InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part IV): Power of the Purified Shinju ❯ Changes ( Chapter 21 )

Chapter Twenty One

Changes

Kagome began to study her reflection. Along with her change in eye color she noticed other small changes in her appearance. Her hair color had darkened to an almost inky black and the texture was different. It felt silkier and it appeared to be a couple of inches longer. Her fingernails that had always been battered from battle and her incessant habit of chewing on them were now strong and healthy looking. Her skin too had a radiant glow to it, making it appear softer and more flawless than it had before. She glanced around the room and then at InuYasha. Again he was sniffing her with a puzzled look.

"You've changed, Kagome." She nodded in agreement. "I would almost swear you have demon blood in you." She shook her head. "No, that would be impossible with my powers. I would purify myself."

InuYasha nodded and then began sniffing her again. "Something about you isn't right." She focused her powers and was let out a cry. InuYasha rushed forward but refused to touch her.

"What did you just do?" Kagome had tears in her eyes. "I don't know. What is happening to me?" He looked at her in confusion and shrugged his shoulders. She turned back to the mirror and ran her fingers through her hair. Though her changes were subtle they were very obvious to Kagome.

She again focused her energy but was met with pain. "We need to go to Kaede. She will know what has happened. I also need to go home for awhile." She added sadly. InuYasha stared at Kagome and for the first time, gave thought to just how much she had gone through. He walked forward and pulled her into an embrace.

"Kagome, can you forgive me for what I said?" She let her head rest on his shoulder and gave a soft nod. He could still smell Sesshoumaru on her and the smell made him both jealous and sad. `I should have told her long ago how I felt.' InuYasha thought to himself as he held her.

"We'll leave tomorrow morning." InuYasha promised and then released Kagome. He headed back to the window and jumped from her room. Kagome glanced around and then crawled into her bed, exhausted. She woke again in the early morning hours, she had felt a pulsing and opened her eyes.

Sesshoumaru was standing just inside her door looking at her. She sat up and could see that he was conflicting. Finally he walked towards her, the shinju in his hand. She glanced at it and realized what the pulsing she felt had been. Kagome could see that it had lightened to nearly a slate gray color.

"How do we purify the shinju?" He asked her. She could see the formal demeanor setting into him, but he seemed to be fighting it. She glanced at the gem and then back to him. "I don't know. I wish I did. I thought that it would purify once it was returned to you." She could see a nearly disappointed look cross his face as he gazed at the gem.

"I will be returning to Priestess Toshi. The shinju must be purified and I believe she may Kagome nodded and looked down at her hands.

"We will be traveling back to our village tomorrow. Then I will be going home for awhile." Kagome sat there in silence for a moment, waiting for a reply. Finally, she looked up and saw him gazing down at her with an intense sadness.

"Is it your intention to stay in your own era, Kagome?" She took in his words, not quite sure what her intentions where. They wouldn't need her now that Naraku was no longer a threat to the Shikon Jewel.

"I don't know what I intend to do," she whispered sadly. Sesshoumaru stood there staring down at Kagome. He could feel dark emotions trying to take over him. The idea of having InuYasha and his human companions in his castle was beginning to unnerve him. Though looking down at her made his heart soften. While he was gazing at her, he felt the shinju give a light pulse. It was as if it was speaking to him, but he couldn't understand what it was telling him. She too must have felt it, because she glanced at it.

Finally, he nodded and turned towards the door. "Before I go to Toshi, I will accompany you back to your village." He then left, closing the door softly behind him.

Kagome tried to sleep but couldn't. She laid in her bed thinking about what she would do with herself now. There was no need for her here in the feudal era anymore. InuYasha would probably prefer it if she didn't bother him now. She thought about Sesshoumaru and realized that he was a very important demon, one that would probably not want a human companion around for long. She sighed and turned over feeling sadness wash over her.

She awoke when the room became drenched in sunlight. She sat up and realized that Sango had never come to her room. Thinking about it, she guessed that the demon exterminator had probably found a guest room so that Kagome could sleep peacefully and not be disturbed.

However, that theory was squashed the moment she set her eyes on Sango. She had a silly smile on and blushed the moment Kagome looked at her. Kagome was at first puzzled and then nearly burst out laughing at the deep shade of pink that graced Sango's cheeks. Kagome quickly pulled Sango to the room they shared and turned to her.

"Sango! Where were you last night?" Sango again turned red and looked to the ground. "I was with Miroku." Kagome hugged Sango and giggled. "Well?" Sango again blushed and looked to the ground. "It was nice." Kagome laughed softly. "Just nice?"

Sango turned away from Kagome nearly crying from her embarrassment. Kagome came to her and put her hand on her shoulder. "It's okay Sango. Don't get upset." Sango turned back to Kagome and began to tell her about her time with Miroku.

"We spent all day together. We watched the children play and he told me about his dreams for the future. He then apologized for some things he said to me the night you were with Sesshoumaru."

Kagome gave Sango a puzzled look and Sango quickly told her about the scene in the study.

"He told me that he cared too much for me to take advantage of me. It was so sweet and unlike Miroku. I always thought he was nothing but a lecher." Kagome smiled at Sango's comments. "He was so…nice." Both girls laughed and decided to go to breakfast. Finally allowing themselves to relax yet preparing themselves for the journey, not knowing just what lay outside the confines of the castle.