A/N: So, now that we're halfway through, I'd like to say that this story's gotten a lot more feedback that I thought it would. After all, I was a risky move to do this, with so many Kikyou-haters out there. But hey, I think it's interesting all the same.

So, any theories as to how Kagome's going to get home? Or my OMG! Moment which I know you all are waiting for? I love hearing them, you know!

Chapter 11: The Spider Ogre

All Kagome's melancholy thoughts about the situation between her and Inuyasha evaporated when she first saw the burned and broken Onigumo lying at the bottom of that cliff.

Onigumo…the paralyzed bandit that had lusted after Kikyou, was devoured by youkai, and transformed into Naraku, their worst enemy.

How could she think such selfish thoughts with him around?

But what was she to do? It wasn't like Kagome could just kill him right there and be the end of that. It would save a lot of people, yes, but it would alter time like never before. And that, especially if she wanted to go home, was something she could not do.

What then? Leave him at the base of the cliff? Let fate decide what was to happen to him?

No, that wouldn't do either. Kikyou had compassion. And so did Kagome, despite who it was now to take pity on. She would have to do as Kikyou did, harbor him in safety.

Not, that she would just feed him and leave him alone to his own devices. She would have to keep a close eye on him, to make sure that there were no Naraku like tendencies as of yet. Then, if she did begin to notice any peculiar changes in the bandit, she could deal with them then, and act like she had just learned of it.

After all, she couldn't just leave him to do what he did before. Kagome wanted to try to save Kikyou; she didn't deserve the early death she got. Besides, she wanted to go home, and didn't think it would be possible if she ended up killed by Naraku…

So, after a hurried cover-up of how she knew Onigumo's name before she met him to Kaede, they both dragged him to a cave, hidden by long, tall grass. There they would leave him, visiting him only to feed and check up on him. There was no danger in him now, he couldn't move at all.

Of course, Kagome wanted to speak of this to Inuyasha, but she didn't dare. For one thing, he didn't know originally. For another, he'd get angry at her, even if he didn't know what Onigumo would turn into.

He'd probably be terribly jealous as well…she mused, giggling slightly as an image of Inuyasha and Kouga having another one of their jealousy-driven bouts on her account appeared in her mind.

Today was like any other day after they had found Onigumo; she would have to venture to that small cave and give him some food to live on, at least. On times like these, she wouldn't say anything to Inuyasha about going somewhere outside the village.

The less he knew, the better.

Though, as she ventured through the forest, Kagome couldn't help but get the creepy feeling that he knew what she was up to…somewhat. She saw him reclining in a tree as she walked past, arms full of herbs she was going to take to the cave.

Inuyasha's amber eyes followed her, almost inconspicuously, like he didn't want her to know he was watching her. Kagome didn't look back at him as she walked on, figuring that would be the best thing for now.

As she passed him, knowing his eyes were following her, she saw Kaede trying to shoot an arrow at a tree. Of course, her arrow didn't exactly hit, falling short about a foot. Where it landed, several others accompanied it; she seemed to have been practicing for a while.

After seeing where her most recent arrow landed, the girl sighed. "It's no use. I'll never be as good as onee-sama."

Walking closer to her, Kagome couldn't help but have a small grin of remembrance on her face. Of course, I was probably worst when I first started out…she clearly remembered Inuyasha pulling her on to his back, ordering her to shoot the crow youkai that had stolen the Shikon no Tama down. Of course, the only time she hit it was when she attached a piece of the youkai to it, drawing the arrow to the bird.

Kagome was lost in her memories until she saw Kaede draw another arrow, her face still forlorn as if she wasn't expecting to hit. Once again, her sisterly feelings stepped in. "Well done, Kaede." She told her, coming closer out of the forest.

The girl gave a small gasp, as if she hadn't expected to hear that come from her. Giving a small gasp, she turned, to see Kikyou come closer to her sister, a smile on her face. "Kikyou onee-sama!"

The girl's eyes suddenly became larger when looking at her, as if thinking of something important. She then asked almost reluctantly, "Um…onee-sama…"

Bending down to her eye level, Kagome asked, "What is it?"

But by the time that was out, Kaede had already changed her mind. She shook her head, telling her, "It's nothing."

Kagome stared at her for a little longer than necessary, wondering why Kaede would have suddenly changed her mind. But, it wasn't right to pry into it, even if Kaede was technically her sister. "I see." said Kagome, as she stood back up and walked away.

But as she was walking, she once again felt that youki that she had come to know so well by now. Inuyasha was watching her again, safely from up in a tree. Kagome wanted to turn and ask why he was following her, yet knowing him, he wouldn't give an answer anyway. So she had to content herself with wondering.

Why does he have to keep watching me like this?


As she approached the cave, Kagome felt the youki that had been following her leave her as soon as the cover of the forest canopy ended. He had followed her all the way out here, until he suddenly fled, as if afraid she would sense him, if she hadn't already.

I just don't understand him. Sometimes, it feels like I know everything about him, and then later…he continues to surprise me.

A minute later, she added, However, he is different from the Inuyasha I know, but I still think that this should at least have some explanation.

The cave she approached through the tall grass was nearly hidden inside it, a giant rock opening in a fissure, descending into the cave floor. Inside the dark cave lay a heavily bandaged man that slightly resembled a mummy on the ground, covered by an open yukata in place of a blanket.

He saw her coming. "Ki…Kikyou, huh?" When they had moved him to his current hideout, he had woken up. At that time, he learned her name and she had "learned" his.

"That's right, I brought you some food." Kagome replied in Kikyou's civil, yet alert tone. Just because she was harboring him meant she had no reason to trust him, and Kagome had a feeling that Kikyou heartily agreed as well.

As Kagome kneeled next to him, she lit the lamp while Onigumo muttered in a low voice, "I've already…" but after she pulled out the herbs, he sighed, "I don't care."

She mixed them up in a small bowl, making a type of soup, putting in an herb that was supposed to lessen the pain in burns. Kikyou would have put in many more of those herbs, to make sure the poor man wasn't in pain. Kagome, however, could only bring herself to put in one leaf, lessening it slightly for little more than an hour.

"Let's get on with it." The paralyzed bandit muttered as she lifted up the completed mixture. She had to feed him in order to make sure he wouldn't die of starvation, but that didn't mean she had to feel complete sympathy for him. With every bite, Onigumo lived a bit longer, thus making the possibility of Naraku being born greater.

Onigumo, for his part, looked as if he didn't exactly enjoy the feeding either, only going along with it because he needed to be fed in order to survive. However, Kagome knew enough from what Naraku had said that Onigumo didn't like being at the mercy of a woman, despite the woman even being Kikyou.

But Kagome would become very cautious whenever Onigumo looked at her, even if it was just a glance. He had fallen in love with Kikyou, or at least lusted after her. The thought nearly sickened Kagome, knowing now that she was in Kikyou's body, she was vulnerable.

How did Kikyou originally stand it? Onigumo, an evil, paralyzed bandit had wanted her! It was just disgusting to think about. How did Kikyou even look Naraku in the eye, knowing that fifty years ago, and still to the day, loved her?

Then again, Kagome reflected, Kikyou not knowing about it at first probably helped a bit.

Once she had finished feeding Onigumo and began picking up the things she would take back, the bandit asked, "You are coming again tomorrow?"

Glancing back at him, trying desperately to keep Kikyou's face looking sympathetic, she told him, "Of course, I have to come back. You need caring after."

There was an uncomfortable silence. "Just wondering." The bandit replied before turning away to look at the opposite wall of the cave.

She stood up, saying in Kikyou-like monotone, "Well then, I shall come tomorrow." And with that, left the cave, hoping her exit didn't look like she had bolted out of there, though, she suspected it had.

It was too uncomfortable to do this. To just harbor Onigumo for him to turn into Naraku. But, she couldn't worry about that now. From what she knew, she still had a month or two until that happened. She could think about a solution then.

Kaede had come to see her back to the village as she got out of there and walked through the tall grass, the sun setting into an orange sky above them. They walked in silence for a few minutes, until the girl spoke up curiously, "Why aren't you going to see Inuyasha?"

Because I don't want him knowing that I'm currently taking care of the one that killed the woman who's form I'm in now. "It's because of him. He'll get jealous." explained Kagome simply, surprised at how far she had come at fibbing in an instant.

Kaede raised her eyebrows. "Jealous?"

Remembering the scene she had recalled earlier, Kagome couldn't help but smile. "Yes, he get's very jealous…"

Though, the jealousy this time is over Kikyou, not me.

A/N: I wish I could have taped the episode today, but unfortunately, my remote decided to disappear. And the only function that I use on the stupid VCR that needs a remote is recording…

Oh well. I wasn't too excited about seeing it in English anyway. I hope everyone else enjoys it.