A.N. Sorry took me so long. If anything is confusing or you feel is missing let me know. My profile now has all my contact information too. Yahoo, Aim, MSN, Facebook, and Twitter. Twitter I update when I work on stories. Facebook I'll update maybe about the story I am working on but its mainly for me so... You can add me if you'd like. Chances are you'll get sneak peaks at chapters or new stories in my notes. Just story updates will be listed under twitter and I will usually say what story I'm working on. I'm almost finished with this story and will be posting my new one when I post the last one.

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters.

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Manipulation.

"Hello Kikyo, where have you been?" The woman, who looked to be in her early thirties, asked from the couch where she watched Kikyo put her things away and slip on her slippers.

"Oh, hey Kirrai, I just went to go check on Kagome. She wasn't in class and I got worried." Kikyo answered as she entered the kitchen.

"Oh, really?" Kirrai asked slightly shocked, getting up to follow Kikyo into the kitchen. "Was she sick?" She asked pretending to care, when in truth all she wanted to know was if Kagome had gotten her note.

"Oh, no. She was extremely upset about a note she received this morning." Kikyo half lied, Kagome wasn't entirely upset because of the note, at least not anymore. Kikyo remembered hearing rumors of Kagome and Inuyasha fighting this morning about some note and she started to place the pieces together. She may not look -or act- like it, but Kikyo was actually quite smart. She looked at her friend, watching for any reaction to what she was saying. "I guess Inuyasha has been threatening her." There it was; a sparkle with a slight, barely noticeable smile. Even if only for a brief second it had appeared on Kirrai's features Kikyo had still caught it.

"Oh my! I thought Inuyasha left you for her?" Kirrai said in wonder, which was clearly an act. Kikyo realized she was rather bad at putting on a show. How had she not seen it before? Was she that caught up in her own mess?

"I know, right? I can't believe him." Kikyo turned to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water before turning back towards the older woman. "Wanna know the really messed up part?" Kirrai lifted her brows and Kikyo knew she had her hooked. Maybe, just maybe Kikyo could find out what her "friend's" connection was with the notes. "Kagome believes I'm forcing Inuyasha to write these notes and to lead her on. I would never! I mean… I did lose my cool for a bit, but I know my mistake. I'd never hurt Kagome again."

Kirrai's face hardened and it wasn't missed by Kikyo. Kirrai had not expected for Kikyo to have stronger feelings for Kagome, wasn't she her reincarnation? Shouldn't she feel the same way she did? Why couldn't things go as planned? Sighing internally, Kirrai decided it was time to contact her old friend, Naraku. He'd help her with Kagome, he'd help in more ways than she could imagine. His cruel ways to get inside people's head and turn them against people with the slightest doubt he finds. He was a true monster. Suppressing her shivers of delight, Kirrai smiled at Kikyo, who was looking quite confused.

"Dear, may I let you in on a little secret?" The woman said wickedly. She was planning on turning Kikyo against her sister one way or another. Kikyo nodded, not wanting to say anything to ruin the reveal when she was so close to finding out the truth, so she hoped. "Well, I'm really you, just many years ago. You're my reincarnation." Kikyo's eyes widened, she had not expected that. Then it hit her, how was she her reincarnation when she was still alive?

"Wait a moment, that can't be true. If I'm your reincarnation then how are you alive if I have your soul? Why don't you look like me either? Wouldn't your body have rotten away?" Kikyo was determined to figure out what was going on.

"Haven't you ever wondered why you don't feel whole ever? Like you're missing a part of yourself?" Kikyo just stood there waiting for her to continue. She knew what she meant but it was still hard to believe. "All I need is a small part of the soul, preferably a part that made me have reason to continue. Hatred toward Kagome from all those years ago for stealing Inuyasha from me, it's more than enough to continue on to get my revenge. To make her suffer the way she made me. And for this body, there are so many bodies that are left empty and ready to be disposed of by people who so desperately want to leave this world. It's really not that hard to change from one body to another." Kikyo just stood there, thinking everything over, trying her best to make sense of it all. "So what do you say Kikyo?" Kirrai asked walking up to Kikyo using her hand to make her look up into her eyes. "Will you join me?"

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"Kagome, you ready?" Kagome nodded and Inuyasha took her hand leading her to his car. It would be the first time in a while that he had actually taken her to school and he had to admit that he actually missed it. He took in a deep breath, relaxing as he drove; loving her scent. After all the dreams Inuyasha had been having it was nice to know she was there with him and she was safe.

"Inuyasha… I don't know if I really want to find out who it is." Kagome started fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "I mean what if the woman sees me spying on her and tries to kill me…"

"She's not going to hurt you while I'm around." Inuyasha declared, red etching its way into his eyes. He himself was starting to feel like she shouldn't go anywhere near the school ever again. To him it seemed like danger followed her everywhere.

"How about I just believe you that you didn't do it and go to class? Sounds good to me, glad we have an agreement." Kagome was pale in the face, she couldn't believe she was about to see the person who had been threatening her this whole time. She didn't want to know, not anymore. She was too scared of what may happen if she was caught.

"Kagome…"

"Drop me off at the next corner. I'll walk the rest of the way." Kagome started gathering her bag out of the back seat she had realized one more thing in her time of thinking. "If someone else is working with that woman you saw that poor boy's family will be in danger." Inuyasha only nodded as he pulled over to the curb watching her leave.

"Stupid, you're supposed to be pushing her away."He scolded himself after she closed the door and started walking towards the school. Inuyasha had never thought about what would happen if he had been seen with Kagome, he just wanted to clear his name. "I supposed it doesn't matter anymore anyways." He solemnly spoke as he put his car into gear and drove off.

Kagome walked down the side walk trying her best not to think of everything that was going on, especially with Inuyasha. He was nice one moment, pushing her away the next, only to be nice again later. She wrote it off with having to do with Kikyo and the drama rising at school about them. She watched his car pass her and her heart clenched. So badly did she wish he'd choose her one day; she didn't even know when these feelings started happening, but she couldn't deny them now. Now she just wanted him to stay by her side where she felt he belonged. She watched her feet as she continued walking, kicking the little pebbles on the sidewalk only to bump into someone.

"Oh, sorry. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." Kagome mumbled as she looked up only to meet the bad boy and his group from the school.

"Well, well, well if it isn't innocent Kagome Higurashi." Naraku walked around her, his hand gliding over her back to her shoulder. "I've heard a secret, sexy." He whispered into her ear causing her to shiver in fear. She balled up her fists and tried her best to steady herself; she couldn't let Naraku know she was afraid of him.

"What's this secret, Naraku?" Kagome spat out his name making sure he knew she didn't care for him one bit. Naraku chuckled as he walked in front of her grabbing her chin roughly and making her look up at him.

"I've heard you're the reincarnation of mutt breath's mate." Kagome gave Naraku a confused look and he chuckled again. "So no one has told you that you're his mate, huh? So I'm sure they haven't told you that he killed you in the past."

"What are you talking about? Inuyasha and I aren't mates for one and for two he wouldn't kill anyone." Kagome jerked her chin out from Naraku's grasp who didn't seem to care. He walked around her again putting his arms around her from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Why dear, you don't even know the puppy. How can you make such strong accusations? You've seen how violent he can get. How his moods for you keep shifting. He's a ticking time bomb, one that I can protect you from." Kagome's eyes widened a bit. She wondered if it was really true.

"He's just stressed out, that's why his moods shift."

"Yeah, stressed that his life is being torn apart by a girl he doesn't even want as his mate. Think about it little minx. He had Kikyo back then before you too. You just had to break him apart from her and he couldn't stand not being with the one person he truly loved. What better way than to get rid of the problem standing in the way?" Naraku smiled, he knew he had her. She was naïve; she'd believe anything he told her. It was his specialty in manipulating people.

"Oh my god…" Kagome said in shock, forgetting Naraku was so close to her. "You can protect me?" She asked turning around in his arms. He smiled again with a nod before leaning down and capturing her lips. Kagome's eyes widened and she tried to push him off of her but it was useless, he was much stronger than she was. Maybe it was all part of his plan, appear together to keep a certain someone away from her.

"Stay by my side. Don't ever leave it." Naraku demanded before dragging her with him towards the school. They had already missed their first class, and she knew everyone was going to be hounding her with questions. That is if they got the chance to get near her.

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Dear... thing..,

I don't quite know what to say. I'm now by Naraku's side at all times. I've been getting confused looks from all my friends today too. I don't blame them, one moment they see me normal, the next I'm Naraku's trophy. I don't want to be but I need to be protected.

Inuyasha, he's dangerous. I never knew it. I've heard about demons getting mates and how they are forced to be with them by instinct. I guess half demons have it worse or something, probably with a mix of their human emotions. One thing telling them to be with this person while the other thing yearns for the one they truly love with their heart. It'd drive anyone crazy. Crazy enough to kill I'm not sure, but I know I don't want to die. Not yet anyways.

Or shall I say not again?

I asked Naraku for more information on it. I guess Kikyo and Inuyasha were lovers about six hundred years ago. He knows because he was there and he had loved Kikyo also and was jealous of Inuyasha for winning her love. I guess Inuyasha was planning on marrying Kikyo even though she wasn't his mate because he believed that if he had a mate than the mate wouldn't be anywhere near as great as Kikyo. It all changed when one day a girl fell in the well. That girl was me. Inuyasha had been nearby to help my former self out and she had taken an instant liking to him and his demon to her. He didn't like it and fought it as much as he could but he couldn't stop making her happy when she was near. He felt as though he needed to make her happy.

Inuyasha and Kikyo had started having problems then. Kikyo was always mad he was spending time with Kagome and Inuyasha was mad because she couldn't trust him to stay with her anyways. As time pasted Inuyasha had grown fonder of Kagome and even felt as though maybe he could give it a chance. That was until he found out Kikyo was attacked because he failed to be by her side to protect her. It had been Naraku who had saved her, but she didn't care. Inuyasha grew mad, felt he was being tricked into something against his will and sought out his mate.

Filled with rage the demon blood had taken control, and being only half demon, Inuyasha had no control. Once he had found Kagome his claws ripped into her shoulders, preparing to rip her in two. Kagome tried to get him to come back to earth to stop hurting her. When she realized it was a lost cause she stretched up and kissed him one last time before she was torn to pieces by the man she loved. It was said Inuyasha was taken away by his family shortly after that and kept under heavy guard because they didn't want him to go crazy and go on a killing spree. It is also said Kikyo had killed herself because she couldn't handle the pain. Though Naraku said he couldn't tell me what happened truly to the couple because he himself had lost track of them.

It's quite a tragic love story. Sadly though, it sounds like it's all happening again. They always said history repeated itself. I guess they weren't kidding. Maybe this time though, I'll get to live through it and Inuyasha and Kikyo can be happy.

After school I'll talk to Izayoi and Inu No Taisho. Maybe they will pay for me to transfer to a boarding school. If only my grandparents wouldn't have died I wouldn't have been in this mess and everyone would be much happier.

Naraku is looking at me now. I think I missed something that I was supposed to do. I feel like his slave. I must go.

Goodbye.

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Kagome closed her book and gathered her things to leave the class and follow Naraku out. She didn't remember him being in all of her classes but she supposed it was because he was always in the office. The more she was around him though the more she saw how he looked at her sister Kikyo. He still loved her even after all these years. Kagome was sure that they were different but maybe it was the difference now from back then that kept him interested.

Kikyo looked over and caught Kagome staring at her. She didn't understand why all of a sudden she was hanging out with Naraku, but she figured it had something to do with Kirrai she just didn't know what. Kikyo was in her own state of confusion, she felt obligated to help her former self get revenge, but she felt as though she couldn't let her sister get hurt. She loved her sister still no matter what the past of them did, she knew they were different now, she knew everything that happened in between her and Inuyasha had been out of her control. Even so it still hurt her. Someone she loves being taken away by someone else she loves. Kikyo sighed as she turned away and gathered her things. She'd figure it out later.

The bell rang and everyone left the room, the last one out was a very moody and sulky half demon. He hated that Kagome was all over Naraku all of a sudden. Didn't she find him a creep before? He wondered what Naraku was up to, he vaguely remembered being betrayed by him in the past. He just couldn't remember much from his past though. He had to find a way to protect Kagome; from himself, from Naraku, from the old lady, and anything else that wants to harm her. She didn't deserve anything to happen to her.

As he walked out of the room he passed where Kikyo was sitting and noticed a change in her scent since he had seen her yesterday. He thought back to class when he caught glimpses of her and remembered she wasn't quite herself either. He didn't ponder on it long for he saw a sight that set his blood on fire with rage. There in front of him stood Kagome kissing Naraku. He mentally talked himself into walking away and into the other direction. He decided that if Kagome wanted to be with the sleaze ball Naraku than she could, he wouldn't be anywhere near her. Like his dream wanted and like she wanted.

In Inuyasha's anger he missed every sign that proved Kagome didn't want to be there, but she didn't miss the fact he walked away with anger in stride. Maybe Naraku was pulling her leg, she was sure she definitely had to talk to Inuyasha's parents now. They should know what is going on, what had happened in the past. They should know the truth, she didn't know why she didn't think of it before.

"I'm going home." Kagome stated as she pushed Naraku away. He glared at her before roughly grabbing her arm and dragging her back against him.

"No. You are staying right here. You leave when I say you can." He hissed into her ear. Kagome took a deep breathe to steady her emotions and pushed him away again, sure that she'd have a bruise where his hand just was.

"I'm going home." Kagome turned and walked away. When she left the front doors of the school Naraku pulled his phone out and called his friend.

"Karrai. She knows something's up."

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A.N.: Remember anything you see that you feel is confusing or needs something or if you feel something is missing let me know. Trying my best to keep everything straight as I write but it can sometimes get confusing since I hadn't worked on it for so long. Thanks for reading and please review.

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