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Chapter 9: Trying to Trick a Trickster

"Hey, Naraku?"

"Yes, Kagome?"

"I aced my big history test today and I was kinda hoping we could do something to celebrate" the senior girl wondered a little nervously.

"Really, hmm that sounds like a very good idea. How about if I come and collect you at seven thirty? We could try that restaurant again if you wish" Naraku offered.

This was a pleasant surprise. Naraku had been wondering if Kagome's strange behavior for the past few days was due to a certain interference by that warped creature Inuyasha. However, every time he attempted to read her mind for answers the only thoughts that come from her were related to her history studying.

It was as if Inuyasha Tetsagia had been erased off the face of the earth. Naraku could not locate him with the jewel's power and had even complained to Kikyou. She had been no help. She simply stated that the effects of her magic could no longer affect demons because of some instinctive supernatural barrier. Naraku doubted that Inuyasha knew of that, of course.

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Kagome gave herself a final once over as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her body felt super charged as she thought about what she would need to do on her 'date' with Naraku.

Try and seduce him and then steal the jewel.

Shivers of repulsion for the man ran up her spine and a prick of anger spiked her determination of tricking the one who had ruined her eighteenth year.

Inuyasha wasn't fond of the idea. It had taken a lot of reassurance and arguing to get him to eventually agree to it. However, he had made a huge point of stepping in if things got out of hand, which Kagome agreed to quite willingly.

He was sitting on her roof at the moment, making sure to keep out of sight for when Naraku came. She tried to push him from her mind, though. If Naraku had the type of power Inuyasha and the others believed he had, then he might know what she was planning to do.

"Kagome!" Ms. Higurashi called up the stairs, "Naraku's here to pick you up dear!"

"I'll be right down mama!" she shouted back, grabbing her purse from the top of the dresser. Taking a deep breath, Kagome steeled herself to face Naraku. Smiling with as much real emotion as she could, she descended the stairs.

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Naraku stood outside the door, waiting for his girlfriend and looking around for anyone who shouldn't be there. The jewel couldn't sense anything and Naraku bit down a tinge of annoyance. The stupid thing was developing a habit of somehow denying his wishes.

The front door opened with Kagome standing in the entrance, smiling happily. Before Naraku could utter a greeting, she latched herself onto his arm and proceeded to walk down the driveway.

"I haven't been able to see you for so long, Naraku. I missed you. Did you miss me?" she asked enthusiastically.

What was with her? Naraku rarely saw this side of her, so giddy and childish.

"Are you feeling well, Kagome?"

The raven haired woman looked up at her date with a look of puzzlement apparent on her facial features.

"Of course I am. I just had a really great day! I have no homework tonight, I went shopping with my mother earlier and now I get to go to dinner with a really hot guy" she answered with a giggle.

Naraku smirked and accepted this response, after all how could he ever be suspicious of his beautiful girlfriend. Kagome didn't have an ounce of sneakiness to pull anything over his eyes.

It was the same restaurant they had visited the date before, but the food was no less delicious. Kagome smiled through the whole thing and kept up idle conversation which had little interest for Naraku.

"You know Naraku, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately" She stated after a single moment of silence, "I think the reason I've been so distant and depressed is because I've been putting off the inevitable" She looked up from her plate, a seductive glint in her eyes, "After we're done with dinner, how about we go someplace to be alone?"

Waiter check please

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Kagome's stomach felt queasy and she was extremely nervous. She had always been an open book and she prayed that she was fooling Naraku enough. Hopefully it would all be over soon.

Now all she had to do was play a willing teenager ready for something and steal the jewel. If only she knew where he kept it. She tried not to think about all this while holding his hand and walking to the park. She was still in the dark with a lot of this stuff. She prayed things wouldn't get too far and that Inuyasha would intervene if things did happen.

The park was void of anyone and she lead Naraku over to the cover of the trees. She started kissing him and hesitantly rubbed his shoulders to get him to relax. If she rushed things he might catch on to her. Naraku returned the same ministrations and Kagome forced herself not to shove him away in disgust.

'Oh my gods! The most logical place to keep the jewel would be in his pants pocket! Ewwwwww, I can't do this! I can't' She began to panic, but something inside her kept her from screaming, 'No, this is your chance to be with Inuyasha. This is your chance to pay back everything Naraku has done to you and the people you cared about over the past year. It's up to me. I can do this!'

Before Kagome knew it Naraku stood in his boxers and he tried to remove her own. She pretended to play coy and smiled teasingly at him as she dodged his hands. Leading him away from his clothes, she saw a flash of silver behind Naraku and her smile morphed into a more genuine one. The plan was working!

"I don't think you will be able to catch me, Naraku!" she laughed, side stepping his lunge. She glanced back over her shoulder and her forced smile turned into a genuine one when Inuyasha held up a small purple sphere, an arrogant smirk alighting his face.

She was tackled by Naraku and she smacked her head off the ground rather painfully. She winced as she vision turned blurrily. Closing her eyes, Naraku took the chance and covered her lips with his own.

Two sets of eyes, one pair golden, the other chocolate brown snapped open in surprise and deep anger. Kagome shoved at the weight on top of her, shaking her head to dislodge those disgusting lips from hers. Naraku was caught off guard by his suddenly unwilling girlfriend. She slapped him.

"What the hell is wrong with you bitch!" he demanded, eyes blackening in anger.

Calloused hands gripped his shoulders, pinpricks of something sharp dug into his skin. He was lifted and swung around to face the burning eyes of an enraged dog demon.

"Touch her again and I will break your fingers, bone by bone" the demon threatened with a gravelly voice as he tossed the teenage boy to the ground, his knuckles cracking to emphasize his threat.

"You" Naraku spat trying not to appear terrified. How had he not sensed the half demon if he was so close? Why hadn't the je-

The Jewel was in his pants, which were over...

Naraku lunged to his feet and dashed over to his scattered clothes, his spidery fingers searching the pockets of his jeans frantically.

"Oi Koto!" shouted the cursed demon, "Looking for this?"

Naraku whipped around, dread slithering in his stomach like a restless pile of snakes. Inuyasha held up a small crystal ball in between his index and thumb, a smug smirk playing on his lips, the cat that ate the canary expression completing the smile.

'No' Naraku thought in despair. He didn't have the jewel, he didn't have Kikyou's powers, he was helpless at the hands of the canine demon. All because he was distracted by Kagome.

Naraku's widened eyes slitted as he saw Kagome come up from behind Inuyasha, her hand resting on the white haired man's shoulder, looking down at him on the ground. This was all her fault. If it weren't for her trickery and betrayal, Inuyasha wouldn't have the jewel now. How could she? The little whore.

"You cheated on me, you bitch!" Naraku snarled, his knuckles whitening under the strain of his tightly clenched hands.

For a moment, Kagome looked frightened, but overcame that when she felt Inuyasha tense up next to her, bristling like a guard dog. A protector, her protector and with that knowledge, her fear melted away.

"You're the one that lied to me, Naraku. You ruined my life the day you told me that Inuyasha was missing. I want nothing to do with you" she stated sternly, the emotion in her voice thick.

"Give me that jewel, it belongs to me" demanded the dark haired youth.

"No, in all actuality it belongs to me and I would very much like it back now" said a soft voice that whispered over the tree tops.

A figure, a woman, stood on the edge of the tree line, gazing at the small group of people. Her ponytail of obsidian locks flowed in the light breeze. Her face calm and collected as if she had been expecting this for a long time.

Inuyasha growled at the sight of her and Naraku looked between relieved and scared, Kagome simply confused at the other woman's presence.

"Kikyou now is not the time for-" Naraku was cut off.

"This is the perfect time to intervene, you little pest. For years I have had to put up with your petty whims and grievances. Since the beginning you have been deceitful and arrogant, wishing for nothing more than the ability to manipulate others" she spoke with a razor sharp edge to her tone as if she was barely restraining her words. A small wind came up from behind her, becoming more wild as a strange light came up from within her eyes. Inuyasha could smell fear rolling off Naraku in waves.

"You stole my power and expected to use me for your own purposes. Tying me to this world even further than before. You shall pay dearly Naraku Koto" Kikyou turned her face to Inuyasha's, the demand imminent, but Inuyasha appeared defiant.

"That jewel belongs to me Inuyasha. You cannot keep it. Give it to me before the power begins to corrupt you as well"

A war waged in the half demon's head. Within a ten meter radius there stood the two people Inuyasha hated upon all others. The two people who were responsible for making sure that this past year had been hell. The two people who had kept him caged like a wild animal.

He didn't want the jewel. It was Kikyou's power and the thought that he had a piece of her in his hands sickened him. However, if he gave the jewel to this witch it was like surrendering to the enemy, a dog returning a toy to its master.

Kagome who had a very limited knowledge of the whole affair was able to gauge the situation with a third, or fourth, party point of view. She knew that this woman was probably the witch Inuyasha had been talking about, but if that was true than the jewel truly did belong to her. Kagome could tell how conflicted the sliver haired man was, so she decided to help him make the decision.

"Inuyasha" she whispered, leaning up on her tiptoes to his shoulder, forgetting that his new ears were on the top of his head.

"Not now Kagome, be careful and stay back. Kikyou is not to be trusted" he waved her off with a slight growl, his eyes never leaving the pair in front of him.

Kikyou heard the small exchange and her hard stone like eyes softened the tiniest bit, which no one noticed.

"That girl is no concern of mine, Inuyasha. I will not attack her, I only have business with you and Naraku" Kikyou spoke up, pointing at Naraku who was trying to sneak away, "Stay right there, Koto"

"Inuyasha, I think that we should-" before she could finish Inuyasha cut her off with a keh noise.

Kagome eyebrows furrowed in annoyance at the overly male protectiveness that her boyfriend was expressing. She liked it sometimes because it showed that he truly cared about her, however, there were the other times where it downright pissed her off.

Using strength she barely recognized Kagome grabbed Inuyasha's shoulder and made him turn. She placed one fist on her hip and held out her hand.

"The jewel Inuyasha Takahashi Tetsagia" she demanded using his full name. To say that Inuyasha was caught off guard would have been an understatement. Blinking slowly with wide amber eyes, Inuyasha pressed the small glass ball into her fingers.

Sharply nodding her head in satisfaction, Kagome walked over to Kikyou before Inuyasha could stop her. The younger woman was half a head shorter than the witch, but the resemblance the two had when they stood face to face was remarkable.

"Here I believe this is yours" Kagome said, uncurling her fingers, "I might not trust you, with what part you had in taking Inuyasha away from me, but sometimes the right thing to do is to isn't the easiest so... take it"

Kikyou looked down at the girl with interest. It that been a great while since the last time someone had approached her in such a manner; with honesty and a good intention. Kikyou could sense fear in the younger woman, but it was not dominating her emotions or thoughts.

"You offer this to me of your own accord?" she questioned, the inquiry in her voice unhidden.

"Well, um not entirely..." Kagome suddenly bit her lip, looking back at the stunned half demon. Kikyou frowned at that. Had she been wrong about this girl? Was this Kagome person simply another human who wished to trick her for power?

"From what I understand this jewel has had a lot of influence over people and I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of it. I've wasted an entire year of my life pushing away the wrong people and feeling sorry for myself. I want to get this thing away from anyone who wants it, especially the people I care about. Temptation is a hard thing to deal with, ya know. So… I think this is the best way to get rid of it" Kagome concluded in a rush.

Kikyou found that she admired the young girl's wisdom. She may be young and a little naive, but she had great intelligence. For a moment she was reminded of her little sister Keade.

"Many thanks Miss Kagome. For what you have done, may you know that you have made the right decision"

"I sure hope so" Kagome mumbled under her breath.

The moment, Kikyou held her jeweled vessel, she could feel the full extent of her magic surge throughout her body. It was as if a heavy veil had been lifted from her. She sighed in contentment, opening a pair of eyes that were no longer stony grey, but dark blue. Navy eyes focused on a trembling Naraku.

"For the crimes you have committed against myself I find that you are fit for the punishment I am about to present you. From this day forward, Naraku Koto, you will live the remainder of your life as a creature that is hideous as you are on the inside" said Kikyou, making a shape with her right hand and bringing her fist down on the ground. A ray of energy snaked across the ground, encircling Naraku and trapping him inside.

Inuyasha pulled Kagome away and held her as they both watched in morbid fascination at the scene before them. Naraku screamed and pleaded with Kikyou to stop what she was doing. Kagome felt sick and tears flowed down her cheeks as she pressed her face into her protector's shirt, unable to witness anymore. Inuyasha closed his eyes and held Kagome tighter.

"A fitting punishment for such a scheming human. Too bad it will never end, although he may learn to deal with it" the witch stated, brushing out the wrinkles in her robes, her Jewel safely tucked away in a sleeve.

Uncovering their Inuyasha, both Inuyasha and Kagome looked about for what had happened to Naraku. They could see nothing at all where the boy had been, only a pair of boxers lay where he had been moments ago.

"What- where- huh?" Kagome couldn't even form the first question she wanted to ask.

Kikyou held up a hand in a placating manner, a small smile twitching on her lips. She could imagine how they would have felt having witnessed her spell. There would have been a time long ago, before she had given up her humanity, where she would have been in the same place, horrified and disgusted. Gliding over to the discarded boxers, Kikyou bend down and scooped up something into her hand.

"Not to worry. I didn't fatally harm him in any way if that is what you are thinking about. In fact here he is safe and sound" she showed them what was in her hand.

There, scuttling around Kikyou's smooth palm was a tiny black spider.

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