A/N: I am starting to become obsessed with Jane Austen. It started a year ago when I watched the 1995 of Pride and Prejudice for the first time…and loved it. (Mr. Darcy is HOT!) Then, I had to read the book, which delighted me in being exactly the same as the movie.

Now, I got into Emma, and I am finding myself comparing Mr. Knightly to Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy was cuter in the movie that Mr. Knightly, and I think I'll give Darcy a couple other points since he was kind of a jerk in the beginning…and I think Inuyasha is proof to how much I love that in a (fictional) guy.

Chapter 17: Forgotten Fear

The experience of that kiss was nothing like Kagome had ever felt before. True, she had always imagined of kissing Inuyasha one day…but to actually be in his arms…to actually have his lips on hers…

It didn't matter if he thought she was Kikyou, she would have traded her form for Kikyou's a long time ago if it meant that Inuyasha would kiss her like this…

The best part of the kiss was knowing that there would be many more to come. Tomorrow, she would bring the Shikon no Tama, and would wish for him to be human. And though she would greatly miss the loss of his ears, it had to be done. It would be an end to the war of the Shikon no Tama, and the beginning of their happiness all in one.

But though she considered it their happiness, in reality, it was not so. It was Inuyasha and Kikyou's happiness, and though Kagome was currently in Kikyou's body, the triumph was still the miko's. Inuyasha didn't know who she was, nor did he know that the woman in his arms was in fact the woman's reincarnation accidentally sent into her former body.

It was a lie.

As they finally pulled away from the kiss, both of them a bit breathless, hearts beating rapidly, and deep blushes on their faces, Kagome looked into Inuyasha's golden eyes…and noticed the look he was giving her. It was the look she had seen so many times on him before, in her own body. That gleam in his eyes that told her he was seeing another.

I'm not Kikyou…I can never truly be Kikyou…But I will have to try…In order to live life without despair.

Kagome felt two strong arms pull her to his chest, while a sigh of contentment passed Kikyou's lips. She was content, right here, in the hands of the man she loved, closing her eyes and pretending it was actually her he was loving.

Neither of them spoke. But nothing was needed to be said. They both knew they loved each other…no sappy words of romance would change that. But Kagome at least expected Inuyasha to say something after that wonderful, beautiful kiss that still had her head spinning. Instead, he replied, "We should go back to the village."

Though he had not said what she wanted him to, a small smirk reached her lips. Inuyasha was never one to be romantic anyway. They pulled out of each other's embrace, noticing the deep purple of the sky as the sun had almost fully set, the ending of an old life and the beginning of another. Looking up at him with a smile, Kagome replied, "You're right…Kaede will be waiting for me."

They walked from the dock down the dusty path through the woods, hardly looking at all like two young people lost in love. Kagome, at least, expected him to do something to show her his feelings like he had shown her on the dock. Instead, he asked, not looking back at her. "You take care of the kid well."

Feeling frustrated, Kagome nevertheless replied in a happy tone, "I have to, Inuyasha. She is my sister…and all I have left of my family."

The hanyou seemed determined to keep his amber gaze away from her. "She'll be a great miko someday."

You don't even know how true that is. She gave a slight chuckle, "Yes, I suppose you are right. Kaede will make a wonderful miko once her training is complete."

"Of course…" He slowed his walking pace through the forest, while stars began to twinkle overhead. Inuyasha's eyes slid over to her. "She learned from the best."

Kagome let out another forced, Kikyou-like laugh. "Don't flatter me, Inuyasha. There are mikos far better than I."

"Yeah." he agreed, looking away once more. It was beginning to get on Kagome's nerves. "But you still have power, Kikyou."

Why was he saying this? The way he said his last comment, it made it seem like he didn't want her to give up her powers to go with him…like he wanted her to stay a miko, for some reason. Had Inuyasha ever mentioned a hostility to his choice to becoming human?

She had to find out for sure. Looking up at the midnight black sky, Kagome asked softly, "Inuyasha, is this all right?"

The hanyou looked back at her at that one, almost looking like he expected her question. "What?"

Knowing she had to press on, she continued, "Is it really all right, to be with me like this?" Her dark eyes revealed to him something she couldn't bear to say out loud, because it would break his heart. Do you want to back out now while you still can?

The hanyou stopped walking for a moment, and once again avoided her gaze. His golden eyes were set, contemplating. Deciding on how exactly to express his feelings. Though Kagome was sure that at this second offer, he would reject her, given how he was acting, he replied simply, "Don't go on about such obvious things."

Since he hadn't rejected her, Kagome took a deep breath, knowing what was at stake now. "Tomorrow afternoon."

That caught the hanyou's attention. "Huh?

She continued, "In the western forest in front of Goshinboku. Please wait there. I'll come with the Shikon no Tama." Turning to him, she saw him look back at her. Their gazes locked, her heart beginning to race once more.

Gathering up all his courage, he answered, "Right…I understand."

They gazed at each other for a long time, Kagome wishing he would take her in his arms again and kiss her once more, but she was not so lucky. She knew the village was close by, and she would have to leave him in the forests one more time, though, this may be the last night they would separate at the tree line.

After a long, uncomfortable silence, Kagome smiled once more at him. "Well, goodnight, Inuyasha. I shall see you tomorrow." And feeling bolder than she usually was, she came closer to the hanyou, while panic grew in his eyes. Mischievous grin on her face, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him…on the cheek. Nevertheless, the hanyou's golden eyes grew wide and she could feel him literally freeze beneath her.

When she pulled away, Kikyou's dark eyes soft, she looked into his golden eyes, which revealed his feelings at the moment. Shock, most definitely, love, of course, and then…pain. Again he held pain in his eyes…pain, like he felt as if he was betraying his heart…

But Kagome turned away, giving a small sigh as she walked back to the village. He must know that something is wrong. That I am not Kikyou…He knows that there is something not right with my manner as Kikyou…but he still promised to me…why?

But she didn't let herself fret too long. There was work to be done. Before she could go back to her and Kaede's hut to rest, she had to take care of one more thing, essential to her and Inuyasha's plans to be together.

She walked to the far end of the village, towards the dark temple. Kagome could feel the power radiating from the Shikon no Tama before she even opened the doors or set foot inside. Trying to calm the flutter in her heart from being with Inuyasha, she slid the wooden doors of the temple open, eyes gazing upon the jewel glowing pink on the altar.

Once the doors were closed, Kagome walked closer to it, glad that the fires of incense were still glowing to allow her enough light to see as she knelt in front of it, clasping her hands in a form of prayer. I'll still never get used to it being so…whole…

She closed her eyes, bending her head as she prayed and once more purified the Shikon no Tama from any evil that might have seemed into it. The jewel had to be completely pure for her wish to be preformed. Kagome wasn't taking any chances.

But, though she filled up the jewel with purification energy, she still had her doubts. The old argument came back to her once more as she knelt and tried to concentrate. You are not Kikyou. You are lying to him…taking advantage of her form to win him.

But I don't have anything else to turn to now…I cannot go back…I will never see the Inuyasha I know again…I should just take what I have now and keep it.

It's still a lie…you can never deny that…

Steps outside the temple woke her from her prayer. She opened her dark eyes, glancing at the doors at the back of the temple. "Who is it?" Kagome asked, tiredly.

"It's me, Kikyou." That voice caused her heart to begin to pound rapidly in her chest.

He came to visit me in the village? Why? Does he want to…kiss me again? She hoped for that scenario as she asked, turning back to see her hanyou's outline through the small slits of light in the door. "What is it? Did something happen?" Of course, Kikyou's first fear would be of a youkai attack…

"I'm just looking forward to it." Inuyasha replied, making her heart race faster. Does he mean…he's acting different from before? He really wants to become human? His voice then became lower, with purpose, "Hey, Kikyou, do you think you can make me human now?"

This urge to suddenly become human was so unlike him…it was just too odd…"It's impossible like that." Kagome explained simply. "The night is full of evil jyaki. If you use the Shikon no Tama, the sun should be up." She wasn't sure if this was true, but Inuyasha's sudden willingness was very strange…

Kagome began to get a chilling feeling as he replied, "I understand, well then, please do it as soon as the night has ended." Kagome glanced at his shadow through the sliding doors. Why was she getting this weird feeling? It was Inuyasha, he never scared her…

But she did know that something was not right as suddenly, his figure disappeared. Kagome gasped, and stood up, running to the doors of the temple and sliding them open, looking out to the village and the night…and Inuyasha was no where to be found.

I'm getting a bad feeling about this…Kagome thought, suppressing a shiver. Why would he come here and say that…like that? Why wouldn't he have told me before? Why didn't he come in and say hi?

And more importantly, Why am I getting this fear in my heart?

But the feeling of fear, that was familiar. It was a memory that she had kept bottled up in the frame of mind labeled 'Kagome' for a year, and was not something that she had ever brought out as Kikyou. But now, that she had known this feeling before, all the dark memories came back to her…memories of tragedy, terror, and most importantly, fear.

Her dark eyes went wide and a gasp came through her as she thought in realization, That wasn't Inuyasha…that was Naraku! That means…tomorrow, Kikyou and Inuyasha are going to die!


A/N: I'll say it again. Mwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.