InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unexpeced Allies Part III: Trial of the Century ❯ Split Personalities ( Chapter 7 )

{Disclaimer: Anyone who's read this from chapter one of part one knows this already, so…}

SF: Because I felt so bad about the shortness of the last chapter (I think it was about 4 pages) I made this one a bit longer, but not by much. I think the longest chapter is 15, but I could be wrong.

Chapter Seven:

Split Personality

Sesshoumaru stood in the middle of the deserted highway. Wondering how he got there, he turned around to see if he could recognize anything. He noticed the black pavement and the yellow stripes below him and realized that he was in Kagome's dreamscape. He looked down at himself, finding his normal white robes were replaced with blue jeans and a white shirt with a black leather jacket. The ground in front of him shimmered then raised up, forming a black motorcycle helmet. Sesshoumaru picked it up, weighing it in his hands.

"Are you gonna stand around all day?"

Sesshoumaru turned around. On the side of the highway were two black dirt bikes. A figure in a black leather cat suit stood beside them. She took off her helmet and smiled.

"Who were you expecting, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked as he walked up.

"Are you speaking to me now?" Sesshoumaru asked as he straddled one of the bikes. Kagome nodded. "I thought this would make you feel better." She hopped on her bike and put her helmet back on.

"Wanna race?"

"Let's go."

Kagome sped off first, with Sesshoumaru behind her. They burned rubber down the highway, dodging whatever cars Kagome entered into the dreamscape. They taunted each other good-naturedly as they finally reached the city. Kagome stopped moments after Sesshoumaru. She yanked off her helmet and scowled.

"You cheated, Seishou."

Sesshoumaru smirked. "I did not. You are not fast enough."

Kagome put her hands on her hips. "This is my dream, you know. I might have let you win."

"I doubt that."

Kagome got off her bike. As Sesshoumaru got off his, she hugged him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"I'm sorry, Seishou, for getting mad at you," she whispered. "I should have known you had more character than to deal with Naraku."

Sesshoumaru said nothing but hugged her back, silently grateful that he didn't have to explain about the arm. Kagome smiled up at him and released him. As they walked down the sidewalk, Sesshoumaru chose to ask her about her attire.

"What are we wearing?"

Kagome shrugged. "I decided that if I'm going to train you about my time, the least I can do is do it right. You actually need protective gear when you ride, like your jacket. You're already used to wearing the helmets."

"What are you wearing?"

"I'm wearing a riding suit. It's a jacket and a pair of leather pants zipped together at the waist. The boots are standard issue dirt bike apparel."

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Then why is it so indecent?"

"Indecent means revealing, doesn't it?" Sesshoumaru nodded. Kagome sighed. "Why am I surprised? You did try to look up my skirt at Aniki's after all."

Sesshoumaru ignored this. "How far are you in your mission?"

Kagome sighed, leaning against the window of the electronic store behind her. "We got another shard, but Naraku beat us to the last one. We're heading back to Kaede's to figure out what to do. What do you think? Should we go find him or let him find us?"

"Why ask me?" he asked her. Kagome shrugged. "I just figured you'd be an authority on strategies. After all, you do run a whole kingdom."

Sesshoumaru was inwardly flattered that she thought so highly of him, and found it endearing. "Well, I cannot tell you what to do, because this is your fight. There are benefits and inconveniences to each idea."

"Such as?"

"For one, searching for the hanyou would possibly be faster, but you loose the ability to fight on familiar ground and he could hide from you thus wasting time. Staying in one place gives you familiar ground, but it also takes patience."

Kagome nodded. "I knew it was a good idea to ask you. We're on our way to Kaede's now, but Shorin went back to your castle to pick up some appropriate clothes."

Sesshoumaru quirked an eyebrow. "Appropriate clothes? For whom?"

Kagome turned around and touched the display window. The TVs inside flickered, then flashed a picture of a black haired inuyoukai. Sesshoumaru stepped closer to the glass as Kagome explained.

"We found her two days ago, in an underground cavern in the mountains. I set her free with the Tosusaiga somehow." Sesshoumaru barely heard her as he watched the TVs. The female inuyoukai smiled and waved at him. Sesshoumaru stepped back as Kagome touched his arm.

"We found her, Seishou. I can't believe it, but we found your mother."

Sesshoumaru fell to one knee as one of the people in Kagome's dreamscape crashed into him. The picture on the t.v.s faded out as Kagome kneeled before him.

"Are you ok?" she asked. Two hands helped him to his feet. Sesshoumaru looked up to thank Kagome but stopped as two Kagomes stared back at him.

At least it would have been two Kagomes, if the other one didn't have azure blue eyes and a white stripe in her hair.

"Are you ok?" Kagome repeated as Sesshoumaru stood up and brushed himself off. He turned to the azure eyed Kagome suspiciously.

"What are you doing here?" he asked her. Kagome blinked. "Sesshoumaru, do you need to sit down?"

"Shhh" Azure-Eyed Kagome said, putting her finger to her lips. "She can't hear or see me. She doesn't know I'm here. She is becoming worried, though. If you want to talk to me, do it mentally."

Sesshoumaru nodded at them both. "I am fine, Kagome. How did you say you found my mother again?"

"We found her in the mountains. She was inside this giant diamond. The Tosusaiga broke it, and now she's helping us with Naraku." Kagome held up her hands in defeat as he started to protest. "I know, I know. I don't like the idea either, but she insisted. I tried to talk her out of it but it seems that stubbornness runs in your family."

*Sesshoumaru walked past her down the sidewalk at a brisk stride. Both Kagomes huffed in indignation then ran to catch up with him, each catching an arm.

"So rude, Maru-chan."

Sesshoumaru paled as Kagome laughed. Azure-Eyed Kagome patted his arm sympathetically, then laughed too. Sesshoumaru shook his head at them both but directed his attention to Azure-Eyed Kagome as Kagome led him into one of the shops on the strip.*

'What are you doing here?' he mentally asked her.

"I'm here because you're worried about her," Azure-Eyed Kagome said as she and Sesshoumaru sat down on two of the chairs inside the shop.

"Why are you shopping in a dream?" Sesshoumaru asked Kagome. She shrugged. "I want to at least shop one last time, just in case we can't defeat Naraku."

Before Sesshoumaru could react to this, Azure-Eyed Kagome patted his arm again. "Don't worry, Lord Sesshoumaru. I won't let her get hurt."

'Just how do you plan to do that?' he asked her as Kagome rifled through a rack of dresses.

"The same way I did it last time we fought Naraku," Azure-Eyed Kagome replied as she relaxed against the back of the chair.

'I do not understand.'

"When Kagome used the Tosusaiga the first time, she called on her youkai blood unknowingly. The change you saw was me."

'You're Kagome's youkai blood?'

"Hai, my lord."

'Then why is she still human?' Sesshoumaru questioned as Kagome ran across the store to filter through another rack, mumbling something about a 'perfect dress'.

Azure-Eyed Kagome sighed. "Kagome is still human because she hasn't made the Choice."

'The Choice?'

"The choice to leave her human blood behind for the youkai."

'Then how did she change?' asked a very baffled Sesshoumaru.

"She 'borrowed' a little of the youkai blood, much like Inuyasha when his youkai blood takes over. Except less violent. Our form changed to suit what she needed to protect herself and Rin."

Sesshoumaru scratched his arm thoughtfully. "So Kagome is still human?"

"What was that?" Kagome asked, looking up from the pile of clothes in front of her.

"Nothing."

Azure-Eyed Kagome smiled. "We are more like Inuyasha now."

'I have never heard of a hanyou Immortal.'

"They exist, though they are rare. Kagome is a hanyou because she's used the power, but hasn't fully converted. When she does, we'll be able to switch from our true form to our humanoid form like you.'

'Her true form being what she turned into at Narasa's Mountain?'

Azure-Eyed Kagome shook her head. "I honestly don't know what our true form is. Its possible that our true form has white wings, blue wings, no wings, a tail like a bird's, anything. Our hair might not turn completely white and our eyes might not be completely blue."

'Why do you say 'we'?' Sesshoumaru asked. Kagome walked up to him, holding an ivory halter dress in front of her.

"What do you think?" she asked. Sesshoumaru shrugged. "I do not know. I have not seen it on you."

Kagome huffed. "Wait here." She turned and retreated for the dressing rooms. Sesshoumaru smiled as she walked away. "Silly girl. She forgot she could just transform into it."

Azure-Eyed Kagome smiled at him. "You're fond of us, aren't you?"

Sesshoumaru huffed. 'Are you going to answer my question?'

Azure-Eyed Kagome nodded. "I say we because Kagome and I haven't fused yet. If she decides to become youkai, then she and I will become one person, one entity. All I know she'll know. If she stays human, then I'll protect her but we'll stay separate. '

Sesshoumaru nodded as Kagome came out of the dressing room. She did a little twirl in front of him, the dress shimmering in the light as it swirled around her.

"Now what do you think?" she asked. Sesshoumaru glanced at her, taking in the form fitting bodice and the skirt that flared slightly at her hips to her ankles. "It is nice."

"Not beautiful?"

Azure-Eyed Kagome nudged Sesshoumaru in the side. "Would it kill you to say something nice to her?"

Sesshoumaru stood and walked around Kagome critically. Kagome turned with him, a quizzical look on her face.

"No," he said. Kagome slumped slightly, crestfallen. "Oh." She turned to walk back to the dressing room when Sesshoumaru grabbed her wrist and yanked her backward. Not expecting this, Kagome fell into him heavily and the two of them fell back into Sesshoumaru's chair.

"What was that for?" Kagome hissed as Sesshoumaru adjusted them in the seat. One arm wrapped around her waist as his finger tapped her nose. "I said the dress was not beautiful, not you. You are stunning."

"Awww…" Kagome cooed as she threw her arms around his neck. "That was so sweet! Thank you Seishou!" She grinned as she jumped out of his lap back to the dressing room. "I'll be back in a few!" she told him before disappearing behind the curtain.

Azure-Eyed Kagome smiled. "See, that wasn't so hard, was it? And look how happy you made her."

Sesshoumaru sighed in mock suffering and closed his eyes. 'So Kagome is a hanyou of sorts.'

Azure-Eyed Kagome sighed. She should have known that he would change the subject. "Yes. Narasa was right when he said that when she changes it'll be painful. In more ways than one."

Sesshoumaru cracked open an eye. 'What do you mean?'

"You can't tell her," Azure-Eyed Kagome warned. "but not only is the physical pain unbearable even to youkai standards, but the emotional pain is heartbreaking."

'I do not understand.'

"Baffled twice in one day, Lord Sesshoumaru? You can't be happy," Azure-Eyed Kagome teased as Kagome came back.

"Do you mind if I look around a little more?" she asked timidly. Sesshoumaru sat up and shook his head.

"Take your time. I will wait." Kagome smiled, bent over to kiss his cheek and scampered over to one of the far racks.

Sesshoumaru shook his head again. "You know, when she does that she reminds me of Rin."

"She's so innocent. That's why we love her."

Sesshoumaru glared at her. 'I thought there were only two of you?'

"I'm speaking of you and I, my lord," Azure-Eyed Kagome replied.

'You were explaining something,' Sesshoumaru said, obviously changing the subject again.

Azure-Eyed Kagome nodded. "When she accepts the youkai blood, me, the change will not only be physical but her magic as well. She'll still have her miko powers but they will be heightened with her youkai abilities. Her body will change. I will thicken her blood and strengthen her body, enabling her to handle all three forms and live longer. It will hurt unlike anything she's ever known, more than you've ever known."

Azure-Eyed Kagome saw the uneasy look in Sesshoumaru's eyes and sighed again. "But this you can't protect her from. It's the way all Immortals are born, in extreme agony and a flash of light."

Sesshoumaru sighed. This wasn't what he wanted to hear at all. To not be able to anything if she decided to change wouldn't be enough for him. He would at least be there for her, hold her as she cried so she at least wouldn't be scared.

"That's a good idea, Lord Sesshoumaru," Azure-Eyed Kagome said. "That would help us a lot."

'Not to change the subject,' Sesshoumaru said as he came out of his stupor. 'Why do you call me 'Lord Sesshoumaru' when she does not?'

Azure-Eyed Kagome shrugged. "I don't know. I guess it's because, since I'm her subconscious too, then I'm the part that obviously respects you."

She stopped suddenly, gazing at him. Sesshoumaru looked at her quizzically, then felt another pair of eyes on him. Kagome was staring at him when he turned around, a small smile on her face. He glanced back at Azure-Eyed Kagome and found the same expression on her face. He turned back to Kagome.

"Are you alright, Kagome?" he asked. Kagome nodded, blushing as she went back to looking through the clothes. Sesshoumaru turned back to Azure-Eyed Kagome and waited for her to continue. He wasn't expecting her to say

"He's so gorgeous."

Sesshoumaru blinked in surprise as she came back into herself, blushing as well. 'What was that?' he asked her. Her blush darkened. "Sometimes I respond to her conscious thought."

Sesshoumaru nodded as she resumed explaining.

"Back to Kagome. The emotional pain is knowing that now that she's a youkai she'll have to sit back as her friends and loved ones die around her. It's a heartbreaking thing to go through, knowing that you'll outlive your family by hundreds and thousands of years. Kagome loves her family, so it will hurt if she chooses, because she'll be giving up everything."

Sesshoumaru glanced at Kagome thoughtfully. 'I can understand that.'

"Anything else you'd like to know?"

Sesshoumaru thought a moment before asking 'What of the undead priestess?'

"Oh, you mean Kikyou?" Azure-Eyed Kagome said offhandedly. "For one, we aren't the miko's reincarnation."

'Then why do you look alike?'

"We look alike because of the Shikon no Tama. A piece of Kikyou's soul attached to the jewel when they were burned 50 years ago."

'So what is Kagome?'

"We are a reincarnation of an Immortal miko that died about 205 years ago that originally protected the Shikon no Tama before Kikyou."

'How did she die?'

Azure-Eyed Kagome sighed. "She came across a lone female inu youkai in the mountains surrounded by male inu youkai guards. The female youkai was badly injured, and nearly unconscious when she arrived. She defended the female, but lost her life in the process. The Shikon no Tama was taken from her and the female inu youkai taken away. That's how it came to be in the youkai exterminators' protection.

Sesshoumaru absorbed this slowly. He remembered vaguely an incident that occurred around the time his mother disappeared, but found it too much of a coincidence for this Immortal and Kagome to be one and the same. 'What of offspring?'

****

SF: He don't know me vewy well, do he?

Kagome: SF! Sesshoumaru, she did it again!

SF: {::sticks tongue out at Kagome::} Tattletale…

****

"If she doesn't become youkai, then the trait will be passed to her children."

'So if Kagome has pups, they will be hanyou?' Sesshoumaru asked.

"No, not exactly. See, if Kagome mates a human as a human, then her children will be full human with the youkai blood hidden inside them. They'll be able to choose as well if they want to protect others with the power or not. If she mates a youkai like Keni'Chi-" Sesshoumaru growled and Azure-Eyed Kagome cleared her throat "I mean you, then the pups will be full youkai, taking on Inuyasha's form. They'll have the option to choose too, becoming Immortal/inu youkai if they do."

'But is that possible?'

"Oh sure!" Azure-Eyed Kagome assured him. "Anyway, if Kagome becomes youkai it won't change anything. The children will be the same either way, they'd just be full inu youkai with your form if she mated you." She stood up, smiling. "I must be going now. I just came to assure you that she'll be fine and Naraku is coming to her."

"How do you know this?" Sesshoumaru snarled, forgetting to think the question. Kagome looked up from her musings, startled as Sesshoumaru grabbed Azure-Eyed Kagome's wrist. She smiled and patted his hand.

"Don't worry, my lord. She'll be fine." She faded in his grasp, completely disappearing as she whispered "He'll come to the village in two days."

Kagome stepped in front of Sesshoumaru, waving her hands in front of his eyes. "Are you ok, Seishou?"

Sesshoumaru responded by enfolding her in his arms, resting his chin on the crown of her head. Kagome relaxed immediately against him, returning the hug. "Seishou-sensei, what is it?" she whispered inside his jacket.

"Naraku will reach the village the day after tomorrow."

Kagome stiffened. Sesshoumaru rubbed the heel of his hand on the small of her back gently, holding her closer to his chest. "How do you know?" she asked.

"A…friend."

Kagome nodded. "Well then, I'd better tell you this now just in case I don't get another chance."

Sesshoumaru stared down at her inquisitively. "What is it?"

Kagome reached up and cupped his face in her hands. "That I meant what I said. I love you, Seishou. I'm taking a big risk telling you, but I do. If you don't feel the same way then I'll understand but I'm coming to free you. You can bet money on it." She softly pressed her lips to his as she faded away.

"Naraku is as good as dead."

^^^^^^^

Sesshoumaru stared down at his empty hands as he woke up. He could still feel Kagome's feather light touch on his lips. His ears twitched when the guard opened the gate entrance to the cells. Sesshoumaru turned to his cell door to find Inuyasha staring at him.

"How's Kagome?" he asked after the guard left their breakfast. Sesshoumaru poked at his tray thoughtfully.

"WELL?!"

Sesshoumaru blinked up. "Excuse me?"

Inuyasha stared at him in disbelief. 'Sesshoumaru, not paying attention? That's not normal!' "I said, 'How's Kagome?'."

"Fine. Well. They found another youkai and are still searching for Naraku."

"Really?" Inuyasha cried. Then his face fell. "Oh shit. I bet it's Kouga."

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "It is not the wolf youkai. It is my mother."

+++++++

Kagome woke up to Shorin, Keni'Chi and Mira staring at her.

"What is it, Kagome?" Keni'Chi asked as they followed Kagome out of the tent to a nearby stream.

Kagome dipped her hands in the water and washed her face before speaking. "Sesshoumaru said that Naraku will arrive at the village the day after tomorrow."

Gasps abounded from her group as Kagome continued. "I want at least a day to prepare and evacuate the villagers, and a day to perfect before he showed up. We need to be there today." Kagome looked up at the others. "Are tiger youkai faster than inu youkai?"

"Yes," Mira said. "Why?"

"Because for us to get there today, then Keni'Chi would be the fastest choice. Keni'Chi, how long would it take you to get to Kaede's village with the three of us on your back?"

"Hm..." Keni'Chi tapped his chin thoughtfully, his arm crossed over his chest. "We'd be there before lunch. We'd be there faster, but Shorin's butt will weigh us down."

Kagome and Mira giggled as Shorin slapped his arm lightly. "Stupid kitty. Can you do it or not?"

Keni'Chi grinned and dodged her next blow. "Yeah! I can do it!"

"Will you?" Kagome asked. Keni'Chi nodded. "Of course!" He bowed deeply before her. "I do as my lady commands!"

"Jerk," Kagome giggled as she lightly whacked the back of his lowered head. Keni'Chi shot up, rubbing his head in mock offense. Shorin and Mira shook their heads at him as they and Kagome prepared breakfast. Afterward, Keni'Chi transformed into the giant orange and black cat, waited until they were securely in place, then broke into a swift pace for the village.

----

SF: I know, more information, but at least there's fluff in here somewhere.

Inu-chan: This sucks. Why did my mother have to be evil?

SF: She wasn't evil exactly. Just not on the right side. But don't worry about that.

Kagome: I like Lady Mira. She's so nice.

Shippou: And kinda funny at times too. A lot like Kagome in a way.

SF: Yeah, but that's just one side to this female inu youkai. Just wait until you meet the first aristocratic assassin. She's going to blow you away. The preview and the recommendations are below.

Chapter Eight: Easy Listening…..

A slam against wood, then "Because I gave my word that I would wait until two weeks! If you would just destroy her and get it over with, I would not have a problem!"

RECOMMENDATION: A Second Chance at Love Story ID# 1565291

Ok, so I don't remember who wrote it. Silver distracted me, and the little muse pulled the plug out of the wall before I could find out who did. I'm so very sorry. Anyway, in this story Kagome does what we've all been waiting on; she lets go of her feelings for Inuyasha. She finally realizes that he's stuck, and as long as she's pining for something that will never be she'll be stuck too. In this world, Naraku is dead, Kanna and Kagura are running rampant, and Sesshoumaru is looking out for out favorite miko. Go read and review minna-sama! This is a great story, and deserves more reviews than it's getting. I haven't reviewed yet, but I will by the end of the week. Thanks to Xanthos for the recommendation!