A/N: So, here we are half-way through the story. I hope you enjoy it as it gets better. I personally think the second half is much more interesting than the first half anyway.

Those who remarked on the angsting, don't worry, it gets better. Loads better. There's fluff, and some more angst, but it starts getting really fluffy soon.

Apparently, the first half of the episode airs on the 24th, 12:30 AM, on Adult Swim. You might want to double check the website just to be sure, since they are known to make last minute changes.

Chapter 10: Complications

Summer gave way to fall soon after their gift-exchange. The leaves from the trees turned golden and fell to the ground, fluttering in the wind. Time passed like an endless dream for Kagome, beginning to feel more like she belonged here than an outsider sent back through an accident.

They had barely spoken since he had given her his gift. Kagome was trying to avoid yet another tear being shed by speaking to him, knowing that the one he was falling in love with was Kikyou, not her. It wasn't like he could help it, after all, it was how it had happened fifty years go.

She wanted to avoid feeling heartbreak once more. Now, more than ever, being in Kikyou's form was a curse, forced to watch as Inuyasha fell in love with Kikyou all over again.

I don't want to watch this anymore…I just want to go home…she thought. If she was home, then she could forget all this happened, and never speak of it again, but she still didn't quite know how to go back herself.

I came here through a time tree…should I try it?

But her attempts at throwing herself at Goshinboku a couple of times amounted to nothing, and she supposed that it would seem odd if anyone saw Kikyou willingly throwing herself into a tree.

The well wouldn't work, Kagome knew well enough. Even if she could get through, she would still be in Kikyou's semblance.

So, how am I supposed to get home?

But as always, she had to stop her worrying about how to get home and focus on acting as Kikyou. The villagers still required a miko, and until Kagome knew how to get Kikyou's soul in her form and hers back to her time, she had to continue with her façade.

Kagome did see Inuyasha on occasion hanging around near the village, but never going into it. If they did talk, it was short and nothing of importance. However, Kagome was able to discern from the look in his amber eyes that something was bothering him too.

It had to be related to him falling in love with Kikyou, she knew that much. Especially since he had developed the habit of turning away sometimes when she was trying to speak with him, something he used to do when she would speak to him after he saw Kikyou.

So, its bothering him too, but I doubt that he's having the same trouble I'm having.

She knew that the day, in the middle of fall with yellow leaves blowing around, she spoke with him once more. The children of the village had gone to play with her in the fields, like they sometimes did, and, like always, Inuyasha was nearby watching over her.

Unable to keep herself from smiling at all the little faces, she asked them as tiny hands grabbed on to her red hakama, "So, children, what do you want to play now?"

They all thought about it for a moment, "Hmm…let's see…"

Laughing softly, she felt amber eyes watching her, the intensity of Inuyasha's gaze making the hairs on the back of her neck stand straight up. Turning, she saw him standing in a tree, his gaze never wavering.

Though Kagome felt alarmed that he was near once more and that he was watching her, Kikyou wouldn't have felt threatened, and perhaps would have invited him down. "Inuyasha! Don't just stand over there! Why don't you come down and play with us as well?"

There was a pause, while his eyes scanned her, as if trying to decide something, before turning away, sitting in the tree. "Keh. Don't be ridiculous." He didn't sound angry or annoyed, just as if he was stating the facts.

This behavior didn't surprise Kagome in the least; Inuyasha had never been what one could call a social person, especially around children. There was no point in arguing with him now.

However, the children were impatient, and didn't want to wait and see if Kikyou would call the hanyou back. They almost pushed her away, crying out different games such as "Let's join hands!" "Let's pick flowers!"

Though it didn't feel right to leave Inuyasha behind like that, Kagome couldn't help but laugh once more at the children, turning away from the stubborn hanyou behind her.

Though he had basically told her he didn't care, she felt his gaze upon her the entire time, and when she looked back, his eyes told her that he was trying to decide something. The look in his eyes was much like the look she knew in them sometimes when he looked at her, as Kagome.

Maybe my Inuyasha and the Inuyasha of fifty years ago aren't so different after all…Kagome mused, turning away once and for all as the children led her back to the village.


"Onee-sama, is Inuyasha going to stay in this village?" Kaede asked the next day when they were alone in their hut, surprising Kagome, who was deep in thought.

Kagome knew that Kikyou's eyes must appear very surprised. "What do you mean, Kaede?"

Shrugging, the little girl asked, "He's always hanging around here, onee-sama. I was wondering if he decided to stay here or not, since before he said he didn't want to."

Kagome sighed, "I don't know, Kaede. Inuyasha has never discussed this with me."

Of course, thinking about that brought a new train of thought. I had decided to try to save Kikyou from what happened to Naraku…but if Kikyou's saved, does that mean Inuyasha will stay with her?

Her face must have held a look of horror because Kaede asked, "Onee-sama? Onee-sama, what's wrong?"

Shaking her head, she replied, "Nothing, Kaede." I can't worry about that now with everything else, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it…

But one thought in her head couldn't be stopped, Why did I have to come here and make a mess of things in the first place?


Kagome had gone herb picking once more near the forest, when she felt a familiar youki once more. Looking up, she glanced red and silver flashing into the woods, trying not to be caught.

Inuyasha again…why does he keep following me? Will he ever stop? This is getting creepy!

Sitting down in the grass, Kagome decided to take a moment and think upon the situation once more. So, I'm here, fifty years ago, in Kikyou's body, no one else knowing this, and I've met Inuyasha, who's falling in love with Kikyou.

I can't go back yet, and if I can go back, will something happen to Kikyou, since I am her soul?

If I can save Kikyou, I will, but will Inuyasha decide to stay with her?

And what will I do once I meet Onigumo? Will I have to kill him or something? Because if I do that, I could change history and make no Naraku!

Though, she did have to slow her thoughts after that one. Kagome, what have you learned from time travel? You can't change history too much.

Sighing, Kagome thought, Okay, I can't kill Onigumo, but is there some way I can keep him from turning Inuyasha and Kikyou against each other? Maybe I could stop that, at least.

But the question is, how?

"Kikyou onee-sama!" came the cry of Kaede. Kagome turned to see the young girl running towards her, a frightened look on her face.

Standing up and taking the herb basket with her, Kagome asked, "What's the matter Kaede?"

"Onee-sama! I just found someone! He looks badly wounded, onee-sama!" she begged. "We need to save him!"

Once again, my miko duties drag me away. Kagome mused, before following the girl as she led her back in the direction of the village. "Where is he, Kaede?"

Her sister answered her at once as she pointed towards the other end of the small village. "He's by the cliff, onee-sama. I found him while playing in the river."

They were both heading towards the cliff, when Kagome asked, "How badly wounded is he, Kaede?"

"Pretty bad, onee-sama." she replied, "I think his legs are broken, and he seemed burned."

A man found at the base of a cliff…legs broken…burned…Kikyou's eyes went wide as the came up on the figure near the edge of a cliff, hard to tell that it was human. No…not yet, it can't be yet…

Kaede walked up to the figure. "It's all right, onee-sama. He's unconscious."

Slowly, Kagome came closer, kneeling down to the man. It was true, his skin was nearly burned off in some areas, but his face was visible. Though Kagome had never seen that particular face before, she could tell all the same.

Naraku… "Onigumo…" she whispered, feeling herself begin to tremble in fright.


A/N: Mua ha ha ha ha! Now we meet Onigumo! I told you this would be interesting!