arm over her shoulders. "Interesting."
Sango shoved his hand off and back away. "What are you doing?"
Miroku looked surprised. "I thought you liked my attention."
Her face turned red. "Why would you think that?" She turned and stormed into Kaede's hut.
"Women." Miroku shook his head. "I love 'em."
Shippo got up from his seat. "I'm gonna go see what Kagome and Inuyasha are up to."
He hadn't taken two steps before he spotted the pair walked back, determinedly not looking at each other. Inuyasha had several lumps on his head, and Kagome wore around her waist a strange sword.
"Kagome!" Shippo cried happily, bounding into her arms.
"Hello, Shippo," she said, smiling. Inuyasha harrumphed loudly, looking extremely peeved.
"Look, Inuyasha, I don't get why you get so jealous—"
"I was not jealous," he growled. "I didn't want you kissing a jackass."
"I WASN'T KISSING HIM!" Kagome yelled, turning on him. Shippo ran to Miroku, wisely knowing it was best to merely observe the pair when they fought and not get involved.
"Oh yeah?! How come he was holding you in his arms and you were this close?!" the hanyou hollered, holding up two fingers in an example.
"I can't believe you! You never want me with another guy!"
"OF COURSE I DON'T!" Inuyasha yelled.
Kagome's mouth was in a flat, straight line. "And why not?"
Inuyasha floundered in the moment for several seconds, then turned his back to her. "Never mind."
Kagome sighed and placed a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. "I mind."
Miroku zipped to the couple. "Ah. Now, Inuyasha, is a good time to make your move."
Inuyasha swung his arm at Miroku. "And why would I want to do that?" he yelled.
Sango put her arm around a concussed Miroku. He looked up at her, confused. She smiled.
"Sango," Miroku said, kneeling before her, "I know I've asked this before, but will you bear my child?"
This time Sango inflicted grievous pain upon the monk.
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That evening, after Kagome explained what had happened, the group was huddled in Kaede's hut eating supper. Suddenly Kagome frowned.
"What is it?" Inuyasha asked, sensing the change immediately.
"Hojo..." she mused. "He didn't notice the change."
"You mean, you being in Kikyo's body?" Sango asked.
"Yes. That's funny..." Kagome shrugged. "I guess we look similar enough." She dipped a spoon into her soup.
Inuyasha stood suddenly and exited the hut. Kagome stared after him, bemused. She set down her bowl.
"Please, excuse me," she told Kaede, and followed Inuyasha.
Outside, Inuyasha strode in no particular direction. Then, as Kagome watched, he apparently decided to head to a nearby lake. She followed him as he walked there, and hid behind a tree when he reached the lakeside.
He stripped off his shirt, and Kagome couldn't help but look at his muscular body. He stretched, then dove into the water.
When he surfaced, the moon shone on his wet hair, causing it to appear silver. He stood stock-still, neck-deep in the water for a few moments, then he lowered his head, hair swishing forward to hide his face and emotions.
Kagome stepped forward. "Inuyasha?" she asked timidly.
His head shot up, and he glared at her. "What are you doing here?"
She looked at her feet. "If you don't want me here, I'll go..."
Inuyasha's eyes softened. "Nah, you can stay."
Kagome, feeling reckless, dipped a foot into the water, then began wading in. The wetness spread up her miko clothes, but she didn't mind.
"You're getting your clothes wet," Inuyasha pointed out unnecessarily.
Kagome merely smiled and made her way through the rippling water to the hanyou's side. She lay a hand on his chest, and as she did so, she felt the same thing as before: her consciousness shrank within her own body, but this time it seemed that Kikyo wished for Kagome to watch, because Kagome didn't need to fight to retain her sight and hearing.
Inuyasha's expression changed to anger. "Kikyo..."
"Inuyasha, I know we both hold feelings for each other still. I want to make them come true," Kikyo said softly.
Inuyasha sighed exasperatedly. "It's too late for us, Kikyo. Our time together is over."
"That's what you want to believe?" asked Kikyo sadly.
"No. It's the truth, and you know it as well as I do. We – I – I loved you. I was going to use the Shikon Jewel to be with you forever, dammit! But we can't continue like this!"
Kikyo shook her head sorrowfully. "I wish you would see the truth, Inuyasha." She lifted a hand to rest on his cheek, bringing her head forward to kiss him. Before she could, Inuyasha placed a firm hand on her shoulder.
"No."
Kikyo looked startled. "Inuyasha, I love you!"
"No you damn well don't!" Inuyasha yelled. "You're just a shell of the woman I loved. She's gone forever, and you can't see that! Kikyo, all you feel for me is hatred. I know that! So stay away from me and Kagome!"
"You and...Kagome? You truly do love her, don't you, Inuyasha?" Kikyo asked quietly.
If Kagome had control over her body, she would have bit her lip and held her breath. Instead, she waited to hear what Inuyasha would say.
He looked slightly uncomfortable. "Um...she's watching, you know..."
"So you do love her. All the more reason for me to kill her." Kikyo smiled a half-smile, sad and painful.
Kagome fought to regain her body, and Kikyo surrendered control to her.
"I-Inuyasha," Kagome gasped. "Do you really not love Kikyo any more?"
Inuyasha's eyes were lowered. "That's not Kikyo. That's the darkness inside the woman I used to know." He slowly waded through the water back to shore, scooped up his shirt, and left.
Kagome remained in the dark water, confusion attempting to sort itself out in her head.
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Sessomaru sat in a small hut, trying to ignore Rin's loud squeals of happiness as she ran around outside, apparently playing tag with herself. Jaken was sitting beside Sessomaru, not as effectively blocking out the sound.
"Lord Sessomaru," he moaned, fingers stuck firmly in his ears, "can't you make her stop?"
"Stop complaining, Jaken," the youkai replied.
Jaken grumbled incoherently, then burst outside.
"Rin! Would you please be quiet!" he yelled.
Rin halted in mid-step, shooting Jaken a rude stare. "Master Jaken, I'm only playing."
"You're making an awful lot of noise," Jaken told her.
Sessomaru sighed as the two began to argue.
The girl Kagome... I must find a way to destroy her...
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How'd ya like it, guys? ;) I think it needs an editing job, but I wanted to get it up for you guys ASAP. See how much I do for you?! ::grins::
Thank you so much reviewers! I really appreciate the feedback!! Keep it coming!
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