Mirror by Mirei Nochi

Chapter One

Writer's Note: Hi everyone I hope you like this story. Oh and anything in italics are thoughts.

Chapter One

It's been about almost a year since he started his journey with us. After the events with Rin's capture he had no choice. Naraku took her during a battle just last year. In case you were wondering I'm Kagome Higurashi and before I can continue I must fill you in on exactly what's happened. About a year before I was nineteen and we were traveling from Kaede's Village. InuYasha suddenly looked up and started to sniff around. The only word he said before dashing off into the woods was; 'Naraku'. I at first stood there wondering if he wanted us to follow, but isn't that a stupid notion. Of course we should. I felt Sesshomaru already there and wondered why he was even in this area for. The next thing I can remember is hearing a little girls voice scream out his name and then slowly drift away. When my friends and I appeared at the scene we could see Naraku and his children disappearing. Sesshoumaru's face was in shock and his hand was reaching out as if trying to grab onto her. I'd never seen him like this. Usually you'd expect someone like Sesshomaru to not care at all about a human, but this girl Rin meant something to him.

I always felt that there was something to Sesshomaru. Sure he was dangerous but he's still a living breathing person and he can feel. Well after this I don't exactly know how it came about but he and InuYasha put their differences aside and decided to travel together. He's been with us for about a year as I've said many times. At this moment I'm sitting in my living room with Souta and my mother's lawyer. You see about a month ago I came home and found that my mom and grandpa weren't home. Souta had gone with his friends to school. There was a note attached to my door that said that she and grandpa had gone to visit with my aunt Rose who lived in America. Something about her being sick or dying. Souta had been staying with the next door neighbors until they got back. Then I got a call, this call chilled me to the bones. It was the airport. They informed me that the plane that my mother and grandfather were on crashed in the ocean and that there were no survivors.

My mother's lawyer sits down across from me and hands me a letter from my mother. She first informs me that my mother left everything to me and Souta. That the house had been paid for and my mother put me down as her beneficiary. That about $100,500.00 has been left for me to go to college and also for Souta as well. Sarah, mom's lawyer left the house and left us to stew in our misery over the loss of our loved ones.

End of Point of View

Kagome looked down at the letter in her hands and wondered whether she should open it. It might contain bad news or even worse some hidden secret that her own mother didn't have the guts to say to her when she was alive. Souta also wanted her to open the letter. She looked down at her right hand. The ring of her father still remained there. She remembered that morning that he had placed it on her finger before he left for a business trip. Mom told her that he had died on his way there. She couldn't capture a picture of his face. She knew only that he had long dark hair that shined in the sun. He 'died' when she was just four. Her mother never talked of him, except for sometimes when mentioning that he was beautiful and the only man she'd ever love. Souta kept shaking her arm and pushing her to open it. She sighed with frustration and finally peeled the back of the envelope open. She slipped the letter from the envelope and read it out loud.

"Dear Kagome and Souta,

If you are now reading this letter then I must no longer be alive. I hope that this letter hasn't been opened too soon for I fear that what I'm going to tell you might disturb you. My sweet children I haven't been completely honest with you. As you must realize I've never mentioned your father at all. You two grew up without ever knowing him and though it isn't our faults that it was this way we did fine on our own. But you must know that your father isn't dead.What does she mean he isn't dead?You must be reeling on how this is possible. About around the time that Souta was born your father started to act strangely. He would be back at the well most of the day and sometimes at night. I grew concerned and asked him about him. He assured me that nothing was the matter; just that he was experimenting on something.

He really was a sweet man. Then one day I remember him giving you and Souta something and then leaving the house. I knew that he had no business trip, but I built myself around the lie to protect you and even myself. I watched from our bedroom as he jumped into the well. I rushed out to find that he wasn't anywhere in sight. No trace of him at all in the well. I stayed there for a whole day sitting in the well hoping he'd come back but I realized that he finally did what he'd always wanted to do.Which is what?He had always wanted to make a grand discovery. He'd read all about the Feudal Era and had this belief that there was a way to go back and fix something that was incorrect. You see I never told this to you because I had figured it wouldn't come up, but you aren't Kikyo's reincarnation, I am. Or rather she was my ancestor which is most likely why you are mistaken as her reincarnation. This also may come as a shock to you but I should have told you the name of your father also.

Onigumo Higurashi.What!? This can't be true! Onigumo was once a peaceful man who ran this shrine correctly. His family once ruled over a part of the Feudal Era. I think that something went wrong back then and he wanted it corrected. He didn't tell me when he was to return but I feared he might never come home. Then Kagome you disappeared into the well also and I feared that soon my whole family would be gone before my eyes. That the well would consume each of you before I knew it. But then when you returned to me I felt as though there might be hope that your father might come home. That is why I allowed you to continue your journeys with complaint. With the knowledge I had that you'd return I could trust that maybe you'd find your father there. But the days started to turn to months and I grew worried that maybe allowing you to go was a mistake until you show up and I feel my heart sigh with relief.

Please Kagome I ask that you watch over your brother. I want you to find your father okay, remember his name and mend any past misguided feelings that may still linger. Tell him that I never stopped loving him.

Concerning the rings that are around your finger and on the chain around Souta's neck. One night I was giving you a bath and I removed it to find that you had transformed into a demon. I could have screamed but when you looked up at my shocked face I placed it back on your finger and told you never to remove it. I feared that this small thing about you two would scare you. I don't remember ever giving birth to two demon children. Then I found a letter from your father. He explained that during both births I was unconscious and he was the one to deliver you and Souta. Strange isn't it. He knew all along that he was a demon. I found that I also have ancestors who were demons. If you ever are in real danger remove the rings. Remember this 'Every problem has a solution whether the solution seems wrong'.

Love Always,

Mom

Kagome looked at her brother who was sitting in shock also. She couldn't help but stare at the piece of paper sitting in her lap. Souta's eyes began to water again. She did the only thing she could do; hold onto him and try to make it hurt less. It occurred to her that she had stayed in her time for about a week. InuYasha must have become restless and since he's alone with his brother it must have become a war zone just outside of the well. Just at that thought InuYasha entered the front door. Her eyes were still a little red from crying a few hours before. When she left the Feudal Era she didn't really explain herself. She had this bad feeling and had to go home. Her instincts told her right. InuYasha stalked over to her and then he noticed her and Souta.

"Kagome, what happened?" She looked up at him.

"I'd rather not talk about it Inuyasha. You know why I came back here, so can we please just go." She said rather exposed. Too much information in one day was enough to tire out anyone. But she had to be strong for her brother who was the number one priority at the moment. She'd worry about her feelings later. "Can you help Souta pack a few things?" She didn't wait for an answer, leaving the living room she went into the kitchen started packing food for the trip. She forced herself not to cry as she thought of her life without her mother. She had already lost her best friend Yuri, who had died while giving birth.

After packing up everything the trio left the house and headed back to the past. Kagome looked about her once they arrived and were safely out of the well. The others were already gathered around the well waiting. Each person gave Kagome a hug, minus Sesshomaru who wasn't even there. She knew he was just hiding like he always did. It was just who he was after all. She and Souta started ahead of the others, she didn't want to talk about her mother, she hadn't said anything when she left and she wasn't going to now that she had returned.

"Hey Kagome, why did we come back here? I thought that we'd stay home." His voice broke her concentration and she looked at him. "Kagome I'm think I can handle walking without you having to hold my hand. You don't need to treat me like a baby."

"I guess you're right, I just always saw you as my little brother and feel that I should always watch out for you. But you are right you're sixteen now and I should treat you as you are." (Hey everyone I couldn't remember how old he was so since Kagome is twenty, Souta's going to be sixteen.)

"I should be protecting you sis. I'm the brother after all."

"Oh really, but I'm older so it's my job to protect you."

"Kagome, do you think what mom said in her letter was true?"

"About the rings and dad?"

"Yeah, do you really thing we'll find him here?"

"I think I already know who he is."

"Then why didn't you say anything to me?"

"Would it have made a difference? At this point in time I can't trace him and it doesn't do any good to hope that he's still the same guy. I barely remember him myself. He's sort of like a blurred memory. But knowing him he did have a reason for giving us these rings."

"Are you going tell your friends?"

"How do you think it would go over? I can't tell them about any of it. You and I have to solve this on our own. This can't be everyone else's problem."

"Then I won't say anything."

"Good. Now how about we try and cheer ourselves up." She smiled at him as they entered the village. Once they were in Kaede's home Sesshomaru came out from the shadows to join them. Sango and InuYasha went looking for Miroku who could always be found chasing around the females of the village. Shippo jumped up when she walked in. Her brother looked a little nervous at first, until Kirara came up and rubbed against his leg.

"Oh Kagome I missed you. InuYasha kept being mean to me. Then he and Sesshomaru got into a fight over the last piece of fish. That part was funny but oh I missed you." He then noticed her bother. "Hey is that your brother?" Souta looked at him. "Hi I'm Shippo."

"Hi I'm Souta. Um Kagome, who is that guy?" He looked over at Sesshomaru who in turn looked away and closed his eyes as if he were meditating.

"That's Sesshomaru, he doesn't talk much." Not out loud anyway. He kept to himself most times.

"Why?" Souta was more than curious about Sesshomaru at that point.

"I don't know, I just think that if doesn't want to talk it's his business. Now stop being a pain and go find something to do with Shippo." She ordered her brother but turned when Kaede spoke.

"Well said child." Said Kaede walking in. Kikyo was sitting in the next room. She looked up slightly and then gave Kagome a strange look then when back to looking down at a scroll. Kikyo had also joined their team. Since this battle against Naraku would be a huge thing that would effect the entire Feudal Era they all came to the vital conclusion that if they all attacked as one together then they'd get rid of Naraku and could then go on with their lives. Sesshomaru never ever spoke a word directly to her, they spoke to each other telepathically but never told anyone. He only spoke to Inuyasha and that was due to their fighting.

Her brother went with Shippo in the other room. Kikyo looked up when they came in and gave each of them a nod. Souta seemed to respond to his new surroundings. To bad that he'll have to stay with Kaede this time. She couldn't take him on their next task. InuYasha told her about a day or two before she left that there have been some strange activity in the northern region. Koga was in that area, which meant that there would be some confrontation between InuYasha and Koga. Maybe seeing Koga wouldn't be so bad. Having Kikyo around had altered InuYasha's attraction to her. Now all he does is pay more attention to Kikyo and forgets sometimes that Kagome is even there. She sort of understood her part in the group but knew only InuYasha thought that. Kikyo has her own reasons for traveling with them. Kagome didn't like the fact that any feelings that InuYasha may have had were now gone. Sango and Miroku continued to play cat and mouse with one another over their own romance. Kagome knew better. That left just her and Sesshomaru, he had no one and she sort of didn't either. She looked over at him for a moment and then left the house to get ready to leave.

But before they started on their journey she had one last thing to do. She headed into the woods and made sure to surround herself with plenty of different scents. But unknown to her she wasn't alone and she was too distracted to notice this one fact. She stood alone in an open field and looked down at her hand. She never really paid much attention to it but it had always been there silently waiting for the day that she would finally acknowledge its presence. She held out her hand and examined it. It looked like a normal ring.

Before she knew it her hand had reached out and pulled the ring off. At first nothing happened. Then without any warning something started to spring to life behind her. She could move it. It was a tail a long and soft tail. She moved it around and then in front of her. Then she could feel next a pair of fangs poking out inside of her mouth. Her ears felt as if they'd also grown. She reached up to her ears and felt them. They had become more pointed. She could feel everything around her suddenly, every scent, the energies of the humans in the village and one energy that was right behind her. She quickly shoved the ring back on her finger and turned around only to find that she was alone. She shook her head and tried to clear out all the cob webs. She must have imagined it all. She felt so much stronger without the ring suppressing her true power. This was what her father feared. This was his reason for placing a hold over her power. He must have known that she'd end up in the Feudal Era. Maybe he planned for it to happen. He knew everything about her mother and his wife.

When she returned InuYasha, Sesshomaru, Sango, Miroku and Kikyo were ready to leave. For some strange reason Sesshomaru kept glancing at her as they started down the sanded path. InuYasha and Kikyo were walking ahead talking lightly. Sango and Miroku kept looking at her as if she were going to spontaneously combust. Sesshomaru walked along side of her in silence while Sango and Miroku whispered and sent glances back toward her. She gave them a glare and they quickly turned back around and looked ahead. They continued on their journey that day until the sun started to sink below the horizon.

InuYasha instructed everyone that they'd stop for the night to rest. Sango and Miroku both were tired, but Kagome didn't feel at all drained from the days travels. They went to sleep. Kikyo left to search for souls; InuYasha sat in a tree just above came while Sesshomaru leaned against a boulder. Kagome looked around her for some options as to what do. She could feel Sesshomaru's eyes at the back of her head. InuYasha seemed to be asleep so she went over to sit with Sesshomaru.

She was quite unsure about that one decision. Sure they had many unspoken conversations in the past, as in they had a mental connection. It was strange to say the lest. When they had first actually talked to one another all they did was fight. But when they had first learned of the fact that they could hear each other's thoughts, well you could imagine. She had insulted him and he'd retorted, simple as that. But he soon became a silent friend of hers. They never spoken once to each other, not really, if you count little things. They never sat together and had an actual conversation. So her approach was quite unexpected.

Writer's Note: My first ever attempt at an InuYasha Fanfic. Please forgive me if I didn't do that well. I wrote one about a year ago and took if off of ff.net. It was nothing like this one. I sort of came up with this idea after reading a few stories that others wrote. Then I wondered what it would be like if Sesshomaru had to travel along with InuYasha and co. I don't particularly like Kikyo and I'm sure a lot of you out there don't either but after I saw this episode where Kikyo and Kagome got stuck in this cave I saw this whole different side to their relationship. Kikyo didn't try to kill Kagome. Kagome tried to save Kikyo from the cave. Kikyo secretly doesn't want InuYasha but InuYasha is just blind and as they say Love is Blind. As you know this story is a Kag/Sess. I love the pairing more than a Kag/Inu. There's just something about a forbidden or unwanted love that just makes you wonder if it's possible for it to happen at all.