Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha . . .

ROCK ON!!!

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Kikyou . . . my competitor?

Kagome stared out the window, her blankets sprawled on her lap as she leaned against the headboard. That just makes it even more difficult . . .

The day passed unusually slowly after Sango broke the news to her best friend. The four sat around, staring at their cups of coffee as the sun set, each lost in their thoughts.

By the time any of them realized where the time had gone, night had fallen, and to Kagome's insistance, had Miroku and Sango stay the night. Inuyasha had willingly gave up his room for his charge's best friend, while he and and his former partner slept in the living room near the fire.

The young woman glanced at the alarm clock near her bedside, its bright numbers flashing "2:45."

Kami . . . I haven't had any sleep . . .

She sighed, clutching her sheets as she slumped down against the board. Kikyou . . .

Kagome had always wondered why her mother had adopted an older child. Kikyou was sixteen when Katsuko adopted her, only two years older than her biological daughter. During their first meeting, Kagome was startled to see that Kikyou had a striking resemblence to herself.

But resemblence was the only thing; the two girls were completely opposite from each other. Where Kagome was happy, warm, and cheerful, Kikyou was distant, calm, and aloof.

Despite their differences, Seiji insisted that they pursue the same career: business. He taught the girls everything they needed to know, having them do little jobs here and there in his office.

Naturally, he had trained Kikyou more than Kagome. She was older, and she would enter the business world a few years before Kagome. Everyone assumed that the older girl would eventually become the heir to his business empire, but they thought wrong.

Kagome was named heir, not Kikyou.

It came to a shock to the girls as much as it came to a shock to everyone else. At first Kagome tried to laugh it off, thinking it was a joke her grandfather played for her birthday. But Seiji didn't laugh; he was serious.

So reluctantly Kagome took up the job as heiress, accepting all the responsibilities Kikyou had before. When she questioned her grandfather on why he had named her and not the other girl, he didn't give her a direct answer, merely replying, "I have my reasons."

The heiress watched as her already introverted sister became even more distant and withdrawn, falling into a type of depression. Kagome couldn't help but feel responisible for her sister's sadness; if it wasn't for her, Kikyou would've been the heir. She resented her, the miko could sense it.

When the older girl turned eighteen, she left Tokyo and headed for Osaka where she made a fresh start for her life. Except for a few phone calls and a visit once a year, they hardly ever heard from her.

Rubbing her eyes, she glanced down at the floor, and eyeing the shadowed object of her purse, picked it up. Digging through it's contents, she found the item she was searching for.

A picture of her and Kikyou taken right before her 15th birthday.

Kagome smiled sadly as she traced the faces. They had gone to the park for a picnic, one of the rare occasions Seiji had let them take a day off.

I . . . I wasn't shocked . . . when Sango told me that Kikyou was my competitor . . .

She had expected it sooner or later. After all that training, it was plain to see that Kikyou was as good of a business tycoon as their grandfather.

It was just a matter of time . . . but to target us . . .

By targeting Higuarshi Enterprises, it had confirmed what Kagome had feared all these years: Kikyou hated Seiji for choosing Kagome as his heir.

And she hated Kagome for . . . well, being named heir.

Her ultimate revenge . . . I should've known . . .

Kagome shook her head, setting the picture on the bedside table. Pushing the blankets off her, she stood and walked to the window, gazing at the moon and stars.

So beautiful . . .

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door, followed by a muffled voice.

"Kagome?"

The heiress smiled, the voice all-too familiar. "Come in, Inuyasha."

The door creaked open, and a tall figure slipped in. Kagome blinked in surprise as his golden eyes seemed to glow in the darkness, his silver hair taking an eerie aura.

"Still awake, wench?" He growled playfully, leaning against the wall. "You know it's way past midnight."

Kagome cracked a smile, nodding. "Yeah, the alarm clock kinda told me."

She turned back to the window, her hand reaching out to touch the cool glass.

"You alright?"

The heiress sighed, glancing back at the hanyou. "I guess," she mumbled.

Inuyasha stepped out of the shadows, giving Kagome a first good look on what he was actually wearing--or not wearing. The heiress was thankful it was dark, hiding the scarlet color that crept onto her face as she stared at his bare chest.

"You've been thinking again, haven't you," he asked quietly, standing only a few inches away from her.

Feeling a bit flustered, Kagome turned back to the window. "About Kikyou? Just a little . . ."

She felt his strong arms slither around her stomach, his chin resting on her shoulder as he gazed out the window with her. "Stop thinking about it; you'll bury her no problem."

"That's not the problem," Kagome muttered, pulling out of his embrace. She stared at him, her eyes filled with sadness and regret.

Inuyasha frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Then what is?"

"It's . . . she's . . . she's finally come back to prove us wrong," she blurted, slumping down to the floor.

The hanyou quickly leaned forward to catch her, pulling her limp body to his as he carried her to the mattress. Sitting her down, he crouched down in front of her, staring her straight in the eye.

"What do you mean, 'prove us wrong'?"

Taking one look into his golden pools, Kagome spilled. She told him the whole story . . . of everyone assuming that Kikyou would become heiress, not her . . . and how Kikyou sank into a deep depression as time went by, before moving out of the Shrine for good.

"She's trying to prove Jii-chan wrong," she muttered, burying her face in her hands. "That he should've chosen her as heiress, and not me. And there's this feeling inside that tells me maybe she's right; maybe he should've chosen her, not me."

"Don't say that."

Kagome lifted her head slightly at the strange tone in his voice. "Inuyasha?"

He sighed, taking Kagome with him as he stood. "You might be a sneaky, moody, spoiled, stubborn--"

"And your point?" she frowned, poking him in the chest with her finger. Inuyasha grinned as he looked down at her, taking her face in his hands.

"--woman, but I wouldn't know any one better to do your job."

Kagome felt her eyes brim with tears at his words, feeling herself drown in his golden irises. "Inuyasha . . ."

The hanyou shushed her with his thumb, and with one quick motion, claimed her lips with his. Kagome groaned as his warm lips nibbled against hers, his hands on her back as he pushed her closer to him.

Inuyasha reluctantly pulled back, a smirk on his face as he watched the heiress turn her look of shock to a slight pout. "Inu--"

He pulled her back to him once again, crushing her lips with his as he silenced her. Kagome sighed as his chest came into contact with her warm hands, her arms wrapping around his body as she fingered his hair. Yet again, Inuyasha pulled her away before she could get comfortable.

"I think I finally found a way to get you to shut up," he grinned, placing his forehead on hers as he gazed into her eyes.

"If you think that'll work everytime, you're wrong, mi--"

And yet again, his lips claimed hers.

Okay . . . maybe he isn't wrong . . .

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AN: awww, more Inuyasha and Kagome fluffiness! lol, anyways, this chapter was a sort of background filler on the relationship between Kagome and Kikyou . . . she doesn't seem like a happy camper, does she? oh, and how many of you like the Inuyasha's new method of silencing Kagome? :-)

thanks for the reviews! sorry it took so long to come out! (don't forget to read "Past the Shadows" either!)

stay tuned!