Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me.

Author's Note:

I don't usually put the notes at the top of the page, but I felt I should warn you that this is the sequel to "Mirror Images" (an AU story). It picks up exactly where the last one left off. If you haven't read that one, then this one may get confusing at first.

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Chapter One: The Girl in the Mirror

March 25th

"Awww Mama! You can't leave the story off there!"

Kikyo lovingly smiled at her young daughter. She was a precocious three and a half year old with an extensive vocabulary. "Now, Kaede, it's time for bed."

"But what happened to Kagome?"

Kikyo smiled bigger and kissed her pouting daughter on the head then sat on the bed beside her and finished the story she has told so many times over the years. Her daughter never let her forget the details of how the two women from different worlds somehow switched places. Nor would she allow the story to go unfinished. Kikyo was absolutely convinced that her daughter was a genius.

"Kagome and Kikyo made their wishes. But the wish could not be granted, the wish failed. Neither girl could honestly wish with all of their hearts that they be returned to where they belonged.

In the morning Kikyo went and found her mother and confessed that she had been unable to fulfill the wish. She felt guilty and ashamed. But her mother understood. She knew how much Kikyo loved her new life, and how much she hated her old one. She also knew how much her daughter, Kagome, loved her new life and her new friends. So she let Kikyo cry, then told her that everything would be ok.

Kagome told her friends about the failed wish. They tried to pretend to be sad, but they couldn't help but celebrate. Shippo was beside himself with joy. Sango cried, for the first time since her family died, but this time for joy. Miroku hugged her and tried to find comforting words to help her through the loss, but could not do so without a grin. And Inuyasha… he stood apart from the group. Watching. And smiling.

Kagome held her arms open for Shippo to jump into, then shyly took Inuyasha's hand. They looked out at the morning sun.

"I guess it's time for us to start hunting for Naraku," she said.

And the journey began".

"Did they ever get married?" Kaede asked as she snuggled down into the blankets.

Kikyo laughed. "That is another story, for another night."

"Did they ever defeat Naraku?"

"Go to sleep, my angel."

"Did she ever see Kikyo or her mother again?"

"Yes," Kikyo smiled warmly. "Sometimes in dreams, and sometimes in the mirror. Now go to sleep, little one. Sweet dreams." She kissed her daughter one more time, then looked over at her husband and smiled. Storytime at bedtime was her favorite part of the day. Sometimes she read the story, and sometimes it was Hojo. Whether she was telling the story or listening to it, she always enjoyed the wonder and excitement on her daughter's expressive face.

"You left out the best part, Mama."

"Oh? What part is that?"

"The ever after part."

Kikyo smiled warmly, and finished the story. "And they all lived happily ever after."

Hojo stood up and held out his hand to her. He kissed it before wrapping his hand around hers. Together they left the room, leaving their daughter to dream of her own adventures.

"It was a nice ending," Hojo whispered as he led her down the hall to their own room.

Kikyo grinned up at her husband. "No, really it is just a beginning."

He chuckles and gives her a kiss. "I like the part where we live happily ever after. It's my favorite part."

"Mine too."

After another quick kiss, Hojo heads off to the bathroom to shower and get ready for bed. Kikyo sat down and brushed her hair in front of the vanity mirror. As usual, she began to think about Kagome. It couldn't be helped. Every time she saw a mirror she thought about the other girl.

She glanced towards the bedroom door in the direction of the kitchen. She thought about the cake sitting on the table. HER birthday cake. Kagome's birthday cake. Kagome's favorite cake in fact. It was an apple walnut cake with a cream cheese icing. It is what her mother made Kagome every year on her birthday, a tradition of sorts. It was one of the things they decided not to change. After all, she was still just pretending to be Kagome and they had to keep up appearances.

But it wasn't Kikyo's birthday. It was Kagome's. The party and the cake were just reminders that it wasn't really her birthday and that she wasn't really meant to be here.

Would every birthday hurt like this?

Would it always make her doubt her place in this world?

In this family?

Kikyo didn't realize that she left her bedroom until she found herself leaning against the open door of her daughter's bedroom. She looks at her little girl and wonders if Kaede is something else that she stole from Kagome.

With a heavy sigh she walked back into her bedroom, after taking a quick peek at her husband in the shower. Partly because she wanted to make sure that he was still there and not some dream, and partly because… well… she just liked to look at him. Shaking her head she told herself that she should be focusing on the life she has now. She loved Hojo. She loved Kaede. She even loved Kagome's family, her mother, grandfather, and little brother. Her family now.

Picking up the brush she ran it ruthlessly through her hair. It was much shorter than she once wore it, when she was a priestess. It no longer fell in a curtain to her waist. Now it was neatly trimmed and swung just above her shoulders, framing her face. The front was slightly longer than the back, angled smoothly along the line of her chin. Never again would she wear bangs or long hair. She looked nothing like she had so long ago. She looked nothing like Kagome had once looked.

It was her life now. Her happiness.

The brush stilled in her hand. It was her happiness! Kagome had never loved Hojo. She did. They would never have married, and never had a child. Kaede was hers. Hojo was hers. Kikyo smiled at her reflection. It really was her life, not Kagome's.

"Happy Birthday, Kagome," she said softly, reaching out to touch her reflection.

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Author's Note part II:

Chapters will vary in length. Some will be shorter and some will be longer (this one is short), but I like variety. And sometimes a chapter just needs to be short. I'm not offended if you point out that I made an error (I blame spellcheck for most of them anyhow), however I just ask that criticism be constructive instead of mean. After all, if I don't know something is wrong or not working, then I can't fix it.

Of course, most reviewers are a joy and I always look forward to what they say. Questions people ask sometimes make an impact on how the next chapter (or the one after that, or the one after that…) is written.

I can't swear how fast the chapters will come out, but I can promise that no matter what I will finish the story.