InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beast ❯ Splitting ( Chapter 13 )

Disclaimer: Though I am wearing a shirt with his face on it, Inuyasha does not belong to me. Go figure.

A/N: Birthdays are good. They make me happy. To make up for the lapse between this chapter 'n the last, I hereby swear up, down, and on pain of having Mom and Sis peck me to death (they'll do it, too) that I'll have the next chapter posted by or before Sunday night/Monday morning. I know exactly what I want in it, unlike this one, which has undergone three different A/Ns thanks to loss of inspiration (blame work and stress and all my creativity getting wasted at work, bleh...), so I'll even start it as soon as I upload this'n, wheee...

Beast

Chapter 13

Kagome had never been drunk before and therefore had no experience with hangovers beyond anecdotes and the occasional observation of her father or Akemi. However, when she awoke with a start and found herself staring at a weird clump of bushes, she knew something was probably wrong beyond the fact that she'd gotten wasted the night before. She pinched herself hard and yelped: nope, not dreaming.

Sango? Nope. Bed? Nope. Shoji or other kinds of walls, ceiling, and so on? Nope. Trees? Check. Conclusion?.........How the hell did I get outside?! She had never been prone to sleepwalking, and she was too light a sleeper to have been taken out without her knowledge, even with the alkeehol in her system-

--Are you finally awake?--

Come to think of it, the voice in her head was a pretty big danger sign, too.

"Who's there?!" Kagome took a reeling step backwards and whipped her head all around, nearly losing her balance in the process. Twigs and dead leaves under her bare feet crackled painfully, and she sat down hard, squeezing her eyes shut as her head began to pound. "What the...?"

--It has little to do with the sake, as you've suspected, though diving into the bottle hardly helped.--

"Yeah, I figured."

--I suppose I should apologize for bringing you out here with no warning, but I needed to speak with you free of...interruption.--

On the tail end of the last word, Kagome got a distinct impression of a white-haired red figure. "Inuyasha?...Wait, are you-"

--Kikyou?-- Kagome detected slight derision in the mental voice. It was extremely unnerving, like having very loud and invasive headphones stuck inside her eardrums. --One wonders who else you would think would speak to you this way, girl.--

"You don't have to get sarcastic," Kagome mumbled, then coughed scratchily.

--There's no need to speak aloud. I knew you would do this...another reason we are outside.--

Where are we? Weird as it was, Kagome had to admit that thinking was easier than trying to talk with cotton mouth.

--Not far from the Tree.-- Again, Kagome got a mental picture, this time of Souta's favorite tree. --I thought it appropriate for a conversation such as this.--

And what kind of conversation is this going to be? Her insides suddenly went cold. You want to take my body over or something?

Silent laughter, short and bitter. --I was sorely tempted when I first awakened, but upon further reflection, I realized there would be little purpose. I have no wish to meddle with the curse.--

That's good. Kagome felt as if a boulder had been lifted off her shoulders: the possibility that Kikyou would try to take over her body again had made her almost physically ill. But...wait. How'd you get me out here? Someone would've seen me walk out.

--Very good, child.--

Kagome scowled in annoyance: how much older than 18 could Kikyou have been when she died?

--I am centuries older than you in wisdom. Think of it that way and try to control your emotions.--

Fine, fine. Now how'd we get here?

--The Shikon Jewel.--

Kagome's stomach turned to ice. What?! But...but I don't have-

--Within you. The Jewel was burned with me, but its power could not be negated by destroying its physical receptacle; the Tree became its focal point until you touched it and gained most of its power. It has been sleeping within you till you were ready to use it properly.--

...O...kaaaay...how does that explain how we got out here?

An irritated pause, then a sigh. --As I just said, destroying it didn't erase it from the world. Its physical form can reform itself given the right host. Have you heard any legends or tales of its origins?--

Kagome decided to shelve her immediate questions: here was a source of much more in-depth information. No. I don't really know anything about it.

--Just as well....Long ago, centuries before my time, there lived a priestess named Midoriko. She had perfected a technique of purifying demons' souls that was so powerful and so feared by all demons that, in a last bid to defeat her, hundreds of lesser ones combined within a single body and became a demon of terrible power.

--The great demon attacked Midoriko, and the battle raged for seven days and seven nights. Her body failed, but, as the demon began to devour her, Midoriko used the last of her spiritual strength to imprison the demon's soul within her own and expelled it out of her body. The Shikon Jewel is the crystallized form of the demon and priestess's souls. Their powers have never ceased their battle, even within the Jewel; thus evil such as Naraku's taints the Jewel by strengthening the demons, while another priestess such as myself may purify the Jewel and help to keep the evil at bay.--

Gotcha. Kagome was too intent on the voice and its story to notice the ashen light getting brighter and clearer through the trees. And the Jewel is what's fueling the curse's power, or what got left in the tree, anyway...I'm guessing Naraku knew how to use the Jewel, then?

Kagome thought she could feel the priestess's voice's emotions, and she caught definite wariness before the next reply. --Of course. He knew how to invest some of his power in it while it was in his possession so that he could manipulate it almost freely.--

But if he was dead when the curse was laid down, how did he do it? Could his ghost have done it or something?

There was a very long silence. Then, --How do you know all this? My understanding of Inuyasha's curse is that it prevents the servants from telling any outsiders information such as that.--

I used a modern tool to get around it. It's kind of complicated, but it works.

Kagome sensed bemusement, irritation, and a whole mess of emotions she didn't have time to sift through before Kikyou got them under control. --I've underestimated you, it seems. I don't pretend to know everything about Naraku, but if you wish for a possible motive at the least, it may have something to do with the manner of my death and the fact that Naraku was infatuated with me.--

Really? Ewwwww! Kagome wrinkled her nose. So he wanted to punish Inuyasha...blech. Are you sure he really died? Maybe he's hiding out or something.

--I strongly doubt it. I knew every demon presence in the area, and his was erased utterly when we killed him. And the Jewel was kept as pure as possible under my care; he could not have used it to sustain himself while I was alive.--

Kagome puzzled over it, ranging back through what Inuyasha had told her. Maybe one of Naraku's followers had figured out how to harness the Jewel's power, or maybe it had something to do with the demon that'd attacked and made him accidentally kill K-

--Accidentally?--

The headache, which had ebbed away to a vague and easily ignored occasional twinge, came back five hundred times worse, and Kagome could only whimper and clutch her temples as her vision went blank with pain. Kikyou, stop it!

The pounding only grew stronger. --Recall that hanyou's lies again! Tell me he had the temerity to call what he did an ACCIDENT!--

Waves of hatred, sorrow and rage washed over Kagome like poison, and she curled into a ball, arms wrapped around her head. It was only about ten seconds before Kikyou regained enough control to keep Kagome from becoming very sick, but it was entirely too long. He...he said he killed you by accident. He said it was an accid-

--HE LIES!-- Bile rose sharply in Kagome's throat.

Kikyou, STOP! With more effort than she'd ever exerted in her life, Kagome forced the nausea back and raised her mental voice to a shout. If he was lying, it's not my fault! Now STOP it before I puke all over the place, dammit!

The maelstrom of negative emotion seethed, roiling for a moment longer before slowly, painfully gathering itself back into a compact of tightly controlled fury, and Kagome was able to breathe again.

When the voice spoke again, it was in terse, rippling amusement. --We are fools, both of us, girl, for it seems he's been exercising his lies again, and with the same success!--

What lies? What are you talking about?!

--My death was NOT because of carelessness on his part! That traitor struck me down in cold blood!--

Wh...but...but he wouldn't h-

--Would he have laughed if it was an accident? Would he have taunted me about waiting for me to die before taking the Jewel to avoid soiling his hands if it was an accident?-- Kagome gritted her teeth as the hatred and sorrow rose, then waned back into cold resolution. --Oh, he was sorry soon enough. If he seemed sincere, it was because he regretted letting his greed for power overcome his control. He had only to wait a little further, and I would have handed him the Jewel freely!--

What the hell are you talking about?!

Another short laugh, if such a humorless and self-loathing sound could be called that. --Simple. We were to use the Jewel to purify his demonic side, to turn him completely human. He would lose his father's blood, and his claim to his inheritance would be annulled; he would leave the castle, and with no Jewel to look after, I would leave with him, and we would live as a normal human couple the rest of our lives. The perfect plan, wouldn't you agree?--

The tiny bit of moisture that'd returned to Kagome's mouth dissolved in cold apprehension, like the dry stickiness of an ice cube left out in the freezer too long. What happened?

The answer came slowly, with an utter lack of emotion that was somehow worse than the hideous melange she'd just experienced. --Two nights before we were to use the Jewel, he proposed we wait and tell his mother first, to prepare her for the consequences of her son no longer being her dead lord's heir. I told him his older half-brother would be more than happy to take his place and would not dishonor his father's memory by killing Iyazoi- sama, but he would not listen. The very walls had ears in those days, and had we tried to tell her our plan before its execution, we would have been found out. The castle demons, those that had not already left rather than serve a human and her half-breed son, would not have tolerated their lord giving up his demon heritage for the sake of a human priestess, and were still powerful and numerous enough to have prevented us.

--I grew angry, believing that he was trying to go back on his word, while he insisted that I was the one who was attempting to use his mother as an excuse. I left the castle in order to calm down and headed for his favorite tree...--

To Kagome's surprise, she suddenly saw a quick flash of Inuyasha lounging up on a branch, nearly at the top of the old tree, casting a sardonic look down. But something was different about him...

Just as abruptly, the image and its melancholy affection vanished, replaced by a hardening of voice and complete disgust. --He didn't follow for many hours. I thought about my words and actions and finally decided that his concern might have been valid, and I should go back and tell him so.--

Sharp, burning pain suddenly lanced through Kagome's whole body. --My apologies.-- The pain disappeared, leaving her trembling violently. --I'll try not to remember it too keenly, but being ripped apart does tend to be fairly memorable.... As I was saying, I was about to go back when I was struck down. There was indeed a demon in the area, but it was too far away for him to have used that as an excuse! And that does not account for his behavior or words!--

But...I don't understand. I think I saw what happened, in a dream I had a few nights ago... Kagome really didn't want to remember, but she grimaced and did so anyway. He said all that stuff, but then he left, killed the demon, and apologized? Was that it?

--...It sounds fairly accurate, yes...--

There seemed to be some other detail, something else wrong, but Kagome's attempt to remember what it was couldn't withstand the weight of both her emotions and Kikyou's, and she dismissed it as her own indignation and confusion rose. Why the hell would he do that?! He's a jerk, but he wouldn't do that to you! He tried to make me leave 'cause he was afraid he might hurt me on accident!

--He's grown wiser, then! He knows his own weakness!--

But you said yourself that he just had to wait! If he'd wanted to steal the Jewel, he would've just waited for you to give it to him instead of bringing his mom into it!

--You expect me to know that lying traitor's mind? I'd hardly be surprised to find he merely lost patience!--

...I don't believe you.

Deadly calm. --What was that, girl?--

I said I don't believe you! Something's not right here!

Anger flared again, this time unchecked and directed at her, and she gagged, coughing and gasping as the nausea returned with a vengeance. --You dare call me a liar?!--

I never said that! Stop!

--Never say that to me again! Do you understand?!--

Look...doesn't make sense! That's all! Stop it!

--Why sh- --

The mental standoff was broken by a shuffling in the bushes, and the rage receded, reformed and sharpened into tense alertness. With the sickness gone, Kagome was able to raise her head and squint against the new sunlight. "Who's there?" she croaked.

--Fool. No need to announce your exact location, especially not with the Jewel's power awakened within you now.--

Sniffling distracted her from replying, and the alertness softened just a little as a little boy stumbled into the clearing, catching himself with bare and scabbed hands. "Are you okay?" Kagome asked, kneeling and leaning in closer, careful not to frighten him.

The boy, who was dressed in a stained, torn and patched blue kimono and looked about ten at the oldest, gaped up at her with wide, tear-glazed eyes, then flung himself at her, arms gripping her neck like a very dirty vise. "It's g-g-g-g-"

So much for not frightening him. "Shhhhh," Kagome whispered, shifting him into her arms and patting him soothingly the way she had with Souta many times in the past few years-but also peering into the bushes for whatever had frightened him. The suspicion in the back of her mind increased as the back of her neck began to prickle faintly. "What are you doing so far out here, hm? It's too early."

"He was with me."

All the hairs on the back of her neck went straight up as another boy of about the same age stepped out of the bushes, and the child in her arms flinched, burrowing his head into her shoulder. "Hiboshi and I were just taking a little stroll," the newcomer said calmly.

Kagome frowned at him: he was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, perfectly normal for this time. But- "What are you doing in those clothes? You don't live at the castle, do you?"

"I've been camping out here with my dad." The boy waved vaguely over his shoulder, beady eyes never leaving hers. The chill she'd felt when he first spoke deepened. "I met Hiboshi out here, and he just got freaked out when I showed him some of our stuff. You'd think he never saw a Gameboy before."

Something was definitely not right here. Kagome could feel the mental presence tensing, preparing for something; meanwhile, the chill wasn't going away.

"I can show you our camp if you'd like, ma'am," the boy offered, waving again. "I bet you'd like the chance to get away from the castle for a while."

How'd he know I'm staying at the castle? Or that it's even there?

--How, indeed?-- That was the only warning Kagome got before her body suddenly stiffened; one arm swiftly came up, palm facing the strange boy, and, as his unblinking eyes widened in alarm, the air crackled with energy and then sizzled at a burst of something from her hand.

What the...?!

Several things happened at once: just as Kagome realized that Kikyou had done something with her body again, her mind also processed the fact that where the boy had stood moments before, there was now a good-sized lizard standing on two legs and looking extremely pissed. And as the lizard sprang at her, jaws gaping and rows of fangs glistening, her body went numb all over and the creature slammed into an invisible wall around her, hissing in pain as its scaly flesh crumbled at the contact-then a shout behind her, a whoosh and flash of steel, dull thudding of two lizard halves on the ground, and Inuyasha kneeling in front of her, scowling and holding Tetsusaiga ready.

Deep breath.

"Hi," was all she could manage, patting Hiboshi mechanically as he looked up at the dead lizard, then Inuyasha, and clutched her neck tighter.

"Don't 'hi' me, wench!" Inuyasha stood up and scanned the area, sniffing experimentally. Kagome noted with dazed relief as he sank back down that Kikyou had chosen to recede almost entirely now that the danger was over: she'd wondered if the priestess would try to confront Inuyasha the next time she - they - saw him. "I told you there were demons still in this era, dammit! You could've been killed!"

"Yeah...can we go back now?" Kagome looked down at Hiboshi.

"Keh. Fine, wench. C'mere." Inuyasha sheathed Tetsusaiga and, rounding off what was turning out to be a long series of shocks, neatly swept her off her feet. "Hold onto the brat-" And in a heartbeat, they were back in the castle courtyard.

"I'm never gonna get used to that," Kagome mumbled, too dazed to be embarrassed as he set her down. She walked a few steps away and crouched again, trying to coax Hiboshi off her neck. "It's okay, honey, Inuyasha's not going to let anything else near you. You can go inside now."

Now that he was safe, Hiboshi's pride had begun to reassert itself. "I didn't mean to go that far," he mumbled defensively, swiping his eyes with the back of one filthy hand. "I just saw that kid, and he said he wanted to show me something."

"Sounds like a lizard demon, all right," Inuyasha said dismissively, and the boy shrank as he came up closer. "Cowards use tricks like that to get close to their prey and then eat 'em. Not even foxes have to resort to that crap." Hiboshi swallowed hard, and Kagome gave Inuyasha a Look. "What? It's true. You're lucky that one was too stupid to get a couple of sitting ducks like you. How the hell did it get you out that far, anyway?"

"He didn't. I woke up out there and just happened to find Hiboshi." Kagome patted his head.

"Woke up out there?" Inuyasha's scowl deepened. "You were in your bed when I went to sleep last night. If I hadn't found out you were gone a couple of minutes ago, I'd have just figured you were sleeping it off-how the hell did you make it all the way out there without anyone noticing?"

"Hiboshi!" They all turned to look as a stout older woman came hurrying towards them as fast as her kimono and the linen she was carrying from some nearby lines would permit. "Has he been causing any trouble, Inuyasha-sama, Kagome-sama?"

"Lizard demon lured him away. You're lucky Kagome found him. I'd be more careful if I were you," Inuyasha snapped, and the woman paled, dropping the linen to fall on her knees and scoop the boy up.

"You little fool! What have I told you about wandering away from here?!" The servant shook the boy, then hugged him so hard his eyes popped slightly. "Thank you so much, Kagome-sama!"

"It was Inuyasha who killed the demon," Kagome pointed out.

"But you purified it, too," the boy protested, eyeing Inuyasha distastefully.

"You're mixing her up with...someone else," the servant told her son sternly, bobbing her head to Kagome apologetically.

"No, I didn't! Kagome-sama did too purify it!"

The woman's mouth tightened, and she stood up, gripped Hiboshi by the shoulders and bowed very low, forcing him down, too. "Please forgive my son for causing you so much trouble, and for his rudeness. Thank you again, Kagome-sama." She nudged him sharply, and he parroted her with a mumble of "Thank you again, Kagome-sama," then obediently picked up the linen and followed her as she scuttled away.

"No trouble," she called after them, frowning.

"You didn't answer me, wench," Inuyasha snapped behind her. "How'd you get out there?"

"Do they always treat you like that?" Kagome folded her arms and tapped her foot, watching the servant glance at them over her shoulder before ushering her son inside. "No wonder you act like such a jerk sometimes."

"...Shut up, wench. Now, how the hell did y-"

"Good question. I'm gonna go check on Sango, 'kay?"

"Hey!" Inuyasha protested as she started for the steps. "OI! Wait up!"

The slayer was still snoring softly on Kagome's bed when she returned to the room, irate hanyou in tow. "She was in the exact same spot a little while ago," he grumbled as Kagome pulled her friend all the way back onto the mattress.

"Thanks for checking on us earlier," Kagome replied. "And for taking me back."

"Keh. Thank the hag. She made a bunch of stuff for you idiots to take." Inuyasha jerked his head at a small jug he'd left on the TV box. "You don't look like you need it anymore..." His eyes narrowed. "So you woke up before dawn, got yourself way the crap out there somehow, and you're standing upright after you drank yourself halfway to hell last night? Mind telling me what's going on, wench?"

"Believe me, if I knew, I'd tell you." Kagome was on the point of blaming it on her, but the presence stirred and gave off a distinctly warning impression, and she decided not to push it. "Now go away for a minute. I need to change."

Inuyasha's eye went through a series of rapid tics. "You don't know?! Don't give me th-"

"We'll discuss this later, okay? Okay." She turned around and began rummaging through a nearby trunk for something cool to wear, ignoring his growling till it became clear that he wasn't going anywhere. "Goodbye." Kagome made as if to pull her shirt over her head and was rewarded with a choking noise, then complete silence. She risked a peek behind her and smirked: he'd disappeared.

Wait-disappeared... Kagome paused in the middle of slipping a short, light cotton dress over her head. If Inuyasha got the power to do that from the Jewel and she'd just done the same thing to get Kagome out into the woods...

--I used your own power, not the portion left in the Tree as Inuyasha does.--

Kagome jumped. Aaaaagh! Don't do that!

--It makes perfect sense if you only think about it. I would not have been able to reveal the demon and then block it if you lacked the appropriate abilities.--

...So I could do that if I wanted to?

--Don't ask foolish questions. Of course you could. You simply haven't had the chance to use it before.--

This was giving her yet another headache. So I've got a magic rock stuck in me somewhere and I can warp around and zap bad guys? Do you have any idea how weird this all is to me?!

--Your immaturity would give me that impression, yes.-- Kagome wished there was some way to stick her tongue out at that, even if it wouldn't quite help. --You are my reincarnation, after all-why wouldn't you be able to do such things? I could do them on my own strength. I never used the Jewel.--

But I have to use a prop? Ah, well. Kagome finished dressing and smoothed out the white fabric, tracing its faded red sunburst pattern idly. Maybe you should tell me how to do whatever it was you did in case something else comes after me. Then you can just go to sleep and not have to worry about me getting eaten or anything.

--I'm sure you'd prefer that...and perhaps that is the best idea. Demons will seek this place out now that the Jewel and I have come out of dormancy.-- Kagome held her breath as the priestess mulled it over. --Perhaps you'd best ask my younger sister. I would like to continue observing, but our current situation is hardly comfortable for either of us.--

Amen to that. So who's your sister?

For the first time, genuine amusement surfaced. --I'll let you discover that on your own.-- And then she was gone, submerged so that Kagome could barely tell she was there.

"Cute," Kagome grumbled aloud, twisting her hair up into a loose bundle and tying it high on her head. I should've taken a bath before I got dressed. We didn't get a chance last night, and now I'm all sweaty thanks to our little field trip. Nice way to smell when I have to go track someone down...

She faltered in the act of pulling Sango back onto the bed: once again, the slayer had flopped over and was in danger of falling to the floor like a sack of wet potatoes.

Inuyasha can eavesdrop, the pig...so if he can transport himself around, and I can too, then...hmmmmm...

It was a good thought, of course, but the fatal flaw became evident once she stopped congratulating herself and tried it. "She's supposed to tell me how to do this," Kagome groaned aloud, putting her face in her hands. "I can't find her that way unless I know how, and I don't know how till I find her! Dammit, dammit, crap!"

"Kagome!" The shoji flew open and a furry ball thudded into her arms. "You're already awake!"

"Hi, Shippou-chan." Kagome grinned at the kit and ruffled his hair, glad for the distraction. "How's it going?"

A surprisingly loud growl from his stomach made Kagome laugh and bounce him playfully. "That's all the answer I need. Wanna do Sango a favor and go get breakfast ourselves?"

"Yeah!" Shippou clambered onto her shoulder. "She's gonna need some of Kaede's stuff when she wakes up, too. Did you already take some?"

"Special stuff?" Kagome repeated, then cringed inwardly. Should've known he would know we got plastered last night. "No, but I'm fine now."

"That's good. I knew you wouldn't be that dumb, but I smelled some of it when I came in last night," the boy said matter-of-factly, and Kagome smiled weakly.

"Kagome?" She stopped outside the room and turned as the old herbalist came shuffling up.

"Hello, Kaede." Kagome bobbed her head politely. "Inuyasha already left some herbs in my room for Sango, and I'm all right now. Thank you."

"Good, good, child. But I need to speak with ye about other matters as well." Kaede smiled at Shippou. "Please guide Kagome-sama to the shrine after your meal, little one."

"Okay," the fox chirped, waving as the old woman bowed creakily and shuffled off.

"I always liked Kaede," he confided, whispering in one of Kagome's ears and darting his eyes around to make sure no one was listening. "She wasn't nearly as creepy as the other priestess lady."

"Oh?" They both fell silent as Kagome rounded the corner and entered the kitchens.

"What are you doing here, Kagome-sama?" one sharp-faced servant demanded, putting her knife down and bowing shortly. "Where's Sango-san?"

"She's feeling ill, and I insisted upon coming myself. I've never seen this part of the castle, after all," Kagome said steadily, ignoring giggles and whispers from around the kitchen. "I don't really like being waited on in the first place, so I would've come sooner or later." She caught one cluster of teen-aged girls staring at her and Shippou in near-open amusement and gave them a long, steady glare; each one turned some shade of white or red and became intensely interested in doing some kind of nearby work.

"Whatever Kagome-sama wishes," the first woman said smoothly, bowing with more respect than before and shooting the nearest girl behind her a venomous look. "Please pardon our rudeness. What would you like for today?"

It took the better part of ten minutes to get enough food for the three of them and several more to convince the servants to let her carry it back herself; Shippou was too small, but letting one of them come back and see Sango in her current state was more than Kagome was willing to even consider. "What a pain in the ass," Kagome muttered as she walked back towards the room, not caring how much like her sisters she sounded. "You'd think they never knew anyone who wanted to do their own work."

"They're used to waiting on Inuyasha hand and foot," Shippou pointed out. "He doesn't really like it very much, either, so they do it all the time."

Kagome snorted. "So it's a vicious cycle, eh?" She waited for Shippou to hop down and open the shoji. "I'd like to be friends with them, but not if they act like that."

"Not all of 'em do." Shippou watched her like a hawk as she put the tray down and set the food out, knelt and picked up chopsticks. Kagome picked up a bowl, raised it to give him room to scramble onto her lap, and, as she wasn't very hungry yet, handed him her chopsticks, holding the bowl for him to scoop from.

With the kit's mouth occupied, Kagome let her mind wander. I wonder what they talk about amongst themselves. Probably me and Inuyasha. Wish I could hear......nah, actually, I probably don't.

The rice was nearly gone and Kagome about to start on her miso when they heard a faint groan from the bed. "Morning," Kagome said cheerfully, setting Shippou down gently and rising to unplug the bottle Inuyasha had left. "How're you feeling?"

"Mmmphrrrrggg." Sango blinked painfully and raised her head, swallowing hard. "Horr'ble."

"Here." Kagome offered her some tea, then the jug. "No! Don't spit it out!" She sighed in relief as the slayer obediently gulped it down and coughed.

"What the...?" Sango ran a hand slowly through her dark hair, which bore a striking resemblance to a bird's nest left out in the rain. She blinked again, rubbing bloodshot eyes. "I feel awful."

Kagome gave her a fresh cup of tea and winced as she drained it all in a few seconds. "We've got food here if you're hungry."

"Hells, no, thank you. I feel sick enough." Sango rolled over and stared blearily at the ceiling. "Did we get drunk?"

Kagome and Shippou stared at her. "Uh...what do you remember, Sango-chan?"

Sango made a face. "We had dinner together in here. You were telling that story and I was drinking a lot. And now I feel like death."

"...And that's all?"

"Yes." Sango threw one forearm across her eyes. "Please tell me he didn't do anything. I wouldn't trust him to keep control when he's drunk."

Kagome had to fake a violent coughing fit to keep from bursting out laughing. "Sorry, uh, got something stuck in my throat." She took a few more seconds to compose herself. "No, no, he was a perfect gentleman. You really don't give him enough credit sometimes."

"If you say so..." Sango sat up carefully, too intent on staying upright to notice Kagome still smothering laughter and Shippou looking at her curiously. "If he had tried anything, I'd have killed him anyway, so it's just as well."

That was a little too much, and Kagome's control failed. "What are you laughing at, Kagome-chan?"

"At you." Inuyasha came into the room and flopped down, folding his hands into his wide sleeves and eyeing Kagome. "Not that she's in any position to laugh."

Kagome abruptly stopped laughing and flushed as certain details came back to her. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and cracked his knuckles as he addressed Sango. "If you want an explanation, you're gonna have to wait in line."

"Speaking of which, I have an appointment." Kagome rose and opened the shoji, raising her voice over Inuyasha's exasperated growls. "C'mon, Shippou-chan, we have to go see Kaede. Wait for me here, Sango-chan, okay?"

"Look, you st-" Kagome slammed the shoji in his face and power-walked out to the front entrance hall, holding Shippou like a football under one arm till they were safely out of his bellowing range. Why did he have to bring that up now?! She hadn't remembered what she'd done till he said so, of course...

Uuugh. Forgetting about it, starting...now. "Sorry about that." She set Shippou down gently and crouched. "So, where's Kaede?"

"Out here." Shippou hopped onto her knees and turned to point outside, towards the east. "There's a little shrine. It's hard to see."

Kagome received a few strange looks from servants outside, but most of them bowed respectfully enough, and she supposed her dress was pretty strange by their standards, so she decided to let the double takes slide. It was already distinctly warm out and it was barely midmorning; she was more comfortable than they were, anyway. So there.

"What was Inuyasha talking about?" Shippou asked, pointing her around the courtyard once they were down the steps.

"Nothing much." She poked the kit's sides gently and smiled as he wriggled. "You wouldn't happen to know if the old priestess had a little sister, would you?"

"A little one? Nuh-uh." Shippou suddenly leapt down and raced ahead on all fours, tail bobbing. "It's right-there!"

Kagome followed his gaze and tiny pointing finger towards a neat, well-kept but very small shrine almost hidden from view against the side of the castle. She took a few steps towards it and rubbed her bare arms unconsciously. "Wow. Thanks, Shippou-chan." She came closer, then stopped. "Aren't you coming in?"

"I can't." The little fox shrugged. "No demons allowed. Not even Inuyasha can go in. The priestess was the only one who ever went there, but now Kaede stays there and Miroku goes in sometimes."

"Oh." That might explain the borderline creepy feeling she was getting from the place; it wasn't bad, per se, just a little forbidding. "Well, thanks for showing me. I'll see you later, okay?"

"'Kay." Shippou waved, then squeaked as Kagome impulsively came back to him and swept him up in a hug. "Hey! I'm not a baby!"

"Of course not." Kagome tickled him a little more, and his poorly faked scowl dissolved in giggles. "If you were, I wouldn't trust you to make sure Miroku doesn't talk to Sango till I've told her what happened!"

"I can do that." Shippou hugged her shoulder and slipped out of her grasp. "See you later!" He waved again and scampered back towards the castle.

"Ye have a way with children," Kaede observed from directly behind her, and Kagome squeaked almost the way Shippou had.

"My apologies, child. I meant not to surprise ye." The herbalist bowed her head and indicated the shrine. "Shall ye come inside?"

"Okay." Kagome waved at Shippou once last time and followed a faint stone-outlined path up to the little shrine.

"'Tis good that the snow has melted," Kaede said conversationally, hobbling along at a fairly quick pace. "Greenery may return soon as well. One hopes Inuyasha's mood stays steady long enough."

"I hope so, too." Kagome paused outside the door. Was it her imagination, or was it glowing? "Is there something...?"

"Ye see the sutras?" Kaede came up and placed one knobby, veined hand on the door. Immediately the glow intensified, and Kagome squinted. "I see ye can. Most impressive." The old woman pushed the door open. "There is but little room, I am afraid, but please make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you." With a last look at the doors, Kagome stepped inside and knelt on a cushion obviously set there for her, as the other was placed directly in front of a little altar and looked much older and more worn by constant use.

"Now, child..." Kaede sank onto the old cushion with a slight grunt. "Pardon. My joints are not what they used to be." Kagome remained politely silent as she made herself comfortable. "Inuyasha tells me ye are a...predecessor...of one who lived here before."

Kagome stiffened. "Maybe. Miroku thinks I'm her reincarnation, and so does sh-" She bit the last word off: nice as Kaede seemed, there was no point in letting anyone else know that she was carrying a little extra baggage these days. Especially not a voice in my head.

"Oh? And why wouldn't ye be? Your resemblance is uncanny." Kaede's single eye narrowed.

"I'm not saying it's true or impossible. I just don't like the thought on top of everything else that's happened to me," Kagome said tersely. Not this again...

"I imagine so, child, but there is no shame in being linked to one who was as strong, kind and respected as-"

"From what I've gathered, she was pretty much everything I'm not, and being constantly compared to her is getting annoying." She hadn't meant to snap, but the headache had come back yet again, and being asked about this yet again was really starting to piss her off. Maybe I should just tell her, "She's set up camp in my brain-want me to invite her out? Might be fun!"

Kaede regarded her calmly. "Ye sound upset. Pray tell me, what bothers ye so much about it?"

"Are you serious?!" That did it. Hell, if she's asking, I'm gonna tell her! "I'm stuck here two and a half more months because I either get engaged to a guy who can't decide whether he hates me or not and is still in love with a stuck-up dead chick living in my head who nearly gets me eaten and insists he chopped her into fishsticks...or I keep telling him to piss off and raising his blood pressure for the rest of the time and let him go apeshit and kill everyone here, including you, and then he dies a horrible, bloody death knowing he's killed everyone he even vaguely cares about, and then I go home, la la la, glad that's over, time to get back to cleaning up and making sure my sister doesn't burn the fucking shrine down!"

Kagome bit her lips as the echoes of the last word faded from the little room. Her hands were clenched almost painfully on her knees. Wow. That felt kinda good.... But only kinda. She swiped at her eyes, willing her breathing to slow down. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to yell like that."

Kaede took a deep breath and released it slowly. "I had no idea ye were under quite that much stress. Please forgive me." She cautiously patted one of Kagome's hands. "Did ye say she is...?"

"Yeah. I know I'm her reincarnation, but that doesn't mean I like having her hang around and tell me that Inuyasha...did...stuff...when he already told me he didn't." Or had he?...No, she was sure he couldn't have done anything like that. For crap's sake, he can't take me crying, and he doesn't even like me! No way he would've done all that to someone he loved...

"I see. Have ye asked him about that?" Kaede's voice took on a curious edge.

"No!" Kagome bristled. "He already told me his side, and I believe him. But...but I don't think she's lying either, and I was confused enough before...!"

"Calm down, child," Kaede said soothingly, and Kagome forced herself to breathe deeply. "So ye trust him already?"

Kagome started. "Trust him?" She pondered that for a second. "...Yeah, I guess I do. He's a jerk, but he's really honest. If he says something happened one way, I don't think he'd lie about it."

The old woman nodded slowly. "You know him better already than many who have lived here twice your age."

"Well, he's not hard to read." Kagome shrugged.

"Nay, but his manner prevents many from wishing to learn that. He was taught from his earliest days that he must remain forever on his guard, and while it was valid when he was young and vulnerable to his brother and other demons - even some humans - it also left him unable to drop that guard, even when it was no longer necessary, and he has thus alienated nearly everyone he knows. But ye have already guessed as much." Kagome nodded. "Then I trust ye to make the best of your situation, better than nearly any other girl could."

"Thank you, Kaede." Kagome bowed her head, feeling marginally better. "Oh, and while I'm here, can I ask you something?" The herbalist nodded. "Did Kikyou ever have a little sister?"

The old woman flinched as if struck repeatedly, and Kagome wondered if she should've avoided using the priestess's name like usual...but the presence hadn't seemed to care, so neither did she anymore.

"She had a younger sister once, yes," Kaede said, very slowly. "Why do ye ask?"

"Because she told me to find her younger sister and ask about controlling my powers." An unbidden image of herself in a cheesy superhero costume rose to mind, and she shoved it down in violent distaste.

Some of her aversion must've shown in her expression, for Kaede smiled and shook her head. "Ye dislike the idea?"

"Well, I'm used to the idea of demons and everything by now, but the concept of me being able to do stuff like that still seems a little...out there," Kagome said apologetically. "I know it's true, though, so I'd like to know how to deal with them."

"I see. Ye do know I am also a priestess myself, correct?"

"Well, yeah, but..." Kagome trailed off, not wanting to be rude, but vaguely certain that following Kikyou's advice would probably be best in this case.

Kaede chuckled and shook her head. "No point in skimming around it...I am her younger sister."

Kagome blinked.

"Would you care for a word of explanation, child? The curse is not so stringent in this place as it is on the rest of the grounds."

Nodnodnodnodnod.

"All right, then.

"I traveled with my sister and came to reside here when she did. I was only a child, no more than 10 or so. I had little contact with Inuyasha, as I was training to become a priestess like my sister, but she spoke to me on occasion about him. Mostly it was about how I should watch out for demons and half-demons and what an ill-mannered example Inuyasha was, but as time went by, it became evident that her feelings were not quite the same-a remarkable thing in itself for my sister. She was very wise, far beyond her years, and rarely did she reverse her judgment on any matter.

"But soon enough, she stopped speaking of him, and when I mentioned him, she would not answer. At the time I believed that she must hate him even more, but as I grew older, I realized she was merely hesitant to speak of her feelings lest she either lie or say more than she was willing to admit."

"I know how they fell in love, and...kind of what happened and why he ended up cursed," Kagome said as politely as she could while the old woman stopped to catch her breath. "Were you here when they were cursed?"

"Nay, or else I would be a girl still." Kaede chuckled again. "I was in a nearby village, gathering herbs and consulting with the elders on my sister's behalf as part of my training. On my way home, I felt a tremendous shock, and imagine my surprise to find that the castle grounds were empty and devoid of all life.

"Had I stayed longer and investigated more deeply, I might have guessed for myself what happened, but I was young and too distressed to use my spiritual awareness to any degree. I headed back to the village and told the elders what had happened; they declared the castle cursed - quite appropriately - and forbade anyone from ever returning, myself included. A kind family took me in, and there I lived for nearly fifty more years."

"How'd-" Kagome clamped her jaws shut. "Sorry."

"Quite all right, child. I returned here when I was beset by loneliness and melancholy one winter day; my aim was simply to see this place one last time before my death, but lo and behold, when I came inside, there was Inuyasha to greet me. He seemed quite surprised that I could see him, but soon he remembered me and told me what had happened. I was quite lucky to have come upon him, as he only wakes briefly every decade or so on his own to check the grounds.

"When I discovered what had transpired, I felt guilt - undeserved, but strong nonetheless - for having escaped the curse, and asked that I be allowed to rejoin him and give any aid I could. Of course he laughed at first, but when he saw that I was serious, he soon gave way, and here I am."

Kagome's jaw fell open. "You volunteered to be here?!"

Kaede's single eye grew mischievous. "From what I hear, 'tis little different from what ye did, child."

Kagome felt her face heating. "I guess so. But my dad's life was at stake. You could've just left again."

Now the old woman was grinning openly. "Could ye leave now, knowing Inuyasha as ye do? Would you go back home if ye had the choice?"

"It's not the same!" Kagome protested. "I-you-"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. But I suspect our motives are nearly the same. We know he is a good person and wish to help." Kaede patted Kagome's hand again. "Forgive me for saying so, but I suspect ye would be far less likely to raise your voice if you cared nothing for him."

"Oh, c'mon. I just don't hate him enough to enjoy his suffering." Kagome forced a smile through her increasing discomfort. "It's almost time for lunch. Should I come back after I eat?"

"Nay, child, we've spoken long enough for today." Kaede paused thoughtfully. "If my sister did tell you to come here...hmmm..." She tapped her wrinkled fingers. "I've gathered her presence is not enjoyable to ye?"

"No." Kagome perked up. "That's right, she said to see her sister about that. Is there some way to make her go away, or at least somewhere else?"

"Perhaps." Kaede slowly got to her feet, grimacing. "Come over here, child. I wish to try something."

Kagome followed her to the altar, where Kaede was crouched next to a small statue. "Souls need a physical body in order to sustain their existence till their next rebirth, but so long as ye two share the same soul, she may be able to exist outside a human form by maintaining a small link with ye."

"Really?" Kagome thought she got it. "What kind of link?"

"If we ask her to house herself within an object such as this, and ye return here every day or so to renew the contact, then-"

"The tree!" Kagome leapt to her feet, nearly knocking the old woman over. "That's perfect! Thanks, Kaede! Later!" And she sprinted out the door before Kaede could quite grasp what she'd said.

--I would prefer the statue.--

The voice nearly stopped Kagome in her tracks. What? Why?

--You really don't think I would be averse to return to the place of my death?--

Oh. Sorry... Kagome halted. So should we go back to the statue?

There was a very long silence. Kikyou? Is that a "duh, yes"?

--On second thought, I believe the Tree may be more appropriate, yes. Please go there.--

Oh. Okay. Kagome took off for the tree at a jog, less confident than before but still elated at the prospect of not having to share her mind anymore.

--I hardly enjoy it, either.--

Kagome ignored her and kept going, slowing to a walk when a stitch developed in her side. When she finally reached the little clearing, she stopped and took a deep breath. "Here we are."

She could feel Kikyou struggling not to remember that last night. --Very good. Now, please go and touch the Tree.--

Seems simple enough. A slight misgiving pricked her, lightly, then stronger, and she frowned. Are you sure you don't want the statue? It's right there in the castle, and-

--Too easily disturbed, and you won't want to do this more than once. I am part of you, after all, and my removal will likely not be pleasant.--

Gulp. No worse than having you around, no offense.

--Little taken. Now...--

That old feeling of dread crept up on her as she ascended the slope and stepped around roots. At least I know what it is this time...not sure that's an improvement, though...

And she reached forward.

"KAGOME! What the fuck are you doing?!"

Kagome's whole body stiffened in surprise. She started to turn-lost her balance-fell against the tree to catch herself-

Inuyasha was just in time to grab her as she crumpled to the ground. "Kagome? Kagome?!" He shook her lightly. "What the hell is going on?!"

"Hello, Inuyasha." His ears flattened as Kikyou's voice drifted down from the tree's middle branches. Slowly his head came up and turned to face hers. She seemed solid enough...he sniffed, incredulous and a little sick with apprehension. Nothing.

"I'm not really here." The priestess sat up, smoothing her white kimono and red hakama. "This form appears real, but I'm only borrowing the Tree's power. Don't worry about the girl-your curse is not fulfilled yet. She'll wake up soon enough-perhaps tomorrow. As will I." She inclined her head and seemed to fade back into the bark.

"Wait! Kikyou, wait!" No response. Inuyasha's shoulders sagged. "Kikyou..." He looked down at Kagome. Her face was pale...much too pale. With a last bewildered look at the tree, Inuyasha shifted the girl into his arms and took off for the castle. Whatever the hell was going on, he was going to find out now.

Or so he hoped.

A/N: 13th chapter: good a time as any to whip out a cliffie-hanger. I only do so because I'll have the next chapter up veddy, veddy soon, I swear. In fact, I'm probably writing it as you read this. I'm just that good. ;D And it'll be more fun. Can't keep up the "story" for too long at once. It's not healthy. :3