A/N: You know, I think May is the worst month to be in school. Every day takes twice as long since you're counting down the days til it's over in your head, every minute just having to take FOREVER to remind you of your misery.

I think I'm going to cry tears of joy once vacation has started. If I can ever make it there, that is.

Chapter 8: Different, Yet the Same

The chilling water of the river splashed down on Kagome as she threw the water from the bucket over her, the feeling of the water instantly making her feel clean. She had taken off Kikyou's red hakama, the white part of the miko outfit long enough when not warn with the hakama to reach down near her ankles.

She closed her eyes as she savored the feeling, the icy water calming her. Because she was in the Sengoku Jidai and couldn't wash her hair every night she was here, a bath was a rare pleasure. Of course, it would have been better if she could have found the hot spring that lay somewhere in the forests around the village, but it seemed that going back fifty years had changed the landscape slightly, making it impossible for her to find it.

Good enough. She thought, opening Kikyou's dark eyes as the miko's wet, long hair fell around her, the cold feeling nice on a warm summer's day.

There were many things to think about as she washed herself. First, of course, was Inuyasha. So, he threatens to kill me, tries to steal the Shikon no Tama, and then he suddenly saves Kaede? I thought I would learn to understand him, not ask more questions!

However, while Kagome was thinking about him, she felt a familiar youki nearby. Her heart suddenly quickened its pace as she instantly recognized that youki. Inuyasha…

Where was he? She discreetly glanced around, if he was nearby, but didn't see him around her at all. Kagome knew he was watching her; she could feel those golden eyes piercing her skin. But where?

Glancing at the waterfall close to her, she suddenly spotted something at the top. Something red. Her eyes followed until she was met with a flash of red and silver darting back into the forest when they noticed she had caught on.

This caused Kagome to raise an eyebrow. He was hiding up there? He was watching me?

Suddenly, she was hit with many more questions about this hanyou she thought she knew, yet learned new things about him at every turn.

Hours later, late in the afternoon, Kagome decided on a stroll through the village, to let herself think. It seemed that Inuyasha was…obtaining a strange attraction to her…well, technically, Kikyou. It didn't matter if she didn't know when it had started, she just knew that he would continue to follow her like this, never coming forward to speak to her unless she did something.

She wanted to speak to him. Kagome wanted to talk civilly to him, even if she was Kikyou. She wanted to know all about him, especially about his life in this time. But it seemed the man she loved was as unwilling to talk to Kikyou as he had been to her when she had first known him.

I can never see if I can do something to save Kikyou if I can't talk to him…she thought. She had decided when she first became Kikyou that unless she tried to save her, she would die the same death Kikyou had. Kagome decided to see if she could possibly save the deceased miko, and give her the life she deserved back.

Of course, she wasn't so sure what to do about Inuyasha, after all. He belonged fifty years later, but what if he insisted on staying with Kikyou if she ever found a way back?

Sighing, Kagome decided to save those thoughts for later, when she had more answers. For now, her job was to watch, and observe, not to go jumping in and messing up time at the moment.

As she was thinking, a familiar youki floated into her senses once more. He was following her again, as if he couldn't let her out of his sight. This annoyed her to no end. He was stalking Kikyou. Something that he only did to…well, her. Kagome knew that he had loved Kikyou before, but the way he was going about it, she seemed like…an obsession.

She sat down on the soft grass, overlooking the village, before turning to the tree the youki was coming from. "Inuyasha?" she called, making sure he heard her. "You're there, aren't you? Won't you come out?"

Slowly, almost reluctantly, Kagome heard the leaves rustle, and saw a silver and red figure's head emerge from it—Inuyasha. His face was set in slight annoyance, because she had found him. At first it looked like he might refuse, but then, the hanyou jumped down next to her, sitting doggy-style on his haunches with a sour look on his face.

Though Kagome couldn't help the small, amused smile on her face, she made sure it was gone when she looked back at him. "It is the first time I've been this close when talking to you." Remarked Kagome, sounding more like Kikyou than ever.

Inuyasha grunted, the sour look fading, only to be replaced with an unsure look…as if he didn't know what to say. "So what of it?" he gave a small, half-hearted annoyed growl.

There was a small pause as Kagome pondered his behavior. He wasn't happy at her calling him over, that was painfully obvious, but there was a sense of uncertainty in his eyes…Almost a fearful, calculating look, as if he was afraid of what he would find when he finally came to the conclusion…

"I heard you saved Kaede." Kagome told hi, getting straight to the point she had wanted to ask him since the day before. Perhaps he would provide an explanation to his peculiar behavior.

Of course, no such thing awaited her. Inuyasha turned sharply away, his nose stuck proudly in the air as he grunted, "Keh. That thing?"

A defeated sigh escaped Kikyou's lips; so there was no explanation. But what was she expecting? Inuyasha was always one to do what he wanted of his own accord, without giving a reason unless he had to.

Nevertheless, thanks were in order. She bowed her head slightly, as was customary, and told him, "You have my thanks as well." Kaede had already told her that she had already told him thanks.

"Sure doesn't seem like it." the hanyou muttered, never looking back at her, the calculating look still in his eyes.

Kagome sighed once more, and they both turned back to look at the village, both not speaking as a breeze whispered through the trees, fluttering the grass and playing with their hair. Looking down, Kagome thought over what was to come next.

She knew she had to say something. Since she had shared a soul with Kikyou, her soul, like now, would sometimes give her a feeling that more had happened. Sometimes, she would even feel what her soul remembered, an image, a concept, words that had been spoken. And when she would say them, it seemed that her lips moved of their own accord, speaking the words Kikyou had said fifty years ago.

And like always, Kikyou had something to ask him…but Kagome also wanted to know it as well.

Looking back at the hanyou across from her, Kikyou's eyes calm, she asked, "Inuyasha? How do you see me? Do you see a human?"

Inuyasha looked back at her, with a half-puzzled, half-expecting look on his face. "Huh? What are you talking about?"

Looking back down at the clustered huts of the village that was now her home, Kagome remembered several things that had happened to her since she had come here…Tsubaki telling her that she was hardly human…that she had to give up human desires…the village girls calling her inhuman…her own doubts about what she—Kikyou had to do, killing youkai every day…and Inuyasha himself, telling her how she reeked in the blood of youkai…

"I cannot show weakness to anyone, I cannot falter." Kagome told him…not just talking about Kikyou's problems questioning her humanity. "The youkai would take advantage of that." She stated simply, speaking what Kikyou had said, yet thinking of her own doubts about who she was in her mind.

Glancing at Inuyasha, she saw that he was looking back at her, with the oddest look in his lovely amber eyes…pity? "Human…Kikyou…yet I am not allowed to be who—what I am." Kagome silently cursed herself for her slip of the tongue. Baka! You know Kikyou definitely wouldn't say that!

Looking back at an even more confused Inuyasha, Kagome finished, "You and I are similar, Inuyasha, you being hanyou." Looking down, she added, "And I couldn't kill you if I tried."

As if he heard enough, Inuyasha stood up suddenly, annoyance plain as day on his face. "Hmph. What, you're just here to gripe? That's not like you, Kikyou." He turned around sharply and began walking, giving Kagome a view of his back-length silver hair, before he stopped as if he had forgotten something, and glanced back.

An ironic smile crept on to Kagome's face. Not like her at all… "No…I suppose…it's not." Kagome said in a small voice, before her face fell, the amusement fading as sadness came back into her face. I'm not at all like Kikyou…I am Kagome…

Inuyasha watched her, his head tilted to the side like a puppy trying to figure something else. Kagome stared back as she stood up, grabbing her arrows, and looked him directly in his piercing amber eyes. Why was he looking at her like that? He couldn't possibly know, he didn't even know who she was!

But it was obvious that he knew something wasn't completely right. I can't mess up next time! Kagome yelled at herself. I have to play Kikyou perfectly, no matter what. But how was she to reassure him she was Kikyou and put his mind at ease? "Inuyasha?"

"Hmm?" he asked, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. "What is it?"

Kagome said nothing. Her just blurting out to him that she was Kikyou sounded ridiculous, if not more suspicious. But how was she to patch it up? Sighing, knowing this was a battle she could not win, she turned away, replying simply, "No, its nothing."

I guess I'll go back to the village now. thought Kagome. I can at least play Kikyou without messing up there…it was nice talking to him, at least…

Suddenly, Inuyasha's voice broke through her thoughts and suddenly, impulsively yelled, "Kikyou! How about you come here tomorrow?"

Kagome stopped her walking towards the village and paused, looking back slowly, a surprised look on her face. Did he just…ask me to come back? Does that mean he wants my company?

Turning sharply away, not able to look her in the eye, Inuyasha told her softly, "I've got something to give you…"

He's embarrassed…she realized, a very Kagome-like smile coming on her face as she said with amusement, "Something you want to give me?" I didn't know he could be so…sweet…However, I can't let him do this all by himself… "Too easy. I've got something I want to give you too."

The idea of what to give him made her smile wider. Oh, yes, what a present…she nearly laughed out loud, wondering why she hadn't thought of the idea before.

Eagerly, but with good humor, Inuyasha joked, "The Shikon no Tama?"

Kagome's eyes narrowed, also in on the joke as if he was serious, "Of course that's not what I mean."

Still smirking, with mock anger, the hanyou she loved turned away, his hands on his hips, "Hmph. It's worth the thought."

As Kagome giggled slightly in a very un-Kikyou-like manner, she smiled and told him, "I'll see you tomorrow Inuyasha. I'll come here at the same time." She turned back to continue her trek towards the village, to ready her present for him.

Of course, she heard his voice calling after her, seeming almost surprised himself at his words, "And I'll be waiting!"

As Kagome's heart skipped a beat, her glee was forced down a second later, as she reminded herself, grim-faced. You are Kagome. Not Kikyou. He only thinks you are Kikyou.

You can't forget that…

A/N: I did tweak the dialogue from the original here, but because I just could not see Kagome speaking like that at all.

But I try to keep it as cannon as possibly without making Kagome sound completely wack.

I loved writing this! It's one of my favorite scenes from the episode!