Chapter 2

"What do you mean you're her reincarnation?"

"Um... to put it in simple words, she was me but living in a different time," Kagome explained.

"But how can this be? How was she you? Is that really possible? I don't believe it, I simply won't believe it."

"Believe what you want, grandpa, but its the truth."

"No way, you're just making this all up. I think you finally got smart and built a robot that looked exactly like you, although I honestly don't think you have enough brain cells to do that. I mean look at her! She looks good and well, you don't. She's really good looking and can act, and well you don't and can't. And-"

Whhhaaapppp!!!!!!!!

"Yeah I think we get the point Souta." Kagome exclaimed.

"Well aren't you an interesting family."

"Yep that's us! And now to get off this subject, I am going to go make dinner!"

Kagome was washing and cutting the vegetables for dinner and surprisingly, Kikyo was helping her. Souta was in the living room watching TV. Kagome's mom and grandpa were in the dining room discussing matters on this and that. Kagome wasn't really listening to them. She was just sort of zoned out.

"Girl..."

"Oh! Yes?" Kagome said in surprise.

"That boy..... the one who carried me in here..... was he someone you knew?"

"Oh yeah. He's a really good friend from school. His name is Hojo." Kagome said.

"Hmm....."

"Oh that reminds me. Thanks again for pretending you were me. It really helped. I don't know what I would have done if he had found out my secret. That would have been really hard to explain to him, even if he is sort of dense." Kagome was just smiling to herself, remembering some times in the past with him.

Kikyo was silent. Kagome wasn't really surprised. She was usually silent. She was actually surprised that Kikyo had brought up the subject.

"Wait a second. Why did you bring up the subject?"

"Oh! No reason! I just wanted to know, that's all..." Kikyo was blushing the brightest red Kagome had ever seen.

"Oh my gosh! You like him!"

Kikyo looked at Kagome and turned away as if trying to hide something. "Me? Like that boy? You must be half asleep or something. Clearly I do not even know him-"

"So? That doesn't mean you don't like him!"

"I-"

"You like him just admit it!"

Kikyo looked away and said, "Fine! I admit it. I like him. Are you happy now girl?"

Kagome was looking at her with wide eyes and said, "Mmhhmm. See now was that so hard?"

Kikyo just kept chopping the vegetables.

"I will so get you together with him! That is my goal! You can stay here whenever you want too! After all you can get through the well, so why not?"

"Uh..."

"That's it then. It's settled. You can come over here anytime, especially if you're in trouble or something and no one will care. If you come here when I'm not, then you'll go to school and be me or you can just stay at the house or you can go out somewhere. We'll have a bed and maybe even another room just for you and that will be your room when you come! This will be so much fun!"

"But how will you explain my presence?"

"Oh that one is easy. I'll just say that you are my twin sister and my mom couldn't take care of two so she gave you away or something. No one will notice or know about this. Then I'll get you together with Hojo..." Kagome went on but Kikyo tuned out.

This girl.... is she so kind to let me stay here with her? Does she not know that I will still go after Inuyasha's life and maybe even her's too? Is she not aware that we are still enemies and I could kill her at any moment? I think she does realize.

Kagome is still rambling on about how great it's going to be, movements and everything.

But then why? Why would she risk her own life just to be nice to me? Why is she doing this? It doesn't make sense. None at all.

"Girl..."

"Ah ah! You have to call me sister or Kagome if we're going to pull this off!" Kagome said smiling.

"Humph. Well you do know that I am still going to take Inuyasha's life. Correct?"

"Yes..... I know...."

"Then why? Why would you do all this for me?"

"Because, no matter what you say or anyone else thinks, I believe that we can become friends. Nothing is impossible right?"

"I was right, you are a fool."

"Hey!"

Its nighttime and everyone is asleep except for Inuyasha.

She must really be mad at me. I'm going to have to apologize sooner or later but I don't want her to still be mad when I do. What should I do? Bring her flowers or something?

"Inuyasha?" Inuyasha's head turned to his named being called faster than a lightening bolt.

"Sango..."

"What are you still doing up so late? Did the Shippo's snoring keep you up? Or are other things on your mind?"

"Its other things, although.." Inuyasha looked behind him where the team was sleeping. "His snoring is bothering me." Sango giggled.

"So what's on your mind? Is it Kagome? Kikyo?"

"Kagome.... What am I going to do? She probably hates me and is thinking right now that I'm a jerk and I'm not coming back to get her."

"Well then go. Go get her Inuyasha. I know that she would be happy if you came to see her, in fact I think she would be ecstatic."

"Really? You don't think that she would be mad? Should I take something just in case?"

"Mmm mmm." Sango said shaking her head. "Just take yourself. That's probably more than enough."

"Thanks Sango." Inuyasha said with a kind smile.

Sango blushed. "Well then see you and Kagome in the morning."

"See you Sango, and don't tell anyone that I went to go get her."

"Okay." And with that, Inuyasha walked out of the small hut.

Sango was just sitting there starring at him disappear into the night.

What is this? My heart is beating so fast. And why is it that every time he smiles or even looks at me, I blush. I really hope he doesn't see me blush. That would be a little hard to explain especially when I don't know why I do it. I wonder why... I mean it can't be... No... Is it?

"Is this..."

"Love?" Miroku said finishing Sango's sentence.

Sango jumped surprised by Miroku's sudden appearance.

"Miroku. You startled me. Weren't you asleep?"

"Love. That's what you were going to say."

"What are you talking about? I'm not in love with anybody. I have no clue what you're talking about. Go back to sleep monk." With that, Sango went to sleep.

As you wish, my love. I will not let you go that easily. Especially to that demon, Inuyasha. Believe me, I will gain your love. I promise.

"I'm really sorry for you having to sleep on the floor Kikyo. You sure you're alright down there?"

"I'm fine, don't worry about it. I feel better sleeping on the ground."

"That's funny so do I!" Kagome gave Kikyo one of her biggest smiles.

"Hey, I'm going to go get a midnight snack. Do you want one?"

Kikyo thought about it. "Cherries?"

"Sure! I'll be back in a flash!"

Kikyo was alone in Kagome's room. She looked around again amazed at all the stuff Kagome had in her room. She thought to herself, she must have a great life. Living in this time and being able to live in the other time too. Must be fun. Maybe I should live here every now and then. Hmmm....

Inuyasha was climbing out of the well at the exact moment Kagome left Kikyo by herself. Inuyasha was quietly thinking to himself.

Man what if she is still mad? I better think of something to say on the way there. I don't have that much time before I get there. Better think fast! Man I really wish that Sango could be here coaching me all the way, that would be so much easier and yet I know that I must do this by myself. I can do it. I just need some courage. It's pretty sad that I can face demons but I can't face Kagome.

Inuyasha thought about it for a second.

"Well she is scarier than any demon I've seen!" Inuyasha whispered to himself as he flew to Kagome's window. "Good thing she left it open."

"Hmmm?" Kikyo said.

Inuyasha draws near. He's getting closer. What shall I do? When he sees that I am not Kagome he will surely blame me of wrongdoing. The only thing I can do is hide and hope he does not see me.

At that moment Inuyasha came bursting through the window.

"Huh? Kagome... Why are you sleeping on the floor?"

Kikyo was silent.

"Well I guess you're still not talking to me, but Kagome.... I wanted to apologize. I was a stubborn fool as usual. And as usual you were right. I shouldn't have accused you of such things. And I was totally hypocritical. I'm really sorry. Will you come back to our time now? Everyone misses you there."

Kikyo still lay there silent.

"I get it. You're still holding a grudge aren't you? I said I'm sorry."

Kikyo lay under her covers hoping that Kagome, who was outside the door listening to all of this, would come in and save her but it didn't happen that way.

"Kagome... are you alright?" Inuyasha did the thing Kikyo had feared he would do. He reached out his hand to pull off the covers. Before he could, Kikyo grabbed his hand to stop him.

"Wow. Kagome, you're ice cold! Are you feeling all right? Are you sick or something? The old lady can fix you right up. Come on back-"

"Inuyasha..."

Inuyasha jumped back. Kikyo revealed herself to him.

"Kikyo! What are you doing here?! What have you done with Kagome? Where is she? Tell me now!"

"I have done nothing wrong. She is alive and well. She is still breathing."

"Then where is she?"

"I'm right here Inuyasha." Kagome said coming out from behind her door.

"Kagome... What is going on? Why is she here?"

"Well Inuyasha, that's a long story, so let me go make some Ramen for you and I'll tell you the whole story. What kind would you like?"

"Uh... beef."

"Okay. I'll be back soon. Oh and Kikyo here are your cherries!"

"Thank you girl."

"Ah ah. Kagome. Call me Kagome. Okay? Good." Kagome walked out the door and down the steps.

"I wonder what's with her. She seems too perky or something."

Kikyo ate one of her cherries. "Really? She seems just fine to me. Just her regular chipper self." She ate another cherry after saying that.

"Hmmm...." Inuyasha said with a worried face.

Well isn't this great? Inuyasha came back to apologize to me. I guess he really might like me. This the first time he's ever done it willingly and in less than 24 hours. Maybe he really does care... No probably not. After all... Why would he care about me when he has Kikyo, the warrior babe? Man, jealousy is rearing its ugly head again. Gosh why do I have to be this way?

Kagome started making the Ramen.

I guess I should leave those two alone for a while huh? I know they probably just want to be alone for a while.

"Kagome..." Kagome turned toward the window. Did someone just call her name? No she was just imagining things. She had to be.

"Kagome..."

"W-who's there?!" She called at the door. You know, I bet its just Inuyasha trying to scare me. Yeah that's probably it. He's out there trying to scare me. Well I'm not going to fall for it.

Kagome ran toward the door. She flung it open to see that nobody was there.

"Hello? Hello? Inuyasha... You can come out now... I know it was you all along." Kagome said looking around for some sign of him being there. "Inuyasha... This is not funny... Just come on out already."

Someone grabbed Kagome from behind.

"Heh... Inuyasha? Who's that?" The mystery person was trying to suffocate Kagome and with their hand over mouth she could not scream.

Oh God... Am I going to die before Kikyo did? Is this really how I'm going to die? Inuyasha! Kikyo! Someone! Help me! Please...

"Kagome sure is taking a long-" At that moment Kikyo collapsed onto her hands and feet. "Kikyo! What's wrong?!"

"Nothing... I am fine... But the girl..."

"Kagome? What's wrong with her?"

"She's outside and in grave danger... Save her Inuyasha..." Kikyo fell to the ground and was motionless.

Kagome is in trouble? Kikyo said she was outside. What would she be doing outside?!

Inuyasha turned to the window, threw his head out and saw Kagome and a stranger strangling her.

"Hey you! Get away from her! What are you doing to her?"

The shadowy figure looked at Inuyasha then disappeared into the darkness with a mischievous laugh.

Inuyasha jumped out the window and ran to Kagome.

"Kagome? Kagome! Are you all right?! Speak to me!"

But Kagome did not speak. She just lay there getting colder and colder. Inuyasha called for Kagome's mom, grandpa, and brother. As they came running out, they saw him crying over her.

"What has happened here?" Kagome's grandpa exclaimed.

"I don't know. I came out here and I saw something or someone strangling her. When I came to her she was like this and she hasn't moved an inch since."

"Oh my God. Souta! Go call an ambulance! We've got to get her to the hospital!" Kagome's mom yelled.

"No... they will get here too late and that will attract everyone here. I will take her myself. Where is this hospital? Will it help her get better faster?"

"Yes." Kagome's mom said.

"Well then tell me where it is."

"Inuyasha. Tell me is there a place where you smell a lot of blood?"

Inuyasha sniffed the air. "Yes."

"Follow your nose to that place. That is the hospital. Run in and say you need help. Someone will come up to help you and they will go try and make her better. We'll be right behind you."

"Okay. Oh... Please bring Kikyo with you. She collapsed on Kagome's floor upstairs. See you guys there!" Inuyasha flew off into the night.

"He knows Kikyo?" The family all asked in unison.

Inuyasha was waiting in the waiting room for the news about Kagome and Kikyo. Everyone was staring at him and his non-human like features, but he didn't care. All he cared about was that Kagome came out alive. The family had gone to go get something to eat and he decided to stay there. A few minutes later a doctor came up to talk to him about Kagome's and Kikyo's conditions. They were alive, but unconscious for some reason they could not figure out.

"Can I see them?"

"Uh... Sure."

Inuyasha ran into their room and saw them lying side by side in two different beds. Both of them were really pale.

"Kagome... Kikyo... If you can hear me tell me what is going on. Are you guys really okay like the doctor said? I'm sorry I couldn't protect the both of you. What can I do?" Inuyasha was at the side of Kagome's bed holding her cold hand. In a split second, her hand started to warm up again, but Inuyasha paid no attention to it.

"Inu...yasha..." Kagome and Kikyo said at the same time.

Inuyasha looked up to see both of their mouths moving at the same time.

"Inuyasha... save us..."

"Save you? Save you from what?"

"From certain death..."

"Death? What do you mean?"

"In 24 hours we will die unless you can find a way to save us."

"How can I save you? What can I do?"

"You will have to find out on your own how to save us. But this time when we die... we will not be coming back ever. Even when we are summoned. We will simply disappear. Everyone will forget that we ever lived except for you. And it will be all your fault."

"Tell me what to do! I don't know what to do!"

"You have until the next midnight. Good luck Inuyasha."

"Wait! At least tell me who did this to you!"

It was too late. They were gone. Inuyasha rested his head on Kagome's bed, when something tapped him. He looked up and just in time saw Kagome's lips mouth some words. The words, great foe. At that moment Souta came running into the room.

"Inuyasha! Is Kagome awake?"

"No..." Inuyasha looked out the window to see a sliver of the moon start to go down. "Kid... We have less than 24 hours to save your sister and Kikyo."

"Why only 24 hours?"

"If we don't save them by then..." Inuyasha turned to Souta with a very sad expression, "they will both die..."

TO BE CONTINUED