"I believe our guest has arrived. Show her in, Kagura."

From the corner of the room, Kagura quirks a brow. "A guest? Here?"

"Indeed. A very special one. She should prove to be extremely useful." A wicked, blissful smile curves Naraku's lips, and Kagura has to repress a shudder. She flips open her fan to cover her discomfort.

"Is it really wise to bring someone here and give away your location?"

His eyes narrow. "It's not your place to question me. Do as you are told."

There is a thump in her chest, and the wind sorceress chooses not to press the issue. After all, what did she care if Naraku slipped up? The sooner he made a mistake, the sooner she could claim her freedom. If Naraku wanted to invite a whole village to their hiding place, it was none of her concern. Still, it was frustrating to be left out of the loop. Without information it was hard to plan countermoves against him.

As she exits the room, she can't help but wonder what it will be this time. Throughout his rise to power, Naraku's tricks had only become more and more devious as he came closer to completing the Shikon Jewel. She can only imagine what new horror waits for her as she makes her way to the entrance.

When she steps outside she is immediately confused, and a more than a little disappointed. The woman waiting patiently at the entrance is merely a human, by the looks of her. And not even an impressive one at that.

Surely this couldn't be right. Tentatively Kagura greets her. "You here to see Naraku?"

The woman nods but says nothing, her gaze steady and calm. Kagura eyes her plain clothing and pretty, narrow face. There was nothing particularly interesting about this woman - no dark powers or demonic energy swirling, no great beauty or apparent wealth. Where did Naraku even find these people?

Kagura shrugs. "Follow me."

The woman trails behind in silence. Though she's entirely nonthreatening, Kagura can't shake the sense of unease as she leads the woman to where Naraku waits. Something just wasn't right about her.

When they enter the antechamber the woman's bow is appropriately low as she approaches the cushion where Naraku is seated. Even when she straightens she says nothing. Kagura begins to wonder if she is mute.

"Leave us, Kagura."

She takes one last look at the woman and bows out, sliding the doors shut behind her. She knows that she should keep walking; Naraku would not thank her for eavesdropping. Still, the curiosity was too much. Any clue that could help her bring down Naraku would be worth the risk. She stands in the hallway, holding her breath as she strains to listen.

The voice that drifts through the screens is not one voice but a hundred, layered in sweet, feminine harmony. With four words she has the sorceress captivated, rooted to the spot.

"You summoned me, Naraku?"

"Welcome, Lady Aika. I have a task for you…"


It had been a long day.

Scratch that. It had been a long week.

No signs of Naraku, no signs of Hakudoshi or the Infant, no jewel shards to chase. A long, boring week.

Hell, at this point Inuyasha would almost welcome an appearance from his bastard brother, just to liven things up.

Almost. Not quite.

He sighs and surveys the group. From their listless expressions, they are just as demoralized as he is. If he had the words, he would say something encouraging. He would tell them that the next jewel shard is right around the corner, that in no time at all they are bound to find Naraku and defeat him once and for all. He would tell them that all of their efforts have been essential in getting this far, and that this is only a minor setback in a series of successes against long odds and harsh challenges.

But he doesn't. Instead he sighs again and props his chin on one hand. "This sucks."

Miroku musters the energy to chuckle. "You said it, my friend. Eight days and not a sign of a – "

Kagome perks up. "A jewel shard!"

Miroku frowns. "Yes, that's what I was going to say."

She shakes her head, a spark in her eye. "No, I mean I sense one! Nearby!"

Sango's eyes go wide. "Could it be Kohaku?"

Inuyasha gets to his feet. "Only one way to find out. Which direction, Kagome?"

"The forest!"

He doesn't have to be told twice. Inuyasha sets off at a dead run, ignoring the calls for him to wait. The possibility of some action after all this time is just too compelling. Besides, he knows they won't be far behind.

As he enters the forest he pauses to test the air. He's searching for a familiar scent: only three shards remain, so the presence of a single shard must mean Kohaku is nearby. But the scent drifting on the air isn't Sango's little brother.

Naraku.

It's Inuyasha's lucky day.

The trees blur past him as he follows his nose. Closer now, just a little farther. It occurs to him that if Naraku had come out of hiding, he must have at least a few dirty tricks up his sleeve. Despite his eagerness to end this once and for all, it was probably prudent to wait for reinforcements. He slows and looks around him, but his friends are nowhere in sight.

"Kagome? Miroku? Where are you guys?"

He hadn't been running that fast, had he?

He would have sworn that they were right behind him, but the forest is eerily quiet. Something sour settles in his gut as he scans the forest. He's torn. He should wait, but he can't stop now. Naraku's scent is so close he can taste it.

From a distance he catches movement, a blur of white. It had been a long time since Naraku had brought out the baboon pelt, but if he was feeling nostalgic, Inuyasha wasn't about to deny him the pleasure of wearing it one more time before sending him to his grave. Tetsusaiga flares to life, but just as he is about to unleash an attack he catches a hint of red. And blue. Another scent drifts through the air, and he curses under his breath.

Perhaps it isn't his lucky day after all.

He calls out to the approaching figure, but lowers his sword only a fraction – a threat is a threat.

"Sesshomaru! What are you doing here?"

In a flash of silk and silver hair Sesshomaru materializes at his side, his clawed fingers resting on Tokijin's hilt. He spares only the briefest of glances for Inuyasha before turning his attention back to the forest. "I sensed Naraku. I came to destroy him."

Inuyasha huffs. "Keh, well, you'll have to get in line. I was here first."

"A half-demon of your pitiful skill will never defeat Naraku."

Inuyasha curls his lip. "I've had no trouble taking you on before, so – "

"Now, now, boys. There's no need to fight." A sultry, hypnotic voice trickles down from the treetops. No, not one voice. Dozens. They seem to come from everywhere, surrounding them. But how was that possible? He takes another languid look around the forest, but he and his brother are alone.

Laughter echoes through the trees, musical and sweet. The sound of it gently penetrates his skull, and for a moment he forgets why he is here. The world feels as though it is under water, time slowing as he is buffeted by comforting waves of sound. The laughter fades and for an instant the voices coalesce into one.

"Up here."

Seated on a limb high in the canopy of a tree is a human woman. Her clothing is plain, her hair in a simple bun. She would easily disappear in a crowd. The only notable feature is a lock of black hair that hangs from her neck, tied neatly with a navy ribbon. Delicate fingers wave coyly as she gazes down on them, her expression serene.

Inuyasha shakes his head, feeling as though it is filled with cobwebs. He glances at his brother, whose eyes are locked on the figure in the trees. With only half of the conviction he intended, Inuyasha says, "Stay out of this, lady. This is a family matter."

The voices separate and blur. "Oh, indeed it is, Inuyasha." Her smile is almost compassionate, motherly.

The sword in his hand droops for a moment before he catches it and levels it at her. Damn, what's going on? Why can't I focus? "Who are you and how do you know my name?"

Next to him, Sesshomaru mutters, "It seems your idiotic reputation precedes you." The response seems disembodied, automatic, lacking the animosity he is used to. His brother blinks heavy lids over glazed eyes. It's not just me. Something is wrong here.

She replies before Inuyasha can respond. "Oh, I know all about you. And you as well, Lord Sesshomaru." She purrs his name, and next to him his brother's jaw goes slack. She fingers the hair around her neck. "Naraku has told me many tales."

It's a trap. Of course it's a trap. Strangely, the thoughts have no urgency, just stated facts that breeze across the surface of his mind like musings on the weather or the price of rice. He tries to remember exactly why he is here, why this information matters, and snags on the edges of something coherent. "Naraku…where…"

The compassionate look returns and her eyes hold Inuyasha's without effort. "Naraku couldn't be here today, but he gave me a wonderful gift." From her sleeve she pulls out a shard of the Shikon Jewel. "And with this, I shall give a gift to you."

Her smile fades and magic swells around her, pulsing and warm. Violet tendrils swirl past her, drifting down from the treetops to envelop them. They caress his face, rub soft circles on his back. From his periphery he can see the edges of her power teasing through his brother's hair.

"Now listen, boys. Will you listen to me?"

He can feel himself nodding, but the action is outside of his control. Deep in the recesses of his heart he knows he should fight, or try to escape, but her voice is honey, thick sweet syrup smothering reason and soothing away his resistance. Tetsusaiga slips from his hands as she starts to sing, her words vibrating along the threads of her power to reverberate against his soul.

"Sons of the Inu no Taisho,

Brothers but only in name,

Quarreling over a weapon,

And fighting to honor your name.

You are prideful of skills you have worked for,

Ungrateful for god-given gifts,

Unwilling to see one another,

Too stubborn to mend age-old rifts.

Now you shall come close together,

Become the object you hate.

Rather than suffer each other

You shall suffer the other one's fate!"

The harmonics of her voice double, triple, shaking him to the core. What was once soothing becomes ear-splittingly painful and he can feel something warm trickle out of his nose. A distant part of him wants to raise his hands to cover his ears, but he is paralyzed. Higher and higher the pitch rises, and a pressure rises from deep within him, scraping against his insides like something is trying to claw its way out. It builds and pulls, pressing on his lungs until he can barely breathe.

Panic seizes him as he can feel the tendrils of her power snake their way down his throat, yanking at his core. With a final excruciating tug, something pops free.

He topples backward, and with a choke and a sigh the world fades away.


When he wakes, someone is shaking him. Roughly. Which only serves to amplify the feeling of glass shards in his brain.

"Inuyasha."

I know that voice… But that's impossible.

His eyes crack open and he blinks against the bright shafts of light filtering through the trees. Everything seems too bright, and gods, why is everything so loud? Each tittering bird seems to be screeching, and each rustle of leaves grates on his ears. He takes a deep breath to try to center himself, and a riot of strong smells assault his senses. He hasn't felt this way since the last time Miroku had convinced him to drink a little too much sake, but this is a hundred times worse.

He feels like he might be sick.

Someone leans over him. Someone dressed in red, with furry ears, and wide gold eyes. White hair and subjugation beads dangle in his vision.

"We have a problem."

Inuyasha rolls over and throws up.


"Hurry, everyone!" Miroku shouts. "I think I hear something up ahead!"

Sango leans around Kagome, who is riding in front of her on Kirara. "Can you still sense the shard?"

She shakes her head. "No, it's like it just vanished! I've never felt anything like it before."

"Well, at least we know it isn't Kohaku then." Sango looks torn between relief and disappointment, but shakes it off. "What do you think caused that barrier at the edge of the forest? You don't suppose it was Kikyo, do you?"

Kagome frowns for a moment but then shakes her head. "No, this magic felt darker. Whatever it was, I'm sure Naraku is behind it."

Miroku spots movement and picks up his pace. "Look!"

As soon as he gets close enough to take in the scene, Miroku stops dead in his tracks. Clearly this barrier led to another dimension.

A bizarre one.

Fifty paces away he can see Sesshomaru, down on his knees, vomiting onto the nearest bush. Standing beside him is Inuyasha, a revolted expression curdling his features as he holds back the long lengths of his brother's hair.

For a long moment the group just stares, unsure what to make of it. Finally Kagome breaks the silence.

"Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha startles and drops the hair. He kneels down to whisper something to his brother and then his eyes dart frantically before he grabs Tetsusaiga and bolts in the opposite direction. After a few long strides he leaps high into the air, only to come crashing down into a crowd of thorny shrubs.

A truly bizarre world indeed.

Sesshomaru unsteadily gets to his feet and gracelessly wipes a sleeve across his mouth. He squints at the trees and his nostrils flare once more before he doubles over again. Over the sounds of his retching, Miroku can hear Kagome ask, "Should we try to help him?"

Sango's eyes shift between the two of them and mutters, "Which one?" Then she shakes her head. "Let's just get Inuyasha and find out what happened."

They catch up to Inuyasha as he finally extracts his fire-rat from the brambles. His eyes are wild and he takes a step backward as they approach.

Kagome reaches out to him. "Inuyasha, you're hurt."

He swipes at his face, paying only a brief glance to the blood smeared across the back of his hand before shifting his gaze between them once again.

The shallow cut is already showing signs of healing, but Kagome is persistent in digging in her yellow bag for her medical supplies. She holds out a bandage. "Here, let me help you."

He leaps backward and snarls. "Do not touch me."

The group collectively recoils. There was definitely something wrong here. Miroku puts up his hands in supplication. "Clearly you have been through quite the ordeal, my friend. Why don't we return to camp and you can tell us what happened along the way?"

Inuyasha eyes them for a moment before nodding cautiously, and allows them to lead him back to where Shippo and Kirara are waiting. On the way they pass Sesshomaru, who sits listlessly on the ground. He doesn't say anything; he doesn't even look up as they walk past.

The group starts off toward the edge of the forest, with Inuyasha in the lead. Miroku doesn't know what makes him do it, but on impulse he turns to survey the scene once more. This time golden eyes are watching him, and if Miroku didn't know better, he'd think that Sesshomaru looked pained to see them go.


A/N - That's right folks, settle in for a good old fashioned body-swap tale! Yes, it's an old trope, but in a world where souls are easily removed and transplanted in other's bodies, it just begged to be done. As far as timeline goes, this fic probably takes place sometime between season seven and the final act. Think of it as an-arc-of-which-they-do-not-speak. Enjoy, and don't forget to let me know what you think!