There will be some Inuyasha/Kikyo fluff, but it'll soon end…

Kagome paced around her room. She was almost done packing and she would have to head out in the morning to leave, but she still felt like she wasn't ready. Sango and Miroku were all ready to go, their belongings all packed. Sango was in Kagome's room trying to help her finish before night.

"Kagome-chan, now I'm sorry to say that you won't be able to take any of your dresses along," Sango said, walking to Kagome holding some Miko outfits.

"Of course I know that. I'm not a totally pampered brat," Kagome said, sticking her tongue at her. Kagome took the Miko clothes and held them up. "This will suit me just fine."

"I'm just bringing my same old demon slayer outfit," Sango said.

"I hope you won't have to use it too much," Kagome replied, folding the clothes up and placing them in a small pack.

"Me too."

A knock sounded on the door.

"Come in!" Kagome yelled and cringed when she realized it was Miroku who walked into the room.

"Ah, my ladies, I hope you are all ready to go," Miroku said, grinning.

Sango and Kagome stood close together and nodded their heads. "Of course. Kagome-chan just finished packing," Sango said, trying to stay away from Miroku, who was slowly coming closer to them.

"Great!" Miroku said joyously. "Kagome-hime, your father told me that the farewell dinner is prepared and you are to report as soon as possible to the dining room."

Kagome nodded her head and grabbed Sango's hand. "Let's go, then!" she then bolted for the door, leaving Miroku by himself.

The farewell dinner went smoothly, and after the dinner, they were all sent to bed early to wake up refreshed and ready for their journey.

After a tearful farewell with her mother and father, Kagome, Sango, and Miroku were headed off, to meet a future they'd never thought they would meet.

XxXxXxXx

Kikyo gasped at who was standing right in front of her. "Inuyasha?" she mumbled again. It was him. But why him, of all people?

Inuyasha decapitated all the Oni in a few slices, and they all fell to the ground, dead.

Kikyo looked up to Inuyasha through fuzzy vision. Inuyasha scowled at her and walked over slowly. "Why…?" Kikyo mumbled up to him.

Inuyasha just snarled and grabbed her arms, helping her to stand up. He walked her over to the horse that was not to far away and placed the reins in her hands.

"Why?" Kikyo asked again.

But Inuyasha didn't answer. He jumped into the trees and was gone.

Kikyo stared to where he had left. She couldn't explain it. She groaned and tried to climb up on the saddle. She barely made it, and she put the horse into a small trot. Kikyo's vision finally gave away and she crumpled forward, unconscious.

Kikyo woke up to the same ceiling she always woke up too. She sat up slowly, groaning and holding her throat that she guessed was covered in bruises. She looked around for Kaede. She called out for her, her voice a harsh sound. She heard no one coming so she slowly eased up, trying not to put pressure on her broken ankle.

"Kaede?" she called out again.

Kaede walked in, carrying some herbs and a small container of water. "Child, are you better?"

Kikyo shook her head and sat fast back onto the ground.

Kaede sat down, took Kikyo's chin, and looked Kikyo straight in the eyes. "What happened?"

Kikyo took a deep breath. "I was attacked by Oni."

"You were attacked?"

"Yes… It was late and raining and I was just tired. I didn't even notice them."

"Ah," Kaede pondered. She leaned back and started to mash together the herbs. "How did you defeat them."

"I… didn't…"

"Then how, child?"

"It was Inuyasha," Kikyo said quietly.

Kaede looked up immediately and spoke in a surprised voice. "The Hanyou?"

Kikyo nodded slowly.

"That is… very surprising…" Kaede said mostly to herself. "Inuyasha has not been known to be compassionate."

"I don't understand it either," Kikyo said.

It was quiet for the next few minutes. Kaede finished preparing the herbs and handed them to Kikyo. "Take these… they'll ease the pain. "I also prepared some crutches for you to walk around on. It'll be harder for you to guard the jewel if you're just lying here."

"Well, I couldn't run at all right now either," Kikyo said sadly.

"We need another Miko here," Kaede said.

Kikyo nodded. "I hope the one we requested will come." Kikyo said, then sighing. Then maybe she could stop being the almighty feared Miko… and live a normal life.

Later that day, Kikyo went walking with the children of the village to pick flowers and herbs. The children carried her basket and made sure she didn't fall along the rocks.

Kikyo began to feel something watching her. She didn't look around because she knew who it was.

"Children, why don't you go on ahead and I'll catch up later," Kikyo suggested.

"Ah, but we want you to come!" one little girl said.

"I will, don't worry," Kikyo said, giving a small smile of reassurance.

The children nodded and ran off.

Kikyo sat down and called out, "Inuyasha! I know you're there."

"Figures," came the reply.

"Come down, please."

"What if I decline?"

"Then I'll just leave."

Inuyasha jumped down and approached her slowly. "What do you want, wench?"

"I want to know why you saved me."

Inuyasha didn't say anything. He stared off into the sky.

"There has to be some reason," Kikyo said.

Inuyasha scowled and looked at her. "I'll be the one to get the Shikon Jewel, not some Oni."

"Is that the only reason?"

"What other reason would there be?"

Kikyo sighed and leaned on her crutches, trying to get up. "Nothing," she said. She took a step and was about a few feet from Inuyasha. "I'm sorry to bother you, then."

She tried to pass him, but she had placed the crutch on a small loose rock, making her slide forward and twisting her ankle anymore. She reached out, trying to grab Inuyasha's arm to keep her upright.

Inuyasha answered by jumping in front of her, grabbing both of arms and helping her stand up again.

Kikyo stood there awkwardly against Inuyasha. She was handed her crutch by him and she stood upright, looking into Inuaysha's eyes. She realized that his eyes were a golden hazel color… she'd never realized that before.

She wanted to ask him why he was helping her. "Why are you helping me? Shouldn't you be attacking me?"

Inuyasha turned a little red, a thing she thought she'd never see. He backed away and started to stutter. "I don't know…"

Kikyo backed away from him also. "Inuyasha… thank you." She then turned away and walked to the children.

Inuyasha stood there looking at her and then ran off into the forest.

Over the next few months they saw each other and never spoke, and Kikyo was surprised that he never tried to attack her again. It soon became winter, then spring… Kikyo's ankle was now healed, and the demons had lessened. Kikyo was surprised at this, and she decided to talk to Inuyasha once more. She had a feeling he was behind all the demons disappearing. She ventured out near the East Lands one day when she was free. She couldn't stray far, but she wanted to talk with him. She couldn't really explain… but she was missing him.

She sat down near a stream, filling her water container. She heard a branch crack behind her and she turned around to see Inuyasha standing there.

He walked up closer to her. "So, wench… you look like you want to talk," he said.

"Yes, in fact I do," Kikyo said. She got straight to the point. "Are you the one ridding of the demons?"

"Hmph…" Inuyasha grunted and crossed his arms. "Yeah."

"Why?"

Inuyasha took a step closer and grabbed Kikyo's hand. "Because…"

Kikyo shivered and actually blushed, a thing she didn't do often.

Inuyasha just stared at her hand. "I can't stop thinking about you."

"What…?" Kikyo whispered.

"Ever since I saw you hurt, I saw someone like me. Someone who wanted to be free from who they were. I think that's when…"

Kikyo put her hand to her chest, trying to calm her beating heart.

"I think that's when… I began to fall for you…"

Inuyasha let go of her hand and crossed his arms again and looked away. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," he said, and started to walk away.

Kikyo grabbed his sleeve and looked into his golden eyes. "Inuyasha…" she went closer to him and put her arms around him awkwardly and slowly. She wasn't quite sure what she was doing, but she didn't want him to go away. "Stay here."

Inuyasha gathered her into his arms and held her tight. "To think I fell for a human," he muttered.

Kikyo gave a small laugh. Small tears came to her eyes. "Inuyasha, will we be able to stay like this?"

"I don't know, Kikyo… I don't know…"

Hmm… I'm wondering how to fit this all together. I'm sorry for you Kikyo haters, just wiggle your way through this and wait for the oncoming chapters. Thank you for the reviews!

I don't hate Kikyo, but I don't like the Inuyasha/Kikyo pairings either.

Please review!