Summery: An AU, where a descendent of Kikyo and Kagome is a miko, and is attacked by a demon. Now she must protect the Shikon no Tama, and discover the truth of who she is.

Warning: SesshomaruXOC; AU; will be using Japanese words for the most parts.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or the characters. I own the plot and my characters.

Just a note: All the Japanese towns or locations I use exist - I looked them up on an atlas. The shrines I kinda doubt, but everything else is real. Please review if you read. Comments, helpful criticism, ideas, and suggestions are welcome. No flames.


"Incarnation that, resemblance this," Kyoko sighed, her soft-brown eyes gazing ahead of her, taking in the moonlit area. "I'm neither Kikyo nor Kagome, but my own self – the miko, Kyoko. Why does everyone refuse to see this?"

Sighing, the girl continued to stride through the cliff-ridden woods. Her brown hair was dark and shiny, and tied back in the traditional manner of the miko, as were her clothes. Descended from both Kikyo and her reincarnation Kagome, Kyoko thought bitterly that her name, meaning "mirror", was indeed accurate – everyone only saw her as her ancestors, instead of recognizing her individual potential and personality. It was the only reason she had become a miko, and it became tiresome.

"I wonder if Inuyasha is all right?" she wondered, her mind turning to her ancestor's mate, the half-demon Inuyasha. Now Lord of the Southern Lands, Inuyasha had kept in contact with Kagome's descendents – they were, after all, his relatives as well.

Kyoko stopped suddenly, sensing another presence nearby. Looking around, she relaxed when nothing appeared, and continued her walk. Meditation became difficult in the day-to-day life of her era, and her nightly walks did much to ease her pent-up frustrations.


"It can't be her…" Toshiro thought, crouched in the trees. The middle brother of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, his mustard-yellow eyes held the same glow, and his cropped hair was pale-lavender, almost gray. He sniffed the air, and the scent of cucumbers and violets filled his nose.

"If this is not Kikyo, it must be another reincarnation, and must be destroyed as well," he thought in determination, stirring again. Only Inuyasha's protected had saved Kagome from the same fate Kikyo had met, and Toshiro was determined to put an end to the line of mikos that had revoked his power.


"Something is out there," Kyoko thought, and stopped again. She had reached a bare place in the woods, where a rocky cliff overlooked the winding Yukiko river. Glancing around, her senses enhanced by her powers, Kyoko spotted a slight movement several yards away.

"Show yourself, youkai," she ordered, refusing to show her apprehension.

"I believe you know who I am, Kikyo," Toshiro said, sneering. Kyoko gazed at him in confusion.

"Who are you?" she demanded, and he peered at her.

"You're not Kikyo, then," he realized, and Kyoko shook her head slowly.

"No."

"You must be a reincarnation, then," he decided, "And I must destroy you, miko."

"It would be nice to know who my attacker is, and what cause he gives for the justification of my death," Kyoko said with dignity. Toshiro chuckled harshly.

"Very well, little miko, it amuses me to play by your rules this time," he nodded, "I am Toshiro, younger brother to Sesshomaru, and older brother to Inuyasha."

"And what is your reason for attacking me?" Kyoko repeated, mentally trying to remember Inuyasha mentioning a second older brother, and failing.

"Kikyo, that damn miko, sealed away much of my powers many centuries ago," he growled, and flexed his black-tipped claws. "I have sworn to kill every last one of her lineage. Only then will the curse be lifted, and my power be restored."

"The miko Kikyo had a good reason to seal away your powers, Toshiro – that much I am sure of," Kyoko said bravely, unsure how she was going to be able to fight the inuyoukai.

"You know nothing, you pathetic human," he snarled, and lunged at her. Kyoko dived to the side, inflicting a purifying wound on his arm. As it hissed against his cloth, Toshiro turned to her in a rage.

"That was very stupid of you, trying to fight back," he growled, "And now, I am going to kill you, miko!"

Kyoko rolled away as he attacked a second time, but was wounded in her side. Gasping at the sudden pain, she stumbled back, and lost her footing on the rocks.

Toshiro watched as she fell down the cliff into the Mino River, and turned away frowning.

"No human could have survived that fall," he rationalized, "However, I must dispose of her myself, or I will never be certain."

With that decided, he faded into the trees, his mind racing.


Kyoko climbed out of the river several miles away, choking on the water. Spluttering, she stood up and wrung the water out of her clothes and hair, and looked around.

"It seems that Toshiro knew my ancestor," she thought wryly, "And he's after me now. Damn Kikyo – everywhere I go, it appears, I'll always be in her shadow!"

With this thought rushing through Kyoko's head, she pulled her hair out of her miko tie with a determined look, and shook it loose.

"No more!" she announced to the silence, "I'm not going to live in her shadow anymore!" And with that, she strode into the forest, ready for what was going to happen next.


"Are you all right, Kyoko?" one of her charges asked. It had been two years since her encounter with Toshiro, and the twenty-one year-old woman had forsworn the solitary life of a miko, and was now working as a day-care volunteer.

"Yes," she nodded, and the young child smiled happily and ran off. "I must get my heads out of the clouds!" she scolded herself, and rubbed her temples, "Two years, and I'm still not free! What will it take?"

"Are you the Lady Kyoko?" a man asked, stepping out of his car. She looked up in surprise.

"I haven't been called that in two years," she informed him, "But yes, I am Kyoko. What is it you want of me?"

"Lady Kaede, the head miko in Kagoshima Shrine, wishes to see you," he informed her, and handed her a piece of paper, "Instructions and directions are inside."

"I answer to no one," Kyoko said coldly, a bit shocked that the ancestor of Kaede, the younger sister of Kikyo, was requesting her presence. The two were technically related, but had never seen each other.

"Lady Kaede said to tell you that you may have forsworn the life of a miko, but you still hold power, and your presence is needed," the man finished. Bowing, he returned to his car and sped off.

Opening the letter, Kyoko scanned it quickly, her eyes widening when she saw what had happened. Standing, she strode to the phone and dialed.

"Yes, hello. This is Kyoko…I'm afraid I won't be able to return here any more. I must leave immediately, so send someone over to replace me. I apologize for the inconvenience…no, I didn't expect pay. Thank you."

Hanging it up, she surveyed the children she had grown to love over the past two years, and sighed deeply.

"No matter where I go, or what I do, it seems I cannot escape what is meant to be," she thought, her thoughts turning toward Inuyasha.


"What?" he demanded, "You mean to tell me Kaede's summoned you to Kagoshima, and you're just gonna go?"

"All these centuries, and you still haven't learned tact," Kyoko replied, sitting across from the business manager. "And yes, Inuyasha, I have to. Or should I address you as your real title?"

"No thanks," he hastened to say, "Too many 'greats' for my taste. But why're you goin'?"

"Two years ago, an inuyoukai named 'Toshiro' attacked me," Kyoko said, "That is the reason I forswore the miko life. It's complicated, but he claims to be your older brother – the middle child."

"Humph," Inuyasha snorted, but didn't deny it.

"Did Kikyo or Kagome ever know about him?" she asked, naming the two women who had meant the most to the powerful half-youkai.

"Kikyo did – she stilled most of his powers when he tried to kill me 'n Sesshomaru," he told her, "Kagome didn't, even though he tried to bump her off once or twice. I took care of him, though. Well, I thought I did."

"Well, he's determined to kill me to lift the curse," she said impatiently, "It seems that Kikyo has caused more trouble – far-lasting and for many people – than any other person I know or have heard of."

Inuyasha flattened his ears, but didn't protest.

"So, you need me to help you get to Kagoshima?"

"Yes," she nodded, "I must arrive there as soon as possible. There has been an attack on the shrine, and the Shikon no Tama was almost taken. By the description given by the miko-in-training, it seems that it was Toshiro."

"Hm," he paused, and nodded. "All right, I'll get you there. Kami knows that damn jewel's caused enough problems long enough. I don't need more to deal with."

"Thank you," she inclined her head respectfully, and went to walk out the door. Just as her hand closed around the knob, however, he stopped her.

"Wait."

"What is it, Inuyasha?" Kyoko asked, unknowingly sounding like Kagome and Kikyo with those words. He froze for a moment before he could continue.

"Kyoko…I know how it's been, knowing you're a descendent of them," he began, "And how similar you look. Kagome had a hard enough time as it was with just me – and you mirror them both. It's eerie."

Seeing her tense up, he rushed on.

"But you're my own flesh and blood, Kyoko – in a way. You've got youkai in you. Remember that when you confront Toshiro – draw on your youkai power. Combine it with you miko powers, and the effect will be devastating," Inuyasha continued, "Kyoko, never forget who you are. Don't try to run from your past or shadows – you can't. But just remember that you define yourself, and no one else. Kami knows I made plenty of mistakes with Kagome – comparing her to Kikyo was one – but even though you look like 'em both, you're completely different. If someone had to compare you, they'd say you're like a mixture of the two of 'em – neither one nor the other. So don't worry about it, and make your own way in life. Don't try to live it according to other people."

Kyoko was stunned by the sudden affection, and impulsively kissed his cheek.

"I'll try to remember, Inuyasha," she nodded, and strode out the door.


"Ah…you've arrived," Kaede greeted her warmly, but Kyoko merely looked at her. Dressed in a white shirt and a long navy-blue skirt, she looked more like a normal woman than a power-endowed miko.

"I've come like you asked, Lady Kaede. May we please get to the point?" she asked, in no mood to make friends. Kaede examined her sharply, and nodded.

"This way," she gestured, and led the slightly-younger woman into the shrine. Resting in a jewel box was the Shikon no Tama, looking like it always had.

"It does not appear tainted to my eye, Lady Kaede," Kyoko said in confusion, "Why did you send for me, then?"

"It may not appear tainted, but it has remained unpurified ever since the Lady Kagome passed on," Kaede reminded her, "Being a descendent, you are the only one that is able to purify the jewel without becoming corrupted."

"So, it's like spring cleaning?" Kyoko asked dryly, and picked up the jewel. Within an instant, she dropped it again, clutching her hand in pain.

"What's the matter?"

"The jewel…has anyone touched it?" Kyoko asked sharply, hiding her burnt hand from the miko. "Had Toshiro touched the Shikon no Tama?"

"I believe he may have held it for a moment or two," Kaede admitted, "But what is it?"

"It's corrupted beyond anything I've seen," Kyoko shook her head, "I don't know if I can purify it. Something has happened to it – has rotted it from the core. It may be useful only in evil hands at this point."

"But we cannot allow evil hands to posses it!" Kaede began to protest, but Kyoko held her hand up.

"I'm not saying that, Lady Kaede. I will do my best to recover the Shikon no Tama for us, and to purify it completely. But in order to do so, I must be purified myself. After being gone so long from a shrine, I fear I am also overdue."

"You must go to the cemetery, where Kikyo and Kagome are enshrined," Kaede said firmly, "And bathe in the waters that flow near their bodies. That will be purification enough for you, I am sure."

"I won't require a guide," Kyoko said shortly, before the other woman could finish. "Kami knows I have been there often – too often for my taste, but I suppose it's just as well. If that is all, I would like to leave as soon as possible."

"Of course, Lady Kyoko," Kaede nodded, "But be on your guard – Toshiro may still be nearby, waiting to pounce. You will take the Shikon no Tama?"

"Yes," she sighed, "I have no choice. I shall not wear it on those shells, however. Please fix it on a thin silver chain, so it will not be as conspicuous. These times are not gentle to keepers of purity and light."


Yes, there's a third brother, and he's a full demon. Kaede is merely named after the older Kaede from the series, not a reincarnation. Kyoko isn't a reincarnation of Kikyo or Kagome, either. Reincarnations have been done to death, in my opinion. Please review!