Kikyo/Kagome was happier than she had been in fifty years. At least she thought she was happy. She wasn't sure that the dead could feel. Inuyasha looked at her the same way he had looked at her fifty years ago. But she was in the body of the girl!

She was so angry that she could hardly bear to look at him with the gentle expression she knew Kagome would wear. She felt his worry for her. She must get a hold of her emotions.

She waited until the others had fallen asleep. She sat up gently, removing the stupid creature named Shippou from around her neck. She tried not to drop it in disgust.

She walked through the woods toward the well, knowing that Inuyasha would hear and also knowing that he would follow.

"What is it Kagome?" he asked. He was so close.

"It's nothing. I just couldn't sleep."

She grabbed his hand and pulled him along with her. He blushed slightly but she didn't seem to notice. She led him toward the well, where she had promised to meet Naraku.

Inuyasha grew more and more surprised at Kagome's behavior. It was her, but it wasn't her. It worried him.

A wind rustled through the trees and Kagome shivered. She moved closer to him.

Naraku watched the pair with growing envy. He didn't understand it. Was Onigumo's heart that powerful? Had he, Naraku, developed feelings for this Kikyo? How dare that half-breed, Inuyasha, believe he was worthy of her!

"Soon," he soothed the human part inside him, "Soon you will have what you've waited for."

Inuyasha watched Kagome's sleeping form in the soft shadows of the moon. Her skin looked soft and inviting. He almost let down his guard then. Almost.

She awoke and almost in a dream, she lay her hands on his chest. He simply looked at her, for this wasn't like Kagome at all. She reached up to kiss him and that was when he saw it. A line, no thinner that a spider's web below her hairline. His hand rose as if to stroke her cheek. He pinched the line and a mask slipped fell into his open hands.

He stared at the girl and took a step back involuntarily.

"Kikyo, why?

"I wish to be with you Inuyasha. Are you unhappy to see me?"

"What have you done? Where's Kagome!

"She's dead. She was of no use to me."

Inuyasha felt dead inside. He knew it was true. His soul almost seemed to leave him as Kikyo watched. She felt guilty to have caused him pain, but only for a moment.

"I thought you would be happy, Inuyasha. Do you not wish to be with me any longer?"

Inuyasha could only stare. Kikyo could see the grief in his eyes.

"I...," Kikyo started. Naraku appeared behind her.

Inuyasha leaped back to distance himself from the demon. "Naraku! I should have known you had something to do with this!"

"Inuyasha. Kagome sends her regards. Yours was the last name she called before she died."

"You bastard. You're going to regret what you did to her."

"I don't think you'll have the time. You'll be joining her in hell soon."

"Damn you..."

Naraku laughed. Inuyasha's ears stood on end. He hated that laugh.

A burst of white and pink. Kikyo shot an arrow and pinned Inuyasha to a nearby tree. He moaned. His body crashed into the body of the tree. He reached his arm out for her.

"Naraku do it now." she said.

Naraku stretched out his long coat and roots grew out from under him. "I've waited far too long for this moment."

"Why Kikyo?" Inuyasha gasped.

"This is the only way we can be together. I longed to be with you when I was alive. I cannot do this in this body. If I die now alone, I might never see you again."

"But Kagome..."

"What about her? She's just a silly girl Inuyasha. Does she really mean more to you than I do?"

Kikyo saw the answer in his eyes, and for a split second, she hated him.