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Twil: Thank you for saying I'm doing a good job! It makes my head explode with happiness! ^____^

Moonlit Meadow (times 2!): Hey! I hate those too! Finally, someone else who can't stand those deception stories…Thanks for your review!

Whee! I've gotten three reviews! *Jumps about in glee*

Disclaimer: I own it all! All, I tell you! *eyes flash madly*

The Princess and the Pauperess

Chapter 3

According to plan

Kikyou stared at the man before her. He was very attractive, in a rebellious sort of way, with a long, expressive ponytail and sharp blue eyes. She could swear he even had fangs. He looked her over in a scrutinizing fashion for a moment before tossing his head and smirking.

"This isn't Kagome," he announced. Kikyou caught Miroku shaking his head slightly. She smiled. There was no point in keeping up the charade. This Kouga person was obviously quite sure of his statement.

"You're right. Kagome will be back in a month," Kikyou informed him.

"Well, where's she gone to?" he asked, his gruff voice belying his concern for Kagome.

"To the castle. Just for a month," Kikyou assured him. They stared at each other for quite some time before anyone spoke.

"Damn…" Kouga muttered. "She won't wanna have anything to do with me after this…" Kikyou cocked her head.

"Why?" she asked. In all honesty, she didn't know what the castle had in comparison to love. Kouga sighed.

"Girls like money, not men," he responded as if it were obvious. Kikyou pulled a face.

"No they don't," she corrected him. "They like love."

"Girls like money," Kouga insisted. "I've known enough to know that." Kikyou shook her head.

"No, trust me. As a girl. We'll choose true love over money any day."

"No you won't." Kouga scoffed. Kikyou couldn't believe this insolent man! The least he could do would be to listen to her perspective.

"Yes, we will," she retorted.

"No you won't."

"Yes we will."

"No you won't."

"Yes. We will."

"You won't."

"Will."

"Won't."

"Okay! Enough already!" Miroku cut in, obviously exasperated with their bickering. "God…after only ten minutes of knowing each other, too." Kouga smirked at Kikyou, who glared back stonily. She would show him. Kagome would come back, and she would marry him, and he would know…

 . . . . .

Kagome lay sprawled on the gargantuan, unnaturally fluffy bed, snuggling her face into a soft, sweet-smelling pillow. Ah, this was the life…She had abandoned the dresses for a slip, and the cool silk felt wonderful against her callused skin. She never wanted to go back home…Suddenly, someone barreled into the room. Kagome sat up abruptly, causing her head to spin a bit.

"What?" she asked. The young man stood, rooted in place, seemingly unable to form coherent syllables. He was looking at her oddly, and it unnerved her. "What?" she repeated, hoping to shake him from his stupor.

"Why are you back so soon?" he asked. Kagome blinked. She thought everyone knew by then that she'd claimed ill and insisted on going back 'home' to the castle.

"I—I'm sick," she told him. He shot her an incredulous look. That was when Kagome noticed his eyes, which were a beautiful, predatory golden. Oh, she could stare into those eyes all day…

"Kikyou?" he asked, forcing her from her reverie. She shook her head and stood.

"You're Inuyasha, right?" she questioned, cocking her head.

"Are you okay?" he asked, moving toward her a few steps.

"Please answer my question," she pressed. He raised an eyebrow at her, but complied.

"I'm Inuyasha. What game are you playing?" Kagome released a sigh of relief, and smiled at him.

"Good, then I can tell you. Kikyou said you'd be trustworthy, so I expect you to be." He rewarded her with the utmost of perplexed expressions, with his brows furrowed, his mouth in a thoughtful frown, and his head tilted to the side.

"What the hell are you talking about?" he finally asked.

"I'm not Kikyou," Kagome confessed. She sounded more nonchalant than she felt, and patted herself on the back. Good job, Kagome…To her surprise, Inuyasha barked out a laugh.

"Very funny," he announced.

"What?" Kagome asked, confused. To her surprise, he moved close enough that she could smell his unique scent. He touched her chin and coaxed her face up to look into his eyes.

"You think I don't know you?" he asked. She sighed and moved out of his grasp.

"My name's Kagome. I'm not Kikyou, but she should be back in a month."

"Kagome, huh?" Inuyasha scoffed. "Where'd you come up with that? A nursery rhyme?" Kagome's eyes turned to slits as she glared at the moronic bastard before her.

"It's a good name, and it's mine!" she spat out. "Ka. Go. Me. Remember it." She spun around to face the bed, but he grabbed her arm and turned her to face him once again. He gave her a good once over, then gasped slightly.

"You're not her…"

"You're quick," Kagome snipped.

"What did you do with Kikyou?" he demanded, shaking her a little.

"Ow! Hands off!" she pushed him away and quickly moved out of his reach. He glared at her.

"If you've killed her…" he started, but her scoffing silenced him.

"Who would want to kill Kikyou? Now, wanting to kill you I could understand…"

"You stupid bitch. Just tell me where she is." He crossed his arms and refused to cease his unwavering glower.

"We switched places—that's all. She'll be back in a month. Just call me Kikyou till she gets back and it's all fine."

"No. She can't do this. She switched places with a peasant? I can't believe this!" He moved faster than Kagome's eyes could follow, and had her upper arm in his incredibly strong hand again. He began dragging her in the general direction of the door. "Come on, wench. You're taking me to get the Princess back."

"Kikyou said you might do something rash…" Kagome offered. "She also told me that in the case of such I should tell you that it was her express wish to live the life of a peasant for a month, and that you would understand." She shot him an incredulous look. "Though you don't exactly strike me as an understanding sort of fellow…I really wonder what she sees in you…" He released her from his grip roughly, causing her to stumble and almost lose her balance.

"Shut up," he commanded, "just shut up." He ran his hands through his hair and sighed, lengthily and exasperatedly. "Fine, I'll play along, but only because this seems like something Kikyou would do. If you get in my way, I'll kill you." With that, he exited the room in a flourish of anger and frustration. Really…

"Who's the bitch?" Kagome asked herself aloud before collapsing into the mass of unholy fluffiness that was her bed.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Okay, Inuyasha's a bit out of character in this chapter. Just remember that Kikyou hasn't betrayed him in this fic. Also bear in mind that with Kagome around long enough, he'll soon be back to his old self. ^_^ Reviews/constructive criticisms are greatly appreciated. Thank you.