Fair Trade

Disclaimer: I made my shoe at Nike.com!
Beautiful

'This is it.'

Her foot steps padded along the leaf covered path that would lead her to her destination. She had been traveling for two days back to her once-was home to retain what was unrightfully taken from her. To take back everything that was unrightfully taken from her. But there was a way to obtain them again.

She was so close to her destination now that an unnatural excitement filled her. 'Any closer and I will definitely be within his range of scent, and that could ruin everything. I need to be right on time, and that time is not now.' She spied a near by tree in a meadow and decided that it would be perfect to rest until the perfect time tomorrow. 'It's nightfall anyway, and all my presence would do now is arouse suspicion...more than it would normally. Damn the witch that brought me back!'

She watched as the nocturnal life around her awoke to do its nightly duties and allowed her thoughts to wander and her eyes to linger. The night did not pass swiftly for her. Same as every night she'd been 'alive.' With no need to sleep and no purpose why wouldn’t the night be long and lonely? But this night was longer for her. With knowledge of tomorrow, this night was eternity.

The moon had grazed the sky on her way up to the top of the world, and slowly traced her silver rays back down again, making way for the gold of sun. The sun himself gladly shone down on the earth below, stretching his sleepy fingers across grass, trees, and villages, signaling to all it was time to wake. Kikyou watched all of this, never taking in the magnificence and beauty of it.

Kikyou finally decided to start making her way to the village once more around noon. She would not need to make it all the way to the village, being close to Inuyasha's tree would be enough to set everything in motion. Inuyasha would sense her then and come wondering what she was doing there and why. She needed to speak to him first, after all. Nothing would fall into place the way it should if she met someone else first. The other's didn’t trust her, not that she could blame them. She'd given the group more than enough of a reason to distrust her.

Inuyasha's tree was not much further, she could sense it. The great tree eventually came into view. She stared at it as she approached it, losing all train of thought and sense of movement until she was right next to it. The closeness snapped her out of her stupor and immobilized her and her senses for a few seconds when something else caught her attention...'Inuyasha. He knows I am here now and is on his way.'

His presence continued to strengthen as he got closer, and reached its limit when he stopped on the opposite side of the clearing. They simply stared at each other for a few minutes, one unsure of what exactly was going on and what he should do, the other bored and waiting for the first word.

"Kikyou...what are you doing here?" Inuyasha looked at her, unsure of whether or not he should be wary. He felt hurt that she'd dare come this close to Kaedae's village, but at the same time he was happy she was this close. He battled with himself as to what he should do while Kikyou watched him, smirking to herself on the inside at his internal battle. She knew he still had feelings for her; she was, after all, his first love. He would not forget her that easily, which would make it easier on her.

"I came to speak with you Inuyasha. This will sound foolish, but I wanted to make sure...you were alright. I'd heard of Naraku's defeat..."

He could sense the lie, she knew it as well, but he did not let himself recognize it. She said she was making sure that he was okay, so the thought of it being a lie was immediately dismissed. But it didn’t end there for him, she knew she'd won him over and laughed inside herself at how easy and needy he was.

"Do you think it possible that I stay for a while to talk with you? I dont want to be a burden, but-"

"I don’t know if you can, Kikyou...you know how the others feel about you and Kagome will be home sometime today."

This caught Kikyou off guard; she wasn’t expecting him to deny her. Her anger flared up inside but she didn’t show it, she needed to remain cool and calm to pass this off. She held his eyes for a few minutes before replying.

"We can just talk alone; no one will have to know we spoke or that I am even here. You can tell your friends that you are going to the well to wait for Kagome and that you need some time to be alone so they wont suspect anything. Once you sense Kagome, I will leave."

Inuyasha knew the other's would sense her, and be angry about it, but he also knew that they would respect his privacy. He would be able to sense Kagome once she started to come back, so even if Kikyou didn’t she could leave before Kagome ever arrived. He would think of what to tell them all later. The offer was irresistible, and so he accepted.

'Perfect,' Kikyou sang to herself as she watched Inuyasha head back to the village to tell everyone that he was going to the well and wanted to be left alone. When he'd disappeared into the forest, she began to walk towards the well.


****

Kagome relentlessly stepped out of the shower and onto the cold linoleum floor. After pausing to enjoy the hot, moisture filled air, she wrapped a towel around herself and stepped out into her room. Since she was used to the air in the bathroom, when she opened the door she was not prepared for the blast of cold that swept through the opening and invaded her warmth.

She stood cringing for a few seconds, lost in her own world, when her mom’s voice rang out to her, “Kagome, honey? Are you out of the shower yet? It’s almost six and I’m assuming that friend of yours with the funny ears will be showing up soon.”

‘Oh, man! How could I have taken this long to get everything ready?!’

“I’m out Mom! I’m getting ready now!”

She ignored the cold and dove into her room in search of clothing. Deciding against the usual school outfit she picked out a pair of jeans and a solid colored tank top.

‘This shirt is so cute! I should definitely wear this more often…or at least, wear my school clothes less often,’ she thought as she glanced at her uniform hanging on a hanger on the closet door knob. ‘It’s not like I’m going to school there with Inuyasha!’ She giggled to herself at this thought, trying to imagine how Inuyasha would act attending a school.

“Kagome? Dinner’s ready. Oh, and did you want me to start packing some Ramen and other snacks for when you leave?”

“Yes, please! I’ll be down in a few minutes to help, I just need to pack some more clothes and stuff!”

Kagome glanced around her room hurriedly, looking for t-shirts, bra’s, underwear, jeans, etc. to shove into pack before heading to the kitchen.

When she entered the kitchen she was attacked with the delicious aromas of dinner. Her mouth watered just slightly in anticipation as she scoped the outlaid food on the table.

“Well, this is the last –real- meal I’ll have for a while, so I might as well enjoy it!” She smiled up at her mother as she took a seat in the closest chair.

Mrs. Higurashi handed Kagome a plate and sat beside her, helping herself to dinner as well.

“When exactly do you think you’ll be back next time, Kagome?”

Mrs. Higurashi plopped some rice into her mouth as she waited for Kagome’s answer. Kagome stopped chewing and stared at her plate as she thought about this. After she finally swallowed, she turned to her mother and simply replied she didn’t know.

“It depends on where we are…and if we have any problems, you know. Ummm…I’ll try my hardest not to stay away as long as I did this time though!”

Kagome smiled at her mom, who smiled back and continued eating. They chatted here and there between bites, until both plates were void of anything eatable and both declared they couldn’t eat another bite.

Kagome leaned back in her chair and stretched a little, then glanced out the window. ‘Dark?! Oh my… Inuyasha is gonna kill me!’ Kagome flew out of her chair and back up the stairs to grab her bag of clothing, bathing things, and other ‘necessities,’ then ran back down the stairs to the kitchen.

Mrs. Higurashi laughed to herself as she lazily stood and began to put the left over food up for Souta and Gramps. When the food was put up, she helped Kagome shove the food into her pack; and when that task was completed she turned to Kagome and smiled at her sadly.
“I’m going to miss you, Kagome.”

Kagome finished forcing her bag closed and turned to Mrs. Higurashi.

“I’m gonna miss you too, Mom! But I’ll be back later, kay?” Kagome leaned over and pulled Mrs. Higurashi into a tight embrace, then pulled back and smiled.

“Well, I’ve got to go before Inuyasha hunts me down!”

“I’m surprised he hasn’t showed up yet.”

“Me too, but it’s probably because I warned him of what would happen if he messed up before I came! Maybe it actually scared him!” They both giggled at the thought. Mrs. Higurashi might not know Inuyasha as well as Kagome, but he was notorious for his hard-headedness.

Kagome hefted the pack onto her shoulders then turned and smiled at Mrs. Higurashi one more time. “I’ll miss you, Mom! Love you!”

“I’ll miss you too, honey; and I love you too!” Mrs. Higurashi hugged her one more time before she departed, and watched her as she made her way down to the well once again.


* * * *

Kikyou found the well easily enough, though Inuyasha was not there when she arrived. He would come, however, so she had time do whatever until he did. She walked across the clearing to the well, and peered down inside of it. Naturally, it was empty, and Kagome was no where near it.

She turned away from the well and walked about 35 yards away from it, then sat down and waited. Inuyasha came not to long afterwards and sat down beside her. They both were facing the well, and stared at it for a few minutes without speaking.

Finally, Inuyasha broke the silence. He never turned towards her, just continued to stare ahead of him as he spoke to her.

“Kikyou…why are you really here?”

She sat silently and stared ahead of her as well.

“I told you why I came here. I do not find it necessary to repeat it,” she turned to face him, making him turn to her also. “Unless of course, you’ve forgotten already.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, and he turned his attention back to the well.

“Less than an hour and you go cold again.”

“I –am- dead, you know.”

“No, you’re not. You still feel, whether or not they or good or bad.”

This statement would have normally upset her, but the last sentence…it gave her something definite to work with. Any other time she would have threatened to kill them and bring them back with a partial soul to let them experience being undead. But this…this was different. Now, she could play the part she wished she could actually do. Kikyou could “love” Inuyasha again.

She stayed silent and turned her attention back to the well. They sat together in an awkward peace, taking some unnatural comfort in each others presence. Time drifted on with out them, although not forgotten. Inuyasha sat lost in confusion and unhappiness, yet in happiness at the same time; and Kikyou pondered over the situation at hand.

‘If I can be in this semi-state of comfort now, when I actually get my soul…’ Kikyou smiled to herself, but visibly. Just then, she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck loosely, almost knocking him over in surprise. He sat in shock, not knowing how and unable to react. Eventually he regained control and hugged her back.

Kikyou pulled away and looked at him, smiling. It was almost unnatural, but she actually seemed alive, as she was before Naraku’s treachery.

“Kikyou…I’ve tried to tell you this before, but you never wanted to listen. I want you to understand that I didn’t betray you! It was Naraku…he disguised himself as me and attacked you…I never meant to hurt you Kikyou! I loved you! Please believe me,” he hugged her close again, hoping that this time he could clear everything up.

She’d heard this story multiple times, from more beings than just Inuyasha. It was believable. It even seemed true now…but she still had her doubts. ‘So, I’ll get my soul back and kill Naraku anyway…just in case.’ He was, after all, annoying, and it’s not like she would need him after she got her soul back.

“Let’s not talk about that now, Inuyasha. Please, tell me about the battle with Naraku.”

Inuyasha proceeded to tell Kikyou about what happened during the battle, and hours just seemed to pass. He talked about what led up to the battle, how the battle happened, and what happened after the battle. Then, feeling the need to continue, he talked a little about their current quest for the jewel shards again, right up to the point that Kagome left.

Kikyou sat all the while, listening to him tell his tale, attention divided between him and the well. Then he asked her about herself, and oddly enough she told him. There was not anything to important, and she left out a few details, especially why she was here in the first place, so it was satisfactory.

When she was done, which wasn’t very long, the conversation took an unexpected turn.

“Kikyou…You know that part of me still loves you, right?”

‘Yes,’ she thought. ‘That is why this is so easy for me.’

“Yes, I do.”

“Does a part of you…still love…me?”

‘No, I want you to suffer with me since I suffer so.’

“I don’t know Inuyasha.”

Just then, Kikyou knew Kagome was on her way towards the well. How queer that Inyasha hadn’t said anything yet. She took that moment to look into his eyes, searching. All of his attention was on her. This was, after all, a heated subject. ‘And this is where I can lead him on.’

She continued to gaze at him, allowing him to perceive whatever he wanted to. She only hoped she could keep his attention long enough to make everything work to her needs. Kagome was getting closer, and it took everything she had to make her anticipation appear to be on the subject.

Inuyasha didn’t know what he was seeing in her, exactly. But he knew it wasn’t bad. Again, he found himself resisting the urge to kiss her. He knew he shouldn’t, but she loved him, damn it! That is why she is still here! That is why she still came to him randomly throughout their journey.

It was working. Inuyasha’s conflict was becoming overpowering to her senses. And even better? Kagome was getting even closer. Not too long and she would be here, to witness everything.

“I suppose… a part could…”

‘If I lived, I think….She’s in the well!’

Inuyasha took her expressions, though confusing, to be a –good- thing, and gave into temptation. Kikyou smiled as she felt him leaning into her, and this time it wasn’t for a hug. Their lips met, and Kagome appeared at the bottom of the well.


* * * *

Dust rose around her as her feet finally made contact with the solid earth. She struggled to regain her balance and adjusted, then re-adjusted, her bulging yellow pack.

“Whew! That was close,” she thought aloud as she looked above her. “I wonder where Inuyasha is? If I’m this late…he should be here yelling at me!”

‘Oh well, I guess I’ll just make my way back to camp alone,’ she decided. ‘Maybe he went jewel shard hunting after all! Wait a second…’

“I told him to be back before I got here! Hem, the nerve!”

She started to climb the well, mumbling to herself about Inuyasha’s rudeness.

When she neared the top, she threw her yellow pack over the edge and swung over it herself. She stood up and dusted herself of before deciding to take a quick glance around. To her surprise, she wasn’t alone

Kikyou and Inuyasha sat not 30 feet away from her, making out! She didn’t know how to feel at first. A flood of emotions attacked her all at once, but since she was already angry, that was the most conceivable option. It beats crying about it, too.

“I CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT I AM SEEING!”

Inuyasha’s head snapped towards the well so quickly onlookers would have expected to see his neck break. Kikyou merely turned her attention towards the long awaited interruption.

“What is wrong with you, Inuyasha? Do you not even have the decency to keep from getting caught?!”

Inuyasha didn’t know what to say. He sat there dumbfounded, with Kikyou still intimately close to him. Kagome was fuming, and he sensed she was very upset, sad, on the inside, and he didn’t do or say anything.

“Sit, Inuyasha! SIT!!!”

Even though anger was surging through her being, she felt hot tears stream slowly down her cheeks. They’d gotton so close…and now?

She left her pack behind her and walked towards a path that would take her away from Kaedae’s village and the well, to a nearby clearing with a stream. She heard Inuyasha call her name, and she heard Kikyou say something to him, but by that time she could only concentrate on how she felt. Her fists clenched and unclenched, and she fought back the urge to just outright cry. Once she reached the wooded path, she began to walk a little faster, and faster, until she was running. Now that the anger had worn away, she was beginning to feel the sadness and pain.

She had passed her previous destination, and continued on for another eternity, until she caught her foot on an upturned root which sent her hurtling forward.

* * * *

He saw her stand to leave, but it didn’t register. How could he have not noticed she was there? How?! ‘That doesn’t matter right now, just stop her before she hurts herself…and me again later…’ He placed a hand on his back and stood. She’d already disappeared down the path but her scent still lingered, so if she strayed off the path he could find her easily.

“Kagome, wait!” He began to run towards the forest, but was stopped by a fading purple arrow. Inuyasha stared at the arrow, the turned back to face Kikyou.

She stood where they sat not to long ago with another arrow knocked back and ready to fly.

“Kikyou, what are you doing?”

“Let her go Inuyasha! You are not good enough for her! Besides, you are with –me-. Let her go!”

“Kikyou..? I have to go get her! She could get hurt!”

“If you take one more step, Inuyasha, my arrow will find its target.”

Inuyasha stared at her in anger and disbelief. ‘This isn’t the Kikyou I know.’ “I’m going to find her.” That was final. He turned away from her and proceeded towards the path.

Inuyasha was again, stopped, before he could reach his destination. But this time, the arrow went through his upper leg, and he fell to the ground. His clawed hand griped his upper leg and pain as the miko energy burned through his skin.

“Damn it Kikyou, why cant you just accept it?! Why…are you doing this?!”

“You will NOT leave me this time, Inuyasha!”

* * * *

“Oww….” Kagome moaned in pain and turned over on her back. When she opened her eyes, she was only greeted by darkness.

“Oh great, first Inuyasha and now I’m lost. He’s probably not even looking for me. He’s probably still kissing on Kikyou…” She knew this wasn’t true, but the picture popped in her head and she spat in disgust.

Slowly she stood up and limped to a nearby tree. Once reached, she leaned against it and slid down, allowing herself to just fall to the awaiting earth. She cleared her senses and relaxed, so she could better take in her surroundings.

‘All dark, all cold. What a great place to be in, with demons about and all.’ That’s when she felt it. And as her senses zeroed in on the feeling, her body became more alert, ready to flee at any given moment.

‘This is not good!’ The hairs on her neck rose in alarm, and her muscles tightened in anticipation. Instinctively she reached for her bow and was shocked to find it was not there. Mental head slap, ‘how can I have been so stupid?!’ Fear and dread washed over her, replacing any emotions previous. The air around her became cold and dangerous, and the natural forest smells were replaced with the stench of burnt flesh and bones.

“I see Kikyou did her job well…” sang a menacing voice.

Kagome eeped quietly and scooted closer to the tree. She knew it was Naraku, and she knew he was close by, but the voice seemed to come from all over, so she didn’t know where to run.

“Come now, Kagome, we must get you to the castle. We don’t want you to look like that when someone comes to fetch you, do we?”

‘Okay, so I’m scared and I don’t know where to run. Maybe I bluff a little. Yeah, we’ll try that! Seeing as how there aren’t many other options!’

“Go away, Naraku! Inuyasha is on his way and we’ve defeated you once before, so we’re bound to do it a second time!”

He laughed at her. It rang out to her like an unavoidable and menacing bell, singing her demise.

“Well, we don’t want that, do we? I’ll just have to get you now and run like crazy!” He laughed again, and this time Kagome kneeled over, nauseated.

Then he appeared before her, tall and dark, but not handsome. His wavy hair fell about him and his wicked smile weakened everything around him. “We’re going to have to do something about that attitude of yours as well,” he said as he walked towards her.

All she could do was cower further into the tree, until the bark began to scrape at her back and he was merely inches away.

“Don’t worry though; we’ll get you in perfect condition for…your future events.” He grabbed her by her hair and pulled her up so she was face to face with him. She spat on him, and in retaliation he slapped her, letting her fall back to the ground.

“Apparently, we’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said to her rudely. He wiped the spit off his face and turned back to Kagome. This time, he picked her up by her throat, and whispered into her ear, “So we’d better get a move on, Beautiful.”

Kagome felt something connect to her head, and everything went black.

****